text:
Now make it affordable.
Time for the miracle of mass production and economies of scale.
Time for the miracle of mass production and economies of scale.
Yes, for another brand. Tesla, I believe, will be a luxury sports car brand in the spirit of Ferrari. Meaning, technology developed for and by the luxury brand will then be perfected and moved to a grocery getter brand, maybe, the "Maxwell" or better yet, the "Edison" brand of cars.
Tesla, I believe, will be a luxury sports car brand in the spirit of Ferrari.
I beg to differ [teslamotors.com]. They're already working on a car that has more than two seats and will sell for 1/2 the price of the roadster. I'd say that's quite a jump in affordability. The Model S is nowhere near economy car prices, but it's a large step closer.
But, who the hell wants a sedan/family car??
Ok, I guess if you have a family, but the parent poster was, I think, referring to making something like the Tesla more affordable....a 2 seat, well crafted, performance vehicle that doesn't loo
That explains why Ferrari's are so inexpensive.
A Tesla wouldn't be affordable even if it wasn't electric. It's a Lotus Elise with the engine replaced.
A Tesla wouldn't be affordable even if it wasn't electric. It's a Lotus Elise with the engine replaced.
The Elise is expensive because it is a low production sports car, not because it is a Lotus. If everybody wanted one Lotus would mass produce them in China for a fraction of the current price.
A Tesla wouldn't be affordable even if it wasn't electric. It's a Lotus Elise with the engine replaced.
In addition to the parent to my post, this isn't true. According to this post [teslamotors.com] the two share few parts, such as the windshield and the softtop.
They are using the high end market to drive the technology until it's cheap enough to work for everyday cars. This is a much better approach than the EV1 that started cheap.
Even better is TWILL [autobloggreen.com]
They are using the high end market to drive the technology until it's cheap enough to work for everyday cars. This is a much better approach than the EV1 that started cheap.
I agree Tesla is taking a better approach than GM did with the EV1 [wikipedia.org]. However GM didn't sell the EV1, it was available only for lease and only in California, Arizona, and Georgia for employees of GM.
It's already affordable to people who are in the market for cars that go 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. They can afford it so well that Tesla is back-ordered. That's proof of a market that you can take to the bank (literally).
Once those people pay the early adopter tax, they fund the transition to higher-volume, lower-price cars like the Model S.
The Tesla is a brilliant piece of product positioning.
Except the company is runing on fumes. It is using the deposits to fund its operations. If Tesla does not get either the $250 or $400 million federal loans, it will need to enter bankruptacy.
Does anyone know how likely the batteries are to catch fire or explode? Imagine a gigantic cell phone or laptop battery blowing up. Yikes!
> Imagine a gigantic cell phone or laptop battery blowing up. Yikes!
Imagine twenty gallons of gasoline blowing up. Yikes!
I see your point, but gasoline in a tank never blows up spontaneously. Li ion batteries are still a bit dicey, on occasion.
Either way you have a lot of potential energy in a small volume. I once had a short circuit inside my bicycle tail light... Not pretty.
Lithium-oon polymer will take over soon enough. Compared to the good old Lithium-ion (not polymer), it packs more energy per weight and volume, does not enforce specific cell proximity and shape (semi-fluid?) and has lower risk of exploding. The price is already about the same.
Things are always improving
Imagine twenty gallons of gasoline blowing up. Yikes!
There isn't enough oxygen in your gas tank to allow an explosion, batteries aren't as picky.
Defective batteries spontaneously exploding are a lot more common than defective gas tanks exploding. You might bring up the Pinto, but that was a poor design choice, not a defective gas tank (the gas tank functioned exactly as Ford intended it to, they just put it in a bad location.)
I don't know about you, but *I've* seen the smoldering wreckage of a burnt-out car sitting on the side of the highway before. I have no clue whether the occupants escaped alive, but car fires absolutely do still kill people [chicagotribune.com].
And as I've mentioned elsewhere on this thread, FYI, the Roadster's cells are individually isolated and the packs are tested with multiple cell failures to make sure that fires are contained. And Tesla is near-unique in using laptop cells rather than the "automotive" li-ions which use different chemistries and don't have the fire risk. Oh, sure, the electrolyte in them is flammable, but that's no different from gas in a gas tank.; the big difference is that you can abuse the automotive variants to heck and back and not cause a fire. They pay for their safety in terms of an energy density hit, mind you.
Results vary. I have a Golf TDI, regularly go over 600 miles without coming close to empty, with my best fillup 781 miles. And that's with an automatic transmission.
Nevertheless I love what Tesla is doing.
Impressive, though I consider Miles Per Dollar* more important than Miles Per Tank. After all, what is so groundbreaking about a 750 mile range if your car has a 100 gallon tank in the back seat?
*Not that Telsa wins in this category, if one factors in retail price.
The cells are independently isolated. They've done a lot of tests forcing catastrophic failure of individual cells to make sure that the failure of one wouldn't cascade to others.
Note that this is really only applicable to Tesla; they're one of the only (if not the only) EV makers who use traditional laptop cells. Pretty much all of their competitors are using "automotive" li-ion chemistry variants that sacrifice energy density for faster charge capability, greater longevity, and fire resistance.
Tesla doesn't use "traditional laptop cells" either. They're the same size and shape, but they picked specific models with different chemistry to normal laptop cells that suit car safety needs more.
No, they really are traditional commodity laptop cells [teslamotors.com]. They're LiCoO2+graphite 18650s purchased in bulk from the same companies that sell those cells to laptop pack manufacturers. They did that because they wanted cells that were already in mass production so as to keep costs down.
As long as their they don't get batteries from Sony, I think we'll be fine.
I'd also be concerned about the toxicity of these batteries. Are they 100% recyclable? Will they be safely disposed of, even if Tesla goes out of business? Will they leak?
They're essentially not, essentially, yes, no. [teslamotors.com] The phosphates and spinels most other auto makers are using, even moreso.
I'm not sure what you think is in li-ion batteries that you're picturing is so toxic. These aren't lead-acid or nickel-cadmium here. Want to know what goes into a lithium phosphate battery? Lithium salts (like you find in mineral water -- in fact, they're actually produced from salt flats where mineral waters evaporated), iron powder, phosphoric acid, sugar (for a carbon binding), porous polyethylene (separator), graphite or amorphous carbon (anode), any one of a variety corrosive but generally nontoxic electrolytes, casing, wiring, and so forth. You'll find worse stuff in a lot of bulk steels than you will in LFP cells.
Why isn't GM, with its billions of cars sold, unable to come up with electric cars faster than a 250 employee company [wikipedia.org] (Tesla Motors)?....
Oh right, it's because they NEVER wanted to get out of the BIG SUV GAS ANNIHILATOR business in the first place and are refusing to evolve.
I sincerely hope GM and it's ugly cars and old uneducated workforce go fuck off and die.
Make Tesla Motors the new big one, and let's get over with it.
Yeah, thanks I know.
I wrote: Oh right, it's because they NEVER wanted to get out of the BIG SUV GAS ANNIHILATOR business in the first place and are refusing to evolve.
Amen, brother.
The Big Three undoubtedly saw the potential of Tesla and smaller companies (who buy a chassis, fit it with their gear, and profit), shit themselves, and immediately made it a necessity that Diesel fuel double in price, Saturn (who would be the GM arm to make it happen) forget what they are about and sell rebadged Opels, and thrusting on the public a prolonged (boring?) four-year introduction of the new Camaro.
What. The. Hell, indeed..
Something is seriously fucking fishy, if you ask me.
There ar
Troll indeed!
You can give just about *any* car dramatic improvements in fuel economy if you know how to drive them correctly. See HyperMilingA. [wikipedia.org]
Just to see if it worked, I tried it with an ageing GMC Van (big, full sized, full of people) and measured an increase in fuel economy from about 20 MPG to over 30! Of course, there's something about driving on a freeway at 45 MPH and coasting to a stop from a half mile away that annoys the bajeezus out of other drivers.... I must have been flipped off half a dozen times!
Now, see what sort of mileage you get when you try hypermiling that van through the Alps. This is the Monte Carlo route we're talking about here.
The Roadster's 241 mile range (Powertrain 1.5) is based on their official MPGe rating from the EPA, which means the same drivecycle that all other cars go through. Now, in practice, you're not going to want to run your car down to empty; in fact, when you hop in to drive it, the Roadster won't even show you all of the charge (part of it is kept in an "emergency r
Nice job saving yourself some gas. Too bad you wasted the gas of hundreds of drivers stuck in stop and go traffic behind you because you clogged up the road. Way to go!!
Maybe you were attempting a joke, but this is a pure electric car. There's no fuel to be efficient with. Besides, no car has its "sweet spot" at 28 MPH, and if you read the summary you'd see that they drove at several different speeds over the course of the journey, which just happened to *average* 28MPH. They never actually drove any length of time at that speed.
Results vary. My 2000 Golf TDI automatic was rated 34/45mpg (original sticker, old EPA rating), which is 29/40 under the new EPA rating. In the 150,000 mile life of the car to date, I have averaged 44mpg, including town and highway. And I regularly travel at 70mph.
they measure them under ideal conditions which are hardly reflective of reality
You're right, 390km of winding mountain roads is hardly the reality most people will drive in.
Good luck getting anywhere near 24mpg in those conditions.
I am aware that I used the word "penetration." It's OK, I'm used to
Grow up, folks. They're trying to solve one of the biggest problems facing the world.
Actually they are not, which is why they may succeed.
They are trying to make a kick-ass car. People don't want to drive a large golf cart just to "save the planet", or at least not enough of those people exist to form a market.
With the singular exception of battery life / recharge time electric vehicles are superior in every way to internal combustion engine vehicles. They have better torque characteristics, less moving parts and simpler maintenance. Once battery technology advances enough that the range is acceptable, electric cars will take over from combustion engine cars because they are simply better vehicles.
At $100k, the Tesla Roadster is priced out of the reach of 99% of Western buyers want or need. 99.9999% of worldwide buyers.
Which is why they are leveraging their success with the Roadster to build the model S at $50,000.
Then they will release the bluestar at $30,000.
See a pattern here?
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/10/teslas-elon-musk-grows-a-pair-good-for-him/ [techcrunch.com]
That would give the Roadster a theoretical maximum touring range of nearly 280 miles
Somehow I don't think the author understands the meaning of the word used. Surely, the range with a long downhill road or strong (as in Katrina) tailwind would be quite a bit more.
My Honda Civic refuels in about a minute and a half, and I can get well over 400 miles on a tank on the highway. Just sayin'.
My Honda Civic refuels in about a minute and a half, and I can get well over 400 miles on a tank on the highway. Just sayin'.
then we should compare the times your civic can be stopped on idle
People just like to bitch about good electirc cars...
How abou ttelling us: do you really do your 400 miles in a typical day? do you even do 200 miles? I highly doubt it... Now how about you think that you could never, ever have to go to the gas station to gas your car, all you gotta do is plug it in when you park it at your place...
My Honda Civic refuels in about a minute and a half,
Park your Civic in the garage tonight, and hit the button that tells it to drive itself to the gas station, fill-up, and return before you wake up in the morning...
Don't sweat it -- it's only ones and zeros. -- P. Skelly


text:
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has warned potential suitors for top scorer Michu they will have to part with up to £30million to secure the Spaniard's services.
The 26-year-old has been one of the stars of the Barclays Premier League season since moving to the Liberty Stadium from Rayo Vallecano for a bargain £2million in the summer and has hit 10 goals in 15 appearances.
"I don't want to let him go, sometimes the offer can be so big you have to accept but I really don't think clubs are going to pay so much money for him," Laudrup said. "We have the example of what Liverpool paid for Joe Allen (£15m), if they have to pay double for Michu there are few clubs who could afford that."
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2012, All Rights Reserved.
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Summer Knits for Summer Nights
Ah, August after dark: perfect for romance, bonfires and waxing nostalgic about your pre-desk-job days as a lifeguard.
Why would you ever waste the time indoors?
But the thing is, once the sun sets, it has a way of getting pretty darned chilly out. And since nothing can ruin a beautiful beach day's epilogue like a set of chattering teeth, we'd like to advise you to take the necessary precautions and invest in a bit of lightweight knit protection. That way, you'll be able to focus more on achieving the perfect s'more-char and less on maintaining your body temperature.
Or your date's, for that matter.
So take some time to check out our cotton, linen and cashmere selections, and prepare to fend off that evening chill, after the jump...»


text:
(Carlisle, Pa.) – The #2-ranked Dickinson men's lacrosse team held off a determined Franklin & Marshall squad on Saturday, posting a, 12-10, win at Biddle Field. The Red Devils match the school record with a perfect 8-0 mark in the Centennial Conference, while raising their overall record to 15-0.
The Red Devils showed a lot of poise and composure in the regular season finale, as the Diplomats made them work for the victory. The Red Devils opened with a pair of goals but F&M countered with four straight.
Dickinson found the net, right off the opening face-off. Carter Moore (Virginia Beach, Va./Norfolk Academy) claimed possession and Brian Gleason (Darien, Conn./Darien) finished an assist from career record holder, Matt Cherry (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Radnor), just 37 seconds into the game.
First-year Chris Menard (South Hadley, Pa./South Hadley) scored at the 13:05 mark to put the Devils in front, 2-0.
Billy Kempner scored once and tallied two assists as the Diplomats pulled even with goals at the 3:57 mark and with just 21 seconds remaining in the first quarter, then added two extra-man goals to take a 4-2 lead on Jamie McCulloch's second of the game.
Brian Cannon (Reisterstown, Md./Loyola Blakefield) put away an assist from Gleason and Cherry evened the score with an unassisted goal at the 3:48 mark. Tyler White (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Charter) put Dickinson in front with 2:16 to play in the half.
F&M came back with goals at the 1:20 mark and with just eight seconds on the clock to lead, 6-5, at the break.
The Devils struck seven seconds into the third as Cannon finished another assist from Gleason as Moore won the face-off and two quick passes later, the Devils were on the board, tying the game, 6-6.
Kempner put the Diplomats on top one more time, scoring off an assist from Tim Gaines with 11:41 on the clock. Moore scooped up the face-off and found the net, seven seconds later with the equalizer.
Cherry struck again with an assist from Menard, and Gleason matched a Tristan Miller goal with a pair to end the third quarter. Cannon found Gleason at the 7:57 mark and Will Scott (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus) dished out the assist at 6:48 on an extra-man goal, just over a minute later.
The teams traded goals in the fourth quarter for the final of 10-8. Christian Beitel (Newtown, Conn./Newtown) threaded a needle at the 12:06 mark before Chad and Philip Gamble connected for F&M.
Cherry scored off another Menard assist, and Tommy Wenk made the final, 12-10, at the 2:56 mark. The Red Devil defense dodged a pair of solid attacks down the stretch, and senior Greg Hanley (Laurel Hollow, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) was outstanding in goal, making 14 saves.
Gleason scored three goals and handed out two assists. Cherry had a hat-trick as well, handing out one assist.
The Red Devil defense was solid all day while the man-down unit stalled 4-of-6 opportunities, including three on the fourth quarter. Jack O'Connor (New Vernon, N.J./Delbarton) caused a pair of turnovers and controlled four ground balls, playing a key role in transition as well.
Senior Brandon Palladino (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) picked-up three ground balls and caused three turnovers, including a key take-away on the final face-off after F&M's 10th goal.
Cameron Setian made eight saves for Franklin & Marshall (10-5, 6-2). Kempner led the way with two goals and three assists.
The Red Devils earn the top-seed on the Centennial Conference playoffs, while F&M will be the #2-seed. The Devils will host #4-Washington College on Wednesday at 4:00 pm, while F&M will host Gettysburg at a time to be determined. The final will be at the highest remaining seed on Saturday.


text:
Screen Actors Guild National Executive Director David White appeared on NPR's The Kojo Nnamdi Show on Thursday, December 15 to discuss diversity on screen. Also joining host Nnamdi was actor, film critic and pop-culture commentator Jennice Fuentes who appeared on HBO's K Street, and St. Petersburg Times media critic Eric Deggans.
To hear the podcast, click here.
To read the transcript, click here.
From left, Screen Actors Guild National Executive Director David White, host Kojo Nnamdi and actor Jennice Fuentes.


text:
- Member for
- 8 years 34 weeks
Recent Comments
|7 years 23 weeks ago
|Designers Comment on the Logo
I work in advertising so I follow a lot of design and advertising blogs in addition to this one. Knowing how much the MGoBlog community hated the new Big Ten logo you can imagine how funny it was to read this article with just-short-of-effusive praise for the design. Read it here.
|7 years 34 weeks ago
|Turnover Stats
Has anyone run the numbers on turnover stats? I am getting the impression (unfounded?) that the bend-dont-break D is producing a lot of turnovers even if it isnt getting real 3andout stops.
It seems like through 4 games we have more turnovers than through most of last season and I wonder if the zones combined with occasional line pressure aren't causing that.
Any thoughts?
|8 years 34 weeks ago
|Crazy Play
The play that was described as "Crazy" looked like an A-11 formation (All 11). It's fairly common high school formation / offense in some places. Florida ran it on LSU a couple years ago without any success.


text:
[UPDATE DEC 18, 2012]: This is no longer available, but two features we planned to bring back at some point.
We're launching two-way task sync for both Outlook To-Dos and Google Tasks, which are linked to the top two email clients out there! Are you jumping for joy right now!?
View feature specifications, download & install, and watch video tutorials at:
Here are some brief notes on installation:
Once the Outlook Plugin is installed, go to your Outlook Tasks. To the right of the Producteev tab, select settings. Enter your Producteev credentials and log in. Adjusting other settings are optional (sync frequency and direction). The important thing to note is that changing which workspace is synced can be accessed on this tab. Press sync on Outlook to force sync. Refresh the task list on Producteev to sync.
Connecting Google Tasks Sync is easy. From your Producteev workspace in the left sidebar, select Workspace Administration and the Email/IM tab. Scroll down to Google Tasks (immediately after Google Calendar), and hit connect. Grant access to Google, and you're set! Refresh the task lists to force sync.
Tame the email beast!
A special thanks goes out first and foremost to all our beta testers. You help great apps happen! Lastly, none of this would be possible without the skills of CTO Aric Lasry (behind Google Tasks Sync) and David Podhola, a third party developer based in Prague.
A wise Windows developer and gamer once said, "Outlook is one of Microsoft's more diabolical creations."
Photo credit: Lou Gallois-Disant


text:
Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre says the club are delighted to have the Uruguayan back in action, and expects talks to begin over a new deal at the end of the season.
Suarez returned from his 10-match ban, received for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, on Wednesday, when Liverpool faced Manchester United at Old Trafford in a third round Capital One Cup tie.
The Reds were beaten 1-0 by United after Javier Hernandez's winning effort. Suarez has also previously served an eight-match ban for allegedly racially abusing United's captain, Patrice Evra.
Ayre told Sky Sports News: "For all his controversy on the pitch, off the pitch he's a great guy, he's a family man and he's very well liked.
"He keeps himself to himself with his family, he's been committed he's worked hard, trained hard.
"It's been difficult, and been difficult for him really. It's always difficult being a footballer, and being a footballer like Luis Suarez you want to be on a football pitch.
"We sort of begin those type of discussions two years in from the end, so it'll be the end of this season. We'll do the same with everyone and at the right time we'll have the discussion with Luis and his advisors."
"I think it's been a challenge for him but he's got through it and I think, and he's demonstrated last night, for a first game back, for somebody who hasn't had the opportunity to play in the Premier League this season, he acquitted himself very well."
Suarez signed a long-term contract with the Anfield club in 2012, but expressed his desire to leave this summer, after failing to gain Champions League football with Liverpool. He was linked with a move to Real Madrid, and was subject to two rejected bids from rivals Arsenal, but ultimately he stayed.
Ayre admitted Suarez's latest actions hurt the global image of the club, but said Suarez is looking to draw a line under it.
"Of course, any types of incident of that nature are damaging to a brand, but Liverpool Football Club is way, way bigger and always will be way bigger than any one player or one individual," Ayre added.
"Luis is a street fighter and we had to deal with it. We've worked a lot with him since the Ivanovic incident and he's back to what he's best at - terrorising defenders.
"We all move on together. Hard work and lessons have been learnt post-Evra and we now have a process in place for any crisis. Not a Suarez crisis, just anyone."
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms


text:
We're always looking for trickling of rocks. There's constantly little slips falling. It's just a common thing that happens. But this is a huge, probably the largest of anything that's happened in the mine. —Dell Garner, heavy haul truck driver
BINGHAM CANYON — Kennecott Utah Copper representatives said it is too early to know what caused a massive landslide to cripple its Bingham Canyon Mine and they don't know when workers will be back on the job.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration issued an order suspending work at the open-pit copper mine in southwestern Salt Lake County and dispatched personnel to the site, according to MSHA spokeswoman Amy Louviere.
Kennecott is waiting for clearance from MSHA to send its geotechnical experts into the pit to assess the scale of the slide and the damage it caused, said Kyle Bennett, spokesman for Rio Tinto's Kenecott Utah Copper.
"We have not cut corners. Nobody was hurt, so we don't want to start doing that now. We need to make sure the area is safe. We need to make sure the area is stable and then we're going to take our employees in," he said.
Bennett said the company doesn't know what caused the slide, which, after months of monitoring, turned out to be much larger than Kennecott anticipated. The University of Utah seismograph station recorded the slide as a magnitude 2.4 shake.
"There are a lot of factors that go into ground movement in a mining operation," he said, listing composition of the material, rain, thawing, runoff water and mine work itself. "It's kind of a combination of factors that make something like this happen."
The landslide occurred Wednesday night in the northeast section of the mine. No workers were injured, but roads, buildings and vehicles inside the pit were damaged.
Kennecott was aware of the impending slide and apprised employees of the situation as it developed, Bennett said. Company engineers detected movement in the ground as far back as February.
The U. seismograph station provides some insight into the enormity of the slide. It recorded two events in the mine at 9:30 p.m. and 11:05 p.m., with the first registering magnitude 2.4, said seismologist Katherine Whidden.
"It was a very big landslide," she said, adding the speed with which it came down likely caused it to registered on the seismograph.
Whidden said the slide also probably triggered several smaller events afterward that appear to be earthquakes. There was no seismic activity in the area preceding the slide, she said.
Ted Himebaugh, Kennecott's general manager of operation readiness, estimated about two-thirds of the bottom of the pit was buried.
Kennecott does not yet have a timeline for cleanup or resuming mining operations, Bennett said. It employs about 2,500 people, including 800 miners, he said.
Asked if the company has discussed the possibility of furloughs or layoffs, Bennett said, "We're not able to give mine employees access right now, but everybody at all our other plants are working right now just as they would every other day."
Wayne Holland, United Steelworkers International staff representative, said the unions met with workers at the mine met Friday to develop a plan moving forward. They have had some talks with Kennecott and MSHA and intend to meet more in the coming days.
"One of our questions will be if they expect any more movement. Obviously, right now the company is sending all the miners home as they report for work," he said.
"We're as concerned now about the process of repair and getting the mine back operable as we were when the slide happened because those little slides can be just as dangerous."
The company doesn't know if the slide disabled the mine's monitoring equipment, Bennett said.
Holland said he doubts Kennecott will have a plan for digging out and where to send crews until the middle of next week.
Dell Garner, a truck driver at Kennecott, said he was told there will not be layoffs but workers could be reassigned to other duties. "They said they would work us," he said.
Landslides are a condition of the mine, Garner said.
"We're always looking for trickling of rocks. There's constantly little slips falling. It's just a common thing that happens. But this is a huge, probably the largest of anything that's happened in the mine," he said.
Garner called the volume of Wednesday's landslide shocking.
"We expected it to come down to the bottom and stop there, and not come clear through the entire bottom," he said.
Garner expects it will take some time to dig out and get back to mining copper. "All of that is waste materials," he said. "It's not ore."
The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining issues a permit to Kennecott for its operations. Division spokesman Jim Springer said the slide occurred in the permitted area.
"They do a good job of watching for that sort of thing," he said.
Springer said the division won't be doing anything special as a result of the slide, such as sending inspectors in to assess the situation.
Kennecott is the second largest copper producer in the United States, supplying about a quarter of the country's copper, according to the company's website. Bingham Canyon Mine is the largest man-made excavation in the world.
Contributing: Devon Dolan, Geoff Liesik
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: dennisromboy


text:
(510) 690-8530
Learn more about ready mix concrete and its convenience.
Learn about our services and the uses of concrete in your residential or commercial projects.
Contact Us
Our Recent Posts
If you are improving your home or business, A-1 Ready Mix can help you
finish your concrete construction project faster and more easily. Instead
of going through the time-consuming, messy mixing process at your jobsite,
our concrete comes premixed and ready to be dropped. In addition to achieving
the ideal wet/dry ratio, our
ready mix concrete with water reducing technology helps avoid the messes left by traditional
mixing, including water pools from washout.
We understand that maintaining a nice house is important to you and can
assist in making your curb appeal wishes a reality. While we know that
some weekend warriors prefer to handle projects themselves, we can help
save you time by
constructing projects for you and your family. From fixing cracks in a standard walkway to increasing
the value of your home through patio improvements with
colored concrete, A-1 Ready Mix is ready to complete construction tasks in your front yard,
back yard, and even inside your home.
Are you working on a
commercial concrete project that requires over 100 yards of concrete? If you are working a
large job, it may be in your best interest to bring the batch plant to
your site. Instead of going through the hassle of mixing your own concrete,
we can produce 60 yards per hour, just 50 feet away from the site. While
other types of concrete can take days to harden, ready mix concrete in a
portable plant can be mixed and set in a few hours. Our computerized machine is accurate,
quick, and can easily be towed to your site. We also offer
fiber-reinforced concrete known as fibermesh!
Colored concrete offers a variety of options to create an interesting space or draw attention
away from an unsightly aspect of your property. If you are creating a
patio, you can use colored concrete with techniques such as stamping to
create a unique space for your family to relax and entertain. Driveways
are often stained by oil, dirt, and tire marks, but you can help hide
those stains with colored concrete. Colored concrete can also be used
to disguise drains or canals and mimic expensive materials like terra
cotta and granite.
If you have unsightly concrete on your personal or commercial property,
we can help you remove and
recycle it. Instead of throwing old concrete into a landfill, we crush it into
tiny, rock-like pieces that can be used in a variety of projects. We can
begin this environmentally-friendly and cost-effective process after you
bring us your used concrete or invite us to collect it from your yard.
As a family owned and operated business in the San Francisco Bay Area,
our customers are our first priority. We believe that happy customers
are loyal customers, and we are dedicated to providing excellent service.
When you choose A-1 Ready Mix, you can rest assured that we will work
our hardest to meet your needs. Whether you are seeking assistance with
landscaping for your backyard or your business is looking for concrete
for a retaining wall or other commercial project, we will work efficiently
to achieve your goals in a timely manner.
At A-1 Ready Mix, we value your time as much as you do. We know that you
are busy, and we work to finish your residential or
commercial project as quickly as possible. When you call, you can speak directly to our team,
and we proudly offer
same day delivery of ready mix concrete. We answer all calls, so take a few moments to schedule a
free same day consultation. We encourage you to contact us at
(510) 690-8530 to learn more about the benefits of ready mix concrete!


text:
LOVE AND OTHER DEMONSPrice: - €
an opera in 2 parts sung in English with fragments of Yoruba, Latin and Spanish with Lithuanian surtitles
Libretto by Kornél Hamvai after G. G. Márquez's novel Of Love and Other Demons
Music Director and Conductor Alejo Pérez (Argentina)
Director Silviu Purcarete (Romania)
Stage Director Gediminas Šeduikis
Designer Helmut Stürmer (Germany)
Video Projections by Andu Dumitrescu (Romania)
Chorus Master Česlovas Radžiūnas
A co-production between Glyndebourne Festival (Great Britain), the LNOBT and festival GAIDA / ISCM World Music Days 2008
World premiére at Glyndebourne - 10 August 2008
Premiére in Vilnius - 7 November 2008
This co-production between Glyndebourne Festival (Great Britain), the LNOBT and festival GAIDA / ISCM World Music Days 2008 will enable Lithuanian theatre-goers to get acquainted with one of the most famous contemporary composer in Europe. The biggest part of Eötvös' works consists of operas, music for theatre, cinema – he belongs to that select brand of opera composers for whom the theatrical aspects of the form are positively to be relished rather than merely endured.
In autumn of 2006, when Eötvös first met Edward Kemp – author of plays, screenplays and opera librettos, dramaturge for plays, operas and ballets – the two talked a little about the deeper themes in the novel. "He asked me what I thought the story was really about, and I replied that the answer was in the title: it's a work about demonization, the way we polarize the differences between ourselves and others and mark out one person or group or set of ideas as 'demonic'; in a multi-cultural society such polarization is particularly dangerous," – remembers Kemp.
Many conversations and discussions between Eötvös and director Silviu Purcarete as well as conductor of the production at Glyndebourne Vladimir Jurowski had a significant influence on the overall shape of the work and it is typical of Eötvös' spirit that there has been so much collaboration on this work, without ever losing sight of whose piece this is.
And thus an opera was born, generating sensations of suspense, suspicion and uncertainty, filled with wonderful music, profound thought, imagination, lots of fantasy and love. "I think in these terms the piece is more traditional and romantic in technique. This opera is not romantic in musical style but very romantic in terms of fantasy elements. The fantasy is the same now as the fantasy of the 19th century," - claims Eötvös.
What was conceived in 2003 following a meeting at Glyndebourne to discuss a possible new commission is not complete. The première at Glyndebourne achieved thunderous success. Will Vilnius understand this mesmerizing story about forbidden love blossoming in 19th century Columbia full of tropical magic, about love as obsession, love as "the most horrible of all demons"? Without a doubt. Language of music is universal and love is the same in every corner of the world.


text:
Jennifer Smith from Gladbrook was named to Buena Vista University's Graduate & Professional Studies Dean's List for terms three and four. Students named to the Dean's List must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 for the two terms, based on a 4.0 grade point system, and must have taken at least 12 hours of coursework.
Smith attends the Marshalltown Buena Vista University Graduate & Professional Studies location.
Buena Vista University is a regionally acclaimed university that relentlessly focuses on learning. The faculty, staff and students set and meet the highest standards of academic achievement, character, conscience and compassion. Visit www.bvu.edu.


text:
RIPLEY - The Ripley High School basketball squad feel collectively that they have something to prove. The team still has the bad taste of last season's 40-39 sectional loss at Riverside to remind them of that heartache, a game that ended on a blocked shot that could have given Ripley the victory.
For the Lady Vikings, who capped a winless season on that night, it is about looking forward, not behind.
"The slate is clean and we get a fresh start on a new season. These girls have put in a lot of hard work to get better and we are most definitely a better basketball team," said Coach Justin Frashier.
The squad lost the leadership of Jillian Mullins and Ali Cunningham to graduation and a new group of senior leaders has emerged.
Based on playing time logged as underclassmen, it appears that guard Chelsey Hager (10.0 ppg) and forward Sarah Williams (11.4, 8.0 rebounds) will lead the way on the court. Williams is a returning Special Honorable Mention selection in the Mountain State Athletic Conference and a Class AAA Honorable Mention selection.
"Sarah has refined her game and leads by example. Chelsey is so passionate and just wants to win. She has become more vocal and the girls respect her. I expect very good seasons from both of them," said Coach Frashier.
Joining Hager and Williams are talented seniors Kensey Bergdorf, Savanna Williams and Katie Robas.
The Lady Vikings are thrilled to have senior shooting guard Amy Ferrell, a transfer from Parkersburg Catholic who appears to have cracked the starting lineup for the blue and white.
Senior Mikayla Pursley is still sidelined with concussion related issues from last year. Pursley can still be found at practices cheering on the girls. It is unclear when Pursley will be released to participate.
The most improved player on the court may be junior center Jade Donohew.
"Jade reported to practices in incredible shape. She is playing more aggressively and we need her presence on the boards and the scoring column," said coach Frashier.
Donohew is isn't the lone junior, she is joined by forward Emily Oldham who is competing for playing time and received valuable playing time last season coming off the bench for the Lady Vikings.
The squad has two sophomores in Audra Thomas and Kaitlyn Thomas. Freshman post player Zoe Smith, already 5-foot-11 appears to be an intriguing prospect for the future of the squad. Smith saw success in middle school and should see the floor in some capacity this season, gaining valuable playing time to help her develop offensively. Frosh guard Jerri Patterson, also a talented player, joins the squad and will see some playing time.
The Lady Vikings will play pressure defense and have expanded on their spread, pass and cut style offense.
Greg Bower, Jon Melhorn and Kevin McClung will serve as assistants to Frashier this season.
"We are blessed to have three good, hard working assistant coaches on our staff. I like the attitude of our team in the early going and we are anxious to get out there and get the season rolling," said an enthusiastic Frashier.
The Lady Vikings open at Shady Spring tonight and host Point Pleasant on December 10 in the home opener.
Lady Vikings embrace a fresh start, new season
RIPLEY - The Ripley High School basketball squad feel collectively that they have something to prove. The team still has the bad taste of last season's 40-39 sectional loss at Riverside to remind them of that heartache, a game that ended on a blocked shot that could have given Ripley the victory.


text:
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
I have one group of girlfriends I have known FOREVER! For-ev-ah!Teasing, zinging and good natured insults are our way of saying we love each other. You know you've been accepted into the circle when you start giving you a hard time.That said. One of my best zingers ever was when I was visiting S and F (two of my friends from the above mentioned circle).F was trying to decide what tattoo she wanted and where (note: F is a busty gal and has nursed 3 kids). I piped up and said "Oh, F! You should get the titanic tattooed across your chest so we can watch it sink!"S started laughing so hard she fell off the couch and curled into a ball. F punched me, then cracked up. Insults were traded and that moment has passed into legendary status.
I belong to the "everything is up for jokes at some point" school of thought because I cope with life by "whistling in the dark." I do try to keep my more offensive humour to myself, but I laugh inappropriately all the time.My SO, who is Jewish and had relatives die in the Holocaust, once made a Holocaust joke. I gawped at him for a solid 5 seconds at least before laughing. (He's the kind of person who's genuinely kind and generous, but can be really "evil" in his thinking and practical jokes. I call him Stalin. When he recently asked why I call him Stalin, I said because he'd be offended if I called him Hitler. Then we both laughed inappropriately.)
My sister passed away this past November after a four year long battle after a blood clot that caused her to lose her small intestine, and the complications stemming therefrom. She also suffered from a few eating disorders over the course of her life that did not make things easier for her (or us, for that matter). She was especially opposed to bleached white flour and processed sugar.Nine people got mild food poisoning after her memorial service from tainted cookies.When I told my surviving sister, she said, 'We're both going to hell, aren't we? Because I can not stop laughing and you are too quiet not to be laughing yourself.'
While I laughed till I couldn't breathe, Mickey explained that (WARNING: GROSSNESS ALERT) the deceased shot himself in the head with handgun powerful enough to loft one entire cerebral hemisphere, still whole, out through the exit wound and onto the bedside table.
Vorbau, you just reminded me of when my cousin commited suicide, only it wasn't neat, there were blood and brains everywhere, wall, ceiling, floor. It was Easter Sunday morning, and for some reason it never occurred to my aunt to get one of those bio-cleaning services in. My cousins and I all trooped downstairs with mops and buckets to clean it up.I can't even remember the jokes we told that day, aside from "he lost his mind- all over the ceiling", but they were many, and baaad, and we laughed ourselves sick.I love my cousins on my dad's side, we're all twisted in the same way.
Page created in 0.219 seconds with 18 queries.


text:
The members of Lake Area Conservative Club (LACC) are individuals who practice individual responsibility and believe in self-involvement. We do not practice collectivism as is described in this diatribe.
*Editor's Note: This opinion is in reference to a Lake View titled "Are you listening to the people?" published in the May 7 Lake Sun.
I would like to address the article, "Lake View: Are you listening to the people?" dated May 7 of this year that talked about P&Z's article 600 and Commissioner Luber.
I take great exception to labels such as the "Luber supporters" and the "Luber tactics."
The members of Lake Area Conservative Club (LACC) are individuals who practice individual responsibility and believe in self-involvement. We do not practice collectivism as is described in this diatribe.
Ms. Steward [author of another opinion on Article 600] said it best, "this is more than an issue about noise."
It is a regulation this county wants to use to coerce its citizens into compliance.
The fact that 10 members from the LACC were present at these meetings means that they are property owners in Camden County fighting for their private property rights and should not be stereotyped as "followers."
What I see in reading the Johnson article is party politics, which our founders warned us against, rather than the politics of the people.
The fact that this article describes LACC members as a small group of people with the same narrow mindset is laughable.
If anyone ever attended any of LACC's meetings they would find a large group of people practicing their first amendment rights with much gusto at a pot luck dinner.
From this organization, groups formed to fight the FERC, Article 600, and the school districts collaboration with the ACLU's "Harry Potter project."
Other groups formed to fight against "Agenda 21" and "Common Core." There were more groups who fought for our "right to bear arms" and our "private property rights" on sponsored legislation, speaking at public hearings in Jefferson City and some of these bills actually made it to the Governor's desk for signature.
LACC members are people who love this country, believe in our liberties and willing to fight for them.
Conservative groups have popped up all over the country because they are tired of party politics.
Our elected representatives have forgotten who they work for and where their allegiance lies and have disregarded our Constitution for far too long.
Our Constitution, one of the most inspired of documents, has stood for over two centuries as a protective fortress, sheltering generations after generation from those who would destroy freedom.
These conservative groups have taken on the role of defending the very fortress that defends us all.
We believe that it is built of ancient ink and generations of our precious blood, this wall of protection, our Constitution, is only as strong as our devotion to know, to live, and to safeguard its truths.
This fortress of liberty is built stone by stone on the very allegiance and resolve of We the People it protects.
If anyone ever attended one of LACC's annual dinners the last couple of years, they would have found a copy of the pocket Constitution at their table setting.
You can even pick one up at any of our monthly meetings, because we believe in it, and what it stands for.
I have never seen a copy of our constitution at a place setting at one of the Lincoln Days Dinners.
We do not have a narrow mindset. We are not "flagrantly confused" and so become followers to a pied piper, we are members of "We the People." If you capitalize it, it takes on a much different meaning.


text:
DAD asks county for more money
Dues to increase with added grant writing duties
LEXINGTON—When Dawson County commissioners eliminated a paid grant writer from the budget last summer, they transferred those duties to Dawson Area Development.
Since the county pays dues to DAD anyway, commissioners figured they would save some money.
At the time, DAD officials didn't think the additional workload would force an increase in the dues paid by the county.
But after careful number crunching and consideration of the additional paper work, DAD is asking the county for a raise.
Deb Jensen, DAD's community development coordinator, told commissioners during their regular bimonthly meeting on Aug. 1 that DAD logged 125 extra hours in grant preparation, meetings and administration of county awards from June 2011 to June 2012.
DAD secured $269,352 in grant funds for the county during that time, Jensen said.
With the new budget year on the horizon, DAD is asking the county for an increase in dues from $52,500 to $67,000.
"For every dollar of that increase, $18.50 was brought back into Dawson County offices over the last year," Jensen said.
"I think DAD gets a huge number of requests for help with grants and with the time it takes to complete those, they need a little extra help with paperwork," said board chairman Dean Kugler of Gothenburg.
Since the county joined DAD as a paying member in 2006, more than $8.6 million in grant funds have filtered through Dawson County for various purposes such as housing, community development projects, economic development projects, youth retention and workforce development.
"Without somebody taking the initiative to seek out those grants, that money wouldn't be coming into the county," Kugler said.
The board took no action on the dues request but will consider the increase with the upcoming 2012-13 budget that will be passed in September.
In other business, the county board:
received a roads department update from superintendent Jon Mooberry, who said he plans to proceed seeking federal funding to complete a roads project southwest of Overton. Mooberry has also made plans to repair the approaches on both ends of the Plum Creek bridge, which have buckled in the heat.
approved an agreement to receive $63,203 in federal funding and $31,602 in state funding for operation of the Dawson County Transit system. The county will contribute $31,602 to the annual budget.
Commissioner Dennis Rickertsen also shared with the board that the Kearney RYDE program has shown interest in a partnership with the Dawson County Transit system.
Details of the possible joint venture will be discussed by the transit board of directors.
adopted the Central Platte Natural Resources District's multi-jurisdiction hazard mitigation plan that will allow the county to take advantage of funding assistance in the event of a natural disaster.
learned from commissioner Butch Hagan that the board of directors for the Lexington Area Solid Waste Agency voted to reduce the landfill use fee to $30 beginning Oct. 1.
Latest Headlines
- Gothenburg native releases first novel
- We all need help from a friend
- Monsanto hosts 6th annual Safety Day program
- Brady places champ and runner-up at State FCCLA
- Swedes continue conference domination
- Dancing With The Stars changes venues
- Middle-of-the-Pack Finishes For Swede Boys and Girls
- Girls Show Support for Teacher's Cancer Fight


text:
I was listening to Car Talk on NPR a couple of wknds about and Click and Clack mentioned brake pad grease to reduce squealing. They went thru a long dissertation as to why/how squealing comes from the pad/piston interface in the caliper (at least in cars). Just curious if anyone has tried this to fix the horrendous Avid noises?
For those of you thinking I'm insane to apply grease to disc brakes (goes between disc pad backing and piston): CRC Industries 5359 - Brake Caliper Synthetic Grease | O'Reilly Auto Parts


text:
Find the perfect size! Click here!
Visit our store in rocklin,california! Click here!
Need a little Help ? Click here!
* Gentle and upscale duffle coat with detachable hood and cuffs button.* Dark Gray, Red, Beige colored and peached fabric.
Materials (Outer): Polyester 86%, Rayon 8%, Acrylic 6%(Inner) Cotton 100%


text:
What's New RSS
Nintendo Download Highlights New Digital Content for Nintendo Systems - February 7, 2013
This week's Nintendo Download includes the following featured content:
Nintendo eShop on Wii U™
Fist of the North Star®: Ken's Rage 2 – Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 is a collaboration between the popular manga Fist of the North Star and the action-packed Warriors video game series. With the majority of the episodes from the original manga intact, the game faithfully re-creates their legendary martial arts and the battles between these captivating characters.
Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS™
Brain Age™: Concentration Training – Brain Age is back with new devilishly difficult brain-training exercises designed by world-famous brain researcher Dr. Ryuta Kawashima. Brain Age: Concentration Training introduces newly designed training exercises that challenge players with activities to help refine their concentration skills and the ability to access their short-term memory. Players can spend five minutes a day with the game to help better their focus and attention skills. Brain Age: Concentration Training will be available in the Nintendo eShop and in retail stores on Feb. 10.
Etrian Odyssey™IV: Legends of the Titan – Demo Version – Etrian Odyssey IV is the newest addition to the beloved franchise, and brings with it an enhanced graphics engine boasting polygonal enemies and new 3D special effects. The game also features upgradable, customizable skyships that let players travel and battle amid the clouds, a fully orchestrated musical score from Yuzo Koshiro and expanded, immersive 3D dungeons with analog camera control.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 3D – Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 3D returns to the roots of the sport with unique levels of control and a major emphasis on the individual style of the world's best players. Thanks to feedback from dedicated fans, PES2013 offers full control over shooting and first touch. Endorsed by famous soccer players Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, Pro Evolution Soccer will continue to push boundaries and capture the essence of teamwork. Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 3D is now available at retail stores and will be available in the Nintendo eShop on Feb. 12.
Also new this week:
Mega Man 2 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 3D (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
Rayman 3D (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
Ah! Heaven (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS/Nintendo DSi™ Shop on Nintendo DSi)
In addition to video games available at retail stores, Nintendo also offers a variety of content that people can download directly to their systems. Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS™ system, to the Nintendo DSi™ Shop for the Nintendo DSi system and to the Wii™ Shop Channel for the Wii console at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Thursdays.
The Nintendo eShop is a cash-based service and features games, applications and videos in both 2D and 3D. Users can add money to their virtual wallets using a credit card or by purchasing a Nintendo 3DS Prepaid Card at a retail store and entering the code from the card.
The Wii Shop Channel offers games and applications and uses Wii Points™, which can be purchased via the Wii Shop Channel. The Nintendo DSi Shop offers games and applications and uses Nintendo DSi Points™, which can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Wii Points Card™ and Nintendo DSi Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one card must be redeemed in either the Wii Shop Channel or the Nintendo DSi Shop, respectively. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.
Remember that Wii, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage some of the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wii, http://www.nintendo.com/3ds or http://www.nintendo.com/ds.


text:
Text Size Large SizeMedium SizeSmall Size Color Scheme Black SchemeWhite SchemeGrey SchemePaper Scheme
June 20th
does anyone know what is so special about June 20th??? it's Edward's birthday!! He is turning 106 today (June 20th) and so I wrote this story to celebrate it. This is Edward's birthday from his point of view. HAPPY 106TH BIRTHDAY, EDWARD!! WE LOVE YA!!! HAPPY 107TH BIRTHDAY, EDWARD-WE STILL LOVE YA!!!! HAPPY 108TH BIRTHDAY, EDWARD-STILL LOVIN YA HAPPY 109TH BIRTHDAY, EDWARD-LOOK ABOVE ;)
I just got this awesome idea and so I had to wait till June 20th to post it, but still, this was so cool to write!! I'm really excited.Disclaimer- I'm just not Stephenie Meyer, sadly. It's kinda self explanatory.
1. Today...
Rating 4.5/5 Word Count 1738 Review this Chapter
I was lying on my black leather couch once again, board out of my wits.
I was also waiting for that moment when I would be turning……I couldn't face the number. I will just leave it as when my birthday will be.
I glanced over at the digital alarm clock at the right sitting on the music shelf.
To entertain myself I did a count down, "10, 9, 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1." Then the numbers of the alarm clock turned to 12:00am. It was now June 20th and I was now……well…..a year older.
I sighed; even though I didn't change physically I changed all the same. I have now been on this earth for, I sighed again. I will just have to face the number. I have now been on this earth for 106 years; I winced- 106 years of me taking up mass on this earth with my poor excuse of a life.
Anytime my family will burst through my door and try and make me cheery for today-I could never be cheery today.
Today was the day that I have always dreaded-especially since I met my angel, Bella. Being around 84 years older than her was horrible-it didn't seem to bother her though, and for that I am great full.
I wonder if this is how a 50 year old man feels; thinking that he is way too old. I rolled my eyes at that though.
I looked at the clock again, 5 minutes past 12:00am. That's odd, at least Alice would have come in by now.
I shook my head-I didn't really care. I quickly got up and readjusted the volume on the CD player, making it blast so loud I couldn't even hear my own self think-perfect.
I quickly sneaked into Bella's bedroom through her window. It was 2 hours before she had to get up and I needed to think about something else other then my…Age. I shuddered. I now lay next to her.
I looked to her and smiled. There was my angel, sleeping soundly. She was perfect; the steady drum beat of her heart calmed me, and I soon forgot about my birthday.
All of my thoughts were about her. The way her heart beat, how peaceful she looked-it was as if she was the most beautiful thing in this entire world. She captivated me, like she had a resonating light. She was amazing. She was so warm; the sweet smell of her blood going through her veins was tantalizing.
I brushed my hand on her cheek bone. It seemed like she smiled a little. I smiled back.
To my dismay it had been two hours already. Her alarm clock beeped and I knew I had to leave soon.
She groaned as she turned the alarm clock off to stop its annoying beeping. She turned to look at me.
"Good morning, Edward." She said with a grin.
"Good morning, angel." I kissed the top of her head. "I will pick you up when you are ready, I have to get the Volvo though." I reminded her.
"I know. And okay, I'm missing you already." She joked.
I smiled what seemed to be her favorite smile. Her heart did a little flutter. She blushed and I waved goodbye as I climbed out of her window.
I pulled up to forks high school-my own living hell on earth.
I had just picked up Bella and I was meeting Alice for my first class. It seemed as though she was avoiding me, I haven't seen her for quite some time. That was odd, really odd.
"May I escort you to your first class, Ms. Swan?" I joked as I opened her door. I bowed and held out my hand. She rolled her eyes, but took my hand anyway. Her hand was so warm, I wanted to never let go.
"Edward, you can stop the act." She said looking up at me. I wrapped her arm around mine-walking as if we were in the 1900's which I haven't for quite some time.
"Fine, miss. Your wish, my command." we now just held hands.
"That's better."
I chuckled as we made a stop. "I will see you after your Spanish class." I said. I lightly kissed her cheek and turned to go to my first hour with Alice. Alice couldn't avoid me now, I smiled evilly. Something was going on, I could feel it.
I walked in the class just as the bell rang, as I did every day. It always astonished the teacher. I got a kick out of it though. If I'm trapped in this torture chamber why not have a little fun?
Today though, I ignored all of the voices of people's thoughts, all except for one. There was now a faint buzzing sound all around me.
"Alice." I greeted her as I sat down next to her. I didn't speak normally, I spoke so fast that human ears could not hear let alone comprehend what I was saying.
"Good morning Edward." She thought.
"Why haven't I seen you at all this morning?" I asked. We both looked straight ahead at the teacher-if only he knew.
"I have just been out and about, no real reason." She 'said.'
"I find that somewhat hard to believe." I said back to her.
She shrugged. "Believe what you will."
"I will do just so."I looked deeper within her mind; there was nothing-but her annoying singing."La la la la la la lalala la la la la la lalala" she 'sang'. She only did that if she was trying to just torture me further, or trying to hide something. In this case I think it was a combination of both.
"Alice, stop that." I warned her.
"Not-a-chance. Lalala" I couldn't bear to hear any more.
Something was up, I had a fairly good idea that everyone was in on it (including Bella) and I was going to get to the bottom of it.
I contemplated that the whole day, even through lunch with Bella.
Then it dawned on me- BELLA! Bella was the weakest one when it comes to getting information. I could just, what was the word she put it as?? Right, 'dazzle' her and then I could figure out what was going on. I was just glad that she had no idea when my birthday was.
We were sitting over the kitchen table doing homework. Now was the perfect time.
"Bella, can I ask you a question?" I asked.
"Umm, okay. Sure Edward, ask away." She said, a little too busy with her math homework.
I cupped her chin in my hand and made her look at me gently. She smiled.
"Do you know what Alice has planned?"I asked her. I smiled her favorite smile and blew my breath in her direction. She seemed a little dizzy.
"Well, umm." She whispered.
"Yes?" I urged, moving in so our faces were almost touching.
"I do, actually. She…"
"She what, Bella?" I asked her.
She shook her head.
"Nope nope nope. I see what you are doing, she warned me about this. No no no, Edward Anthony mason Cullen, I am appalled." She said.
I was a little confused that she knew my full name, and that my plan had back fired. "I'm sorry Bella. I behaved rudely-I have too much of an advantage. It's just, Alice is planning something and nobody will tell me!" I complained.
"Don't worry, you will find out sooner or later." She promised.
"Sooner or later." I muttered. She nodded and went back to her math homework.
I was so confused. It was around seven at night, and everyone just left me alone in the house. Alice at least left a note saying to put on a suite jacket, blue jeans, and a collared shirt. What the occasion was who knows?
After I was done getting dressed I quickly jelled my hair and grabbed my cell phone. To my surprise it started to ring. I looked at the caller Id- Bella.
I flipped the phone open.
"Bella?" I asked.
"Yes, it's me. Edward, can you please meet me at the baseball field?" she asked me.
"Why? Is that where you are? How did you get there?"
"All will be explained in time. Please, Edward. Meet me there." Then she hung up. I snapped the phone shut angrily. That's where all of my family members must be. This was so idiotic-but I ran down the stairs and out the door anyway, towards the baseball field.
When I was starting to approach the baseball field it was dark and quite. But I could hear my family member's thoughts. All were trying to think of something else other then what was planned. Some did what Alice did and sang-which was very annoying. But I couldn't see anybody. I stopped when I reached the field. I could smell the most delicious smell there was- Bella.
So all were here. "I can tell you're here, you know." I said to the darkness.
"SURPRISE!!!!!!" they all shouted. Jasper turned Christmas lights and lanterns on-reveling a huge banner. It said, 'Happy 106 Birthday, Edward!' on it.
Damn, they didn't forget, and now Bella knows. Why the heck did they have to put my age on the banner?
Now all their thoughts went loose. All were relieved that they could stop hiding this, and I was a little relived to know that the singing had ended.
"What's all of this?" I asked them. There were tables set up, a dance floor, and a stereo that would be any DJ's dream to have.
"It's your Birthday party, silly. You didn't think we all forgot, did you?" Alice asked me.
I rolled my eyes, "I was hoping."
"We would never forget your birthday, Edward."
I looked over to my angel, Bella. She was dressed in a lovely light blue dress that was a halter and went down to her knees. She was blushing.
"What do you think, Birthday boy?" she teased.
I walked over to her and put my arm around her waist. "It's….wonderful. Thanks."
She laughed and nodded. Alice turned some music on, and soon many of us were dancing.
It was a long night, what with all of the happy birthday greetings from family members, gifts, and dancing. But I did have a wonderful birthday.
I was now ready to face the number, I decided. 106. It wasn't half bad. But just wait till I'm 107……….I shuddered…..
- Author
- awsomealice94
- Rating
1 2 3 4 5
- Reviews
- 31
- Words
- 1738
- Views
- 1
- Published
- 20 Jun 07
- Updated
- 20 Jun 07
- Status
- Complete


text:
FORMER Greens leader Bob Brown has been appointed a director of Sea Shepherd Australia in a bid to ensure the safety of the anti-whaling group's leader, Paul Watson.
Mr Watson is wanted by Japan over his Antarctic anti-whaling campaigns and, after skipping bail in Germany over a separate high-seas dispute, has been at sea for months to avoid arrest.
He is planning to establish the group's international headquarters in Williamstown in a move that could become a diplomatic headache for the federal government. Mr Brown said on Monday that a key part of his role as a Sea Shepherd Australia director was to ensure that Mr Watson could come ashore safely, and he warned that an arrest would cause uproar.
Mr Watson, who is currently on board the vessel Steve Irwin in the Southern Ocean, told Fairfax that he had been given a business entry visa to Australia by the Australian embassy in Washington.
''But I don't have a passport,'' he said. ''Both my Canadian and US passports are in Germany.''
Dr Brown said of his decision to join the group's board: ''Sea Shepherd is action, and people want action. It's committed to non-violence … and yet it's been involved in the most extraordinary courageous defence of these whales.''
He said he was keen to join a voyage south with the group, but for now he would be involved in strategy and decision-making as he helped to co-ordinate the Australian effort.
Dr Brown said it was important that Mr Watson was free to come to Australia, and there was no obligation on the Australian government to act on an Interpol red notice if he did.
''The red alert is simply that. It's an alert,'' Dr Brown said. ''I would think that if Paul Watson were to be arrested at some future time, there'd be uproar in Australia.
''What Australia should be doing is arresting the captains of the Japanese whaling fleet who are illegally down there harpooning whales in an international whale sanctuary.''
According to Interpol, a red notice is a request for a country to locate an individual with a view to their provisional arrest and extradition, in accordance with that country's national laws.
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said at the weekend that if Mr Watson came to Australia there would be no intervention from the government.
''You'd have a situation where various agencies would do their job,'' he said.
Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research has obtained an interim injunction from a US Appeals Court restraining Sea Shepherd vessels from attacking the whaling fleet this season. It has called on Australia, as a Sea Shepherd flag state, to act against the group.
The Japanese consul-general in Melbourne, Hidenobu Sobashima, said his government was concerned about Sea Shepherd jeopardising the safety of crews and ships engaged in research whaling.
''Generally speaking, we believe those people responsible for those actions should be dealt with properly,'' Mr Sobashima said.
The whaling fleet left Japan only last Friday, losing weeks of its Antarctic season because of a partial refit of the factory ship, Nisshin Maru.
It is expected to reach the Antarctic in about the last week of January.
An official research plan is yet to be released, but it is believed to be a four-ship fleet - meaning that Sea Shepherd will match its numbers.
With the Steve Irwin at sea, the vessels Bob Barker and Brigitte Bardot are expected to leave Wellington, New Zealand, soon. The group's fourth ship, Sam Simon, is due to depart Hobart within a week.
With DAN HARRISON


text:
Out of Town
Preservation Hall Jazz Band still lifting the sounds of New Orleans despite personal losses
When Hurricane Katrina shrieked into New Orleans five years ago, the city's world-renowned Preservation Hall Jazz Band (PHJB) was out of town performing on tour. Troopers to the last man, they pulled off the near impossible by playing effervescent Big Easy jazz even as Mother Nature was aiming a wrecking ball at their beloved hometown.
Katrina's wallop was every bit as brutal as predicted, causing the dozen or so band members to lose either loved ones or friends. It appeared that the mammoth storm had even brought about the PHJB's demise: The magnitude of the devastation in New Orleans prevented most of the musicians from returning for months, and also hampered their communicating with one another.
"The band was spread out [around the country], and every member of the group lost their home in the storm," recalls bassist and creative director Ben Jaffe.
But what are the odds of keeping down an iconic New Orleans musical group with the word "preservation" in its title? The band could no more vanish from the Big Easy's cultural landscape than jambalaya and shrimp étouffée could disappear from city menus.
Regrouping for the mission
The PHJB players slowly reestablished contact with one another in the months following Katrina, and it became apparent that reuniting and eventually performing again wasn't an option, it was an imperative.
"We all reconvened in New York City, where we had our first performance," remembers Jaffe, 39, one of the younger members of the group, who range in age from 37 to 78. "It was our first time seeing each other, and a lot of guys literally showed up with the clothes on their backs."
Gigging in Manhattan is always a good thing, but it wasn't long before the band members felt themselves being inexorably drawn back to New Orleans, the wellspring of their creative and artistic energy.
"The band has always been committed to its original mission, which was to present, protect and perpetuate New Orleans musical and cultural traditions," says Jaffe. "It was important after the hurricane to regroup as a city and an organization and to take inventory."
Musical gems saved
The eponymous Preservation Hall, located in New Orleans' French Quarter, was turned into a music venue by Jaffe's parents, Allan and Sandra Jaffe, in 1961. Fortunately for the PHJB's musicians, the building is located on high ground within the Quarter, minimizing damage to the two-story, 260-year-old structure, which served as a tavern during the War of 1812.
Another stroke of good fortune involved priceless audio tapes of PHJB performances that had been stored in a New Orleans recording studio. Jaffe says flood waters inside the facility lapped a mere three inches below where the tapes had been stored on a top shelf. Scores of other invaluable New Orleans jazz recordings inside the building were lost.
During all of 2006, PHJB members toured to raise funds to refurbish Preservation Hall. "Our band leader and trumpet player at the time would end every set with 'Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?' " remembers PHJB publicist Ron Rona. "You never heard it played with more conviction."
Still going strong
Today, band members have pretty much settled back into their pre-Katrina routines, although piano player Rickie Monie, 58, relocated to Mississippi and drives an hour to New Orleans for PHJB gigs and practice sessions.
The band performs a grueling 150 road shows annually, along with 300 performances at Preservation Hall, an intimate place that seats only 100 people.
Interestingly, group members 50 and older are reluctant to talk about Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall in Louisiana on Aug. 29, 2005, wielding 125 mph winds. "It would be difficult for someone to recount any tragedy in their life," Jaffe says. "I did lose family and I did lose friends in the hurricane. We continue to be a people suffering."
Rona has a somewhat different take on the band members' reticence to discuss the storm. "It's … something we're kind of past, and it's all about 'What the heck are we going to do now?' " he says.
Supporting Gulf relief
One thing the band will always do is protect its home turf. After disgustedly watching the three companies involved in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill point fingers at each other during Senate hearings, Jaffe had a brainstorm.
At his urging, the group joined forces with musicians Lenny Kravitz and Mos Def and actor Tim Robbins to make a video of a song titled "It Ain't My Fault." Shot at Preservation Hall, it raised funds for the nonprofit Gulf Relief Foundation.
As tragic and devastating as Katrina was, the PHJB players were in some ways enriched by the disaster, Jaffe says. "Artists are social commentators, and when you go through something as dramatic as this hurricane, you have a lot of information to reflect upon and write about," he says.
Hurricane Katrina, Jaffe observes, "gave me a reason to embrace even more the culture that I grew up with."
Blair S. Walker is a writer in Miami.
Join the Discussion0 | Add Yours
Please leave your comment below.
You must be logged in to leave a comment.


text:
Outils d'accessibilité
Sélecteur de langues
Chemin de navigation
Left navigation
Additional tools
Brussels, 8 May 2012
The Erasmus programme in 2010-11: the figures explained
The European Commission has today published new figures on the number of students, teachers and other staff in higher education who benefitted from the Erasmus programme in the 2010-11 academic year (IP/12/454). 231 410 European students and 42 813 staff in higher education received Erasmus funding to go abroad for studies, job placements, teaching or training.
Erasmus enables students in higher education to spend between 3 and 12 months in another European country – either for studies or for a placement in a company or other organisation. Any student enrolled in a participating higher education institution in one of the 33 Erasmus countries can benefit (EU Member States, Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Turkey, and, from 2011-12, Switzerland). Students in short-cycle higher vocational education can also take advantage of support from the programme.
New record: more than 230 000 Erasmus students
Since the inception of the programme, the number of students benefitting from an Erasmus grant has continued to grow. It exceeded 200 000 for the first time in 2009-2010 and the 231 410 students who went abroad to study or train in 2010-11 represent a new record and annual increase of 8.5% compared with the previous year (the equivalent year-on-year increase in 2009-10 was 7.4%).
Chart 1: Number of Erasmus students per year 1987-88- 2010-11
Chart 2: Erasmus student mobility – relative change in the number of students per sending country between 2009-10 and 2010-11
As shown in Chart 2, the number of Erasmus students increased in almost all countries. The highest increase in out-bound students was noted in Croatia (132%), followed by Liechtenstein (52%) and Cyprus (22%). 19 countries experienced growth above the average of 8.5%.
One country, Luxembourg, saw a decrease in Erasmus students (-5.8%). However, it remains the country sending the highest number of students abroad as proportion of the national student population.
Erasmus champions
Spain sent out most students for both studies and placements (36 183), followed by France (31 747) and Germany (30 274).
Spain was also the most popular destination country with 37 432 incoming students, followed by France (27 721) and then Germany (24 734). The United Kingdom hosted twice as many students (24 474) as it sent abroad (12 833). A majority of countries sent out more students than they hosted. The best balance between incoming and out-bound students was recorded in Slovenia, followed by Austria, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
3 041 higher education institutions sent students on mobility exchanges, an increase of 6.6% on the previous year.
Chart 3: Erasmus student mobility - average monthly EU grant levels
The average monthly EU grant decreased from €254 in 2009-10 to €250 in 2010-11. This enabled more students to benefit compared to the previous year. The above chart shows the monthly average grant for out-bound students from these countries. The Commission sets a ceiling for the monthly student grant in each country; the precise level in each case is set by the national agencies and higher education institutions which manage the programme.
In 2010-11, 254 students with special needs (disabilities) received additional funding to take part in Erasmus exchanges, compared with 257 students in 2009-10.
7.2% increase for Erasmus studies
Erasmus offers students the possibility of spending part of their degree studying at another higher education institution for 3 to 12 months abroad.
Out of 231 410 Erasmus students, 190 498 went abroad for studies, an increase of 7.2% on 2009-10. The numbers going abroad for studies decreased in 3 countries (Luxembourg, Hungary and Poland) while 16 witnessed an above average increase. In relative terms the highest increase on 2009-10 figures was in Croatia (96.6%), followed by Liechtenstein (84.2%) and Cyprus (25.1%).
Spain sent out most students for studies (31 427), followed by France (25 789) and Germany (25 178). Spain remained the most popular destination for studies abroad, hosting 30 580 Erasmus students (+ 4.3%), followed by France (23 173, +5.2%), and Germany (19 120, +6.6%).
On average, students went abroad to study for just over 6.4 months and the average grant was €226 (against €230 in the previous year).
Social sciences, business studies and law were the most popular subject areas for Erasmus students (34.7%), followed by humanities and arts (31.5%) and engineering, manufacturing and construction (12.6%).
15% increase in Erasmus job placements
Since 2007, Erasmus has offered students the opportunity to go abroad to gain work experience in companies or other organisations. In 2010-11 one-in-six Erasmus students – 40 912 out of 231 410 – chose this option, an increase of 15.1% on the previous year. The average duration of a placement was 4.3 months and students received on average a monthly EU grant of €366 (down from €386 in 2009-10).
As in recent years, France was the country sending the most students on Erasmus placements (5 958, with a 14.6% share), followed by Germany (5 096, 12.5% share) and Spain (4 756, 11.6%). The United Kingdom was the most popular destination for Erasmus placements, hosting 6 970 students (17% share), followed by Spain (6 852, 16.7% share) and Germany (5 614, that is 13.7%).
To support work placements abroad, a higher education institution can create a consortium for placements. These consortia comprise higher education institutions (HEIs) and other organisations, such as companies or associations. In 2010-11, some 74 placement consortia were funded in 13 countries. Placement consortia found opportunities for more than 14% of placement students.
The largest group of students on Erasmus placements came from a social sciences, business and law background (26.6%), overtaking humanities and arts (17.1%) which had the biggest share the previous academic year, and followed by agriculture and veterinary students (15.4%), whose number was eight times that of the previous year.
How many higher education (bachelor and master) students are there in the Erasmus participating countries? How many of them spent part or all of their studies abroad in 2010-11?
Out of a total student population of more than 22.5 million in the 32 participating countries, around 1% of them received Erasmus student mobility grants in 2010/11.1
Assuming that the average study duration in higher education institutions is 4-5 years (bachelor and master), it can be estimated that around 4.5% of all European students receive Erasmus grants at some stage during their higher education studies. Of those, 67% are at bachelor level, 28% at master level, 1% doctoral level, and 4% in short-cycle studies. Around 10% of students in total have spent or are spending part or all of their studies abroad with the support of Erasmus or other public and private means.
At their meeting in Bucharest (Romania) on 26-27 April 2012 (IP/12/394), higher education Ministers adopted the Bologna Mobility Strategy which states that, by 2020, 20% of European higher education graduates will have spent part of their studies abroad, in line with the European benchmark for higher education mobility adopted in November 2011.
Erasmus intensive language courses (EILC)
Erasmus offers specialised courses in the EU's less widely used and less frequently taught languages to help students prepare for their studies or work placements abroad. Courses are organised in the countries where these languages are officially used. They are not offered for the most widely taught languages such as English, German, French and Spanish (Castilian).
The number of EILCs supported has grown significantly since their launch. Some 392 courses (up from 361 in the previous year: +8.6%) were organised in 2010-11 in 24 countries for a total of 5 872 Erasmus students (+9%).
The most popular destinations to study languages were Italy, Belgium (the Flemish Community) and Portugal. The highest share of incoming students participating in a language course was in Slovenia where 18.9% of all incoming Erasmus students took part, followed by Iceland (13.9%) and Estonia (12.7%).
Erasmus staff mobility (teaching assignments and staff training)
Erasmus also enables higher education teaching staff and those employed in private businesses to go abroad to teach, from one day up to six weeks. Likewise, any academic and non-academic higher education member of staff may receive training abroad for a period of five days to six weeks.
In the 2010-11 academic year, Erasmus supported 42 813 exchanges of teaching and non-teaching staff from higher education institutions, to teach or receive training abroad. This represents an annual increase of 13.3%, a considerably greater increase than in the previous year (3.8%).
The top sending countries were Poland (5 210), followed by Spain (4 506) and Germany (3 674). The top destination for staff mobility was Spain (4 304), followed by Germany (4 195) and Italy (3 703). Outbound and inbound staff exchanges are generally more balanced than student exchanges.
51.2% of the staff participating in Erasmus in 2010-11 were male. 13 staff with special needs received additional funding to participate in Erasmus exchanges (against 5 the previous year). The average duration of such mobility periods was 5.7 days and the average grant – on top of their regular salary – was €662 (down from €672 in 2009-10).
A total of 2 254 higher education institutions participated in staff mobility activities, an increase of 4.6% on the previous year.
Teaching assignments show significant growth
The number of teachers benefiting from funding for teaching assignments through Erasmus has steadily increased and since its introduction in 1997-98, over 300 000 staff exchanges have been funded. Out of the 42 813 staff exchanges supported in 2010-11, 31 617 were teaching assignments (+8.9% on the previous year).
Some 355 staff teaching assignments were undertaken by staff from companies who were invited to teach at higher education institutions in other European countries (+37% on the previous year).
The top sending country was Poland with 3 376 teaching assignments supported, followed by Spain (3 272) and Germany (3 006). As in previous years, the most popular destinations for teaching assignments were Germany (3 059), Spain (3 017) and Italy (2 859).
The most mobile teachers were from the following subject areas: humanities and arts (30.5%); social sciences, business and law (22.6%); engineering, manufacturing and construction (13.7%). Teachers spent 5.6 days abroad on average for teaching: a small but constant decrease has been observed since 2000-01, when the average was 6.9 days. The average grant per staff teaching assignment – on top of their regular salary – was €645, representing a slight decrease on the previous year (€654).
Staff training still gaining popularity
Since its introduction in 2007, support for staff training has seen a steep increase in popularity. Out of the 42 813 staff exchanges supported in 2010-11, 11 196 were staff training periods (+28% on the previous year). These exchanges are for academic and non-academic staff alike, including those working in administration and support services.
2 728 higher education staff trained in companies abroad in 2010-11 (+48.6% on the previous year).
Poland sent out the highest number of staff for training (1 834) followed by Spain (1 234) and Finland (782). Spain was the most popular destination (1 287) followed by Germany (1 136) and the UK (1 121).
Staff training periods lasted 6.2 days on average. More female than male staff participated in staff training (68%), while they were only 42.1% women on teaching assignments.
Erasmus intensive programmes continue to grow in numbers
Erasmus offers teaching staff and students the possibility to come together for thematic study programmes, lasting from ten days to six weeks. The EU finances the organisation of these so-called intensive programmes, including travel and subsistence for participants.
The countries organising the highest number of these programmes were Italy with 51 courses (12.6% of the total number), followed by Germany (38) and France (32). The most popular subject areas were social sciences, business and law (26%); science, engineering, manufacturing and construction (18%). Courses in mathematics and computing, and humanities and arts held a 15% share each. The average duration was just over 12 days.
404 Erasmus intensive programmes were organised in 2010-11 (up from 384 in the previous year). 13 963 students (both international and national students: +10.7%) and 5 010 teachers participated (+14.4%).
Erasmus university cooperation projects
The Erasmus programme also promotes the modernisation of European higher education through funding for joint projects. These projects, which run for up to 3 years, aim to encourage policy reforms through transnational cooperation among higher education institutions and other stakeholders. Applications are submitted once every calendar year and around €20 million is allocated annually to these projects.
Many of the projects funded under this part of the Erasmus programme have led to key policy developments. For example, the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), was originally an Erasmus project before becoming a major tool to foster mobility that is now used throughout Europe. (ECTS allocates credit points to each part of a study programme, based on the student workload, to achieve specified learning outcomes. This makes it more straightforward for students to accumulate credits earned under different programmes, and simplifies the recognition of study abroad).
The number of applications for university cooperation projects has grown year-on-year. Some 197 applications were submitted in 2011 (up from 194 in 2010). Of these, 69 were selected for funding, which represents, a 35% success rate on average. The UK submitted the highest number of proposals (29), followed by Finland and Belgium (both21), Italy (18) and Spain (16). The UK was also the most successful in terms of applications approved with 17 projects accepted.How much does the EU spend on the Erasmus programme?
In the current budgetary period (2007-13) the EU has allocated €3.1 billion on the Erasmus programme. In 2010-11 the total budget was around €460 million, of which €435 million was dedicated to support for mobility.
Most of the Erasmus budget is managed by national agencies in the participating countries. Nearly 90% of the Erasmus budget is invested in student and staff mobility. Erasmus also supports multilateral projects and networks which account for around 4% of the budget. These are managed centrally by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) in Brussels.
The table below shows the total Erasmus funds spent on mobility by year.
Table 1: Erasmus decentralised funds allocated to National Agencies
(*) estimation
How are Erasmus funds allocated at national level?
The overall Erasmus budget for student and staff mobility is allocated to different countries on the basis of the following factors:
How is the monthly EU grant determined?
Erasmus grants are designed to cover part of the additional costs of living abroad and travel. Erasmus students do not pay tuition fees at their host institution abroad.
In each country, national agencies allocate the funds at their disposal to higher education institutions. A national agency can decide to give higher grants to fewer students (as is the case, for example, in Bulgaria, Cyprus and Turkey) or to give lower grants to more students (as for example in France and Italy), but has to respect a ceiling for grants set by the European Commission for every country of destination (see Lifelong Learning Programme Guide).
The national agency allocates funds to applying institutions based on factors such as amounts requested or past performance. The institution can then decide on the exact monthly grant it pays to students (and the weekly or daily rate to staff) within a range set by the national agency, which differs from country to country.
The monthly grant depends on the destination country and the type of mobility. For instance, there has been a tendency to give higher grants for job placements than for studies abroad.
Various sources of other co-financing from national, regional and local sources can complement the Erasmus grant given by the European Union.
The national agencies can increase the monthly grant for socio-economically disadvantaged students.
In 2010-11, the average monthly EU grant for student mobility ranged from
How can students and staff apply for Erasmus grants?
The Erasmus programme is open to all students studying at higher education institutions holding an Erasmus University Charter in 33 participating countries (27 EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey, Croatia and, as from 2011-12, Switzerland). Most of Europe's higher education institutions – more than 4 000 – have signed up to the Erasmus University Charter.
The first step in applying for an Erasmus study period or job placement grant is to contact the international relations office at the home institution and to fill in a learning agreement for Erasmus studies or a training agreement for Erasmus placements before the mobility period. This agreements, which set out the programme to be followed by the student during her/his study period or placement, need to be approved and signed by the home institution, the host institution or company abroad, as well as the student. This both simplifies and ensures full academic recognition from the home institution for work satisfactorily completed during the Erasmus period.
Erasmus studies: Those who want to carry out part of their studies abroad must be in at least their second year at a higher education institution.
Erasmus job placements: students can take up an Erasmus placement from the first year of higher education studies.
Periods abroad – both for studies and for placements – can last from 3 to 12 months each, or a combined total of 24 months. For students in short-cycle higher vocational education the minimum duration for placements is two months.
Erasmus for staff: Teaching staff are required to submit a teaching programme to their home institution or enterprise agreed by the host institution. Staff wishing to apply for an Erasmus training grant must similarly have their training programme agreed by their home institution and the host institution or enterprise.
How does a university qualify to participate in the Erasmus programme?
A university or other higher education institution must sign up to a number of principles and other obligations set out in the Erasmus University Charter before they can participate in Erasmus mobility or co-operation projects. Emphasis is placed on ensuring high quality. The host institution must not charge tuition fees for incoming Erasmus students, and full recognition of satisfactorily completed courses or placements should automatically be awarded to students upon return to their home institution.
What is Erasmus Mundus?
The Erasmus Mundus programme is an international sister programme, although independent, from the traditional Erasmus programme. Since its launch in 2004, more than 25 000 students from other parts of the world have received Erasmus Mundus grants to study at higher education institutions in Europe. With a budget of over €220 million annually (2011), the aim of Erasmus Mundus is to support academic excellence, foster co-operation with countries outside the EU and enhance the attractiveness of Europe's higher education. Erasmus Mundus offers financial support for institutions and scholarships for individuals taking part in:
The international dimension of Europe's education programmes will be integrated into the future 'Erasmus for All' programme (IP/11/1398).
Why is the programme called Erasmus?
The Erasmus programme is named after the philosopher, theologian and humanist Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536). Erasmus, who lived through the Reformation period, is widely known as an opponent of dogmatism.
Erasmus lived and worked in several parts of Europe, in quest of the knowledge, experience and insights which contacts with other countries could bring.
The acronym ERASMUS may also be read as EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students.
For more information:
See also: Erasmus hits new record with 8.5% increase in student exchanges (IP/12/454)
More about the Erasmus programme
Erasmus facts and figures [brochure]
Erasmus statistics
In 2010, the total population in the EU-27 was around 18.5 million students.
Side Bar


text:
The rail upgrades will increase the number of railcars that can be unloaded simultaneously, from 16 to 24. This will allow West Coast Reduction Ltd. to increase its canola handling capacity by an estimated 50 percent. The project also involves upgrading the piping infrastructure to handle additional capacity.
The project will improve transportation of agricultural products, particularly canola oil, being exported from Western Canada to Asia-Pacific markets.
Phases 1 and 2 of the Rail Unloading Improvement Project involved upgrades to the rail lines and to the piping system between the rail lines and pump house. These are now complete. Phase 3, which involves upgrades to the piping system between the pump house and the marine vessel berths, will begin shortly. Construction is scheduled to be fully completed by March 2015.
The total cost of the Rail Unloading Improvement project is approximately CA$11 million (US$10.3 million), with the Government of Canada contributing up to CA$2.8 million (US$2.6 million) under the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Transportation Infrastructure Fund (APGCTIF), which is part of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative (APGCI) and focuses on infrastructure projects. The balance of the project funding will be provided by West Coast Reduction Ltd.
"In partnership with West Coast Reduction Ltd., our government's investments in the Rail Unloading Improvement project will not only improve the efficiency of the transportation network, but will facilitate the movement of agricultural products exported from western Canadian producers to Asia-Pacific markets more rapidly through the Asia-Pacific Gateway, while alleviating congestion at Port Metro Vancouver.


text:
- This event has passed.
Shadows of Brimstone Beginner (lvl 1-3) Group 1
February 11, 2017 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Event Navigation
This group is hosted by us and GM'd by the Gabriel McCall each week. It is created to allow new players (level 1-3) to get to know the game (Bases sets ONLY). If you are currently Shadows of Brimstone and are above level 3, please look for Shadows of Brimstone Advanced Group 1!
As there are currently several people looking to play, please limit your play to one group per week. We ask a group cover charge of $5 per person for the table fees during game play. As this game usually takes 3-5 hours, that is a pretty good investment!
PLEASE NOTE: If you schedule to attend and don't come, you are taking a spot from someone who would like to play. As this is a very limited group, anyone who fails to show up for their RSVP twice will no longer be allowed to RSVP.


text:
gyre wrote:I can't believe this law!
Having a still seems to be like having indoor gardening lights.
Legal until you use them a certain way.
I grow tomatoes with mine.
Did the hidden compartment thread get pulled?
I've been meaning to start one anyway.
Every car and home should have hidden compartments or rooms.
Cars especially need storage for cash, papers, cameras, laptops, weapons.
It has actually been more common than not through history, to use concealment for security.
Thinking back, I have never had anything concealed, stolen.
We have been living in a rare secure period, and it's long gone in most places.
They were also common during the depression, for items not replaceable.
We now have insurance that won't pay off and ram raid burglars that expect an alarm.
Concealment is the best defense, even if it can only be used for the most valuable items.
It is an interesting challenge too, to design successful locations.
I find that the most successful hiding place, is a place that isn't normally a place.
the stash thread? dunno...but actiongrl has been here frequently. Anything illegal, Ill keep off eplaya. Ill figure out this still shit.


text:
JERUSALEM — The Palestinian Authority has threatened to take Israel to the International Criminal Court in The Hague over plans to build Jewish housing on a controversial land corridor near Jerusalem.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Wednesday at a United Nations Security Council meeting on the Middle East that the Palestinians would turn to the international court if Israel follows through with plans to build 3,000 housing units in the area known as E1, located between Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Maale Adumim on land the Palestinians say is necessary to form a state.
"If Israel would like to go further by implementing the E-1 plan and the other related plans around Jerusalem then yes, we will be going to the ICC," Malki said. "We have no other choice. It depends on the Israeli decision."
Israel's announcement of plans to build on the E1land came on the heels of the Palestinian Authority achieving upgraded non-member state status at the United Nations General Assembly.
With the enhanced status, the PA became eligible to apply to join the court.
The International Criminal Court prosecutes major human rights violations, including charges of genocide, and war crimes. Building Jewish housing on land claimed by the Palestinians could be considered a war crime.