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Summary
Cha Tae-sik (Bin Won) is a former special agent with a tragic past, who now lives a quiet life as an inmate who runs a pawn shop. Two people, Hyo-jeong (Hyo-seo Kim) and her little daughter, Jeong So-mi (Sae-ron Kim) enter her life. They are your next door neighbors. One day, Hyo-jeong asks Cha Tae-sik to do her a favor and give her something that she is not aware of which is actually drugs. Cha Tae-sik does not know that the mother is a heroin addict who smuggles drugs for a gang of drug and organ dealers.

The gang leader discovers that the drugs have been stolen and sends Man-seok (Hee-won Kim), his brother Jong-seok (Seong-oh Kim), Ramrowan (Thanayong Wongtrakul) to retrieve the drugs. The gang members kidnap Hyo-jeong and her daughter, Jeong So-mi. They torture the mother and tell Cha Tae-Sik that the only way to see them again is if you deliver us. The drug delivery is part of a plot to eliminate a rival. Cha-Tae-sik makes the delivery, but is framed and arrested.

The Korean narcotics division that arrested Cha Tae-sik was led by Detective Kim Chi-Gon (Kim Tae-Hun). When Cha Tae-sik broke out, they were impressed with his fighting ability. They became curious and investigated his background. They discover that Cha Tae-sik was a former Black Ops agent who disappeared because his pregnant wife was killed before his very eyes.

Cha Tae-sik’s arrest leads to the discovery of Hyo-jeong’s gutted body. Cha Tae-sik realizes that his daughter who had befriended him, life is in danger. The narcotics division tells Cha Tae-sik that the trafficking crime organization is now using Jeong So-mi to smuggle drugs and that she could also be killed in order to use her organs. Cha Tae-sik is forced to leave exile and return to the world. There is a bloody confrontation between him and the criminal organization. Cha Tae-sik risks his life to rescue So-mi and a group of children they use at their base of operations.

Man from Nowhere Review
The Man from Nowhere is a perfectly written action crime thriller with some dramatic elements. It is somewhat unoriginal, borrowing elements from the French film Léon: The Professional (1994). The girl, Jeong So-mi played by Sae-ron Kim, is loved by the main character, Cha Tae-sik.

The relationship between the two unfolds in a way somewhat similar to what Natalie Portman and Jean Reno had in Leon The Professional. I have enjoyed watching South Korean cinema in recent years. I have seen some Korean movies like Old Boy, Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War, A Bittersweet Life, and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance.

All of these films that I mentioned have excellent acting and a well-crafted script. The man from nowhere is no different. The acting in The Man from Nowhere is excellent. All the cast members do a tremendous job. I was especially pleased with the performances of Bin Won, Sae-ron Kim, and Seong-oh Kim. Bin Won and Sae-ron Kim show great chemistry together and do a great job expressing their emotions. Bin Won as Cha Tae-sik has distinctive eyes in the way they express pain, regret, and sadness. He was perfect for the role of an outcast in The Man from Nowhere.

Kim Sae-ron as Jung So-mi is adorable, energetic, and cute. She is a very talented child actress. The final scene where they meet again will touch your heart, as they both cry when So-mi runs up to him and hugs him. Kim Sae-ron will make you cry when you see the final scene. Bin Won is very impressive with his martial arts skill that is shown in the fight scenes. Fight scenes are realistic real life battle situations and move fast.

The Man from Nowhere has the best knife fighting scenes I’ve ever seen in a movie. The bathroom melee fight between Bin Won and Thai actor Thanayong Wongtrakul as Ramrowan is impressive and very brutal. The camera work is excellent as it follows them in different points of view.

Fight scenes involving hand-to-hand combat, knife fights, and gun shooting sound great if you have a home theater receiver. The sounds of weapons firing / killing their targets, the cuts and slices of meat and the breaking of bones will submerge you.

The final fight between Bin Won and the thugs is a sight to behold as hero Cha Tae-Sik turns the scene into a bloodbath as he cuts through them all. Bin Won has a black belt in Taekwondo, but he does not use that fighting style in The Man from Nowhere. The melee combat in this movie is more akin to the style of MMA (mixed martial arts) close up and gripping. Half of the evil brothers, Kim Sung-oh as Jong-seok, will catch your eye as he plays this very cold, sadistic and sordid character. Kim Sung-oh also makes great use of his facial expressions.

His facial expressions are like cartoons in that he looks very strange and creepy to highlight his unstable psychotic character. You won’t like Jong-seok at all and you’ll be cheering when he gets his due from Cha Tae-sik. Cha Tae-sik places a lit lamp in a sack of cocaine. Then he lets out the gas and stabs the cocaine. When the cocaine spills, the lamp will collapse and crash, engulfing the drug factory in fire. The building explodes and Jong-seok is burned to death. The bad guys in general in The Man from Nowhere are all irredeemable pieces of shit who do really bad things and exploit kids.

Kim Hyo-seo, as So-mi’s drug addicted mother, Hyo-jeong, is very pretty and did a great job showing the ugliness of drug addiction in a scene where she injects heroin. The scene is realistic and raw, as her daughter So-mi walks up to her and Hyo-jeong simply tells her to come out while she’s in a selfish ecstasy from the drug. The ruined apartment scene looks a lot like the real world where drug addicted mothers neglect their own children.

The intense scene where actor Bin Won jumps out of a window and somehow moves on without missing a step is perfectly shot as the camera follows him. The main theme of The Man from Nowhere is very beautiful and epic. It’s a symphonic instrumental piece that complements Cha Tae-sik’s tragic character and the film’s gloomy mood quite well. I hope to see Bin Won in more movies.

He has a charismatic presence by nature and is powerful when it comes to displaying his emotions. If you haven’t seen Tae Guk GI: The Brotherhood of War (2004), I highly recommend that you take a look at the excellent film from the time of the Korean war. It is a powerful and tragic movie with Bin Won acting as one of the brothers who end up on opposite sides during the war. Bin Won can also be seen in Mother (2009) as a young man with a mental disability.

The Man from Nowhere is an impressive example of South Korean cinema. The director and screenwriter, Jeong-beom Lee, in just his second directed film, managed to make a compelling, well-paced and powerful film. I hope to see more of your work in the future. This is a great movie with an evil dumb hero in Bin Won. The Man from Nowhere lasts almost 2 hours, but you shouldn’t get bored with the well-written character development and mixed action scenes. The ending of The Man from Nowhere is brilliant.

One thing a woman may find, when it comes to her relationships, is that she tends to be attracted to men who are not very nice. As a result of this, you may have a hard time understanding what is happening.

Due to the experiences she has had with several different men, she may believe that she is a victim. Then there will be men who will want to hurt her and there will be absolutely nothing she can do about it.

Two sides

On the one hand, then, there will be the type of man she wants to be with, and on the other, there will be the type of man she will end up with. It may seem like you have no control over this area of ​​your life.

You might believe that the only way your life will change is if you are lucky and can meet a different man. At the same time, you may discover that you have met men who were different but were not attracted to them.

Perplexed

Even though this has happened, you may not think about it much and prefer to see yourself as a victim. If this happens, your life will most likely continue on the same path.

If, on the other hand, you were thinking about this, you may find it difficult to understand why this is happening. So a man will treat her with respect, be trustworthy and consistent, among other things, but for whatever reason, she will have the urge to get away from him.

A strong pull

What she will find is that a man who does not treat her well will be the one that will have a strong effect on her. This is not to say that you will have positive thoughts running through your mind when you are with such a man; what it means is that even though your mind experiences resistance, your body will respond differently.

In other words, your mind may tell you to go, but your body may want you to stay. The internal conflict within her will make it more difficult for her to sever her ties with a man like this, causing her to stay in a relationship that is not serving her.

The experience

A man like this could physically harm her or abuse her verbally, making it difficult for her to feel good about herself. She may not know where she is with him or if he will leave.

This will then be a relationship that lacks any kind of stability, coherence, love or respect. A relationship like this will make you suffer, which could mean that almost every other area of ​​your life could fall apart as well.

Something is wrong

If a woman like this were to talk to her friends, she could end up telling her that she just needs to end the relationship. They might even say that this is the way men are, and that this is probably a sign that their friends are not in a good place either.

Walking away can get you out of a toxic situation, but unless something changes, you could end up in the same situation in no time. The big question is: why does this keep happening?

In the background

In order for her to discover why she is inclined to break up with men who are abusive and stay away from those who are not, it will be critical for her to discover what is going on in her unconscious mind. . If you were to focus solely on your conscious mind, you are unlikely to find the answers you need.

This part of her may say that this is not what she wants and the resistance she has to be with an abusive man will be seen as proof. What you are likely to find, if you dig deeper, is that being with an abusive man is what feels safe.

A different agenda

During this time, it will be important not to get too attached to what comes to mind; if this happens, it will be more difficult for her to truly connect with what is happening on a deeper level. Your mind might have a hard time understanding why this would be what feels safe, and this will come down to the fact that the mind forgets what has been forgotten – it is simply a defense mechanism.

The reason this may be what you feel safe may be because of what happened during your early years. At this stage in her life, her father might not have treated her very well and there would have been nothing she could do to protect herself.

Two stages

Being mistreated by her father would have made her uncomfortable, but as time passed, her mind would have come to associate this behavior with what was familiar to her. What is familiar is classified as what is safe for the unconscious mind.

So since being treated this way is what feels safe, it will be normal for her to be attracted to a man who will allow her to re-experience what happened so many years ago and enact the same dramas. These experiences would no doubt have led her to believe she was worthless, which means she will carry a fair amount of shame.

Self-knowledge

Another way of looking at this would be to say that your unconscious mind is making you recreate your early experiences so that you can heal your pain and evolve. This is something called the compulsion to repeat.

The problem is that unless you are aware of what is happening, you will not be able to make use of the information that is being given to you and gradually transform your life. What can happen is that he becomes bitter and ends up blaming all men.

Awareness

If a woman can relate to this and wants to transform this area of ​​her life, she may need to seek outside support. This is something that can be provided with the help of a therapist or healer.

The type of man you are attracted to will gradually change as your inner world changes. This is likely to be a time when you will be working despite the trauma that is retained in your body and mind.

Video games have always been one of the greatest inventions in entertainment. But now there are a variety of ways we can enjoy it. From consoles to handhelds, there is simply no way to stop game developers from fully satisfying the deepest desires of a gamer from all over the world and in different ages. But what exactly is the difference in how we want to play those games, do we want something affordable or something more attractive? Some of those who play video games care much more about the graphics and others about the game. Let’s start with where it all started first:

Video games are first created from a PC or personal computer, so games were first available on floppy disks and can be copied from different computers. Then consoles were invented, which is a fixed device that allows you to watch the game by connecting to a television and playing with a controller. Video games now come in cartridges since programs are stored on microchips.

Portable video game players were also made that came from black and white and then full color, video game companies also created their own version of portable video game players that require larger game cartridges. When compact discs were used, new consoles were created to make use of this new storage technology that can store a greater amount of data. Which means better graphics and sound, which made the games more engaging and engaging with more hours of playtime.

These are just some of the few factors that affect the player, both young and old:

age

Older gamers tend to spend more time and money playing on consoles, while really younger gamers prefer something simpler like playing on handheld devices like the handheld Playstation or Nintendo 3DS as they have small hands and it is easy to operate.

Budget

Being affordable is also a factor, those who are wealthy care much more about the quality of the game, while those who are on a tight budget would get anything they can play with to kill time or just to have fun.

Portable

A handheld device lets you play anywhere and anytime you want, the quality of the game is also improving as technology develops. The consoles are only good for playing at home or on a gaming network, you basically can’t take them anywhere with you.

It really depends on the operation, the time and the budget. A gamer may also prefer both for those who are really addicted to playing video games wherever or whenever they get the chance.

The music of Frederic Chopin is widely studied even more than 200 years after its composition. Aspiring piano students around the world seek elegant and brilliant melodies, working hours and hours to master the skills necessary to play the composer’s 24 Etude, for example, and perhaps formulate their own performance. Many of the works, in fact, were created on versions of the piano that were just being invented during the industrial revolution, and many people at the time were puzzled by the sounds that could be created.

At the beginning of the 19th century, many scientific discoveries were made and new products were developed. The general public did not know what to do with many things, and the birth of new music from instruments never before built was included in the realm of new possibilities at that time. As a teenager, Chopin learned to play the piano on his own in an early version invented by the English. Different models were invented by various companies in Vienna, London and Paris, where the composer ended up in 1832 to give a recital.

The piano chosen by the composer was a state-of-the-art instrument that had a range of more than six and a half octaves. The soundboard and cast iron frame were designed to tolerate the high tension of the steel strings, and a right pedal was included to prolong the sound and notes, while a left hand pedal or chord produced sounds softer. The new hammer design allowed for rapid note repetition which made the piano more versatile in the range of sounds it could produce.

The new capabilities of the piano during that time may have led people to believe that there were secrets in its romantic music. The sounds coming out of the instrument were probably never heard by anyone at the time, making Chopin seem even more like a teacher, so as not to downplay the composer as the genius he was.

The composer’s piano allowed the player to use the full range of the instrument and use both hands to create unprecedented sounds and melodies. However, the difficulty of obtaining more advanced pianos did not prevent him from composing. In Valldemosa, a piano that the romantic called a tin pot still allowed him to work on Bach’s Well-tempered Clave. An upright piano was supposed to have been delivered from Paris at the time, but there were many delays, so it is believed that he composed some important romantic pieces on the small piano.

Despite situations in which more advanced piano designs were not available, Chopin continued to compose innovative and, to this day, well-known and respected pieces of music. Someone with such phenomenal talent can create music on whatever instrument is available; express your talent and emotions in whatever it takes to communicate your musical virtuosity. The composer’s ability to play and harmonize by ear at a young age and also master the piano so quickly is also a test of his talents.

The question whether the piano held any secrets about Chopin’s romantic piano music is moot. New technology at the time enabled things that people had never heard of before. With the rapid changes in today’s technology, the public is more used to seeing new inventions on a regular basis. Whether he played with a more contemporary design, such as an eolopantaleon or an instrument more akin to the modern piano, the composer was able to create and play astonishingly elegant and diverse music, so perhaps the only secret was the gift of genius that the man possessed that he overlooked. the cultural trends of the time.

5.) Halo 3 (2007)
Why: The Halo series is unique. Gathered friends to blast each other in epic space combat. Halo 3 is perhaps the best of the series when it comes to glorified multiplayer, with a dramatic story with no shortage of opera music tracks and tough character customization. Many titles are still trying to replicate what Halo did and they just can’t be matched.

4.) Minecraft (2011)
Why: Minecraft is one of the best-selling video games of all time, so you’d have to live under a rock as a gamer to never run into it. You can basically create your own world and do whatever you want. If you think about it, you can create it. The great thing about Minecraft is that it is offered on almost all platforms, including smartphones. This game is good to let your mind wander and become an artist.

3.) Super Mario 64 (1996)
Why: Mario is one of the best-known titles, but anyone can tell you that it could be the best game in the franchise. The game is unlike any of its predecessors because it was the first 3D platformer in the series. It’s a bigger world than the previous ones and the extra moves and jumps Mario can do make the game faster and more exciting. There are a total of 120 stars and the game has a lot of replay value. Mario platformer games are still being made today and none of them still can’t come close to how good this game was.

2.) Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
Why: Everyone has their favorite Zelda game, but Ocarina of Time includes the best features of the glorified series. There is a huge world that you have the freedom to explore, a magnificent score, and a truly remarkable origin story. The dungeons aren’t too challenging, but intricate enough that you don’t get too mad when you can’t solve a puzzle.

1.) Pokémon X and Y (2013)
Why: If you are a child or an adult, with this franchise that never seemed to matter. Pokémon revolutionized what it meant to bring characters like Pikachu to life. They modernized the portable multiplayer game and made it what it is today. X and Y is one of the newer titles, which is great because the game never stops using the old characters that adults grew up with.

Children are often seen sitting glued to computers and playing games today. These, which were previously played on the field or with boards, are now available on our computers. Computer games, when they were introduced, were two-dimensional and not interactive. Today, he has taken a new avatar in the form of ‘3D games’, which have become almost an obsession for children.

So what is special about these 3D games? They contain the well-known 3D effects and capture the player or lure him into his own world. The various multimedia effects are programmed to give a real world impression. They offer full color format with stunning images, specially made audio and video. How long would a child continue to play the same Mario or Flight combat? Hundreds of new video games with different themes and effects are released every day. Even the ancient Age of Empires, Prince of Persia are renewed to provide a virtual 3D atmosphere.

The moment we hear ‘computer games’, we can see kids getting excited about racing and shooting games. This is where ‘Miniclips’, a 3D web game development company, is at its zenith. Miniclip is an online gaming site that has a variety of sports, racing, and shooting games for free and for a fee. Miniclips products have become so widespread that they have become almost synonymous with shooting and racing games and are sometimes referred to as racing miniclips. The miniclip game room has more than 5000 online lists with the best effects.

There cannot be a child who has not played Harry Potter or Farme Ville. All thanks to Shockwave. Shockwave is an innovative online site that has animated fictional characters and creatures from other worlds in its games. Most of the classy novels are turned into video games that give us the thrill of being the protagonist, whom we had only read in books or seen in movies and admired.

Not only racing and shooting games, many others like dress up games, romance novel adaptation are also available on many sites with 3D effects. These attract both children and adults to play these games. Virtual reality, an upcoming branch in the field of multimedia, captures the attention of people of all ages and also gives a break to the conventional method of play.

To all of them is added the Unity Player developed by Windows. It is a built-in authority tool used in creating 3D video games or interactive 3D animations. It is one of the most widely used video game editors.

In general, 3D video games have become an integral part of children’s entertainment and are becoming more popular by the day. Except that they are addictive, 3D games make for a good time for all children and are also used for educational purposes. All of these factors add to the fact that 3D has reached every home that has a computer! 4D effects are a fast growing area of ​​research, but even in today’s world, 3D effects take us to another world with their close-to-real-world effects and have knocked on almost every door!

A common fact is that women take much longer to become sexually aroused compared to men. It only takes a wink or a glimpse of female flesh to turn a man on. However, women require a lot of work before they are ready for sex. One of the best ways to turn a woman on is simply by talking. This is how to drive a woman crazy just by talking …

o There is nothing like a quiet, romantic place to begin your process. With a glass of wine in front of you, start talking to her. Use your lowest and most sensual tone. Start off by complimenting her appearance, which is sure to impress her. Tell her how lovely and charming she looks in the shade of candlelight. Tell her how exciting her curves make you feel and how difficult it is to control yourself when you are with her. Hold her close to you and whisper lots of sweet things even while biting her earlobe and neck.

o If there is some distance between you and your woman, just call her on her phone and speak in a whisper to turn her on. Tell her how desperate you are to have her close and naked in your arms. Sensually describe what you plan to do with her once you get back together. This will make your woman mentally charged and stimulating and she can’t wait to come running to you.

o If you are classmates or work in the same office, just go to her and whisper the erotic dream you had last night. Don’t be too rude. Paint a romantic picture. Make up one if you didn’t actually have a dream. Make sure not to describe a porn scene, just an erotic and sensual one.

o In a crowded place, it is even more exciting when you whisper in her ear that you are dying to come home and hug her. Tell him how excited you are and what you plan to do as soon as you get home.

Folk art fans from the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico are already familiar with Arden Aibel Rothstein and Anya Leah Rothstein Mexican Folk Art From Oaxacan Artist Families (Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 2007). However, it was surprising to learn that some people interested in crafts from the central valleys of Oaxaca are not even aware of this seminal work, especially since it was first published in 2002.

The 2007 edition of Mexican Folk Art is a comprehensive compilation and detailed examination of every major type of popular art from Oaxaca, presented in a refreshing, easy-to-use format. The book is divided into ten chapters, each dedicated to a different medium: ceramics, textiles, wood carving, metal (including tin work, silverware and knives), miniatures and toys, jewelry, candles, basketwork, and flower crafts dry, with the final chapter. dedicated to the Day of the Dead.

Generally, each chapter begins with a broad description of an art form, which includes significant variations within. In the Ceramics chapter, for example, the divisions are Terracotta, Green Enamel, Multicolor Enamel, Black (black clay) and Red Painted. Often times, a town in the central valleys of Oaxaca is known for producing a specific type of folk art. Consequently, in some cases, a chapter proceeds to describe a particular town, giving the reader additional context. We find descriptions of, among others, the ceramic towns of Atzompa, San Bartolo Coyotepec and Ocotlán.

When a family stands out for a special innovation or its ability to create a certain craft, it follows a family story. The individual craftsmen are highlighted below. For the black pottery of San Bartolo Coyotepec, we find descriptions of the De Nieto Castillo family, of which the famous Doña Rosa was a member, along with biographies of her son Don Valente Nieto Real and members of his clan; and the Pedro Martínez family with biographies of the acclaimed Charlemagne Pedro Martínez and his relative.

In total, Mexican folk art exhibits the works of 100 artists from 50 families living in Oaxaca or in one of the 13 nearby towns and villages. In most cases, we are enlightened regarding the personality, worldview, and motivation of each individual carver, weaver, or potter, as well as a biographical sketch, enhanced by the inclusion of a direct quote. In this way, the reader gets an idea of ​​the inspiration of each craftsman. In many cases, the authors also include a section on the techniques used by the artist, which includes various sources of raw materials such as wool from the Mixtec region of the state to make carpets and tapestries, or clays from other regions of the state. to change the tone and texture of the sculptures; and processing methods that include the extraction of natural dyes from fruits, plants, soils, and the cochineal insect.

With its glossy cover and roughly 700 photographs, Mexican folk art can rightfully be called a coffee table book. But it is much more. The photos themselves bring the book and the artists to life: Apolinar Aguilar de Ocotlán, forging a red-hot piece of recycled metal into an artistic hunting knife; a display of provocatively painted clay ladies of the night by his cousin Julián, son of the famous Guillermina Aguilar; Jacobo Ángeles de San Martín Tilcajete carving a figure in the wood of the copal tree, or standing with his wife María and her family, each proudly displaying an exquisitely painted alebrije; The weaver from Teotitlán del Valle Isaac Vásquez, working on his loom creating a rug, the pattern inspired by a pre-Hispanic pictograph; and beautiful examples of highly detailed multi-colored hand embroidery of San Antonino, such as the bodice and sleeve of a wedding dress.

This gem should easily appeal to any reader with an interest or experience in anthropology, history, or geography. The importance and influence of the indigenous Zapotec ancestry and its current cultural manifestations shine through many of the ethnographic accounts. The genealogies (known as family trees) that comprise one of the appendices are detailed and date from the 19th century. They help the reader to better understand the historical and generational context of the development of Oaxacan crafts.

To assist those interested in exploring the artisan villages and visiting the artists on their own, without the assistance of a Oaxaca tour guide, the address and all additional contact information available are provided throughout the body of the book. for each artist, such as phone number and email. A second appendix consists of a series of easy-to-read village maps, detailing the precise location of each featured artist, making contact even easier.

Authors Arden and Anya Rothstein correctly note that their artist presentation constitutes “a sample” of what is available to those interested in exploring the interior of Oaxaca. In fact, they encourage you to get out there and explore on your own, finding the next popular artist who could reach international stature. They are careful to rate that their inclusions are based on which artisans are the most innovative, or produce work of particular caliber according to certain criteria. The Rothsteins acknowledge that the work of any one innovator of an entire class of popular art, and of those who produce superior quality than the rest, is often beyond the financial reach of many. Therefore, they have additional artists whose works are more affordable, but also of exceptional quality.

Folk art collectors often need a reminder that buying a work from a recognized name does not necessarily mean that the product is the best, in terms of coloration or patina, shape, design or the images it provokes, and that what it calls the attention of most, or so-called experts, may not be your particular cup of tea. Along these lines, an “honorable mention” is awarded to the artisans of certain crafts whose works do not appear (under the title, for example, “More wood carvers in Arrazola”). The clear suggestion is that readers should go out and explore, and make their own determinations and choices based on personal preferences.

Is it worth buying the 2nd edition if you already have the 1st? Certainly give it some consideration if you haven’t yet become entangled in the appreciation and collecting of Oaxacan popular art from exploring the central valleys. While the 2002 volume features 500 photos and 87 artists from 44 families, the most recent publication, as noted above, has been expanded to 700, 100, and 50, respectively. Some of the artisans mentioned simply in the previous volume under the title “Additional”, have been elevated to “outstanding artists”, with their works and histories duly documented. And in some cases where families have grown and town demographics have altered, the authors have appropriately noted changes. Prudently, at least in the opinion of this critic, the “Price Guide” in US dollars has been omitted from this new volume, as more than anything else it is likely to create confusion for the buying public, with the potential to put barriers between the artists and the prospects. customers. As for the Mexican and US economies, there are so many variables and market conditions at play, it is best to allow the supplier / creator and the buyer to make their own assessment respecting the value of labor.

Mexican Folk Art is a comprehensive and well-researched study of all the major types of contemporary Oaxacan folk art and their creators, past and present. Don’t be fooled by its appearance as “another elegant coffee table book”. It achieves what it sets out to do, and something else. It should be seen as a guide, rather than a Bible. If we are ever blessed with a third edition, perhaps the publisher will see fit to place duplicates of the town maps in a separate pocket … it would be a shame if such a wonderful job were unduly worn out in taking it from town to town.

Salt chlorinators, also known as saltwater pool systems, are very popular these days and for good reason. There is no better or cheaper way to keep your pool sanitized. Modern units have sophisticated circuitry that require very little supervision and are generally quite reliable. Most last for years with only an occasional cleaning of the cell. However, when they stop working, pool owners often need help identifying the source of the failure and this article was written with that in mind.

If you check the chemistry of your water regularly, the first sign of a problem could be a sudden absence of chlorine in the water. If your salt system display looks normal, the first thing to check is the water; Have him checked for phosphates and make sure the cyanuric acid (stabilizer) is up to the mark. Phosphates are a more common problem than ever; perhaps due to unusual weather patterns. If necessary, buy the PhosFree treatment and get a reading below 100 PPB.

If you don’t check the water chemistry regularly, the first sign of problems is likely algae in the shallow areas of the pool. Whether the generator is running or not, you may need to treat the pool immediately with a granular shock and an algaecide to prevent large-scale algae blooms. It is always cheaper to attack algae early and aggressively than to wait. In hot climates, it grows rapidly.

After eliminating the possibilities outlined above, it’s time to take a closer look at the salt chlorination system. If the unit is totally dark and there are no signs of life, check the power source and make sure it is receiving power. Ideally, check the source with a voltmeter. If proper voltage goes to the unit, check to see if the chlorinator control unit has a reset button or internal fuse. These protect the unit against a short circuit in the cell. It only takes a bit of grass or a hairball to momentarily lodge between the titanium plates to activate the reset button or blow the fuse. If the cell has a calcium crust and the plaques are bridged, this is obviously the problem. Clean the cell, change the fuse, and you’re good to go.

If the control appears to be working normally, it is time to check if the cell is producing chlorine gas. If your unit has a transparent cell body, you can simply observe the cell while it is working and if you see the mist coming off the plates, it is working. If the fog is minimal, the cell could wear out. Most brands have cells that last around 8,000 hours and a couple of brands have cells that are made to last 15,000 hours. Using your history of hours run per day, you can do the math and determine if the cell is at the end of its useful life. If you’ve ever cleaned your cell with too strong an acid solution or if you’ve ever made the mistake of soaking it for too long, all bets are off and you may be facing early cell failure. Take out the old Visa card. Some pool stores have a device that tests a salt cell, but many technicians doubt the validity of these machines. (Cell fault = Commission)

If your salt system has an opaque cell body, the only way to test for activity is to capture some of the water coming out of the pool jets and test for chlorine. Use an empty coke bottle or something like that, put your thumb over the opening and hold it against the return jet from the pool. Try not to get the sample too thin with the water in the rest of the pool. If your system is working, you should see a difference in the chlorine level in this sample vs. a reading taken in the farthest corner of the pool.

In some cases, salt systems work as they should, but the display gives erroneous salinity and / or temperature readings. This is usually a sign that the calibration circuit has been affected by a power surge. The owner can recalibrate many units on site. Check your owner’s manual or check Google for calibration instructions for your model. If the display or warning lights indicate “water failure” or “water flow” problems, verify that the water is flowing freely through the generator cell. If the water is flowing, you may have a faulty flow switch. Most units have a separate flow switch, but some have this function built into the cell. In some, the water failure indication can occur if the calibration mentioned above is drastically out of place. In all cases, closely examine the electrical connections between the cell and the control and between the flow switch (if present) and the control. These connections must be clean, tight and dry. Often times, a little sandpaper on these terminals can bring an idle system back to life.

Even if you can’t get your generator to work, following these steps will prepare you for a phone call to factory technicians. Most manufacturers expect their installers to take care of the problems, but if you do try, you can usually speak to one of their technicians and get their help. Like everything else, salt chlorinators aren’t really complicated once you understand how they work.

Thanks for reading and happy swimming!

If you are a crossbow enthusiast, then it is recommended that you do your research on the different types of cocking devices that you can use. There are actually two basic types of cocking devices. The first is the crank device that appears like a small winch mounted on the butt of a crossbow. This device requires you to wind a crank in order to cock your crossbow. Before purchasing this device, it is important that you determine whether it can offer you the maximum satisfaction when using it for crossbow hunting. One of the main advantages of the hand crank cocking device is that you will never have a hard time removing it. It is also a great help in your attempt to get the rope in the center of the trigger so that you can shoot accurately. But how expensive this device is is one of its main drawbacks. It is also heavy and bulky, so there is a great chance that you will feel uncomfortable using it.

The second type of cocking device is the rope cocking device. This is less expensive than the crank type, so it is no longer surprising why many people prefer to use it. You can get it for between twenty-five and forty dollars. On the pull rope of this device there are two rope holders and handles. It also comes with a pulley system designed to enhance its mechanical advantage. The pulley system also allows you to use only half the force required to cock the crossbow. The device also works to center the string and this is a great help in improving the accuracy of all your shots. But you’d better put a mark in the center of the bowstring to make sure the process of releasing the arrow produces a uniform force. You can also prepare your next shot in just thirty seconds with the help of this device.

But there are also disadvantages to using the rope cocking device. You will need to spend more time setting up the string cocker, bowing the bow, and then putting it away after you are done using it. Still, it is highly recommended for crossbow hunters because of its affordability and all the other benefits it has. Making this device a part of your crossbow hunting gear can definitely bring you a more enjoyable hunting experience. Just make sure you’re willing to practice your skills with the device so you never have a hard time getting it to work during your crossbow hunting expedition.