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Til Death Do Us Part: How Modern Marriage Has Failed

Marriage, the word is a demonstration of our language’s ability to evoke and provoke some of the strongest emotions possible. These range from the worshipful to cynical. It is simultaneously sought after and hated, not uncommonly by the same person. Is it broken? Was it ever right? I’ve been thinking about these questions a lot lately. I find myself at that time in my life (early thirties) where those inevitable questions start to arise, as though I perceive a door slowly closing. It’s my conclusion, after a good deal of thought, that I’ve been fooled, we’ve all been bamboozled, tricked, whatever you want to call it, into thinking that the oft referred to (holy) institution of marriage is something we should care and obsess over.

Let’s dig into this where I enjoy it most: its history. Marriage has not always been interpreted through its current incarnation. Now what do I mean by that exactly? Well most obviously would be this idea of marriage for eternal love. This modern consideration is an incredibly recent advent. Marriage in the not so distant past was carried out pragmatically: for family interests. The mewling protests of those involved, should there be any, were silenced quickly as selfish prattle that had better shut the hell up, or risk the wrath of their elders, and when I think about it, rightly so. Life and survival are difficult enough in an old world without youth bemoaning that they don’t get to love the person they are with. We’d have been far better off if marriage were actually referred to for what it was at its inception: duty.

But we are a forward thinking species. How dare the wisdom of the old be inflicted on the young. Better we let them decide who they should marry, and then divorce shortly after. This has led us to marriage’s current state. The mass majority of marriages end, it’s indefensible to suggest otherwise. Growing up my parents were in the absolute minority that they remained together through my youth. Their staying together was the exception not the rule.

Which leads me to my next point: the language of modern marriage in its aftermath. Having moved away from the more ancient form of marriage, we have landed ourselves in an existential hell. We’ve exchanged the mild grumbling of a couple learning to be with each other for the impossible ideal of eternal love. We even hold this lofty standard so high above our heads that if a marriage were to fail in this context we have no shortage of cruel descriptors for it: broken home and failed marriage leap to mind. We describe something so obviously natural—the falling out of love of those together for an extended period of time—as something abhorrent, hateful, and shameful. This I believe is madness.

Life in the last hundred years has changed so rapidly when compared to the previous it has left our older social constructs outdated and staggered, barely able to bear the weight of keeping up. I think fondly on my father’s joking description of the problem, “When they said till death do us part, that’s what it used to mean!” This albeit dark humour summarizes what I am trying to say. A progressive step was needed to reinvent the dated survival-style of marriage, but caught up in our solipsist view of the world we failed to see that we’d set out for ourselves an impossible standard. Couples rejoiced at the idea of marriage for eternal love, but soon found the reality was not quite what they imagined. It never is.

Now I’m not suggesting a return to the old style. We do live in a time when choosing who we wish to partner with is a luxury we can more or less afford. What I am suggesting is that we face a more difficult reality: we live long enough to have deep meaningful relationships with multiple people, and should allow ourselves to do so.

I’ll anticipate the soft soul’s argument who will cry, “What about the children? You blind fool,” and say this: we can, and already do, leave behind marriages with children yet to grow. All I’m suggesting is if we do so, let’s do away with all the weight of this crazy guilt. Good parents exist, lots of them, who are not in “wedlock,” another great term I enjoy. As long-lived human beings whose lifespans are continually stretching we must throw off the shackles that the ideal of eternal love has bound us in. We need a new love renaissance, one that correctly acknowledges both our strengths and weaknesses: Yes we can love, yes we fall out of love, there is no one single love of your life, there are many.

I cannot help but relate this to a series of books written by one of my favourite authors ‘Peter F. Hamilton.’ In his wild sci-fi imaginings he’s created a world wherein people can potentially live forever. Not only that, he considers the profound social repercussions of this world. The obvious question that comes about from eternal life is: do I eternally marry? He would suggest no. Instead, people spend as much time as they want with each other. Some raise children, some don’t. The norm of the citizens that inhabit his world is to marry many over the hundreds of years that they are alive. This to me seems natural.

And before those dissenters start screeching at the computer screen, allow me to clarify what I mean by natural. Natural is the world we have grown up in. I’ll borrow from ‘Aubrey de Grey’ to clarify what I mean. When people object to his suggestion—that we should be able to live forever—and say it is unnatural to have such long life-spans, he immediately counters with a very sound argument. When you say natural, whose natural do you mean? If you had grown up in the colonial era a natural life-span was far less than it is now. Eighty to a hundred is the natural life-span if you were born in recent memory. To cement what I am saying vicariously through Aubrey’s point: “natural” changes depending on where you are looking at it from. In effect, it is always changing given your perspective. And that is now what we need for marriage and the way we pursue it. A new perspective.

13 thoughts on “Til Death Do Us Part: How Modern Marriage Has Failed

  1. There’s a show on TV where people that never met, meet for the first time and marry. I thought, like very few people in this world, surprisingly, that it was the most ridiculous thing for people to believe in and a joke. You meet somehow, drop everything in your life to be with a stranger, and by God you get through it till death departs you. In some way, I believe in the marriage thing if it works for you. I found some people that were soul mates their whole lives and that was meant to be for them. Some people have never found that one person and they found many people. Our whole lives we are taught that is a failure in life and that you didn’t reach your life’s goal or God’s goal. I’m 20 and I’m married. Through the time I’ve been married I, in the worlds eyes have reached my goal early; I’m suppose to be lucky. My personal view is that I have failed true love and it sucks and now I know what marriage actually is. I failed because I did something people back than couldn’t do because somebody hated love or the fact civil marriage is being fought for so they can finally be with their soul mate. Hopefully one day people as a whole will stop using God as an excuse to why people should be guilt tripped into being with somebody their whole entire life span no matter how you feel or if it’s meant. This was really well written and from the personal things I’m going through, this read was very enlightening.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for taking the time to read my thoughts thoroughly. That you were able to find some personal reflection in it means the world to me. I Wish you all the best in the future and truly hope you reach where you feel happy with marriage, whether you are in one or not.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. First of all, thank you for reading one of my posts. Second, while I appreciate your logic and points, I think you are missing the beauty possible with marriage. With my husband I have found a companion and best friend that I feel safe with, cherish, and can count on for every situation. Fifteen years after meeting him, I still am “in love,” but more than that he knows me and I know him in a way no new person could replicate. I’m afraid that by indicating no relationship can last for a lifetime, people would miss out on this possible enriched relationship. No one should stay in a relationship, just for the sake of staying in one, but if one is always searching for the next best mate, how can you build a meaningful relationship for any length of time?
    To your point, no there should not be outside pressure for someone to get married at a certain expiration date. We are all at different professional and emotional stages in our lives at different ages, however having a partner to share what life throws at you can definitely add to your quality of life!

    Liked by 2 people

    • I completely agree with your saying marriage can be fulfilling. And I did not want to disallow for people who find that person who they can spend an exceptional period of time with from doing so. More I was trying to point out that if the flame does fade, don’t berate yourself. Thus my point at the end, imagine if you lived for some larger period of time than we do now. You highlight exactly what I’m trying to say when you mentioned the period of time you’ve spent married. I congratulate you on fifteen years well spent, but when you take a step back you might see, that is not really a long period of time. I’m trying to address all ranges of relationship: people who live much longer, people who are together for much longer. I’d hoped to offer some peace to those people who’ve after thirty fourty or fifty years identified their falling out of love as a failure, when it really isn’t. So I think we have a middle road here. Yes we can both agree marriage is wonderful. I just hope you can understand I’m calling for a reinterpretation of it, not it’s destruction.

  3. A very thought-provoking item, especially the reference to P F Hamiton’s work which brings the issue into such revealing light.

    My opinion has always been that we are unrealistic in not accepting that the degree to which people change will potentially have a drastic effect on our relationships and that marriages can reach a natural end due to that development. I know several couples for whom this has happened, at least one who admit it yet refuse to separate due to religious convictions despite making each other unhappy. They would not see a relationship that has simply run its course, but rather a marriage which they would categorise as a failure and not a relationship that worked for a certain number of years.

    Having said that, there are other factors at play, of course. For example, fear of being alone, especially as we get older, will keep people together.

    For context I feel I should not that I am non-religious and have just celebrated my 20th wedding anniversary (I’ve known my wife for 28 years) and happily our marriage is not approaching such a natural conclusion !

    Anyway, enough waffle from me. I look forward to reading some more of your articles.

    • haha don’t stop wallfeling I truly enjoyed your stream of thought. It touched on just how complex the issue can be. Thanks so much for not only taking the time to read what I wrote but to comment as well.

  4. great post, and timely for me as i’m changing my views toward marriage. i was raised “old school” and my parents one wish for me was to just meet someone, marry, and be happy. tried it right out of college, as a form of extended dating, that didn’t work. the ceremony served only to legitimize. next marriage was 10 years and 2 kids, and hard to watch dissolve. now, i see relationships on a continuum. i don’t see myself marrying again. don’t want that structure and rigidity. thanks for saying what i’ve been thinking.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Well I can certainly say you’ve had the harder course to come to your understanding of things than myself, but I’m sure you’re all the stronger for it. Importantly as well you realize that it’s obviously not your fault if things sometimes just don’t end up in eternal love. I wish you luck with your kids that’s definitely one good thing that can come out of it.

  5. I love what you wrote
    We are unsure what marriage is anymore I feel. I was married, I have children, I love my ex-husband for the father he was and is but we didn’t know what marriage was when we married. We happily sit with our children at dinner time a few times a week and wonder how it all came to be. I think that marriage can no longer be defined by our parents marriage. I think we’ve become different people all of us in this culture. I love seeing couples together in everything and in love, even if they dont have a contract of marriage between them, it’s still a marriage!
    Thank you for this….I needed to read it!!! 😉

  6. I think you’re right – it was one thing when marriage was a social necessity and you only lived til 45 – now it’s quite another. With this topic and others, I think as a society we collectively wear a pair of rose-tinted glasses: the idea of loving someone forever is appealing to us and we don’t want to let go of it. Nevertheless, it’s becoming increasingly impractical and our expectations of human behaviour are out of touch with our true nature. Not a comfortable thing for us to confront.

  7. Life isn’t just about what we feel. What we feel changes from moment to moment. No . . .second by second. There is something to be said about commitment and faithfulness and growing together. It’s not easy. It’s a choice. There are so many forces out there that are decrying marriage as obsolete when in fact it is the answer to so many social ills. You have to believe. You have to try. You have to depend on God, who doesn’t put rules in place to condemn us, but to protect us. No one’s perfect, but if by God’s grace you choose His ways, He’s right there to back up your choices. His relationship is everything. After that, the other choices become much easier. Stick with it. It’s worth it.

    Married 40 years this coming January.

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Tag Archives: mythic outlander

Fortnite Double Shotgun, New Modes and Mythic Outlander

By | 11/08/2018

It’s “Double the Fun” this week with the Fortnite Double Shotgun, the return of the Mythic Outlander Hero plus two new modes to keep you battling away.   New Items Two new items to get your hands on this week in the form of the damaging double barrel shotgun and the Mythic Outlander Hero. Double… Read More »

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Accommodation Man City FC football club in M11 3FF

DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Piccadilly

M1 3DG, Manchester, One Piccadilly Place

Situated 35 metres from Manchester’s Piccadilly Train Station, this stylish hotel boasts a fitness suite and air-conditioned rooms with free high-speed WiFi. The modern and spacious rooms at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Piccadilly are... read more

2246 reviews 8.7

£ 69.00

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Macdonald Manchester Hotel

M1 2PG, Manchester, London Road

Just 150 metres from Manchester Piccadilly Station, the Macdonald Manchester Hotel has an award-winning restaurant, which serves seasonal produce. The property was awarded Best Luxury Hotel in Manchester from the Eat Drink and Awards 2015.... read more

7042 reviews 8.3

£ 52.10

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Crowne Plaza Manchester City Centre, an IHG Hotel

M4 4AF, Manchester, 70 Shudehill

Situated in the lively Northern Quarter of Manchester's city centre, the Crowne Plaza Manchester City Centre boasts 228 individually designed rooms, the Glasshouse restaurant and bar, fitness suite and Starbucks. The Crowne Plaza Manchester City... read more

3396 reviews 8.9

£ 50.26

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Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

M4 1PN, Manchester, 20 Church Street

In a city-centre location, Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels is located a 10-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Rail Station. There is free high-speed WiFi and an on-site gym. Overlooking Piccadilly Gardens, most apartments have a... read more

824 reviews 9

£ 71.25

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ibis Manchester Centre Portland Street

M1 4GX, Manchester, Portland Street

In the heart of Manchester city centre, the ibis Manchester Centre 96 Portland Street features a 24-hour front desk and a lively bar. It is close to the city's major attractions, including shopping, nightlife, and... read more

3434 reviews 8.5

£ 34.00

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ibis Manchester Centre Princess Street

M1 7DG, Manchester, Charles Street

This hotel is situated in the corner of Princess Street and Charles Street, within Manchester’s lively centre. Piccadilly and Oxford Road Stations are within a 10-minute walk away. The bright and airy bedrooms each have... read more

4417 reviews 8.5

£ 34.00

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Park Inn by Radisson Manchester City Centre

M4 4EW, Manchester, Cheetham Hill Road

This modern, 4-star hotel is opposite the AO Arena and Manchester Victoria Rail Station. The property offers a fantastic swimming pool, a gym, and rooms with LCD satellite TVs. With large windows and views over... read more

5818 reviews 8.2

£ 45.05

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The Gardens Hotel

M1 2AP, Manchester, 55 Piccadilly

Overlooking the central Piccadilly Gardens, Gardens Hotel is a 10-minute walk from Piccadilly Rail Station. It has free Wi-Fi, and guests can make use of a 24-hour front desk. Each of the bright rooms has... read more

5186 reviews 7.6

£ 25.20

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Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel

M1 4PH, Manchester, Piccadilly Plaza, Portland Street

Overlooking Piccadilly Gardens, the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly is situated in the heart of the city and just a 5-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Rail Station. A 24-hour front desk is available, along with a fully... read more

5562 reviews 7.4

£ 38.70

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Pendulum Hotel

M1 3BB, Manchester, Weston Building, Sackville St

Just 300 metres from Manchester Piccadilly Station, Pendulum Hotel features a stylish restaurant and conservatory bar. In the bustling city centre, the hotel is 1 mile from O2 Apollo. Free WiFi is available throughout the... read more

2954 reviews 8

£ 45.00

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Kimpton Clocktower, an IHG Hotel

M60 7HA, Manchester, Oxford Street

Set in the heart of Manchester’s vibrant city centre, the grand Kimpton Clocktower offers stylish, modern rooms just a minute’s walk from Oxford Road Rail Station and The Palace Theatre. Free WiFi is available throughout... read more

3409 reviews 8.8

£ 71.94

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Native Manchester

M1 2TP, Manchester, 51 Ducie Street, Piccadilly

This property is winner of The Sunday Times 2019 Best Place to Stay in the North award. Set in the very heart of the city, Native Manchester is found in Ducie Street Warehouse, just 100... read more

1637 reviews 9.3

£ 81.00

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Malmaison Manchester

M1 3AQ, Manchester, Piccadilly

Opposite Manchester Piccadilly Station, this beautifully converted Victorian warehouse has boutique bedrooms and a sumptuous spa. In Manchester’s vibrant centre, the hotel also features a brasserie and fitness centre. The chic rooms have luxurious beds... read more

2567 reviews 8.6

£ 65.00

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ibis Styles Manchester Portland

M1 6DP, Manchester, 3-5 Portland Street, Piccadilly Gardens

Ibis Styles Manchester Portland is opposite Piccadilly Gardens, close to the Northern Quarter. Featuring a lively bar, restaurant and high-speed WiFi throughout, the hotel is just 5 minutes' walk from Piccadilly Station. The weather-themed rooms... read more

9058 reviews 8.4

£ 24.67

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Novotel Manchester Centre

M1 4LX, Manchester, 21 Dickinson Street

In Manchester's lively Chinatown, this Novotel is just 500 metres from Manchester Central. The hotel features a fitness centre, stylish restaurant and air-cooled rooms with Wi-Fi access. The spacious rooms at Novotel Manchester Centre each... read more

2528 reviews 8.6

£ 54.00

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Motel One Manchester-Piccadilly

M1 2PF, Manchester, 34 London Road, Piccadilly

Motel One Manchester-Piccadilly is located a 5-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly train station, offering a central-city location, free WiFi and use of on-site bar One Lounge. The hotel offers rooms with an en-suite shower, flat-screen... read more

9965 reviews 9.2

£ 69.00

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Athletes Way House

M11 3NE, Manchester, 47 Athletes Way

Boasting garden views, Athletes Way House features accommodation with a balcony and a kettle, around 2 km from Manchester Apollo. Set 1.2 km from Etihad Stadium, the property offers a garden and free private parking.... read more

36 reviews 8.5

£ 349.00

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Holiday Inn Manchester - City Centre, an IHG Hotel

M1 3DT, Manchester, 25 Aytoun Street

Offering a terrace, fitness centre and 12 meeting rooms, Holiday Inn Manchester - City Centre is set in the heart of Manchester, opposite Piccadilly Train Station. Free WiFi is available in all areas, including in... read more

3343 reviews 9.1

£ 40.26

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easyHotel Manchester

M1 2HF, Manchester, Bradley House

Just a 4-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly station, EasyHotel Manchester offers budget accommodation in Manchester's Northern Quarter, with various bars, clubs, restaurants and shops located nearby. It is a 10 minute walk from the city... read more

5510 reviews 7.9

£ 24.99

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Motel One Manchester-Royal Exchange

M2 1WD, Manchester, 15 CROSS STREET

Featuring free WiFi throughout the property, Motel One Manchester-Royal Exchange offers accommodation in Manchester, 400 metres from Deansgate. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar. Each room at this hotel is air conditioned and is equipped... read more

8694 reviews 9.2

£ 69.00

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Quay Apartments Manchester

M1 1NS, Manchester, 78 Newton Street

Offering city views and free WiFi, Quay Apartments Manchester offers accommodation in a prime location in the centre of Manchester, within a short distance of Greater Manchester Police Museum, AO Arena and Canal Street. All... read more

836 reviews 9.1

£ 51.30

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Whitworth Locke

M1 6JD, Manchester, 74

Located in a 19th-century building in Manchester’s civic quarter, Whitworth Locke has accommodation with free WiFi. It is just minutes from the city’s famous Northern Quarter - home to independent shops, bars and restaurants, 200... read more

2146 reviews 9.3

£ 52.10

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AC Hotel by Marriott Manchester City Centre

M4 5FT, Manchester, 15 Mason Street

Located a 10-minute walk from Victoria train station, Shudehill Interchange and a 15-minute walk from Piccadilly Station, AC Hotel Manchester City Centre is set on the edge of Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Th hotel features exposed... read more

2042 reviews 8.7

£ 55.20

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Dakota Manchester

M1 2JL, Manchester, 29 Ducie Street

Located in the Manchester City Centre, Dakota Manchester is a 5-minute walk to Market Street and a 10-minute walk to the Spinningfields. Easily accessible, Dakota Manchester is just a 3-minute walk from Piccadilly train station... read more

2208 reviews 9.6

£ 110.00

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Stock Exchange Hotel

M2 1DW, Manchester, 2 Norfolk Street

Located in Manchester, 100 metres from Royal Exchange Theatre, Stock Exchange Hotel provides accommodation with a restaurant, private parking, a bar and a shared lounge. This 5-star hotel offers a concierge service and ticket service.... read more

195 reviews 9.3

£ 155.00

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Hampton By Hilton Manchester Northern Quarter

M4 4HT, Manchester, 41 Rochdale Road

Situated in Manchester's City Centre neighbourhood and thriving Northern Quarter area, Hampton By Hilton Manchester Northern Quarter offers trendy bedrooms with complimentary WiFi, bar, restaurant and fitness centre. Built in 2020, the property is within... read more

229 reviews 8.6

£ 38.50

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Manchester City Football Stadium – Theatre of Dreams

manchester city football club ground accommodationThe Etihad Stadium in the city of Manchester is home to Manchester City Football Club, located on Ashton New Road. It is currently the ninth largest ground in the United Kingdom, however there are plans to increase the club’s capacity to 62,000. This will make it the second largest ground in the country after their bitter local rivals, Manchester United, which play their home games at Old Trafford football stadium. Many famous artists have played here from James Brown and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers to Rod Stewart and Bon Jovi.

starAccommodation near Manchester City FC Stadium

The exciting city of Manchester in the north west of England attracts football fans from around the UK including overseas who support either United or City. Many City fans choose to stay overnight in cheap hotels or low cost b&b’s so they can watch a game at the Etihad, then enjoy a drink after the match in the lively nearby bars, pubs and restaurants.

How to get there

The Etihad Stadium is located just over 1 mile east of Manchester City centre. It’s easy to get there especially by Manchester Piccadilly railway station that also serves main line trains directly from Manchester Airport, London (Euston railway station), Birmingham (New Street Station) and Edinburgh (Waverley train stations).

It’s only a 30 minute walk to the stadium from the railway station so it won’t be long before you arrive at your bed and breakfast or hotel accommodation. There is also a Metrolink service that provides regular trams right to the Etihad arena itself which is probably a better option if you have luggage, when staying in cheap places to stay.

Of course, buses are available from the city centre and additional bus services are set aside for spectators on match days. Part of the British culture when going to a football match is to enjoy home-made food and a real ale before a game, there’s always plenty of banter and fun.

Expect a good selection of bars, pubs and restaurants within about a 10 minute walk from the ground, many of which are conveniently located close to bed and breakfast and other accommodation.

Cheap Accommodation – Rooms for a night, weekend, and more

cheap b&b m11 3ff areaEast of Manchester City centre, you can choose from a wide selection of cheap hotels, apartments, hostels and b&b’s within walking distance to the Etihad Stadium. The majority of overnight accommodation for a night also has easy access to the city’s expansive rail and bus links, or have on site car parking. This is perfect if you decide to book bed and breakfast rooms for a weekend, midweek break or a full week.

It will give you the opportunity to see some of the city’s other major attractions not far from the Etihad Football Stadium. Spend some time visiting the Manchester Velodrome, museum, Afflecks shopping mall, Manchester print works, Art Gallery and the beautiful St. Philip’s church.

Of course, one of the many benefits of reserving accommodation beside Manchester City Football Club is that you can arrange for a guided tour of the ground. Take a look behind the scenes at the players’ dressing rooms, the tunnel, pitch side and even the manager’s chair.

Popular in the city is also renting a serviced apartment for 1 night, a weekend or for a long term period. These rentals include a fully equipped kitchen and living room.

A cheap hotel near Manchester City stadium is 2 star ibis budget Manchester Centre Pollard Street. This inexpensive property is located between the city centre and the Citizens football ground. Piccadilly Station and the ‘Sportcity’ complex are a 10-minute walk away.

Another reasonable priced accommodation is 3 star Holiday Inn Express City Centre Arena. This newer hotel is located in the heart of the city in the vibrant Northern Quarter, within close distance of the former Phones 4U arena. Parking is available nearby, and The Printworks is within a 10-minute walk.

arrow signFind your cheap place to stay close to Manchester City Etihad Stadium

Some Facts and Location of the Ground (Ashton New Rd)

Name : City of Manchester – Etihad Stadium

Location : in the north east of the city, a 30 minutes walk from the city centre (MICC). Manchester Piccadilly Station can be reached in 20-30 minutes on foot.

The nearest train station to the Etihad Stadium is Ashburys Rail Station.

Manchester International Airport is less than 13 miles away.

Address : Ashton New Rd, Manchester M11 3FF, England United Kingdom

Club : Manchester City Football Club (MCFC)

Nickname : The Citizens

Capacity : 62,000 seating places (2015)

Stands : South Stand (away supporters), Family Stand, East Stand and The Colin Bell Stand (West).

Postcode district : M11

Region : North West England

County : Greater Manchester

Tel : +44 161 444 1894

Nearest Accommodation : to the northeast of central Manchester UK.

Stadium Tours

Manchester City FC offer also guided stadium tours around the ground. You are able to visit the dressing room, players’ tunnel, directors’ box, press conference room, and the dug outs. The tour takes about 90 minutes and run every day of the week.

More Information


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Yahoo Hockey Fantasy

Fantasy hockey is a sort of traditional fantasy sport where players build a competing team that competes against other existing teams or players, based upon the numbers created by professional ice hockey players. Most fantasy hockey leagues are located around the respected teams and players of the National Hockey League. However, there are also fantasy hockey games which take place away from the NHL, such as European and Australian leagues. The latter are far less competitive and frequently focus on providing a fun, non-nHL feeling experience.

For this reason, many fantasy hockey leagues have developed into something more than only a game. Many now include weekly or monthly competitions that pit teams or individual players against one another. Besides providing a competitive environment for players, these head-to-head leagues offer a place for fans to engage in fantasy hockey gambling. While the gambling element will be minimal in fantasy hockey, it’s still important to keep an eye on possible injuries and player performance levels, and to track the success of transactions.

There are a few core categories for monitoring and comparison in fantasy hockey. One of them is to ascertain each team’s”strength” with one or more statistical categories. These statistical categories may include goals scored, saves made, saves taken, shots on goal, penalty minutes, power play points, season wins and losses, as well as any playoff statistics. All these categories help fantasy managers produce a dependable fantasy hockey ranking report.

Additional categories to use in a fantasy baseball ranking report include fantasy points scored by each group, the strength of each team’s defense and offense, and the quality of on-ice leadership. A fantasy point report also lists the individual statistics for each player on each team, including regular season, playoff statistics and career statistics. While most fantasy leagues have their own rankings and statistics tracking system in place, it’s not unusual for individual leagues (such as Rotisserie leagues) to use a version of their point-per-game format used in regular season matches. Using league averages provides fantasy managers with a better understanding of which players are performing at a higher or lower level than average.

Another important category for monitoring is assisting. A help is defined as”a goal or try that results in a imputed goal”. Although assists do not earn fantasy points, they do not get rid of a player from the pool, which can limit the kinds of players fantasy managers can choose to draft or choose for their fantasy squad. Many conventional h2h leagues have a minimum amount of assists that must be accumulated over the course of a season, while some even have a minimum age for gamers to begin accumulating assists.

The last category for analyzing fantasy hockey league figures is the waiver wire. All leagues include the waiver wire and many of the conventional league types will include the waiver wire as well. This wire is a bulletin board detailing all transactions that have occurred involving groups and showing which players are sent or traded to other teams. Many regular leagues include links to the wire, making it effortless to examine the transactions that have happened without having to visit the website of every league’s management firm.

Fantasy head-to-head leagues, which allow for head-to-head games played between different groups, are another wonderful source of data. A fantasy head-to-head league considers only games played against the players on your fantasy team. Because head-to-head leagues take into consideration games played between different groups, even if a player on your fantasy team has a poor season, he is still included in the calculations.

Standard and fantasy leagues can be tricky to analyze. Many and Rotisserie leagues are more challenging to analyze than standard leagues since they require so many games played and a lot of minutes per game. A novice might want to consider using one of the other two kinds of leagues, especially if he doesn’t mind losing a few games in his fantasy league. Starting in a head-to-head league is extremely straightforward. All one must do is choose a draft pick and begin playing in the matches.


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Food + Drink

Spicy Moroccan Supper Club

Soho Kitchen Club, Soho

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Spicy Moroccan Supper Club

Spice up your life

Supper clubs are all the rage, and for good reason too. Hosting some of the finest international cuisines, Lime & Tonic and Dinner Company have joined forces to bring you a one-stop dinner party extravaganza. Immerse yourself in the exotic spices and vibes of the far east as you indulge your Moroccan palette. With infusions from North Africa, the Middle East and Spain, the food is sure to make a lasting impression. Coupled with a two course Moroccan dinner, including lamb tagine and a gorgeous dessert, you will be offered wine, tasting notes and Moroccan-inspired soft drinks. You will also be treated to a short cooking demonstration from Dinner Company founder Mike Callow and a £10 voucher for you to try out Dinner Company yourself. Experience Dinner Company’s specially created menus and see how the service makes it easy for you to create stunning dinners for friends and family in the comfort of your own home General admission.

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FACT CHECK: Does Kamala Harris Want To ‘Eliminate’ Beef?

Brad Sylvester | Fact Check Reporter

A post shared on Facebook claims California Sen. Kamala Harris “wants to eliminate” beef.

Verdict: False

While Harris has called for the government to change dietary guidelines to reduce the consumption of red meat, she has not called for the elimination of beef altogether.

Fact Check:

Former Vice President Joe Biden recently announced Harris as his 2020 running mate, sparking a renewed interest in her positions on various policy issues. This particular Facebook post claims Harris “wants to eliminate” beef. (RELATED: Was Kamala Harris The Alameda County District Attorney When Oscar Grant Was Killed?)

“Kamala Harris wants to eliminate this right here,” the post, which is accompanied by a photo of cooked beef, reads. “If you raise beef or eat beef, you can’t vote the democratic party this election. She has worked with Cory Booker on eliminating animal agriculture and is on record starting that meat is killing the planet. That shows her ignorance.”

While Harris did state that she supports changing dietary guidelines to reduce the consumption of red meat during a CNN climate change town hall last year, she does not appear to have called for banning it altogether. During the town hall, she suggested that Americans need to be “educated about the effect of our eating habits on our environment,” but also stated, “I love cheeseburgers from time to time.”

The Environmental Protection Agency states that the agricultural sector contributed about 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2018. Cattle and other livestock produce methane during their digestive processes, and those emissions account for over a quarter those produced by the agricultural sector, according to the agency. The management of livestock manure can also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

Harris has previously worked with Democratic New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker on agricultural issues. Last month, Booker introduced a bill, which Harris co-sponsors, that seeks to temporarily suspend current and future USDA waivers allowing meatpacking plants to increase production line speed during the pandemic. However, it doesn’t eliminate production at such facilities altogether.

Booker last year introduced the Farm System Reform Act, a bill that, among other things, proposes the phasing out of industrial-scale livestock farms by 2040, according to Politico. Harris is not listed as a co-sponsor of the bill.

Harris’ office did not return a request for comment.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

Brad Sylvester

Fact Check Reporter
Follow Brad on Twitter Have a fact check suggestion? Send ideas to [email protected]

FACT CHECK: 'You Will Do Whatever The Chinese Tell You' – Did Kamala Harris Say This Quote To Joe Biden At A Debate?
FACT CHECK: Viral Image Claims To Show George Soros In A Nazi Uniform
FACT CHECK: Does The Moderna Vaccine Contain Luciferin?
FACT CHECK: Did Joe Biden Say Black People 'Should Not Be Allowed To Hold Positions Of Power In Government'?


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Brutally Honest And Funny Kid Quotes Overheard By Teachers And Parents

'Out of the mouth of babes' is a painful reality for most parents. But one of the best things about kids is their ability to call it as they see it, often leading to innocent but brutally honest comments after making an observation or being asked a question.

@livefromsnacktime is an Instagram account that documents these witticisms, started by NYC based Kindergarten teacher Alyssa Cowit. She believes that "children are honest and curious, and while often perplexed, they're brilliant – and that it's a teacher's job to take what children say seriously." Alyssa started the account — which now boasts 241k followers — "to help adults understand that children are not always acting outrageous to seek attention, but instead thinking out loud, soaking up new information, and solving problems 24/7!"

Check out the hilarious questions and comments made by hers and other teacher's students, who also submit to the account.

Instagram, kids, honest, funny, teacher, funny kids, live from snack time, parents | have lot friends with last name Tinder Sophia, 7 years old Wow beautiful if take my glasses off anonymous, 4 years old
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Most molecules containing nitrogen atoms in trigonal pyramid configuration undergo a relatively fast process of inversion at room temperature. On the other hand, the free energy barrier for phosphines, sulfoniums and sulfoxides are high enough that they are optically stable: the rate of racemization is slow at room temperature.

I wonder what effect is responsible for this difference in behaviour (the larger energy barrier). I expect that it has to do with the size of the central atom (N being one row higher than P and S), but is that all there is to it? And how does size impact the free energy barrier for the inversion: energetically or entropically (or both, of course)?

Azane all by itself has an inversion barrier of about $6\ \mathrm{kcal/mol}$, which is low compared to phosphine's approximately $30\ \mathrm{kcal/mol}$ barrier. Pyramidal nitrogen inversion requires a planar transition state. One can use a classical theory to model the thermal rate and we could write $$k \propto \mathrm e^{-E_\mathrm a/(RT)} $$ and using models like these we would predict that ammonia at $300\ \mathrm K$ would have a rate on the order of $10^8\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}$, instead what is observed is something on the order of $10^{10}\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}$

Assuming the potential energy surface has two minima equal in energy and a higher energy TS, two routes are possible: a thermal process going over the maxima or quantum-mechanical tunneling. Determining a tunneling frequency requires writing down vibrational wave functions, finding their linear combination and overlap. If we were to do all this for a particular vibration, we'd see that the tunneling frequency decreases exponentially with a dependence on increasing $\mu$, thickness of the barrier/shape, and the barrier height. As an example, $\ce{ND3}$ has approximately an order of magnitude slower rate of inversion than $\ce{NH3}$ at a sufficiently low temperature – this has been attributed to a decrease in its tunneling frequency.

But why the difference in the energy barriers and corresponding rates depending on the atomic position in the periodic table? Perhaps the easiest/quickest explanation rests on considering what the TS requires for interconversion. Ideally the classical conversion requires passing through a trigonal planar structure with bond angles on the order of 120 degrees. If you consider the series of azane, phosphane, arsane then you'll see bond angles of 108, 94, 92 degrees respectively. In the absence of other effects, the barrier goes from smaller to larger. Indeed, asane-like molecules were the first of this series resolved, followed by phosphane-like. To the best of my knowledge the fastest have yet to be resolved, because rates on the order of $10^{-5}\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}$ are required at RT for a decent shot at isolating them. Naturally, this isn't the whole story, as I've previously alluded to above. Let me know if you would like to know more.

Neither of the two enantiomers is actually an energy eigenstate of the molecule. If the right-handed and left-handed enantiomers are states $|R\rangle$ and $|L\rangle$ respectively, then the ground and first-excited energy eigenstates are going to be something like $|g\rangle=\left( |R\rangle +|L\rangle \right)/\sqrt{2}$ and $|e\rangle=\left( |R\rangle -|L\rangle \right)/\sqrt{2}$.

Because each enantiomer is in a superposition of energy eigenstates, a molecule initially in one chiral state will oscillate back and forth from one to the other, with a frequency determined by the difference in energy between $|g\rangle$ and $|e\rangle$.

In general, the difference in energy between $|g\rangle$ and $|e\rangle$ is determined by the barrier between the $|R\rangle $ and $|L\rangle$ states: the higher and wider the energy barrier, the slower the oscillation. Since P and S are much larger than N, the energy barrier between the $|R\rangle $ and $|L\rangle$ states is larger, and the frequency of oscillation between $|R\rangle $ and $|L\rangle$ is much lower.

  • $\begingroup$ Sorry, my question is: why is the barrier higher for larger atoms? $\endgroup$ – F'x May 20 '12 at 20:25
  • $\begingroup$ I don't know why (or even if) larger atoms would have a higher barrier, but they would have a wider barrier by virtue of just being larger. Part of the point was that a wider barrier is enough to slow down the oscillation. $\endgroup$ – Dan May 20 '12 at 20:28
  • $\begingroup$ Indeed, that's a good point (not the answer to my question, but something I hadn't considered). As you said, the wider the barrier, the slower the oscillation… but between N and P, the energy barrier actually is much higher for phosphine (132 kJ/mol) than ammonia (24 kJ/mol). I would expect that contribution to be more important than the barrier widening. $\endgroup$ – F'x May 20 '12 at 20:31

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Bullying by Instigation

This type of bullying is indirect and extremely cowardly. These types of bullies don’t have the guts to be direct nor the stomach to get their hands dirty. So they do their bullying by instigating a conflict between the target and another individual. They then stand back or at a safe distance and watch from afar, getting enjoyment in seeing the target humiliated and in distress.

In most cases, the individual, these bullies pit against the target, is not a bully and has had no conflicts with the target until now. The person pitted against the target can be a stranger, an acquaintance, friend, teacher, or supervisor.

At school, these bullies will often instigate discord between the target and a friend, teacher, or principal. At work, bullies may instigate conflict between the targeted employee and the supervisor or another employee.

There are several reasons people bully by instigation:

• To create a situation where they can gleefully watch as the target gets humiliated and stressed out.
• To turn others against the target.
• To create drama and entertainment
• To parade the target
• To distract from their own evil deeds. If two or more people are too busy fighting and others are too busy watching and getting their kicks, they’re too occupied to pay attention to what dirt the bully is doing.
• To isolate the target by making him look like the bad guy. The more people the bullies can turn against the target, the worse the target looks and the less power he has.

Bullying, friendship and people concept

Bullying, friendship and people concept. Girl patronizing screaming pointing finger at shy timid nerdy woman who is looking down

Often, when you’re a target of bullying by instigation, the person or people your bully has pitted against you will start their sentences off as:

“Hey! I heard you’re trying to get with my boyfriend!”
“Somebody told me that you did…”
“I heard you told so-and-so such and such!”
“Somebody told me you’re talking smack about me behind me back! How about having the guts to say it to my face!”

If you’re a target of bullying and someone has instigated a conflict between you and someone you don’t usually have trouble with, the first words out your accuser’s mouth will be,

“I heard…”,
“Somebody told me…”
“It’s going around that…”
“It was brought to my attention…”

Those first few little words are your first clue of bullying by instigation and that one or more of your bullies is trying to pit others against you

persuasion man woman whisper girls ear

Persuasion concept. Man and woman whispering in girls ear. Copy space on yellow background.

If you’re a target of bullying and you’re ever in a situation like this, here are a few comebacks you can’t make to the accuser:

Laugh at the accuser and say one of these,

“Really? You ‘heard,’? Boy, you’re so gullible you’ll believe anything, won’t you?”
“Wow! And you believed that? Boy, are you stupid!”
“Gee, you’ll fall for anything, won’t you!”

Challenge the accuser’s intelligence, then walk away laughing. Your accuser will be stunned, and your bullies, who are surely watching from afar, will be sorely disappointed.

How I wish I were this quick in school. But, as an adult, I was better able to defuse it by the above counter statements.

Always imply that your accuser is dumb for believing the lies and I guarantee that the person will back down. It’s what worked for me.

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Mom, why did you have me?

A question I often ask
making no sense at all
for a woman so resentful and hateful

Bringing children into this world
as her own emotional punching bag
used for criticism and anger
against the daughter, who only craved for
a mother to love her

Mom, were you unhappy as a little girl?

I’m sorry if you were
but for you as my mother
you’ve damaged two lives now
that wonderful opportunity at a relationship with me
and my fantasy mom that I forever aspired you to be

I fantasized that we would bake cakes and chocolate chip cookies together,
perhaps getting flour over each other and laughing
Sewing, cooking, reading stories and joking
trying on your clothes, lipstick and shoes
going shopping like two girls together and giggling
but you seldom had patience for me and
I just appeared an annoyance in your eyes

your cruel words brought tears, unable to ever do anything right
starved of empathy and hugs, and hearing only critical remarks
sitting in my bedroom closet where there was peace and no yelling
I tried telling myself, why do I always make her so angry?
I ask once again

Mom, why did you have me?

~~ Deb

Published by

I am a Mental Health Advocate for mental illness Stigma. In 2007, I created the "Living in Stigma" blog, with the purpose and anticipation of educating people about mental illness. Depression is part of this illness, which intertwines with those struggling with PTSD, chronic pain, and other invisible illnesses. I am a chronic migraine sufferer myself, and a sexual and emotional abuse survivor. My passions are writing, poetry, and art. All abuse Survivors are also Warriors.

15 thoughts on “MOM, WHY DID YOU HAVE ME?”

  1. thank you! and same to you.
    overcoming does take courage. I get so tired from the struggle of this journey, & some days I just want to give up but I know in my spirit I AM stronger than that. (hugs)
    💪 still surviving💕

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Sadly I can truly understand this. It’s really unfair to give your love unconditionally and receive nothing but pain and occasional meaningless apologies. As time has gone by she has seen the damage that was done and tries so hard to make it better but I won’t forget. I can’t forget. But she insists she’s better so how can I hold on to it? How could I let go when I still get yelled at for simple things. Despite the trauma I try to be there. Force myself to visit once a week. While you’re growing your mother is supposed to be your hero. I just never felt that. I will always love her but that wall just won’t come down.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The fact is, even over time and into her old age, she will never change. She’s unable to change, show empathy, doesn’t have it in her. I know, I just gave up trying to please, just hitting a brick wall every time with me getting hurt and her none the worse. Stay strong and we’ll beat this hurt and pain. hugs, Deb

      Liked by 2 people

  3. This is such a crushingly beautiful poem. But the heartache! how does one move on with no guilt or regret? And yet you’re right. Mercifully, in the end, life will work itself out. Blessings to you and a brand new life this 2016.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, it’s been tough to move on, and each time there was a reconciliation in the past I would be excited that this would be the one where I could have a mother again. But, I would do something that “displeased her” and it was ‘cut-off’ time on her part and the whole sadness and questioning what I had done would start all over again. Finally, I just had enough and put an end to my misery so I can breathe.

      Thanks so much for caring. 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      1. A rollercoaster emotional life isn’t much of a life, is it? You’re an incredibly strong woman. Keep building up, you already have what it takes in spades!

          1. You’re most welcome. I realize it’s not easy for you. But surely in good time, the burden gets lighter, the awful memories blur, and then…..voilà…free at last😊

  4. I don’t pretend to know your pain but I do know the hard times I had with my daughter. I had to be a mother and father. I stressed alot but did my best giving her all my free time outside of school and work.
    Ask your mom what is hurting her that she hurts you in the process. Your mom is in pain, she might need help. Talk and love her through it. God creates miracles and can restore any relationship.
    Abundant blessings ,Emma

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for your comment and caring. I tried to reconcile the relationship with my mother too many times, yet every time I disappointed her over the slightest action, she would cut me off, usually sending me a cruel letter and wouldn’t speak to me for years. Our last reconciliation was truly upsetting as she showed her narcissistic personality once again, so I had to make the decision, do I want to be healthy or live with crap by this miserable, unempathetic woman who made my life miserable? I chose to cut-off ties. I can finally breathe now. It’s not easy to give up a ‘mom’, yet it’s better not to have a cruel mom either.

      Hugs, Deb

      Liked by 3 people

      1. I’m thrilled to hear you feel better, that should always be number 1 on your list.

        As for your mom, just pray for her. I pray for my daughter and the World daily. I’m a evangelist lifecoach.

        Hugs, Emma

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I know EXACTLY where you are on this awful ‘curse’ with the “mr” side of my being. .
        it’s the sadest & cruelest experience ANY child could go through. this is where the ‘letting go’ part gets so painful..
        how do you let go of whats part of you??
        someday I shall understand why but until then all we can do is cope. it is what it is..
        being forced into grieving the living is hell on the heart especially when it’s a parent & you’re that child..

        1. True, the word is coping and trying to heal from the abuse. I’ve been in therapy for a number of years and I’m still trying to heal. Years of pain, guilt, always wondering why you feel like you’re a failure, emotions and thoughts aren’t easy to ‘get over’. Healing takes time, don’t be hard on yourself, it also takes courage. Best to you, you’re stronger than you think. hugs, Deb

          Liked by 1 person

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Holiday Tales

Thanksgiving always puts me in a thoughtful mood. Then it puts me to sleep.

This year, I'm thinking about some books I'd like to write. I'm pretty close to finished, since I've already thought of the titles:
  • Get Stuffed: An Eater’s Guide to Thanksgiving
  • One Foot in the Grave, One Leg in the Throat: Proper Turkey Eating Habits
  • Gravyboat Train: The Butterball Turkey Story
  • Feaster Famine: When the Turkey’s Gone
  • Fowl Balls: I Can’t Believe I Ate the Whole Turkey
  • Turkey Brothel: A Hard-Boiled Tail

Totally Adequate: Thanksgiving Edition

Being Totally Adequate is not just a part-time responsibility; you're on all the time. This is even more true for the holidays, when events necessitate putting up with other people and impressing them all with your adequacy.

If someone invites you for Thanksgiving dinner, try to be your most Totally Adequate self:
  • Bring cheap wine. Don't take the chance that your hosts aren’t wine people and wouldn’t appreciate the thought and expense.
  • Don’t shower or dress up that day. These people invited you, not some gussied-up image of you. So just come as you are.
  • Try to dominate the conversation at the table with tales about yourself. For one thing, this removes the awkward silences as everyone tries to think of something appropriate to say. Besides, these people are probably really interested in knowing more about you or else they wouldn’t have invited you.
  • If your hosts don’t offer, ask if you can take home the leftovers. It’s usually a chore finding room in the fridge for all of it, so you’ll be helping out. Besides, you can eat well for a week on that stuff. Don’t take everything, though; leave the stuff you don’t like, with appropriate phrases like, “You can keep this – it was pretty gross.”
Be part of what you can be: Be Totally Adequate.

Things I Believe About Traveling

When packing, you will only remember the next-to-last item after you have zipped your luggage.
You will remember the final item after your plane has taken off.

In Belgium, “medium rare steak” translates to “cow sushi”

Public Option Options

America has been in a tizzy for the past few months over the health care debate. And who can blame us? How dare the government try to figure out how to put together a system less screwed up than the one we already have.

At the heart of the debate is the “public option.” Since this is the piece that is the most controversial, it seems worth discussing some public option options. This idea stems from a comment by Luke Burbank (I believe) on the show Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, when he proposed the “Public Enemy Option”, where the band Public Enemy would make health care decisions. This is a great idea, but in the spirit of the public option, it seemed like we needed even more public options. How about:

Public options
Wall Street traders would create a hedge system of stock options on the health of each patient. Like everything good in this country, we can break it down to its capitalist essence and let the market decide whether the patient should have access to care. If traders are bullish on the patient, then chances are good that the patient could make an appointment. If the market is down on the patient, then put prices would soar and the patient, like the call options, would expire worthless.
At the very least, this system allows the family of the patient to come out alright in the end; either Pop would be treated and live or the money the family invested in puts would really pay out. It’s win-win.

Public indecency option
Conservative proponents are in favor of barring people from healthcare for anything that might be construed as lewd or disgusting. This includes any procedure that relates to sexual activity, plus anything that requires the patient to undress. For example, hangnails would be covered, but tummyaches would not.

Pubic option
This plan was an earlier, more narrow form of the previous one.

John Q Public option
Under this plan, anyone considered “average” would qualify. Applicants would be required to take a test and barely pass to qualify.
We all want the average American to have access to healthcare, but not those above or below average.
Above-average people probably have access anyway, or they can make the money they need to pay for it, or they have family money or loans they can draw on. And if not, maybe a little sickness is just what they need to pull them down a peg and make them more like the rest of us.
Meanwhile, below-average people shouldn’t have access because, well, why start improving their lot now? This is what being below-average is all about; suffering a little more than everyone else. If we start changing that fundamental right and characteristic, what else do these people have?

Heath care option
This plans has been tossed about by the environmentalists, but honestly: why even bother? Can’t the grasslands care for themselves?

Little Jokes for Friday

Do people drink rice wine for old times’ Sake?

Do bootleggers make whiskey still?

Do beer guzzlers drink for what ales them? Should they take Pils instead?


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Pumpkin Composting Event to happen in Elgin on November 7

Pumpkin Composting Event to happen in Elgin on November 7

The residents of the City of Elgin will get an opportunity to compost their pumpkins with a collection event on November 7, 2020. The event will take place from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the parking area of Hawthorne Hill Nature Center. The Center is located at 28 Brookside Drive in the City of Elgin.

The Pumpkin Composting is a free, one-day annual event that is celebrated by several communities. Elgin is celebrating its fifth pumpkin collection event this year. The event is sponsored by the Elgin Sustainability Commission. The purpose of the event is to educate people about the importance of composting pumpkins and keeping them out of the landfill.

Tom Armstrong, the head of the Elgin Sustainability Commission, said, “This event is a great opportunity to divert a lot of organic waste from the landfill.” The reduction of waste is an important requirement of keeping the environment healthy and clean. People should play their role in the form of such small acts to help reducing waste. “It is also a great way to share information of composting,” added Armstrong.

The participants are required to wear face masks during the event. The volunteers will unload the pumpkins brought by the participants. The participants can also smash their pumpkins into the collection container after parking their vehicles. In 2016, the City of Elgin collected 0.87 tons of Pumpkins. Similarly, Elgin collected 2.96 tons of pumpkins in 2017, 3.72 tons in 2018, and 3.54 tons in 2019.

Waste Management, SCARCE, and Kane County Recycling are cooperating with the Commission to organize this event. Jan Monell, the Liaison of the Elgin Sustainability Commission is always there to provide you information about the event. You can contact him by calling at 847-531-7012. The updates about the events are shared on the Facebook page of the Pumpkin Composting Event.

Senior writer at the Chicago Morning Star

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text:
The Definition of the Law of reciprocity: When someone gives you something, you feel an obligation to give something back.

Many businesses have implemented this law into their business and this is why you will see ads with the following statement“Try it before you buy it, claim your free gift or take a trial run.”

Also, when you browse the web, you will find many websites that offer a free gift for their visitors. Offering a free gift to potential customers is a great way to gain influence and increase your chances of closing a sale or in childcare terms……Building Enrollment!

When I first discovered the Law of Reciprocity I introduced the Law of Reciprocity to the members of my 21-Day Mastermind e-Club and I immediately decided to offer a free gift to parents who visit my center.

After implementing the Law of Reciprocity in my childcare business, I saw an increase in enrollment. In fact, every parent that I gave a free gift to…. enrolled their child.

Today I want to inspire you to implement the Law of Reciprocity in your childcare business. Here are three ideas on how to implement the Law of Reciprocity;

  1. Offer a Free Gift upon touring the program, such as; a toy or a book from the dollar store or  even a home-made gift.
  2. When parents join your email list on your website, create and offer a free e-book. You can create a simple 3-5 page e-book using Microsoft word on your computer on the one of the following topics: parenting, activities at home, how to choose quality childcare, etc. Be sure to add your website and phone number to the last page of the e-book.
  3. Offer a Trial Day! Let them try it before they enroll.

As you begin to implement the Law of reciprocity, keep in mind that when you offer something free, you increase your chances of building enrollment!

For more business management tips, I invite you to subscribe to my 7-Day Child Care Business Management eCourse. Click Here

To Your Success,

Be sure to check out the Marketing 101 Toolkit!

Marketing 101 Toolkit

Comments on: "Building Enrollment with the Law of Reciprocity" (5)

  1. […] Also, when you give to others, you activate the law of reciprocity! […]

  2. […] parent is inspired to visit my program again or schedule a Trial Day for his or her […]

  3. […] e-newsletter, I noticed that when I end my tours by giving parents  a “Free” gift (Law of Reciprocity) for visiting the program or by simply having a great conversation at the end of the tour; it […]

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Tyler Guidry's Orange CruShit

Tyler Guidry has been a loyal ChopCult member since 2013. He first started selling his brand, Tough Luck, through the classified section back in the day. His design work is spot-on, and his apparel line is quality made. Over the years, many companies have commissioned Tyler for help with their shirt designs. His downtime is spent mostly with his wife Leslie and their beautiful daughter Virginia, as well as kicking back with his brother Trey. When he’s not spending quality time with them, you can find him shredding the streets of Columbus, Ohio on this sweet machine. I hope you enjoy Orange CruShit as much as I do.-Lisa

Photos by Tyler Guidry

Owner name, location: Tyler Guidry Columbus, Oh

Chop Cult Member profile: tylerguid

Engine, year and make, model, modifications: 1963 Harley Davidson panhead

Frame: 1948 panhead wishbone

Fork: 2” inline springer

Chassis mods: Molded frame, molded tank

Tire/wheel size and style: 18” rear with juice drum brake, 21” star hub front

Favorite thing about this bike: The subtle circle molding around the gas cap I did, as well as the paint

Next modification will be: Mechanical front drum brake

Other mods, accessories, cool parts, etc: Custom seat pan, lemon riser bushings, swapmeet mudflap

Any building or riding story or info you'd like to include: just a really fun, smaller sized Harley ripper. My favorite bike I’ve built to date; super comfortable, and gets me where I need to go.

Thanks to all the guys I share a shop space with for keeping me motivated. Everyone who gives me compliments on the bike and tells me it inspires them. And of course Lisa at ChopCult for always supporting myself and the chopper/bike community that I love.-Tyler

Tough Luck: Website / @teamtoughluck

Instagram: @tylerguid

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Commented on 1-22-2018 At 10:23 am

Commented on 1-25-2018 At 02:54 pm

Reminds me of the "Billy" bike but a little more badass !!

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Time is precious to me, so when I’m not eating salty meats or daydreaming about Bea Arthur, I like to do something constructive.  Like spend hours upon hours channel surfing.  According to my digital television guide, I have about a thousand different stations to choose from.  So, the other night I decided to broaden my horizons and venture out into the vast world of programmable television.

I didn’t get very far.

I spotted something called TLC on my guide and immediately thought, “Wow, that hip-hop group from the 90’s has their own network?  Sweet!”  Imagine my surprise when I turned it on and didn’t see or hear any music videos.  All I saw was crappy reality-based shows that left me bored, disgusted and cowering in the corner of my bathroom.  It felt like I was watching MTV.  I guess that’s what I get for chasing waterfalls.

No, TLC actually stands for “The Learning Channel.”  Since I’m all about learnin’ and whatnot, I figured I would watch for a little while, to, you know, learn some stuff.  Here’s a sampling of what I learned from watching TLC:

From my limited, drunken observations, it looks like there are two shows that anchor TLC’s prime-time line-up.  As far as I can tell, these shows are Little People, Big World and Jon & Kate Plus 8 .  There are other infuriating shows on the network, like What Not To Wear and Trading Spaces, but I didn’t watch these because, you know, I have testicles (no matter what my girlfriend says).

Little People, Big World chronicles the insanely boring lives of a dwarf couple and their four children (which include a set of twins).  I guess the interesting point is that one of the twins is normal height and the other is a dwarf.  Anyway, beyond the obvious size differences, there really isn’t anything groundbreaking or special about the show.  Have you ever wanted to watch a dwarf balance a checkbook?  Well fuck me, now you can!  Have you ever wanted to watch a dwarf do math homework?  Well tickle my taint, now you can!  I actually had more fun yanking a catheter out of my dick than watching this show.  But, I have to admit, whenever I’m not fantasizing about Bea Arthur licking cream cheese off my pert nipples, I’m often pondering how in the hell dwarfs open their mail.  Well, Little People, Big World makes the startling discovery that they open their mail just like anybody else.  With an envelope opener!  So, I guess little people are just like us!  Thank you TLC!  I guess I’m gonna have to stop pinching the cheeks of every dwarf I come across now.  It won’t be easy though, since they’re so goddamn adorable!

Then there’s the biological horrors of Jon & Kate Plus 8.  This unholy monstrosity chronicles the insanely boring lives of two beaten-down parents with bad haircuts and their fertility-treatment-hatched brood of eight children.  Maybe it’s just me, but women aren’t supposed to give birth to six kids at once, right?  I’m just speculating here, but I’m guessing Kate’s private parts must have the elasticity of a chewed-up wad of salt-water taffy.

Quite often these two poor saps have glazed, narcoleptic expressions plastered on their faces.  I get the same way whenever somebody starts talking to me about politics or the band Coldplay.  Also, these two lovebirds frequently snap at each other and their army of brats.  Honestly, I can’t blame their lack of patience, since I would have fellated my Toyota’s tailpipe the second one of these eight infernal booger machines crapped their pants.  This is how I know that I will make a great Dad someday.

Anyway, I do applaud their tenacity with the procreation process, which is especially noteworthy since they’re not Catholic.  I also applaud Kate’s uterus, which must be as wide and cavernous as my neighborhood Costco store.  I don’t envy her insides though, since I can imagine that they are as beaten and bruised as my old Dodge Pickup truck.  And that piece of shit looked like it had been kicked by a donkey a couple hundred times.

While these two shows highlight TLC’s sickening concept of quality television; their one-off specials really churn my guts.  One time I made the horrendous mistake of eating a bologna sandwich while casually watching one of these specials.  Seconds later, I nearly regurgitated the sweet meat when I saw a midget with an 80 pound tumor hanging off his ass.  This was followed by a fat guy with a huge tumor.  Then an old woman with a huge tumor.  And when I say huge, I mean big ‘ole nasty tumors the size of sea cows.

The “Tumor” show is just one of many nausea-induced, reality-based programs that  TLC feels the need to showcase.  Who could forget the show about the huge fat guy who couldn’t roll out of bed?  Or the middle-aged man who looked pre-pubescent and had some weird disease that caused his skin to slough off?  Or how about the conjoined twin teenage girls whose spines were fused together?  And the one profiling kids with severe cleft palates and harelips that made me upchuck my pork rinds.  Apparently, somebody at TLC raided Maury Povich’s guest list and decided to build a network around them.

So, I basically learned that a significant portion of TLC’s schedule revolves around the exploitation of circus freaks and social misfits.   On top of this, the channel seems obsessed with airing the sad lives of biological experiment escapees.

I think I need to cancel my cable subscription.


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A Winnipeg Christian author just released his second book, this time hoping to start a movement of gratitude.

Derek Bradley recently published his second book called 365 1/4 A Thankfulness Project

"A tough life circumstance came my way and I was trying to find my way through. Speaking materialistically, I have what a lot of other people have, a family, but the joy just wasn't coming back," he says.

Bradley went to the mall for some retail therapy.

"While I was there I encountered a homeless woman. We chatted for a little bit before she got up and walked back outside. It happened to be winter and she said to me, 'I'm thankful that I got to warm up.' I thought to myself, wow."

At that moment, the idea of being thankful for what you have was impressed upon Bradley, to the point he decided to write a book about it.

"It's written from my perspective and vantage point. There are 25 stories in the book."

One of those stories is from the Canadian Christian artist, Stephanie Israelson.

"I'm friends with her. Everybody thinks that all Christians have it all pulled together, but it was a blessing to do her story because it's a perfect example of someone who loves God, serves God, and also has challenges."

Another story is from a woman who was battling cancer.

"I received a card in the mail from one of the ladies who was going through chemo at the time. The letter said, 'I don't know why I was making these cards at the time, something to pass the time, but I now see the purpose of them.' Let's start by telling others who we're thankful for and why."

Bradley has a website that he encourages people to take part in this Thankfulness Project, to enjoy the book and then pass on a handwritten card to someone saying why they're thankful for them.

"God wants me to get the movement out and I'm just a conduit. I believe that He put this on my heart."


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New Music Reviews

Karen O and Willie Nelson’s Cover of Under Pressure: A Song Redefined

Karen O is best known for her work in the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs and Willie is best known as an icon. I need a podcast about how this track came together. How does Karen O meet up with Willie Nelson to record a Queen cover? Everything in that previous question is amazing by the way. Even though I do not know a lot about how this track came together, it is incredibly moving.

Musically, the track is slowed right down and stripped back to the bone. This is a bold choice from producer Dave Sitek, who is known from his band TV on the Radio. The original is so iconic that you hear the first few notes and you are immediately brought back into the original’s famous bass line. This works in the song’s favour, because you are brought into the song right off the bat, which gives Sitek room to experiment. The acoustic guitar and country slide create a warmth that envelopes you in a much needed embrace.

The choice of Karen O with Willie Nelson is a masterstroke. Her light and glistening vocals elevates the track by giving it a fragile beauty. Willie comes in with a vocal sounding every bit of his 87 years, which grounds it and gives it a sense of wisdom and importance. It is not a rough and dark vocal, but you feel like you are sitting by the fire listening to a wise sage who has traveled down from some mystic mountain to impart some life altering knowledge. You hang on every word searching for truth.

Sitek’s stripped back and slowed down arrangement allows the lyrics to breathe. You feel the pressure in the first few verses and then are brought to a spiritual release as Karen O and Nelson come together to sing about love and giving humanity one more chance. Having them come together in the final few verses and chorus is sonically amazing and works really well.

This song was released in response to one of the most toxic and divisive elections in recent memory. When you hear Karen O and Willie sing about love, it is not heavy handed, but both spiritually and emotionally moving. You get the aspirational feeling from Karen O’s soaring vocals, while also hearing Willie’s vocal on love as his final parting lesson for humanity. I love this song and see it as a healing message for the nation. One that I hope people hear and put into action.

Listen to Under Pressure

1 comment on “Karen O and Willie Nelson’s Cover of Under Pressure: A Song Redefined

  1. Pingback: Prime Time Jukebox Episode 22 – Dolly vs. Diana – CigarJukebox

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Dr. O’Dell Owens heads Cincinnati Preschool Promise Board

Share your thoughts

CPP welcomes Dr. H. James Williams to the Board of Managers

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Preschool Promise (CPP) announces Dr. O’Dell Moreno Owens is elected to serve as Chairman of the nonprofit’s Board of Managers.  Dr. Owens has served on the CPP board since 2018.  He succeeds the Reverend Michael J. Graham who has retired from the Board.

Dr.Owens is currently the president and chief executive officer of Interact for Health and Interact for Change.  He holds both an MD and a master’s of public health from Yale University Medical School.  In recent years, Dr. Owens has served as the Hamilton County Corner, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College President and Medical Director/Interim Health Director of the Cincinnati Health Department.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to continue to lead this very important initiative.  Increasing kindergarten readiness, under the great leadership of this board of managers, has long-term effects on future performance.  Our current preschoolers will be well prepared for third grade evaluations which will be one measure of our success.”

Dr. Owens is currently on the board of the Cincinnati Fire Foundation, the Carl H. Lindner Jr. Family Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) at the Cincinnati Zoo and the Cincinnati Preschool Promise; and is the longest-tenured member and former lead director of the U.S. Bancorp Board of Directors. For eight years, Dr. Owens has chaired the annual CET Action Auction, which supports Cincinnati’s public television programming. He previously was Chair of the boards of the University of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Board of Health and has served on the boards of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the Cincinnati Red Cross, ArtsWave and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Dr. H. James Williams joins Board of Managers

New to the CIncinnati Preschool Promise Board of Managers is Dr. H. James Williams, CPA, CMA, JD, LLM who serves as the seventh president of Mount St. Joseph University.

President Williams is also a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant, with a wealth of practical experiences, having worked in public accounting and in the legal profession as a corporate and tax attorney.

During his career, Dr. Williams has made significant contributions to the Academy, receiving recognition for his outstanding teaching at Georgetown University, and three “Teacher of the Year Awards,” at Florida A&M University and Texas Southern University.  He has also received numerous recognitions and awards for his work with students and student organizations – as well as a number of community-service recognitions and awards.

Dr. Williams serves on the Board of Directors of Community Health Systems, Inc. (a publicly held, Fortune 200 company), the Council of Independent Colleges, the Boy Scouts of America (Dan Beard Council), and the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.  He also serves on the Executive Committees of Ohio’s Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (AICUO) and the Greater Cincinnati Collegiate Connection.  Dr. Williams serves on the Board of Governors of The Metropolitan Club of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky and the Higher Education Advisory Board of the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) and is a member of The Cincinnatus Association.

“We are fortunate to have the leadership and expertise of Dr. Owens and Dr. Williams on our board,” says Chara Fisher Jackson, executive director and chief executive officer of Cincinnati Preschool Promise. “Both serve the Cincinnati community in unique ways and will enhance our objectives of supporting the educational, social and emotional needs of our preschoolers, families and Providers.”

About Cincinnati Preschool Promise

Cincinnati Preschool Promise is a non-profit organization, expanding access to quality preschools in Cincinnati. Preschool expansion is made possible thanks to a significant investment from taxpayers who approved a 5-year Cincinnati Public Schools levy renewal in November 2020. Visit our website at cincy-promise.org or follow us on our social media platforms.

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Thursday, December 31, 2015

My issues with the treatment of Daisy Domergue in The Hateful Eight

By s. Thursday, December 31, 2015 , , 42 Comments

The Hateful Eight, Tarantino's eight movie, is a fine film. While it is too long and it's last 60 minutes are significantly better than the first 100, it's still a fine film. It will keep you entertained, it has moments of sheer brilliance (Daisy playing on the guitar comes to mind) and good performances by talented actors, with Leigh stealing the show and Channing Tatum yet again delivering very strong work in spite of short screentime. In spite of a very long running time - nearly 3 hours - the film is never boring. In fact parts of it are really masterful.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

By s. Saturday, December 26, 2015 , , , , , , , 32 Comments

I was 10 years old when Phanthom Menace came out. I remember how the toys inspired by the movie were everywhere and everyone was talking about this film. I had not seen this one in the cinema but I did see Attack of the Clones. By the time Revenge of the Sith came out the new trilogy was already such a subject of ridicule I watched it solely for the laughs.

I wish I was born 15 years later or 20 years sooner. It must be so dope to be a kid and grow up with actual good Star Wars films. But what George Lucas tarnished for my generation, the new one is getting thanks to Disney and JJ Abrams. I'm not gonna sit here and lie - this film has one of the least ballsy scripts of the year. It follows the formula of A New Hope, it relies so heavily on nostalgia and it plays everything very safe. But I think this is a small sin comparing to the alternative - Lucas' prequels were no doubt creative. Creative to the point we wanted to rip out our eyeballs and shove them into our ears as plugs, just so we don't have to experience that creativity anymore.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

(Probably endless) list of things I love about Mad Max: Fury Road, part 1.

By s. Wednesday, December 23, 2015 , 26 Comments

If you told me months ago when I walked out of cinema after seeing Fury Road, all lightheaded and enamored, that this is gonna be the movie that's gonna be up for most prestigious Oscars, I wouldn't believe you. But somehow, it has happened. Fury Road is getting accolades and nominations left and right and the nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars seems certain.

So let's have ourselves a Merry Christmas and revisit my favorite movie of 2015. Here are the things I adored about it:

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Promote, promote your way to that nomination...

By s. Thursday, December 10, 2015 , , , 12 Comments
Hardy in The Revenant
It was such a beautiful time. When you used to get excited about Awards season, while lying to yourself that people who really deserve the recognition are gonna win, or at the very least get nominated. It is no more for me this year.

Tom Hardy, arguably biggest break out star in 2015, who appeared in 5 different films and one popular TV series did not get a single SAG or Golden Globe nomination this year. That is unpleasant. But the behind the scenes stuff and the fact that HFPA nominated both Mad Max and The Revenant for Best Drama, while ignoring Hardy, whose work is integral to those movies' success, is just ugly.

Monday, December 7, 2015

10 best trailers in 2015

By s. Monday, December 7, 2015 , 14 Comments
While my awards in this season will be later than usual - thank you for releasing The Revenant as late as January 29th :/ - I can start already because I'm assuming other than some mind blowing promos for the Oscar films that are gonna drop soon there won't be any new, potentially amazing, trailers. Some of the trailers released this year like "Krampus" and "The Nice Guys" informed me of existence of those movies and made me wanna see them, some like "Hail Cesar" used amazing music and some like "The Hateful Eight" trailers just didn't click for me. I'm also making that list because recently Playlist published theirs and The Revenant was FOURTH. I almost puked in my mouth when I saw that.

So here are the best trailers of 2015:

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Soundtrack Wednesday - Macbeth

By s. Wednesday, December 2, 2015 , , 2 Comments

Track: Turn Hell Hound
Artist: Jed Kurzel
Movie: Macbeth

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

By s. Tuesday, December 1, 2015 , , , , , , , 16 Comments
Justin Kurzel's Macbeth, which is one of the most cinematic Shakespearean works, opens with the still shot of a dead child laying on the ground, surrounded by heather. The film's tone is set from the very start - as raw, grim and filled with great sadness. This is a dark, bloody affair and an unpleasant one too.

If only it was a better movie.


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8 1/2 (1963), or The Sordid Life Of The Artist

28 12 2009

Ah, the dulcimer tones of fine Italian cinema! They call to me like a pizza made out of encouragement and long, life-affirming hugs. Today we cull our film from the timeless works of Federico Fellini, the director of La Dolce Vita and Satyricon. This, his most personal and revealing film, is one of the greatest European films of the 1960s. It has a hypnotic, dream-like power that is truly a joy to bask in. And a big part of what makes this film so special is the semi-biographical perspective the film takes. It is a comical, poignant, subversive, and slightly surreal take on Fellini’s life at the time by Fellini himself. It is extremely powerful in its intimacy, and it speaks to us from beyond the gulf of time with a voice that is almost instantly relatable with its portrait of the artist as people as vulnerable as you or I.

The plot is simple. We follow the exploits of famous director Federi- I mean, Guido Anselmi, and his tribulations with finishing his latest film. He’s having creative difficulties, mostly caused by everyone nagging on him all of the time about it. He’s famous and revered, and he’s expected to create something really amazing, but all the pressure is getting to him. It grows ever worse as personal problems at home involving his wife and his various infidelities. Everyone wants a piece of him, everyone wants to talk to him, and he can’t get away from it. He checks himself into a spa, thinking that will alleviate some of the stress, but it soon becomes apparent that he cannot find solace. He begins to retreat into fantasy, waking memories, falling into the nostalgia of his colorful past. Can Guido make the movie come together after all, or is he doomed artistically in this endeavor, enslaved by his own haunting memories and the debasing lack of control in his life?

It is so strange how shared experiences affect us. 8 1/2 speaks to anyone who has been put under pressure to create something, or put through a ringer of high expectations over anything. Guido is the poster child for the overly encumbered, the man living up to unrealistic expectation, and I think anyone can understand that desire to be left to one’s devices. But 8 1/2 speaks at times specifically to the artist, the ones disenchanted with their craft after experiencing some sort of block, who allow the world to eke into the sacred personal world of their art. And yet, simultaneously, 8 1/2 is completely about Fellini, and there is no message to be bequeathed, only a recollection of who Fellini is and his own trials and travails as an auteur. So through his experiences we can project a similarity between us and him, this was an intensely unique scenario that he lived and shared with us. In a way, Fellini makes us discover the meaning of art and storytelling through the dichotomy of 8 1/2.

Fellini creates something edgy, surreal, and hilarious in this virtual cinematic memoir. 8 1/2 takes us into the mind of a man who is cowed in the face of the women he has loved, and so we can look at it as a sort of conquering of the male through his passion. Guido, as a character, is both inspired and driven to distress by all the women in his life; his wife, Luisa, who he loves but has trouble approaching due to her demeanor, his mistress Carla, who is the exact opposite of Luisa, for better or for worse, and the beautiful and enigmatic Claudia, an actress working closely with Guido who he feels is the only one who can pull him through this strange block of his. As he drifts into fantasies, he even recalls other women in his life, in particular an older lady in his youth that first awakened his feelings of sexuality. But it is not an indictment of women in any way, as that does not seem to be Guido’s or Fellini’s intention; it is a celebration of women, how they confound, exasperate, inspire, and terrify the adult and the confused young boy in us all.

The acting is the best you’re likely to see in the Mediterranean during the early 60s (until Godard filmed a movie there, that is…) Marcello Mastroianni, Fellini’s male muse for the second time, blows me away as Guido. At the time, he was seen as a sex symbol, much like the Hugh Jackman of his day, but truly Mastroianni proves here that he’s more than just a pretty face. He plays the struggling artist like it really means something to him, a thing so rare in acting nowadays. He is Guido in the same way that Guido is Fellini; it seems to flow from a very natural place. Even the surreal bath scenes in Guido’s fantasy is very subdued compared to the zaniness that Fellini could have pulled out of him, which is telling of something just below the surface of this awesome performance. The women in Guido’s life are also amazing. Anouk Aimee plays Luisa, the wife, with a glare and a bitter glance that puts an icy chill in my spine. She is very disappointed in Guido for reasons that are both very apparent but never implicitly stated. I like her a lot, especially in the scenes that Guido fantasizes about her, where we see her range. There’s a lot more to take in about this character than we see at first, so pay close attention to her and understand her, she will become much more vivid to you afterwards. Claudia Cardinale plays a movie star named Claudia (NO!) that is Guido’s ideal woman. She really epitomizes the heart of this movie, which exists somewhere between the consternation of Guido and the myriad souls of his muses. I liked her character the best, as she seemed so sweetly earnest, even in the face of Guido’s lecherous behavior.

8 1/2 is a sumptuous feast for the eyes, the ears, and the heart. It is the tale of the artist in distress, the tragedy of failed creativity that anyone can relate to, despite its intensely unique perspective. The fine acting, the astounding script, and the immaculate direction by Fellini himself are simply words to the same lovely song that combine to make something that is more than the sum of its parts. 8 1/2 now resides in the very language of Italian cinema, from the cinematography to the sheer attitude, and it’s not there without good reason. If you go and see this fiercely independent vision of surreal heartache and comedy, you will understand by the end of it all. I give 8 1/2 10 Claudias playing Claudia out of 10! My highest recommendation!

Tomorrow I take in Lawrence of Arabia! Until then!!!!!!!