text:
Resilient Massey's Professional Outfitters recognized as Retailer of the Year
Mike Massey refused to quit when Hurricane Katrina's devastation forced him to rebuild his shop. Instead, he picked up and moved his headquarters into the hardest-hit part of New Orleans and won his community's support. Massey's Professional Outfitters was chosen as this year's overall Retailer of the Year award winner.
Hurricane Katrina was devastating. But somehow, out of chaos and destruction, Mike Massey managed to rebuild his store and throw his support behind New Orleans.
Perhaps that's why Massey's Professional Outfitters was chosen as this year's overall SNEWS-Backpacker Retailer of the Year award winner, an honor Massey said instills great pride.
"I was blown away," he said of his reaction upon hearing the news at the Retailer of the Year party at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2012. "I was literally drinking my beer and listening to everyone talk, and I knew when [Michael Hodgson] said 'Katrina' it was me, and I thought, 'Oh God, I totally did not expect this.'"
Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans at the end of August 2005. Massey's flagship store was located Metairie, La. Like many other places the town was flooded, and water sat in the property for 30 days until Massey and his team of two were able to get in and see what they could do to fix it.
Though the damage to the store was significant, Massey didn't see it as so terrible when compared to everything else that was happening in the area.
"When you experience coming into your neighborhood and every tree is on its side, and coming back into town and seeing the more memorable places destroyed, the store really didn't seem that bad," Massey said.
So he got to work. He and his team toiled without power or air-conditioning, and food was hard to get. They slept in Massey's house every night and went to work rebuilding the store every morning. Forty-five days later the store was up and running. But there were no customers.
Back then, the Metairie store was the base of operations, but Massey decided he wanted to do something to support New Orleans, so he moved headquarters into one of the worst-hit neighborhoods.
"We were the first ones to move back into the neighborhood," Massey said. "There were still floods. There was nothing. People thought we were crazy."
There was an enormous amount of work to be done just to renovate the old (built in 1907) building where Massey decided to set up shop.
"The city rallied around us — somebody from the neighborhood who said, 'We're going to plant our flat right in the middle of where Katrina hit,'" Massey said. The statement was: "This is our element."
It took six months to get everything up and running and tweaks are ongoing. Plus, Massey has added a bicycling shop and is continually looking for ways offer more.
"We're always looking for something that's new and unique that's going to get our customers excited," Massey said.
Taking care of the family
When it comes right down to what makes Massey's Professional Outfitters successful is the people, Massey said. "We've always been family."
And one thing that makes that family loyal to Massey is that after Katrina, even when business was shut down and flooded out and no money was coming in, Massey still cut every one of his employees a regular paycheck.
"We were insured and we were able to pull ourselves up," Massey said. "It was tough because we wanted to keep our commitment to our staff. Even though they weren't working we needed to pay them."
All of those family members who got that regular paycheck during Katrina are still with the business, Massey said.
And while it's a family business that Massey has been in since he was little and returned to after pursuing a career in finance, he doesn't know whether he wants to groom his own kids for it, mostly because it seems to be a calling more than anything else.
"It's rewarding but in a way that's rewarding for unique individuals," Massey said. "I don't think that it's rewarding for everybody."
For Massey, it's rewarding to mingle with staff and customers and listen to what they have to say. The store, which still has the Metairie location, another in Baton Rouge and one in Covington, does not engage in flashy marketing or advertising to get customers, rather it focuses on relationship building.
"For us, the only thing that we're really, truly passionate about," Massey said, "is getting people outdoors."
--Ana Trujillo
Massey's Professional Outfitters named Retailer of the Year
Since the days when his grandfather and father ran Massey's Professional Outfitters, Mike Massey has lived the life of a retailer. "When I was just little kid I'd spend my day care time organizing the products," Massey said, as he proudly held his Retailer of the Year plaque ...read more
Massey's Professional Outfitters & ExOfficio Clothing Marked 1 Year
New Orleans, La.- September 6, 2006- Massey's Professional Outfitters and ExOfficio teamed up for the one year anniversary of Katrina to promote the release of "Hurricane on the Bayou" appearing in the Entergy IMAX theatre. The movie was released to the public in New Orleans ...read more
By Mike Massey
Massey's makes New Orleans home
"You woke in the morning to the smell of gardenias, the electric smell of the streetcars, chicory coffee, and stone that has turned green with lichen. The light always filtered through trees, so it was never harsh, and flowers bloomed year-round. New Orleans was a poem, man, a ...read more
Massey's moving headquarters to downtown New Orleans
Mike Massey, owner of Massey's Professional Outfitters with three Louisiana-based stores (Baton Rouge, Covington and Metairie), told SNEWS® that he is opening up a new location and moving the company headquarters to New Orleans. "Anyone who is familiar with Massey's history ...read more
New Orleans-based Massey's picking up the pieces following Katrina
Mike Massey, owner of Massey's Professional Outfitters, lives 30 miles north of New Orleans. He feels fortunate, even as workers are bulldozing the street knocking down trees, telephone poles – the entire utility infrastructure – in what once was an idyllic wildlife preserve. ...read more
Massey's Professional Outfitters' Advertising Campaign Wins Gold
Massey's print advertising campaign entitled, We're Out There, features actual store employees partaking in their favorite adventure sport while performing daily retail responsibilities. The eye catching and inventive ads individually received one gold and two silver awards in ...read more
Grassroots Member- Massey's Comes Home to New Orleans
Massey's comes home to New Orleans and restores a century old building in a flooded neighborhoodNew Orleans, La. April 10, 2008- Massey's Professional Outfitters is proud to announce the grand opening of their fourth location, in the heart of Katrina-savaged New Orleans.The store ...read more
By Tyler Donaldson
Massey's Outfitters Partners with Friends of Lafitte Corridor
What are you doing for National Trails Day ? If you're in New Orleans, please join FOLC and Massey's for the 4th Annual Hike of the Lafitte Corridor. Massey's Professional Outfitters, a New Orleans based outdoor retail store, has partnered this year with Friends of Lafitte ...read more
By Mike Massey- 504-648-0292
Retailer of the Year - Best Sustainable Business: Half Moon Outfitters leads the way in green building
Patagonia, Prana, REI, Timberland. There are a handful of companies in the outdoor industry that have become synonymous with being green. Founded in 1993, Half Moon Outfitters has gained a similar reputation for being a leader in sustainable business practices. A collection of ...read more


1. An acton query is a query that adds, changes, or deletes multiple table records at one time.
2. A make-table query creates a new table from one or more existing tables.
2a. Creating a Make-Table Query- create a select query, click the make table button in the Query Type group, type the new table name, make sure current database option is selected, click OK, click run, click yes to confirm the creation of the new table.
3. An append query adds records from an existing table or query to the end of another table.
3a. Creating an append query - Create select query, click the append in the query type group, select the table name, current database, click Ok, click run, click yes.
4. A history table contains data that is no longer needed for current processing but that you might need to reference in the future.
5. A delete query deletes a group of records from one or more tables.
5a. Creating a Delete Query.- create select query, click delete in the query type group, click run, click yes.
6. An update query changes selected fields and records in one or more tables.
6a. Creating an Update Query - create select query, click update button in query type group, click run, click yes.
7. Advanced Filter/Sort lets you specify multiple selection criteria and specify a sort order for the selected records in the filter window.
8. A one to many relationship exists between two tables when each record in the primary table matches zero, one, or many records in the related table, and when each record in the related table matches exactly one record in the primary table.
9. A many to many relationship exists between two tables when each record in the first table matches many records in the second table, and each record in the second table matches many records in the first table.
10. A one to one relationship exists between two tables when each record in the first tables matches at most one record in the second table, and each record in the second table matches at most one record in the first table.
10a. One to one, one to many and many to many are global joins that are active when the database is loaded.
11. An entity subtype is a table whose primary key is a foreign key to a second table and whose fields are additional fields from the second table.
18. An index is a list that relates field values to the records that contain those field values.
19. An inner join is a join in which Access selects records from two tables only when the records have the same value in the common field that links the tables.
20. A left outer join is a join in which access selects all records from the first, or left, table and only those records from the second, or right table that have matching common field values.
21. A right outer join is a join in which Access selects all records from the second, or right, table and only those records from the first, or left, table that have matching common field values.
22a. inner join, left outer, right outer and self join are local joins and are only loaded when the query is run.
23. An index is a list that relates field values to the records that contain those field values.


Bifocal reading sunglasses in a matt tortoiseshell retro design with spring hinges and rivet detailing at the frame edges. The bifocal lenses have a lower D shaped section with the strength, for reading or near work, while the upper section has no strength performing as regular sunglasses. The lenses feature category 2 UV400 sun protection suitable for medium sun glare and with good UV protection. A matching soft pouch is supplied.


The final consideration a coach must take into account in determining their optimal setup for a given match is their Overall Strategy. Your play style is a synthesis of your teams capabilities and your own coaching preferences. You will also find that your strategy will often vary by match up. An Overall Strategy for a match will help dictate which roles will need to start on the pitch, as well as where they need to set up in order to best implement your cunning plan.
Hey, if you Throw enough strikes, one is bound to go in!
Run-N-Gun is ALL about offense. Here, you live and die by the old adage "the best defense is a good offense". The main hallmark of this strategy is taking a Strike attempt EVERY rush. Positioning of other players on the pitch is largely about setting up for future score attempts and nominally slowing down the opposition. This strategy is particularly effective for the Home team, taking an early lead and often forcing the opposing team to abandon their own strategy to play a more reactive catch up game. The Pelgar Mystics and Skittersneak Stealers are two teams that exemplify this style of play.
Don't chase 'em, make them come to you—and CRUSH them!
While some teams are zipping about the pitch flinging strikes with impunity, there are others that like to sloooooooow things down. No need to be hasty after all. Slow Ball is essentially the exact opposite of Run-N-Gun. Here, a team looks to obtain possession of the ball and work into position for an optimal strike. Often, it is the preferred style for slower moving teams, trying to make what strikes they finally get into position for to count. This means being willing to setup for holding on to the ball at the end of a rush. That doesn't mean being idle, and for many teams that utilize this style, it usually means bad news for opposing players. Players that pose the most immediate risk are usually viciously slammed into submission while the ball carrier takes shelter in the midst of their teammates.
Slow Ball can be risky as the Away team, if your starting at a big deficit on the scoreboard. However, if the opposing team has strung out there players across the pitch unable to support one another effectively (or missed their opening strike), it can still pay big dividends. The "Sucker Draw" is the hallmark play of a Slow Ball squad, and it's something we'll dig into more in the future. Aspiring Slow Ball squads need only look to the Sulentic Shards as a shining example of how to get it done.
Well-rounded teams can do a little bit of both!
Smash and Dash is just like it sounds….a little of both! This strategy looks to strike a balance between offense and defense, the team being open to what the match up gives them. If holding on to the ball sets up a better play, they will spend the rush battering a hole in the defense. If a strike opportunity presents itself, they are capable of capitalizing on it. Well rounded teams tend to hang out here because of the diversity of their capabilities, but they can change play styles if the match-up demands it. Oddly enough, the Greenmoon Smackers are a top notch example of a Smash and Dash squad—the Orx bring the smash and the goblins bring the dash!
A little dash…and a BIG smash!
We will eventually visit these Overall Strategies in greater detail, diving into them individually and looking into other less common styles and variations. Next time, however, it's time to finally finish off the Pre-game Phase and get into Set-ups!
Clash of the Giants returns! A popular format for the Mid-Atlantic region, coaches are encouraged to hire Giants as part of their tournament inducements. For the third iteration, the Giants may look familiar. However, Coaches now have to manage 2nd edition rules. Those who best 'plan their work, and work their plan' will be rewarded – WITH A TROPHY!
As mentioned in a previous post, 'Origins of the BreadDoll', I love making tournament trophies. Home brew, low-brow, and as inexpensive as possible are the best. Any Tournament Organizer can make a handful of custom trophies for an event. The only requirements are some time, a bit of energy, and creativity.
I'm a "thrifter." I go to thrift stores all the time. I don't need anything in a Thrift Store. Instead, I go because I love to look. It's almost a creative process, imagining what materials may be ripe for transformation. I also love to live, and I sometimes stop at a store to wake myself up. I have a long driving commute home, and I'm prone to falling asleep at the wheel. Mortal digression aside; I usually buy any trophies I lay my eyes upon. My first commitment: I never spend more than $3 USD on a trophy unless it's over 36″ tall.
With random bowling trophy in hand, I prep the memento. I strip off any label and I saw off the figurine (or figure's limb). Then I slam on a new label, and paint. Done! My second commitment: I never spend more than fifteen minutes on a trophy unless it's for my private league (CORT).
For the 2018 Clash of the Giants, I went a slightly different route. Instead of pulling from my thrift trophy inventory, I went to Party City. It's a chain store specializing in… parties… Beads, balloons, candies, costumes. That kind of stuff. The sell an 8 pack of plastic cup trophies. I bought a package for $9 USD.
Then I went to Walmart. It's a store that specializes in… Nothing. It's just a whole bunch of stuff. BreadDoll readers may be familiar with it. I bought a can of gold spray paint and a package of generic plastic dinosaurs. $10 USD at checkout.
A little bit of cutting, painting, printing and super glue – the trophies were almost finished! I wanted to give each one a little more weight, so I poured plaster into each cup. They're no longer top-heavy, and now rest on any flat surface with pride.
Six trophies for less than $20 USD. And now I have; two spare trophies for a future tournament, some spray paint, and some tiny plastic Dinos for the cat to bat around.
The Alpha and Omega are a bit different.
1st place is a humongous toy dinosaur I found at a garage sale. The T-Rex has a medal strapped over its impressive neck.
Last place is… A BreadDoll.
But no Coach leaves empty handed. Clash of the Giants is the first BreadDoll sponsored event. To celebrate, every participant receives a set of Home/Visitor Fans Cards.
Clash of the Giants 3 takes place on Sunday January 28. 11am – 5pm. Victory Comics, Falls Church VA. USA.
It's old advice, but still true!
Even the ancients knew, the first step to victory on the neodurium starts in the locker room—you must know your roster! A coach must carefully assess their teams capabilities in order to devise an effective game plan. Firstly, you must account for which player roles are at your disposal. Do you have any Strikers? Are you flush with Guards? Or are Jacks your mainstay? The composition or roles on the roster will greatly influence your match strategy. A preponderance of Guards would imply a team itching to put a hurt on the opposition. Whereas, a team consisting of mostly Strikers will be looking to focus on handling the ball and slingin' strikes! And don't forget, you may have assets on the sidelines—such as coaches, cheerleaders, cards, etc. that may also impact your game plan.
The first step toward victory, starts with the roster!
Additionally, as coach, you must assess your teams strengths and weaknesses. Is Strength your….er, strength? Or is it your Skill that is a primary asset? Roles also influence this as the specialists grant additional dice to their, well, specialty. A 5+ Skill may be a scary proposition when it comes time to pick up the ball, but it helps knowing if you have strikers available to get the extra dice when they do the job. Recognize potential areas of weakness. Having a low strength, for example, may make shifting opposition players difficult. This could make certain set-ups, such as The Castle, difficult to overcome and prompt you to alter your scoring strategy accordingly. You may find yourself dinking one's and two's instead of aiming for the big points each Rush.
However, an important aspect to consider is what abilities you have at your disposal. For example, Tsudochan lack Guards and have a lackluster 5+ Strength. On the surface, it would seem moving opposition will be a challenge. On closer inspection, however, the Push ability provides an alternative means of getting that task accomplished. Understanding your teams unique set of attributes and abilities is essential for a coach to get the most out of their team.
A player is more than just their "stats", don't forget about Abilities!
A game of contrasts, who will win? The coach that best exploits the match-up!
This is just a cursory example of how the process works. Next time, we will look into Overall Strategy and finally start getting into Set-ups. Until then, get out on the pitch and give it all you've got!
I learned pretty quickly that it was a really good idea to write down the paints you use when painting your miniatures. You can use a computer or an app on your phone or a piece of paper. I use a spiral bound note book.
Writing my formula down in my notebook all that long time ago means I can now relay to you how I painted my Forge Father team.
Before I start painting a team I usually do a color test using the concept art and Photoshop. I will explain how I do this in a future article.
I primarily use Army Painter paints. Unless otherwise stated, all the colors in my recipe refer to Army Painter colors.
My recipe for painting my Forge Father team (NEVER call them dwarves) is broken down into 4 parts. I started with the grey armor and then painted the colored bits and flesh over the grey.
Before starting I primed my miniatures with grey primer. I prefer grey primer instead of either white or black primer.
You can also add on a few details if you feel so inclined such as painting the belt(s) and boots brown and the eyes red like I did.
Scattered Scullery: What the Deck?!?
So, you've got the game. Look at those lovely models! Take in a deep breath of that new book smell….just lovely. Nice new board. Lots of action tokens, score markers. Then it hits you…what the deck?!? What do I do with all these cards?!?
First things first. You need to know that not all decks are created equal. There a couple different card decks you need to know about. The first is the Standard Deck. You see those cards with the "?" the backs? Yep, those ones. Those are the standard DreadBall cards that the rules usually refer to. That's where the Action and Special cards reside. This is the big deck.
Now, there is also such a thing as an Event Deck. The thing is, it's not out yet. However, as KS backers for DB 2nd Edition, we have managed to get our grubby little paws on some of these Event cards in other forms. But more on that later. The important thing to know is, the Event deck is a separate deck from the Standard Deck. It contains all sorts of sports shenanigans to shake up your games. Great fun for one-offs and leagues….probably not so much for tournament play. These work by taking a special subsection of these Event Cards called Event Triggers. These Trigger Cards have the Standard DB Deck "?" Backing and are shuffled in with those. Whenever you draw a Trigger card for any reason from the Standard Deck, you resolve an Event by flipping over the top card from the Event Deck. Don't worry though, your card isn't wasted, it says right on the Trigger card to go ahead and draw another Standard card to replace it.
EVENTS! You can tell they're Events, cause of the !
There are a couple other sources for Events too. The Azure Forest League, for example, has its own Event deck, and is used when you want your matches to have some thematic elements unique to the forest moon—like adverse weather conditions or getting attacked by wild fauna! The Azure Forest Event Cards are used instead of the regular Event Deck, but has its own Triggers to shuffle in to the Standard Deck. The Azure Forest League also has some additional Standard DreadBall cards that are to be shuffled into the Standard Deck as well. Again, it helps here to know the card backs…"?" means Standard, and "!" means Event. If you ever want to reset your decks back to normal, look on the card fronts in the bottom left hand corner…there are special little symbols there to help differentiate your card sets. Tired of playing in the rain? Ready to get back indoors? Simply pull out all the Azure icon DB cards and Triggers and leave out the Event deck…you're back to normal!
Ultimate also has some unique cards to add to your DB experience! Here are the events, and you can tell they are for Ultimate because of the DBU logo in the bottom left hand corner. There are also Standard Cards for DBU as well.
Lastly, we have the infamous Captain Cards. Each Captain has, er, WILL have, a deck of 10 cards. However, it is important to note that TWO of these have the "!" on the back. Know what that means? YES! That's right, they are Event Cards. These are here to add team themed events to your Event Deck IF, and only if, you are using the Event Deck in a match. Otherwise, set them aside. Now, the other 8 Cards? These are fun. These are the ones that you shuffle and deal yourself when you hire a Captain in the first place. The Cards you select are then added to your roster, and it means that EVERY match that your Captain takes place in for your team, you start with those cards in your hand. The other cards are not used at this time. HOWEVER, if your Captain gains an advancement, they may forgo the normal advancement tables in favor of again shuffling and dealing the remaining Captain cards and choosing one to again add to your roster. And man-o-man, there are some FUN captain cards. But don't listen to me, shuffle 'em up and try them out yourself!
Captain Cards have their respective team logo in the bottom left hand corner. In this case, these are for Raidan, captain of the Matsudo Tectonics!
Get your Decks out and PLAY!
Well, after this little overview, hopefully you will feel a little more confident handling all those decks now. As for the tactics and strategies of how best to use them and when? I'm sure we will get to that in the Playbook down the road. Until then, deal yourself in for some fun!
Ah! Fresh Neodurium: Orchestrate a coaching masterpiece!
DreadBall—The Galaxy's greatest sport! You already know that, you're a coach right? But listen up, rookie coaches sometimes have a hard time adjusting to the pace and intricacies of the major leagues—you ain't in the minors anymore! Coupled with some of the recent off-season changes, it's high time we took a step back, get back to the basics, and consult…The Playbook.
DreadBall is hyperkinetic, and constant, non-stop action. In order to be successful, every DreadBall coach has to recognize that the game is essentially broken up into three main phases. Each phase is essential if you and your team are to secure victory. A working knowledge of phase play is also crucial for deeper strategic and tactical planning—as well as game analysis. In short, if we are to comprehensively and effectively breakdown and discuss the game, we have to have a framework with which to do it.
The team is kitted out and rearing to go…but are YOU ready, Coach?
The three main phases of DreadBall are Pre-game, In-game, and End-game. Each phase has its own unique set of challenges and considerations, yet, they are all intimately interconnected. A team whose Pre-game strategic considerations don't mesh with their In-game tactics, for example, will struggle to find the win column on match days.
Games can be won…or lost, in this phase alone. Pre-game is where a coach has the most control they are going to get before chaos breaks loose at launch time. A good coach has several facets they need to consider during Pre-game. The first, and most basic, is Understanding Your Team. Next, based on your understanding of your team—you will have an Overall Strategy for the match at hand. Then, a coach must assess the Match Up between their own team and that of their opponent. Lastly, all this information will be utilized for what is the most pivotal aspect of the Pre-game—your Set-up. Will you Castle? Use the Three Pillar formation? Swarm? Deep Screen? The answer will vary based on the teams and match-ups in question.
Set-ups are a critical component of the Pre-game…which will you use?
Next time, we will dig deeper into the previous aspects of the Pre-game phase; Understanding Your Team, Overall Strategy, and Match-ups. This will help coaches to determine the optimal Set-ups for their team in their quest for DreadBall glory!
Once again, Victory Comics graciously hosts a DreadBall Battle of Big Brutes. It's time for Clash of the Giants 3!
Recommended Team Builds only. No Martians.
Giants may be purchased as part of inducements.
If one Coach has a Giant on their roster, they may choose between home and away. Otherwise draw.
Please note: Because the second edition arrived in North America in early 2018, this tournament will be considered a "learning tournament." Many coaches will be playing with the second edition rules for the first time. Consequently, this tournament will focus on the basics. Plus Giants!
Chin up! Future tournaments may include; custom rosters, transfers, team captains, mvps, galactic tour planets, etc.
Want to bring new coaches? Do it! Want to join us at Space Bar after the tournament? Let's go! Any other questions? Ask TO Andrew.


Archbishop Peter gave the sermon at which time he spoke of the great calling and mission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Later that week he would be reading a lecture in our Diocese about the Centennial of the founding of the Russian Church Abroad (2020) as part of the preparations being made to mark this Jubilee. The Synod of Bishops of ROCOR has assigned Vladyka Peter as the chairman of the committee for these preparations.
During the cross procession that followed the Divine Liturgy Archbishop Kyrill blessed a memorial plaque in observation of the centennial of the Martyrdom of the last Anointed Orthodox Tsar of Russia, Holy Royal Martyr Nicholas II and His August Family.
on the 4/17 of July, 1918.
O Creator and Companion of the human race, Giver of spiritual grace and Bestower of salvation: Do Thou, O Lord, through Thy Holy Spirit, send forth Thy great blessing upon this monument, raised up to the memory of Thy Holy Royal Martyrs: the Tsar-martyr Nicholas, Tsaritsa-martyr Alexandra, Tsarevich-martyr Alexei, the Princess-martyrs Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, together with their faithful servants, martyred at the hands of the atheists. We pray, O Lord: forgive the sins of Thy people, who did not forestall the murder of their Tsar, Anointed by Thee. Deliver, O Lord, the Russian land from all evil, wrought by our sins and departure from Thee; and raise up anew the throne of Orthodox Kings. Grant us the forgiveness of sins and establish us in every good deed, that with the deep humility, strength and love that Thy Martyrs revealed, we also might attain the Heavenly Kingdom, where, united with all the Holy New-Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, we may glorify Thee: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages.


text:
By Roderick on April 27, 2015 0
In "Robin Hood: Why Ayn Rand Got It Wrong," Charles Burris writes that "[i]n one of the most memorable passages of her novel Atlas Shrugged [Rand] has one of her major characters, Ragnar Danneskjold [sic], condemn Robin Hood in the harshest and most vindictive manner." But "Rand got it wrong," says Burris, since in most versions of the legend "Robin and his band are not the proto-Marxist proletarian plunderers of the productive rich and despoilers of private property but are actually defenders of justice in property titles, the rule of law, and the non-aggression principle."
I suspect that Burris read Ragnar's speech a bit too hastily, since a careful reading shows that Rand is well aware of the information that Burris thinks she missed. Rand has Ragnar explicitly acknowledge that in the original legend, Robin Hood "fought against the looting rulers and returned the loot to those who had been robbed." Rand didn't need Burris to tell her something so obvious. But, says Ragnar, this is nevertheless "not the meaning of the legend which has survived," since the fact that Robin Hood is always described as a man who "robbed the rich and gave to the poor" shows that, whatever the details, the essence of the Robin Hood legend is his status as "the symbol of the idea that need, not achievement, is the source of rights."
Now I do think Rand is making a mistake here; but the mistake is not a simple one of ignorance about the Robin Hood legend. Rather, Rand's mistake is one of assuming that most rich people in modern "capitalist" society are rich mainly through production rather than privilege, and so of assuming that resentment against the rich, in a modern context, is ipso facto resentment against productivity.
The IRS Loves Anarchy!
The Molinari Institute is delighted to announce that it has been declared by the IRS to be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation; hence donations to the Molinari Institute – and thus to the Institute's media center, the Center for a Stateless Society – are tax-deductible.
To quote from the IRS's determination letter, dated 2 April 2015:
We're pleased to tell you we determined you're exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3). Donors can deduct contributions they make to you under IRC section 170. You're also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522. … We determined you're a public charity under the IRC section [509(a)(2)].
The mission of the Molinari Institute is to promote understanding of the philosophy of market anarchism as a sane, consensual alternative to the hypertrophic violence of the State. The Molinari Institute hosts an online open-access library of rare libertarian classics, including new translations of 19th-century French works, and publishes two periodicals: a magazine, The Industrial Radical, and an academic journal, the Molinari Review. The Molinari Society, a daughter organisation, hosts annual symposia at the Eastern and Pacific Divisions of the American Philosophical Association.
The Center for a Stateless Society (C4SS), an autonomous extension of the Molinari Institute, develops and publishes timely written commentary on current events, research pieces and other content from a market anarchist perspective. Each week the Center submits several op-ed pieces to thousands of newspapers and other media outlets globally, and has received about 2500 mainstream media pickups since 2010. The Center's student affiliate network, the Students for a Stateless Society (S4SS), offers opportunities for campus outreach and activism.
Future projects for both the Institute and the Center include book publishing (both classic and original works), conferences, courses (online and otherwise), new translation projects, and media presentations.
Both the Institute and the Center are part of the Alliance of the Libertarian Left, which opposes statism, militarism, cultural intolerance, and the prevailing corporatist capitalism falsely called a free market. The Alliance's Distro, in partnership with the Institute and Center, produces and distributes zines and booklets on anarchism, market anarchist theory, counter-economics, and other movements for liberation.
You can donate to support the work of the Molinari Institute here, and the work of the Center for a Stateless Society here.
Pronoun Problem
By Roderick on April 7, 2015 1
From the Beverly Hills Hotel website:
Many of our bungalows have interesting histories as well: Elizabeth Taylor honeymooned with six of her eight husbands; Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich, among others, enjoyed them as well.
Okay, I know how they meant that to be read. But I like my reading better.
Okay, I'm convinced. Let's resurrect him.
In My Eyes Only
For a long time I've vaguely assumed that Elektra Natchios, a character introduced by Frank Miller during his run on the comic book Daredevil, was inspired by Melina Havelock, a character in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only (played by Carole Bouquet).
I mean, they're both Greek, they're both assassins, they both use retro weapons, and they're both avenging their parents' murder. Each's commitment to revenge puts her at odds with her nominally anti-revenge but kinda-hypocritical-on-the-subject male love interest and story protagonist. They look something alike (frankly more than comic-book Elektra and later movie-Elektra Jennifer Garner do). And Melina even compares herself explicitly to the original Greek mythological figure Elektra, an avenger-of-a-slain-father after whom Miller's Elektra is evidently named.
Alas for my theory, Miller's Elektra made her first appearance six months before the Bond film was released. So Melina couldn't have influenced Elektra; and given the timing, influence in the other direction isn't feasible either. So it's just a coincidence type thing deal. Drat!
And Tell It Strong and Clear If He Has Not
Two Arthurian knights you never read about in grade school:
The African one, "black as pitch" but "naught unsightly," and graced with "all that men would praise in a knight," who fights Lancelot to a standstill, from the medieval Romance of Morien.
The female one, a "beautiful creature … raise[d] as a boy," "conducting [her]self like a man," and "of all the knights … most skillful with shield and lance," who manages to outsmart Merlin, from the medieval Romance of Silence.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


For her third participation as part of the official schedule of Amsterdam Fashion Week that unveiled creations for the Autumn/Winter 2014 season, budding designer Rebecca Ward presented 'The Magic Theatre', a collection that claimed inspiration from Herman Hesse's 1927 novel Steppenwolf. If the conceptual intent behind Ward's womenswear range was the exploration of unit and dissolution as experienced by Hesse's lead character, the end result evidenced dualities that, in the plain juxtaposition of contrasting fabrics and shapes, remained unconvincing and limited regarding the creative sartorial potential that they might have offered.
Although the elegant silhouettes (that were decidedly influenced by those espoused by mid-nineteenth-century European fashion designers) and the printed satins and laser-cut soft leathers proved to be very seductive, the emphasis on long, ruffled skirts and dresses were disappointing insofar as they failed to address the complex conceptual focus chosen to anchor the collection and the psychoanalytical intricacies and gender implications explored by Herman Hesse that would have undoubtedly enriched the collection.
Knowing that Rebecca Ward (a graduate from New Zealand's Massey University who also studied at London's Central Saint Martins and at the Fashion Institute ArtEZ in the Netherlands) has shown more accomplished examples of her creativity and technique in past collections, one can only hope that 'The Magic Theatre' was a failed experiment on the road to greatness, and that better and bigger things are to be expected for many years to come from this young talent.
Unless otherwise stated, photographs are © Team Peter Stigter, courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Amsterdam. With thanks to Bloggernet for arranging the stay in Amsterdam and accreditation necessary for the production of this article.
The Style Examiner's 1000th Post!


Grindr Findr… & All That Jazz!?
Today, a friend posted an article about Labour's Chuka Umunna MP and comments he made around 2006 on a social networking site for 'wealthy' people.
Since I started blogging, I have often been critical of the Coalition Government (the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats) and indeed Labour. None of the parties are perfect, hence the reason I'm a member of none.
The article in The Telegraph via The Daily Mail attacks Chuka's views on 'trash' (people), as if any of us should be surprised.
The reason so many of the ordinary citizens are so disengaged with politics is because, how many politicians actually represent the people? I mean REALLY represent the people.
I tweeted only the other day that, 23 members of the British Government are millionaires.
Why should we expect the background of all Labour politicians to be any different, from those of their Tory and Lib Dem peers? If I'm right, I'm sure Ed Miliband, David Cameron and Nick Clegg all have similar backgrounds too.
The fact that 'some' are so desperate to dig-up things in the past, to try to harm someone in the present and future.
The story isn't about the Shadow Business Secretary's comments, or indeed that he may be a millionaire (like so many Tories).
It's about the fact that in Britain, we go out of our way to find 'sensational' stuff to harm our fellow countrymen. In many respects, we are a World Leader in this.
I would love to see the 'perfect' lives of those, who do the investigating and storytelling.
This type of sensationalism has been a HUGE problem within the gay community, and why so many people like me won't challenge wrongdoing or step out of line incase 'something' (not even illegal) from their past is brought-up. In essence, being held to ransom.
The past couple of years I've found myself in many coffee shops, with one thing or another. And, as an 'out' gay man, I like to keep abreast of things happening within the LGBT community and elsewhere.
A big thing to hit the gay market of recent times is the smart phone applications specifically for 'my kind of people', and one of these is the social app Grindr. I think there is an equal straight version 'Blendr', which I told one of my female friends to look into.
The iPhone and Android have changed the way we live our lives, and interact with one another. Long gone seem the days when we could only meet and chat to people in bars, clubs, theatres, museums and galleries etc.
Now with social networking, you can be having a conversation with one person on your mobile device whilst on your way to meet another – it's that advanced.
But, I know so many guys (friends and acquaintances) that are so scared of saying something wrong or acting in a non-conventional way (whatever that is) – with the fear that, it too will be used against them in the future. I can see where they are coming from though.
After I became ill through discrimination within the Metropolitan Police, both it and The Sun newspaper tried to dig-up things on me and discredit me. Hoping I guess, I would stop my challenges against the Police Commissioner.
They miscalculated one BIG thing though. I am beholden to no man.
The only person I feel I would have had to explain myself to, is My Mum. Because, I wouldn't want her to be upset regardless. But sadly, she is longer on this earth.
The Sun could have and can still write, picture and post whatever it wants about me. It is then my right, to challenge that information in a Court of Law.
Breaching my privacy, is NOT up for negotiation.
I know it's easy for me to say, but we should never allow others to have some sort of grip on us – that, we cannot live our lives and be who we really are… it could simply be, being out and happy as a gay man.
Several years ago, where would these guys who are on Grindr now be? Does social networking allow us to be more free?
Grindr like everything in life, is meant to be fun. It's what you make it.
It's sad that even in 2013 people feel they have to hide their sexuality, or cannot express themselves properly.
My first book Broken looks in detail at the lengths both Scotland Yard and The Sun went to try to harm me and my reputation, Grindr being just one of those.
I've said it often, but I can't remember either setting the standard for morality.
Who are you to judge the life I live? I know I'm not perfect, & I don't live to be, but before you start pointing fingers… make sure your hands are clean!
And from me… NEVER let anyone think who and what you are is wrong, that was my mistake.
If you're gay, be PROUD. I don't mean 'shouting it from the rooftops' (although, you can if you want), just be happy and ENJOY life.
As long as you are not hurting anyone, who are others to judge you especially the two organisations above. Who frankly, need to get their own houses in order first before preaching to others.
This has been a… Happy Grinding, 'View from the Bottom'.


By viewing this page and site you understand that we provide the links and information for information purposes only. Greek-Charterss is not affilitated with all of the above organizations and can not assume the accuracy of the data provided. Use this information at your own risk.


text:
Q: No 'Access-Control-Allow-Origin' header is present on the requested resource Flask+JQuery I'm trying to do a straightforward authentication with some JQuery on the client side and a python with flask for the server.
The idea is that I give the username and the password in the input field, I click the connect button, JQuery get the username and the password, parse them in json and send them with a post method to the server at localhost/auth, the server check if the username and the password exist in the database, if it doesn't he return a fail else success (like I said, straightforward).
But when I do it I get the infamous error
Response to preflight request doesn't pass access control check:
No 'Access-Control-Allow-Origin' header is present on the requested
resource. Origin 'null' is therefore not allowed access. The response
had HTTP status code 404.

So the problem seems to come from the header Access-Control-Allow-Origin on the server side but the server doesn't seem to even get the request (in the flask console I don't get an "OPTION" method or anything) and more than that I did set the header.
Here is my javascript + html:
<!DOCTYPE html>

    <meta charset="utf-8">
    <title>DIMAC</title>

Test

       Username
      <input id="user" type="text"/>
       Password
      <input id="pass"type="password"/>
  <button id="connect" name"connect"> Connect </button>

I put the header access control allow origin = * here too for the sake of it.
And for my python:
from flask import Flask, request, make_response
from flask_cors import CORS, cross_origin
import json
from source import database_manager as database
app = Flask(__name__)
cors = CORS(app, resources={r"/api/*": {"origins": "http://localhost/auth"}})
app.debug = True

@app.route('/auth', methods=['POST'])
def auth_client():
    data = request.get_json()
    # Init the database
    db = database.DatabaseManager("127.0.0.1", "5432", "postgres")
    print(data)
    # Get the Users with this name and this password (so one and one only if the credentials are right)
    user = db.select('SELECT * FROM Users WHERE usr_name = %(usr_name)s and     usr_password = %(usr_password)s;', {
        'usr_name': data["username"],
        'usr_password': data["password"]
    })
    db.close()
    # If the db didn't return one and only one user
    if len(user) != 1:
        resp = response("Invalid credentials", 401)
        # resp.headers['WWW-Authenticate'] = 'Basic realm="Credentials required"'
        # Debug
        print("Wrong")
        return resp

    else:
        resp = make_response(json.dumps("Success"))
        resp.status_code = 201
        resp.headers['Access-Control-Allow-Origin'] = 'http://127.0.0.1/auth'
        resp.headers['Access-Control-Allow-Methods'] = '*'
        resp.headers['Access-Control-Allow-Domain'] = '*'
        resp.headers['Access-Control-Allow-Credentials'] = True
        # Debug
        print("Right")
        return resp

The db thingy I use call the database with psycopg2, it's legit if you're asking.
I also try
CORS(app)
But this doesn't work either.
Edit:
Following Maresh advice I now only talk about localhost in all of my code, I also give the port in my ajax part ( url is now http://localhost:5000/auth) and so I get a new error (so it appear that I'm going forward here):
Response to preflight request doesn't pass access control check: No
'Access-Control-Allow-Origin' header is present on the requested
resource. Origin 'null' is therefore not allowed access.

And my server get an OPTION request now so it's almost working!

A: The browser does a preflight HTTP OPTIONS call before making the post call so you also need to return the CORS policy there.
I tend to prefer leaving the CORS handling to the http server (nginx/apache), it gives more flexibility to the people deploying your app.
e.g: you don't need to change the code when changing domain.
Edit: In your case I see several mistake, first you define the origin as localhost:
cors = CORS(app, resources={r"/api/*": {"origins": "http://localhost/auth"}})

Then you use 127.0.0.1:
resp.headers['Access-Control-Allow-Origin'] = 'http://127.0.0.1/auth'

So which one do you want? localhost or 127.0.0.1? It's about domain here so it's not the same thing. For the rest of the answer I'll assume you want localhost
Both lines have the mistakes of adding the path /auth you only want the protocol://domain optionally adding the :portnumber if it's non-standard.
Additionally you don't need the CORS plugin if you add the header manually.
And finally the error that you see is a 404 so it means that your ajax call URL is wrong, or your server is not running on your localhost. Since it doesn't go through your code the cors headers are never set.

The response had HTTP status code 404.

So one dirty quickfix would be:
cors = CORS(app, resources={r"/api/*": {"origins": "http://localhost"}})
...
@app.route('/auth', methods=['POST'])
def auth_client():
        ...
        resp.headers['Access-Control-Allow-Origin'] = 'http://localhost'
        resp.headers['Access-Control-Allow-Methods'] = '*'
        resp.headers['Access-Control-Allow-Domain'] = '*'
        resp.headers['Access-Control-Allow-Credentials'] = True
        # Debug
        print("Right")
        return resp

@app.route('/auth', methods=['OPTIONS'])
    def preflight():
            resp = make_response("OK")
            resp.status_code = 201
            resp.headers['Access-Control-Allow-Origin'] = 'http://localhost'
            resp.headers['Access-Control-Allow-Methods'] = '*'
            resp.headers['Access-Control-Allow-Domain'] = '*'
            resp.headers['Access-Control-Allow-Credentials'] = True
            # Debug
            print("Right")
            return resp

And in the ajax call also use: localhost
And serve your frontend code from localhost

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
View as map Sligo Town Music and theatre
Types of events All types of Music and theatre Classical, choral and opera Comedy Concerts Dance and performance art Irish music and dancing Jazz, blues and country Rock and pop Theatre Traditional music and dance
Jason Byrne - Wrecked but Ready
Jason Byrne has had a hard year. But he doesn't want to talk about that. He's wrecked but ready. Ready for a laugh. Read more
Fresh from a sell-out tour, star of BBC's the Blame Game, Fighting Talk and the Newsquiz, Neil Delamere returns to Hawk's Well Theatre with a brand new show. Read more
Ed Byrne - If I'm Honest
Following his biggest ever tour last year and yet another sell-out Fringe run this August, one of the Ireland's finest observational comics embarks on an even bigger brand-new tour and has now announced... Read more
Farmer Michael & Kathleen Live
After only 3 years on the comedy scene, Stevo & Sinéad have gathered a following of over 500,000 people worldwide, and over 100 million views on some of their sketches. Read more
Des Bishop: Mia Mamma
'I did a show about my Dad being sick back in 2010 and I couldn't face my mother in the afterlife because I know her first question would be "your Father got a show, how come I didn't get one?"' Des Bishop. Read more
Oliver Callan - Callan's Kicks Live
Oliver Callan brings his huge cast of characters to the stage for the first time in the age of Leo, Boris and Trump. It's no Kylie concert, but Leo heads a troupe of voices from the world of Irish politics,... Read more
So Funny Sligo Comedy Festival
A 4 day Comedy festival with something for everyone! Nightly headliners, cosy cafe gigs, Kids Comedy Magic show and more Read more
Cakebread Wine Dinner


text:
Salvaged oak Wine Vats Find new Life as Podium in FLCC's Student Center
From wine vat to student center: New Energy Works Timberframers donated a custom crafted podium of reclaimed, antique oak wine vat stock to Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC)'s Student Center.
Crafted of white oak staves reclaimed from wine vats used at a Finger Lakes winery, the FLCC Student Center podium meets environmentally conscious requirements and offers rich history.
We were looking for a piece that would combine contemporary design and antique materials…something fitting for our new Student Center.
It's awesome!
Farmington, NY (PRWEB) May 18, 2012
In continued support of Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) green initiatives, the fine woodworking group at New Energy Works designed, crafted, and donated a podium using reclaimed oak, salvaged from wine vats. The podium was unveiled at the Grand Opening of the Student Center in May. The new Student Center is the first public building in Ontario County, New York which is eligible to be certified as environmentally friendly under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council.
"We wanted a piece of furniture, not a library book stand; a podium, not a lectern. We were looking for a piece that would combine contemporary design and antique materials…something fitting for our new Student Center," explained Amy Pauley, the executive director of the FLCC Foundation. Upon seeing the completed piece for the first time, Amy exclaimed, "It's awesome!"
"I had recently viewed a collection of furniture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright from his "origami" series," says Marty Avila, fine woodworking designer and project manager. "This was a period where Wright used many sloping compound angles in his furniture and cabinetry pieces. The designs exuded an air of modernism mixed with rich wood textures and colors. They were the perfect springboard for the design of the podium. The richly colored antique wine vat oak fit the project's sustainability goals and also offered unique history."
Pioneer Millworks, sister company to New Energy Works Timberframers, reclaimed the antique vats from a winery in the Finger Lakes Region of NY. After decades containing fermenting grapes, the oak staves gained a dappled surface with deep honey toned patina, and unique texture unmatched by fresh sawn wood. The staves met the sustainable, environmentally conscious requirement for the project, were locally sourced, and offer a rich and interesting history. The podium includes LED lighting, microphone wiring, and maintains the traditional tilted upper platform for the speaker.
Wine Vats:
Large, wine vats, often measuring over 10' in diameter, are constructed with white oak which affects the color, flavor, and tannins in the wine. Once the vats have outlived their use, they are removed from the winery and disassembled. In addition to the podium, New Energy Works crafts custom furniture, paneling, doors, and more from this antique wood.
FLCC's Student Center:
The Student Center has 192 solar panels on the roof, low-maintenance landscaping, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, low-flow plumbing, 95 percent recycled structural steel, stone quarried in New York state and sustainably harvested wood products. It includes a bigger cafeteria and bookstore, student club rooms, enrollment offices, and allows portions of the main building to be remodeled into additional classrooms and laboratories.
New Energy Works Timberframers have been designing and building environmentally responsible timber frames across the USA for nearly 30 years from their facilities in New York and Oregon. Offerings include: Timber Framing (design, engineering, manufacturing, build), Enclosure Systems, Fine Woodworking, Recycled and Sustainable wood products. New Energy Works has 2 LEED AP staff members and is a member of the US Green Building Council.
Jennifer Young
New Energy Works Timberframers
Initial sketches for the Student Center podium were inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's furniture designs. The back of the oak wine vat podium reveals shelves for storage, microphone wiring, and lighting. Amy Pauley (center), executive director of the FLCC Foundation, was looking for a podium that would combine contemporary design and antique materials.Marty Avila (right) of New Energy Works fine woodworking group, provided the design and worked closely with Daniel Callahan to craft the piece.


This unit development is located in vibrant Morningside at the end of the main shopping strip. It brings together fragments of land (which formed a very irregular shaped block) and transforms them into a well thought out complex. It's located opposite a train station and next to a service station. The design team faced major challenges including traffic and noise issues. The results!! The main entry is away from the busy main road and is designed to encourage residents to walk through the complex through attractive landscaping, pool and BBQ areas. While it spans between two road frontages, car access is only from one side. Car parking is a semi dug-in basement for the entire development. The buildings range from two to four storeys on the block, housing 34 two bedroom units.


DJ Soulprovyder is the founding member of the SOULSOLUTION SOUNDSYSTEM 'Purveyors of fine funk, bespoke beats & organic afro latin grooves that have put on regular events at various venues such as Rhythm Factory, Cargo, Juno, Babalou and Gramaphone where they had a weekly residency for three years with guest djs, musicians and vocalists.
A record collector then dj since 1991 DJ Soulprovyder originally started off playing 70s soul funk jazz and rare groove but his current sets include a selection of past and present music with a flexibility to join the dots and cross over many musical genres, journeying from his disco and afro latin jazz funk roots to a more deeper electronic/tech house sound.
DJ Soulprovyder has played at many venues across London over the years including Ronnie Scotts, Jazz Café, Koko, Sketch, East Village, Momo's, and The Supperclub to name a few as well as festivals such as the Isle of Wight and V Festival and last year had the honor of being asked to dj at the legendary Southport Weekender 2013 in the SunCeBeat Dome.
He is currently one of the residents at the SUNSPLASH FESTIVAL in Turkey since its inception in 2009 playing alongside artists and djs such as Louie Vega, Kenny Dope, Giles Peterson, Norman Jay, Phil Asher, AtJazz, and Shuya Okino. His passion for the festival which is now in it's sixth year secured him a place on the line up in June 2014 where Zara McFarlene, Osunlade, Giles Peterson, and Karizma, were headlining.
DJ Soulprovyder also played at the Love Supreme Jazz Festival 2014, in July where he played in the Matua Bar on the Sunday night alongside the Jazz FM Djs.
DJ Soulprovyder has been a guest dj at a number of deep house nights including Inner Rhythm, Beat Players, Makin Moves, Soul Together and Community, Manchester's premier house night and at the Spice Club in Atyrau, Kazakhstan.
His love of vinyl has seen him promote nights with Kyri from R2 Records called CRATES 'Strictly Vinyl Sessions' and has also developed a new afternoon/evening soul and live music session called SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT at Topolski on the South Bank alongside Mucho Soul who have a weekly show on back2backfm.com. He has regular DJ slots at The Groucho Club in Soho, Market House in Brixton, Looking Glass Cocktail Club in Shoreditch, Black & Blue Cocktail Bar in their Mortimer St. and Waterloo branches and is the resident DJ at the Turn me Loose monthly nights, playing an eclectic mix of connoisseur music past and present.


This past year saw a lot of interesting developments in the tech sphere. I decided to compile a list of the stories that I felt were most important to me, but also affected the public at large. Here they are, in no particular order.
Everyone talks about HTML5, but unfortunately there are still a lot of gaps in its support. This was made clear to me as I was working on creating an audio player drop-in solution for Barnhouse.
The top tech stories and trends of 2010, and how they apply to your business.


She said "I have an adventure for you if you're up for it. I'll send the plane up and fly you to the head of the Freestone River. It hasn't been fished in years and should be pretty hot for brook trout. Float down and see what happens." I immediately agreed.
That evening, while casting small flies for walleye nearby, the unmistakable buzz of the beaver came into earshot and just over the treetops what was then, a little black dot slowly grew in size and turned a vibrant sunset orange. The pilot circled the lodge once and gently put the float plane down in front of the lodge. The plan was set, I was going to go on an adventure of a lifetime in hopes of finishing an already pretty strong fly-fishing TV show showcasing walleye and pike fishing at Wilderness North. I then, would have zero clue as to what was in store for me the next day.
When you step out of cabin 5 along what's know as the trap line (a row of 3 or 4 cabins facing south along Mim beach) and look to the east a 5 am, more often than not, you'll greeted with a sight to behold. The sun slowly creeps above the horizon and turns the dark water bright red, turns the clouds bright pink and the sky deep blue as it creeps awake. Mist starts to come off the water and through the trees, you'd think you were looking at a hallmark card. It's the perfect way to start the day!
The plane is loaded, canoe strapped to the pontoon and the unmistakable pungently sweet smell of combusted jet fuel fills the cockpit of the beaver. Headsets go on and we push away from the dock. It's not but a matter of minutes that we are in the air, everyone staring down, watching the drama of Canada's boreal forest unfold through rounded windows – no one speaks – not a word. We fly a bit, circle a bit and land on a lake no more than 30 minutes from camp.
Joe Boyce is our guide on this adventure. He smiles when he works, grinning a characteristically charming smile. Joe unties the canoe and disappears into the forest – past where anyone can see him through the spruce trees. "odd" I say in my head. We load up camera gear, lunches, paddles and safety kits. Silently he returns with a 10-foot pole shaved clean of bark and dry of sticky spruce sap. He loads in and we leave the plane behind.
The river is small past the main lake, probably no more than 10 meters across on average. Water is clear, cold and moving. We paddle across a wide pre-river bay when Joe asks me to put my paddle down. As we enter the river, he stands up in our canoe and masterfully negotiates rock, riffle and rapid simply using the spruce pole he cut from the forest. We weave through tight spots, turn almost upstream, ferry across only to pivot on a dime to resume downstream float. We come to an island and he silently slips out of the canoe and moves us into a back eddy facing a wide deep pool with 4 main seams of waterflow – 2 flowing from each side of the island.
"What do you want me to do?" I inquire (meaning technique, fly, presentation etc) "Catch the fish" he shoots back, supported by that trademark smile. So I wing it. I tie on an olive and white bunny strip streamer – an attractor fly. If there is a fish in that pool and it's looking up, it will definitely attack a streamer. 1st cast… nothing.
2nd cast… nothing (uh oh) 3rd cast… the unmistakable silent thud of a fish slamming a fly shoots up my fly line into my casting hand… I lean back on the fish and seem to have hooked it. The fish immediately turned tail and rocketed downstream dumping my fly line and started into my backing (This is a brook trout!?!?) Slow determined headshakes left and right. I gain a little, she takes it back and some.. I put pressure to the left she counters and heads the same direction, I high stick anticipating its next move (wait, who's in charge here?) gain a little more. Still more headshakes. The fish is tiring. I gain my fly line back and start to make some ground. The fish is now approaching the drop off from deep to shallow water and it finds a second gear. The dance continues. I look over my shoulder to see Joe calmly sitting on the canoe, enjoying a smoke and, of course, smiling… "It's a good one" he quietly mutters, almost under his breath.
I get my first look at the first fish of the trip as it flip-flops tight to the leader not touching the gravel bottom of the freestone. I hear a flick downstream and amaze myself with the discipline not to instinctually look to see the rising brook trout below. I scoop the fish up, wet-handed and gently hold it in the current to take a detailed look. White leading edges on black pectoral and pelvic fins. Green, red and orange sides with red dots encircled by blue rings. A pure display of nature's art on its back with precision mazing of dark green on lighter beige. Or is it the other way around?
Eyes looking down, jaw pumping open then closed. I am moved. This is a 4 lb brook trout. I take the fly out, present it to camera and let it swim away on its own volition sinking out of sight into the dark pool from whence it came.
That was the first fish.
There are a handful of remarkable fish that stay with an angler over their lifetime. For me, it was the 950lb bluefin tuna we released in Nova Scotia, Canada or the blue marlin that ate the bait while I was holding the rod off the coast of Tobago, West Indies. It was the permit I caught on the first cast to the first fish I have ever seen. And now, this, the Jewel of the North, the first brooktrout I caught (it wasn't the biggest of the trip either) 236 miles north of Thunder Bay Ontario on the Freestone River. That is a fish I will always remember. Here's a look and Thank You.


text:
INSIGHTS FROM FIRST FOUNDATION
A First Foundation Blog
Back to the main site
The Week Ahead – The Emerging World
Investments & Economy The Week Ahead Grow
Andrew Chan, CAIA, Portfolio Strategist
| 6/18/19 8:00 AM
Welcome to "The Week Ahead" where we take a moment to provide our thoughts on what we can expect in markets and the economy during the upcoming week.
I recently visited Playa del Carmen in Mexico where I learned that at one time in the mid 2000's, it held the record as the fastest growing city in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records. In 1990 it had 2,000 residents, mostly all of local Mayan decent. By the 2000's it was growing at over 30% annually and it has slowly subsided to being just the fastest growing city in Latin America. In 2018 the population for Playa del Carmen was 252,000 and is expected to be over 300,000 by 2023. The local Mayan guides told me how the private toll road highway that we were traveling on to Chichen Itza was only one year old and how the previous roads had no shoulders, were basically dirt roads, and that back in the day the tree branches grew over the roads to form natural tunnels. Over 100 resorts have been built over the last 20 years on the Yucatan Peninsula. Many of the workers who helped build those resorts and the infrastructure to support them ended up staying to work there, bringing their families across Latin America to the area. As investors we often think about future economic growth and the potential wallets for goods and services along with all of the infrastructure that goes along with it. Now taking a look stateside, in 2018 a USA Today report showed the city of The Villages in Florida as the fastest growing city from 2010-2017, with its' population growing from 94,279 to 125,165 (a growth rate of 32.8%). Per a United Nations study from 2016, 23% of the world's population lived in a city with at least 1 million inhabitants and by 2030, that number is projected to increase to 27%.
Many investors have a home bias, there is a level of comfort of being familiar with the culture, the customs, and the language. Understanding the opportunities beyond our domestic boarders is critical for long-term investors. For example, the largest city (metro area) in the United States is New York City, at 8.55 million people. It's not even the largest city in North America, that title belongs to Mexico City with over 8.9 million residents. New York City would rank #28 in the world while Mexico City world rank #23. Ranked #1? Shanghai, China with 24.1 million residents! Beijing follows at #2 with 18.6 million residents and Karachi, Pakistan rounds up the top 3 with 18 million. While protectionism has been on the rise, it's clear that the world is continuing to grow via the emerging market economies where urbanization is continuing at a record pace as well and where the emerging middle class is clamoring for new technology and goods.
This week investors will be monitoring the Fed once again as the FOMC closes out their June meeting with a rate decision. The market is currently pricing in a 19.2% chance of a rate cut. Our view is that the Fed will continue to hold rates steady (with a cut later this year) and once again change their language around monitoring downside risks to be more accommodative. The dot plots are likely to shift lower or at the minimum, show a hold through 2021. Investors are pulling out their playbook from 2011-2015, once again viewing good news as bad news (reasons for the Fed to not ease) and bad news as good news (more reasons for rate cuts). Looking back, we had lift-off from zero in December 2015, one rate hike in 2016, three rate hikes in 2017, and four hikes in 2018.
Data deck for June 15-June 21:
Empire Manufacturing
NAHB Housing Market Index
Net Long-term TIC Flows
MBA Mortgage Applications
FOMC Rate Decision
Initial Jobless Claims
Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing
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Mr. Chan serves on the investment team and is responsible for conducting investment manager research and portfolio construction. As a member of the investment committee, he provides market commentary and investment insights. Mr. Chan's responsibilities include overseeing client portfolios, calculating risk metrics, conducting the rebalancing of client portfolios, and evaluating the selection of new investment managers. With over 10 years of wealth management experience, Mr. Chan has played key roles across various aspects of investment and wealth management. Prior to joining First Foundation Advisors, Mr. Chan was most recently a portfolio manager at U.S. Trust where, in addition to his daily responsibilities, he served on numerous internal committees including the investment manager committee, the portfolio model committee, and the strategic technology committee. He also served on the in-house strategic consultant committee reporting directly to the President of U.S. Trust. Mr. Chan is a graduate of the Wharton School Executive Program on Investment Management and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside. He is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA). Mr. Chan serves on the executive board for CAIA Los Angeles and is the Interim President for the association. Read more
The Week Ahead – Market Indigestion
By Brett Dulyea, CFA, CAIA
The Week Ahead – Best Week of 2019
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Case(s): Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Abercrombie & Fitch — United States District Court, N.D. Oklahoma – Case No. 09-CV-602-GKF-FHM; United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit – Case No. 11-5110; Supreme Court of the United State – Case No. 14–86
Facts: International clothing store chain Abercrombie and Fitch ("Abercrombie") requires its employees to follow what's known as a "Look Policy." This policy is meant to reflect the store's "preppy" aesthetic and it applied not only to clothes, but also to facial hair and shoes. The "Look Policy" prohibits black clothing and caps. In 2008, Samantha Elauf, then seventeen, applied for a job as a salesperson at an Abercrombie children's store in Oklahoma. Elauf is a practicing Muslim and has been since she was thirteen.
When Elauf showed up for her interview with an assistant store manager, she wore a T-shirt, jeans, and a black headscarf, according to court documents. The headscarf is required by her faith. Elauf did not mention her headscarf in the interview and did not mention that she would need an accommodation. Despite the fact that the interview went well, Elauf didn't get the job. When a friend who worked at the store asked about the store's decision, it was indicated that Elauf hadn't been hired because of her headscarf.
In 2009, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued Abercrombie on Elauf's behalf in federal court. The EEOC alleged that Abercrombie had violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Relevant to this lawsuit, Title VII prohibits employers from refusing to hire someone because of her religious practices unless the employer can show that it would be an "undue hardship" to make allowances for the practice. The lawsuit contended that Abercrombie should have made an exception to its "Look Policy" to accommodate Elauf's religious beliefs.
Abercrombie argued that Elauf had a duty to inform the interviewer that she required an accommodation from the "Look Policy" and that Elauf's wearing of the headscarf is not based on a sincerely held religious belief.
United States District Court, N.D. Oklahoma.
District Judge Gregory Frizzell agreed with the EEOC and Elauf was awarded $20,000 in damages. Judge Frizzell found that there was "no genuine dispute that Elauf wears a head scarf because of a bona fide religious belief," that Abercrombie failed to rebut that it "had notice that Elauf wore a head scarf based on her religious belief," and that Abercrombie "failed to meet its burden of establishing that granting Elauf an exception to the Look Policy would have caused undue hardship."
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Abercrombie appealed the district court's decision.
In 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit reversed Judge Frizzell's ruling. Abercrombie could not be held liable because "Ms. Elauf never informed Abercrombie prior to its hiring decision that she wore her headscarf, or 'hijab,' for religious reasons," Judge Jerome Holmes wrote for the court. The appeals court contended that the store ultimately did not know – and Elauf did not say – whether she was wearing the headscarf for religious reasons.
On June 1, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled 8–1 in favor of Elauf. Justice Scalia, writing for the majority, held that Elauf did not have to explicitly request an accommodation to obtain protection from Title VII. Instead, Elauf only needs to show that her "need for an accommodation was a motivating factor in the employer's decision."
Analysis: The Supreme Court reasoned that to prevail in a Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 claim, "an applicant need show only that his need for an accommodation was a motivating factor in the employer's decision, not that the employer had knowledge of his need."
There is no requirement that an employer have actual knowledge of a need for accommodation. Instead, Title VII prohibits certain motives. "An employer who has actual knowledge of the need for an accommodation does not violate Title VII by refusing to hire an applicant if avoiding that accommodation is not his motive. Conversely, an employer who acts with the motive of avoiding accommodation may violate Title VII even if he has no more than an unsubstantiated suspicion that accommodation would be needed."
The Court also rejected Abercrombie's argument that it could not have intentionally discriminated against Elauf because the store's "no headwear" policy is neutral, meaning it applies to everyone, regardless of religion. Title VII, the Court explained, "does not demand mere neutrality with regard to religious practices—that they be treated no worse than other practices. Rather, it gives them favored treatment, affirmatively obligating employers not 'to fail or refuse to hire or discharge any individual . . . because of such individual's' 'religious observance and practice.'"
Conclusion: This case gives job applicants a strong new level of civil rights protections when it comes to religious bias and religious accommodations in employment. "A job applicant whose faith dictates a personal practice that may contradict a company's workplace rules now has a better chance of getting hired, even if the management's rule is entirely neutral about religion…..If the management has even an inkling about the applicant's religious views, it may violate federal civil rights law by turning aside that would-be employee while enforcing a job rule, the Court indicated."


Historian Toby Wilkinson may not see himself as a tour guide, but he makes good company as he takes us down the Nile and through that storied river's past.
Time travelers from centuries past would assuredly be shocked by planes, cars, iPhones, and Kimye on the cover of Vogue. Another detail of modern life they would likely find jarring is how little nature affects daily lives in wealthy countries.
Yes, hurricanes, earthquakes, drought, and a polar vortex affect people now and then—but their impact is measured by FEMA funding fights, dime-size super-market price increases, and lawn-watering regulations. That sense of detachment from the caprices of Mother Nature is pretty unique in human history.
That feature of modern life (which may come to a devastating end if climate change's predicted consequences bear fruit) hangs over the first-rate The Nile: A Journey Downriver Through Egypt's Past and Present by award-winning historian Toby Wilkinson.
There is perhaps nowhere in world history where the beneficence and cruelty of Mother Nature can be felt more directly than on the Nile. "Without the Nile," declares Wilkinson, "there would be no Egypt." It is one of the world's oldest highways, transporting goods, people, and ideas thousands of miles. But fluctuations of mere feet during its flood season could sustain the rise of empires, or hasten their fall. So too, could it encourage population booms, or wipe out millions through starvation and destruction.
For thousands of years, right on through the construction of the Suez Canal, railroads, and the Aswan Dam, the Nile's story was the story of Egypt.
For Wilkinson, the story of Egypt as it relates to the Nile begins in Aswan, and it is from Aswan that his book travels the course of Egyptian history as it winds downstream toward Cairo. As he works his way from site to site in this densely-packed book, the immense value of the book becomes clear both for the unfathomably ancient history Wilkinson unveils, as well as the beguiling descriptions of the impossible number of sights to see that have shaped history.
Wilkinson's book is also an astoundingly (and probably unintentionally) useful travel guide. The object of desire for travelers with disposable income these days are the "unique" experiences—to go where no other tourists are and not to stand out like a sore thumb. Many of the destinations Wilkinson illustrates, particularly in Upper and Middle Egypt, could be found in the latest issue of the New York Times travel section or Condé Nast Traveler. His visit to Mostagedda, one of the oldest archaeological sites along the Nile, opens with the line "There were no buses for where I wanted to go; not even a service taxi." The exclusivity of parts of Egypt is a bit ironic, as history has had perhaps no more popular travel destination.
You will have to forgive him for labeling more than one destination in such a superlative fashion.
The town of Elkab (Nekheb) is a fine example. Often skipped over by tourist cruises, according to Wilkinson, it contains rock-cut tombs with scenes of life from 3,500 years ago, with fragments of pottery stretching back thousands of years earlier, and stone axe-handles going back 300,000 years. Still standing across the river, at the city of Nekhen, is a 22 by 188 feet fort made of mud-brick. Built circa 2700 BC, it is the oldest freestanding mud-brick building in the world. Just a few miles away, a burial ground from 3800 BC contains the earliest evidence of sacred animals buried with their masters and the now-lost "Painted Tomb," the oldest known decorated royal tomb.
Wlkinson even offers tips on when to visit the sites, arguing the best time is between noon and two o'clock. "Not for the faint-hearted" he writes, but you avoid the hawkers and tour groups from the morning, and the afternoon groups have not arrived.
As Nekhen and Nekhen demonstrate, the history of Egypt is deep—a range and scope impenetrable in some ways for the modern mind. The Rome we refer to as ancient is a mere infant compared to Egypt.
The village of Qift, for instance, has been continuously occupied for 5,000 years, and has seen its fortunes rise and fall. Its history encompasses royal tax exemptions in the Old Kingdom, its central role in the civil war led by Thebes, its service as a major shipment hub under the Romans and then as a religious refuge for persecuted Christians and then Muslims, and finally its descent into obscurity after the Suez Canal dominated all shipping along the Red Sea.
The amount of human history etched into towns along the river often leads Wilkinson to refer to the Nile as a palimpsest, however it just left me wishing for a timeline on nearly every page.
What makes Wilkinson's book most worthwhile are the details he dishes out on the various men and women who made their mark on the river.
He recounts the story of Ananiah ben Azariah and the Jewish community on Elephantine in the centuries before and after Persian conquest in 525 BC. The common occupation for the Jewish men there was as mercenaries, intermixed with gentiles, and all swore oaths to the Egyptain goddess Satet.
The only glaring weakness in the text is Wilkinson's fondness for halcyon days of yore at the expense of the present. His relationships with Egyptians and Westerners of the past are far more engaging and intimate than his disdain for contemporary tourists and trinket-hawkers encountered along his way.
It is unlikely, however, that will be the reason Egypt lovers or those dreaming of someday seeing its wonders will pick up the book. Instead, it will be because the Nile and the history it has engendered still manage to stir something in all of us.