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New Opinions on Bersa Thunder .380

December 5, 2008, 08:01 PM
Long story short, pigs have started to fly, Lucifer is putting on a turtle neck, and my wife (who is not an anti, but has had NO interest in guns) has begun to learn to shoot. A local tragedy has spurred my wife to want to learn to shoot, and in fact her, my mother, and another female cousin have now signed up to take a couple of training classes including their handgun permit class.

We have made some significant progress on the learning to shoot front, and she is becoming a pretty safe shooter and has begun to pick up some real good shooting habits and can actually now hit what she is aiming at. (Last week put 39 out of 40 rounds in the black on an 10 in target at 20 yards with my Ruger MKII .22. She has started learning how to handle some of the bigger stuff also, not quite where I want her to be yet, but we are getting there. So here is the rub. I wanted her to use a little 38 snub or something like that when she gets ready to CC, we went to several shops and picked out a lot of different guns for her to handle and see what she is comfortable with. Turns out the one small pistol she really liked to handle was a .380 Bersa Thunder. She handled better than 30 guns, and just really liked the feel of it. The way it points, the size, and pretty much everything about it.

The only problem is that I don't know a thing about them. So you Bersa guys, please give the the run down, with an eye to whether you would trust your wife's life to one. Thanks and sorry so long.

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December 5, 2008, 08:06 PM
I don't own one, never have owned one, never shot one,may not have ever even seen one, but I have two fairly knowledgeable and experienced freinds that own/have owned them, and speak very highly of them. Most of what I've read about them has been pretty positive,as well.

B yond
December 5, 2008, 08:12 PM
I own and carry one. I'm happy with it. The only tim it's ever malfunctioned was after it sat for 2 months having been put away dirty after several range trips. This caused an accumulation of hardened soot on the feed ramp which caused two stovepipes out of 50 rounds. After a quick cleaning it's back to running smoothly.

They do have some sharp edges on them, and mine (black finish) will rust if left in a room with a wet fart, so i recommend getting a chrome model and/or wiping it down with a silicon cloth daily.

They point well, stay on target easily, conceal easily, and are very reliable if kept clean.

December 5, 2008, 08:37 PM
Absolutely go for it.

I had a bersa that i carried for a while, but sold it for a KT p3at just to have something a tad solid.

Super accurate, and reliable. I would buy one again.

December 5, 2008, 08:40 PM
I had a 380cc for a while and when I shot it it performed no FTE or FTF but my kid and my mother in law every now and then would get a FTF. I think they might of been holding weird or interfering with the slide. I liked the little gun but it had more muzzle flip than I would of expected.

December 5, 2008, 08:51 PM
Well, my husband trusts his wife's life to one...

The Bersa .380 Thunder is what I chose, also.

It is a great weapon. The gun-nuttiest person I know (and I know LOT of self-described gun-nuts) also carries a Bersa .380, but his is a double-stack - too big for my rather diminutive hands.

December 5, 2008, 09:27 PM
My wife has been carrying one for over two years. It only gets cleaned when she remembers to tell me to do it. But it never fails with any ammo we've ever bought for it.
She has 2 uncles who think they are old hands with guns. Both shoot S&W revolvers. She has shot better scores then both of them with her Bersa.
We really like that gun.

December 5, 2008, 09:32 PM
I'm not a huge Bersa Thunder fan but if I were to buy one it would be the Bersa Plus model to take advantage of the higher magazine capacity.

December 5, 2008, 09:40 PM
This is a pretty good video on YouTube with a guy talking about his. I have heard nothing but good about them, but I have also never shot one. Good luck!

December 5, 2008, 09:43 PM
I meant no offense LWGN, in fact your comments mean a lot to me. So that settles it, I am going to call my cousin (who owns a gun shop) and get him to get her one in the satin finish. Will make her first gun a surprise Christmas present. Thanks for the help!

December 5, 2008, 09:46 PM
I bought one for my daughter when she turned 18. Great bang for the buck. The trigger is awesome given the price point. I almost wish I had kept it for myself.

December 5, 2008, 10:18 PM
Excellent gun. My first pistol was a Bersa 383DA (same gun, older name) and it was my CCW gun for years.

Steve Raacke
December 5, 2008, 10:22 PM
I've owned a Bersa Thunder .380 for several yers. It is my everyday, take everywhere Conceal Carry and Open Carry pistol. It's light, accurate, and the gun fits my hand like it is part of it.
I highly recommend it.

December 5, 2008, 10:27 PM
We had two in classes and they both developed problems. Of course that was after pushing 500 rounds through them in a day so their failure after a high volume of fire may not indicate a problem for lower round counts.

December 5, 2008, 10:32 PM
i own a bersa 45 and after seeing it, a friend of mine bought one. i am told by a local gun shop owner that the local police from our fairly large city carry the 380 as a back up, and in this area, many of the leo's are gun nuts/hunters.

December 5, 2008, 10:35 PM
The Bersa Thunder .380 is my wife's favorite gun too. It's always been reliable and she shoots it very well. They're good little guns.

December 5, 2008, 11:54 PM
I've had one for a couple of years, very good factory trigger, excellent sights, pretty darn accurate for such an inexpensive pistol. I highly recommend them.

December 6, 2008, 12:26 AM
The nickel finish looks the best. I had a couple of fail to feeds useing brazzer brass loads on the last round in the magazine during the break in period. Mine likes the fiocchi rounds I have read others say their gun doesnt shoot those well so ymmv. I have shot some winchester and magtech rounds also and those ran well through it.

Great little gun for a .380 and priced right imo

December 6, 2008, 12:34 AM
I have owned one for several years. One of my first center fire pistols. Accurate and reliable. I have small hands and it fits me well. The only criticism I have of it is that there is a lot of felt recoil for the size of the round. That's the trade off for the weight and blow back design. If she feels comfortable with that amount of recoil, she will be happy. I prefer my Beretta 84 for the range. Wider grip and heavier soaks up some of the recoil. More rounds. Not as slim to conceal. Bersa goes in the pocket with a pocket holster.

December 6, 2008, 04:06 AM
The Bersa Thunder is a perfetly fine pistol that traces it's lineage back to the Walther PP. Comparable pistols woulks be the Sig 232 ant the Beretta 85. Both are of higher quality manufacture, but are significantly more expensive.

Bersa also makes a 22LR version sold under the Firestorm (http://www.firestorm-sgs.com/380specs.htm) brand name. It is identical in form and function.

December 6, 2008, 05:38 AM
Bersas are the best pistols for the money at the moment in America, hands down.
I do not own the Thunder 380 (all the people I did talk to that own one love it) but I do own a Thunder 40 full size and I could not be more happy with it.

December 6, 2008, 08:13 AM
For less expensive practice and more stopping power a compact 9MM like the CZ PCR or P-01, Sig P-6 and P239 may be a better choice.

Nothing wrong with the little Bersas though. Let her shoot one if you can and see if she can rack the slide to chamber a round.

December 6, 2008, 08:24 AM
Another vote here in favor of the Thunder .380. I have one and it's my favorite CCW gun. No problems at all with it, easy to carry, very accurate and a great value.

December 6, 2008, 10:31 AM
Go to http://www.marschalgrips.com/?content=Bersa-models and let her pick out some grips. The only negative I have about the Bersas are the "cheap" feeling plastic grips

December 6, 2008, 03:57 PM
DO IT!!! the best shooting small autoloader i've ever owned! Better than a PM9 or ppk if you ask me... easier to shoot and more accurate. Love them!! Absolutely reliable all the time.

December 8, 2008, 09:22 AM
I recently bought a Bersa Thunder 380 and shot it for the first time on Saturday. I loved it, it fit my hand very well and just felt good to shoot. I noticed though that it is firing high and left. I read the owners manual to try and find how to adjust the rear sights but I could not find anything. I know that it is adjustable with the screw but I have never owned a gun before that has adjustable sights. If anyone could help me out I would appreciate it.

Al Thompson
December 8, 2008, 10:31 AM
Shop I worked at sold bunches with no returns - granted, most were only fired a few times and now hide in someone's sock drawer. :)

Biggest issue is making sure your wife can comfortably work the action.

I own a used one and it works just fine!

December 8, 2008, 11:52 AM
I have the Bersa 380CC, and the Bersa 9MM UC. Both are accurate and neither have ever malfunctioned. They are both carry guns and I have confidence in both.

December 8, 2008, 01:58 PM
I have one and love it! I don't carry it because I have other pistols better suited for that, but it's a great little gun. Only problem I've had is I dropped the screw from the rear sight while trying to adjust it, but was able to find it. Extra magazines seem to be hard to find and quite pricey, so I only have one. There's even a Bersa forum out there, very popular little guns. http://bersatalk.com/forums/

Here's mine with my PA-63.

They make a nice Compact .45 too.

December 8, 2008, 03:06 PM
I've found the Thunder CC to be a better carry option and a bit more accurate too.

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by samantha on September 30, 2012

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Ooops! Something went wrong somewhere. We're pretty sure it's something Sparky did. Or maybe we should've taken that left turn at Albuquerque.

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Khloe Kardashian Gets Crunked, Kim Kardashian Checks on Giant Boobs

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What happens in Mexico doesn't stay in Mexico.

Especially when you bring a slew of entertainment news reporters with you.

Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian and Kim Kardashian took their asinine names, along with a handful of photographers, to Cabo during a recent vacation there.

Here's a look at two pictures from the outing, accompanied by the thoughts of Khloe and Kim, respectively:

Got my drink on... next, just gotta find my Mexican version of Ray J and a video camera... here I come, celebrity gossip world!

Phew! The giant boobs are still present... I was afraid my career was gone there for a second.

Kim Kardashian Biography

A Kim Kardashian Selfie
Kim Kardashian is the ex-girlfriend of Nick Cannon, Reggie Bush and Ray J. She had intercourse on camera with the former, which is what... More »
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Kimberly Noel Kardashian

Kim Kardashian Quotes

In elementary school, The Real World came on, and I was like, That's it! I know I want to be on a reality show. And I was like, OK, when I'm old enough, I will make an audition tape.

So far, designing is the most exciting thing Iâ€™ve done... I have a vision of what I want [the clothes] to look like in my mind and itâ€™s fun to see it come alive on paper.

Kim Kardashian


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Celebrity Hair Affair: Ben Affleck Goes Bieber!

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Attention, readers: Ben Affleck has gone all Justin Bieber on us.

No, he isn't dating Selena Gomez or causing mass hysteria by appearing on stage. And, no, we haven't noticed a single Jesus tattoo on the actor.

Affleck stepped out today in Santa Monica with a new, shaggy hairstyle, one that can be attributed to his upcoming role on Argo, a film he's directing, producing and appearing in. Guess we can forgive the guy for not having time to get a haircut.

Which look do you prefer on the star?

Which Hairstyle Looks Best?

Do you like the Justin Bieber special? Or the usual 'do sported by Ben Affleck? View Poll »

Love these girls!! (Great babysitters, too!! I wish I had done sonimhetg like this when I was in 8th grade with my best friends! Maybe we should do a teacher shoot Certainly beautiful young women. God's got big plans for you! Awesome captures Emily!

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Hopefully it's just for the movie role. He's much more handsome in hi usual do. He's a chiseled face man who needs a structured haircut not anything shaggy.

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Ben Affleck is Jennifer Garner's husband. He's also an actor that may actually have a brighter future as a director. Either way, he's a... More »
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An alleged Usher sex tape is out there and being shopped around the black market, with the R&B star's legal team on the warpath to find out who has it.

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Posted in: Usher


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Courtney Stodden PETA Ad

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Courtney Stodden expresses her love for animals in this video and also says she's a vegetarian. Watch her PETA ad now.
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courtney is sweet for defending those who cannot defend themselves. to ignore the unnecessary suffering of animals is to be complicit in their abuse.

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Under the Numbers: Week 4
John U. Miller
September 27, 2011

Uh oh, the JUMbotron finished a sparking 56th out of 973 entries in The Huddle $500 FreeRoll for Week 3.  The JUMbotron team included crazy points from Tom Brady, Fred Jackson, Calvin Johnson, & Nate Washington, and probably could have gone top-10 if Steve Smith hadn’t flopped.  Still, a lot of you expecting your free $5 bucks for beating the JUMbotron were stopped at the door!  If you haven’t signed up at FanDuel you’re missing out.  It’s free, it’s fun, and it really adds to the fun of fantasy football.  CLICK HERE and play in Week 4!

Digging deeper for a baker’s dozen of did-you-know stuff from Fantasy Week 3.

1. There are three high-priced RBs who are absolutely killing fantasy teams and have caused countless 0-3 or 1-2 starts nationwide.  Chris Johnson, Frank Gore, & DeAngelo Williams.  I call them The “Ugh” Three.

The “Ugh” Three
Week Chris Johnson Frank Gore DeAngelo Williams
1 15 touches, 49 yds 25 touches, 78 yds 13 touches, 36 yds
2 27 touches, 65 yds 23 touches, 64 yds 9 touches, 36 yds
3 17 touches, 75 yds 17 touches, 42 yds 12 touches, 35 yds

These guys have scored exactly 1 TD so far, Gore on a 1-yard run vs. Dallas.  Now many of you are in a quandary: You can’t trade ‘em, their stock is worthless when everyone’s bad-mouthing them.  You can’t drop ‘em because, well, you used a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd round pick, right?  Let’s dissect each one:  Johnson is averaging a sturdy 20 touches, normally plenty for any talented back to accumulate stats and pay the fantasy bills, but after the lockout and holdout CJ simply hasn’t been prepared physically.  I do see some positives, though.  Johnson hasn’t pulled a muscle (which I fully expected) and OC Chris Palmer is mixing up the playbook a little bit.  Look at CJ lined up split left for a fly route, something ex-OC Mike Heimerdinger never called once in three seasons.  Gore is getting loads of touches so I’m not quite as sour on him as the others, but he injured his ankle in Week 3 and might miss this week’s game.  More on Gore below.  DeAngelo Williams is locked squarely into a 50/50 timeshare with Jonathan Stewart.  DW has 34 touches, JS has 36.  This wouldn’t be a total disaster if Williams was doing something with his 12-ish touches per game (like Darren Sproles), but he’s not.  The season’s too short to wait any longer – so cut DW if you see a viable 15-touch RB on the waiver wire.

2. The San Francisco 49ers offense continued to sputter in the 13-8 victory over Cincinnati.  WR Michael Crabtree (foot) did play quite a bit and had a 10-yard TD called back on a penalty.  K David Akers hit from 23 and 53 yards is quietly 7-of-7 this year.

They only compiled 16 first downs, went 5-of-15 on third downs… and, to only score 13 points with a whopping 35 minutes of possession is inconceivable.  My Huddle buddy “ts” pointed out some other disturbing numbers too: In the 1st half the offensive line committed a penalty on 4 of 5 drives, and Frank Gore only had 9 carries of which 5 went for 3 yards or less.  Gore says his ankle his fine (they always do) but let’s be honest: He was already losing touches to the young, electric Kendall Hunter, who had 11 touches and a TD.  I’ll also add that the Seattle Seahawks just hopped over San Francisco to get out of the cellar in NFL total offense.  The Niners are dead last.  JUMbo Whisper:  In this game Hunter had a 7-yard TD run and touched the ball inside the 10-yard line twice.  He was amazing in the preseason and earned the No. 2 job over Anthony Dixon, so now Hunter’s in line to start vs. the Eagles this week.

3. The New England Patriots offense racked up 495 total yards, 30 first downs, and 5 red-zone trips in the wild 34-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Tom Brady is the #1 fantasy QB by a sizable margin with 1,327 passing yards, 11 TDs, and 5 INTs.  He’s only been sacked 3 times in 136 dropbacks.  In this game the Pats ran 17 plays in the red zone and here’s the breakdown:  5 targets for Wes Welker (who exploded with 16 catches for 217 yards & 2 TDs), 4 carries/targets for Danny Woodhead, 4 carries for B. Green Ellis, 2 targets for Rob Gronkowski (who also caught 2 TDs in this game), 1 target for Deion Branch, and 1 Brady scramble.  It’s worth noting that Green-Ellis got stuffed at the 1-yard line three different times; it might not be a coincidence that RB Stevan Ridley (a JUMbotron fave) got 6 touches in the 4th quarter.  As for the Bills, I don’t have much to say – they are all over the news at 3-0 – but I will add that Fred Jackson scored again and bumped Ray Rice for #3 in many fantasy leagues – behind only Darren McFadden and LeSean McCoy. In the 4th quarter Jackson took a dump pass and went 39 yards for another TD but it was reversed on replay to the 1-yard line.  Top fantasy waiver-grab WR David Nelson delivered with 6 catches for 84 yards (8 targets), and his teammate WR Donald Jones caught 5 passes for 101 yards (10 targets) so he’ll be snatched up quick as well.

4. Donovan McNabb completed 22 of 36 passes for 211 yards, 1 TD and 0 INTs in the 26-23 loss to Detroit.  Adrian Peterson carried 17 times for 78 yards and 1 TD.  He added 4 receptions for 19 yards (5 targets).  WR Michael Jenkins caught 9 passes for 88 yards (11 targets).

McNabb showed signs of fantasy life late in the 1st quarter, going on a streak of 9-for-11 for 75 yards and a TD, but overall he was throwing nothing but underneath stuff.  A lot of it’s by design, sadly.  In fact the only two guys I saw run any deep routes were Percy Harvin and TE Kyle Rudolph.  Harvin had 2 carries for 41 yards, 3 catches for 47 yards.  Rudolph had 3 catches for 39 yards and I think he’s got a big future.  Peterson looks like he always does – robust and aggressive – but he only got 5 carries in the second half (?).  He also had runs of 29 & 14 yards called back for holding calls on Jenkins and Visanthe Shiancoe.  Vikings DE Brian Robison had 2 sacks.   The Vikings have had leads of 10, 17 and 20 at halftime each week – and lost every time.  As Peter King mentioned, it isn’t the defense’s fault – they’ve been solid – it’s the offense’s fault for not sustaining momentum.  Christian Ponder will be under center before Halloween.

5. Matt Hasselbeck completed 27 of 36 passes for 311 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs in the 17-14 win over Denver. Kenny Britt was lost for the season with a torn ACL.  Nate Washington caught 8 passes for 92 yards & 1 TD.

Hasselbeck hit 11 different receivers, an NFL-high so far this season, and the Titans converted 8 of 15 on third downs.  Hasselbeck is one of the more quiet success stories in the NFL this season (because he’s in a small market now), ranking 7th with 932 passing yards, 3rd with a 69.6 completion rate, and 8th with a 102.2 QB rating.  Considering Hasselbeck was thrown into a brand new playbook with brand new teammates after the lockout ended on July 26th, I’ll go so far as to say he’s playing some of the best football of his career.  He’s a fiery competitor too, which no one gives him credit for: When Britt’s knee blew out everyone piled on him and Hasselbeck went to help out his teammate; but Broncos CB Cassius Vaughn (unseen by refs) pushed Hasselbeck down on the ground.  Instead of retaliating directly, Hasselbeck went after Vaughn on the very next play, a 30-yard strike to Nate Washington that was unfortunately ruled out of bounds. On 4 of his next 6 passes Hasselbeck picked on Vaughn for completions.  Washington is ballin’   JUMbo Whisper: Damian Williams will start in Britt’s place. Williams has skills, trust me.  Tennessee might bring back free-agent Justin Gage, who they never should have cut in the first place.  TE Jared Cook has been a part-time player, but now he’ll be forced into 10-15 more snaps per game.

6. Jay Cutler completed 21 of 37 for 302 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs.  He added 11 rushing yards.  Matt Forte carried 9 times for a career-low 2 yards, but piled up 7 receptions for 80 yards.  Devin Hester caught 3 passes for 62 yards.  Johnny Knox caught 4 passes for 84 yards but had an amazing punt-return TD negated by penaltyWR Dane Sanzenbacher caught 5 passes for 27 yards and 1 TD.

Cutler is not going to make it through 2011 after getting hit 5 more times and sacked on 3 of them.  Mike Martz is getting him killed.  He’s been sacked 66 times since 2010, 20 more than any other QB, and just admitted to reporters that his hip and back are sore.  Former Rams VP Tony Softli, who oversaw Martz back in the day, has a theory that Martz’ offense results in his QBs – like Marc Bulger – getting “shell-shocked” and developing chronic happy feet. Even Bears OL coach Mike Tice joked that he would lose some weight and suit up if it meant keeping Cutler healthy. "I don't know if I have anything in me but the national anthem, but I'll give it a whirl," Tice said.  Martzx has called 95 passes vs. 20 runs over the last two weeks.  Matt Forte couldn’t find any running lanes vs. Green Bay’s well-executed gap defense, so he ended up catching 7 balls – and now leads all RBs with 22 receptions, on pace for 117 (!). Roy Williams couldn’t haul in any of the 4 passes thrown his way and dropped a TD in the 2nd quarter.

7. Joe Flacco completed 27 of 48 passes for 385 yards and 3 TDs.  He also rushed for 29 yards.  Ray Rice carried 8 times for 79 yards and caught 5 passes for 83 yards.  WR Torrey Smith caught 5 passes for 152 yards & 3 TDs and also added a 10-yard run.

As you’ve heard by now, the rookie Smith caught TDs of 74, 41, and 18 yards in the first 13:12 of the football game.  Ravens OC Cam Cameron came out firing and it’s becoming a trend:  In the first 3 games Cameron has called 34 pass plays and 18 rushing plays in the first quarter.  Smith was humble when asked about his insane showing in his first NFL start in place of the injured Lee Evans.  “Lee’s proven, I’m not,” Smith said. “For me to have a game like this, I think it definitely helps us out in the games going forward.”  Anquan Boldin caught 7 passes for 74 yards (14 targets) and TE Ed Dickson caught 5 passes for 51 yards (9 targets).  K Billy Cundiff hit 3 FGs but also missed twice from 51 yards.  The Ravens’ next 4 games are vs. NYJ (3rd ranked DEF vs. fantasy QBs), vs. HOU (6th), at JAX (16th), and vs. ARZ (28th).

8. The Cincinnati Bengals defense allowed 226 total yards, 1 touchdown and sacked Alex Smith 5 times in the 13-8 loss to the 49ers.  Another sack was negated by a penalty.  They were also handed an intentional safety.

Bengals DC Mike Zimmer continues to get the most of his unheralded unit, which is also the 9th youngest defense in the league. They rank 3rd in the NFL in total defense (276.3 yards per game), 7th in third-down conversions (42%), and 7th in sacks (9).  If you’re looking for a sleeper defense this is the group.  Even though next week the Bengals face the red-hot Buffalo Bills offense, over the next 3 games their schedule is juicy: at Jacksonville, vs. Indianapolis, and at Seattle.

9. Matt Ryan completed 26 of 47 passes for 330 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT in the 16-13 loss at Tampa Bay. Michael Turner carried 11 times for 20 yards.  Roddy White caught 9 passes for 140 yards (17 targets).  Julio Jones had a breakout game with 6 catches for 115 yards (7 targets).  Tony Gonzalez only caught 2 passes but one was a 10-yard TD.

Ryan patched together an adequate fantasy line with a lot of come-from-behind passing.  Once the Falcons were down 16-3 midway through the 3rd quarter Turner’s day was essentially over. White had a couple uncharacteristic drops, including what could have been a 14-yard TD when he turned and ran with it.  White’s 17 looks from Ryan are astounding, and it reinforces his reputation as the premier target-beast.  Over his last 24 games White has been targeted 13+times in 12 different games.  No other receiver has 13+ targets in even 8 of their last 24 games (Andre Johnson & Brandon Marshall both at 7 of 24).  I’m always scanning for intriguing “buy lows” and Matt Ryan might be that guy right now.  Your league’s Ryan-owner might be a little antsy, thinking about benching him for Ryan Fitzpatrick or Eli Manning.  Or maybe he’s got Matthew Stafford and simply isn’t using Ryan anymore.  Make an offer.  The Falcons are finally getting Julio Jones going and their schedule is nice: The next 3 games are at Seattle (15th vs. fantasy QBs), vs. Green Bay (30th), and vs. Carolina (22nd).  7 of their next 8 games are indoors!

10. The New Orleans Saints RBs combined for 101 rushing yards, 62 receiving yards, and 2 TDs in the 40-33 win over Houston.  Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles scored from 13 and 30 yards out, respectively.

It’s a 3-headed monster with Ingram (38), Sproles (36), and Pierre Thomas (31) all with more than 30 combined carries & targets on the year, which are called “Plays” on The Huddle Stats page.  It might seem like a fantasy nightmare, but is it?  Despite the time-share, Ingram and Sproles have more “plays” than BenJarvus Green-Ellis or Brandon Jacobs: They belong in all 12-team fantasy lineups at least as a flex.  The time-share isn’t as detrimental if there’s a ton of love to go around, and New Orleans has run 208 offensive snaps, 3rd most in the NFL.  Long, fruitful drives… plenty of chances to join the party.  Thomas had a crack from the 4-yard line vs. Houston but got stuffed.  The Saints’ next 3 games are all on the road: Jacksonville (ranked 10th vs. fantasy RBs), Carolina (16th), and Tampa Bay (20th).

11. Cardinals RB Alfonso Smith carried 17 times for 54 yards and caught 3 passes for 21 yards in the 13-10 loss to Seattle.  Kevin Kolb threw for 252 yards and 1 TD, with 2 INTs and also 16 rushing yards.  Larry Fitzgerald caught 5 passes for 64 yards and 1 TD.  Early Doucet and Andre Roberts continued to be WRs 2 & 2A, with 6 targets each.

With Beanie Wells (hamstring) out it was Chester Taylor getting the start, but he didn’t have any juice in his legs.  Taylor carried 8 times for 20 yards on the first two drives then gave way to Smith.  He’s a former Kentucky Wildcat who’s 6’0/208 and runs in the low 4.4’s.  More of a straight-line runner, Smith did make a good case to be Wells’ backup going forward.  Cards HC Ken Whisenhunt was perturbed that Wells couldn’t go after a pretty good pre-game workout, but Wells assured reporters he would play in Week 4 against the New York Giants.  Kolb had another fumble, giving him 3 on the year. The Cards went into no-huddle mode in the 2nd quarter and had their best drive of the season.  Fitzgerald is right around the 10th or 11th best fantasy WR and is quietly on pace for 80 catches, over 1,300 yards & 10 TDs.  Kolb and Fitzgerald should make plays against the Giants’ injury-riddled secondary in Week 4, who’ve allowed 13 pass plays of 20+ yards, 5th most in the NFL.  Note:  One of my favorite blogs, SB Nation’s “Revenge of the Birds,” reminds us that the Cards had lot of problems with Seattle: “This was not a good game for the Cardinals and if they don't clean up their play and get the offensive line struggles worked out, the Giants are going to swallow them whole next week in Glendale.”

12. Team Red-Zone Leaders:

Team Red Zone Trips Red Zone TDs
New England 16 11
Houston 16 5
Washington 14 6
New Orleans 14 6
Buffalo 14 11
Philadelphia 14 6
San Diego 13 7
Miami 13 5
Green Bay 13 8
Detroit 13 8

New England is at the top, of course… but look at Buffalo, punching it in 11 times in 14 opportunities.  And getting back to the amazing 34-31 win over New England, don’t forget it was the defense that sparked the comeback.  After the Pats were up 21-7 the Bills picked off Tom Brady 4 (count ‘em, 4) times.  Two of those INTs by Leodis McKelvin and Drayton Florence were returned for 21 and 27 yards, respectively – with Florence going to the house.

13. Felix Jones carried 14 times for 115 yards and had 3 catches for 40 yards in the 18-16 win over Washington.  Dez Bryant caught 4 passes for 63 yards.

Jones was the only offensive spark on either side of the ball, running with a hunger that I haven’t seen in his entire career.  And the fact that Jones did it with a shoulder harness is what totally earns my respect.  Jones has a nice fantasy schedule coming up: home vs. Detroit (5th vs. RBs), at New England (22nd), vs. St. Louis (26th), and vs. Philadelphia (32nd).  Bryant was visibly not 100 percent with the sore quad on Monday night but he also gutted it out and won a lot of respect.  His night was bailed out by a 30-yard catch on a busted play, but a catch is a catch – and Bryant made it happen by giving Tony Romo a place to throw it. Bryant only played 28 of 62 snaps (and still went 4-63) but there was no setback reported, so he should be ready to rock Sunday vs. the high-scoring Lions.

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Tuesday Injury Report: Week 12
Philip Gentles
November 22, 2011

Jay Cutler, CHI - Fractured Thumb

Bears’ QB Jay Cutler will miss at least 4 weeks after he fractured the thumb on his right (throwing) hand during Sunday’s game against the Chargers. Cutler, who was hurt while trying to make a tackle on an interception return in the fourth quarter, stayed in the game but he complained of pain and discomfort afterwards and X-rays in the locker room revealed that his thumb was broken. Additional testing on Monday confirmed what the initial X-rays showed and according to reports he is scheduled to have his thumb surgically repaired sometime this week. When asked if Cutler’s season was over head coach Lovie Smith told reporters “No” and that the medical staff expected him to return “by the end of the regular season.” Backup QB Caleb Hanie is currently in line to start for the Bears in Week 12, but don’t be surprised if the team brings in a veteran to take Cutler’s place.

Matt Hasselbeck, TEN - Sprained Elbow and Strained Forearm

Titans’ QB Matt Hasselbeck left Sunday’s game after suffering injuries to his right (throwing) arm and elbow and his status for Week 12 is considered questionable. According to reports an MRI on Monday revealed a minor ligament sprain in his elbow and a minor muscle strain in his forearm. Neither injury is considered serious, but the team is concerned that even if the medical staff can effectively manage the pain he will not be able throw the ball with the necessary velocity. He’ll be very limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday and they hope he will be able to do more in practice on Friday.

Shonn Greene NYJ - Bruised Ribs

Jets’ RB Shonn Greene, who left last Thursday’s game against the Broncos in the first quarter with bruised ribs, did not practice with the team on Monday but head coach Rex Ryan told reporters that he expects Greene to play in Week 12 against the Bills. According to reports the Jets’ medical staff is concerned that contact could aggravate the injury, so they plan on keeping him out of contact drills this week. Like with most rib injuries, if Greene can deal with the pain and discomfort he should be able to play and still be productive. We’ll keep you posted on his recovery.

Fred Jackson, BUF - Calf Contusion

RB Fred Jackson’s status for Week 12 is in question after he left Sunday’s game against the Dolphins with a calf contusion. Jackson was injured in the third quarter and he was escorted to the locker room where he was examined and treated. He later returned to the sideline but he had an ice bag wrapped on his calf and he stayed out for the remainder of the game. Jackson told reporters afterwards that he was “fine,” but according to reports his calf was extremely sore on Monday morning and head coach Chan Gailey has already said that he won’t practice on Wednesday. Check back later in the week for an update.

Adrian Peterson, MIN - High Ankle Sprain

Vikings’ RB Adrian Peterson will likely miss the team’s Week 12 game after an MRI on Monday morning revealed that his left lower leg injury is actually a high ankle sprain. Peterson was injured in the first quarter on Sunday and after limping off the field he was examined on the sideline and then carted to the locker room for X-rays. No fractures were found, but he was having a difficult time moving around so the medical staff held him out for the remainder of the game. Peterson told reporters after the game that the injury was minor and that he didn’t expect to miss any playing time, however he has been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain which complicates the matter. According to reports he has a grade 1 or minor sprain, but even minor high ankle sprains typically require a couple of weeks of rest. Head coach Leslie Frazier is hoping that Peterson can practice on Friday and play against the Falcons, but right now it’s not looking good. Toby Gerhart will get the start if Peterson is inactive.

James Starks, GB - Sprained Knee and Ankle

Packers’ RB James Starks, who suffered minor sprains to his right knee and ankle during Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers, will probably miss Thursday’s early game against the Lions. Starks was hurt when his knee and ankle were twisted backwards on a carry in the fourth quarter. He was helped off the field and eventually carted to the locker room. According to reports neither sprain is considered serious, but since he is dealing with multiple injuries and the Packers are on a short week team officials aren’t expecting him to play on Thanksgiving Day. Head coach Mike McCarthy is officially taking a wait-and-see approach, but don’t be surprised if Starks is inactive for Week 12.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK - Mild Concussion and Strained Neck

It appears that Raiders’ WR Darrius Heyward-Bey has avoided serious injury after being taken to the hospital on Sunday with head and neck trauma. Heyward-Bey was hurt when he was accidentally hit in the back of his head by Vikings’ LB E.J. Henderson in the fourth quarter. After being examined by the medical staff on the field Heyward-Bey was secured to a spine board and carted off the field. He motioned to the crowd as he left the field indicating that he was conscious and had use of his extremities. He was then transported to a local hospital where he was re-examined. According to reports he has been diagnosed with a minor concussion and a minor neck strain and team officials expect him to make a quick recovery. He was seen wearing a neck brace on Monday and head coach Hue Jackson told reporters that he wasn’t sure if he would be able to play in Week 12. We’ll know more about his status later in the week, but don’t be surprised if he is inactive.

DeSean Jackson, PHI - Bruised Foot

Eagles’ WR DeSean Jackson was seen wearing a walking boot after Sunday night’s game against the Giants raising concerns about his availability for Week 12. But according to reports the team is calling the injury a bruise and they expect him to be play against the Patriots. Jackson’s foot was apparently stepped on in the first half but he didn’t miss any playing time because of the injury. He actually missed a few plays while he was being tested for a concussion, however the tests were negative and he was able to finish the game. His foot was a little swollen afterwards  and he was fitted for a walking boot as a precaution. Jackson actually called the injury a “little sprain, “ but the team is reporting it as a bruise. Either way it looks like he will be healthy enough to play in Week 12.

Greg Jennings, GB - Knee Contusion

Packers’ WR Greg Jennings watched spent much of the second half against the Buccaneers on sidelines because of a bruised knee, but head coach Mike McCarthy has told reporters that he will be in the starting lineup on Thursday against the Lions. Jennings banged his leg in the second quarter and although he took the field for the start of the third quarter he was having difficulty creating separation and the medical staff decided to keep him out as a precaution. He’ll likely be limited in practice this week, but it appears that he will be healthy enough to face the Lions.

Donald Jones, BUF - High Ankle Sprain

Bills’ WR Donald Jones will miss at least 3 weeks and he could be out for the remainder of the season after an MRI on Monday confirmed that he suffered a serious left high ankle sprain against the Dolphins. Jones, who was injured in the second quarter, remainder on the ground for several minutes and he appeared to be in a lot of pain. He was eventually carted off the field and into the locker room. X-rays were negative, but a preliminary evaluation revealed that he suffered a high ankle sprain, similar to the one he had earlier in the season. Unfortunately the MRI showed that the sprain is serious and head coach Chan Gailey admitted that Jones could end up on injured reserve.

Jake Ballard, NYG - Bruised Elbow

Giants’ TE Jake Ballard left Sunday night’s game against the Eagles with a bruised elbow, but he later returned to the game and according to reports the team believes he will be healthy enough to play in Week 12. Ballard fell and banged his right elbow into the ground in the second half and he was taken to the locker room where he was examined. Precautionary X-rays were reportedly negative and after having it padded and wrapped he was able to return to the field for the team’s final drive. He’ll likely be limited in practice this week, but expect him to be active against the Saints.

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Predictions & Projections
David Dorey
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The Huddle
~ 2008 ~
Season Ticket
Sunday Late

Prediction: GB 24, JAC 17

Kind of hard to determine which team has disappointed the most this year. The Packers have lost their last three, may have a losing season and are 2-4 on the road while the Jaguars big step backwards has a four game losing streak, already a losing record that cannot be changed and are 1-5 at home. And these were two of the more anticipated teams coming into the season.

Green Bay Packers (5-8)
Homefield: Lambeau Field
  Opp Score Spread Over/Under
1 MIN 24-19 -3 38.5
2 @DET 48-25 -3 45
3 DAL 16-27 +3 51
4 @TB 21-30 +1.5 43
5 ATL 24-27 -3 41
6 @SEA 27-17 +2.5 46.5
7 IND 34-14 +1 47
8 BYE - - -
9 @TEN 16-19 +5.5 42.5
10 @MIN 27-28 +2.5 45.5
11 CHI 37-3 -3.5 43
12 @NO 29-51 +1 51.5
13 CAR 31-35 -3 43
14 HOU 21-24 -3 43
15 @JAX - -1.5 45
16 @CHI - - -
17 DET - - -
GB @ JAC Rush Catch Pass
QB Aaron Rodgers     230,2
RB Ryan Grant 70,1
TE Donald Lee   20,1
WR Donald Driver   50
WR Greg Jennings   100,1
WR Jordy Nelson   30
PK Mason Crosby 1 FG 3 XP

Pregame Notes: The first non-Favre year has not been a success though it hardly all rides on the shoulders of Aaron Rodgers. The Packers defense has not risen to the occasion as expected and partially that comes from a much tougher schedule in 2008 than there was in 2007. Two road games could either be losses but at least week 17 will allow the Packers to play in a meaningful game and be a part of history if they can provide the Lions with their NFL record 16th loss of the season.

It wasn't a good year but hey - at least we are not the Lions.

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers is finishing out the season with a stretch of excellent games starting in week 11. He has thrown for at least two scores and had over 225 passing yards each week, His six interceptions in that time has not been a help though and the Packers have lost their last two games by four points or less. But Rodgers has been very productive and his 22 touchdowns and 3192 passing yards is even better than that old guy playing for the Jets.

Running Backs: Ryan Grant comes off one of his best games of the year when he rushed for 104 yards and one score against the Texans. Grant has been been much more productive in the second half of the season though not above the occasional bad game. His four touchdowns have all been since week seven,

Brandon Jackson still gets work but only in games where Grant has already stumbled to a bad game. Jackson offers a nice complement in those cases but has minimal use of Grant is running well.

The Packers have lost RT Mark Tauscher to a torn ACL. That will not help the rushing game.

Wide Receivers: Greg Jennings has already had a fine year with seven scores and four games over 100 yards. Last week was the first time in a month that he failed to score a touchdown but he still managed 74 yards on two catches. He's actually bee more effective on the road this year with three of those four 100 yard games happening away from Green Bay.

Donald Driver has remained a solid possession receiver with around 60 yards in most games and four scores on the year. He's been a serviceable WR3 but a lack of scoring has really dropped his stock.

Tight Ends: The connection between Rodgers and Donald Lee has been improving as the season progresses and the tight end has scored in three of the last four games. The problem this week is that Lee always disappears in every road game and all his scores and decent yardage games were limited to being in Green Bay.

Match Against the Defense: Grant showed up as healthy last week when he ran for 104 yards on 19 carries against the Texans but the Jaguars at home have been at least slightly better in only allowed four rushing scores and no 100 yard games. Look for a moderate effort here that has a good chance for one score.

Rodgers faces a secondary that has not faced many good passing attacks this year and yet still gives up multiple touchdowns in about half of their games. I like Rodgers to turn in those two scores that should split out between Jennings - of course - and the other could end up with Lee. He has done little in road games but the Jags are one of the worst at stopping tight ends this year. There will be no yardage attached so it is too risky for most fantasy league starts.

Gaining Fantasy Points GB 4 27 4 18 9 1
Preventing Fantasy Points    JAC 19 19 16 27 18 14

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)
Homefield: J'ville Municipal Stadium
  Opp Score Spread Over/Under
1 @TEN 10-17 -3 37
2 BUF 16-20 -6 38
3 @IND 23-21 +5.5 42
4 HOU 30-27 -7.5 42
5 PIT 21-26 -4 36
6 @DEN 24-17 +3.5 48
7 BYE - - -
8 CLE 17-23 -6.5 41
9 @CIN 19-21 -7.5 40
10 @DET 38-14 -6.5 44.5
11 TEN 14-24 +3 39.5
12 MIN 12-30 -2.5 40
13 @HOU 17-30 +3 48
14 @CHI 10-23 +6.5 40
15 GB - +1.5 45
16 IND - - -
17 @BAL - - -
JAX vs GB Rush Catch Pass
QB David Garrard     180
RB Fred Taylor 60 10
RB Maurice Jones-Drew 70,2 40
TE Marcedes Lewis   50
WR Dennis Northcutt   20
WR Mike Walker   30
WR Reggie Williams   30
PK Josh Scobee 1 FG 2 XP

Pregame Notes: The Jaguars stumbled from week one, lost players along the way and never recovered. The lone bright spot in the passing game has been Matt Jones who is now suspended for the rest of the year because of his cocaine arrest. That leaves a rushing game that has some spark but little fire and a passing game that just went from bad to worse. After this week comes the Colts and the Ravens for an unusually cruel way to finish off a lost season.

Quarterback: David Garrard the game manager still plays where David Garrard the game winner needs to be. But outside of literally two or three games, Garrard has been chugging along with around 200 yards and one score in most games and has 11 touchdowns on the season against ten interceptions. He only threw three in all of last year. Despite having the same players plus Jerry Porter, the passing game never materialized this year and no player other than Matt "sniffy" Jones ever stepped up to make a difference.

Running Backs: The offensive line problems from the start were never compensated for and the rushing attack here has dropped from being elite to merely average. Fred Taylor has only scored once on the season and has apparently hung on this year purely to pad his career stats so he can feel good about his total body of work without ever having had one really great year.

Maurice Jones-Drew has been solid in almost every week thanks to either touchdowns or receptions for more yardage. His rushing numbers only had him with two games over 100 yards and mostly mediocrity because he had to split everything with Taylor. He has 142 carries for 607 yards and a 4.3 yard average. Taylor has 143 runs for 556 yards and a 3.9 yard average. Remember too that Jones-Drew gets all the short yardage runs as well.

Wide Receivers: In the "Making Matters Worse" department, we have the suspension of Matt Jones for the rest of the year and Jerry Porter likely out with a bad groin. That now leaves Reggie Williams who was a scoring machine in 2007 and just another unproductive player this year. And Dennis Northcutt who catches one or two passes per week and then runs to the mall where he fills in as one of Santa's elves this month. And Mike Walker who is considered very talented and promising and who cannot remain healthy for more than a few weeks.

Recall that Walker had six catches for 107 yards against the Steelers but then, of course, was injured. He only has to last for three weeks this time though he will face the best passing defenses in that time. He's worth watching for next year if you need a promising up-and-comer who will be injured once you use him.

Tight Ends: Marcedes Lewis only has two scores on the season but he has been pretty consistent around 40 yards per week. The lack of receivers this week could spark a little more use.

Match Against the Defense: The Packers have been soft against the run and more so in a road game where they have allowed a total of six rushing scores. The yardage gets split but Jones-Drew should score at least once this week and potentially twice.

The passing game has struggled though and now without Jones takes a turn for the worse, The corners for the Packers are good and the Jags are fresh out of decent receivers. Expect a low yardage game without a passing score.

Gaining Fantasy Points JAC 18 13 25 24 27 22
Preventing Fantasy Points    GB 14 27 8 21 22 8

The Huddle
~ 2008 ~
Season Ticket
Sunday Late
Other Features
Fantasy Statistics
Tuesday Injury Report
Free Agent Forecast
Commentary From the Edge
Game Recaps
Tunnel Vision
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Ultra-wideband Radar Measurements: analysis and processing

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IET Digital Library

This title is available electronically through the IET Digital Library

  • Author:

  • Year: 1997

  • Format: Hardback

  • Product Code: PBRA0070

  • ISBN: 978-0-85296-894-9

  • Pagination: 256pp.

  • Stock Status: In stock

£51.35 Member price

£79.00 Full price

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Scope: With growing interest in the applications of ultrawideband radar systems (UWB), this timely book provides an essential contribution to the field of radar system analysis. While concentrating on principal issues of theory, computer processing, modelling and measuring UWB signals, the scope of the issues covered in the book is wider than in previous publications. Written with the research engineer in mind, the book presents detailed discussion of mathematical models for radar target detection and recognition, as well as estimation of target detectability, and considers UWB applications in new fields such as subsurface probing and ecological monitoring.

Book readership

Electrical/electronics engineers; radar engineers; researchers

Book contents

1: UWB signal definition, modelling and measurement; 2: Analytical description of target scattering; 3: UWB radar target response; 4: Design principles and mathematical modelling of UWB radar meters; 5: UWB signal processing; References; Index.

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Ryan: Tough Issues Will Not Be Ducked

Wisconsin congressman accepts vice presidential nomination

August 30, 2012

By DAVID ESPO Associated Press Writer TAMPA, Fla....

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Keterman lifts NW Neasden

By Danny Caro, June 3, 2010
TJ Keterman leads Neasden’s promotion celebrations

TJ Keterman leads Neasden’s promotion celebrations

A four-goal blast from TJ Keterman helped North West Neasden B clinch the runners-up spot in Division One after they demolished Brady Maccabi 8-1.

Needing a draw to finish behind champions North London Raiders A, Keterman put Neasden ahead early on. Lee Platt levelled things up with a sublime strike from 35 yards but Keterman soon restored Neasden's advantage, completing a first-half hat-trick. Bradley Sharpe, Ryan Sher, Alex Bowman, Nicky Skone and Keterman completed the rout.

NWN joint-manager Sammy Carr said: "We blew the league ourselves but are now back where we belong."

Hendon United A sealed second place in the Premier Division after coming from 3-1 down to beat Hendon United B. Raphael Noe, Ben Kon and Chaim Gothold put the Bs in pole position but Yishai Last, Dovid Korman, Josh Lipman and Ari Last helped the JC Cyril Anekstein Cup runners-up finish on a high.

Hendon A boss David Garbacz commented: "We were given an almighty scare but ultimately, we're delighted to get the points, and secure the runners-up spot."

Last updated: 2:56pm, June 3 2010


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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Myral Marie Hardy Rash, 1904-1991

Daily Iowegian - June 1991
  Myral Marie Rash, 86, a Centerville resident, died June 21, 1991, at the St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital.
  She was born Oct. 12, 1904, in Jerome, the daughter of William and Maggie (Allan) Hardy.
  She united in marriage to Zora Lee Rash on Oct. 18, 1922, in Unionville, Mo., and he preceded her in death.
  She was a homemaker and a housewife, living most of her life in this area. She was a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
  Survivors include two daughters, Norma Jean (Forrest) Flowers of Centerville, Mrs. Beverly (George) Jane Lotridge of Little Rock, Ark.; two sons, Max Rash of Seymour, and Richard Rash of Des Moines; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
  She was preceded in death by a son, Lee William Rash; two sisters, Ruth Shock and Edna Moore, and a brother, Robert; and her parents.
  Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon at the Lange Funeral Home with the Rev. Ralph Youngman officiating.
  Interment will be in the Jerome Cemetery.
  A memorial has been established to the Evangelical Covenant Church, and may be left at the funeral home.

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Women’s Ordeals Dominate Jewish Book Awards
Wed, 03/07/2012

New York — The National Jewish Book Council today announced the winners of its awards for Best Fiction and Best Nonfiction. The nonfiction prize went to “Shmata Hari: The Spy Who Wore Rags, by Mae Meriva.” The scholarly work, published by Judaica Wine Press, was selected from over 60 nominees.

The 200-page tome details how an Israeli secret operative spied on Arab platoons during the Six-Day War in 1967, averting suspicion by dressing in old, torn clothing to make herself “look shlumpy.”

The fiction award went to “Baruchus My Tuchus,” a novel by Don Anochi about a rabbi who harnesses the power of prayer to overcome an irritating case of hemorrhoids.

Special awards were given in the new category of Women’s Ordeals, and included “Bossypants,” the diary of the first woman president of Orthodox congregation Ahavas Kesef; “The Girl Who Played With Fire in the Hornet’s Nest With A Tattoo,” the conflated Swedish trilogy and inexplicably successful saga of a troubled young arsonist who’s not fond of men; “What To Expect When You Expect Your Self-Help Book on Pregnancy to Be On The Best-Seller List Forever”; and “The Immortal Life Of Henrietta’s Slacks,” the true story of a woman’s pants that were extensively worn without her permission in 1951.

The winning authors will each receive the good wishes of an impoverished publishing industry.


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To dye or not to dye… Does Grey Hair Matter?

newsmangrey woman's hairmerryl streep

I have been getting a number of questions lately on the issue of hair color on an interview.  In a decade of recruiting, I’ve probably been asked about hair color twice… this week alone I’ve been asked about it 3 x by men and women.

Many men and women are concerned about the competition with younger workers.   They are trying to get every advantage over the young 35 or 45 year old without the grey.    They want to know should they dye their hair or let it go natural color.

Before I answer, a little bit about  why hair turns grey:

As we get older, the pigment cells in our hair follicles gradually die. When there are fewer pigment cells in a hair follicle, that strand of hair will no longer contain as much melanin and will become a more transparent color – like gray, silver, or white – as it grows. As people continue to get older, fewer pigment cells will be around to produce melanin. Eventually, the hair will look completely gray.

People can get gray hair at any age. Some people go gray at a young age – as early as when they are in high school or college – whereas others may be in their 30s or 40s before they see that first gray hair. How early we get gray hair is determined by our genes. This means that most of us will start having gray hairs around the same age that our parents or grandparents first did.

That said, here has been my answer to the job seeker who is concerned they won’t be as competitive with greying hair.

No matter what company and what job, you will be judged on the following spoken items:

  • Qualifications to the Job
  • Ability to Move the Organization Forwards
  • History of Success
  • Cultural Fit
  • Technical Abilities

The unspoken things you may never know are:

  • Age Bias
  • Sex/Gender Bias
  • Religious Bias
  • Regional bias
  • Cultural Bias

The happiest people in the workforce are those that can be themselves.  If you are 25 and grey, does that make you any less competitive against someone 25 and balding?

If  you are 55 and grey and competing against someone with less skills, similar personality and cultural fit that is 35 and great blond hair, does that make you any less competitive?

I’m a huge advocate of doing your research before the job interview.  Visit the company.  See the average age.  Talk to the receptionist.  Pull up information about the management team.  Find people in LinkedIn or other Media and see their pictures.

It’s not a perfect world.  There will always be social bias, but you have alot of control before, during and after the interview to prove you are the best candidate.

If you are 58 and going into a company of 22 year olds in a technology startup it might be awkward working daily for you and them.  They could be your kids.   That’s just poor planning on your part.

If you are going into an interview with mixed ages and you know they have a history of keeping people they may be looking for  your long-term capabilities.  Prepare for that question before-hand.

Be yourself.  Be Confident. Demonstrate your excellent capabilities by case studies, stories and successes.  Most of all, have fun being who you are and remember… you are interviewing them as they are interviewing you.  They want to make a great impression on you as well.

A final story why I will not dye my hair myself.  I had a work associate in a consulting group, one time who was approximately 55.   He was always dark haired, no grey.  I never thought anything of it.  When our consulting team went our separate ways, we didn’t see each other for about 2 years.  My colleague started his own business.  When I saw him next I was shocked.  He was totally white!

I asked him what happened.  He said he’s been grey since he was 35 and didn’t know himself how grey he was until he let the hair dye naturally fade.  He went from black to white overnight.  That was a shock I would not want to do to anyone especially myself.

If you feel the urge to ‘hit the bottle’, no not that bottle but the dye bottle, then do it.  Experiment; but have a professional at least do it for you at first.  Have fun with it and determine for yourself if you can be yourself.

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3 Responses to To dye or not to dye… Does Grey Hair Matter?

  1. DingoDogg says:

    Hi, Can i take a one small photo from your site?

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  3. hey, I added ur site to my RSS reader. the posts are awesome! :)

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Look! Cute Measuring Cups at Anthropologie

We were wandering through the homewares department at Anthropologie when we spotted the set of measuring cups above. Then we spotted another set...and another...and another! Everywhere we turned, we saw more sets, each more adorable than the last. Take a look!

In all honesty, we can't see using these measuring cups for everyday, practical reasons. But it would make us smile to see them lined up on the windowsill above our kitchen sink. We could also see using them as salt and pepper cellars, or to hold things like toothpicks and olive pits at a cocktail party. And wouldn't you love to receive a set as a housewarming gift?

Tea cups as measuring cups

Nesting measuring cup matryoshka dolls

Fluffy nesting hens

And simple multi-colored measuring cups. These also came in shades of blue/purple and green/yellow.

They range in price from $28 - $36. Some of them are available online, but we saw many more versions at the store.

Related: Hot or Not: Toast-It Bags

(Images: Emma Christensen for the Kitchn)


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The Science Behind Chewing Your Food Properly

Some days it can feel as though we're lucky to find time to grab a bite to eat, let alone chew it before we have to be back to the grindstone. Chewing your food is obviously a way to savor the tastes your consuming, but do you know the more scientific reasons in favor of chewing your food thoroughly?

First and foremost, we blame High School for the bad eating habits of today. 3-4 lunch shifts where kids file into a cafeteria (with questionable food choices), knowing they only have 20 minutes before they have to be back to class, balancing bathroom breaks and a trip to your locker — well it's easy to see how we all became accustomed to eating in a rapid fire manner with our only goal being quick consumption.

Chewing your food helps break it down before it heads south to your stomach, we all know that much, but the time your food spends in your mouth is valuable for a few reasons. Let's take a look:

1. Saliva Beat Down: Your saliva is a powerful weapon when it comes to digestion. It contains enzymes that break down fats and starches that can only go to work if your food is chewed, thus letting your saliva cover more surface area of what you're trying to consume. If you don't chew as well, these enzymes don't have the ability to break down starches (providing you with energy) or start digesting fats (leaving them partially unprocessed). You'l receive less energy and feel more sluggish as a result.

Saliva also helps relax your stomach muscles, allowing pieces of food to pass along the digestive track and without enough mouth juice, things get a little cramped and painful. So next time you think you had some bad Thai food, maybe you just didn't chew it long enough?

2. Who Cut The Cheese?: If your food isn't chewed well enough, your body as a result can feel a little bloated and gassy. Great conversation starters huh? This results from large food particles that aren't digested fully and pass through our colon where they become little floating islands for growing bacteria, which creates the smell and bloating on the other end of your meal.

3. Nutrient Absorption: Though it seems like anything we put in our bodies should be fully digested in our stomach and taken care of, that's not always the case. Though it might be processed by our tummies and the rest of the works from there on out, it doesn't mean our bodies are able to extract all that they could from the food. It doesn't do you any good to make healthy eating choices and not be able to receive all the benefits from it. It would be like going to a spa and paying for a full afternoon if bliss and only getting a pedicure.

As a result, it means that each piece of food we put in our bodies should be chewed well. The amount of chews differs for different foods, obviously steak will require a bit more chewing than say an olive, but the theory is still the same. Make sure you take the time to savor what you eat, allowing your body to extract all it can to better itself, while you max out on all that yummy flavor!

Related: Eating Quietly

(Image: Flickr member mini_true licensed for use under Creative Commons)


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In Gowanus, Playgrounds Both Real and Imagined

04/09/2012 12:02 PM |

A tiny upstairs gallery seems like a funny place to host an exhibition on parks and public spaces. But that was the setting for last week’s opening of Brooklyn Utopia’s Park Space/Play Space. The reception took place at the Old Stone House in J.J Byrne Park, on the Park Slope-Gowanus border.

The exhibit, Brooklyn Utopia’s third at The Old Stone House, features works that are “visioning for parks and public space,” said Kimberly Maier, the House’s executive director. The upstairs gallery featured works such as Marina Zamin’s immersive video installation “Brooklyn Canals” and an animation by Jess Levey projected onto a canvas with cutout flower pots and windows. There were also panoramic photo-murals of a few blocks on Kent Avenue, as well as picture-postcards and descriptions of eminent domain cases across the city.

Some of the other works in the exhibit merge public space with technology. Lynn Cazabon’s “Uncultivated” project displays pictures of plants with QR codes beneath them. When someone scans the code, they are directed to a website which pinpoints the location of the plants and gives their species. Then there is Skymills, an app which calls on the Old Stone House’s Dutch legacy and erects virtual windmills that can be viewed through an iPad or iPhone. The mills also create virtual skywriting, which Will Pappenheimer was busy collecting from attendees. Holding the stand of his iPad like a handle, Pappenheimer spun around showing off all the windmills, noting that if you walk into the location of one you can look up at the windmill’s ceiling. He envisions the app as a virtual public space where users plant trees or write virtual messages that all users can see. “You really are a utopian,” a listener remarked. “Yeah!” Pappenheimer said.

Pappenheimer will be conducting an “Augmented Reality Workshop” on May 19th, part of the exhibition’s extensive events program. One of the most promising of these is April 28’s bootcamp and exhibition game of “Circle Rules Football,” a game played with one of those bouncy exercise balls. Basically the tenants of the game are that you can do anything with the ball (kicking, dribbling, passing) as long as you don’t run while holding it. There is one goal in the center and the job of the two goalies there is basically to stop the other from doing their job. There will also be a large dodgeball game nicknamed “The Battle of Brooklyn.”

More docile events include a collective sky-gazing night, and later in the exhibition a “collective wedding ceremony” with artist Tracy Candido. There will also be eminent domain biking tours from Park Slope to Coney Island, and a public mural making workshop. The exhibit also coincides with the opening of a new playground in the park. Although the playground doesn’t open till May 11, it will feature some of the virtues of the exhibit, combining art with public space with a submarine-inspired design by artist Julie Peppito and 3D images seen through periscope goggles.

2 Comment

  • Thanks for the shout out and for covering our exhibit. Just one important correction- it’s Jess Levey, not Josee levy

  • Another important note: The article omitted the curator/creator of this exhibition and the two previous Brookyn Utopias, Katherine Gressel. A painter in her own right, as an administrator and curator (her day job is at the Smack Mellon arts organization in Dumbo) she accesses the visionary, the practical, and the esthetic in these unique civic kaleidoscopes that are consistently provocative and fun.
    Chris Cory


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Hues of Orange

By • Oct 4th, 2010 • Category: BEAUTY, Cosmetics, Fragrance, Hair, Skin

I’ve been a little obsessed with everything and anything having to do with orange later. Maybe it’s me missing my red-headed locks, or maybe it’s me reaping the benefits of the colorful autumnal leaves changing and vitamin C citrus-y scents. Either way, these, a few of my favorites, have been keeping me in tip-top (drunken) shape.

Sniff: This quick fix solid perfume is a killer mid-afternoon pick me up, the scent is warm with honey and sandalwood, but the top fresh orange blossom note awakens the senses. Keep a spray in your desk, and a solid in your purse. Â  LUSH Orange Blossom Gorilla Perfume [$9.95 lushusa.com]

Smooch: Step outside of the red lipped box this fall. Pair tweed blazers, paisley scarves and denim with a warm orange hue to steer clear from any harsh reds or femme pinks. Try an orange hued gloss, first, if you’re scurred. Baby steps. MAC Pro Longwear Lip Creme in Good to Go [$16Â  maccosmetics.com]

Glow: A little gossip magazine action, a face mask and a whole lotta tea is what unwinding is all about. Specifically, a face mask containing Citrus Aurantium Dulcis, aka Orange extract. The citrus will help to encourage exfoliation & renewal of skin cells while evening skin tone so your cheeks can look juicy enough to pinch. Arbonne’s RE9 Advanced Cellular Renewal Masque [$65 Arbonne.com]

Drank: Invite friends over for brunch and wow them with this Blood Orange Martini to sip on.

  • 1.5 oz Stirrings Blood Orange Mixer
  • 1.5 oz Smirnoff Vodka
  • Garnish: Sliced raw pumpkin

Rim martini glass with Blood Orange Rimmer. Combine ingredients in shake with plenty of ice. Strain into rimmed glass. Garnish with a pumpkin slice.

Disclosure: All products were provided for review. No monetary compensation was received for this review. All opinions belong to the author.

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is a fun-loving, twenty-something living in Brooklyn. She spends most of her time absorbing all the life, tofu and whiskey that NYC has to offer. Her current obsessions? BDG High-waisted leggings, vintage boot shopping in Williamsburg, Katherine Kwei's sling bag and Melanie Marie's two-finger horn ring.
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KL traders plan two-day protest outside Ambiga’s house

Stalls selling cakes and biscuits are seen outside Masjid Jamek in Kuala Lumpur, August 27, 2011. — Picture by Choo Choy MayStalls selling cakes and biscuits are seen outside Masjid Jamek in Kuala Lumpur, August 27, 2011. — Picture by Choo Choy MayKUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — A new group of traders based in the city now want to hold a two-day protest in front of Datuk Amibga Sreenevasan’s house over the loss of income due to the chaotic April 28 rally, despite previous protestors calling off further events at the Bersih chief’s home.

Bernama reported that 60 petty traders are planning to sell household goods, food and drinks from 3.30 to 8pm in front of Ambiga’s Bukit Damansara home this Thursday and Friday.

“Each of the traders can expect a turnover of between RM300 and RM500 a day by trading there,” the state news agency quoted Kuala Lumpur Petty Traders Action Council chief Datuk Jamal Md Yunus as saying.

He added at a press conference, which was also attended by representatives from Malay rights NGO Perkasa, that the traders hoped to recoup losses suffered during the Bersih 3.0 rally for free and fair elections, calling their protest “Bersih 4.0 — Cleaning up Bersih 1,2,3.”

Another group of traders from the Malaysia Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Alliance (Ikhlas) held a “burger protest” outside the former Bar Council president’s home on May 10, claiming losses of up to RM200,000 due to the rally.

About 10 Ikhlas traders prepared about 200 chicken and beef burgers outside Ambiga’s house and offered some to Ambiga, who is vegetarian and a Hindu.

A group of retired soldiers also went to Ambiga’s house on Tuesday and flexed their bottoms at her, accusing her of being an enemy of the nation.

There was also a reported break-in attempt at the lawyer’s office on Friday.

Ikhlas also promised a larger protest with 500 traders but later cancelled the May 24 event saying they had taught Ambiga a lesson after Bersih said there were no current plans for another rally.

An Indian NGO called WargaAMAN also called off plans to set up “thosai” stalls in front of Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar’s home in response to the deputy police chief’s stand that no action was needed against the “burger protest” as it was not an offence to “sit in front of her house without disrupting other people.”

But Ambiga told The Malaysian Insider yesterday any decision on future rallies will not be influenced by these protests.

Bersih supporters, including opposition leaders and lawyers, have been mooting “Bersih 4.0” in the days following the planned April 28 sit-in, claiming this would be the only way to motivate the government into implementing further electoral reforms.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said in a news report on Monday that at least one million people would join “Bersih 4.0” if Putrajaya fails to clean up the polls process as demanded.

He had also pledged his party’s commitment to organising the next Bersih rally, saying it would be necessary if the government did not initiate proper polls reforms before the next general election.

PAS spiritual advisor Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat had also recently said that the Islamist party would organise and facilitate Bersih’s next gathering.

The April 28 rally that saw tens of thousands gather at six different locations before heading to Dataran Merdeka was peaceful until about 2.30pm when Ambiga asked the crowd to disperse.

But her call was not heard by most of the crowd who persisted around the historic square which the court had already barred to the public over the weekend.

Just before 3pm, some protestors breached the barricade surrounding the landmark, leading police to disperse the crowd with tear gas and water cannons.

Police then continued to pursue the rally-goers down several streets amid chaotic scenes which saw violence from both sides over the next four hours.

Today, Jamal also said the group would apply for the necessary permits but would still go ahead if denied.

Please refrain from nicknames or comments of a racist, sexist, personal, vulgar or derogatory nature, or you may risk being blocked from commenting in our website . We encourage commenters to use their real names as their username. As comments are moderated, they may not appear immediately or even on the same day you posted them. We also reserve the right to delete off-topic comments


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Hooton Road
Call: 0151 328 0808

About Us:

After extensive refurbishment the Nags Head re-opened in July 2011. Under new ownership the Nags Head is now a well established village pub. Whether you like a quiet drink, a sociable night out or a quality meal in warm and relaxing surroundings you,ll find it here at the Nags Head. Delicious, affordable fresh food prepared daily on site for you and your family. Recently included in the good beer guide we pride ourselves on our good quality ales. In addition we have been recognised by cask marque as a quality ale venue and been awarded CAMRA regional pub of the year runners up. Our continuing good reviews received on tripadvisor show the appreciation from our customers.

Our chefs have combined their experience and knowledge to offer a suberb menu for all tastes - a range of delicious dishes all prepared from fresh ingredients. Food is served all day everyday with kids menu also available. And if what you fancy is not on the menu just ask!

Bookings taken, Gift vouchers available, Baby changing facilities, Beer garden, Dogs welcome, Dart board.

Take a look at our menu and come visit us!

Photos of our pub:

What our customers say:

"Welcoming pub to man and dog" - Tripadvisor 2013

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The Nags Head Hooton Road, Willaston, Cheshire | 0151 328 0808


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Science Articles

What a Pain (and what to do about it) !

Wed, 31st Aug 2005

Peter McNaughton

Broken NoseWe all know about pain, or at least we think we do. Things that damage our bodies cause pain. We learn to avoid pain because the experience is nasty, and in the process we learn to avoid stimuli which might damage us. The more the damage, the greater the pain, and the more we avoid it. Put simply like that, pain is obviously beneficial, in that it teaches us to avoid damage, even though the experience of it is unpleasant. But closer examination reveals many puzzles and contradictions. Sometimes we fail to notice even quite severely damaging stimuli. In a rugby match the pain of a broken bone may only be felt after the player has left the field. Soldiers in battle similarly do not feel severe injuries until after the battle is over. I read recently a letter written home by a sailor at the battle of Trafalgar, where he comments that he had been unaware at the time of the battle that a cannon ball had carried away three of his fingers. So pain is not so simple after all. Damaging stimuli do not necessarily hurt.

The opposite can also happen - pain can felt even when there is no stimulus, or it can be caused by a stimulus which is clearly not damaging. One example is neuropathic pain, which persists indefinitely, long after the injury which inititated it has healed. Neuropathic pain is a terrible (and currently untreatable) problem for those who suffer from it. Another example is phantom limb pain. Patients with amputated limbs often complain of a feeling of pain in the ghost of the missing limb. A more day to day example that we are all familiar with occurs if the skin is burned, for instance in getting a hot dish out of the oven. The burned area remains painful for days, and even a quite innocuous stimulus, such as gentle touch or the warmth of contact with a hand, causes pain. So pain can be caused by a non-damaging stimulus, or even by no stimulus. There is clearly no direct or simple relationship between the strength of the stimulus and the magnitude of the pain. What can be going on here?

In fact pain is really very poorly understood, in spite of years of study. We do not even know very much about how nerve fibres detect pain. Do the nerve endings react directly to pain, or is it that damage releases something from other cells, which then stimulates the nerve fibres? And how can pain be so variable? Is this something happening "in the mind" or are there processes happening out at the periphery, at the level of the nerve terminals, which might explain the variability of pain?

These are the questions that my lab in Cambridge is trying to answer. We abandoned the idea of studying pain in intact animals and went instead for the simpler situation of isolated nerve cells cultured in a dish. We have found that they respond in many ways like pain-sensitive nerves in a real animal. For instance, we found that the temperature at which these isolated pain-sensitive nerves respond to heat is very similar to the temperature at which a human subject reports that the sensation from a warmed object changes from a pleasant feeling of warmth to a sensation of painful heat. We found out something about the way in which heat actually stimulates the nerve endings - it is a direct process, caused by sodium ions flowing in through the membrane of the cell. So the actual response to heat is intrinsic to the nerve fibre itself, and does need any factors which might be released from nearby cells damaged by the hot stimulus.

But the isolated nerve fibres did differ in an interesting way from their counterparts in an intact animal. If a hot stimulus is repeatedly applied to skin the sensation of pain gets worse and worse, as we all know, while our isolated nerves in culture always responded with a signal of the same size. This told us that the process of sensitization, by which the feeling of pain increases with time, is not intrinsic to the nerve fibres, but instead depends on factors released from other nearby cells which in an intact animal are damaged by the painful stimulus. Nearby cells are, of course, not present in a culture of isolated nerve cells. We identified one of these factors as a protein fragment called bradykinin, which was already known to be present in elevated concentrations in damaged or inflamed tissue.

So, in summary, transduction, or the process by which a nerve cell detects pain, is quite separate from sensitization, the process by which pain gets worse with time. The first is present in a nerve fibre by itself, and does not need any other partners in order to produce a normal response to heat. The second needs bradykinin, and probably other factors as well, to be released from damaged cells nearby in order to occur. We have now found out quite a lot about what is happening at a molecular level inside the nerve during both of these processes. All this atttracted considerable media attention, and the work was featured in several national newspapers, in the popular science magazine "New Scientist" and on BBC television.

We have recently opened up a new front which is also proving very interesting. We knew all along that sensitization was not going to be caused by just a single process, and that the work I described in the paragraphs above was always going to be just a start on the problem. Pain gets worse for many reasons, some of them happening rapidly (such as the effect of bradykinin described above), some on a longer time scale. Some happen in the nerve endings themselves, others are indeed "in the mind" (or perhaps in the spinal cord). We wanted to make more progress in unravelling these important and interesting processes. We have focussed mainly on processes happening in the nerve endings, out where the pain is first detected. That's not to say that more central processes are not important, but you have to start somewhere.

One possible explanation for the neuropathic pain that I mentioned above is that the properties of the nerve endings might be somehow changed by injury. We looked into the question of whether receptors for bradykinin, which we already knew was important in short-term sensitization, might be increased in number ("upregulated") by injury, in a long-term process. We were very excited recently when we discovered just such a process. It occurs over a long time scale, because factors released by injury have to be transported all the way from the nerve terminal in the damaged area, back up to the nerve cell body located just outside the spinal cord. There the factor (or factors - we are still not sure how many are involved) upregulate production of the receptors for bradykinin, which then have to be transported back down to the terminals. All this takes several days, and it is just this sort of long-term process that might help to explain the slowly-developing agony that sufferers from neuropathic pain feel. We have already identified one of the important factors involved in this long-term process - it is a growth factor, called nerve growth factor (NGF for short). If we could control the production of NGF, or if we could modulate the pathways by which it acts, then we may be able to take the first steps to controlling neuropathic pain. We are just making a start in this area, but it is an interesting beginning.

Last of all, I hope I haven't given the impression that all this work was done by me. In fact, not much of the actual work at all was done by me - I am more the person that starts the ideas running and gets the money necessary to run a large lab (it is, of course, pretty expensive). I am very lucky to have a group of outstanding young scientists working with me. They come from many different countries of the world, from Italy, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Korea, Canada - and we even have some from England! It is one of the great pleasures of modern science to work with such a diverse and interesting group of people. Many of our ideas also, of course, depend on progress in other labs. As Isaac Newton once said, you can only see any distance in science if you can stand on the shoulders of giants.

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Matthew Birkhold

June 8, 2007

Over the last few months hip-hop has been under attack in the mainstream media. However, the political hip-hop community (PHHC) — a group comprised of socially conscious hip-hop fans, grassroots activists, prominent hip-hop generation artists and intellectuals — has not been silenced. We have defended hip-hop from outside and feel confident in our defense. Unfortunately, most of our attempts to defend hip-hop have deflected valid criticisms of the music and culture. In response, this essay argues that being hip-hop is often a roadblock to intellectual honesty and hinders political organizing by allowing us to deflect critique.

When people identify as hip-hop, using the phrase, “I am hip-hop,” criticisms of hip-hop may be internalized and may thus pose a problem for political and intellectual work. For example, following Don Imus’ assertion that hip-hop itself was to blame for his degrading description of the Rutgers women’s basketball team, the PHHC’s reactionary response to the attack on its culture played in to an “us versus them” archetype, rather than spurring ownership and self-reflection.

Hard to earn

On Feb. 20, Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes premiered on PBS. Directed by Byron Hurt, Beyond Beats is a loving insiders’ critique of hip-hop and an excellent examination of how men involved in hip-hop construct masculinity. Hip-hop has been one of the few places where black men can express themselves publicly, and Hurt’s film focuses on the ways young black men construct their masculinity in a racist, sexist, capitalist world. Hurt skillfully probes several rappers and fans of rap music about the ways that women are portrayed in music and videos and asks rappers why their lyrics are consistently violent and sexist. By the film’s conclusion, the need to redefine masculinity is clear.

When questioned about violence and sexism, many rappers in Hurt’s film respond by saying that only explicit music makes money. Rap, for many young black men, has become a job and a way to earn a living. Yet they work in a racist, capitalist state where employees, particularly black, do not receive a fair share of profits. To further complicate matters, black male artist-employees are faced with the reality that their primary consumers, young white people, are not willing to pay black men to behave in ways that pose a threat to institutional white supremacy.

This grim reality poses a difficult problem for individuals and artists who are committed to both hip-hop and social justice.

Hip-hop is a profitable business that’s earned a handful of black people access to capital that has been otherwise elusive in the entertainment business. For many black men, looking at the career paths of Jay Z, Russell Simmons, Diddy, or equally successful independent artists who’ve made a living pressing and distributing their music, hip-hop employment seems both wise and lucrative. However, if we look at the artist-employees in Hurt’s film, the question begging to be asked is, “At what cost to the black community has the hip-hop career path come?” Gender has certainly suffered in the wake of a profit-driven rap game. The image of black women and men must certainly be considered among the costs.

Abandon hip-hop?

By the end of the 2005 Feminism and Hip-Hop Conference, it was clear that hip-hop was central to the identities of many people present. After Joan Morgan, author of When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost, said that hip-hop as she knew it was dead, many audience members grew visibly upset. They were further angered when Black Noise author Tricia Rose said that, because the music had internalized capitalism and misogyny, it was time to let hip-hop go.

The intellectual conflict between those angered by Rose and Morgan and those who were not was apparent during a panel that included video model Melyssa Ford and video director Jessy Terrero. Ford argued that there wasn’t a problem with her portrayal in videos because she was in control of her image. Terrero stressed that women were portrayed in videos in a manner that guaranteed profit for both the director and the label.

Terrero’s “sex sells” position was interrogated during the question-and-answer period, when Tricia Rose asked panel participants, “If having the Klan come through your video and lynch black folks is going to make you money, are you going to do it?” Terrero responded “No.” Rose followed up by saying, “We have drawn a line with race. When will we draw a line in regards to gender?” Terrero responded evasively (and elicited applause) by saying that if education were better, viewers would be equipped to make informed viewing choices and women dancing in videos would peruse other options.

Terrero’s response is problematic because it indicates an unwillingness to take responsibility for the sexist images he creates which are then televised around the country to a market that awaits subhuman, hypersexual images of black women. The crowd’s approval demonstrates their unwillingness to hold him accountable and also illustrates that they too would rather engage in a conversation concerning the failures of education than discuss the ways in which hip-hop has internalized patriarchy and sexism. There is no doubt that American public schools are ill-equipped to educate youth and are in desperate need of reform. However, there is also no question that hip-hop has internalized patriarchy, and this too needs be addressed.

Wider rep

Beyond Beats and Rhymes provides the PHHC with the perfect place to begin this conversation. Unfortunately, the PHHC has not picked up where Beyond Beats leaves off. In response to the attack on hip-hop, the PHHC has called for a wider representation of hip-hop’s musical, aesthetic and cultural diversity without addressing the culture’s internalization of capitalism, misogyny and patriarchy. In response to Don Imus, and the blame he placed on hip-hop for providing him with the term “nappy-headed hoes,” grassroots hip-hop activists, prominent hip-hop generation artists and intellectuals such as the National Hip-Hop Political Convention, Paris, Saul Williams and Jeff Chang have collectively responded to Imus and the attacks on hip-hop proclaiming, “Don’t Blame Hip-Hop!”

Collectively, the PHHC has argued that labels and radio should be blamed because the hip-hop provided by these outlets is limited to materialistic, individualistic, sexist and violent portrayals of black folk. The PHHC has also argued that the sexism found within hip-hop is simply a reflection of sexism within the greater society and therefore should receive the brunt of criticism. These assertions of the PHHC are absolutely correct. Unfortunately, they do not address the sexism that runs rampant in hip-hop.

The bigger question

While there is no question that a broader representation of hip-hop is needed, such an achievement will not eliminate sexism. Both the PHHC’s response to the attack on hip-hop and the audience response to Terrero at the Feminism and Hip-Hop Conference evade the internalization of patriarchy and capitalism by hip-hop. So why are folks committed to both hip-hop and social justice avoiding the discussion about the ways in which a music and culture we deeply care for has internalized patriarchy and sexism? Moreover, in the words of political scientist Jerry Watts, “If hip-hop only mirrors the existent pathologies of the parent society (ala sexism or outright misogyny or homophobia) then of what good is it to a subjugated community trying to emancipate itself?”

One answer is that the PHHC, largely dominated by men, silences women and lacks the intellectual tools to address sexism. This is inexcusable and must be changed. Perhaps we are intent to hold on to a culture that has internalized the worst aspects of a racist, sexist, capitalist society because, as a generation, our identity is deeply rooted in hip-hop. This unfortunately means that a critique of the way hip-hop has internalized patriarchy must lead to a painful examination of the ways we have internalized patriarchy. Despite the soreness this may cause, reflection and self-critique is necessary. In many ways, refusing to engage in this reflection mirrors the refusal of many whites to admit to collaborating with racism or acknowledging that America itself is a racist nation.

While rappers such as Dead Prez and Immortal Technique take revolutionary positions on race, neither have progressive views on patriarchy. Additionally, while the poster boy for political hip-hop progressivism, Mos Def, takes an insightful position on race and economics, in Hurt’s film, he walks out of the room when asked by Hurt if a gay rapper could ever be embraced by the larger hip-hop community.

What the PHHC must question is whether Mos Def, and other politically progressive rappers, can be called progressive if they refuse to address sexism and homophobia within hip-hop. Hip-hop is a vibrant and diverse subculture with a global audience and rich cultural significance. Progressive and committed hip-hop activists must embrace critique and not let our affinity for and loyalty to hip-hop trump the political contradictions that, once resolved, will allow it to solidly contribute to the struggle for social justice.

For More Info Check Out: Yvonne Bynoe, “Hip Hop’s (Still) Invisible Women”, Jay Woodson, “Hip Hop’s black Political Activism”.

Matt Birkhold is an independent scholar currently based in Philadelphia. He teaches a class on hip-hop and the urban economy at Temple University and is currently working on a project tentatively titled, “Selling Black Death: Race, Labor, Hip-Hop and Gender.” He is a member of the Philadelphia Hip-Hop Political Organizing Committee, a local chapter of the National Hip-Hop Political Convention. He can be reached at birkhold (at) gmail (dot) com.