text:
So, now I am working on the fit of V8646, the dress Susan Khalje chose for her online couture class. Fitting the bodice requires number of fitting steps, and the sequence is the key. I usually check the fit from the top to the bottom. In the following fitting sequence I wanted to share some tips on armhole depth since I wanted to focus on sleeve fitting, and the correct armhole shape and size is very important.
Establish the shoulder point. To find the shoulder point lift your arm at right angle to the side of your body and look for a dent where the arm and the shoulder comes together. This is quite location placement of the shoulder point.
2. Back width and armhole - Armholes are often cut too low in commercial patterns, so this is a very frequent alteration that should be done after the shoulder and neckline adjustment. After finding the shoulder point and correcting the shoulder length, start re-drawing the armhole line. (you will very likely need someone to help you with that. I do often end up doing it on my own - takes longer, but possible)
Armhole line should start vertically from the end of the shoulder seam on both, the front and the back. Continue drawing making a curve towards the side seam. The armhole should be as small as possible, but should not hamper your arm movement.
So, how low should the armhole be? High-cut armhole is more comfortable, because, by following the shape of the body, it allows wider range of movements.
The height of the armhole is determined with the help of the ruler. I read about it in a fitting book by Jan Minott (out of print unfortunately, but you can find affordable old copies on Amazon and elsewehre). Raise your arm at the right angle to your body and hold a ruler under your armpit. The lowest point of the armhole in a sleeveless garment should be just below the point where the ruler touches the flesh, or where the imaginary sideseam starts to curve under the arm.
In a garment with sleeves, drop the armhole depth some 1/2" (1cm to 1,5) lower. One of the factors you want to consider when determining the depth of the armhole is fabric characteristics: thickness, flexibility, etc...
3. Darts - proceed checking the bust darts, waist darts, etc.
4. Bodice length - this is the last step in fitting the bodice.
I realize that there are maybe some deviations, but this rough sequence, recommended by many fit experts works for me. I hope it helps you too! By the way, a moulage - tightly fitted custom sloper - is an immense help, but making a moulage requires a lot of experience and help.
Finally, check this excellent article by Sarah Veblen: "To Get the Right Armhole, Fit the Bodice" on threadsmagazine.com
What about you, readers? Do you follow any particular fitting sequence? Share tips and links!


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He's Been Around a While…That Makes Me Smile
Rockies vs Padres Game 2
Older than me and making history.
My buddy "B" went with me to this game. We showed up early for batting practice and I was rewarded with my first ball of the year.
A toss-up from Dexter Fowler…Thanks Dex!
I immediately gave that ball away for good luck because if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck in my life right now. I had totally spaced out that Jamie Moyer was the starting pitcher today and when I found out that made the game a lot more interesting.
I couldn't help but smile for the first five innings. The more I learn about Jamie Moyer the more I really enjoy watching his style of pitch. Plus anytime you hear the words Rockies and winning pitcher, believe me that's a good thing around here :).
Here are the game pictures I took today.
Rosario gets a double.
Cuddy scores off the double.
I think once you're past 45 you should get an extra swing at least.
Smooth sailing to first.
Smooth sailing to second.
Strike three Dex.
Seriously…Are you kidding me? I think a tumbleweed race would be more exciting.
Racing Teeth is straight up embarrassing. I can say that because I've raced inside a Bud Light bottle before.
If you've never seen it…Here's the blog entry:
Running Full Throttle in a Bottle
Rex Brothers
Huston Street.
Here's three pictures of Helton's slide home.
A little closer.
Umpire says safe.
It's always cool when my pals come up to the Rockpile and hang for a while. The best view is up here 🙂
Rafael…The slowest of the Ninja Turtles.
Slow and steady wins the race this time, here's the last swing of the game.
Rockies kept it together this time and helped Jamie get his record-breaking win.
You Da Man Jamie!!
I wish you many more wins as a Rockie…Sir!
Click here to see Jamie talking about it all:
Best picture I took all night.
I'm "D" The Ranter and now I have a ticket that needs the "Oldest Winning Pitcher's" autograph on it…"D" 🙂

subset: commoncrawl


text:
It's not every day a person celebrates their 100th birthday, but for Rose Graziosa it was no big deal, just another day and another year.
She attributes her longevity to "never having married," but her friends in the Mah Jongg Club at Lake Kennedy Senior Center say it's because she always has taken good care of her health and always wants to look her best. She does most everything for herself, laundry, etc.
Despite needing an assist from a three-wheeled walker to get around, she has no major health problems. She did reside in an assisted living facility in Connecticut for 10 years before her niece, Laura, retired to Cape Coral four years ago where Rose now lives. Besides the social activities at the assisted living facility, she never needed the other services anyway.
Article Photos
Rose Graziosa reached 100 years of age on New Year's Day. She celebrated with her fellow Mah Jongg Club members Friday at the Lake Kennedy Senior Center.
Rose was born Jan. 1, 1914. She worked for Prudential Insurance for 35 years before retiring from her office manager position at 55. She also taught typing to high school students in night school. The last of five siblings, Rose was a primary caregiver for her mother, who lived to age 98.
She loved to travel and visited many countries. She recounts one trip she made to Europe on the Queen Elizabeth and returned home on the SS Andrea Doria.
"The Andrea Doria sank the very next year (1956), so I was glad it wasn't my trip," she said.
She has played Mah Jongg for many years, but now Rose plays the tile game with the 40 or so members of the weekly club at Kennedy Senior Center. She also enjoys passing the time playing bridge, Scrabble and word search puzzles.
Club members signed birthday cards and shared cake and coffee with Rose on Friday.
One club member said, "We had a party for her last year when she was 99. At that time I didn't think she would reach 100, but now I think she will get to 110."


text:
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text: Douglas Drane of the Douglas Drane Charitable Trust recently donated $25,000 to KLRU's Community Research Information and Service Project (CRISP). This project is central to KLRU achieving its mission to provide quality content that engages people- leading to a more vibrant community. Upon completion, CRISP will enable KLRU to enhance our ability to communicate with viewers and donors through enhanced web experiences. Mr. Drane's considerable contribution will significantly help foster innovation and reduce fundraising costs by increasing our capacity to engage in electronic communication with our members, allowing us to devote more resources to the programming and services so valued by the Central Texas community.


text:
Today i drove my truck for real for the first time, It's all dirty and crap now. But i was going through grass and over big piles or dirt and just haveing fun with it and my ESC fan did not come on at all. From the time i turned my ESC on to the point i turned it off and i ran it for about 25min. My ESC was warm, It did not fell burning hot but it was pretty warm and i just have no idea if the fan is saposed to be on all of the time. I just want to know so i know if my ESC has a fulty fan plug or if my fan is broken. I can wire a new fan to plug into the RX but i dont want to if i dont have to.
Thanks for any help and info.
fan will only come on when you plug the batt and shuts off...... will come on again only when the ESC gets hot i think 150 degrees(?)
Oh, Thats wierd. I would think 150 is too hot. I might maybe just put a JST plug on and extend the fan wire to plug into a open port on the RX. That way my ESC will be cool all the time and the fan will run a 5v. If thats the case though with the MM ESC i will for sure do that.
150F is fine, my laptop will do 180F on heavy load.
Thats crazy, I thought the ESC would burn up at 120*. I might still mod my fan just for the peace of mind, But i dont know yet.
I use the muchmore racing 30x30 rev type fan. They have a higher rpm than the castle ones, and i plug mine into a y- harness with the esc. I found that a bec set at 6.4 volts is perfect for the rpm of the fan. Muchmore racing's customer service is awesome also; they sent me 6 replacement fans, no questions asked.
I reject your reality and substitute my own!
Hot motor + cool esc = under geared.
Cool motor + hot esc = over geared
Everything warm just right..
Motor ~ 180/190*F (82/88*C) maximum, ideally 140/160*F (60/71*C), temps can be 10*F higher inside the motor
ESC ~ pretty much same temps / Fan comes on @ 150*F (65*C)
Lipo's ~ 140*F (60*C) max, ideally 100/120*F (38/49*C).........
Would you go flip my truck back over??
I run 21/54 with 2/2s
what is yor cell count??
Would you go flip my truck back over??
Same as yours, I use 2x 2s 7.4v 4400mah packs, For a total of 4s.
I am not useing the talons, But i am useing the Revo 3.3 5309 wheels and tires.
Also waht 21T gear do i need? I bought one before but it was WAY to big. So i need one to mesh with the stock 54T plastic spur gear.
You need a mod 0.8 gear for 5mm shaft or 32 pitch.
Rock n Rolla !
Will this fit? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Traxxas-3951...#ht_2658wt_910 It's so cheap i think it's not going to fit.
That's for a 3mm shaft mate...you need this one http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Robinson-...item20cd89cbe6
Rock n Rolla !
Thanks, I knew that other one was not the correct size, I was just not sure what one to get. I order that gear right now.
Tires 3.8 Badlands....
what is the C rating of the 4400 mAh??
might keep your gearing conservative if your batts are not up to the 120 amps min.....
2S 9000 x 28C = 252,000 divide 1000 = 252 amps
2S 8000 x 28C = 224,000 divide 1000 = 224 amps
3S 5200 x 40C = 208,000 divide 1000 = 208 amps
2S 4700 x 25C = 117,500 divide 1000 = 117.5 amps
^I run in my Summit.. ^ Requires proper gearing^
( mah x c rating / 1000 = amps)
more amps the better / minimun of 120 amps.
The ESC will only draw the amount of amps it needs.
Higher the mAh the longer the runtime.
For brushless systems 8000 mAh about 45 min & a 5000 mAh about 30 min.
Times are longer for brushed systems.
Batts in series double the voltage:
2x 2s 20c 5000mah = 4s 20c 5000mah
Batts in parallel double the mah capacity:
2x 2s 20c 5000mah = 2s 20c 10,000mah.
Would you go flip my truck back over??
40C with an 80c burst. Per pack.
You really have me After all that. I use 2x 2s 40c 7.4v 4400mah packs. What kind of run times should i see with the 21T/54T? I am going to just put the 21T pinion in with the 54T spur and keep it like that. I dont want to have to change gearing for bigger batts. And why are runtimes longer on brushed systems? I thought brushless had better runtime. Brushless probably has all around better performance.
Last edited by JohnnyT1992; 11-18-2012 at 10:46 PM.
Brushed does not take as much mAh to power....
Easy on the throttle maybe 30 min, hard on the throttle 20 min......
You don't have to change gearing with bigger batts (mAh). You might if you are changing the cell count.
Would you go flip my truck back over??
Geez, 20min. I thought i would get a good 35min or so. I need those 9000mah packs. lol And i only do plan to run 4s. I think 6s is just stupid crazy. Thats when things start breaking. I'm glad i found that out now so i dont go and overdishcharge my packs.
Last edited by JohnnyT1992; 11-18-2012 at 11:06 PM.
you did set the LVC?? I run mine at 3.5v per cell.......
Set yours at 3.4v per cell... difference of a few min...
I can run 30~40 min & still have 3.85 ish. Varied throttle control.....
Last edited by 87 GN; 11-18-2012 at 11:14 PM.
Would you go flip my truck back over??
yeah, its set to 3.4v. So the Once the packs get to 3.4v the ESC will turn off? I forgot about LVC, I never seen it kick in. And dose it hurt the pack letting it go into LVC all of the time?
well JMHO...cheaper off brand Batts yes, they warm up at the end of the run...
You will know the LVC has kicked in when you only have 1/4 power at full throttle.....
One reason I only run my batts to 3.85 ish, that is the storage volts for anything more than a few days without cycling the batt..
& after running for 30~40 min I am ready to call it a run. I live in the county & have my jumps, berms right out the back door....lol
Would you go flip my truck back over??
Thanks for the info, I dont let my ESC go into LVC i try to keep it around 3.80 or so. I need to storage charge my batts now. I dont know when i will run my truck again. How do i storage charge my packs? I never did that before.
Some charges have a storage charge mode, they will either charge up the batt or discharge the batt.
If your charger doesn't have this option, run the truck to bring the Volts down, then put it on the charger & watch as the volts are brought back up to the 3.85 ish....
Would you go flip my truck back over??


text:
Radiation Therapy for Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors in Children
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or small particles to kill cancer cells. This type of treatment is given by a doctor called a radiation oncologist. Radiation therapy may be used in different situations:
- After surgery to try to kill any remaining tumor cells
- As part of the main treatment if surgery is not a good option
- To help prevent or relieve symptoms from the tumor
Children younger than 3 years are usually not given radiation because of possible long-term side effects with brain development. Instead, they are treated mainly with surgery and chemotherapy. Radiation can also cause some problems in older children. Radiation oncologists try very hard to deliver enough radiation to the tumor while limiting the radiation to normal surrounding brain areas as much as possible.
Types of radiation therapy
Most often, the radiation is focused on the tumor from a source outside the body. This is called external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).
Before your child's treatments start, the radiation team will take careful measurements to determine the correct angles for aiming the radiation beams and the proper dose of radiation. Your child may be fitted with a plastic mold resembling a body cast to keep him or her in the same position so that the radiation can be aimed more accurately.
In most cases, the total dose of radiation is divided into daily fractions (usually given Monday through Friday) over several weeks. For each session, your child lies on a special table while a machine delivers the radiation from precise angles. Each treatment is much like getting an x-ray, but the dose of radiation is much higher. It is not painful. Some younger children might need to be sedated to make sure they don't move during the treatment. Each session lasts about 15 to 30 minutes, but most of the time is spent making sure the radiation is aimed correctly. The actual treatment time each day is much shorter.
Radiation therapy can damage normal brain tissue, so doctors try to deliver high doses of radiation to the tumor with the lowest possible dose to normal surrounding brain areas. Several techniques can help doctors focus the radiation more precisely:
Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT): 3D-CRT uses the results of imaging tests such as MRI and special computers to precisely map the location of the tumor. Several radiation beams are then shaped and aimed at the tumor from different directions. Each beam alone is fairly weak, which makes it less likely to damage normal tissues, but the beams converge at the tumor to give a higher dose of radiation there.
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): IMRT is an advanced form of 3D therapy. In addition to shaping the beams and aiming them at the tumor from several angles, the intensity (strength) of the beams can be adjusted to limit the dose reaching the most sensitive normal tissues. This may let the doctor deliver a higher dose to the tumor. Many major hospitals and cancer centers now use IMRT.
Conformal proton beam radiation therapy: Proton beam therapy is related to 3D-CRT. But instead of using x-rays, it focuses proton beams on the tumor. Unlike x-rays, which release energy both before and after they hit their target, protons cause little damage to tissues they pass through and then release their energy after traveling a certain distance. Doctors can use this property to deliver more radiation to the tumor and do less damage to nearby normal tissues.
This approach may be more helpful for brain tumors that have distinct edges (such as chordomas), but it is not clear if it will be useful for tumors whose edges are mixed with normal brain tissue (such as astrocytomas or glioblastomas). There are only a handful of proton beam centers in the United States at this time.
Stereotactic radiosurgery/stereotactic radiotherapy: This type of treatment delivers a large, precise radiation dose to the tumor area in a single session (radiosurgery) or in a few sessions (radiotherapy). (There is no actual surgery in this treatment.) It may be useful for some tumors in parts of the brain or spinal cord that can't be treated with surgery or when a child isn't healthy enough for surgery.
A head frame is usually attached to the skull to help aim the radiation beams. (Sometimes a face mask is used to hold the head in place instead.) Once the exact location of the tumor is known from CT or MRI scans, radiation is focused at the tumor from many different angles. This can be done in 2 ways:
- In one approach, radiation beams are focused at the tumor from hundreds of different angles for a short period of time. Each beam alone is weak, but they all converge at the tumor to give a higher dose of radiation. The Gamma Knife is an example of a machine that uses this approach.
- Another approach uses a movable linear accelerator (a machine that creates radiation) that is controlled by a computer. Instead of delivering many beams at once, this machine moves around the head to deliver radiation to the tumor from many different angles. Several machines with names such as X-Knife, CyberKnife, and Clinac deliver stereotactic radiosurgery in this way.
Stereotactic radiosurgery typically delivers the whole radiation dose in a single session, though it may be repeated if needed. Sometimes doctors give the radiation in several treatments to deliver the same or a slightly higher dose, which can now often be done without the need for a head frame. This is called fractionated radiosurgery or stereotactic radiotherapy.
Brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy): Unlike the external radiation approaches above, in brachytherapy a radiation source is put directly into or near the tumor. The radiation it gives off travels a very short distance, so it affects only the tumor. This technique is most often used along with external radiation. It provides a high dose of radiation at the tumor site, while the external radiation treats nearby areas with a lower dose.
Whole brain and spinal cord radiation therapy (craniospinal radiation): If tests, such as an MRI scan or lumbar puncture, show the tumor has spread along the covering of the spinal cord (meninges) or into the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid, then radiation may be given to the whole brain and spinal cord. Some tumors such as ependymomas and medulloblastomas are more likely to spread this way, and therefore may require craniospinal radiation.
Possible effects of radiation therapy
Radiation is more harmful to tumor cells than it is to normal cells. Still, radiation can also damage normal brain tissue, especially in children younger than 3 years.
During radiation therapy, some children may become irritable and tired. Nausea, vomiting, and headaches are also possible but are uncommon. Spinal radiation causes nausea and vomiting more often than brain radiation. Sometimes dexamethasone (Decadron), a cortisone-like drug, can help relieve these symptoms.
Some weeks after radiation therapy, children may become drowsy or have other nervous system symptoms. This is called the radiation somnolence syndrome or early-delayed radiation effect. It usually passes after a few weeks.
Children may lose some brain function if large areas of the brain get radiation. Problems can include memory loss, personality changes, and trouble learning at school. These may get better over time, but some effects may be long-lasting. Other symptoms could include seizures and slowed growth. There may also be other symptoms depending on the area of the brain treated and how much radiation was given.
The risk of these effects must be balanced against the risks of not using radiation and having less control of the tumor. If problems are seen after treatment, often it's hard to determine whether they were caused by damage from the tumor itself, from surgery or radiation therapy, or from some combination of these. Doctors are constantly testing lower doses or different ways of giving radiation to see if they can be as effective while causing fewer problems.
Normal brain cells grow quickly in the first few years of life, making them very sensitive to radiation. Because of this, radiation therapy is often not used or is postponed in children younger than 3 years old to avoid damage that might affect brain development. This needs to be balanced with the risk of tumor regrowth, as early radiation therapy may be lifesaving in some cases. It's important that you talk with your child's doctor about the risks and benefits of treatment.
Rarely, a large mass of dead (necrotic) tissue forms at the site of the tumor in the months or years after radiation treatment. This is called radiation necrosis. It can often be controlled with corticosteroid drugs, but surgery may be needed to remove the necrotic tissue in some instances.
Radiation can damage genes in normal cells. As a result, there is a small risk of developing a second cancer in the area that got the radiation – for example, a meningioma of the coverings of the brain, another brain tumor, or less likely a bone cancer in the skull. If this does occur, it is usually many years after the radiation is given. This small risk should not keep children who need radiation from getting treatment. It's important to continue close follow-up with your child's doctor so that if problems do come up they can be found and treated as early as possible.
For more on radiation therapy, see the Radiation Therapy section of our website.
Last Medical Review: August 12, 2014 Last Revised: January 21, 2016
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
Treating Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors in Children
- Surgery for Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors in Children
- Radiation Therapy for Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors in Children
- Chemotherapy for Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors in Children
- Targeted Therapy for Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors in Children
- Other Drug Treatments for Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors in Children
- Treating Specific Types of Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
- What Should You Ask Your Doctor About Your Child's Brain or Spinal Cord Tumor?


text: After taking up so many tours with different tour agencies, I think most of the day tours in Australia cost about AUD120 which exclude meals. Why do I said that this tour is value for money, because they provide breakfast and also a hearty lunch prepared on the spot in their head office. The places we went are really scenic... More


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A House-Senate committee on Monday approved a $1.7 billion borrowing bill, dramatically raising the bottom line on legislation sought by Gov. Deval Patrick and padding the legislation with spending authorizations for trees, cranberry bog acquisitions and money to purchase coastal property.
BOSTON -- A House-Senate committee on Monday approved a $1.7 billion borrowing bill, dramatically raising the bottom line on legislation sought by Gov. Deval Patrick and padding the legislation with spending authorizations for trees, cranberry bog acquisitions and money to purchase coastal property.
The Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, chaired by Sen. Marc Pacheco and Rep. Anne Gobi, added nearly $800 million to the $911 million plan submitted by Gov. Patrick.
"The authorization that came in we thought was far short of what we needed for the environmental needs of the Commonwealth," Pacheco told the News Service.
At Patrick's request, the House and Senate this session have been advancing through the branches a series of big-ticket long-term borrowing bills that administration officials say are needed to keep capital spending and public works projects on track. While credit rating agencies have raised the state's debt burden as a concern, administration officials say the proposed borrowing is within affordability limits.
The committee also favorably reported a bill (S 2028) filed by Pacheco that requires the administration to develop a climate change adaptation plan, listing the state's vulnerabilities and establishing a voluntary program where property owners could sell their repeatedly damaged coastal property to the state.
The bill would fund the proposed new coastal buyback program with about $50 million, said Pacheco, who said that program was added by the committee.
Bond bills do not allocate money the way a budget does, but instead authorize the administration to borrow, generally for long-lasting capital projects. The bond bill (H 3332) that cleared committee Monday will face further review by other committees and likely the full House and Senate.
Additionally the bill would devote $65 million to coastal infrastructure, $55 million for a climate center, and $30 million to help cities and towns create parks.
There are few specific projects earmarked in the bill. Among the earmarks are $800,000 for the Oyster Pond Environmental Trust purchase of 22 acres in Falmouth, $10 million for the Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton to create an Eastern Regional Center for Urban Sustainability, and $4.4 million for the Whitney Pond Dam, in Winchendon.
The bond bill would increase from $2 million to $5 million the total tax credits available annually for environmental conservation land donations, and increase the maximum amount of tax credits that can be claimed for each donation from $50,000 to $75,000.
The bill would fund various governmental and non-profit tree planting efforts with $50 million, which Pacheco said has the twin benefits of soaking up atmospheric carbon and providing shade on hot days.
The acquisition and restoration of cranberry bogs – which can damage water quality with their runoff – would receive funding under the bill. There is additional money for land acquisition and recreation paths.
The bill would include $19 million for a Department of Environmental Protection solid waste master plan, a 10-year roadmap the DEP developed in 2010. On Oct. 1, the DEP plans to implement mandatory composting for large-scale facilities, as part of an attempt to reduce food waste.


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Fake fingers fool Brazilian biometrics
Whole new frontier for giving someone the finger
Doctors at Ferraz de Vasconcelos hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, have reportedly fabricated fake fingers to fool biometric scanners.
The scam came to light on Globo Television, whose text and video report shows one of the fake digits and a disguised interviewee.
Sadly, your correspondent's Portuguese language skills only extend to ordering cool beverages and giant Francesinha sandwiches. We've therefore turned to Agence France Press' account of the incident, that says hospital staff use the fake fingers to clock on up to 300 phantom staff.
Real-world staffers create fingers with their own prints, somehow also create a phantom worker and someone then clocks on for both. The fingers, pictured below, don't look particularly hard to make given silicone is nicely malleable when liquid. The mark on the cloudy cylindrical case at the finger's base might even be an identifier of some sort, used to make the scam work among multiple scammers.
Give your boss this finger and he or she might just give you an extra pay packet
AFP and other sources haven't explored just what fingerprint readers are in use at Ferraz de Vasconcelos, but it's hard to imagine they won't be upgraded shortly or that the facility's DBAs are about to have a busy day trying to sort real from pretend workers. ®
Sponsored: Minds Mastering Machines - Call for papers now open


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Seoul Korea
Edirol R09
A quick three day trip to Korea before Xmas was mainly to have a look around, but as always I have a recorder on me. The R09 goes with me everywhere. There is a great hill in the middle of Seoul that of course I decided to climb. The top has the remains of an old fortress. I think the Koreans had signal posts on the top of peaks all over the country to use in case of emergencies or invasion.
There were a group of locals in period costumes to represent the guardmen of the time and they did a presentation with some traditional music. I understand no Korean at all, but it was very interesting to watch and listen to. It was also facinating to compare the traditional music of Korea with that of its nearby neighbores China and Japan. It was quite different in style.


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The Institute communicates its scientific and educational information in a number of ways. One major outlet is peer-reviewed publications and reports. Cary Institute staff regularly publish in the best-rated journals in their respective fields.
Export 1 results:Sort by: Author [ Title] Type Year
Filters: Author is Zimmerman, J.K. and First Letter Of Title is A [Clear All Filters]
Abiotic and biotic drivers of seedling survival in a hurricane-impacted tropical forest", J. Ecol., vol. 97, p. 1346-1359, 2009., "


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We have assembled the most frequently asked questions about Bike MS Willamette Valley. If your question is not listed, contact us.
Logistics | Accomodations | Route Details | Fundraising and Financial Questions | Gear and Packing Suggestions | About My Account
|Logistics (Time and Location)
Q: Where are the start, overnight and finish locations?
A: Western Oregon University is where all of the festivities, accommodations and the start/finish are.
Q: When and where will registration/packet pickup be held?
A: We will have a packet pick up party at Western Bikeworks (NW 17th and Lovejoy in Portland) and in our office on Thursday, July 24th all day and Friday, July 25th from 5-7pm at Western Bikeworks.
Q: Is there a deadline for online registrations? If so, what will be the cut-off time for day of event registration?
A: The deadline for online registrations is midnight on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at midnight. If you wish to register and have missed the deadline, you can register on site. There will still be space available in the ride. However, if you are interested in dormatory housing, please register prior to the deadline.
Q: Where will parking be located and is there a cost?
A: General Rider Parking for those camping and staying in the dorms are in Lots F (east of the camping area) and Lot R (south of the camping area). Top Fundraiser and RV Parking is in Lot G. Additional parking is available in Lot J.
Q: Can I ride in Bike MS: Willamette Valley if I am under 18?
A: Yes, the minimum age requirement is 12 years old. Participants between 12 and 18 must provide a notarized waiver.
Q: What is the minimum donation required?
A: All riders (team captains, team members and individual riders) are required to raise a minimum of $250 in donations in addition to the registration fee. You have until September 19, 2014 to submit your donations and have them count towards your total for prize incentives and club membership. The final ranking deadline is Friday, September 30, 2014.
Q: How long does it take a rider to finish in a day?
A: The average is 8 to 16 miles per hour. Remember though, that the Bike MS is not a race and everyone should ride at their own pace.
Q: What if my family or friends want to join me at the overnight for meals?
A: Yes, friends and family are more than welcome to join you for the festivities. Wristbands can be purchased at the information tent for $10 for the whole weekend.
Q: Are dogs allowed at Bike MS?
A: We wish we could accommodate your furry family member(s), but unfortunately dogs are allowed on the Western Oregon University campus unless they are a licensed service animal.
Q: What are our sleeping/lodging options for the overnight?
A: There are dormitories and camping options available at Western Oregon University. Camping and RV parking are free. To reserve dormitory housing, login to bikeMSoregon.com, go into your Participant Center, then scroll to "Dormitory Housing."
Q: What facilities will be made available to us at the overnight location?
A: There will be access to showers in the New Physical Education building, port-a-potties in the camping area and actual bathrooms at the stadium available for campers. For those staying in the dormitories, there are accommodations in your building.
Q: Will there be vegetarian options at the rest stops, lunch stops and dinners?
A: There will be plenty of options for all palates. However, if you have very specific dietary requirements, we suggest that you bring supplemental food items with you to ensure you are properly fueled for the entire weekend.
|Route Details
Q: Will there be shorter route options for participants?
A: Saturday: 33, 64, 83, 100 // Sunday: 35, 50
Q: Will there be SAG support?
A: Yes. SAG vehicles will circle the route to assist with technical difficulties (i.e. flat tires), transport you to a mechanic station if the issue is more technical, or to ensure your safe arrival to the finish line each day. There will also be Route Marshals (identified wearing blue Route Marshal jerseys) riding along the route to support riders as well.
Q: How far apart are the rest stops?
A: We plan to provide rest stops every 8-12 miles along the route. The distance from one stop to the next will be clearly noted so that you can properly prepare for the road ahead.
|Fundraising and Financial Questions
Q: What is the deductibility of my donors' contribution?
A: The National MS Society, Oregon Chapter is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All donations made to National MS Society are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law. All online donations will be immediately emailed their tax deductible letter. End of year tax receipts are sent to every individual donor of more than $250. For donations under $250, the donor's canceled check or credit card statement is sufficient evidence for IRS purposes, but we will send a tax receipt to any donor who requests one. Registration, transportation and other fees are not generally accepted as tax deductible.
Q: What is the Oregon Chapter's Tax ID?
Q: Is it safe to mail cash?
A: It is not safe to mail in cash. If you wish to turn in cash, please bring it to our offices located at the address below:
Bike MS: Willamette Valley 2014
National MS Society
5331 SW Macadam Avenue, Suite 290
Portland, OR 97239
*Checks should be made out to the National MS Society. Please put your full name and team name (if applicable) in the memo line of the check.
Q: Do matching gifts count?
A: Yes! Employer matching gifts are a great way to double your fundraising. For detailed information about matching gifts, please refer to our Matching Gifts FAQ.
Q: How do I turn in donations made by cash or check?
A: Mail or drop off your donations* at the chapter office:
Bike MS: Willamette Valley 2014
National MS Society
5331 SW Macadam Avenue, Suite 290
Portland, OR 97239
*Checks should be made out to the National MS Society. Please put your full name and team name (if applicable) in the memo line of the check.
Q: What if my donors need a receipt?
A: All people who make an online donation via our website will receive an email confirmation that can be used for tax purposes. Those who send checks valued $250 or more will receive a thank you letter by mail that can be used for tax purposes. If you have a donor who needs a receipt, please let us know and we will be happy to provide one. Also, if you turn in donations within 2 weeks before or after the event, please let us know if one of those donors needs a receipt.
Q: Where does the money go?
A: Your money helps fund groundbreaking national and local research focused on stopping the progression of the disease, restoring function that's been lost and ending MS forever, and supports programs and services offered to the 7,900 people in Oregon and Southwest Washington living with MS.
|Gear and Packing Suggestions
Q: What do I need to bring with me to Bike MS: Willamette Valley?
A: Suggested Gear List:
- Riding Gear: Bike, helmet, extra tubes, tire pump/CO2 cartridges, shorts, jerseys, socks, etc. for both days
- Personal Fuel: gels, bars, energy drinks
- Lounging Gear: Comfy clothes and shoes, shower items (towel, soap, shampoo, etc.) - there will be access to showers available
- Camping Gear: (if you choose this option) - Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillow, shade, etc.
Q: Do I need to do anything special to prepare my bike for this ride?
A: We recommend a tune up just prior to the ride to make sure that everything is in good working order. While training for the ride, you will have put lots of miles on your bike, so it will deserve a little TLC to make sure it is ready for Bike MS: Willamette Valley. We encourage you to visit one of our valued Bike Shop partners.
|About My Account
Q: What is a Personal Page?
A: A personal page is an online promotional tool to use when asking your friends and family to join your team or sponsor you by making a donation. Once you sign up online, by default, a personal page is created for you. You can customize this page, including images, text, and style/color layout, by going to your account.
Q: By default I have a personal page. Do I have to change it?
A: Once you sign up online, by default, a personal page is created for you. A compelling personal page attracts and engages supporters. Customize your page by selecting the layout and style that work best for you. Utilize the elements of text, photo and status indicators to their fullest advantage. While you can spread the word using customized e-mail solicitations, your personal campaign page can be your own creative expression of your commitment to the mission of the National MS Society.
Q: How do I change my personal fundraising goal?
A: First, you will need to login to your account. On the Home page in your account you will see your current goal. To change your goal, click the 'change' link under your goal.
Q: How do I change my team name, team division or team goal?
A: If you are the team captain, you may login to your account and click the "Team Page" tab on top. On the Team Page, team captains have the ability to update the team name, division and goal. To change team goal, click 'Progress' tab on top, then click 'Team' link on the right side. Then click 'change' link under your team goal. Note that only the team captain has the ability to make these changes.
Q: How can I see who has donated to the team?
A: Login to the site using your username and password. Go to your account and click the "Progress" tab, then click "Team" on the right side to view your team donor list and amounts donated to date.
Q: How can I see who is on my team?
A: Login to the site using your username and password. Go to your account and click the "Progress" tab, then click 'Team' on the right side to view your team roster and the amounts raised by each team member.
Q: What is a team message?
A: Go to your account and click the "Edit" link under the box that says 'Message from Your Team Captain'. This will allow you to make all necessary changes to your team message. Be sure to send an email to your team members to let them know that it has been updated.
Q: How can I see who has donated to me?
A: Login to the site using your username and password. Go to your account and click the "Progress" tab; this will allow you to view your donor list and any amounts having been donated.
Q: I forgot my Username and Password.
A: Your username and password are case sensitive. Click here to find your password. You will receive an e-mail with your username and password. If you still have problems, please contact our office for help.
Q: How do I change my Username and/or Password?
A: Login to the site using your username and password. Click on the "Profile" link at the top of the page. Here, you can change your contact information, e-mail address, username and password. All changes are effective immediately. There is no need to log out and sign in again.
Q: How do I unsubscribe from e-mail?
A: Near the bottom of each e-mail message is a link that reads, "Click Here to Unsubscribe from this E-mail Message". Click this link and follow the instructions to unsubscribe. PLEASE NOTE: If you unsubscribe to email messages, you will not receive critical messages regarding the event. Please consider this carefully prior to unsubscribing.


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News, commentary, and insights on adventures, and adventurers, from around the globe.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Steve Fossett's Plane Found
By now I'm sure you've heard the new that American adventurer Steve Fossett's plane has been found, as it's been all over the web. You may recall that Fossett went missing last year when he left on a solo flight and he was never seen again. Search parties looked for days for the missing millionaire, but no trace was ever found. Until now.
Earlier in the week hikers in the Sierra Nevada region of California discovered Fossett's pilots license and a few other personal artifacts in a remote backcountry region near Mammoth Lakes. That discovery spurred a renewed search yesterday, which ended with the discovery of the plane last night.
The reports say that most of the plane disintegrated on impact, leaving very little to find. The engine was discovered several hundred feet away from the fuselage, but at this time, there is no sign of human remains. The local sheriff who reported the discovery noted that it's likely that wild animals in the area probably cleaned up those remains, which seldom last for more than a few days.
I, on the other hand, prefer to think of it in another way. Steve was probably looking for a break from the busy life, so he deliberately crashed his plane, bailing out well before hand, and is now living the life of luxury on a beach in Mexico somewhere, free from the hassles of a busy day-to-day life of a millionaire-adventurer. I picture him sipping a cool drink, feet propped up, kicking it with Elvis and D.B. Cooper, recounting tales of the good old days, while Margaritaville plays over the ancient speakers of their tropical hideaway. Yep, that's how I want to think things went down. Hey Steve! Save me a seat pal!
6 comments:
- Azzfan said...
Sadly I just saw this article saying there were human remains found at the site of the plane crash- http://www.kcra.com/news/17606045/detail.html
- Adventure Junkie said...
Sad news. :( I guess it is what we expected, but sad to be confirmed none the less. I'll still think about him hanging out somewhere, telling stories about his adventures though.
I hope all is well with you Azzfan.
- Azzfan said...
Yes- that's a much better way to think about things. When I heard they found the wreckage I had hoped that'd be all they'd find.
All is going well- just trying to finish my last semester at school. Hope you're good too.
- somebody said...
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Wednesday, 2 March 2011
In the beginning...
snow squalls, chilly, temps minus 5
Well, now the sun is almost out. A few minutes ago we couldn't see the pine tree just out the back window, for all the snow.
Started Book 8 today. Was expecting and planning to start yesterday - first of March - but then I remembered Deanna was coming to clean and we generally try to be out of her way. Besides, hard to concentrate when all I hear is a vacuum. So we arranged to do errands etc.
But then turns out Deanna's week is next week! D'oh. I hesitate to suggest this was my subconscious looking for one more day of vacation - but if there's one thing on earth lazier than my conscious, it's my sub-conscious.
But here we are! Just finished writing for the day. Always momentous - that first day. I had set a goal of 500 words. Ended up writing just over 900. Feels good. First go a little rough...but I read and re-read and smoothed. And now I like it. Will re-read it tomorrow before starting on the original writing for that day. I find it's important not to get caught up in editing, at least for me. I can smooth and polish and edit for days and weeks and months, ending up with the finest 1000 words you've ever read...but no closer to actually writing the book. For me, editing can be an escape - I can hide in it. Kidding myself I'm being useful, when all I'm doing is running on the spot.
Some people can do it. I can't. For me I need to just keep pressing forward. I read over the work I did the previous day, do some editing and polishing - mostly to get myself back into that world. Then I need to write original text. One small foot in front of the other.
Each book, I realize, has different needs. The previous book - which is at the publishers and will come out in the US and Canada in the fall - is called A TRICK OF THE LIGHT. With that I felt I needed to just get that first damned draft done. No matter what a dog's breakfast it was. And, heaven knows, it was a bit of a mess - that first draft. But that's what editing and second and third and fourth drafts are for. I'll never get it right at first.
But other books - like BURY YOUR DEAD for instance, and this book, I think - I have a better idea initially where I'm going and why - and the themes. And so I plan to write a little slower but a little surer. I suspect the book, and the drafts, will be finished about the same time - they always are - and sent to my agent. But with the '1,000 words a day or more' books the second drafts contain more substantial changes. The '500 words a day' books take longer, but perhaps need fewer changes in the re-writes.
But, honestly - all my first drafts are messes. And while I give myself permission to write only 500 words a day, I really am more of a sprinter. I dash forward....and then go back and clean up the mess. It seems to be in my nature.
So - check back with me in 2 months and we'll see where I am. I'll probably have forgotten all about this newfound insight and will just be bumbling along, at speed.
I find a first draft generally takes 3 months, depending upon how many interruptions I have in that time. All of which I've agreed to. Every year I promise myself to turn down everything in those 3 months, and every year I seem to end up with even more commitments. This year, while april and the beginning of May are quite full - at least March is almost empty. yay.
Michael and I have decided to investigate geo-thermal. We had arranged for someone from NextEnergy to come on Monday - before I'd started writing - to look at the house and give us an idea of what it would cost, what would be the advantages environmentally and economically - and what would be the disruptions. But there was a huge storm - freezing rain, snow, winds yuck! So we re-scheduled for this afternoon at 2. We'll get a few quotes then decide.
At the top, by the way, is a photo of Trudy I took from where I was writing. For three months, as I write, when I look to the right I see the fireplace, lit. If I look to the left I see Trudy with some stuffed toy in her mouth - waiting for me to do something important. Like play.
A small world, but a good one.
Hope you're well. Thanks for coming along as we start Book 8.
19 comments:
- Myke Weber said...
I love this intimate peek into the creative process. Thank you for your wonderful insight and candor.
- 2 March 2011 at 12:41
- Liz said...
So exciting to have you share your creative process. And inspiring. Can't believe you might even suggest that you are lazy inside!
- 2 March 2011 at 12:58
Your environment looks so conducive to writing. Hugs to Trudy. Thanks for the insight.
- 2 March 2011 at 13:04
Always enjoy your blogs about the writing/aditing process; gives the readers a window into your world. Love the photo of Trudy; we have our own four-leggesy beastie, Annie, who is always ready next to you, with either 'Squeaky Moose' or her Frisbee in her mouth - ready to play (her energy always will outlast one's interest in throwing it...again (and again). Can't wait for the new book in the Fall.
- 2 March 2011 at 13:07
- Marni said...
Louise, thanks for this glimpse into your process, which I'm fighting right now. In the middle of my Book 2 and stalled by Life. I write as you do, re-read yesterday's to get me back into my book, the Lake District this time. And then Radar will come to my desk and hang his clownish head on my arm to stop my typing. Really, his looks says, how can you sit THERE when I am HERE waiting to play outside! Such a great Trudy picture. And good luck on staying THERE~
- 2 March 2011 at 13:14
About two months ago, I started reading the first of your books. Today I am finishing the fifth (No telling! No telling!)Thank you for making this oh so long winter entertaining.I'm having a lot of fun and enjoying all the characters...although,there are moments when I'd like to swat Beauvoir up the side of his head! I find learning about your creative process very educational! Are there any of your books that are your particular favourites? Or are all your children equally loved?
Thank you again.
- 2 March 2011 at 13:18
- Undercover Nun said...
I love how Anne Lamott describes starting out. Her expression is "sh*tty first drafts," because, let's face it, first drafts always are sh*tty. It's still hard for me to take her advice when writing, and give myself permission to write that sh*tty first draft. ("But it has to be PERFECT!") I also suspect I'm far from alone on that one. :-)
- 2 March 2011 at 13:40
You are so honest and generous in your blogs! Really refreshing!
- 2 March 2011 at 15:22
- VT Slajer said...
Great entry, Louise, thanks!
Someone told me a while ago: "The most diffucult is to get started." How true.
- 2 March 2011 at 15:45
- Sue Mom of Two said...
I love reading about the inner workings of writing a book. Makes me feel like I'm "in the know"....even though I really don't know anything. But fun, nevertheless.
Thanks for keeping us in the loop.
- 2 March 2011 at 16:35
- Lisa May said...
We readers are terribly greedy. It's always "what's next, when's the next one?" So it's exciting to know there's a "next one" started - but also kind of awesome (in the old sense) in being behind the scenes, as others have noted.
- 2 March 2011 at 18:15
- Diane said...
I am so looking forward to this journey into your writing process. Thank you for your generosity. And that pic of Trudy, she's absolutely irrestible!
- 3 March 2011 at 02:38
- Terry Elisabeth said...
It's so much fun to read about how you write. And it really made me smile to realize that next Fall I would get to read another book of yours and then another ! Wouhou!
I haven't read Bury Your Dead yet, I put a reservation on it at the library and it's taking forever. I love your books, I was really disappointed when I found out Three Pines wasn't real, I wanted to live there !
- 3 March 2011 at 04:38
- lil Gluckstern said...
I really like going on this writing odyssey with you, especially when the monastery sounded so lovely, and intriguing. Thank you for keeping us informed; now I can't wait for two books.
- 3 March 2011 at 10:52
- Margie said...
I see the piano in your picture.
Do you play? If so, what are your favorites.
- 3 March 2011 at 14:10
- Linda Gray said...
I love your process. My critique partners both believe in pushing all the way through the first draft before editing, but I need to review what I did the day before, too, and allow myself a few minutes of edits, to get in the groove. We're all still aspiring authors. Makes me feel good to know that a productive author whose books I love edits a bit as she goes. Now, if I could just finish a first draft in 3 months! Thanks for the great post.
- 3 March 2011 at 15:14
- Charles said...
I am so glad I found your blog. I enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy reading your novels. Also...Trudy is adorable!
- 3 March 2011 at 17:02
- javajunky said...
Desperately missing Armand and everyone else in Three Pines. Thank you for sharing your gift! Btw, I also have two Goldens: Jazz and Goldie, who are sitting expectantly at the door with tennis balls in their mouths as I type this. Have a glorious and productive March!
- 4 March 2011 at 04:50
- Louise Penny Author said...
Hi all - how wonderful to read all your supportive comments. A very scary time - terrifies me every year. When I start the new one. First drafts are always the hardest. Intellectually, but also emotionally. To just get started. Huge psychic leap from empty page to words.
Thanks for coming along and encouraging me! Such fun.
- 4 March 2011 at 13:56


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Showing your artistic side is challenging, and it takes more than just selecting home furnishings that stick to your creative taste. Great news is, you don't have to be an artist to make your home look artistic! Check out how you can improve your home's appeal and uniqueness through wall décor using wall decals.
What are Wall Decals?
Wall decals are stickers that can be applied to walls or other flat surfaces. Also called wall vinyls or wall tattoos, decals are traditionally made of self-adhesive vinyl films. Today, premium versions may come in a range of new materials including finely woven polyester fabric and durable resin.


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Patrice Evra has urged Manchester United to bounce back from their derby defeat to Manchester City by securing victory against Stoke City on Sunday.
Roberto Mancini's side cut the gap at the top of the Premier League to 12 points after strikes from James Milner and Sergio Aguero sealed a 2-1 win for City at Old Trafford on Monday evening.
"We're really disappointed because we missed the chance to end the title [race] and, of course, we've lost the derby. When you're a Man United player losing to City is painful," Evra told MUTV.
"We played much better in the second half and I really believed we could win the game, but the second goal killed our legs. It's a bad night for us.
"We are still 12 points clear though and now we have to win the next game. Since I've been here I've never lost two games in a row. That's why I hope we'll keep going against Stoke and win. We just have to win the next game.
"I heard a lot of people talking about us being 15 points clear and that we didn't deserve to be. But if that's where we are it's because we're working hard. We must make sure we win at Stoke and show we are the best team in England."
United are unbeaten against Stoke in the Premier League, but Evra is anticipating a tough match at the Britannia Stadium, despite Tony Pulis' men going without a Premier League win since February 9.
He added: "It's always a difficult place to go. We have to be ready for the fight. We've always left there with three points in recent years but nothing is going to be easy until the end of the season.
"We have to make sure we win the next game. That is the most important thing. We are still in a great position but we have to take things game by game and not put pressure on ourselves."


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20 Games Like The Mexican Dream()
Tavern Tycoon
Run your fantasy RPG tavern - let travellers take shelter for the night and serve 'em the best mead of their life with a good dose of humor.
60 / 10003.0
Starship Theory
Starship Theory is a ship building survival game. Mine and trade to gather resources. Plan and construct new upgrades. Train and manage crew. Fight to survive.
50 / 10012.5
Computer Tycoon
Computer Tycoon is an indie business strategy game about Computer Evolution. Start your company in the 70s. Invent until 2034, create the best hardware and operating system, upgrade your infrastructure and handle your marketing! Promote games, rule the global market and become an immortal!
60 / 10003.0
Bronze Age
Two small classics from Clarus Victoria published in 2013, Stone Age and Bronze Age, are now available on Steam! Manage an ancient tribe in the African Savannah, build the first city in the Fertile Crescent, guide your people across prehistory and lead them to Victory!
UBOOT is a simulator of a submarine from WWII era. It is a survival sandbox with game mechanics similar to that of Fallout Shelter while it's primary theme is life of German soldiers like in Wolfgang Petersen's film Das Boot. The boat is their home, but it can become their grave at any time.
The Colonists
Take control of a team of robots tasked with settling a newly-discovered planet, preparing the ground for an influx of inhabitants from their homeworld.
First Feudal
Become a feudal lord and develop your settlement, turning it from a small village into a huge castle. Defend yourself from the outlaws, controlling your peasants or taking up arms.
Starting the game with a couple of peasants and thin resource endowment, you can develop your settlement into a full-fledged city. You can engage on construction, resources processing, farming, equipment production and science development - by giving orders to your subjects or doing work by your own. Greedy robbers will regularly raid your settlement, forcing you to raise a militia and fight back.
Key features
• Peasant management: Each peasant can be appionted to one of eight professions and will do the tasks and orders corresponding to it. You don't need to monitor every resident. However, if you think that an ordinary peasant is not good in tactics after the first three grades of education you can give orders to squads or individual soldiers directly during the battles.
• Development: start your way from the stone and wood processing and improve your technology, opening new buildings, types of weapons and armour. Your character and peasants can also evolve, improving their characteristics during the work.
• Settlers: To make your village attractive to new settlers, you need to take care of your residents' comfort. You should provide cozy dwellings and delicious food to your peasants.
• Battles: Robbers will regularly raid your settlement. You can stand at the head of the militia or stay away from the battle, leaving all work to your subjects.
• Agriculture: gathering and hunting solve the problem of hunger only in the initial stages. For a developed settlement, it is necessary to cultivate various plant species and domesticate wild animals.
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
70 / 10003.5
Farm Manager 2018
Manage your own farm in the game Farm Manager 2018! To expand your farm business, produce cheap and sell your products in high prices. Control the process of land cultivation, employ the best staff, buy the most appropriate farm equipment, raise livestock and process the harvested crops.
60 / 10003.0
Octogeddon is a semi-casual action strategy game. You play as Octogeddon, a giant mutant octopus bent on world destruction. Grow more tentacles and evolve each of them into deadlier weapons until you become the ultimate eight-legged killing machine!
70 / 10013.5
Space Panic Defense
A futuristic tower defense game with action and strategy!
70 / 10003.5
Villagers is a beautifully illustrated and richly detailed town-building game where you build a thriving community using the people and resources around you. Success or failure depends on your ability to create a town that can grow and prosper, and overcome the harsh realities of medieval life!
38 / 10061.9
Startup Company
Startup Company is a business simulation sandbox game. You play as the CEO of a newly formed software company. Your job is to either complete client contracts to make money, or build your very own products.
60 / 10043.0
Academia: School Simulator
Academia : School Simulator is a management game that lets you design, construct, and manage the high school of your dreams! As the school Principal, watch your students as they get bullied, find love, flunk exams, and basically just try to get through the roller-coaster ride that is high school. Will you offer the best teachers and facilities or cheap out and build giant classrooms with a 1:100 student to teacher ratio? It's all up to you!
80 / 10014.0
Microsoft Spider Solitaire
Spider Solitaire, also known as Microsoft Spider Solitaire (Spider in the About box in some versions), is a solitaire card game that is included in Microsoft Windows. It is a version of Spider. As of 2005, it was the most played game on Windows PCs, surpassing the shorter and less challenging Klondike-based Windows Solitaire.
The game was first included as part of Windows 98's Microsoft Plus! package and has been since featured on most subsequent versions of Windows. Spider Solitaire was not included in Windows 2000, but was added to Windows ME and later on Windows XP; the game gained popularity subsequent to its inclusion in the latter. Windows Vista again saw a new version, which was mainly unchanged in Windows 7. Finally, Windows 8 has another updated version available in the Windows Store as part of Microsoft Solitaire Collection but not bundled with the operating system.
71 / 10093.55
No Pineapple Left Behind
In No Pineapple Left Behind, an evil wizard shows up to a school and turns all of the children into pineapples. Pineapples are very simple. All they do is take tests and get grades. If they get good grades, the school makes more money. But, if left unattended, pineapples can turn back into children. (Oh no!) Children are far more complex and expensive than pineapples. You are the principal. Your job is to run the school.
50 / 10002.5
Star Control: Origins
The Earthlings have joined the interstellar club. The galaxy will never be the same.
The year is 2086 and Earth has detected an alien distress call originating from the surface of Triton. In response, Star Control is formed with you as The Captain of Earth's first prototype starship.
Life is Feudal: Forest Village
Life is Feudal: Forest Village is RTS city builder game with survival aspects in a realistic harsh medieval world. Shape, build and expand your settlement, grow various food to prevent your villagers from avitaminosis and starvation. Possess them for additional micromanagement or simply to wander around. Become a leader of the newly arrived settlers and lead them to peace and prosperity.
69 / 10073.45
Basement is a strategy game, where you play as a desperate scientist who chose the wrong path in his life. That path seemed easy, but turned into a deadly one. You have no choice but to build the most effective enterprise and stay alive in a cruel world of illegal business.
80 / 10044.0
Business simulator with rich economic model (markets with shortages and surpluses, websites with black hat SEO, etc.), flexible configuration of movie production, complex casting, two modes of shooting (fast and detailed ones) and other features. Beautiful graphics and no sexually explicit content.


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NEW YORK – Young students in traditional costumes and with flower bouquets in their arms, welcomed His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, Sunday morning, May 19, 2013 as he arrived at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan for a hierarchical concelebration of the Divine Liturgy.
The Primate of the Church of Greece presided over the Liturgy and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America concelebrated along with the two hierarchs from Greece who accompany His Beatitude, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia, and Bishop Gavriel of Diavleia and clergy from the Archdiocese of Athens and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The Divine Liturgy was broadcast live by satellite through various outlets around the world, in Greece, the United States, Canada, Australia and in some European countries.
Shortly before the dismissal, Archbishop Demetrios presented His Beatitude to the congregation and highlighted his long pastoral and philanthropic ministry, especially in the last few years, since Greece entered a harsh economic crisis. "You are heroically fighting an uphill fight, offering a great ministry, feeding daily and unceasingly for almost three years now, thousands of people in need", said Archbishop Demetrios and asked the visiting hierarch to offer to the congregation the word of God.
Archbishop Ieronymos, first thanked His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Demetrios for his invitation to visit and be honored by Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology, visit New York, and have the opportunity to see and marvel at the strong and vibrant Greek Orthodox Community and its witness of Orthodoxy and Hellenism. Archbishop Ieronymos, in his sermon, about the gospel of the Myrrh Bearers, talked about the lost hope of Christ's disciples and later the renewal and hope that come from the Resurrection of our Lord. He also said, that he feels pride and admires the young people he met at the Holy Cross School of Theology and elsewhere, because they gave him hope for the future of our people, no matter where they happen to be. "We are the kind of people who are builders, no matter where we go," he said. At another point, His Beatitude talking about the sanctity of the Church, said that our future and continuation depends upon the preservation and continuation of this sacred space where the Divine Liturgy takes place and that if our faith diminishes, if our Greek Orthodox traditions fade then we should know that will loose everything, including our history and memory.
After the service dismissal, Archbishop Demetrios presented to Archbishop Ieronymos an archieratical engolpion with the image of Saint Paul, the founder of the Church of Greece, made in micro mosaic art. He also presented the Archbishop of Athens with a check of one hundred thousand dollars especially for the social welfare work he does in support of children in need.
In the evening, the Cathedral became the venue for a concert in honor of His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, titled "He is Risen!" The concert consisted of selections performed in two parts: the first by the Archdiocesan Youth Choir and the second by the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir. Archbishop Ieronymos stated, he was very impressed by the performances of both choirs and said it was music he did not expect to hear in New York. The program was organized by Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos, the director of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music.
Photographs from the various events of this visit are posted at the Archdiocese photo gallery: http://photos.goarch.org/main.php?g2_itemId=7679 and through a link on the home page www.goarch.org
Article from Mr. Stavros Papagermanos of the Press Office/GOA and pictures from Mr. Dimitrios Panagos/GOA


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Some Additional Thoughts on WAR
Jim Caple posted some criticism of the Wins Above Replacement statistic over at ESPN this morning. Overall, I thought his criticisms were warranted and well-stated, but I wanted to add some of my own thoughts to clear up any misunderstandings and to add a different perspective to some of the points raised.
Caple writes:
My issue is this: I don't like the increasing over-use of (and over-reliance on) WAR as THE definitive evaluation of a player's worth.
Certainly this is an issue more apparent with WAR than most other statistics simply by its nature. Smashing offense plus defense plus positional adjustments plus replacement level into one statistic would give one the idea that this one number and one number alone can paint an entire picture of a player's season or career. However, such reliance on one statistic has certainly been true even before WAR was ever born. Saves for relievers have often been the only barometer by which a closer's value is judged; RBI's for hitters; won-lost record for starting pitchers. When possible, you should always use multiple methods of evaluation and be mindful of all their limitations, no matter which stats you're using.
Moving on to Caple's direct criticisms…
Almost no one knows how to calculate WAR. […] If we can't figure a stat out on our own, then how do we verify whether it is accurate?
WAR is, as far as I know, the most complex statistic used in sports right now. It is very arduous to learn everything that goes into creating it, much less trying to reproduce the results. However, it is not impossible to learn and its complexity is neither a feature nor a detriment. The utility of a statistic should be judged on its ability to describe what happened or its ability to help predict future results. It doesn't matter if your statistic has one simple arithmetic function or is a concoction of mathematical trickery as long as it does its job well.
WAR does its job well (but not perfectly!). Sort any WAR list from greatest to least, or least to greatest and it will almost always line up with what you observed with your eyes or judged with more traditional statistics. 2012's WAR top-ten included Mike Trout, Buster Posey, Ryan Braun, Robinson Cano, David Wright, Chase Headley, Andrew McCutchen, Miguel Cabrera, Jason Heyward, and Adrian Beltre. All players you'd have included in a top-ten list most likely. Maybe you disagree with the specific ordering, and that's fine. As Tango says, "Everyone has their own WAR." If you think FanGraphs weights defense improperly, you can make your own adjustments. FanGraphs' and Baseball Reference's versions of WAR are not sacrosanct.
Disagreements with WAR arise when detractors cite a questionable result ("Miguel Cabrera third in WAR? Nonsense!") but aren't transparent and consistent about the methods behind their own evaluations. WAR is useful because you know what's going into it and the components are applied uniformly and without bias.
Caple continues…
Actually, we know it isn't always accurate because depending on your source — FanGraphs or Baseball-reference.com — you can get wildly different WAR scores.
I would argue this is a feature of WAR. In fact, we should have even more versions of the stat because we will further learn what does work and what doesn't work. FanGraphs uses FIP in its calculation of pitcher WAR, while Baseball Reference does not, which is why a pitcher like Ricky Nolasco — someone who has under-performed his defense-independent statistics — has 18.1 career fWAR but only 7.8 rWAR. Should we be adjusting pitchers' results due to park factor, quality of defense, and batted ball luck? The debate isn't settled, but we are aware of the disparity because we have divergent methods of calculating a similar statistic.
Think of fWAR and rWAR as scientific experiments. When you get different results, you continue to tweak and control for different variables. You don't pack up your stuff and never experiment again.
If a player's batting average varied from .245 to .307 from ranking to ranking, would you trust either statistic?
If a statistic is descriptive, as batting average is, there is nothing to distrust. What you must be wary of is instead the interpretation of the data. Ryan Howard hit .313 in 2006 but finished at .219 last season. If those were our only data points, and we were trying to predict his future performance, we would heavily regress him back to the league average. However, since we have much more information at our fingertips, we know that Howard's batting average was affected by his Achilles injury, his age, the heavy use of the infield shift against him, and his increasing futility against left-handed pitching. That goes to Caple's above point, that we should not use any single statistic in isolation.
When you see wildly divergent WARs for players, that should be a telltale sign to investigate further, rather than throwing your hands up in defeat.
The fielding metrics used by baseball-reference (Baseball Info Solutions Defensive Runs Saved) seem to lift or lower their WAR scores much more than the fielding metrics used by FanGraphs (Ultimate Zone Rating). And that presents another issue with WAR. […]
In other words, most baseball stats are based entirely on indisputable math calculations. WAR has an element of theory and assumption to it.
This is a very good point and it's my biggest issue with WAR. Our methods of evaluating defense are still in their infancy and must be met with a lot of skepticism. Whenever I use WAR for hitters, I make a note of how heavily it is affected by UZR. For instance, Darwin Barney posted 2.5 fWAR in 2012. Broken into specific components, he posted negative 15 batting runs, 4.3 base running runs, and 13 fielding runs. Because of his playing time and position, he was also credited with 19.6 replacement level runs and 2.2 positional runs. I don't know too much about Barney — I'm not a Cubs fan and don't get to see too many Cubs games during the season, so I don't have any prior knowledge about his fielding capabilities. UZR graded him positively but much less favorably last year in a similar amount of playing time, crediting him with 6.1 fielding runs. Upon seeing that, I would be skeptical about UZR's accuracy of Barney's defense.
On the other hand, when I look at Chase Utley's page, I see that he has been an above average (elite, actually) defender throughout his career. He was credited with 5.3 fielding runs last season, a decline from 2007-10, when he ranged from 10-20 fielding runs. Given my prior knowledge, having watched Utley very closely throughout his career and knowing that he has had knee problems, I am comfortable accepting UZR's evaluation of his defense, while still being skeptical of UZR overall. It would be great to have the specificity of offensive statistics with our defensive statistics, but we just aren't there yet. However, that is no reason to toss WAR out to the curb, nor is there another method out there proven to be more accurate at evaluating defense.
The same approach should apply to WAR. We need to look at many stats to assess players, and one of them should be WAR. But it shouldn't be the only stat we look at or cite.
If you take away one thing from Caple's article it should be this, but it doesn't just apply to WAR — it applies to all statistics. Don't just look at RBI; look at RBI opportunities, where the runners are on the bases, and the base running ability of those runners. Don't just look at xFIP; look at BABIP, park factors, the quality of defense, among many other factors.


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Obituary published March 20, 2013 in The Mexico Ledger
Ola Hook, age 84, of Windham, ME and formerly of Bowling Green, passed away Saturday, March 9, 2013 at the Watson Fields Skilled Care in Dover, NH.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday, March 22, 2013 at the Mudd-Veach Funeral Home in Bowling Green with Rev. Jerry Gamm officiating. Burial will be in the Green Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until noon on Friday at the funeral home.
She was born August 8, 1928 in New Bloomfield, the daughter of Rex and Janie Boak Spencer. She married Don Hook in Fulton on June 20, 1948. He preceded her in death August 3, 2002.
Survivors include sons Dennis Hook and wife Lisa of Windham, ME, Robert Hook of Holden, MA; Brother Richard Spencer of Hutchinson, KS; sisters Mabel Bledsoe of Hutchinson, KS, Anna Lou Marcum of Hutchinson, KS and Opal Wilde of Hernando, FL; grandson Eric Hook. She also left behind many nieces and nephews she held close to her heart. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister Peggy Plush; brothers Gene Spencer and Dale Spencer.
Ola lived in Mexico, Bowling Green, and later moved to Windham, ME. Ola and husband Don were the former owners of Don's IGA grocery store in Bowling Green, where they managed for 27 years. She spent many years caring for her family. She was a very kind and supportive wife, mother and grandmother, always putting her family first. She was a Baptist by faith.
Serving as pallbearers will be Steve Hook, Danny Althiser, Leonard Potter, James Elliott
Memorial may be made to Pike County Hospice.
Online condolences may be left at www.muddveach.com.


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Holliday has a Helladay, but it isn't enough
Right now the Rockies are 5-4 on this road trip and 11-5 since the All Star break.
Six and four would be much better. Game four is in Florida and the Rockies need this win to break even in this set with the Marlins. Besides, I hate losing to the Marlins.
Valerio De Los Santos, I like this guy and wanted to see him succeed, but in the end he didn't bring it when he needed to. In Saturdays game De Los Santos allowed three runs, walked five and gave up four hits in only four-innings. Clint Hurdle let him go after the game. Good Luck Valerio!
Welcome back Jeff Francis. Jeff has been on the DL for a while now with a shoulder injury.
Before Jeff was injured he was 3-7 with a 5.67 ERA in seventeen starts.
Jeff fits in nicely with the Rockies.
I hope his shoulder holds up and he can get back to last seasons level of performance.
Good Luck starting on Wednesday. Show'em what Canada is all aboot…eh!
Matt Holliday is flippin amazing. I can't remember the last game in which he didn't hit a homer. This is the second game against the Marlins this year that Matt has had hit two homers. Even with his valient effort last night, the Rockies couldn't get the win over the Marlins.
They lost it 5-3.
The Rockies return home to Coors Field on Monday and begin the start of a ten game home stretch against the Nationals, Padres and D-Backs.
Right now the Rockies are twelve games back from .500 and this next home stretch could possibly, maybe slightly, without a doubt, take it to the bank, you bet your bippie, if all goes well, so they tell me, wheres the beef, straight up, ultimately make or break the Rockies.
Aaron Cook is the starting pitcher on Monday and that makes me feel good. He's solid and hard to shake. Plus he has a cool nickname…Cookie
This year while pitching at Coors Field, Cook is 6-3 with a 3.43 ERA.
I'll be at the Monday, Wednesday and Thursday (my birthday) games..See you there.
Go Rockies…D


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1. Grilled
Deep-fry a 300-gram block of tofu until a light golden colour. Drain well on a paper towel. Brush the top with sesame oil and grill until crisp. Cut into cubes and drizzle over soy sauce.
2. With black bean and kale
Fry one smashed garlic clove with three slices of ginger and two handfuls of cut kale in one teaspoon of sesame oil. When the kale has wilted, add one teaspoon of black beans (Chinese salty black beans are soft and preserved) and one litre of water. Bring to the boil then reduce heat. Add soy sauce. Cut a 300-gram block of tofu into two-centimetre cubes and add to broth. Bring to a simmer; serve.
3. Baked tofu with tomatoes
Cut a 300-gram block of tofu into two-centimetre cubes. Quarter two roma tomatoes and place on a baking tray with the tofu. Add one tin of diced tomatoes. Finely slice three cloves of garlic and roughly chop 1½ handfuls of continental parsley. Add 1½ tablespoons olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well, cover and bake for 25 minutes at 250C.
4. Fresh
Cut 300 grams of tofu into even pieces and place on a plate. Top with chopped spring onions. Add a small amount of grated ginger and 1½ tablespoons tamari. In a pot, heat 1½ tablespoons of peanut oil. When hot, pour over tofu and serve with noodles.
5. Marinated
In a saucepan, add 500 millilitres water, two tablespoons sugar, ⅓ cup soy sauce, four star anise, and a two-centimetre knob of sliced ginger. Bring to a simmer. Add cubed tofu then leave to cool. Drain the tofu then deep-fry or add to a salad.
According to Louie Green, Tofu Shop International, Richmond.
From: Good Living


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The amount of information a small child can absorb and retain about wildlife is fearsomely impressive. At least once a day I fail pop quizzes on dinosaurs and/or cheetahs and raptors, administered by a boy with ample access to nature movies. This may explain why I was so attuned to what the gorgeously photographed Disneynature film Chimpanzee wasn't telling me or, more importantly, much younger information-hungry animal lovers. It has plenty of charm and is filled with astonishingly intimate footage worth seeing on the big screen but is sketchy on details and dumbed down by cutsy, anthropomorphizing narration.
"Isha couldn't be happier with her new baby boy," narrator Tim Allen burbles as he introduces the principal characters from a pack of Ivory Coast–dwelling chimps. Really? At three months, the baby boy Oscar is insanely cute, and Isha appears very dutiful in picking ticks and other bugs off him, but I'll reserve judgment on her actual state of mind. Chimpanzees are our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, but it is possible that the duties of motherhood are just that. She is definitely hungry though, along with the rest of the tribe, so the chimps, led by Freddy, who Allen describes as "large and in charge," roam around the Tai Forest National Park, grazing from fig trees, nut groves and gobbling up the occasional monkey. While off looking for "forbidden" fruit in another part of the rainforest, they encounter another tribe of chimps led by Scar (no relation to the Scar in The Lion King). It's a feud and Scar wants ownership of Freddy's favorite nut grove.
(Read: Time's Top 10 Animal Stories from 2011)
The narrative arc here involves the well-foreshadowed orphaning of Oscar (this is a Disney production after all) via the combined efforts of Scar's gang and a leopard (prepare for the very young to crawl in your lap) and his subsequent adoption by Freddy. Apparently a male chimp taking care of a baby is an unusual, even shocking event. If only Allen's narration, so intent on building up the rivalry between Scar and Freddy into a veritable chimp version of The Hunger Games, had room for some factual information about why the adoption is so surprising. The film was directed by Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, the filmmakers behind two of Disneynature's hugely successful films, African Cats and Earth, and was made with the blessing of the Jane Goodall Institute, so presumably someone knows. (Reason to go sooner, rather than later: Disney will donate 20 cents to the Jane Goodall Institute from every ticket sold in Chimpanzee's first week.)
(Watch: Time's 10 Questions with Jane Goodall)
But watching Oscar learn to forage and feed, from the way he puzzles over opening a nut to his encounters with a bee hive and a swarm of fire ants is completely captivating. A glimpse of his adorable refusal to settle down to sleep, just like a human toddler except the bed is made high in the treetops, ought to turn a Creationist. The cameras are so close you assume they have to have been unmanned and placed with extraordinary luck. Not so; over the credits, we're treated to footage of the camera crews dashing about the jungle, just feet away from the actual animals. The filmmakers followed the chimps all over the rainforest for more than a year, lugging heavy cameras and equipment while being bitten, stung and scared by the creatures of the jungle. The resulting sense of proximity in Chimpanzee is nothing short of breathtaking. In the dreamworld, there is a director's cut somewhere that skips Allen's chatter and gives us their story instead.
(Read: Time's Top 10 Not-So-Extinct Animals)


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Landscape contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner lay sod in his backyard. Then, Roger, along with host Kevin O'Connor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and general contractor Tom Silva, asks, "What is it?" Afterward, Tom shares a tip about finding measurements without doing math. And Richard installs a wireless thermostat to control a heating system.
Visit the Website: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/tvprograms
Episode #1104 / Length: 26 minutes