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America Abandons Westphalia

We're undermining a key principle of international peace.

When looking through history's great documents for the one which saved the largest number of lives, 1648's Peace of Westphalia is a strong contender for top honors: it brought an end to thirty years of barbaric total religious warfare, and, aside from the world of Islam, has become such an accepted part of the way the world works that most people hardly think about it.

The Thirty Years War of the early 1600s was brought about by the Protestant Reformation which led to a Europe splintered between Catholics and Protestants.  Both thought the other side was going to Hell and wanted to help send them there poste-haste.  It's not possible to win a war of extermination except by the actual extermination of one side, but this is difficult because people who know that their enemies want to exterminate them tend to fight harder.

Three decades of atrocities left large sections of continental Europe in ruins.  Destruction was limited only by the limits of the technology and logistical capacity of the day.  Even the most fervent fundamentalists on both sides finally started to blanch at the carnage.  Eventually a deal was struck that everybody with any power could agree to: the principle that each sovereign ruler of each independent nation could set whatever religious rules he pleased, and no other nation would attempt to interfere.

In most places, this meant ordinary citizens had to convert to whatever religion their ruler chose, or else.  This had always been standard practice, but prior to the Peace of Westphalia, whenever a ruler changed his religion by death, conquest, or conversion, members of the now-banned religion would appeal to the next prince over who believed the same way they did and beg him to intervene.  More often than not this proved a useful pretext for a war of conquest.

The peace treaty basically said that rulers could still set local religious rules as before, but going forward nations wouldn't interfere in each other's internal affairs.  Thus, if a monarch converted from Protestantism to Catholicism, everybody in his country might be forced to convert, but the neighboring Protestant monarch would not invade to protect them.

Members of the wrong religion were generally welcome to leave, which happened often enough to populate the New World, and with this escape valve, the treaty kept the peace fairly decently.  Over the years, the principle has extended far beyond religion: until the last few decades, a leader could do literally anything to his own citizens no matter how barbaric and no action would be taken by foreign countries as long as he didn't do anything violent outside his borders.

Unfortunately, it looks like America is returning to the pre-Westphalian days of unwinnable religious wars - not just against Islamic terrorism externally, but between ourselves internally.

The End of Religion?

Modern pundits are fond of telling us that America is becoming a non-religious nation.  That statement is clearly nonsense if you properly define "religion" to include phenomena that are found all across the fruited plain.

Traditionally, the term "religion" referred to a belief in God or in the supernatural, but the definition also includes "a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance."  In practice, "religion" can include any set of very important beliefs that cannot be shaken regardless of factual argument.

Consider abortion.  An unborn baby is either not a human being, in which case abortion should be permitted for any reason, or it is a human being, in which case abortion is murder, which most people regard as a serious offense for which sanctions should be applied.  There are no facts which could sway any adherents of either of these beliefs to switch to the other side.  One side of the argument is overtly religious, but the other side believes in their position every bit as devoutly and with the same degree of imperviousness to counter-proofs.

European nations tend to ban abortions after the fetus has developed to the point of being able to feel pain, but American pro-aborts' staunch beliefs in the non-negotiable right to abortion on demand won't let them consider anything that might be used to restrict the right to an abortion any time, any where, for any reason, or for no reason.

The abortion debate is very much a religious conflict which is equally impervious to reason on both sides, but it is far from the only one.  Religion in America, in the sense of fundamental beliefs which are beyond rational argument, isn't fading away at all.  Instead, it's splintering into more and more dissimilar sects, cults, and denominations which want nothing more than for their opponents to die in the most unpleasant ways imaginable.

Consider just a few of the "political" views which are clung to by their supporters with every bit of devotion and emotional attachment as the most devoutly religious believer does his Bible:

The Hot Air of Global Warming

The believe in Anthropogenic (human-caused) Global Warming, aka "climate change," has become a religion which is impervious to facts such as ongoing changes in the amount of heat put out by the sun.  Al Gore predicted long ago that the seas would swamp Manhattan; the list of unfulfilled warmist predictions could fill as many books as unfulfilled prophecies about the end of the world.  The fact that none of the dire consequences predicted ever happened has not affected his disciples' conviction that the heat death of all mankind is just around the corner, requiring immediate overregulation of all corners of the economy, human behavior, and all the trappings of a totalitarian dictatorship in green uniforms.

The religious aspects of environmentalism have not gone unnoticed: in a famous episode, the profane cartoon "South Park" depicted self-satisfied lefties driving "Pious" hybrid cars, which emitted a dense cloud of "smug."

Despite decades of failed predictions, those who believe in Mr. Gore's apocalyptic vision appear never to question their prophet despite his own habit of merrily consuming as many fossil fuels as his private jets, yachts, SUV convoys, and several mansions can handle.  On the other hand, it's equally rare for an ordinary American to come 'round to true belief in global warming from a previously strong rejectionist position.

Most worrying, some warmists chortled gleefully that Hurricane Harvey was just what Houston deserved because the city is home to the oil industry, and global warming, which supposedly caused the storm, is the fault of the oil industry.  Only a religious nut would wish people dead because of their political beliefs, but a fair few warmists did and do.

Illegal Immigration

Illegal immigration is another religious conflict.  Some cities and states are so convinced that our nation ought to absorb anyone who can manage to cross the border that they break the laws which require local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.  California just passed an anti-law law attempting to make the entire state a sanctuary for illegals by barring any local law enforcement from cooperating with immigration law enforcement.  Journalists are tripping over themselves to praise California's politicians; we haven't heard anything from the relatives of the late Kathryn Steinle, murdered in San Francisco by a wanted illegal immigrant convict whom the city police had released rather than hand over to the Feds.

It wasn't that long ago that a group of states did something very similar, but received a quite different response: in the Civil Rights era, the Jim Crow South issued reams of legislation contrary to Federal law and, indeed, the Constitution itself.  To thunderous applause from the media, Republican President Eisenhower sent in the 101st Airborne to Little Rock to forcibly integrate the Central High School there, after Democrat Gov. Orval Faubus had used the National Guard to enforce segregation.  Over the years, the rest of the South was forced to end legal segregation, and in many cases private, unofficial segregation as well, through overwhelming federal power.

Legally, in what way is California's flipping the bird to Federal law any different from what the Jim Crow South tried to do?  The bigots of the past were determined to strip U.S. citizens of their citizenship rights; the bigots of today are just as determined to strip U.S. citizens of their rights to their own country by illegally importing non-citizens with an alien culture who have no civil rights here, yet are illegitimately granted them by corrupt local governments contrary to law.  The price is paid by citizens who lose their job or are assaulted by people who don't belong here in the first place.

Opinions on immigration are so immune to factual argument that nobody can even agree on how many illegals we have, whether they have jobs, or whether they are a net cost to society or a benefit.  It's manifestly obvious that working immigrants increase the GDP unless you account for the cost of citizens whose jobs they take; it's equally obvious that there are a fair number of violent felons among their number whom we'd be better off without.  At the very least, instant deportation of foreign lawbreakers should be a matter of non-partisan common sense, but as a flashpoint in a religious quarrel, it is anything but.

Gun Rights

The right for individual to own firearms is equally religious. Anti-gunners mix suicide with homicide to claim that "gun deaths" are a critical problem; pro-gunners show statistics which show murder rates declining as more and more citizens own guns.

The Washington Post shows that this particular debate has taken on ominous overtones:

CBS fired a company executive Monday after she criticized some victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting as "Republican gun toters" who did not deserve sympathy.

As with the warmists who believe that people who supply fossil fuels deserve to be killed by hurricanes, there are all too many liberals who feel that people who support gun rights deserve to be shot by terrorists, either foreign or domestic.  Not only is this evil, it's illogical - if the point of wanting to ban guns is to save lives, what on earth are you doing celebrating when innocent people lose their lives to guns?  Only a religious nut could be so deranged, yet this is apparently not an uncommon view on the left.

Sad to say, there are also some on the right who take literally the old saw "You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers."  Most gun owners don't go looking for trouble, but occasionally there is one who does, and generally finds it with bloody consequences.  Like any other tool made by man, a gun can be both useful and dangerous; what matters is the wisdom, skill, and intent with which it is used, and that's where the emphasis needs to lie.

Our Westphalian Constitution

Our founders were keenly aware of the lessons of history.  They knew that any strongly-held beliefs could stir up great conflict.  They wanted to provide safety values within the United States, as the New World had served as a safety valve for people who disagreed with whatever European rulers decreed.

Accordingly, they set up our great "laboratory of Democracy" with an intentionally weak Federal government by the standards of absolute monarchy of the day, with a strictly limited set of powers.  All other powers were reserved to the states or to the people.

There is no Constitutional authorization for the Federal government to pass laws against people using marijuana in-state, for example, nor for them to pass laws restricting firearms or specifying how much money a welfare recipient should receive.  Those powers were reserved to individual states to pass their own laws, just as the treaty of Westphalia argued that individual nations shouldn't mess with other nations.

It should be manifestly obvious that the citizens of New York City wish to be governed in a profoundly different way from the citizens of West Virginia.  Why can't we allow this?  If a West Virginian prefers the governance model of New York City, he has every right to move there, and vice versa, just as French Protestant Huguenots could move to England and German Catholics to France.  Allowing for the maximum diversity between the states lets the residents of each state be mostly happy with the way they're governed, a desirable sithation which is exactly what we do not have today.

How can this careful balance be kept?  Knowing that only a government has the power to check another government, our founders expected Senators to represent the interests of the various state governments in opposition to Federal power.

Unfortunately, in the early 1900s, progressives - today known as liberals - changed the rules so that Senators, like representatives, are elected by voters.  No democracy survives once the electorate finds they can vote themselves benefits from the public treasury.  With Senators competing with Representatives to buy votes, the Federal government has passed more and more laws which shovel money to voters while restricting what states are permitted to do, all the while growing the unitary power of the Federal government and destroying healthy diversity between the states.

How It Was Meant To Be

In our original system, there would be no federal gun control laws: each state would have its own, and they'd be quite different.

Jerry Brown, the ruler of California, is rabidly anti-gun and pro illegal immigrant.  California has very restrictive gun laws and welcomes as many criminal illegals as manage to get there.  This is providing evidence to decide whether these policies are a good idea: the vast numbers of ex-Californians who vote with their feet clearly feel they aren't.

With wider latitude for the states, we would also learn a lot about education.  California locks pupils into a dysfunctional public K-12 education system and makes homeschooling very difficult.  Other states are more liberal, with widespread homeschooling, charter schools, and even vouchers. We're already seeing different results in different states, which provides an opportunity for laggards to learn from the experiences of others.

In like manner, Andrew Cuomo, the emperor of New York, has decreed that fracking will not be tolerated and that no pipelines may carry natural gas across his state from Pennsylvania to states like Massachusetts that need the gas.  His state should have the right to ban fracking and forgo the tax revenues which might help with their vast pension deficits, but the Founders wisely did grant the Federal government power to regulate interstate commerce: no state should have the power to prohibit infrastructure necessary for interstate trade.

We don't expect the rulers of any of our states to change their religious views, but citizens can and do vote with their feet to express their views.  This hasn't changed, so as long as people and commerce cam move around freely, why does our Federal government have to control every other aspect of life?

It's too bad we gave up our Westphalian federal system in 1913.  We've commented on some of the same problems which are showing up in the European Union as their concept of separate nations has broken down.  Unfortunately, independently-governed nations arose for good reasons based on inherent human nature, and if we deny human nature we'll end up back in the bloodbath the Peace of Westphalia was designed to stop.

It remains to be seen whether the progressive "one size fits all" federal system can be made to work everywhere in the United States.  The increasing vehemence of our religious conflicts suggests that it cannot.

Petrarch is a contributing editor for Scragged.  Read other articles by Petrarch or other articles on Foreign Affairs.
Reader Comments

Westphalia requires that each state control its people and prevent them as individuals or non-government entities from engaging in war against the people of any other state. Only the stat is authorized to engage in war, and it must control and be held responsible for any war by its people that ensues.
In much of the world in the international arena and in much of these United States, that ability to control people and prevent them from engaging in war against other people no longer exists.
Muslim terrorists are a simple and obvious example in the international arena. They often operate independently of the state they inhabit, and in some cases do not accept rule by any state, preferring to subordinate themselves only to Islam (Submission) or its universal Caliphate. They operate within the U.S., and seem mostly beyond control at tolerable cost cost in time, effort, and curtailment of traditional liberties.
Specifically in the domestic arena, war in the streets has not yet reached the stage of routine assassination or slaughter, but the distance from demonstrations that essentially are recreational rioting for fun and profit to killing people is not great. The massing of victimhood groups to demand privilege and payment for injuries suffered in times long past, by themselves or their ancestors, a form of psychological warfare, likewise carries a potential for real warfare in response.
Absent state governments that can actually control war by those within their boundaries, be it civil war or war against those of other states, Westphalia is dead.

October 30, 2017 12:10 PM

Thank you for another well thought out and thought provoking article.

The Hard Rock Cafes used to have a God wall where Jesus, money, Elvis, drugs and a few other things people covert or worship were depicted to remind us all of where we and society have changed to. I wonder if LibProgToads have stopped the practice to remove reminders of the false pursuits organized media and elites are distracting us with to keep us in soma- like haze.

October 31, 2017 9:23 PM

As well-stated as anything else I've seen written of the question. Most unfortunate that "liberal" education has worked it's magic on so many levels since the 1960s that only a small minority is capable of discerning the issues.

I was for Rand Paul for President. He came closest to approaching these matters in a rational fashion, though his father was even better (and look what they did to him in the Republican "debates"). There is no one among the Democrats or anything on the "left" side of the spectrum as conventionally defined that would go anywhere near an honest assessment of "state's rights" which are routinely dismissed as "code for racism/segragation/etc." by the same people who turn around and sign up for the New Confederacy of Open Borders.

About the most constructive thing I can suggest is to routinely question "left" and "right". Leaving as much up to the states would fit the bill; the "Convention of the States" idea promoted by Mark Levin looks to be the best focus going. Note that both the corporacrat Republicans and the globalonial Democrats are hysterically against even discussing the matter. There's your problem.

November 3, 2017 8:15 PM
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Thursday, November 20, 2014

Blue Fern Studios Projects for November

Hello! Today and I'm sharing some projects I made with the Montage and Ombre Dreams paper lines from Blue Fern Studios.

"Twinkle" Layout

For this layout I used the Montage paper collection.  It's based on our November sketch. Check out the sketch challenge HERE. There's still time to play along!

Here's a closeup of the Quatrefoil Panel piece that I cut to size. I used pink, white, and gold embossing powders to get this effect.

Here's a closeup of the title that I used from the Winter Titles set. I kept this treatment simple by using gold embossing powder.

In this close up, you can see the piece of the Heart Border that I cut and painted with a whitewash.

I also cut up the Organic Vine Corner. I painted it with a dimensional green paint, and sprinkled it with green embossing powders and heated it up until the paint was bubbly.

"Follow Your Dreams..." Card

I really wanted to fit this card in a standard envelope, so I made it as flat as I could! I used some of my scraps from the Montage line.

Here's a closeup that shows the treatment of the Mixed Chains and part of a Ginger's Poppies piece. I used grey and black ink pads directly on the chipboard without priming it.

Mommy's Boy

I used papers from the Ombre Dreams and the Montage lines.

In this closeup, you can see the Corner Flourish. I also used a Mini Flourish on the other side of my flower cluster. I scraped these pieces with a black archival ink pad that desperately needs to be reinked, but it worked for this layout. :)

For the Mommy's Boy title piece, I used a turquoise embossing powder, then used that same archival ink pad to give it a worn look.

For the Romantic Page Dangle, I used grey chalk ink, then some black distressed embossing powder in random places. I also touched it with some blue chalk ink to soften the look of it.

Thanks for stopping by to check out my projects today! Check back often- our team is always posting amazing creations!

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Thursday, May 7, 2020

Abstract Impressions stamp set

Another set we are saying goodbye to this month. I have loved creating with this set. So easy to stamp and create gorgeous cards.

Find it in my online store here.

Shop AND Save Clearance Rack
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About Us

The Office of S.E.E.D. strives to empower principals, support parents and enrich students everyday, while ensuring that federal funding continues as a result of OCR compliance. Our office cultivates positive climates to ensure that school environments are conducive for instruction.

The mission of S.E.E.D. (formerly the Office of Attendance & Discipline) is to ensure district-wide compliance with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). This task is ultimately accomplished by: providing guidance to all administrative staff during unusually complex or volatile situations; communicating and clarifying state, local and federal educational laws to all stakeholders; regulating standardized processes for discipline, enrollment, transfers, homebound education, 504 compliance, mandated trainings and by ensuring the accuracy of state reported discipline and attendance data. Per SCS Board Policy 6022, The office responsible for attendance and discipline ensures that the Student Code of Conduct is implemented.

School administrators, parents, or students, should call S.E.E.D. at 416-6007 to be routed directly to the appropriate Official who supervises their particular area of concern. Due to the varied nature and numerous complexities involved in student equity, enrollment and discipline matters, it is only reasonable to expect and encourage stakeholders to contact S.E.E.D. Officials and Advisors directly for consultation. These consolations ensure that we provide top-notch customer service and policy based guidance directly to our clients.


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Iso 9362

ISO 9362 (also known as SWIFT-BIC, BIC code, SWIFT ID or SWIFT code) defines a standard format of Business Identifier Codes approved by the

  • ISO 9362:2009
  • ISO 9362:2014
  • Official SWIFT search tool for bank names and Bank Identifier Codes
  • Database and Tool for the verification and validation of Swift Bank Identification Codes

External links

  1. ^ "SWIFT Directories fact-sheet, 2010-09-27" (PDF).
  2. ^
  3. ^ "Deutsche Bundesbank - Unbarer Zahlungsverkehr" (in German). 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  4. ^

See also

To identify endpoints on its network, SWIFT also uses 12-character codes that are derived from the BIC of the institution. Such a code consists of the BIC8, followed by 1-character code that identifies the Logical Terminal (LTC), or "local destination", and the 3-character branch code. These 'BIC12's are not part of the ISO standard, and are only relevant in the context of the messaging platform.

12-character SWIFTNet FIN address based on BIC

  • 'BSAM'- Is the bank code for Sampath Bank
  • 'LK' Is Sri Lanka's country code
  • 'LX' is the banks location code.
  • 'XXX' is the bank's branch code. Because the bank clears its transactions from a central location in Colombo, the letters XXX mean centralised clearing.

In Sri Lanka Swift codes consist of 8-11 digits. This example is a swift code for Sampath Bank: BSAMLKLXXXX

SEPA payments require both BIC and IBAN. Both must be correct or the payment will be rejected. In future (around 2016) only the IBAN shall be needed inside the SEPA (European Union and some more countries).

  • An example of this is Bank of America in the United States. For US Dollar denominated wires, its SWIFT code is BOFAUS3N. The SWIFT code for wires sent in foreign currency (non-U.S. dollars) to Bank of America in the United States is BOFAUS6S.

Note that one bank can seem to have more than one bank identifier in a given country for separation purposes. Bank of East Asia separates its representative branch in the US and its US-based operations for local customers into BEASUS33xxx (following the code used in its home country) and BEAKUS33xxx respectively. This differs from its local mainland China operations which are also BEASCNxxxxx following Hong Kong rather than having a separate identifier code.

  • BNOR identifies BDO Unibank
  • PH is the country code for the Philippines
  • MM is the code for Metro Manila of which Makati is a part.

BDO Unibank is the biggest bank in the Philippines, with its head office in Makati. The SWIFT Code for BDO is BNORPHMM. All BDO branches have the same SWIFT Code.

It uses the 11-digit extended code, and SHA identifies the Shanghai branch.

  • DSBA identifies Dah Sing Bank
  • CN is the country code for China
  • BXSHA is the code for Shanghai.

Dah Sing Bank is a bank based in Hong Kong that has five branches in mainland China (primary mainland China branch in Shenzhen). The SWIFT code for the branch in Shanghai is DSBACNBXSHA.

  • UNCR identifies Unicredit Banca
  • IT is the country code for Italy
  • MM is the code for Milan.

UniCredit Banca is a primarily Italian bank with its head office in Milan. The SWIFT code for its primary office is UNCRITMM:

  • DABA identifies Danske Bank
  • DK is the country code for Denmark
  • KK is the code for Copenhagen.

Danske Bank is a primarily Danish bank, with its head office in Copenhagen. The SWIFT code for its primary office is DABADKKK:

Nedbank has not implemented the extended code of 11 characters and all SWIFT transfers to its accounts are directed to the primary office for processing. Those transfer interfaces that require an 11 digit code would enter NEDSZAJJXXX.

  • NEDS identifies Nedbank
  • ZA is the country code for South Africa
  • JJ is the code for Johannesburg

Nedbank is a primarily South African bank, with its head office in Johannesburg. The SWIFT code for its primary office is NEDSZAJJ:

Deutsche Bank uses an extended code of 11 characters and has assigned branches or processing areas individual extended codes. This allows the payment to be directed to a specific office. For example, DEUTDEFF500 would direct the payment to an office of Deutsche Bank in Bad Homburg.

  • DEUT identifies Deutsche Bank
  • DE is the country code for Germany
  • FF is the code for Frankfurt

Deutsche Bank is an international bank, with its head office in Frankfurt, Germany. The SWIFT code for its primary office is DEUTDEFF:

2009 version is now replaced by the latest edition (ISO 9362:2014 dated 2014-12-01).[4]

There are over 7,500 "live" codes (for partners actively connected to the BIC network) and an estimated 10,000 additional BIC codes which can be used for manual transactions.

The 2009 update of ISO 9362 broadened the scope to include non-financial institutions, before then BIC was commonly understood to be an acronym for Bank Identifier Code.

SWIFT Standards, a division of The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), handles the registration of these codes. Because SWIFT originally introduced what was later standardized as Business Identifier Codes (BICs), they are still often called SWIFT addresses or codes.

Where an 8-digit code is given, it may be assumed that it refers to the primary office.

  • 4 letters: Institution Code or bank code.
  • 2 letters: ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code
  • 2 letters or digits: location code
    • if the second character is "0", then it is typically a test BIC as opposed to a BIC used on the live network.
    • if the second character is "1", then it denotes a passive participant in the SWIFT network
    • if the second character is "2", then it typically indicates a reverse billing BIC, where the recipient pays for the message as opposed to the more usual mode whereby the sender pays for the message.
  • 3 letters or digits: branch code, optional ('XXX' for primary office)

The previous edition is ISO 9362:2009 (dated 2009-10-01). The SWIFT code is 8 or 11 characters, made up of:

  • Structure 1
  • Examples 2
  • 12-character SWIFTNet FIN address based on BIC 3
  • See also 4
  • References 5
  • External links 6

The overlapping issue between ISO 9362 and ISO 13616 is discussed in the article International Bank Account Number (also called IBAN). The SWIFT network does not require a specific format for the transaction so the identification of accounts and transaction types is left to agreements of the transaction partners. In the process of the Single Euro Payments Area the European central banks have agreed on a common format based on IBAN and BIC including an XML-based transmission format for standardized transactions; the TARGET2 is a joint gross clearing system in the European Union that does not require the SWIFT network for transmission (see EBICS). The TARGET-directory lists all the BICs of the banks that are attached to the TARGET2-network being a subset of the SWIFT-directory of BICs.[3]

, and also for the exchange of other messages between banks. The codes can sometimes be found on account statements. wire transfers. These codes are used when transferring money between banks, particularly for international BEI or Business Entity Identifier When assigned to a non-financial institution, the code may also be known as a [2]. The ISO has designated SWIFT as the BIC registration authority.Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication stands for the SWIFT The acronym [1]

This article was sourced from Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. World Heritage Encyclopedia content is assembled from numerous content providers, Open Access Publishing, and in compliance with The Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act (FASTR), Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Public Library of Science, The Encyclopedia of Life, Open Book Publishers (OBP), PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and, which sources content from all federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government publication portals (.gov, .mil, .edu). Funding for and content contributors is made possible from the U.S. Congress, E-Government Act of 2002.
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What You See Isn’t Always What You Get

When it comes to water, what you see isn’t always what you get. It may look fine, seem fine and even smell fine, but there isn’t any way to really tell if it is fine – not unless it is tested or you distill your own water at home.

Now you’d think that if you sent a water sample away for testing that you could rely on the results, correct? Evidently that isn’t always a good idea. Apparently, in Arizona, the owner of a lab who was hired to perform fecal coliform and E coli tests faked it and didn’t do the testing. The lab owner was supposed to test wastewater from irrigation canals and wastewater plants.

It wasn’t until one of the regular clients couldn’t understand why their test results were always negative that the fraud came to light. Stop and think about this – if you can’t truly rely on lab results, where does that leave you in terms of your own water supply at home? Not that we are saying all lab tests will be faked, but that there is the possibility of something going wrong when third parties handle important things such as this.

The only way to handle these situations with certainty, is to have a home water distillation system. Distillation is the only effective water purification method. You can’t beat it for purity and consistent results every time.

People seem to think that tap water; bottled water, and even other home filtration systems are the absolute best. Granted each of these methods has an attraction to it such as convenience, but this does not address the fact that the water is NOT pure. Tap water alone has multiple pollutants, toxins and other chemicals in it – yes, this even includes pharmaceutical drugs.

Bottled water is actually just tap water that’s been run through a filter to handle the odor or taste, or both. Home filtration systems with carbon filters do make the water smell and taste better, but the filters get clogged and become a pollutant themselves. This applies even to reverse osmosis and that means filtered water may be MORE contaminated than the source. That’s pretty scary.

Distillation on the other hand gives the user the freshness of rain; water that is sparkling and ready to use immediately. Just use regular tap water. What happens is that the tap water gets vaporized into sterilized steam, and from there it is condensed back to it’s a pure liquid state.

Any waterborne contaminants like are removed. The result is 100% purified, clean, great tasting water that is safe for you and your family. This is the way Mother Nature intended things to be.

Larry Wardell is with H2olabs.com, a provider of water distillers and water distillation systems. To learn more about Water distillers, water distillation systems and water purfication systems, visit H2olabs.com.

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It’s important to produce your thoughts at right method to steer clear of all of the confusion. There it is possible to understand to construct the structure and also its elements. You can’t be prompted to improve anything regarding your own life until you’ve acquired a compelling motive to accomplish this and that’s where your private mission comes in. Possessing the capability is important some times. The research-paper cases that are best begin with a analysis paper summary. Prizes and awards deliver social evidence your app is hot stuff. Analysis is among the facets moreover providing you to strengthen your asserts it plans to assist you to solidify opponents’ arguments.

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  • We regard your personal privacy which is exactly why your details will continue to be 100% safe around.
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For school traveling students, the matters have to be such it’s linked for their research workers. The sort of content that you provide depicts what sort of thesis announcement you must possess. Inside this kind of situation, the issue of scarcity of water because the essential product is apparently somewhat actual. The task appears to be an effortless 1.

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Ferrari Logo

Scuderia Ferrari Club – Kansas City is an official Ferrari Club, co-owned by Ferrari Group.

We are one of the fastest growing Scuderia Ferrari Clubs, and one of over 200 officially recognized Scuderia Ferrari Clubs in 20 countries.

We are excited you took the time to visit our site and if you’re a true, Tifosi; a Formula One fan and/or dedicated to everything Ferrari, you’ve came to the right place! We are an OFFICIAL, Ferrari factory-supported club and we offer a vast array of benefits to our members. Before we get to the member benefits’, we must stress that you do not need to be a Ferrari owner to join, even though many of our members are owners as well, this is a Ferrari enthusiast’s club!

There is no pre-requisite for membership, just a genuine passion for Ferrari and all activities F1/GT. We are charting new ground for Tifosi in the USA and are ready to bring the PASSION, FORZA FERRARI!!!

Scuderia Ferrari Club – Kansas City is proud to be a sponsor of Crescent Classic Ferrari Rally. Crescent Classic is America’s oldest and most respected Rally honoring Ferrari roads cars and all things Ferrari. In 2019 in Maranello, Italy, Crescent Classic Ferrari Rally was recognized by Scuderia Ferrari Club as an official Ferrari Rally.

As a Scuderia Ferrari Club – Kansas City member, you will receive numerous benefits, ONLY available to official Scuderia Ferrari Club members including PIT ACCESS at the United States Grand Prix, amongst others. As mentioned before, our benefits and events are focused towards enthusiasts and Ferrari owners alike, if you are passionate about all things Ferrari, you will enjoy Scuderia Ferrari Club – Kansas City.

Scuderia Ferrari Club offers unique benefits that can only come from being a member company of the Ferrari Group. No other club can offer the exclusive access to the sporting activities of Ferrari and special events hosted by Ferrari that our members enjoy. The following is a list of just some of the benefits of joining Scuderia Ferrari Club – Kansas City:

Upon joining, you will receive a personalized, membership kit, with the following items:

  • Membership Card
  • SFC Keychain/Lanyard
  • SFC Flag/Bag/Scarf (Varies each year, EXCLUSIVE to SFC)
  • “Signed” Driver Photos (Facsimile Signatures)
  • Hi-Def, Ferrari Photos (Various Models)
  • Official Scuderia Ferrari Club Handbook
  • SFC Sticker set
  • 20% Discount on
  • 20% Discount at the Ferrari Store’s in Maranello, Milan, Catania, London & Ferrari Pit Stop
  • Discounted entry to the Museo
  • Ferrari/Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari (Incl. Store & Restaurant)
  • Factory Tours on Dedicated Days (Usually ONLY reserved for Owners)
  • 30% Discount on subscriptions to “The Official Ferrari Magazine”
  • Exclusive Scuderia Ferrari F1/GT/Challenge Press Releases
  • FREE access to the “EXCLUSIVE” section at
  • Wallpaper/Screensaver downloads, video chats, forums, etc..

Optional Benefits

Ferrari Magazine

THE OFFICIAL FERRARI MAGAZINE is a quarterly: three editions with release in early March, late May and early September and the special edition “Annuario”, which is released in early December.

The promotion reserved for Scuderia Ferrari Club members means that the season ticket costs 175 Euros


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Enter House of Holidays...

Nepal Bungy Jumping Adventure Tour

Imagination of jumping down from a bridge 160 meters above a tropical gorge with the Bhote Kosi  river , one of Nepal's wildest rivers raging below is enough to make your heartbeat run faster. And, it is the thrill of bungy jumping as it there is no fun for real adventure lover if challenge is not so hard and difficult. It is located within a reach of 4 hours outside Kathmandu and just 19 km away from the Tibet Border. The Bungy Bridge happens to be the only privately owned bridge in Nepal. It has been specially designed for bungy jumping with a 4x-safety factor and has a loading factor of 41,500 kg or 41.5   tons according to Swiss measurements. One would have to be totally insane or suicidal twisted to jump off the remarkable 500-ft (160 m) drop into the Bhote Kosi river gorge. As the Bungy Master nicknamed Rock advises the jumpers to ensure that pockets are empty and the girls have no loose jewelry coming in the way, nervous laughter erupts from the crowd when he strongly advises against taking intoxicants just before the jump. Jumper weights are recorded before the jump to use different cords for different categories of weights. The Green, Red and Black cords are used for the lightest, the heavier and the heavyweights accordingly. It is a perfect way of wild adventure.

Access: 3 hours outside Kathmandu by Ultimate Bungy Shuttle to within 12km of the Tibet Border.

The Gorge:
Ultimate Bungy Nepal takes place on a 166m-wide steel suspension bridge over the Bhoti Kosi River.

The Bridge:
Swiss designed, specially for bungy jumping with a 4x safety factor. The bridge has a loading factor of 41,500kg or 41.5 tones. And those are Swiss measurements! The bungy bridge is the longest in Nepal and also the only privately-owned bridge. Before its construction, locals walked five hours to cross this river gorge.

The Jump:
Ultimate Bungy in Nepal may be the most spectacular Bungy Jump on the Planet. This remarkable 500ft (160m) drop into the Bhoti Kosi River gorge on the Nepal/Tibet border is the longest free-fall in the world. Designed, constructed and operated by very experienced Kiwis to exacting international standards your safety is guaranteed. It is Nepal's Ultimate Rush. Imagine a bridge over a 160-metre tropical gorge with the Bhote Kosi, one of the world's wildest rivers raging below Now Jump .The second day we raft the full Bhote Kosi River - appropriately 80 challenging rapids.

Day 1: Kathmandu
In Kathmandu, you will be received at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After a briefing by your tour leader and an overview about the whole program, you will join for a meal in one of the better restaurants in the city.

Day 2: Kathmandu
In the morning, there is an option of going on a mountain flight. This is one of the best ways to observe the snow capped peaks of the Himalayan range. It is also gives one of the closest views of the mountains that you can get without having to go for a trek. The flight is operated at a time period between 6.30:00 am to 9.30:00 am.

In the afternoon, you will take a guided full day tour of the city of Kathmandu. A visit to the Bouddhanath Stupa is a must. The Buddhist site belongs to the Vajrayana sect of Buddhism but is revered by all. The White Stupa is a massive structure. An air of spirituality looms large and at that moment you will feel the nobility of Buddhist spirituality. Around the Stupa, there are shops selling Buddhist artifacts.  After Bouddhanath, we head to the Hindu temple of Pashupati Nath. Pashupati simple means “Lord of the Beasts”. This temple is considered the holiest of all temples in Nepal and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Pashupati Nath is Shiva in good mood. Last rites are performed on the premises of this temple and from afar you can even see a Hindu last-rites being performed. Swayambhunath is the most ancient and enigmatic of the Valley’s holy shrines the golden-sired stupa of Swayambhunath tops a wooded hillock. Records of its history date as far as the 5th century, but its origins are believed to be older.

Day 3: Kathmandu/ Bungy / Kathmandu
At early Morning Drive to Last Resort (Ultimate Bungy Sport) After arrival briefing and preparing for Bungy and after the jump rest and overnight at Last Resort or drive back to Kathmandu. This is the short day trip to Bungy in Nepal.

Day 4:  Departure
The tour ends here. In the morning, transfer by private car to the airport for your onward flight.


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Enter House of Holidays...

The Royal Trek

: 9 days   : Inquiry   : Book

The Royal Trek is one of the short trek follows a shrub like path along the foothills of Annapurna, north of the Pokhara valley. The Royal Trek is so-named because Prince Charles and his 90 person entourage had explored this route in the early eighties. This Royal Trek provides the opportunities for meaningful cultural experiences with the diverse mix of peoples and cultures that inhabit this region. The journey of Royal trek begins in the beautiful lakeside city of Pokhara passes through beautiful Gurung hamlets.  In during the trek, we are able to enjoy stunning views of the eloquently built hillside rice terraces, and the magnificent Annapurna range, Machapuchhre [fishtail] and the Langtang Mountain views. The trip finally ends at the scenic Begnas Lake which is about 30 km west of Pokhara City.

The Royal trekking trip is basically recommended for beginners or those who have very limited time, because they have an opportunity to experience the unforgettable trekking holidays in the Himalaya. This Royal trek presents a true picture of uniqueness and allowing us the chance to capture the traditional lifestyles of the tribes whose ancient religious practices and traditions have remained unchanged for thousands of years.

Day 01:    Arrival day in Kathmandu  (1300m.)
Upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan intl. airport our representative welcomes you and assists to transfer in your hotel in Kathmandu. At the evening you'll transfer for welcome dinner in one of the typical Nepalese restaurant with the cultural & musical programs in the heart of Kathmandu and briefing about your trip and overnight at Hotel.

Day 02:  Kathmandu valley sightseeing tour
After breakfast at the hotel you will be leave for full day sightseeing tour to the world heritage sites in Kathmandu valley. Today you will visit pilgrimage sites of the Hindus temple Pashupatinath, one of the most important shrines of Shiva. Here you can see the cremating system of the Hindus most of the times in the holy riverbank of Bagmati. After that visit Nepalâ€™s largest stupa Bouddhanath a pilgrimage centre for Buddhist. After finishing your lunch at Bouddhanath visit another Buddhist centre, Swoyambhunath stupa(monkey temple); covering wide range of area with highest point of Kathmandu valley and enjoy the 360 degrees of valley view. After exploring this spot transfer to Kathmandu Durbar Square the old royal palace of Kathmandu and can be seen lot of temple, Nepali traditional architectures and another attraction of this place is the Kumari (the living goddess). After finished your sightseeing trip you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara valley (823m/2,700ft), 7-8 hrs drive
With a morning wake up guide will pick up you and transfer to the tourist bus station and drive (approximately six hours with breaks) through the beautiful river view & Nepalese countryside to reach the Pokhara lakeside and transfer to the hotel and rest of the time explore the surrounding lakeside areas and overnight at hotel.

Day 04:  Pokhara to Kalikasthan (1,370m/4,496ft)
Today, after breakfast drive to Bijayapur Khola(trek starting point) and begin our trek. Initially we  start our walk for about an hour through flat paddy fields and cross the river. After crossing the river the trail starts to ascend to Kalikasthan. Lunch will be served midway through the climb. After arriving at Kalikasthan, we rest for some time and after that explore the surrounding areas and overnight at teahouse.

Day 05:   Kalikasthan to Syaklung (1,730m/5,675ft)
After breakfast we start walking through the villages. We walk along the ridge of the mountain with good views of Annapurna and Lamjung Himal. Today we can explore many villages and the rhododendron forests. Overnight at Syaklung.

Day 06:   Syaklung to Chisapani (1550m/5,084ft)
Walk through the Gurung village, rhododendron and Sal forest. Half way through the walk there is a 400m descent, then a 600m ascent to arrive at Chisapani. This is the best view point at which to see the Himalayan Panorama. You will see Dhaulagiri to the west of Annapurna.

Day 07:   Chisapani to Pokhara
Today we walk half way down the hill to Rupatal and climb about 200 meters to arrive at Sundare Danda. Walk 15 minutes down to Begnas Tal for an hour boating to catch the transfer to Pokhara and on arrival at hotel check in and rest of the time explore the lake side and overnight at hotel.

Day 08:    Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu, 7-8 hrs drive
Morning we'll drive back through the scenic countryside and en route will stop for breakfast & lunch. It takes 7 hours back to Kathmandu. On arrival at Kathmandu guide will transfer to the hotel and rest of the day relax or explore the surrounding areas and overnight at hotel.

Day 09:    Departure
Today is free or last minute shopping for souvenirs or gift to your family, friends or relatives for you until your departure flight/drive or to commence any extra trips or activities you may have booked with us. If departing, you'll be transferred to the International airport for your departure flight to your onwards destination.

Royal trek is based from Pokhara:

You can follow in the foot steps of Royalty with the Siklis or Royal Trek that was walked by the Prince of Wales himself. This pleasant trek starts outside of Pokhara at Bengas lake. The trail takes us to a Gurung village and then to fabulous views of Machhapuchre, Annapurna, and Lamjung. The trek generally takes 4 to 5 days.

Day 01 (Pokhara)
Bijaypur army camp just east of the Bijayapur Khola (Kalikasthan) 1770 m.

Day 02 (Kalikasthan)
Thulokot- Mathi Thana- Naudanda School at Lipini Village (Shaklung) 1730m.

Day 03  (Shaklung / Royal Trek)
Annapurna-11 Lamjung Himal – Manaslu- Himalchuly from  Shaklung. (Chisapani) Danda

Day 04 (Chisapani)
Stream that feeds- Rupatal- Begnastal to Pokhara 12km. 30 minutes drive to Pokhara.

Cost Includes:

Airport transfers, all transport, accommodation.

Cost Excludes:

Items of a personal nature, alcoholic drinks, phone calls, laundry, additional tours and meals not listed under 'Included' are not included. Passport, visas, flights and airport departure taxes, excess baggage charges and tips are your own responsibility.


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Asian Field Study Program

The Asian Field Study (AFS) by the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's Shidler College of Business is the premier global business field study program focusing on Asia-Pacific. It takes a group of primarily executive MBAs on a tour through Asia to visit companies, government agencies, and cultural sites. The objective is to prepare students for careers and business opportunities in the dynamic Asia-Pacific region. Moreover, the program works to improve relations between countries in the region through increased education and communication.

The program consists of: a) one month of preparatory classes on Asian countries, economies, industries and business trends, b) a three-week business field study trip through Asia visiting 15+ companies and c) two weeks of classes for conclusions and takeaways. The 2019 onsite trip went to Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Ho Chi Minh City.  For summer 2020 the tentative schedule is Seoul, Taipei, Hanoi and Bangkok.

Download the 2019 Asian Field Study Summary Report

Download the 2018 Asian Field Study Summary Report

Photos from past Asian Field Study tours (click to scroll through more photos).

2018 Asian Field Study


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Web Design
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Web Design

16 Best YouTube Channels To Start Learning Web Development

Want to be a web developer but not sure where to start or which programming language to begin with? There are plenty of resources you can fall back on to start learning languages like Swift or frameworks like AngularJS or even responsive design or just...

designer drawing website development wireframe
What’s new for designers?

In this month’s edition of what’s new for designers and developers, we’ve included lots of productivity apps, design plugins for Photoshop and Sketch, best practices guides, educational resources, testing tools, marketing tools, and much more. And as always, we’ve also included some awesome new free...


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Sunday, May 27, 2012

Pigs Parlament release trailer for new album: Different Pigs, Same Shit

Pigs Parliament are six-member band from Gorica Brda, Slovenia. Their musical career started in the early 2004. They play a kind of fast punk-rock with vocals, accompanied by melodic backing vocals. Also, in their songs can be found ska influences, which are strengthened by the trumpet, and striking hard-core with the female vocals. See below a trailer for their new album 'Different Pigs, Same Shit' that will be out this June.

Last sizes of the Skatepunkers Old Logo t-shirt in stock — Click here to visit our store.


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Obtaining Business On the net

Choosing Great Business

In the event people may obtain some Site, ” they generally may would like to conduct organization by using you once more. It’s also a great choice branding oneself in addition to your relationship. Every organization, irrespective connected with her market place, is forthcoming up using their mobile iphone app to help target more people. Or, if your own enterprise owner could possibly benefit from numerous solutions, subsequently you need to consider a business that agent in a good amount of services. Smaller businesses need actual exposure that allows the environment understands everything that they will be with regards to.

In case you happen to be able to web form your small business, think about everything that genuine physical activities you will absolutely estimated to consider. Your corporation will stipulate a good license or simply permit, as a way to operate. You’re free to simply uncover and release your corporation over the famous sociable sites as well as the competence from your items and offerings will be enough the promoting meant for your small company. Small establishments mainly will have to give attention to video advertising, specifically working on social networking films. Operating a Enterprise isn’t a good Youngster’s Have fun with If you’re making an effort to run such a good exploits without a internet site, than you aren’t running within unchartered regions without the collection. Whenever you’re working a small-scale company together with aren’t happy with the success, just simply remain to often the earlier by using prompt impact and you will definitely recognize spectacular improvements in your own personal ROI.

Often the Tried and also True Means for Business in Step by Phase Detail

By using Weriz, a mixture of the Inward bound and Phone advertising and marketing recommendations is probable and even provider raisers could possibly take advantage of the ideal practices of promoting as a new way in order to market on their own with the powerful approach. Mostly, little smaller business masters fully understand that they will be able to get a on line presence to be able to entice business. Small small businesses proprietors with limited understanding connected with web optimization deliver the results might not learn in case their pre-existing approaches aid or perhaps injure.

Regular would mean of marketing is currently essentially past it with regard to little businesses because print plus outdoor advertising and marketing are likewise pricey. Virus-like marketing is a strong device in advertising enterprises on the web. still it all may also currently have damaging effects with the business in the event you inadequate company services together with products. You will find quite a good lot about strategies to implement search engine marketing which will may assist in expanding your organization. Local affiliate marketing works to get small industry for the reason that preferably than endeavoring to market for the world you consider small destinations.

There will be a great deal of00 tactics to get a organization to get acquainted with on the web marketing, enjoy search program optimization. It can possibly obtain the localized enterprise position services online online marketing firms such as Elapages. com. Many organisations may well have an internet presence within a technical good sense, but the main major them all underutilize it all through solely being paid most of their own promoting or content material.

You definitely will need for you to be sure that you absolutely understand your business’s compensation program and exactly what it again will require to help go paid back. With the exact significance regarding the world wide web, many businesses choose to use an online developer (or the internet progress company) to make a web site together with the service they might require. These people do exactly that, particularly for web-based computer software, so the fact that they might sustain your high stage associated with control more than most of their desktops. Believe in companies are some sort of rather distinct sort connected with industry, and one which is rather prevalent among smaller than average medium association for assorted taxation together with administration-related reasons. Discretionary faith businesses really have to choose your submitting system anew all finance work schedule year, intended for tax planning ahead purposes. Keep on reading: .


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“Feisty” is the way Shelly Gunn describes her 103-year-old grandmother.

That quality shone through when the Massachusetts woman’s beloved centenarian grandmother, Jennie Stejna, came back from the brink of death to survive a bout with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus that has ravaged older Americans and decimated retirement home populations across the U.S.

“She always had that feisty fighting spirit,” said Shelly Gunn, who recently moved to Easton from Washington state.

“She didn’t give up,” Gunn told The Enterprise of Brockton.

In May, Stejna was the first person to test positive for the coronavirus at her nursing home, Life Care Center of Wilbraham.

The outlook was grim. As Stejna’s condition worsened, Gunn, her husband, Adam, and 4-year-old daughter, Violet, called to say what they thought were their final goodbyes. Gunn thanked Stejna for everything she had done for her. When Adam Gunn asked if Stejna was ready to go to heaven, she replied, “Hell, yes.”

But on May 13, Gunn got the news that Stejna had recovered.

“We’re truly very thankful,” Gunn said.

To celebrate, Stejna enjoyed an ice cold beer, something she loved but hadn’t had in a long time, Gunn said.

Mrs. Stejna has two children, three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.


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 If you have issues logging in please use  http://forum.bcss.org.uk

‘Floribundum’ means ‘with lots of flowers’, and this plant certainly lives up to the name. Even better, in this species the flowers can appear on different branches, at just about any time of the year. And in case all that was not enough, they are fragrant too.

17 01 Fig1 Lfloribundum

Fig. 1 Lepisium floribundum

Lepismium floribundum is a fairly recent discovery, and still very uncommon in cultivation. It is clearly related to the better known L. cruciforme. But in addition to the above features, L. floribundum tends to be a larger plant too. The stems are dark green, three-angled or flat, and 4–5cm wide. They start by arching from the roots but later become more or less pendent. Unlike some other epiphytic cacti, the stems do not seem to have any defined maximum size; but in practice they often stop at irregular intervals, with other new shoots then branching out and continuing the growth of the plant. Overall, the plant will reach several metres in length in cultivation, though it can easily be pruned to keep it more compact.

17 01 Fig2 Lfloribundumflowers

Fig. 2 Lepismium floribundum in flower

The flowers are pink, and 20–24mm across – again, larger and more showy than those on L. cruciforme.

The plant is easily grown in any open, organic based compost. To maintain vigorous growth it appreciates regular watering, with the addition of a (dilute) chemical fertiliser. The plant is tolerant of cold – down to at least zero Celsius – and can continue to flower, even at low temperatures, during the winter.

The plant comes from south Brazil. There seems only to be one clone of this plant in cultivation, but it is easily propagated from stem cuttings. These should be kept humid until the plants are well rooted.

Mark Preston

No part of this article or the accompanying pictures may be reproduced without permission. Copyright BCSS & the Author 2017


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The Hopkins family travelled to the nearby Lake Gutherie in a metallic gold Valiant V8 to watch the speedboat races featuring Hoodoo driven by local hero, Harvey Gunn. I saw something leaping between heaven and earth.
Edward Hopkins

My eyes were opened that day. I was a teenager and had won the Australian Junior Overall Water Ski title two years running and had reached the stage of having to decide whether or not I should embark upon a professional career competing in national and international men’s events. I had also been noticed as a promising junior player of Australian Football.

Our main interest, along with many others spectators who had gathered along the shoreline, was to see Hoodoo perform. Hoodoo was owned and driven by local hero, Harvey Gunn.

Harvey was also the owner of the Gunn’s Gully petrol station that was located on the eastern edge of Moe on the highway just before it wound through the area known as the Haunted Hills. Strapped in his racing life jacket, with his goggles, square chin and jet-black hair he could easily be mistaken for a fighter pilot in a wartime movie.

As a teenager I was enthralled by the speedboat stories and theories that were told over and over by my dad and his friend and motor mechanic, Jack Moffat. Many of these stories included Harvey and what he was trying to do with Hoodoo.

Visiting Jack’s garage workshop was a boyhood treat. He was so tall; he had to duck his head to get through the doorway. He always wore overalls and had a rollie protruding from the corner of his mouth. His voice was laconic and friendly. Most vivid of all was how he could fold so effortlessly from such a great height to a position where he crouched comfortably for long periods on his haunches with his arms folded over the knees, both feet flat on the oil-soaked wooden slats of his garage, yapping to his mates.

We were his attentive audience. My father usually sat next to him on a garage stool. Boys, for it was always boys, listened as they piled onto the top of tyre stacks, cluttered benches, petrol drums, and generally mucked about in the garage, poking at grease tins, engine sumps, pistons, gaskets, drawers containing metal and plastic washes, bolts and nuts. My father said Jack was a genius with engines. Les said he liked the smell of Jack’s garage. The floorboards were soaked grey with old engine oils. Jack and Les were men of fuel.

My homeland heroes were the men, like my father who had rolled highly inflammable drums of White Spirit cleaning fluid into our backyard dry cleaning factory at our home in Bayley Street and Jack, with his hands soaked in petrol and grease attending to carburetors, adjusting sparks plugs, wiping coils and distributors, or holding a welding stick, wearing protective goggles and a fierce concentration.

Dad and I sweated on Jack completing his work. In his hands engines that had previously spluttered or were mute suddenly roared and sang.

Both men were devoted to powerboats. They liked the homebuilt variety. From them I learnt there were two main types – runabout and speedboat. A runabout was capable of planning across the water surface and was usually built with stability in mind, and could be adapted for several purposes such as recreation, fishing, and water skiing. A speedboat was built for racing; only some varieties were suitable for waterskiing. Runabouts were elephants. Speedboats were swallows; they flirted. Les and Jack surmised the objective of a speedboat was to minimize the planning surface therefore reducing frictional drag, which would in turn, maximize propeller thrust. Stability was marginally negotiable but not always feasible.

The garage sessions between Les and Jack created in me a fascination for what Harvey and Hoodoo were trying to achieve – the pursuit and attainment of prophetic moments in a speedboat.

Hoodoo was a racing skiff. The racing skiff was said to be a specifically Australian invention: a clinker construction made with overlapping wooden planks so modified it could skim the surface. Its rounded bilges and numerous chined planks added stability; and helped to reduce friction drag, as did a small flat planning area at the transom. Even in the choppiest of conditions, racing skiffs are capable of skimming across the surface at high speed, and still retain a fair degree of stability and manoeuvrability compared with other craft built for speed. How fast and how stable depended upon the final shape and strength of the hull, and on the engine’s power.

The racing skiff was particularly well suited to Australian speedboat racing conditions. Venues such as Lake Guthrie, like many other circuits at the time, featured short straights and tight corners. Handicap events dominated the racing fixtures. Hence, the faster boats had to be maneuverable and able to handle the roughened wakes of the slower boats in front. As the scratch boats closed on the field for the final turn, rounding into the home straight was a dangerous place to be.

A favourite topic of Les’ was prop riding. He reckoned it could be done. Jack wasn’t so sure. Both agreed that if anyone could find out, it was Harvey. Conversations like these mattered to us. The township was founded on the technical trades that were so critical in supporting the district’s brown coal and electricity industries. The spectacular scenery of the Latrobe Valley and hinterland and its abundant brown coal reserves were rapidly being converted into a fuel tank. For many of the men, like my father, dreaming the benefits of mechanical and electronic devices became an obsession. Building and owning a powerboat became an important symbol of progress. To make his case he often repeated the claim that there was nothing new about a yacht. I recall him saying, ‘A yacht today might look sleeker and go faster, but it is still basically the same vessel as it was for Columbus. It’s still a sailboat with a hull, keel, and rudder. It’s been around for forever.’ He often expressed his annoyance that the rules of waterways, which required powerboats to give way to the path of oncoming yachts. He argued that nothing like a speedboat had ever been created before, and thus, deserved more consideration. Was it simply because a speedboat had a racing engine? Well, yes, according to him. The leading characters of Moe were in the grip of modernism. Les was a fuel man. So was Jack. So was Harvey. Nirvana for them was the prospect that Hoodoo could prop ride.

Picture standing on the shoreline of still water, holding a flat stone in your hand and thrusting it low across the surface so that the stone bounces once and then continues skimming several times at considerable speed further into the distance. Or consider the film ‘The Dam Busters’, featuring the bouncing bombs of the British scientist, Dr. Barnes Wallis. In this case it was a bomber-plane descending into the Ruhr Valley and dispatching an explosive metal ball that skipped across the lake to a designated target. These were the kind of possibilities that Moe’s men of fuel contemplated. Could the same principles apply to a speedboat? They envisaged a hull skimming mostly airborne across the surface with only the propeller and a tiny area of transom ever touching the water.

Their quest was prop riding in its purest form.

A form of prop riding already existed with the hydroplane, sometimes referred to as a ‘three pointer’, which at the time was the fastest watercraft. Under throttle the engine power lifts the main hull above the surface and the hydroplane rides on ‘three points’ – narrow twin pontoons at the front of the craft and the rear propeller. At high speed, a hydroplane tends to flutter and the spinning propeller sends a spectacular fan of trailing water high into the air. While undoubtedly quick, it is susceptible to water or air disturbances and can easily flip over as a result. Also, because the craft is so broad and flat, manoeuvring around corners is notoriously unstable.

Could Harvey prop ride Hoodoo and keep up with the fastest hydroplanes?

Could he steer through rough water better?

Could he corner better?

Les and Jack introduced me to sports theory.

Hoodoo had the largest racing motor of any skiff. Harvey went to the United States especially to buy it and ship it home. At home, he dropped in a supercharger with six carburettors and then added more and more alcohol to the fuel mix. He reckoned on a speedboat that could hurtle through the air, like a stone skipping across water. Between heaven and earth there were three things: Hoodoo, Harvey Gunn and logic.

At Lake Guthrie, the water was beginning to calm.

Much later I recalled what the famous American dancer, Gene Kelly had once said:

In film, a dancer should always be shot from head to toe, because that way you can see the whole body and that is the art of dancing. Nowadays they shoot the nose. Left nostril. Right nostril. Hand. Foot. Bust. Derriere. The film prevents you from determining who is a good dancer and who is not.

That day at Lake Guthrie, Harvey dared the lot. His whole craft was open to view, unfiltered. He was Kelly’s depiction of a true dancer.

As Hoodoo sat in the water tied to the bank, the clinker planks loosened. It is a feature common to skiffs and more so if they are bearing the stress of a heavy, high revving engine. Water leaked in. As the time for the main race approached, Harvey got up from the picnic rug where his family and helpers had been sitting. He wore sandshoes without socks, shorts, golfing shirt, and a life jacket with a bulky collar. He carried a bucket in one hand and a petrol can in the other. When he reached Hoodoo, he bucketed water from the bilges and then added the fuel containing the alcohol, fired up Hoodoo, and leant over the transom to remove the drainage bungs.

Cavitations’ is a horrible sound and thought. It is the mechanical equivalent of Edvard Munch’s painting of a scream. It occurs when there is a sudden formation and collapse of low-pressure bubbles in liquids. Powerboats can experience it because the motion of water created by the hull and propeller stir up the conditions for a cavitations’ vacuum to occur. When a propeller spins into this vacuum there is no water or air resistance holding back the engine toque and it launches into a frenzied fit of engine screaming, and can die.

On the last turn into the straight of the main race, Hoodoo screamed and corkscrewed into air, span backwards, and landed inside a vertical skein of water. Thankfully, Harvey had miraculously escaped decapitation and drowning on a Sunday afternoon race day.

Dangerous outcomes

Fuel driving modernism

On a later occasion, I teamed up with Harvey and Hoodoo for an attempt at setting an Australian water-ski speed record. It was for a fundraising picnic day held by the Moe Lions Club at the Yallourn Storage Dam. The club was eager to make mileage from the reputation of a local water ski champion and the famous Hoodoo. Speed skiing had become popular in the United States and was beginning to attract attention in Australia.

World champion water skier, Chuck Sterns had been clocked at reaching over 100 mph riding a single ski, the fastest ever recorded. An American magazine had featured dramatic time sequence pictures of him falling during one of his attempts at setting a record. The sequence of pictures showed him tucked up into a ball like the bomb skipping over the water in The Dam Busters film.

At the time in Australia, there was no specific equipment available for speed skiing and no idea of technique, except for what could be gleaned from the pictures in ski magazines. My father and I fawned over these, examining them for details and clues. For instance, the shape of the speed ski appeared exceptionally long, sleek and thick. The foot bindings looked as heavy and elaborate as those used in deep sea diving costumes. Speed skiers wore a lot of protective gear including a thick padded vest, helmet, wetsuit, and knee protectors.

The speedboats towing the skiers were called ‘drag boats’, which were different to the racing skiffs and hydroplanes familiar to us in Australia. The American version had been adapted for straight-line go to whoa races held on smooth water surfaces. It was a flat bottom boat with a substantial planning surface supporting a massive engine located at the transom. Because it was designed to hold a steady course in a straight line, it was suitable for towing speed skiers.

There were no drag boats in Australia then. Hoodoo would have to do. The Lions Club advertised the event on radio as the first ever attempt to set an Australian water-ski speed record. There was still another challenge to resolve – equipment?

My father and I went to see Hans who worked for Vel Aqua Skis in Melbourne. I had tested skis for Hans. A recent migrant and cabinetmaker trained in the Black Forest of Germany, he had never water-skied. He was gifted at cutting patterns from plywood and folding it. Mostly, he copied examples of water skis shown to him that were made by other manufacturers. Sometimes he surprised, showing me promising looking examples he’d made from his imagination. Vel Aqua encouraged Hans because it wanted to sell something different and better than anything else.

When we met with him and explained the problem, Hans presented us with an exotic looking ski. It was longer than anything else we have ever seen before and with a series of unfamiliar shapes and folds. In various sections the plywood was thinned, thickened, beveled, tapered, broadened, and hollowed. At least in its overall length it seemed similar to what we had seen of speed skis in American magazines. It was worth a try. I was able to get hold of a fluorescent orange buoyancy life vest that was bulky and looked fearsome enough. A padded bicycle helmet was the only protective headgear I could find before the event. There were no knee protectors around.

After school had finished for the day, my father picked me up in his Chrysler Valiant V8 and we headed to the dam for a test run. Harvey and Hoodoo were waiting. We attempted several trails. The ski was terrible. It kept tracking sideways. Hoodoo, as racing skiffs are inclined to do, skipped and pounded across the water. The towrope was lashing all over the place and dipping into the water. The experience was like riding on the end of a whip. Afterwards, Harvey said that the speedometer had flicked to 60 mph. We were stumped on what to do. Then my father, who had been watching from the bank, said it appeared we were going twice as fast and with twice the danger. We all agreed.

Thousands attended on picnic day, lining the banks of the Hall’s Bay area of the dam. Because of a lack of planning and available equipment, no official distance and timer was set in place. We reckoned that if Hoodoo went flat out across Hall’s Bay with myself in tow the spectacle would be convincing enough.

I think it was.

Hoodoo, Harvey Gunn and Ted Hopkins approached Hall’s Bay from the narrow channel end. Around the corner, the crowd heard an engine roar. As planned, we then burst into the bay with the speedometer tipping 50 mph. As Harvey steered within just a few meters from the shoreline and crowd, he hit the throttle and Hoodooskipped into the air. I didn’t fall off. We might well have set some Australian speed ski record. There were no announcements.

None asked for their money back.

The best athletes and teams thrive on creating uncertainty in their respective opponents. They are more at home in a world of random events and dangerous outcomes. They back themselves to read the play. Risk taking is a necessity, which is why there is always a chance of an upset result.

A favourite example I have of this principle is the 2005 Australian Tennis Open semi-final between Roger Federer and Andre Agassi. Federer won in three straight sets. The match result belied the closeness and intensity of the contest. At critical times throughout the match when the result of a set could have gone either way, Federer launched a series of daring serves that had the effect of restricting Agassi’s lethal return of serve, and that was a decisive factor.

In the courtside post-match interview the television commentator asked an exhausted and relieved winner to reveal the secrets of the tactical plan he had adopted to counter Agassi’s return of serve. A bemused Federer hesitated then responded that there were no tactics, “I just tried to serve as fast and as close to the line as I could.”

His response to the interviewer highlighted the value of strategy more so than a tactical ploy. Tactical advantages can dissipate quickly. On court, calibre players such as Federer and Agassi are not easily misled. Against a quality opponent, a tactical ploy aimed at creating uncertainty soon converts into a certainty and an invitation to punishment. A player who is over-reliant on the use of tactics can easily get caught in a trap. Changing tactics becomes like always having to change the colour of cordial. A quality opponent tastes and spits it back. How can the tactician then, respond? Add another colour?

A highlight of Federer’s play in the semi-final was not so much the ominous threat of the first service, which is expected at the elite level of competition, but how much dare he placed on the second service. Anything less may have opened the door for Agassi to take an advantage. Next time, the precision and chance that Federer takes on second service may waver only minutely, which could easily be enough for the table to turn.

He is constantly flirting with dangerous outcomes. To build a home he knows the value of constructing solid walls – nous, technique, and the resourcefulness to control an attack and also control an opponent. But this is never enough. He takes risks. His is willing to fail for the greater good.

When I was writing this section I read a magazine article asking a sample of 40 Australian ‘high achievers’ what were the secrets for their business success. All interviewees claimed hard work, dedication, and persistence. None mentioned backstabbing, trickery, cheating or bribery. Only four mentioned good luck and not one said they were blessed with innate talent.

Elite sport is not so forgiving.

Performances and results are open to view.

Various studies of English Premier League Football results, notably by mathematicians Baxter and Stevenson in 1988, showed that scoring patterns fitted a Negative Binomial Distribution curve, meaning there did not appear to be a constant rate of scoring. If random variation dictates so much in scoring goals, a theory emerged whereby teams could win by creating more chances or dangerous outcomes near the goalmouth. Hence the adoption of the long kicking game into the penalty area made famous by teams such as Wolverhampton and Watford.

In cricket, a bowler’s capacity to create dangerous outcomes and let random variation do the rest of the work; is how the best consistently take wickets. Australia’s successful strike bowler Glenn McGrath, on average produces a situation where better than one in 20 of his balls results in a batsman’s dismissal, or near dismissal such as a dropped chance ‘close shave’ with the bat or a Leg Before Wicket decision. Analysis shows around one in every three dangerous outcomes results in a dismissal.

The legendary chief executive of General Electric, Jack Welsh, famously said; “If the environment is changing faster than your business is, you’re dead.”

Randomness influences environmental change. The great players read the wavering signs better, and respond accordingly.

Another environmental influence is the principles governing home ground advantage effects. Like many, I had grown up with a sense of the phenomena.  But it was not until 1994, when I began collaborating with Swinburne University sports mathematician; Professor Stephen Clarke was I aware a range of elements for home ground advantage effects could be expressed in quantifiable terms.

Among my personal experiences was as a teenager playing for the Moe thirds in the morning and later in the day barracking for the seniors. A rim of cars was perched on Fowler Street hill overlooking the oval.

Cold rain.

Cutting wind.

Sitting in the family car with family and friends.

Catering courtesy of mum: sandwiches and a Thermos, enhanced by pies from the ladies auxiliary kitchen.

An excited voice on the car radio described the game in front of us and the exploits of our heroes Peter Jennings, Allan Steele, Dicky Wheildon – all local household names.

Moe goals.

A cacophony of car horns is unleashed! Immediately the whole town and any poor visitor got to know about it. It was like a symphony proclaiming: try us on here, if you dare!

At home the Moe battlers became formidable. Townsfolk reckoned Moe was a four-goal better proposition when playing at home.

The reverse was every second Saturday morning during the football season packing the kit, hopping into the car and driving to play a rival town or regional city. Mostly, the visiting rooms were miserable and the home team cocky. The chances of winning were not as good. Nevertheless, the travel itself I found pleasurable, cruising along bitumen roads through the Australian landscape, listening to local radio, engaging in car chatter and then absorbing the local views.

Given this positive experience of car travel, at Carlton I was surprised the coach was worried that an hour-long bus trip could affect body and mind. There was no such thing then as a national competition and interstate travel. The annual team bus journey to Geelong was the sole occasion Melbourne-based Victorian Football League players had to travel to another part of the world to play football. The trip generally took not much more than an hour.

Not long after the Carlton team bus passed by the township of Werribee, a distance of about 30km from our home at Princes Park, coach Barassi demanded the driver stop immediately. On the pretext of stretching the legs and concentrating the mind, he ordered all players to disembark and walk along the freeway apron for more than 1.5km towards Geelong. Within a few moments of the bus exodus, cars screeched to a halt, amazed to see Carlton players ambling along the freeway as other vehicles swerved and drivers slammed on brakes to avoid collision.

Miraculously, serious injury and death were avoided while Barassi seemed totally obsessed on how to beat Geelong. Previously I’d never thought about travel effects.

Another aspect of home advantage I experienced as a teenager was competing in water ski tournaments. Most venues were located throughout south-eastern Australia, which meant all competitors were accustomed to driving long distances, or occasionally flying interstate.

With the exception of the Moomba Masters Water Ski Championships held on the Yarra River, the numbers of people attending events were nothing like football and the audiences always genial. What mattered were the local water and wind conditions.

Elite level water skiing is unique for the amount of sensitivity required; feeling the water via the feet planted on a thin fluttering ski and the wind via the face, nose and ears. The eyes must be alert to both water and wind signals. Each venue can present vastly different characteristics and can change significantly within an event, and sometimes during a competition run. Like most competitors, at least 90 percent of my practice was at one venue and each competitor and support crew had a fair idea of who would perform best at the various tournament venues. Melbourne’s Moomba Masters tournament, recognized as the most prestigious trophy on the international competition calendar, was interesting because it was the most challenging and fairest. No one was able to practice on the Yarra River course during the year. The water was turgid, tidal and stank. A narrow watercourse lined by bluestone and concrete banks and a boat wake stirring a different slop on every turn of a ski. It was dangerous, tough and exhilarating, especially if you did well.[1]

When Clarke introduced me to the current thinking attributing home ground advantage to three distinct influences – crowd, travel and environment effects I already had a good appreciation of each. My fascination was with his attempt to measure these effects, in what combination and what context? If mathematics could assist understanding the degree of each effect then athletes and coaches could be more efficient devoting resources towards either exploiting the advantage or countering it.

An important distinction he drew is the difference between a simple tally of a win or a loss home or away and the actual phenomenon of home grand advantage effects. For example, of the former, if a top team travels interstate to play a bottom team playing at home there is a fair expectation the top team will still win because it is appreciably a better outfit. However, let’s say the top team wins by two goals. Assuming the game was played at a different venue; a neutral ground with equal travel distance between the teams, the expected winning margin would likely be four goals. If it were played at the venue of the top team, six goals would be the expected margin. In summary, a home ground advantage effect is defined by how much better the team performs than its ladder ranking and current form indicates, compared to its performance anywhere else – in the above scenario the home team is a two-goal better proposition while facing a two-goal disadvantage when visiting.

The best-known example of this principle is applied to the rules qualifying for the World Cup Football (soccer) tournament. Following considerable research of scoring outcomes involving the major leagues across the globe, mathematicians were able to determine that for every three goals scored, one can be attributed to home effects. Hence the FIFA one in three stipulation for all qualifying matches is applied to calculate the ladder positions of each qualifying zone. It’s a sound, evidence-based calculation. Far more elusive is weighing the different components – is it because of referee bias in front of home crowds, or hostile home crowds that will resort to extraordinary taunts ridiculing and demeaning visitors, or different surfaces, different climates, body clocks and digestive systems unsettled by jet lag and uncustomary food, and so on?

David Foster Wallace, in his masterly essay: Tennis, Trigonometry, Tornadoes (Harpers, 1991), thrives on home ground advantage effects. As a budding junior champion, he rated his tennis physiological attributes rather poorly. Nevertheless, he could still win games against his local cohorts. It was his liking and reading of the persistent, driving, tornado-infested winds that sweep across the plains of his hometown Illinois district that made him competitive. His opponents found the wind unsettling. This, and everywhere about them, they could only see flat lands and cornfields and assumed the courts were similarly uniform in nature. Instead, he saw the trigonometry differently. Each court had its unique nuanced lilt and crackling edges, which was exploited to his benefit. He recounts that when he stepped up a grade to regional and national competition, his prospects declined. He laments how the manicured, standardized conditions encountered at the higher level undid him.

As a writer, young and adult, Foster Wallace was a prodigy, virtuoso, and audacious. Even when flaying, he was absolutely generous for those he railed against and those he loved. In 2009, at the age of 39 he hanged himself. He adored his early years playing tennis and watching it played. His essay, Roger Federer As Religious Experience (Harpers, 2006) is widely recognized as a masterpiece.

My path is in the opposite direction. From the outset, I was a sporting prodigy, retired early from elite competition and then during my early adulthood set upon becoming a poet and writer. I am still finding my feet. At the time, I instinctively had a sense there were similar patterns in sport and elsewhere. Important lessons were the value of dangerous outcomes and home ground advantage effects. Attempting to set an Australian Water Ski speed record, as a teenager I had ridden on the end of a wildly whipping ski rope behind Harvey Gunn in Hoodoo, and saw both heaven and peril in a glimpse.

[1]In 1964 the Australian Water Ski Championships were held for the first and only time in conjunction with the Melbourne’s Moomba Masters tournament. At the championships as a 14-year-old, I won the National junior titles for slalom and overall. The next year I also won the slalom and overall titles competing in the National championships help on the Swan River, Perth. As a 16-year-old junior I competed in the Moomba men’s events and was placed third in the slalom.

Frank Ceighton

Frank Ceighton

Would like the current owners of the “Gunn’s Gully” service station show some of this data somewhere as well as info about the small Zoo they once had.
Sensational stuff and extremely well written too I might add.

Tony the

Tony the "Cappucino" (snow only) Skier

You’re an excellent writer and chronicler Edward. More strength to your arm!

Mike Johnson

Mike Johnson

Good memories of hoodoo,I worked for Harvey at Gunns gully.i think they were chev corvette motors,Tom stephison raced a nice American boat, he had the bp garage in newborough..

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Things to Know

Must-Have Kitchen Storage Solutions to Consider

The steps you take when thinking about important factors like storage space will make or break your home improvement project. Whether you're building a new kitchen in your home or renovating an existing one, you should consider everything from built-in power outlets to cookie tray slots to make the most of your space.

Click here to Join our E-Newsletter or Refer a Friend to get helpful Home & Real Estate Articles and Tips

Here are eight must-have kitchen storage solutions to consider before a remodel to spend money wisely and optimize space effectively.

1. An Accessible Lazy Susan – If your powders, spices and other essential ingredients have been piling up, plan for quick fixes, like lazy Susans, in your remodeling preparation, to make small items easy to find and put away.

2. A Range of Open Cabinets – If you're always reaching for and putting away dishes in a hurry, think about design trends, like open cabinets, in your remodeling goals, to have your favorite items out in the open when you need them.

3. A Standard Pantry – If you have a big family and need adequate space to store non-perishable food, reinvent a typical closet space, like an everyday pantry, during your remodeling process, to have plenty of room for go-to foods like rice and pasta.

4. A Pantry Pullout – If you're always on the go and looking for a pantry to match your busy lifestyle, add a handy addition, like a pantry pullout, to your remodeling wish list, to enable easy access to your favorite treats.

5. A Series of Closed Cabinets – If you want space to stow away food and cookware you don't use on a regular basis, jot down everyday kitchen essentials, like closed cabinets, to your notes for remodeling, to keep your basic necessities top of mind.
6.A Super Cabinet – If you're looking for ways to use your cabinet space, make room for an efficient organizational space, like a super cabinet, on your list of remodeling tasks, to keep cans, boxes and more in order.

7. A Waste Disposal Drawer – If you're tired of having your trash and recycling out in the open, integrate a simple trick, like a drawer that fits your waste bins, into your remodeling scheme, to hide away messes and free up space.

8. A Set of Drawer Dividers – If the drawers in your kitchen have become your household's version of Pandora's Box, incorporate small details, like additional drawer dividers, into your remodeling plan, to keep track of everyday essentials like utensils.

These eight must-have kitchen storage solutions to consider before a remodel are great ways to start planning your home improvement project. Whether you're building a whole new kitchen or revamping an old one, take into account the many ways you can maximize space and organize your belongings. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about kitchen storage space and interior design in general, so please don't hesitate to connect with me today.

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NYC Bouncers: Win Tickets to Attend Sol Village Next Week!

We're giving away the gift of live music once again at SoulBounce in conjunction with our good friends at S.O.B.'s. New York City Bouncers are in for another treat with three pairs of tickets for December's Sol Village showcase next Wednesday, December 17th up for grabs.

Sol Village is ending the year in grand fashion
with Erro Claus pulling into town with a sleigh full of gifted musicians. Bounce-Worthy diva Maiysha, who's up next on Behind the Groove, will be gracing the stage, and if you've never seen her live, then do yourself a favor and find yourself at S.O.B.'s on Wednesday or just go ahead and slap yourself right now. In addition to Maiysha, acclaimed singer-songwriter-producer Gordon Chambers will be on hand to show his vocal prowess. DC's own Bilal Salaam will take a break from backing up Raheem DeVaughn to bring his eclectic blend of soul to life, and rounding out the stellar lineup is Monet and Ndelible.

We have three pairs of tickets to whoever wants to jam the night away with some hot artists next week. Full details on
how to enter can be found after the bounce. Tickets are also available at the S.O.B.'s box office for the on-the-low price of $10.

To enter the SoulBounce December Sol Village Ticket Giveaway:

  • Send an email with the subject line SOL VILLAGE to
  • Email
    must include your NAME and TELEPHONE NUMBER in the body of
    the email.
  • Entires will only be accepted between the hours of 12 noon on Friday, 12/12 until 12 noon on Wednesday, 12/17.
  • All entries that do not adhere to the above stated guidelines will be disqualified.
  • Entrants
    must be in the NYC area or vicinity and available to attend a show at S.O.B.'s
    located at 204 Varick Street at West Houston on Wednesday 12/17 at 8 PM
    (doors open 7 PM).
  • If you have won a contest/giveaway from SoulBounce in the past 30 days, you are ineligible to enter.
  • Three
    winners will be chosen at random from all eligible entrants on Wednesday,
    12/17 to receive one of three pairs of complimentary tickets to the
  • The winners will be notified by email and/or telephone on Wednessday, 12/16 by 2 PM and provided with further details.
  • Thanks for participating and good luck!

And y'all know how I do, here's some Erro footage from my vault.

Eric Roberson [Official][MySpace]
S.O.B.'s [Official]

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1 Response

  1. Eric Roberson looks like a damn fool in that flyer
    It's too bad he was passed his prime it's a shame what the game does to folks these days

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