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Last October Nr 2 cat Inky lost a couple of his nine lives when deciding to play with the traffic early one morning. Luckily a kind man scooped him up off the road and took him to the vet and amazingly he is pretty much back to normal, being his usual bouncy nosey self.
Whilst he is Mr Sociable and would ideally be attached to a friendly human at all times, he is also the outdoor hunter of the three and by the state of his nose it looks like his inquisitiveness has got him into trouble again.
Well, well, well! What can I say about this conniving crook that would paint him as a saint?! Hmm, not one damn word comes to mind! So let's take it back to “The Beginning” and reexamine his felonious track record. The air was thick with a fair measure of gloom on that rainy evening (originally), in the Fall of 1984, when Jerrica Benton stood side by side with her younger sister, Kimber Benton, at their father Emmet Benton's funeral. Also in attendance was her bandmates/sisters Aja and Shana, her boyfriend Rio Pacheco, and a slippery, scaly python with more connections than the Mob, Eric Raymond! Jerrica and Eric became joint owners of Starlight Music after Emmet's demise, leaving Eric to his half, and Jerrica to half of what was rightfully hers. During the funeral service, he gave his deepest sympathies to her and, because he's simply a cad in a fancy suit, had the nerve to put the moves on her as Rio stared him down! Later on that day, Jerrica decided to take her mind off of her loss by returning to work. As she stepped off the elevator and opened her office door, Eric appeared lounging at his desk with a grimace of triumph and a preemptive strike to control her half of Starlight Music. He also found the right moment to introduce his female Rock band, the Misfits, who roared in on motorcycle bikes and began to close in on Jerrica like three piranhas deprived of din-din! After a few notes of “Outta My Way”, the shock-rockers joined Eric at his desk as he proposed an arrangement known as the Battle of the Bands, a competition which he rigged to please the Misfits! The day of the concert, Jem and her girls were penciled in as no-shows, but the bad girls of Rock 'n' Roll had everyone's attention and came from within seconds of winning. Then, in one swift glance, Jem and the Holograms appeared on stage (compliments of Synergy) and stole the show! Surfing high above the crowd of fans while swaying and prancing around in 6 inch designer heels, Jem and her sisters made it crystal clear that their victory was “Only the Beginning!” Keeping up with his initial arrangement, Eric then challenged Jem to the most important competition of her life, a second Battle of the Bands, provided that if she won, then he would sign over his share of Starlight Music, but if the Misfits prevailed, then he would claim FULL ownership of the entire company! With the stakes higher than before, Eric set out to cease any chance the Holograms had at winning, and ordered in his henchman, Zipper, to break into Starlight Foster House to cause a little ruckus. During a brief encounter with Kimber who was holding a lit candle stick in the dark, Zipper knocked into her as he tried to escape and inadvertently set the entire house on fire! Now well into 1985, and living at the Starlight Mansion, Jem put the “Disaster” out of her mind. And with the Holograms and their foster girls, she settled in the million dollar estate with a housewarming tour, a pool party, and a nice dinner to boot. Life was wonderful, and the Pop stars were living “Like a Dream!” Unfortunately, for Jem, the day had just begun for Eric and there was a lot of dirty work to manage, starting with his first assignment, which included Zipper and another dangerous task, this time by planting explosives under the cushions of her living room couch and blowing the entire wall to smithereens! To compound the disaster, Eric decided to hoof on over to the news reporters who showed up and caused a scene by boldly lying about the blast. These crimes were all just the tip of the iceberg. I mean, this is Eric Raymond that we're talking about. It's nearly impossible to list every single offense—I'd be here for days! I once thought of Zipper as the most revolting villain in the world of Jem, and he is still the raining champ in that department. Eric, however, is the slimy crud that clogs AND pumps the fuel into the entire series! Every lackey needs a handler—someone to answer to and serve—and in this case, Eric is the master, and Zipper is the servant. They are truly two of the biggest crooks ever, in ‘80s animation! Days later, the action continued, and Eric was in cahoots again with his favorite henchman, this time, in “Frame Up”, when he tipped off the police to search Jem's dressing room after ordering his slugs to plant prize money in there to frame her! But, when the plan fell through, he then hired a private detective named Malone to uncover her secret. Talk about a double whammy! The heat was on, in “Battle of the Bands”, when he began to focus on Synergy and became obsessed with the pictures that were taken of the mysterious machine by Malone. He was well on the trail of discovering the origins of Synergy much later in the series as well, but never followed through due to his greed for money and status. He didn't falter this time around, though, and embarked on a relentless quest to discover the facts, even placing 'lil Ashley on payroll for a brief moment, then holding her for hostage in his office and threatening that he'd hurt her if Jem didn't scurry over to Starlight Drive-In, all in an attempt to buy more time for the Misfits to win the competition! Later that evening, his world spun out of orbit when Rio crashed five knuckles into his jaw for backhanding Jerrica across her face, at Starlight Music!
Everyone assumed the crook was jailed, in “Starbright, Part One”, but he was just gearing up for his directorial debut and decided to enter into business with Pizzazz and her father's film studio. Within seconds of striking the deal with Harvey, Eric started sprouting horns as he began to hand out orders and demands, like the claus in Jem's contract that demanded she perform in the film despite being on a Misfits production. He butted heads repeatedly with Anthony Julian on set, then became embroiled in an all-out shouting match regarding who's who, forcing Anthony to walk out of the entire production! There were times when he threatened to fire half the staff and crew, and he didn't think twice about driving a wedge between Kimber and Jem by suggesting that Jem gets more attention and fanfare than her. The climax blew a fuse, when Jem quit the film after her physical altercation with Pizzazz! Jerrica, who was desperate to reason for the sake of her foster daughter, Banee, decided to return to the production and weather the storm with one and all. However, Eric was up to his old tricks again, when he pressured Jem to perform a stunt while crossing an elongated log several stories above without a stunt double, resulting in her falling to the ground! Thank goodness Rio flew in on a vine to save her! Video Montgomery caught the entire accident on tape and prepared to release the footage to the Union, but Jem begged her not to out of consideration for Banee. Pizzazz noticed them talking and encouraged Clash to destroy the video tape, and she almost succeeded, but it was Video's clever act of switching labels on the tape that sealed Eric's fate! Rio reached his breaking point during a stunt that involved Kimber and her near-death accident while running down a hill and dodging landmines that detonated off cue on account of Roxy and Clash! Eric's negligence and foul attitude towards the accident was reason enough for Rio to snatch him by the collar, lift him from off the ground and bodyslam him in front of cast and crew lol! Now, with the film in the can, and his staff in shambles, Eric was left with only his pride, and he assumed the worst was over. But karma always has a way of showing up on time. Suddenly, at the snap of a finger, the Producers Guild, Stuntman's Union, the Director's Guild and Photographer's Local all burst in and charged him with misconduct, no guild approval, hazardous conditions on the set, and failure to use qualified stunt-persons! The trickle effect began as the Union closed the production due to the tape of Jem's accident, and continued with Harvey Gabor losing a fortune in fines and lawsuits from dozens of Unions, and millions in over budgets. Guess it's just a day in the life of one senseless and heartless creature! But that's really no surprise when Eric's involved. He even went so far as to steal the profits from “The World Hunger Shindig” by recruiting, yet again, Zipper to scam a whole ticket booth off the books for $250.000 dollars. Like, really? Starving children? Shame! Actually, he had established a lack of concern and safety for children very early on in the series; the Misfits as well! It doesn't matter the weather or the season—rain, sleet or snow—Eric is there with a treasure chest full of shady deals to disperse, like in “Last Resorts”, when he caused a serious amount of damage to Rick Franklin's skiing resort by arranging accidents and rigging equipment with the intent to drive avid customers away and conquer Ricks's property.
Whether it's an attack against two or a slew, somehow he always finds a way to outfox his victims, and in “Old Meets New”, he illustrates just how cunning and ruthless he is from beginning to end! The sun basked down on a small historical section of California, particularly one building occupied by Bobby Bailey, a former rock musician. Bobby's building just so happened to be one of the first Rock 'n' Roll recording studios ever built, and a meaningful structure to music history. The former musician tried everything possible to save his building from demolition, and he fought several times against the owner to prevent condemnation. He eventually became friendly with Jem and the Holograms and they decided to assist him in his crusade. Well, on that same day, while both parties stood outside of the building removing boards from the entranceway, a huge bulldozer appeared in the distance. As the inadequate piece of machinery approached, Jem and her girls noticed Eric and the Misfits at the controllers and jumped out of the way as they lowered the wrecking ball at the building, all while barking at the tenants to “Take a Hike” so that he could demolish the property and build “The biggest record album factory on the East Coast!” Then the situation jumped from bad to worse, when Pizzazz, under Eric's supervision, decided to get her sick thrill out of swinging the wrecking ball into surrounding buildings that were occupied with tenants still inside! His greed reached new heights, in “Intrigue at Indy 500”, and he got quite sloppy with his work. It all started when he bribed famous race car driver, Martino Granzetti's sponsors, to pull out of the race to secure himself a profit. The scales gave way literally when his associate tampered with the axel on Granzetti's car prior to the race and sent him flying into the Intensive Care unit of the hospital, followed by Jem's car crash, when she tried to repair the Starlight Special in hopes of replacing Martino in the race! He took a different approach, in “The Talent Search, Part One”, and went straight for the jugular, when he tried to bribe Raya Alonso into revealing Jem's true identity. After refusing to comply, Eric had her parents nursery destroyed by vandals! Jetta decided to appoint herself as the overseer of this mission, and her first order was for the crew to bring back a black orchid as proof of their work. The mission turned out to be a bust, of course, and left Jetta with a bald patch on her scalp lol! The low-handed, cutthroat scum evaded incarceration, during “KJEM!” The drama started when he struck a shady deal with a con-artist to have the Misfits play a live radio concert opposite the opening broadcast of Jem's new radio station, KJEM, for more airplay and extra promotion—such a shady deal that even Eric wasn't fully aware of! In short, the Misfits naively became involved in a pirate broadcast, finally ending with the arrest of all four hotshots! He finally got his just deserts, in “Trick or Techrat”, when he was rewarded as the highest bidder for a chunk of property, an old opera house owned by Fredrick Vincent. His partnership with a fellow business owner to build new condos in place of the opera house was enough to seal the deal and to destroy the historical building lickety-split. The Misfits were in on the ghoulish antics as well, and were determined to destroy Jem and the Holograms' Halloween benefit concert at the opera house by staging their own concert on the opposite side of the street from the landmark. With Techrat's special effects machine, Eric had what he knew was needed to scare Jem, Kimber, Aja, Shana, Raya and the Starlight girls! Only, this time, it seems he made the mistake of stepping from behind the iron curtain to join in on the festivities by disguising himself as Mr. Vincent to force the real Fredrick Vincent to close his business. Not even the Misfits were surprised that his tricky maneuver backfired on him. And without lawyers or lifelines on his side, it was Eric's turn to FINALLY rot in a jail cell as he was arrested by the end of the night!
Once again, he demonstrated a lack of concern for children, in “The Middle of Nowhere!” The hunger to cash in on the record market was excuse enough for him to muster up the courage to approach Harvey Gabor with his plan to purchase land and open a refinery near the Alaskan pipeline. After ruining Harvey's movie studio and costing him millions in damages, Eric knew that he would have to make a hard sell and a smooth transaction to reel him in, and he accomplished his goal by elaborating that his offer could make records “more cheaply” than any other record company in the world. He added that the deal would provide a wealth of oil, and that any investor wise enough to back him would “make a fortune.” As usual, Eric was only out for himself and didn't care about robbing Uto and her loving family of Attuk Island, as well as killing the seals that populated the water and land! In the end, the Kenyak family decided that they didn't want to sell their Island, placing Eric back on Harvey's s**t list and leaving him stranded out in the Arctic cold literally! He was drunk with power while playing time-travel master, in “Journey Through Time”, and supervised Techrat's activities with a computerized device that transported Jem, the Holograms and Synergy back in time to Vienna, 1781, Pizzazz and the Misfits to Woodstock ‘69, and himself smack dab in the middle of the Mesozoic era! Eric's background bio was fleshed out, in “Out of the Past”, and revealed an early love triangle between himself, Jerrica and Rio Pacheco, surprisingly, all brought on by Jerrica herself in a desperate plea for Rio's attention! The episode also documented his rise to the top as Emmet Benton's protégé, and, more importantly, the introduction of Jerrica's mother, Jacqui Benton, and her career as a singer. Jerrica wanted to use her mother's early recordings to rerecord and create a commemorative album of her work, beginning with a modern version of “First Love”, which did wonders for Jacqui's legacy by re-entering her music back on the charts after a full decade! The idea of cutting an entire album with her mother's recordings as a guide was all she could think about, but she wasn't exactly sure where to locate the print work. One night, while working overtime at Starlight Music, she received a phone call from Eric who admitted to having her mother's tapes in his possession, and insisted that she pay a million dollars in return or grant him controlling interest over Starlight Music! Jerrica declined his ridiculous offer, but Eric was unabashed about his proposal and suggested that she meet him at his place to discuss the matter or that he would destroy the tapes. Determined to reserve her mother's legacy, she decided to bite the beat and go to his lair after all. While there, the two began to argue about the money and Eric's lack of compassion. Jerrica—thinking that he would do the right thing out of the kindness of his heart—decided to just ask him for the master tapes, but he vetoed her request and decided to punish her by throwing the recordings into his fireplace! Without delay, she raised her hand above her head and swung her palm at his cheek, leaving him with an imprint that he will always taste, feel and remember! This saga ended on a positive note due to Synergy's function for storing data in her memory bank, leaving Eric, for the umpteenth time, demolished. There's absolutely no limit to his repulsive behavior! He's always at war with Pizzazz, he was annihilated by Craig Phillips, and Riot barely tolerates him. Hell, even the Starlight girls gave him a run for his money, in “The Day the Music Died!” It's quite interesting nowadays when I view the show from a mature standpoint. I find myself shocked at the mass of illegal activity that I subjected myself to as a child lol. The ‘80s were what I define as the last days of innocence, but the decade also ushered in the age of WONDER! Of course, I didn't realize this at the precious age of 5, but it's now clear, that Eric, the Misfits, Zipper and Clash were ahead of their time, animation-wise! I mean, let's be real here, the action was what kept my generation tuned in every week and on the edge of our seats! Needless to say, Eric Raymond has always repulsed me. Even as a child, he used to frightened me with his appearance and behavior. And the Misfits were no different. I was freaked out by their evil tyranny and would yell at the television for them to just leave goody-goody Jem alooone! Seriously! Of course, now, as an adult, I love them! They make me laugh more than anything else. And their style is everything! But, with Eric, there's the feeling of disgust that was present as a child, and still remains today! With all that being said, I do believe that he is the main artery of the series.
Continuing with my thoughts above, I am very happy to see Eric in doll form. I think we can all agree that, without his presence, the Jem collection just wouldn't be the same! So yes, I am elated that Integrity finally released the head honcho of Misfits Music! Eric definitely shines in his own strange way, not necessarily color-wise, but in his own right. At times, when I scan the entire collection with my eyes, I marvel at the contrast of dark tones used for the Misfits collection, and bright tones for Jem and the Holograms. And no matter when or how many times I scan, Eric always catches my eye due to the particular aspect of muted colors used for his wardrobe. Do I think that Integrity should have given him a little more coloration to work with? No way! He is dressed in boss attire and looks exactly as he's portrayed in Jem. So there's not a long list of requirements for his clothes and accessories, and maybe that's a good thing. I just think that we're supposed to enjoy Eric for Eric, not for what he lacks. He's now arrived and that's well enough reason to celebrate the latest edition to the Misfits collection. Besides, when it comes right down to it, he doesn't really need a reason to exist—it's mandatory! I have him standing front and center in my Misfits collection, obviously where he belongs. There are no drawbacks available to evaluate. His face sculpt looks exactly like it should. There were tons of complaints from doll collectors who were teed off about the recycled head sculpt, and I can't bring myself to agree because, for someone like myself who doesn't already own a doll with the Count Dracula sculpt, this is considered a new and exciting experience for myself. It works out real well, too, because I have nothing else to go by, but Eric, and I am relieved of that! There's something strangely fascinating about the color of his hair, kinda has a dark chestnut hue, especially when viewing in the light. But it's too short, in my opinion. I think chin-length hair would have been better! At least we would have had the option to trim his hair however short we pleased. Eric's accessories were chosen with the utmost care and truly reflect his initial appearance, in Season One! This swindler is concealing one seriously expensive Rolex wristwatch and a matching chrome ring, both purchased with blood money, of course! He actually looks suave in his three-piece, intricately woven Giorgio Armani business suit. There's a nice, deep, rich gray tone to it that's very appealing! He also wears a light blue dress shirt, a red necktie and black satin socks, all Armani as well! His black leather shoes are from Gianni Versace's “Ivy League” business collection, and they look quite nice on his feet. Mr. Bossman shields his deceiving eyes with a pair of Ray-Ban shades, and carries a black Gucci briefcase that's on loan from the Yuppie collection. Inside the attaché case contains a picture of Synergy that was taken by Malone, his personal detective...still gives me chills to this day lol. The memo from Eric to Pizzazz is priceless and made me lmao! This bigwig CEO is squeaky clean, from top to bottom, without a trace of fingerprints to seal his fate, and it's apparent as to just how well-off he really is! 💰
On another note, I messaged Integrity Toys four months ago with a request regarding my idea for a special Jem doll. My request/brainchild is what I like to call, the “Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame” Jem, from “The Stingers Hit Town, Part One”, with her sparkly brown gown, huge oversized shoulder-bows, tan boa, and her pink/gold/white Rock guitar! I also requested Shana's alt guitar as an added bonus. Two days later, an employee replied that she would notify their Design Team! I will definitely continue to keep my fingers and pedicured toes crossed for this one!
My top 6 remaining dolls that I'm holding out for:
Mardi Gras Jem
Indy 500 Jem
Graphix
Sean Harrison
Lena Lerner
Zipper
To Know Him is to Love Him 2011, detail
Biography
Marlene Dumas (1953) grew up with her two older brothers in Jacobsdal, her father’s winery in Kuilsrivier, South Africa. With Afrikaans as her mother tongue she went to the English-language University of Cape Town in 1972. There she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts in 1975. With a two-year scholarship, she opted to come to Europe and more specifically to the Netherlands because of the language kinship. As well as visual art, language is an important means of expression for Dumas. She gives her exhibitions and individual works striking titles, writes texts about her paintings and makes commentaries on her own pieces. These texts are collected in the publication, Sweet Nothings (1998).
In the Netherlands she worked at Ateliers ‘63 in Haarlem from 1976 to 1978. Twenty years later, in 1998, she returned to art school De Ateliers, now based in Amsterdam, as a permanent staff member. In addition, Marlene Dumas has taught at several other Dutch art institutes.
In 1978, she exhibited her work for the first time, at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. Work by René Daniels and Ansuya Blom also featured in this exhibition, called Atelier 15 (10 Young Artists). In 1982, her work was shown in Basel, in the exhibition Junge kunst aus die Niederlanden. In the same year, Rudi Fuchs asked her to take part in Documenta 7. In 1983, she got her first solo show, Unsatisfied Desire, at Gallery Helen van der Meij / Paul Th. Andriesse in Amsterdam. In 1984, the Centraal Museum Utrecht became the first museum to invite her to do a solo exhibition. Dumas responded with a collection of collages, texts and works on paper under the title Ons Land Ligt Lager dan de Zee. In 1985, The Eyes of the Night Creatures was her first exhibition devoted solely to painting.
Since the late eighties, her work has been featured in European group exhibitions in museums such as the Tate Gallery in London, under the title Art from Europe (1987) and in Bilderstreit in Cologne (1989). Her first major solo exhibition opened abroad three months after the birth of her daughter in the Kunsthalle in Berne: The Question of Human Pink (1989). In 1992, all the halls of the Van Abbe Museum in Eindhoven were dedicated to her exhibition Miss Interpreted. This solo show was followed by a tour of Europe and then America. In 1992 her work was also shown at Documenta IX, at the invitation of Jan Hoet. Her first solo gallery show in New York at Jack Tilton received the appropriate title Not from Here. That was in 1994, the year of the first free democratic elections in South Africa. It was also the year in which she exhibited at the Frith Street Gallery in London, along with her contemporaries Juan Muñoz and Thomas Schütte. In 1995, Chris Dercon made the selection for the Dutch contribution to the Venice Biennale, choosing three women: Marlene Dumas, Marijke van Warmerdam and Mary Roossen.
From the mid-nineties, Dumas’ work featured in exhibitions of art from the Netherlands, such as Du concept à l’image (Paris, 1994). She also participated in international, interdisciplinary projects including The 21st Century (Basel, 1993), with Damien Hirst, Roni Horn and others, and the Carnegie International (Pittsburgh, 1995). In 1996, her sparring partners at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC included Mike Kelley, Thomas Schütte, Robert Gober and Rachel Whiteread. The exhibition was entitled, Distemper: Dissonant Themes in the Art of the 1990s. In 1993, Zeno X Gallery, Antwerp, staged Dumas’ show, Give the People What They Want. The works in this exhibition then went on to become part of the ‘Der Spiegel zerbrochene’, Positionen zur Malerei (1993), curated by Kaspar König and H.U. Obrist. Other participating artists included Luc Tuymans and Gerhard Richter. Other important exhibitions devoted to painting in which Dumas was represented included Trouble Spot: Painting (1999), Painting at the Edge of the World (2001) and The Painting of Modern Life (2007). Her work has also featured in exhibitions with a focus on Africa, such as the Africus Biennale in Johannesburg (1995) and in Africa Remix (2004-2006).
Although Marlene Dumas has had Dutch nationality since 1989, she has said:
Someone once remarked that I could not be a South African artist and a Dutch artist, that I could not have it both ways.
I don’t want it both ways.
I want it more ways.
Dumas’ work spans over thirty years. In 2001, Jonas Storsve of the Centre Pompidou staged the first retrospective of her works on paper under the title Nom de Personne. This exhibition was subsequently featured in the New Museum, New York, and in the De Pont Museum in Tilburg, under the title, Name no Names. Between 2007 and 2009 a retrospective of her entire oeuvre, in varying combinations, toured three continents. Starting in Japan under the name Broken White, the overview travelled to South Africa with the title, Intimate Relations. It was the first time that so much of Dumas’ work could be seen on her native soil. The retrospective concluded its tour at the Museum for Contemporary Arts in Los Angeles, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and The Menil in Houston, where it was called, Measuring Your Own Grave.
VILLE VALO ON A BROWN COUCH!!!NOT MUCH I CAN SAY HERE!!! BUT, I ALSO HAVE A BOOK ON THE BAND"HIM"!!!
IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE
Inspecció dels uniformes, l'oficial està parlant al nostre home.
Aquestes fotografies formen part d'un album de records d'un soldat alemany de la Segona Guerra Mundial. Aparentment, formava part d'una unitat sanitaria de la Wehrmacht, la Sänitatskompanie 263, part de la 263 Infanterie Division.
Aquest album mostra fotografies sense textos però que segueixen al seu autor (amb moltes fotos d'ell) des de Alemania cap a la costa francesa el 1940-41, i d'allà cap al front del est entre Minsk i Moscou des del 1941 fins probablement el 1943.
Per més informació sobre aquestes unitats:
www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanteriedivis...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/263rd_Infantry_Division_(Wehrmacht)
www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanteriedivis...
www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/index.php?thread/53989-standor...
=====================
Some kind of dress inspection, probably in Germany.
These photographs are part of a photo album of a German World War II soldier. Apparently, he was part of a medical unit of the Wehrmacht, the Sänitatskompanie 263, part of the 263rd Infantry Division.
This album shows photographs without text but following the author (with many photos of him) from Germany to the French coast in 1940-41, and from there to the eastern front between Minsk and Moscow from 1941 to probably in 1943.
For more information on these units:
www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanteriedivis...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/263rd_Infantry_Division_(Wehrmacht)
www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanteriedivis...
www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/index.php?thread/53989-standor...
Taken for 52 weeks for dogs. Jake. Against the fall leaves on our WNC vacation. Jake was studying some people about to take off on a trip- he's such a curious fellow-- so focused when there is some point of interest. Today was such a glorious sunny, blue sky day. Many of the leaves are gone from the trees, at the higher elevations, where I am. But there are still a few leaves left. Jake loves it here. I know- another head shot. I'll include in the first comment below- a partial body shot of Jake at the waterfall, where we hiked. I can't let Jake off leash on hikes. He eats things he shouldn't and gets sick if I do. He is too curious about other dogs and wild life. So it's very hard to let him be off leash, outside (where my camera works best),, to get his whole body in a shot. Darn.
Taken 10/13/11, Uploaded 10/23/11, 2011 10 23_zTSBS82pctLevelsScreen30pctEnhanceDDLevelsJake Treespots WNC dogs_7428
If you wish, view "my own favorites" of my photostream
Or view all of my Photostream, sorted by Interestingness: <a href="http://fiveprime.org/flickr_hvmnd.cgi?search_domain=User&textinput=louise+lindsay&search_type=Search+User&photo_number=50&photo_"
Last night, Piórko moved out to Heaven.
I held him in my hands as he was taking his last breaths.
Before he took the final breath, he suddenly started moving his paws and legs, like he was running, or dreaming of running.
To my mind, he was just already running up the rainbow leading to Heaven.
His lights had been going down, and I was amazed his heart kept beating for so long. He barely breathed, barely moved, but refused to leave for days and days...
Thankfully, he wasn't ill.
It was just a cruel, natural process.
A tiny body (remember, Piórko was petite, half a frankfurter covered in long fur) programmed to live for 2 years, and that's it, game over. Til his last day, he was just a small, young boy.
We'd nursed him each day, we fed him noodles, pieces of yummy cookies and cakes. He loved them! He had no energy to anything, get up or even open his eyes, but he ate the treats. He always had a good taste in food... He always slept with his ice-cream.
I think you knew Piórko quite well, I don't have to describe who he was.
Most of all, he was an oddity.
When he was a child, he was a little rebel and a grump, who hated life, everything and everybody.
After Szarotka passed away, he changed, brigthened up. He was incredibly gentle, never ever bit me, or his servant, and behaved like a gentleman around other hamsters (except for hating Juniorek for his fur, you've seen the movie).
He was grumpy, sometimes, but not as grumpy as it seemed.
Intellectually, Piórko was so above my other boys.
He was much brighter than Pucio and Juniorek put together. They are muppets, while Piórko was, after all, the King Of Muppets...
So, this is it.
Piórko was the Last One - the last one from my original hamster gang (Chmurka, Szarotka, Piórko, Pompon).
So, it's not just losing him. It's someting more, too.
This is very hard.
Piórko was my Favourite Boy in the world.
And that won't ever, ever change.
Never.
Be happy in Heaven, Little Feather...
xxx
***
Najfajniejszy i najdzielniejszy Chłopiec na świecie
na zawsze
*cmok*
xxx
I believe this is Derek from Barbie and the Rockers. Still sporting his totally bitchin' neon tux. :-)
Met him on Hollywood Boulevard
during one of my daily daytime jaunts
near the vicinity of the old Chinese Theater.
Noticed his gold and diamond
appointed teeth glistening in the sun,
and asked him if I could take his photo,
and he consented, and opened
up his mouth
to show me this glittering dental
work within.
Nathaniel pulled Shade aside and brings him to a distant place located far east of the forest. There the two are surrounded by fallen trees, like soldiers on a battlefield. The stench of rotten decay lay thick in the dewy air. It is at this place, the young seasoned hunter explains his story.
"Do you know why I have brought you here?" Nathaniel asked as if it were a simple question. His voice as at ease as if speaking to a child. Shade told him that he did not. Nathaniel then took his seat on a fallen tree.
"This used to be a lively part of the forest--that is until the werewolves tore it bare. For the past several hundred years my family and long with the creatures of the forest serving as our Familiars have protected these mysterious lands from outside infestations. It was only until the 1740's that the werewolves turned on us for the lust for power." He voice softened to a close a brown leaf whizzed by their faces.
"To strip things of their power and leave them dry is their only interest. That it is why it is up to us hunters to protect this worlds remaining innocents. Are you ready to join into the fight?"
"Uh... no," Shade immediately backed off in alarm.
"That's what I thought," the hunter chuckled almost as if he were the only one is sight. "But with time I am sure you will. Lets go, before Fawn gets worried."
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas Martial Arts and Karate
Karate for Kids Testimonial and Review
When my eight-year-old son first asked me if I would let him take Karate for Kids, I was a little worried. Karate seems so dangerous and I was concerned that my boy would end up injured. After talking with my husband, we agreed to give the program a chance and now we are so glad that we did.
First of all, I would like to state that Master Babin is wonderful with the children. While I was apprehensive that the Karate class would be all about fighting, I was relieved to learn that the focus was more on self-defense and moral values. Now my son is healthier than ever, doing an activity that he truly loves.
I would encourage every parent out there looking for a fun exercise-based activity for his or her child to participate in their Karate for Kids program a chance. My son is constantly talking about what he learned in his past karate lessons and practicing his blocks and punches in the living room. He is even playing his video games less.
After my initial reservations, I now cannot imagine my son participating in any other karate program. Consider this my highest recommendation.
David S
Reviews on Karate for Kids
When my son started karate instruction with Karate for Kids, he was timid, had few friends and had trouble paying attention in school. I didn't agree with the doctor who tried to tell me he had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and that I should put him on medication to control it. To me, my son just needed some loving guidance, not to be medicated.
That is when I asked my good friend about her children's experiences with the local martial arts Instructor. Like my son, her children did not have a father figure in their lives and suffered greatly as the result. When they were approaching their teenage years, she decided to enroll them in karate at Karate For Kids Within a matter of weeks, I saw her pre-teen son and daughter become more confident, focused and goal-oriented and knew I wanted the same for my child.
After his very first lesson, my son, then aged nine, was already a changed child. He overflowed with enthusiasm as he explained how the karate for kids program pushed him to reach goals, but was "really nice" about it. To this mom, that means that my son finally got the caring, personal instruction that he deserves.
Thank you for such a fantastic Karate For Kids Program
Samantha W
Testimonial and Review on Martial Arts For Men
I am a forty-eight year old man and, until about four months ago, I had really let myself go. Between work-related stress and the other pressures of my day-to-day existence, I made little time for exercise and gave almost no thought to a healthy diet. In short, I was a mess.
One day, a colleague at my office took me aside and recommended that I sign up for the martial arts program offered locally. He had recently signed up for a class and loved it. After some convincing, I agreed to accompany him to his next class.
Fast-forward to today and I now love my martial arts training. Martial Arts for men workouts feels less like training and more like fun. I have been losing weight and now have a new energy when facing the daily grind. I have gone from one class a week to two, and am thinking of adding a third.
If you are looking for a fun way to get in shape, I would advise you to come on down our Martial Arts for Men Academy. You will not regret it.
Getting younger…
Lisa F
Testimonial and Review on Martial Arts For Women
I never would have thought that taking up martial arts, would change me so much as a person and in so many ways. I still use every occasion to thank my friends, for recommending me the Martial Art courses for women taught by a martial arts school that teaches quality skill sets for women
I used to be a very shy person, and had become quite fearful after having my purse stolen one evening. Now, that is no longer the case. Since participating in the martial arts courses, I have felt more empowered than ever. I enjoyed the friendly and encouraging atmosphere right from the start, and did not feel ashamed of my initial clumsiness.
Now, I can actually impress my friends with some of the moves I learned. Also, I am fully aware that martial arts represent a life style just as much as anything else. My Instructor simply amazed all of us throughout the entire program, with his dedication and willingness to teach us. In fact, we could hardly wait for the next session.
I truly recommend anyone to make the same change I made in my life. Looking back, I really cannot see my weekly schedule without my martial arts training sessions.
C McCrae
Martial Arts For Women in Las Vegas, Nevada
Taking a martial arts class was not something I had given much consideration prior to turning 30. Wanting to preserve my strength and flexibility for years to come finally enticed me to take the plunge. The immediate results were stunning and I found myself feeling more energetic and confident in just a few sessions.
Not only are his martial arts skills top-notch, but I find his enthusiasm and enjoyment of the sport to be infectious. Considering that this entire venture was foreign to me, I felt right at home during my very first class. In addition to training in martial arts my instructor has a great deal of patience and warmth, the other karate students in the session were just as receptive to me. They really know how to make new members feel welcome.
Learning the forms and methods involved in martial arts is a great experience, but what makes these classes truly exceptional is that we learn how to incorporate the philosophy and principals behind this art form into our everyday lives. I look forward to my sessions with my instructor, and find his classes to be a great way to invest in myself, while having some fun at the same time. It is more than just kicking and punching it’s a well rounded martial arts program.
With Great Thanks,
Jackie W
Tony cradled his cup of coffee in his hand as his cold sweat nearly made him drop it down the stairs. He was descending into a room he hadn’t entered in several years, yet he remembered every nook and cranny like he had never left. Running his free hand along the wall, he found a switch. Once pulled, the room was illuminated, and Tony stared down at his father’s old workspace. Several old hot rods, an old Delorean, a motorcycle, and a busted up star-spangled shield sat idly scattered in the room. Nodding, Tony began to speak,
“Jarvis had really better get down here and clean things up.” He said this as he approached the welding equipment, which was then adorned with a variety of spider webs. Several spare motors sat around the desk which held the webbed equipment, which Stark noticed as he asked, “What did you have going on down here?”
“That’s a great question.” Tony quickly turned around and raised his cup as if he meant to throw it, but instead eased up as he saw the figure of Obadiah Stane enter.
“It makes me feel safe.” Tony said.
“I had a feeling, that’s why I came down here.” Stane sighed before saying, “Your father had certain projects going on at the time of his…when he passed on. Projects that he was working on down here, off the books.”
“That explains why he never had time to toss a football around. But I guess he did have a secret passion for Frisbee…” Tony said as he made a gesture towards the red, white, and blue shield in the corner. Stane shook his head before saying,
“Your father loved you Tony. He loved you, and in all honesty he wanted you as his successor, not me. I want you to be his successor as well, and so we need to talk strategy.”
“I’ll talk strategy when I don’t feel that I’m going to get burned alive on stage. What was that guy’s deal anyway…the Mandarin? What kind of name is that?” Tony asked.
“I did some digging,” Stane began to explain as he walked towards Tony, “And the Mandarin seems to be the head of a much larger beast that needs slaying. He’s the head of a terrorist organization named the Ten Rings…”
“So the assassin didn’t go to Jared?” Tony asked sarcastically as he was met with a smile from Stane,
“Over the past several months they’ve been assassinating the wealthy who they deem impure, and you seem to be their next target.” Obadiah finished this with a grimace before continuing, “Mr. Rhodes may not be enough so we’re in the process of hiring several back-up bodyguards. Don’t worry Tony, you’re safe.” Tony thought for a moment, then opened a nearby drawer and began to sift through the files slowly. As he did, he said,
“That man who attacked me on stage, he created fire from a ring in a second. In the blink of an eye. We’re not dealing with contract killers, we’re dealing with something I’m not sure should even be in this world.”
“What are you saying?” Stane asked as he walked behind Tony to see what the latter was looking at. Tony had pulled one blueprint from the plethora of files located in the drawer and was holding it up to the light. It was a suit of armor, one intended to cover the wearer from head-to-toe and with a variety of hidden weapons stashed in various locations along the body.
“What I’m saying…is that if we’re dealing with the supernatural I’m going to need a little more than a trainer from Planet Fitness to protect me.” Tony said as he began to smile at the blueprint. Obadiah looked apprehensive as he said,
“Tony, we need to focus on the company.”
“Something I won’t be able to do if I’m dead…” Tony replied as he placed the blueprint down on top of the drawer and set his coffee next to it. Stane sighed as he turned to leave, and as he reached the exit, he turned to ask,
“Only for protection…right?” Tony was already running from one end of the lab to the other as he looked up at Stane and answered,
“Protection only. Now get Jarvis down here to start cleaning up, this is going to be my new workspace.” Obadiah exited, but not before witnessing Tony, acting like a child per usual, picked up the star-spangled ‘Frisbee’ and threw it across the room in ecstasy.
Like many British manufacturers, AC Cars had been using the Bristol straight-6 engine in its small-volume production, including its AC Ace two-seater roadster. This had a hand-built body with a steel tube frame, and aluminium body panels that were made using English wheeling machines. The engine was a pre-World War II design by BMW which by the 1960s was considered dated. Bristol decided in 1961 to cease production of its engine and instead to use Chrysler 313 cu in (5.1 L) V8 engines. AC started using the 2.6 litre Ford Zephyr engine in its cars. In September 1961, American automotive designer Carroll Shelby wrote to AC asking if they would build him a car modified to accept a V8 engine. AC agreed, provided a suitable engine could be found. Shelby went to Chevrolet to see if they would provide him with engines, but not wanting to add competition to the Corvette they said no. However, Ford wanted a car that could compete with the Corvette and they happened to have a brand new engine which could be used in this endeavor: Ford's 260 in³ HiPo (4.2 L) engine – a new lightweight, thin-wall cast small-block V8 tuned for high performance. Ford provided Shelby with two engines. In January 1962 mechanics at AC Cars in Thames Ditton, Surrey fitted the prototype chassis CSX2000 with a 260 ci Ford V8 borrowed from Ford in the UK; the 221 ci was never sent. However, early engineering drawings were titled "AC Ace 3.6". After testing and modification, the engine and transmission were removed and the chassis was air-freighted to Shelby in Los Angeles on 2 February 1962. His team fitted it with an engine and transmission in less than eight hours at Dean Moon's shop in Santa Fe Springs, California, and began road-testing.
Production proved to be easy, since AC had already made most of the modifications needed for the small-block V8 when they installed the 2.6 litre inline 6 Ford Zephyr engine, including the extensive rework of the AC Ace's front end bodywork. The most important modification was the fitting of a stronger rear differential to handle the increased engine power. A Salisbury 4HU unit with inboard disc brakes to reduce unsprung weight was chosen instead of the old E.N.V. unit. It was the same unit used on the Jaguar E-Type. On the production version, the inboard brakes were moved outboard to reduce cost. The only modification of the front end of the first Cobra from that of the AC Ace 2.6 was the steering box, which had to be moved outward to clear the wider V8 engine.
AC exported completed, painted and trimmed cars (less engine and gearbox) to Shelby who then finished the cars in his workshop in Los Angeles by installing the engine and gearbox and correcting any bodywork flaws caused by the car's passage by sea. A small number of cars were also completed on the East Coast of the USA by Ed Hugus in Pennsylvania, including the first production car; CSX2001.
The first 75 Cobra Mk1 models (including the prototype) were fitted with the 260 cu in (4.3 L). The remaining 51 Mk1 models were fitted with a larger version of the Windsor Ford engine, the 289 cu in (4.7 L) V8. In late 1962 Alan Turner, AC's chief engineer completed a major design change of the car's front end to accommodate rack and pinion steering while still using transverse leaf spring suspension. The new car entered production in early 1963 and was designated Mark II. The steering rack was borrowed from the MGB while the new steering column came from the VW Beetle. About 528 Mark II Cobras were produced in the summer of 1965 (the last US-bound Mark II was produced in November 1964).
Since late 1962 when the new GM Stingray was shown up briefly by the Mk1 Cobra (until hub failure intervened) the development of the Grand Sport Corvette program had continued at a pace and was thought to be going for a build series of 125 cars. This would allow GM to compete directly in the FIA GT class of racing. Just to compound this Enzo Ferrari was trying to pull another "fast one" on the FIA with the request for the homologation of the 250LM. The FIA had not forgotten the serious lack of production of the 250GTO, which it had granted homologation in advance of Enzo's assured 100 minimum per year. Just thirty-six were produced over three years with two very different chassis, neither of which were too similar to the 250 GT which was supposed to form the basis of the vehicle. In an effort to prepare for the task ahead alternative engines were considered. The 289 cu in (4.7 L) leaf-spring Cobra dominated the US domestic race series (USRRC), with only one race lost in three years. The results in the FIA GT class were different. This was mainly due to the number of circuits that had much higher sustained speeds. Aerodynamics were more important and put the roadster at a disadvantage. As a result, coupe versions were built.
A stroker 289 (325),and the larger 390/427 up to the "cammer" 427 was considered. Shelby was told at the eleventh hour to use the iron 427 cu in (7.0 L). There was little time to fully develop a competition vehicle. The coil spring Cobra production was slow and an insufficient number made to meet FIA's GT homologation. Therefore the S/C (Semi – Competition) was produced by making available to the general production the full race options for the street. By now Enzo was having races recategorised in Italy to prevent the almost inevitable defeat on home soil as the 250LM was not homologated as a GT and would have to run as a prototype. GM had pulled the plug on the Grand Sport and so the five chassis that were built had to run as prototypes and so were placed in a difficult position to say the least.
Shelby had earlier in 1964 fit a larger Ford FE engine of 390 cubic inches (6.4 L) in to CSX2196. Unfortunately the car was not able to receive the development it needed as resources were aimed at taking the crown from Ferrari in the GT class. Ken Miles drove and raced the FE-powered Mark II at Sebring and pronounced the car virtually undriveable, naming it "The Turd". It failed to finish with the engine expiring due to damper failure. A new chassis was required developed and designated Mark III. CSX2196 was revised for the show down at Nassau which allowed a more relaxed class division of racing. This allowed the GT cobras to run with prototype Ford GT, GM Grand Sport Corvettes and Lola Mk.6. The first meeting at which the GS Corvettes showed up was in 1963. It was for this event in 1964 that the Fliptop cobra was used. An aluminium 390 cubic inches (6.4 L) engine was used. However, the car failed to finish.
The new car was designed in cooperation with Ford in Detroit. A new chassis was built using 4 in (102 mm) main chassis tubes (up from 3 in (76 mm)) and coil spring suspension all around. The new car also had wide fenders and a larger radiator opening. It was powered by the "side oiler" Ford 427 engine (7.0 L) rated at 425 bhp (317 kW), which provided a top speed of 164 mph (262 km/h) in the standard model and 485 bhp (362 kW) with a top speed of 185 mph (298 km/h) in the competition model. Cobra Mark III production began on 1 January 1965; two prototypes had been sent to the United States in October 1964. Cars were sent to the US as unpainted rolling chassis, and they were finished in Shelby's workshop. Although an impressive automobile, the car was a financial failure and did not sell well. In fact to save cost, most AC Cobra 427s were actually fitted with Ford's 428 cubic inches (7.01 L) engine, a long stroke, smaller bore, lower cost engine, intended for road use rather than racing. It seems that a total of 300 Mark III cars were sent to Shelby in the USA during the years 1965 and 1966, including the competition version. 27 small block narrow fender versions, which were referred to as the AC 289, were sold in Europe. Unfortunately, The MK III missed homologation for the 1965 racing season and was not raced by the Shelby team. However, it was raced successfully by many privateers and went on to win races all the way into the 1970s. The remaining 31 unsold examples were detuned and fitted with wind screens for street use. Called S/C for semi-competition, an original example can currently sell for 1.5 million USD, making it one of the most valuable Cobra variants.
Shelby wanted the AC Cobras to be "Corvette-Beaters" and at nearly 500 lb (227 kg) less than the Chevrolet Corvette, the lightweight roadster accomplished that goal at Riverside International Raceway on 2 February 1963. Driver Dave MacDonald piloted CSX2026 past a field of Corvettes, Jaguars, Porsches, and Maseratis and recorded the Cobra's historic first-ever victory. Later, Shelby offered a drag package, known as the Dragonsnake, which won several NHRA National events with Bruce Larson or Ed Hedrick at the wheel of CSX2093. Only five Dragonsnake Cobras were produced by the factory, with three others (such as CSX2093) prepared by customers using the drag package.
An AC Cobra Coupe was calculated to have done 186 mph (299 km/h) on the M1 motorway in 1964, driven by Jack Sears and Peter Bolton during shakedown tests prior to that year's Le Mans 24h race. A common misconception is that this incident persuaded the British Government to introduce the 70 mph (110 km/h) maximum speed limit on UK motorways, which up until that year had no speed restrictions, although government officials have cited the increasing accident death rate in the early 1960s as the principal motivation, the exploits of the AC Cars team merely highlighting the issue.
The AC Cobra was a financial failure that led Ford and Carroll Shelby to discontinue importing cars from England in 1967. AC Cars kept producing the coil-spring AC Roadster with narrow fenders, a small block Ford 289 and called the car the AC 289. It was built and sold in Europe until late 1969. AC also produced the AC 428 until 1973. The AC Frua was built on a stretched Cobra 427 MK III coil spring chassis using a very angular steel body designed and built by Pietro Frua. With the demise of the 428 and succeeding 3000ME, AC shut their doors in 1984 and sold the AC name to a Scottish company. The company's tooling, and eventually the right to use the name, were licensed by Autokraft, a Cobra parts reseller and replica car manufacturer owned by Brian A. Angliss.
It's been almost a year since people of the UAE lost a great leader and loving father .. His highness Shekh zayed ..Who built this country from scratch.. May his soul lay in peace... We will never ever forget him ... ,but we still give back a little.. Take part in developing this country and be up to the level he excpected..
May his soul lay in peace....
الله يرحمه ويغفرله ...
I didn't write a peom since long time ... but this occation touched my feeling so hard So I wrote this peom
"dedicated to him and all of UAE people " with the title of :
عهدا إليك أبتي...
أذكر أنك كنت إلى يوم قريب إلى جانبي أبتي ..
تجلو عني أحزاني ولغدي تؤمن لي لقمتي ..
لا أزال أذكر كيف أن عيناك يوما لم تفارقني..
فكانت دوما ترعى أناملي وتحرسني...
أذكر همساتك لنا أبتي : يا ابني وابنتي ....
عليكم أنا قد توكلت بعد الله في رفعة ذا البلد..
رأيت فينا شعلة أبدية .. رأيت فينا قوة الأمل ...
وزرعت في أرواحنا العنفوان الطاهر الأبدي...
تجاه أهلي.. ووطني.. تجاه إماراتي ..
ولذا العالم فتحت لي مداخل القلب....
وتلبدت السماء بالسواد ذات يوم..
فتحت وإذا بي لا أرى من خلف نافذي..
سوى صراخ يتامى .. وبكاء يسري في أرجاء وطني..
صرخت بها:بالله عليك ما الخطب يا أرضي ؟؟
فردت علي وقد نزفت الدمع من المقل ..
وتنوح الأرض بجواب حطمني :أباك .. أباك يا ابنتي ..
ليته ساعتها حل بأذني الصمت المدمي..
آه .. آه يا أبتي .. لو كنت تعلم ما حل بي...
فقدتك يا أبتي واليتم تماما كبلني ..
ودموع تحفر وجهي مذ حينها وأبت تركي..
ولكن في قلبي لا يزال إيمان وحمد لربي...
فالرضا بقضاء الله واجب في كل الأحوال..
أبتي ...
حبك قد تفجر في عمق شراييني ..
وعطاؤك قد مزق تصلب كياني ..
وأيقظ فيني بقايا الإنسان للتفاني..
عهدا إليك أبتي ...والعهد ميثاق بينك وبيني ..
عهدا إليك .. والكل يشهد قولي ويسمع هتافي..
أن أكمل ما بدأت من نهضة وأحمي مسيرة بلدي ..
وأن أحرص على أرضي وما بقي بها من منبت ..
وأحمل أبناءك ... إخوتي.. معي في دربي ...
ليبقى العلم خفاقا عاليا بين أمم العالم يباهي...
وفي غياهب القلب سيبقى شعاع من الأمل ..
أبتي ...
لكم أدعو إلى خالقي وبارئي .. إلى ربي..
أن يرزقني اللقاء بك في يوم آت بلا ريب ..
وأن أقبل رأسك الطاهر بكل احترام وإجلال..
ولكم أود يا أبتي .. أن أخوض غمار هذا الدرب ...
لكي يوم ألقاك .. أجدك وقد فخرت بي بلا عتاب ..
وتقول للناس: هذا ذا ابني وذي ابنتي ..فيهم يسري دمي..
وكما أعطيتهم .. مضوا على العهد ... فادنوا مني..
ويا ليتني إن فعلت ما فعلت أوفيك حقك والدي..
فلكم يخجل منك ومن أفعالك العظام تواضع إنجازي..
آه يا أبتي ... لهو عهد مني أن أمضي بلا استسلام ..
هو عهد بيني وبينك يا حبيبي يا أبي ..
هو بيني وبينك ميثاق ليوم تجمع فيه أمام بارئي كل الأمم..
Now at the mainstore,
Classy Dual colors MESH shirts. XS, S, M, L, XL sizes.
You can get separatly or all in one HUD!
or on SL Marketplace
I watched a free Shakespeare in the Park play in Central Park, Louisville. Fun!
One of my favorite quotes is Brutus opining on the rise of Rome's dictator, Julius Caesar:
"He would be crowned:
How that might change his nature,
there's the question.
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, [...]
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which, hatched, would, as his kind, grow mischievous"
—from William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar
Ah, I see. It is also Shakespeare, not just the Roman Senate, who struggled with the nature of power. The powers of a dictator make a good man a snake, poisonous to Rome. Power and the structures of power changes a man. It corrupts. So how can checks and balances be designed to curtail the natural desire of the chief executive to dictate all things?
Shakespeare's Britain was painfully, slooowly evolving an answer to that question. There were Britain's civil wars. Almost two centuries later, it was the young upstart Americans who would provide a good answer, thanks to the abuses and inadequacies of their colonial rulers, Britain's government.
oh and a ski mask (which he isn't wearing here!) That is all he wanted for Christmas. Looks like we'll be needing to upgrade his board ! Who knew he was a natural! We just got him an affordable one... crap, this is going to mean $$ !
Low Rider Well.. it's one of his favorite songs... and it makes ya wanna get out there and move.