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"Finns drink hard," confides Timo Siitonen, bartender and managing director at A21 Cocktail Lounge (a21.fi) in Helsinki. This is especially the case during the long summer days, when the midnight sun encourages tipplers to go for the long haul.
Cocktail culture is still nascent in Finland's capital, where the locals are fond of beer and the ready-mixed "Gin Long Drink" (lonkero) originally developed for the Helsinki Summer Olympics in 1952. The canned mix, which some liken to gin blended with carbonated grapefruit soda, is "the world's first alcopop," says Siitonen.
But, Siitonen says, "cocktail culture is growing rapidly, which is changing the landscape of the whole drinking culture."
On a cocktail crawl in Helsinki, expect to find Finland's two iconic spirits, Koskenkorva (or Kossu), a clear spirit distilled from barley, similar to vodka, and Jaloviina (cognac cut with water). Typically, locals enjoy these liquors with soda water or cola.
A handful of Helsinki bars, including A21, are finding more creative ways to use spirits. A21 takes a culinary approach, utilizing traditional Finnish ingredients such as birch, sea buckthorn and cloudberry jam to transform stalwart Jaloviina into the more contemporary sea buckthorn sour.
Siitonen also recommends Kamp Bar (hotelkamp.com/brasseriekampbareng), a tranquil cafe/bar space in the opulent Hotel Kamp, and Grotesk (www.grotesk.fi), a stylish bar and restaurant housed in the former home of a Helsinki newspaper.
American Bar (ateljeebar.fi/en/american-bar.html) at Sokos Hotel Torni (Helsinki's oldest landmark and the only "skyscraper" in the city) is known for well-made but particularly pricey cocktails, as well as wines and Champagne. But business travelers may find one aspect of this bar particularly welcoming: It opens at 4 p.m., one of the few to do so.
"There is no real after-work culture in Finland," Siitonen explains, which is a foreign concept for many accustomed to unwinding with colleagues after a long workday.
A Helsinki cocktail: Sea buckthorn sour
Sea buckthorn sour is a cocktail served in Helsinki's A21 Bar. Sea buckthorn is a plant with vibrant orange berries that have a tart-sweet flavor some compare to sour oranges mixed with pineapple. They're also said to be rich in antioxidants and other nutrients.
The recipe: Mix 3 teaspoons Finnish sea buckthorn jam with 11/2 ounces fresh orange juice, 11/2 ounces Jaloviina (traditional Finnish cut cognac) and 3 dashes orange bitters. Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into rocks glass. Serve over fresh ice. Garnish with orange slice or fresh sea buckthorn berries.
Kara Newman is the author of "Spice & Ice: 60 Tongue-tingling Cocktails."
"Finns drink hard," confides Timo Siitonen, bartender and managing director at A21 Cocktail Lounge (a21.fi) in Helsinki. This is especially the case during the long summer days, when the midnight sun encourages tipplers to go for the long haul.


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Subscribe To Steam Now Available For Linux; Steam Sale Commences Updates
I've already subscribed
Steam has had a lot of detractors over the years, some have given up and given in while others have stood firm. One thing that no one can deny is that whether you like or hate Steam it offers a very user-friendly service with software titles made available at amazing prices. Well, Valve has officially extended those great sales and services to Linux users starting today.
Steam's client is available right now from the Ubuntu Software Center at this very moment, and the sooner you grab the client the better it will be for you, especially considering that from now up until February 21st there will be a 50% - 75% off sale on all the available games in Steam for Linux.
David Pitkin, Director of Consumer Applications at Canonical commented about the release of Steam for Linux, saying...
"The introduction of Steam to Ubuntu demonstrates growing demand for open systems from gamers and game developers," ... "We expect a growing number of game developers to include Ubuntu among their target platforms. We're looking forward to seeing AAA games developed with Ubuntu in mind as part of a multi-platform day and date release on Steam."
This marks a huge step forward in third-party software applications showing greater variance and support for OS platforms outside of Windows. This will probably make a few Microsoft execs sweat in their patent leather business shoes.
What's more is that in addition to the massive sale on all of the games made available for Linux via Steam, Valve has also announced that those who play Team Fortress 2 on Linux will receive a free in-game item...Tux, the penguin mascot for Linux.
Alen Ladavac, CTO of Croteam, the same minds behind the widely popular Serious Sam games, mentioned that...
"We're huge fans of Linux. It's like the indie OS-a perfect home for our indie game," ... "And who better to lead the charge into Linux gaming than Valve? With Steam distribution on Windows, Mac OS, and now Linux, plus the buy-once, play-anywhere promise of Steam Play, our games are available to everyone, regardless what type of computer they're running. That's huge."
That is huge, indeed.
You can grab the Steam client right now from the official Ubuntu Software Center.
If this news has piqued your interest in Linux, feel free to learn more about the OS by visiting Linux.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Boston Globe
August 14, 2012
LONDON — Not too many years back, the United States of America was the champion of nothing as far as international basketball was concerned.
The 2004 Athens Olympics were a certified disaster, with losses to Puerto Rico, Lithuania, and Argentina. The 2006 World Championships in Tokyo turned sour when Team USA was embarrassed by Greece, a secondary basketball nation. But even then, good things were happening, even though most Americans didn't realize it.
For Jerry Colangelo had taken over as head of USA Basketball. No longer would the USA team coach be appointed on a one-year basis. No longer would the players be chosen quickly and randomly, thrown together for a limited number of practices and then asked to defeat skilled, experienced international units. In 2006, Mike Krzyzewski was just getting started in his role as the true national coach. You think he isn't better equipped for the job today? The Greek fiasco happened on his watch, true, but it was a valuable learning experience for him, as well as the players.
Colangelo knew what he was doing. He secured on-going commitments from Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade. The USA rebounded with a gold medal in Beijing. The USA continued with a gold medal at the 2010 World Championships in Turkey. And Sunday, the USA made it three major international championships in a row, defeating proud and resilient Spain by a nondeceptive 107-100 score to win gold here at London 2012.
"It's very gratifying to go back-to-back-to-back in world championships," Colangelo acknowledged. "It makes you feel that if you have a plan, you stick to it and you execute it, you have a chance."
For the second Olympic final in a row, Spain really made Team USA work for it. In Beijing, it was a 2-point game with eight-plus minutes left and a 4-point game with just more than two remaining. This time, Spain was still within 1 (85-84) with 9:31 left after holding Team USA to a 1-point (59-58) halftime lead. Pau Gasol, the elegant 7-foot frontcourt stalwart, made the USA squirm some more when he scored Spain's first 13 points in the third quarter, his inside 3-point play giving Spain its final lead at 72-70 (there was also a tie at 80-80). But though the USA never relinquished the lead after a Bryant 3-pointer made it 73-72, the Americans couldn't really feel comfortable until a Kevin Durant 3-pointer gave them a 93-86 lead with 6:21 to play.
You couldn't exactly call this the USA "A" game, because they have a great deal of difficulty defending the Spaniards, who received a great first-half boost from veteran international star Juan Carlos Navarro, who opened his squad's scoring with a 4-point play to inaugurate a 19-point first half. Team USA hit the Spaniards with a casual 35-point first quarter, but Spain was unfazed and continued to pose defensive problems for the USA, both on the perimeter and on the inside.
The USA so often depends on unnerving foes with defensive harassment and steals, leading to damaging fast breaks. But Spain did not rattle, forcing Team USA to employ a shakier Plan B called outside shooting. Spain (17) actually had more transition points than the USA (9).
Fortunately for them, the USA offense was reasonably consistent throughout, and it all began with a nice first-quarter display of marksmanship, something that is not one of their normal calling cards. The USA got nine first quarter jump shots from five people, with Anthony providing a spark when he came off the bench to hit his first three shots, the third of which was a 3-pointer.
Still, the largest first-half lead was the first-quarter spread of 8 (35-27). Spain is kind of a flighty team. They somehow managed to lose to both Russia and Brazil and barely got by host Great Britain. Predictably, they view themselves as something of a Big Game team, and there was no doubt they had come to play in this one.
"We knew if we played together with our game plan and our flow, and since we were as solid defensively as we've been, that we could make things difficult for them," explained Pau.
There was even something of a "What-If?" factor.
Spain was playing on a completely equal basis in the second quarter (USA up, 43-42, with 5:29 remaining) when Pau's younger (and considerably larger) brother Marc, inexplicably left on the floor with three fouls by coach Sergio Scariolo, was assessed a fourth foul while jostling for a rebound spot with Kevin Love. Take it from this Yank: It was a bogus call. It was a no-call all the way.
The 7-1 Gasol sat out the next 18:16, not returning until the 7:23 mark of the fourth quarter.
His older brother did a nice job of upholding the family honor during his forced absence, however. By now it is almost redundant to refer to Pau Gasol as "the most skilled big man in the world," but show me another large person who has 20-foot range, can put it on the floor, has exquisite footwork, is ambidextrous, can pass the ball in a variety of ways, and who is capable of making a 10-foot lefthanded hook from the left baseline. The full package was on display here, as Pau finished with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Pau gave his all, but the Americans had the numbers. James was quietly brilliant (19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) and Durant was his typically outrageous self, leading all scorers with 30 points, to go with nine rebounds, and making it all look so disgustingly easy you'd think it was a lunchtime pick-up game at the Y. When the time came for Team USA to get the job done, they got the job done, and this is as good a time as any to salute Chris Paul, who ran the show expertly in the fourth quarter and who spiced things up with a highlight excursion to the hoop.
"In the fourth quarter we made a couple of mistakes defensively," Pau pointed out. "We tried a new defense we really didn't practice enough, and they took off. But we're happy for an Olympic medal."
Talent, talent, talent. The USA still has more of it than anyone, and we all know there's more (e.g. Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, Wade, etc.) where that came from. The key now is that the talent is organized and it is focused properly, which is where Messrs. Colangelo and Krzyzewski come in.
Back in the Bad Old Days we were losing to Argentina (twice), Yugoslavia, Spain, Lithuania, Greece and, most horrendously, our good friends from Puerto Rico. Well, we're baaaaack, and guess who had the honor of finalizing the deal by grabbing the game's final rebound? Yup, Anthony Davis.
Wait till the international basketball community gets a whiff of him.


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by the LPAA Project Group (in alphabetical order: Roberta Chapey, Judith F. Duchan, Roberta J. Elman, Linda J. Garcia, Aura Kagan, Jon Lyon, and Nina Simmons Mackie)
Unprecedented changes are occurring in the way treatment for aphasia is viewed and reimbursed. These changes, resulting from both internal and external pressures, are influencing how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) carry out their jobs.
Internal influences include a growing interest in treatments that produce meaningful real life outcomes leading to enhanced quality of life. Externally, we are influenced by disability rights activists encouraging adjustments in philosophy and treatment, and by consumers frustrated by unmet needs and unfulfilled goals. Most recently, a strong external influence is emanating from the curtailment of funding for our work that has caused a significant reduction in available services to people affected by aphasia.
To accommodate these varied influences on service delivery, it is important to take a proactive stance. We therefore propose a philosophy of service delivery that meets the needs of people affected by aphasia and confronts the pressures from our profession, providers, and funding sources.
Our statement of values has been guided by the ideas and work of SLPs as well as by individuals in psychology, sociology, and medicine. We intend neither to prescribe exact methods for achieving specific outcomes, nor to provide a quick fix to the challenges facing our profession. Rather, we offer a statement of values and ideas relevant to assessment, intervention, policy making, advocacy, and research that we hope will stimulate discussion related to restructuring of services and lead to innovative clinical methods for supporting those affected by aphasia.
The "life participation approach to aphasia" (LPAA) is a consumer-driven service-delivery approach that supports individuals with aphasia and others affected by it in achieving their immediate and longer term life goals (note that "approach" refers here to a general philosophy and model of service delivery, rather than to a specific clinical approach). LPAA calls for a broadening and refocusing of clinical practice and research on the consequences of aphasia. It focuses on re-engagement in life, beginning with initial assessment and intervention, and continuing, after hospital discharge, until the consumer no longer elects to have communication support.
LPAA places the life concerns of those affected by aphasia at the center of all decision making. It empowers the consumer to select and participate in the recovery process and to collaborate on the design of interventions that aim for a more rapid return to active life. These interventions thus have the potential to reduce the consequences of disease and injury that contribute to long-term health costs.
We encourage clinicians and researchers to focus on the real-life goals of people affected by aphasia. For example, in the initial stages following a cerebrovascular accident, a goal may be to establish effective communication with the surrounding nursing staff and physicians. At a later stage, a life goal may be to return to employment or participation in the local community.
Regardless of the stage of management, LPAA emphasizes the attainment of re-engagement in life by strengthening daily participation in activities of choice. Residual skill is thus seen as only one of many requisites. For example, full participation is dependent on motivation and a consistent and dependable support system.
A highly supportive environment can lessen the consequences of aphasia on one' s life, whatever the language impairment. A non-supportive environment, on the other hand, can substantially increase the chance of aphasia affecting daily routines. Someone with mild aphasia in a non-supportive environment might experience greater daily encumbrances than another with severe aphasia who is highly supported.
In this broadening and refocusing of services, LPAA recommends that clinicians and researchers consider the dual function of communication-transmitting and receiving messages and establishing and maintaining social links. Furthermore, life activities do not need to be in the realm of communication in order to deserve or receive intervention. What is important is to judge whether aphasia affects the execution of activities of choice and one' s involvement in them.
The following list provides a few examples of how LPAA may lead to a broadening and refocusing of services:
In addition to documenting change in language and communication, clinicians would routinely evaluate the following in partnership with clients:
For more information, contact AphasiaAccess at 855-958-1862 or
firstname.lastname@example.com or visit the website at
www.aphasiaaccess.org for resources on the LPAA.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 204,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students.
The ASHA Action Center welcomes questions and requests for information from members and non-members.
Available 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET Monday–Friday
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© 1997-2019 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association


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- Homes
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Tilson is the family owned Build On Your Lot custom builder that more Texans trust. You find the perfect piece of land and we'll build a beautiful home on it.
We've been building in Texas for over 85 years and have built a reputation for reliability, quality, and value. We're also known for being very flexible. We encourage you to bring us your ideas or get inspired from our large library of plans. With Tilson, you get the home you want, the way you want it, built on your land from the ground up. See our models on this website or visit them at our Model Home Centers.
"With Tilson, we were able to walk in and get exactly what we wanted without any hassle"
"Everyone at the model home center was friendly and courteous and we loved our experience there. It was why we came back to Tilson. "
"Tilson's Easybuy program helped us out tremendously"
"Tilson puts their very best quality in all the homes they build."
"Anytime we know someone who is getting ready to build, we tell them you're making a mistake if they don't talk to someone at Tilson first."
"We've had absolutely nothing go wrong with the house for the 14 years that we've had it. We've had zero in the way of issues so we figured for our next home - no sense in fighting success!"
"Building our house was the most rewarding experience and we've had absolutely no problems."
"The whole experience was just a joy!"
"The materials that they used are quality, they build a sound house and as a result, our electric bills are cheaper. Our home is 2x the size of our last home, but our utility bills are cheaper."
"Tilson's quality of homes exceeded our expectations, it's everything we've dreamed about."
"The no construction loan helped a lot financially. We didn't have to dip into our retirement savings to front all the money to get started on our home. "


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Sergej Jensen's work draws on a wide range of materials and formal references. Primarily known for his textile works, his lyrical compositions incorporate a variety of fabrics, from burlap and linen to silk and wool.
Working within the idiom of minimalist painting, Jensen takes its material support – the canvas – and sews, bleaches, stretches or stains the cloth to create works that waver between abstraction and representation. The principle of the readymade and recycling also suffuse his practice; off-cuts from previous works often re-appear as motifs for new paintings; hand-knitted lengths are sewn or pulled over stretchers; sections of fabric are left outside to let the weather alter its surface. His practice draws attention to seemingly incidental details such as flecks of wool or frayed edges, and his muted palette and gestural mark-making, whether applied in paint or stained with bleach, point as much to negative space as to delineated forms. Although the imagery can be hard to read, the titles given often allude to their point of origin in recognisable forms, such as 'Tower of Nothing' made from recycled moneybags, or 'Eye of the maker' featuring various banknotes of different currencies, which point to his unabashed relationship to the commercial market.
While the discourse of Jensen's paintings is often associated with the work of Rosemarie Trockel, Sigmar Polke, Blinky Palermo and Michael Krebber, it is the production of his own music, films and collaborative performances which bears as large an influence over his practice. In previous gallery exhibitions, Jensen has also subverted the gallery context by the arrangement of his paintings alongside additional domestic elements such as a fireplace, rugs or carpeting. For the Berlin Biennial, Jensen created a 'waiting room' lined with chairs, paintings, appliquéd fabric ceiling and a monitor with a film by Jensen capturing from a window unsuspecting passers-by in a park.
Sergej Jensen was born in Denmark in 1973, and lives and works in New York. His work has been exhibited in a number of major international group exhibitions: 'Decorum', Musée d'art modèrne de la ville de Paris (2013), 'Time Again', Sculpture Center, New York (2011), 'All of this and Nothing', 6th Hammer Invitational, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles (2011), Annette Kelm, Sergej Jensen, Wolfgang Breuer - Kunstwerke Berlin (2009), 'Of Mice and Men', Berlin Biennial (2006), 'Momentum Nordice Festival of Contemporary Art', Moss (2006) and the São Paulo Biennial (2004). Solo exhibitions include Fred Thieler Prize, Berlinische Galerie, Berlin (2013), MoMA PS1, New York (2011), Portikus, Frankfurt am Main and the Aspen Art Museum, Aspen (2010), Malmö Konsthall, Malmö (2008), Pinakothek Der Moderne (with Henrik Olesen), Munich (2008), 'Schmoll', Kunsthalle Bergen, Norway (2008) Malmö Konsthall, Sweden (2008), 'Nomadic bags and bag faces' The Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin (2007), Kunstverein Bremerhaven, Germany (2004) and Kunstverein Braunschweig (with Stefan Müller) Germany (2003).


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THE northeastern US began digging out on Saturday in the wake of a fierce blizzard that left at least six dead, half a million customers without power, and air, road and rail links paralysed.
In Massachusetts an 11-year-old boy died of carbon monoxide poisoning Saturday after being overcome as he sat in a running car to keep warm, while his father was shoveling snow to get the car out of a snow bank.
Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald said the boy was helping his father shovel the snow in the Dorchester neighborhood but got cold, so his father started the car and the boy got inside the vehicle. MacDonald said the car exhaust was covered by a snow bank, causing the fumes to collect in the car.
"I don't know how long the boy was in the car, at some point the father was still working and was unaware of the boy's condition," said Boston firefighter Octavius Rowe, who lives nearby and went to help. "So very, very unfortunate."
When the boy was overcome by the fumes, the father went into respiratory arrest and emergency workers took both to Boston Medical Center, officials said. The boy was pronounced dead at the hospital. No names were released.
Meanwhile, the storm dumped between one and two feet (30 -60cm) of snow across New England, with hurricane-strength wind gusts helping to create massive drifts. But according to the National Weather Service, the system was on its way out of the region.
New York area airports LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy and Newark, which halted all flights during the height of the storm on Friday, were expected to resume service shortly. However, FlightAware.com listed almost 2000 cancellations, on top of the 3000 plus flights scrapped on Friday.
Amtrak said its rail link between New York and Boston would remain closed, but trains were resuming normal schedules to the capital, Washington.
A driving ban remained in force in Massachusetts, where some two feet (60cm) of snow fell in the blizzard, burying Boston streets.
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy also extended a partial driving ban to all roads until further notice.
"It's critical right now that residents stay off the roads, so that our plows can continue their efforts to clear our streets and highways," Mr Malloy said.
"This is a record setting storm. It's going to take time to dig out of the snow. Stalled or abandoned vehicles will only slow that process. Unless you face an emergency, please stay put."
But in New York City, where just under a foot of snow accumulated in Central Park, most roads were cleared by morning.
"Looks like we dodged a bullet," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.
With wind and heavy snow snapping power lines, more than half a million customers lost electricity, including 389,000 in Massachusetts, 177,000 in Rhode Island, and 35,000 in Connecticut.
Utility companies in Connecticut said they were planning for up to 30 per cent of their customers, or more than 400,000 homes, to eventually lose power.
The severity of the impact was lessened by the storm's timing at the start of a weekend, but even the almost deserted roads across the region were highly dangerous.
A car driven by a young woman went out of control in the snow on a highway in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, striking and killing a 74-year-old man, who was walking on the shoulder of the road.
And in Auburn, New Hampshire, a man was killed after losing control of his car and hitting a tree, local officials said.
Minor injuries were reported in a 19-car pileup on Interstate 295 in Falmouth, Maine, caused by poor visibility and slippery road conditions.
The National Weather Service said the low pressure system, now centered just out at sea off Cape Cod, would "reach its peak intensity this morning before pulling slowly away from the New England coast."
"Wind gusts of up to hurricane force are possible early today, especially near the coast, before they slowly subside through the rest of the day," the NWS said. "Travel conditions will continue to be extremely hazardous, if not impossible."
The storm came a little over three months after Hurricane Sandy devastated swathes of New York and New Jersey, killing 132 people and causing damage worth some $US71.4 billion ($69.2 billion).
Originally published asBlinding Nemo shuts nuke plant


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2015-07-15 - 'Two girls, one blog' is the tagline of the popular lifestyle blog THE DOOR IN THE WALL. One half is Madelon (AKA MadeByLon) living in Los Angeles – you met her last week. The other is Vie (35), blogger by night, based in the Dutch city of Arnhem.
You're a mother, a child psychologist and you have a blog. How do you do it all?
"We make it happen! It's all about making good arrangements. Now that we recently moved from Amsterdam to Arnhem for my boyfriend's work, he can look after our daughter Julie (2) more often. I work on THE DOOR IN THE WALL on a daily basis during my few spare hours in the evening. The blog is how Madelon and I stay in touch now that she's living in LA." What inspired you to start the blog together?
"You wouldn't guess, but Instagram was our matchmaker. I was drawn to her personal/no-nonsense Instagram feed and followed her right away. She followed me back and we hit it off – it's as simple as that. We had both thought about starting a blog before and when we brought it up one evening we just decided to do it."What is the blog about?
"We share the small things in life, for and by mothers or and by mothers who do a lot in addition to being parents. We even share things that might not seem very important, like my recent post 'Ladybug Lessons' about stopping to admire a tiny ladybug with my daughter the other day. We present this honestly and personally without forgetting that what we have is good, not perfect, but good enough. It's important for us to stay true to ourselves."
What is the difference between you and Madelon?
"Madelon is really a go-getter while I take my time with things. She's the better photographer (just take a look at her Instagram!) while I focus more on writing. As a psychologist, I have to think carefully about what I share publicly – you won't see a photo of me standing on a table shaking my bottom in tight gold leggings, for example! Our last names are also a no-go, and as parents we are very mindful of portraying our children in an honest and wholesome manner."
As a mom who's always on the go, what do you like about the Storksak + Bugaboo bag?
"It's large in size which is great and I love that I can use it on a daily basis either as a regular bag and a changing bag. The bag is black, which means it's easy to match with just about anything. My daughter loves helping a hand and she's able to carry the bag herself. My husband doesn't mind walking the streets with it either – it looks great on him, too!"
Pictured above is the Storksak + Bugaboo Nylon Bag. Read our interview with the other half of THE DOOR IN THE WALL, Madelon.


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HealthPoint Technology Cabinets
Security and confidentiality are vital in healthcare environments. Humanscale Healthcare's HealthPoint technology cabinets protect valuable technology investments, prevent theft, and control access to confidential patient medical data. The cabinets are unobtrusive and available in several different finishes to enhance the aesthetic of any space. They serve as a "touchdown" station, encouraging workplace flexibility and supporting busy caregivers as they move throughout the workspace.


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The National Weather Service provides weather, water, and climate data, forecasts and warnings. A National Mosaic view of National Weather Service (NWS)'s radar imagery allows interactivity with the display providing you with the ability to customize the way you "look" at weather. Called RIDGE2 (Radar Integrated Display with Geospatial Elements, version 2), the radar image can be layered with geospatial elements such as topography maps, highways, state/county boundaries, and weather warnings. Outside of this interface, a user can also make use of this radar mosaic image overlay to add to user's geobrowser of choice.
See this data in action at:
The Weather Channel broadcasts weather forecasts and weather-related news over their cable channel and web properties.
Climate Corporation offers weather insurance that helps farmers protect their potential profits against bad weather that can cause yield shortfalls.


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Gluten-free On the Road in Israel: Easy Chickpea Pasta Recipe
Eating gluten-free is more difficult on the road, and most difficult of all when traveling internationally. This is why when the DH and I planned a trip to Israel this September, I insisted that we stay somewhere with a kitchen at least part of the time. We chose the Atlas hotel affiliated Tal hotel in Tel Aviv, located within walking distance of the Tel Aviv Port. I learned later that there was a gluten-free store at Hangar 13 of the Port (Aditta's), so it ended up being an especially good choice. One thing I was not anticipating was the difficulty of navigating labels in Hebrew. I had heard that everything would be in Hebrew and English, so I thought labels would be easy- it turned out that the only thing typically written in English MIGHT be the title of the food item. Labels were NOT in English unless the product was imported in or designed for export. This made all kinds of things complicated. Also, our kitchen was very, very small, which was not a problem, but I found that the hot plate liked to blow the kitchen fuse, which was a hassle until they switched out the hot plate. It was handy that Israeli buffet breakfasts are reasonably gluten-free friendly. They serve (gluten) bread… but they also serve salad, which may consist of arugula-like greens and apples or plums if you are very lucky, several kinds of dairy including soft cheeses like Tsfatit, fresh cheese, a cottage cheese and my favorite, Labane, a smooth, creamy yogurt cheese. They will tend to have labane plain or (my favorite) with chives or possibly dill.
A pescatarian breakfast of salad with tahini as an un-dressing, cottage cheese, labane, tsfatit cheese, and pickled fish.
The nicer hotel buffets will also have an espresso machine, although the machine will be at rest on Saturday morning. I ate breakfast at the hotel every morning, which was a relief to not have to worry about feeding myself or Toddler Yum. Having a kitchen for lunch was wonderful, though. I was able to fry eggs, make gluten-free grilled cheese sandwich, and gluten-free pancakes, when eating out was too complicated. My favorite meal was thanks to some gluten-free pasta I bought at Adittas (also available through an online gluten-free store that delivers or other health food stores. I had bought a can of chickpeas, and had some milk and butter. It was a simple dish, but satisfying, and Toddler Yum gobbled it up like candy. The best thing is that you could make this dish almost anywhere in the world in a dorm kitchen, a weekly mansion hotel, or even at home, with simple, easily available ingredients. I hope you enjoy it.
Chickpea Pasta Recipe for limited kitchens
1 tbsp. butter or olive oil
1/2 small onion, diced
1/2 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 thin slices or 1 large grated handful tasty cheese (optional)
1 tbsp. gluten-free flour or baking mix (I used Pamela's pancake mix because it is what I had)
milk (regular or plain soy or almond milk)
fresh herbs, diced (optional)
minced fresh veggies (red, yellow, green pepper or carrot)
nuts (such as pine nuts etc. if available), lightly toasted
1/2 package of gluten-free corn spaghetti (or your favorite variety)
Heat 1 tbsp butter or olive oil in a small skillet. Add your diced onion and saute until translucent. Toss in your gluten-free flour and mix to combine with the softened onions. Add 1/2 cup milk, stir until combined and heat on medium-low, whisking (with fork or fancy whisk) as needed. When sauce begins to thicken slightly add more milk, whisk together, heat more and let thicken. Add more milk until you have enough sauce for your taste. Then add your chickpeas and simmer until the chickpeas have been flavored by the sauce. Add your (optional) cheese and let it start to melt. Turn off the heat and let it continue to melt.
Cook your favorite pasta until al dente and drain. Stir your chickpea sauce. Top your pasta with your chickpea pasta sauce and add diced fresh herbs (if you have them), salt, pepper, and sprinkle minced fresh veggies and nuts on top. Enjoy!
Perfect for limited kitchens with at least one stove burner and a dorm refrigerator. This recipe only uses commonly available ingredients, except for the gluten-free flour and gluten-free pasta. When I know I will have at least one burner at a destination, I pack pasta and flour in my suitcase.
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Today, the Arabic version of SEPTEMBER CLUES was released:
I am extremely happy and satisfied about this further exciting development of this video research I started back in 2005/2006. I'd like to stress - and only to make it very clear that September Clues is no "CIA disinformation" (as Alex Jones wants you to believe) but is quite simply the product of my own, solitary mind. So let me state this once again: I put together September Clues in complete solitude - and with no outside help WHATSOEVER. Anyone telling you otherwise is asked to contact me on skype and confront me personally. My skype username is "simon.shack". Anyone who doesn't dare do so - and continues to say that September Clues is "CIA disinformation", is a coward and a liar.
Only later did I invite people to my house to help me on with my endeavours - and the best thing I ever did, was to invite Hoi Polloi to work with me for six months in my home. The result was the "Vicsim Report" - and most of what we now know about the fake 9/11 victims.
I'd like to extend my warmest thanks to our member ElSushi and to Waleed - his Iraqi friend in Japan - who have performed this fantastic translation effort. (ElSushi is also the author of the French subtitles of September Clues). Well done, my dear friends!
Even though English is a very international language, this doesn't mean that EVERYONE understands it fully - especially when it comes to complex matters such as 9/11. To now have an Arabic version of September Clues is, in my mind, a very special development - since it is undeniable that the Arab World has suffered the most from this wretched hoax; a hoax designed (among other things) to loot the Arab world's resources.
(ps: Do you know of ANY other western 9/11 documentary being available with Arabic subtitles?)


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There will be a Saturday meeting of the London Shogi Club on 27.09.2014. There should be someone around from 11.30am until at least 2pm at Caffe Nero, 10 Bedford Street, London WC2E 7HE.
Everyone is very welcome, regardless of strength or experience.
The nearest rail station is Charing Cross. Embankment, Covent Garden and Leicester Square underground stations are close, but it's best to check which lines are running with Transport for London.
If you want to confirm attendance, feel free to let us know by leaving a comment or sending an email.


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All natural product with no preservatives or additives.
Our Hot Whisky mustard was an award winner at the Worldwide Mustard Competition in the Napa Valley in 2001! It's both hot and sweet with fresh honey and aged whiskey. Try it this delicious recipe for Braised Pork Shoulder with Apple Cider and Hot Whisky Mustard Sauce! Also available in a smaller 60ml size.
Mustard seeds, Cider vinegar, Whiskey, Honey, Spices.


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'60 Minutes' retraction of Benghazi story adds to confusion over attack
CBS on Friday retracted its account of what took place last year at the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, a stunning setback for its venerated "60 Minutes" news show that underscored another reality: Fourteen months after jihadists stormed the complex and a nearby CIA compound – killing four Americans, including the ambassador – there's still no accepted narrative of what happened.
It was security contractor Dylan Davies' unheard account of the events of Sept. 11, 2012, that made the "60 Minutes" piece a journalistic sensation after what the news program said was a yearlong investigation. That account differed dramatically from what other reporters and witnesses had said about that night, and it prompted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to threaten to block all White House appointments until the Obama administration released notes from the interviews the FBI conducted with survivors of the attack to congressional investigators.
In the end, however, Davies' claims to "60 Minutes" that he'd jumped a 12-foot wall to get into the compound, where he clubbed an attacker in the head with the butt of his rifle, were undone by statements he'd given to the FBI two days after the assault. Those indicated he'd been nowhere near the compound when the attack took place, which matched a report Davies had given his bosses at the Blue Mountain security company – a document that somehow escaped the notice of "60 Minutes" investigators.
Other portions of his "60 Minutes" account didn't match published reports of what happened that night. For example, Davies claimed he'd sneaked into the Benghazi Medical Center and spotted the body of Ambassador Christopher Stevens lying on a gurney. The doctor who treated Stevens, however, had told McClatchy that no Westerners arrived to pick up the ambassador's body until 6 a.m. Sept. 12, more than six hours after Libyans had taken the unconscious Stevens to the facility.
Davies' statement to the FBI two days after the attack said he'd learned of Stevens' death on Sept. 12, around the time when Libyans and Americans confirmed it.
On Friday, CBS correspondent Lara Logan, whose 15-minute "60 Minutes" piece aired Sunday, appeared on the network' "This Morning" and apologized for the piece, saying Davies was no longer credible. Logan said she was misled, adding: "We made a mistake."
She said she didn't know about the FBI incident report until after her piece aired, but she offered no explanation for how it had escaped notice. CBS had removed the story from the "60 Minutes" website and apps overnight.
"What we know now is he told the FBI a different story to what he told us," Logan said. "That was the moment for us when we realized that we no longer had confidence in our source and we were wrong to put him on air, and we apologize to our viewers."
The retraction fueled already-looming questions over the events of that night and raised mounting concerns among some about whether what happened will ever truly be known – and whether those involved will be prosecuted.
Within hours of the attacks, which marked the first death of a U.S. ambassador on the job since 1979, they became fodder for opponents of the Obama administration, leading to scrutiny of every word uttered about them. Republicans in Congress have called the lack of a clear narrative evidence of a cover-up.
"And where are the survivors?" Graham asked on Fox News last week. "Fourteen months later, the people who survived the attack in Benghazi have not been made available to the U.S. Congress for oversight purposes. So I'm going to block every appointment in the United States Senate until the survivors are made available to Congress."
Among the questions about the assault that remain: Was the attack planned, and if so how long beforehand? How many of the roughly 70 attackers, if any, were motivated by a video mocking the Prophet Muhammad that had led to protests in Cairo earlier that day? How many had sought to attack the compounds because of the confirmation a day earlier that a U.S. drone strike had killed Libyan al Qaida leader Abu Yahya al Libi? How many terrorist and insurgent groups were involved?
Yet to be answered, as well, is what Stevens' role was in the security posture in Benghazi, particularly in light of attacks on other nations' compounds and diplomats in the months beforehand. Even Stevens' reason for visiting Benghazi remains unclear, as are the activities there of the CIA, which had a larger presence than the State Department in Benghazi. Some have wondered whether the special mission was a front for CIA operations.
Within hours of the assault on the diplomatic compound and the CIA annex, there were conflicting accounts of what had happened when attackers stormed the gates around 9:40 p.m. The New York Times first reported that the assault had come after a protest, a version the Obama administration repeated in the weeks after the attack.
But other news stories, including by McClatchy, said there had been no protest, that the attackers had arrived unheralded and begun the assault.
In emails made public in May, it's clear that the CIA introduced the idea of a protest before the assault as the administration was drawing up a set of talking points to be given to Congress. But there's been no explanation of where the CIA version came from, and the email chain shows that none of the officials who were debating the talking points ever challenged it.
When the administration later backed away from the claim, Republicans charged that it had lied about the protest to avoid having to admit in the middle of a presidential re-election campaign that al Qaida remained a major threat.
The day after the attack, McClatchy spoke to a guard employed by Blue Mountain who said there'd been no protest beforehand but rather that a group of armed men had stormed the compound. Another Libyan guard employed by Blue Mountain told McClatchy last November that his supervisor, who's thought to be Davies, wasn't at the compound the night of the attack.
The "60 Minutes" piece also said that reporters for the program had visited the site a month ago and photographed remains of the assault, including a document that spelled out Stevens' schedule for what was supposed to be a four-day trip. But a McClatchy reporter who visited the site in June found that the owner had cleared debris from the one of the four buildings, the one where Stevens was trapped and probably died. A guard at the site said the rest of the buildings would be cleared out within days.
For friends of the popular ambassador, for whom Libyans in Benghazi had great affection, the "60 Minutes" report marked another exploitation of his death, this time by a contractor trying to sell a book to be released about the attack and a respected news organization trying to promote a story.


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Even more surprising than Phil Mickelson using a belly putter at the second stage of the FedExCup playoffs was a direct message that showed up during the weekend on Twitter.
"I have a belly putter!"
It came from Brad Faxon, who, when contacted Tuesday in South Korea for confirmation, had just been told by security that he and Jeff Sluman were not allowed to play cribbage in the hotel lobby because it was too close to the casino.
"Can you believe that?" Faxon said.
The ban on cribbage? Sure.
A belly putter for the guy reputed to be among the best in golf with the short stick? Hard to believe.
"I'm dead serious," Faxon said.
Only a week earlier, he said the belly putter for most people was a "second, third, fourth or last resort" when all else had failed, and that some USGA officials, no doubt, were turning in their graves for not ruling against the concept of anchoring a putter to the body. Faxon then called Paul Vizanko at the Scotty Cameron Putting Studio in California and ordered one.
Before anyone starts looking for dogs and cats to fall from the sky, Faxon said he won't be using the belly putter on the Champions Tour this week in South Korea or anywhere else in competition. He was simply curious.
"I wanted to see what all the hype was about," Faxon said.
The belly putter first gained attention when Paul Azinger used one in a seven-shot victory 11 years ago at the Sony Open in Hawaii. The hype to which Faxon refers began last month, when players won three straight PGA Tour events with long putters.
Adam Scott, who in February switched to a long putter that he anchors to his chest, won the World Golf Championship at Firestone. A week later at the PGA Championship, Keegan Bradley (belly) became the first player to win a major using a longer putter. Webb Simpson (belly) won the following week in Greensboro, N.C., and then won again at the TPC Boston.
Maybe it's more than a fad.
"It's like the two-handed backhand in tennis," Faxon said. "Twenty years ago, it was not the norm. Now it's the better way to go. The belly putter and the long putter are going to trend that way. Young kids are not going to be afraid to switch."
There have been ample anecdotes about an entire threesome using a long putter. Ian Poulter tweeted that of 10 guys on the practice green in Boston, eight had long putters.
More telling are raw numbers.
There were six players using longer putters in 2009 and 2010 at The Barclays, the opening playoff event for the top 125 players. This year, the number of long putters jumped to 20.
One of them was Jim Furyk, who is having one of his worst years. Since getting a few pointers from Bradley -- three weeks before Bradley won the PGA Championship -- he has put himself in position to advance to the Tour Championship.
"Ten years ago, no one ever went to the belly putter unless they couldn't putt," Furyk said. "So I didn't really think of it as unfair. I thought of it as desperation, if that makes sense. For me, it was still desperation, but I've seen some guys that have gone to it where they are decent putters, but they think it's a better way."
The debate is whether such putters should be banned because, some would argue, anchoring them to the belly or the chest eliminates the skill. The USGA has shown little interest in ruling against them, and some believe it's too late now.
Azinger thinks the argument is hollow.
"Everyone wants to act like it's foolproof," he said. "It's been around for 11 years. Now somebody does something and it blows up. You've still got to make putts under pressure to win. Ernie Els has jacked so many short putts with a belly putter, and I didn't hear anyone complaining about them."
Azinger still doesn't know what made him try it at his home club in Florida toward the end of 1999. There was a longer putter that had been made for someone much shorter than him. For some reason, he stuck the end of the putter into his belly button.
"I was making stuff all over the pro shop," Azinger said.
He switched the putter head to one he liked. He changed the lie and angle. He moved the ball back in his stance and put more weight on his right leg to make him feel anchored.
"I was instantly better," Azinger said. "[Legendary PGA instructor] Paul Runyan watched me putting in 2000 and said it was the best single-lever action putting stroke he'd ever seen. To this day, I don't know what that means. But when I grabbed that thing, I became a better putter. And I was back in the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup and in the top 20 in the world."
Still, the belly and long putters raise one question: If it's so good, why isn't everyone using it?
The PGA Tour's most reliable statistic for putting is called "strokes gained." The top 12 players on the list use a conventional putter. The more traditional statistic is average putts per round. None of the top 12 players on that list use a long putter, either.
Steve Stricker is No. 1 in "strokes gained" and No. 3 in putts per round.
So why isn't he using one?
"I like how I putt. I like the conventional wisdom of the short putter. Is that saying it nicely?" Stricker said with a smile.
He did try one at the TPC Boston to see what it was like.
"It was a totally different feel," he said. "I'm used to following through with my hands."
Just then, Padraig Harrington walked by and caught the tail end of Stricker's comments.
"Don't tell me you're talking about a long putter," Harrington said. "The day Steve Stricker goes to a long putter, we're all in trouble."
Aaron Baddeley is another great putter. He stared blankly when asked why he isn't using a belly putter, then understood the point of the question and said the same thing Stricker did.
He then was asked another question. The day pigs fly is when who uses a belly putter?
"Tiger Woods," he said. "And Brad Faxon."


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Too many of us drive distracted. The consequences are deadly, as our attention leaves the road with every ping, buzz and ring.
Distracted driving is linked to hundreds of deaths in Canada every year. As Postmedia's Fatal Distraction series heartbreakingly illustrates, the very devices we rely on are simultaneously putting us at risk as we text, tweet or check the GPS when our focus should be on driving.
It is a national problem that demands a co-ordinated national response.
Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau's suggestion that Canadians, for now, "turn everything off" when they drive is worthy advice; motorists have to take responsibility. As we learn more about how smartphone use affects the brain, it becomes clearer that texting while driving should merit the same societal scorn as driving drunk.
But if changing behaviour was as simple as hitting send on a text, Canadians should already have received the message many times over.
Some drivers do get it, and stash their phones. Yet for all the "smart" technology Canadians carry, too many continue to make bad choices. The patchwork of demerits and fines in provincial traffic safety provisions is failing to cut through the static.
And that problem is coupled with a frustrating lack of national data measuring the real-time scale of the menace.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard has called on Ottawa to make distracted driving a distinct Criminal Code offence.
Right now, Quebec appears to stand alone.
It's time Couillard had vocal company in this push.
Other provincial leaders make the case that "dangerous driving" — an existing Criminal Code offence for all sorts of reckless behaviour — gives judges an appropriate tool to sanction abhorrent driving.
A conviction carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, and as high as 14 years if the dangerous driving causes death.
There are logistical, practical and perhaps even constitutional questions that would have to be overcome in creating a new Criminal Code measure.
Courts are already under strain and broader buy-in would be essential from the provinces and police chiefs who would have to enforce any new law.
But one of the very reasons to create any measure in the Criminal Code is to denounce and deter behaviour that harms others.
It is one of the biggest sticks we have to signal the seriousness of a problem. Garneau, and the federal government, must lead a loud and clear charge to end distracted driving.
It is the one and only call Canadians should answer behind the wheel.


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TACOMA, Wash. – Matt Gilbert set the school record in the javelin and 19 athletes posted NWC qualifying marks as the Puget Sound track & field teams opened up the outdoor season at home on Saturday.
The men's team finished in a tie for first with Western Washington with 62 points. The women took third as a team.
Gilbert took second in the javelin with a heave of 56.7 meters (186-feet) to set the school record. Joe Cerne, the previous record-holder in the event, also qualified for the conference meet with a throw of 52.86 meters (173-feet, 5-inches).
Jon Lee also broke into the top-10 list in school history in the triple jump. Lee won the event with a mark of 13.85 meters (45-feet, 5.25-inches), which ranked ninth all-time.
Lee was one of four event winners for the men's team. Cameron Braithwaite had a conference–qualifying leap of 6.52 meters (21-feet, 4.75-inches) to win the long jump while Cerne won the pole vault and qualified for the conference meet with a mark of 4.26 meters (13-feet, 11.75-inches). Myles McDonal also won the high jump for the Loggers.
Matt Klein also had a standout performance as he finished second in the 10k to lead four Loggers to post NWC-qualifying times in the event.
Allanah Whitehall and Elizabeth King were standouts from the women's team as they both jumped on to their respective top-10 lists. Elizabeth King now ranks fourth in school history in the pole vault as she posted a mark of 3.15 meters (10-feet, 4-inches) today.
Whitehall won the 100m dash and took second in the 200m dash while qualifying for the conference meet in both events. Her winning time of 12.68 in the 100m ranks eighth in school history.
Molly Bradbury also posted the eighth-best steeplechase mark on the Loggers all-time top-10 list.
The Loggers travel across town next Saturday looking for more qualifying marks at the PLU Invitational.


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7 'SNL' Skits Kanye West Won't Be Doing
Kanye West doesn't do interviews. So it's only during his live shows that we get a glimpse into his psyche these days. This time, it was during a concert at the Roseland Ballroom in New York, where Ye spilled his thoughts about the paparazzi and kissing babies. Nothing new. But during the show, Ye also mentioned that he won't be doing a skit about the paps during his upcoming appearance on Saturday Night Live, stating: "All they want is for a nigga to laugh and shit. Hell nah, I ain't doin no muthafuckin' SNL skits."
Kanye's vexing relationship with cameramen who sell photos of him for money only heightened after he and Kim K. went public. But Yeezy isn't here to make you laugh. Check out a few other skits Kanye West will not be doing when he serves as the musical guest on SNL this Saturday (May 18).
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And now for our (optional) prompt. Today, I challenge you to fill out, in no more than five minutes, the following "Almanac Questionnaire," which solicits concrete details about a specific place (real or imagined). Then write a poem incorporating or based on one or more of your answers. Happy writing!
Warm Spring Day at fifteen degrees,
In our pretty bungalow near the River Valley,
Gerber Daisies on the table, warm colours please,
Resting on a tablecloth, Easter pastels gladly.
The dog lies under the table in my art studio,
I've tried to paint her, but she never sits still long.
Driving downtown to immerse myself, with dog go.
Bask in the presence of the farmer's market's throngs.
Dog walking beside me, enjoying all her doggy friends.
Conversation with some guy about Hockey playoffs,
Not many Canadian teams made it, no matter in the end.
Many Canadian players, play for American teams, so layoff.
Walking down the street past ancient buildings,
Observing the walls speckled, thoughtless youth wrote graffiti.
Some call it 'art' while others would say 'you're dreaming.'
Obscenity scrawled haphazardly, done messily.
"Where's your boyfriend?" Asks the aged vendor selling peaches.
I give him a smile, saying: "I'm happy to be single right now."
Subject change, "Have you seen my new puppy?" Subject now out of reach.
Old guy is comfortable, complains of gas prices and frowns.
Oil prices particularly bad, so I let him know gas prices are low.
He doesn't understand; when he was young gas cost barely anything.
Ready to move on, I don't want to be rude; dog barks, "time to go."
He talks more, the Terwilliger Park Foot Bridge opening this spring.
The new bridge has an amazing minimalist design,
I tell the vendor about biking there with my Dad,
When my brothers and I were younger, biking was fine.
Following closely, didn't want to get spanked as we had.
Then slipping away I wander to other booths,
Comfortable in leggings and thin white sweater,
The dog wants to run, I can tell; We leave, dog approves.
Down to the river valley on the off leash trails is better.
We have to watch out for the Beavertaur — a mythical animal,
But some say they have seen it on the prowl.
Both beaver and minotaur; a creature quite unimaginable.
For those walking river valley trails, the situation could be foul.
My friend has sworn upon Wayne Gretzky's statue,
That he barely escaped the Beavertaur with his life.
Made me laugh; today the dog and I are fine, no snafu.
We went on home and we had a nap, long day but no strife.
Gazing out my window, to the brick patio below,
Think we need outdoor furniture, to enjoy in the sun.
Remembering family friend, left life's flow.
Gone for five-years already, in heaven's quiet hum.
She babysat me when I was small, thirteen years my senior,
Reading Appley Dapply Nursery Rhymes; beloved childhood book,
Then settling in bed I sleep for a moment, no dreams either.
Hearing cats screeching, the dog barking, awake I'm shook.
In alley, a neighbour's trash bin — scattered garbage,
You can't leave your trash out, the cats will make a meal of it,
Neighbours leave their bags in the open always unguarded,
I'm annoyed, but I roll my eyes and think, 'forget about it.'
Vacation thoughts stir my mind in other directions,
A trip in Canada, much easier then going through US border.
Maybe, Quebec City or Montreal, thoughts and reflections.
Killing a large spider with a block of wood; restored order.
It's good luck to kill a spider, he won't end up in your house.
Dog is whining; she wasn't outside with me,
That's just life I tell her; TV on, channel browse,
The debate: aren't we the City of Champions? Can't you see?
Or does the Oiler's last ten-seasons make us champions not?
It's more than merely about playing hockey,
It's a way of acting, some people don't understand that talk.
Being a champion in the heart, it's Edmonton's image worthy.
©Mandibelle16. (2016) All Rights Reserved.


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Intensive Outpatient Treatment
October 3 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 4:00pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, repeating until December 31, 2019
Put simply, Peer-Infused Intensive Out-Patient Treatment is an extended duration treatment that includes a direct connection to the local Recovery Community. This critical connection may very well be the missing ingredient in successful long-term recovery outcomes. The expected length of the program is one year and carries high accountability.


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Welcome to the Beckham Product Design Web site. Our goal is to provide you with useful information about our company and our products.
In addition to the RIMZ product line
Beckham Design is proud to introduce
the newest item for the shooting
The NEW RIMZ 929, the New Polymer Moonclip for the S&W 9mm 8 shot Revolver
The NEW RIMZ 986, the New Polymer Moonclip for the S&W 9mm 7 shot Revolver
color: #FF0000;
Ultimate Bushing Wrench (UBW)
for the disassembly of 1911 pistols.
This is a "Must Have" accessory for
any 1911 owner. The UBW is the first
item in a new line of accessories for
1911 and other semi-automatic pistols.
Creativity is alive and well at Beckham Design. We have been serving clients in
the plastics industry since 1984. We specialize in providing innovative product design
and material solutions for our customers. It is our intent to find at least one way
that your problem can be solved.
Please take the time to browse around our site. If you have comments or questions
about our products or services, or simply need more information and want a
specific answer to your question, click on the Contact Us on any page within this
Thanks for visiting and we look forward to serving you.
Scott Beckham and the staff of Beckham Product Design
1048 Irvine Ave #614 Newport Beach, California 92660 United States
Telephone: 866 726-2658 Fax: 949 548-3152
© 2019 Beckham Product Design. All rights reserved worldwide.


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Find us on:
8301 Professional PlaceLandover, MD 20785
1-800-332-1000 (Voice - Toll-free)301-459-3700 (Voice)301-577-2684 (FAX)1-866-748-8008 (Voice - Toll-free Spanish)
The Epilepsy Foundation is the national voluntary agency dedicated solely to the welfare of the almost 3 million people with epilepsy in the U.S. and their families. The organization works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; to improve how people with epilepsy are perceived, accepted and valued in society; and to promote research for a cure. In addition to programs conducted at the national level, people with epilepsy throughout the United States are served by more than 50 Epilepsy Foundation affiliates around the country.
The Epilepsy Foundation is a non-profit, charitable agency, designated as a 501 (c) 3 organization by the Internal Revenue Service.
The Epilepsy Foundation offers more than 125 individual pamphlets and other publications directed to specific aspects of living with epilepsy. All the educational materials are reviewed and approved by medical experts and provide up-to-date information for many audiences.
The Foundation also publishes EpilepsyUSA, a full-color magazine focusing on new developments in research, court actions, legislative issues, and the experiences of people of all ages who live with epilepsy. EpilepsyUSA is available by subscription. An abbreviated online edition is also available.
Thursday, Jul 09, 2015
Language Assistance Available


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Like all of the electrical distribution equipment serving critical systems, transformers are a key component. That's why it's crucial to evaluate your decision from every angle before choosing a unit. To help you narrow the playing field, let's take a look at some of the most important factors to consider when specifying or purchasing primary dry-type transformers, which typically feed a large industrial plant, data center, or other critical facility.
Capacity — The kVA rating of the transformer.
Voltage rating — Primary and secondary voltage of the transformer.
Insulation system — The sum of the maximum ambient temperature, plus the average winding temperature rise, plus the differential between the average winding temperature rise and the highest temperature of the winding.
Core and coils — Wound cores or stacked laminations (copper or aluminum conductors).
Winding insulation system — Open-wound, vacuum pressure impregnation, vacuum pressure encapsulated, encapsulated, and cast coil.
Large dry-type distribution transformers are typically fed by medium-voltage power systems (12.47kV, 13.3kV, or 13.8kV) and feature a secondary voltage rating of 480V, 3-phase (Photo 1). Some of the larger common sizes of dry-type transformers available today include 500kVA, 750kVA, 1,000kVA, 1,500kVA, 2,000kVA, 2,500kVA, 3,000kVA, 3,750kVA, 5,000kVA, and 7,500kVA.
As noted above, there are several different construction methods used in the manufacture of dry-type transformers, resulting in various designs that make installation in many different environments possible. The key difference in the design of these units is in the insulation of the windings. Dry-type transformers can have their windings insulated in a number of different ways.
Open wound
The standard dry-type transformer follows a "dip-and-bake construction" method. This is accomplished by preheating the conductor coils and then, when heated, dipping them in varnish at an elevated temperature. The coils are then baked to cure the varnish (Photo 2).
Vacuum pressure impregnation (VPI)
This technique applies the varnish coating in interchanging cycles of pressure and vacuum. The VPI process uses polyester resin. The coils are then cured in an oven. The VPI process is better than the standard dry-type transformer because it includes pressure in addition to vacuum. This process allows better penetration of the varnish in the transformer coil. These units offer an increased resistance to corona.
Vacuum pressure encapsulated (VPE)
This method is usually superior to the VPI process. Several dip processes are added to the construction process to encapsulate the coil assembly after which the coatings are cured in the oven. These transformers feature better protection from harsh and wet environments than their VPI type counterparts (Photo 1).
Encapsulated (sealed)
Encapsulated transformers are standard open-wound distribution transformers encased in an electrical-grade silica and epoxy, and totally enclosed in a heavy-duty style enclosure.
Cast coil (molded epoxy sealing)
These units incorporate coils encapsulated in epoxy by a molding process. The transformer coils are solidly cast in resin under a vacuum in a mold. The manufacturing process locks the windings in a strong epoxy resin with high dielectric strength, protecting the transformer from severe operating environments (Figure).
Each of the winding insulations noted above is specifically suited for particular environments. Therefore, it's important for you to understand where best to use each type. For example, it costs approximately 50% more to specify a cast coil transformer over a VPE or VPI type unit. Therefore, your final selection can have a significant impact on the overall cost of a project.
When improved resistance to corona (i.e., electrical discharges caused by the field intensity exceeding the dielectric strength of the insulation) and increased mechanical strength of the windings are required, you should use a VPI-type transformer.
Use a cast coil transformer when additional coil strength and protection is needed, such as in unforgiving environments like chemical process plants, construction material factories, and for outdoor installations. These types of harsh environments include substances that can devastate the windings of other dry-type transformers, including salt, dust, caustic gases, moisture, and metal particles. Additionally, cast coil transformers have improved abilities to withstand heavy electrical surges, such as recurring but short-duration overloads experienced by transformers serving industrial processes. Cast coil transformers typically have the same increased levels of BIL as oil-filled transformers, while still providing ample protection of the transformer coils. Cast coil transformers are also being used in some harsh locations that were previously thought best served by liquid-filled transformers.
The engineer has a choice between a VPI/VPE transformer or cast coil transformer for critical environments and harsh environments. The cast coil is typically accepted as the best transformer in these types of environments. Some manufacturers, however, indicate that the cast resin in the cast coil transformers can be detrimental to the life of the transformer. The coefficient of expansion of the epoxy is less than the copper windings. The cyclical expansion and contraction with the heating and cooling of the coils can eventually crack the resin. These manufacturers indicate that the epoxy encapsulation in the VPI transformer can better deal with this expansion and contraction; therefore, if offers longer life. In the end, the final choice is left to the design engineer.
In addition to the capacities noted earlier, the electrical design engineer can specify a fan-assisted transformer that can add significant capacity to the rating of the transformer. For a cast coil transformer, the addition of the fans to cool the transformer during heavy loading can add another 50% to the rating of the transformer. For a VPE or VPI transformer, an additional 33% kVA capacity can be added to the rating of the transformer. For instance, a standard cast coil dry-type transformer rated for 3,000kVA can have a second rating when fan assisted to 4,500kVA (a 50% increase in the standard rating). On the other hand, a VPE or VPI transformer rated 2,500kVA can have a second rating when fan assisted to 3,333kVA (a 33% increase in the standard rating).
Remember: When using the fan-assist rating of a transformer, you are relying on moving parts to supply the rated capacity. For critical installations, you may only want to rely on the fan-assist rating for unusual overloads that may occur under certain operations, including:
The extra current required to recharge UPS batteries after the UPS system has been used during a power outage before the generators begin to come online.
Planned maintenance bypass that placed a short-term condition of extra load on a specific transformer.
Other short-term overloads of the electrical distribution system.
For critical environments where uptime is essential, a system that relies on the fan-assisted rating for normal operation may reduce overall system reliability.
The electrical design engineer must always evaluate cost implications and system reliability when designing electrical distribution systems. This type of evaluation becomes even more important in critical environments. The transformer is only one component in complex electrical distribution systems. As you can see, the design engineer must be armed with the most accurate information in order to make the proper transformer selection.
Lane is a registered professional engineer, licensed electrical administrator, RCDD/NTS specialist, TPM, LC, LEED A.P. and serves as director/vice president — engineering for SASCO Design/Build Electrical Contractors and Consultants in Cerritos, Calif., San Francisco, and Woodinville, Wash.


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Shopping Guide: Organic vs. All-Natural: What's the Difference?
These days, a trip to the grocery store can be overwhelming. Do you buy organic? Or are all-natural products just as good? What about chemical free?
Continue Reading Below
The Food and Drug Administration has taken some steps to make food labeling clearer, but it's easy to get misled by product labels. To become a more informed shopper, experts recommend doing research to learn what different terms and claims mean so you can better read labels while shopping.
To be labeled organic and bear the USDA certified organic seal, food and other products must be certified by a third-party agency that uses standards overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, experts say.
What's more, whether it's a manufacturer or a farmer seeking the seal, the three-year transition to organic and the attainment of the USDA certification seal is rigorous. Use of toxic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, synthetic hormones, genetic engineering and sewage sludge are prohibited, explains Janie Hoffman, founder and CEO of food company MammaChia and author of Chia Vitality.
But there is no standard for the natural label. A grower or manufacturer could include some or all of the components banned in organic products in an item and still stick 'natural' on the label, claims Alexis Baden-Mayer, political director of the Organic Consumers Organization.
The "natural" standards vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, adds Urvashi Rangan, executive director of food safety and sustainability at Consumer Reports. Products may contain a Natural Products Association (NPA) label but growers and manufacturers all do things a little differently.
"Used alone, the word natural means nothing," cautions Baden-Mayer. If you're buying natural, you have to look for more wording. Additional claims like non-GMO, no antibiotics administered, or no hormones help add some value to the label.
For example, Consumers Union recently filed complaints about caramel coloring. Meat labeled natural has no certifiable, enforceable standard to say there are no artificial colors or to reference how animals are raised or how they ate, Rangan claims. She also says the natural labels on meat could mean the animals have eaten all genetically-modified feed, and had their tails docked and trimmed. "That frankly falls short of consumer expectations."
The variance in natural claims particularly muddies the water with personal care products where an organic rating has not been as clearly defined as it has been for food. For example, a product could be identified as "hypoallergenic" or "fragrance free" but minus the enforceable standards that come with organic, a manufacturer can use an undesirable chemical to mask a fragrant odor, explains Rangan. "Therefore, the label is not meaningful."
But the USDA label is supported by the standards of the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) and means the product is either 100% or 95% organic, explains Rangan. You may also see other certification seals from organizations accredited by the USDA. "They are equally good and credible," assures Rangan and many can be checked at Consumer Reports' greener choice eco-labs site.
While not eligible to bear the USDA seal, a third category, "made with organic," means the product must contain 70% certified organic ingredients and be produced using only those processes and methods outlined in NSF/ANSI 305. When manufacturers use the NSF label or the NSF ANSI 305 description, it is another important distinction for consumers looking for safe, high-quality personal care products, Evans says.
An American National Standard, NSF/ANSI 305, is a voluntary standard that defines labeling and marketing requirements for personal care products that bear the "contains organic ingredients" designation and contain 70% or more organic content, says Jessica Evans, NSF International standards director. While the remaining 30% of ingredients is non-organic, that 30% is vetted to ensure it doesn't contain genetically modified organics, and ingredients derived from systems that use sewage sludge, irradiation, petrochemical derivatives or formaldehyde donors.
The standard does allow for limited chemical processes that are typical for personal care products but would not be allowed for food products. An example of this is the hydrogenation of oils used to increase shelf-stability and create the "waxy" feel in lotions and conditioners, Evans explains.
NSF/ANSI 305 certification is considered a best practice by the Organic Trade Association and is required by some retailers for personal care products that do not meet the National Organic Program standard for food-grade organic ingredients.
Retailer's Role
Consumers benefit when retailers do their due diligence on products, ingredients and sustainability standards related to quality and safety, and follow up by being transparent in the information and labeling they provide to customers, says Whole Foods global vice president of quality standards Margaret Wittenberg, who has worked closely with the USDA, the Organic Trade Association, the EPA, and the Marine Stewardship Council.
Retailers are also held accountable for their food and product displays. "It's illegal to market conventional produce or products as organic," says Baden-Mayer. Certifiers actually go onsite to make sure signs are hung by the appropriate section and bins are correctly labeled.
As the demand for healthier living grows, more retailers are entering the marketplace, touting increased organic offerings, education to support green and organic merchandising and other perks like convenience and economy.
For example, FreshDirect, a New York City-based retailer, says it maintains direct relationships with farmers many of whom have either converted or are planning to convert to organic. Larger chain grocery stores have also increased the amount of organic products on their shelves. Last month, discount giant Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) announced their partnership with Wild Oats to sell new packaged organic food.
The Whole Picture
A top concern among shoppers looking to buy organic products is that they tend to be cost prohibitive.
But retail chain Sprouts' Donna Egan says price combined with online- and in-store education attracts organic devotees along with mainstream consumers who want to learn more about the chain's "healthy living for less" philosophy, initially with produce and then in other areas like meat and dairy.
Experts say the jury is still out on whether organics actually pull in bigger bucks. Some claim high prices have started to dip. To be successful, organic producers have to establish a price point that appeals to the masses, says Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, executive vice president of Earth Friendly Products.
Here are some tips to bolster your healthy and green shopping IQ.
Know your labels. Learn what each term means to better identify good labels, but also the bad ones, advises Rangan. Identify what constitutes "just a lot of green noise."
Not knowing where to start is one barrier to eating healthy, adds Egan.
Ask questions. Many stores "who walk the talk" arm their employees with product and industry knowledge that can help consumers make purchasing decisions and give explanations. Reach out to them while shopping, suggests Wittenberg. You'll be exposed to new ideas and products.
Go mobile. There are many apps available to help consumers sort through and check labels in real-time while shopping to help make purchasing decisions.


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|Antony Bourne
Antony Bourne's responsibilities include acting as the global industry director for industrial manufacturing and high-tech as well as managing the other global industry directors. Antony has over 20 years' experience in the IT industry, including working in the manufacturing sector. Prior to joining IFS in 1997, he held business analyst positions with Ford Motor Company and AlliedSignal.
|Lauren Hartzenberg
Retail editor and lifestyle contributor at Bizcommunity.com. Cape Town apologist.
|Maroefah Smith
Enthusiastic UCT graduate with a passion for fashion, film and words..


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Environmentalists face high hurdle in Sequoia forest dispute
WASHINGTON — A Sequoia National Forest dispute reached the Supreme Court on Wednesday, giving conservative justices a chance to limit public challenges to federal land-management decisions.
Born on Burnt Ridge in mountainous Tulare County, Calif., the dispute now reaches nationwide. During hour-long oral argument, several justices seemed prepared to block activists from suing the Forest Service unless they could point to a specific forest-by-forest harm.
"They are just people interested in forests throughout the United States," Associate Justice Antonin Scalia said of activists. "That's quite different from saying, 'I am about to suffer harm, imminent harm, to me."
The case, Summers v. Earth Island Institute, was one of two significant environmental cases considered Wednesday morning. The other case pit whale safety against Navy training requirements, and it drew a larger crowd. Both cases, though, reached justices who sounded notably sympathetic to Bush administration arguments.
The administration argues that activists should only be allowed to challenge specific forest-by-forest decisions, rather than overall Forest Service policies in the abstract. This would complicate business for environmentalists.
"The standing has to focus on the particular site-specific place where the individual has visited," Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler argued.
Chief Justice John Roberts seemingly agreed that environmentalists faced a "high hurdle . . . to surmount" because of prior Supreme Court decisions restricting lawsuits to federal agency decisions that have been "flushed out by some concrete action."
Summers v. Earth Island Institute started with a 238-acre salvage-logging project planned following a devastating 2002 fire swept through the Sequoia National Forest. Using new rules imposed by the Bush administration, the Forest Service declared that no public comment period or administrative appeal process was needed for the Burnt Ridge project.
The administration determined that timber projects under 250 acres, forest thinning projects under 1,000 acres and controlled burns under 4,500 acres were all small enough to be exempt from the standard public comment and appeal proceedings.
Environmentalists sued, and the Forest Service agreed to withdraw the Burnt Ridge project. Even so, a federal judge imposed a nationwide injunction that blocks the Forest Service's exemptions for small projects.
The Bush administration argues the judge's order should be dissolved and the legal challenge dismissed since the original Burnt Ridge dispute has been taken care of.
While Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg raised objections, Kneedler argued that only "on-the-ground activity" and not mere "procedural regulation" could incite legal challenge.
This means activists such as Kernville resident Ara Marderosian might challenge how the Burnt Ridge project was handled, but not how the Forest Service handled public comments and appeals more generally. Environmentalists say they need to be able to challenge the nationwide rules.
"These are being applied on every forest on an ongoing basis," environmental attorney Matt Kenna told the court.
A decision is expected later in the court's term.
Supreme Court skeptical about smokers' deception claims
>Next president will reshape U.S. courts from top to bottom
>Supreme Court's new session to be devoted to business
>Plaintiffs, defendants find going slow in federal courts


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Today: Sometimes he's here, sometimes he's not. That's the life of a tugboat captain's wife. Right now he's not..
The Wedding: February 21, 1994
Our song, our first dance as husband and wife. "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole
The Beginning…This is the love story of me, Princess Rosebud, and the tugboat captain.
We met when I was a year into my deal with myself to stay celibate until I met someone, uh, worthy…
Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010… At 3:40 this afternoon, I was in the threshold of our garage door that leads into the living room where I had dragged in a ladder to help with my latest project–painting the living room walls a divine shade of seafoam green–to stay busy when the captain's out to sea. I mean, I can't shop ALL the time. A girl has to take a break now and again, right? I set the ladder down and went back to close the garage door. At that precise moment, the glass vases on the shelves surrounding our fireplace began to vibrate and wobble. Here in SoCal, I've endured a handful of quakes, but never such intense shaking.
Through the open garage door I saw the bicycles that hang from the ceiling sway back and forth. As I attempted to process THAT information, the crystal lustres on my grandmother's antique porcelain candelabras clashed and clinked. Terracotta tile flooring in the foyer seemed to roll back and forth as if I was on a sailboat in San Diego Bay, and I had a difficult time standing.
Feeling dizzy and unbalanced, I grasped the doorway for support. My poor kitty gave me a dirty look like I had interrupted her nap on purpose. So much for the concept that animals can sense an earthquake–not this spoiled little brat.
I ran up our oak-planked steps into the family room and through the patio doors onto the deck and shouted out to the neighbors.
"Look at your pool!"
"I know, this is crazy! Are you OK? Any damage?"
"I don't think so. A couple seashells fell off the shelf in the family room, but I was so freaked, I didn't want to stay inside, so I ran out back. I don't know if we should stay in the house or what we should do!"
"Us either! Let's see what's on the news."
This quake was so violent that it caused the water in their pool to slosh over the sides like a mini-tsunami. We each went back in our respective homes and turned on CNN. We discovered that there had been a 7.2 earthquake in Mexico. The first reports that came in revealed a lot of damage near the epicenter in Mexicali, but no major problems in San Diego; only broken glass and falling cans at grocery stores, which seemed pretty miraculous considering the earthquake's size.
Still spooked by the shaking and some pretty strong aftershocks, I surveyed the house, removing anything unsecured and potentially dangerous.
This is as good a time as any to confess something.
I'm a shell-aholic.
I've got shelves and shelves of seashells in every room–including the bathroom. Everyone collects seashells, right? One here, one there, as a memory of a great beach or a fun vacation, right? Well…I'm a seashell hoarder. I want ALL seashells–there are never enough seashells to collect or buy. I make things out of some of them–picture frames, mirrors, boxes–they line the walls in our two bathrooms and even our front door, but mostly they just hang out–in bowls, on shelves, anywhere and everywhere. There is no empty space in our house, and if there is, it's quickly filled with a shell–or a rock.
After a couple decades, we have come to an understanding, the captain and I. He thinks I'm crazy and obsessed with shells and rocks and driftwood, and I don't destroy his surfboards if he doesn't give me a hard time about it.
I anxiously emailed the captain who's half a world away in the middle of an ocean. I figured that if anything would cause him to cut his four month assignment short, this might be it. The way that emailing works in deep ocean situations is through a pretty inefficient satellite; sometimes it takes hours to complete the process. If there's a real emergency, I have a phone number to call, but this didn't really fit the definition. I wasn't hurt and the house wasn't damaged or anything. When he finally read the email and wrote back, he told me to "standby" at the house phone because he would try to make a call from the boat's sat phone. When he called, I used all my powers of persuasion to convince him to come home, but to no avail. He simply wasn't going to call the United States Coast Guard to fly a rescue mission a thousand miles from land to bring him home because the kitty and I were scared.
Well, I know where I stand in his list of priorities. Hmmm, I wonder if this is when I hatched my plot to get that Chanel. Hmmm, I wonder.
After that stressful event, and many aftershocks later, some pampering was definitely well deserved. That evening, I drew a bath in the upstairs bathroom we call the spa because it's decorated in earthy tones with seashells and beach glass surrounding the mirrors and along the walls.
(I know what you're thinking, and I don't care.)
I lit a fragrant and calming lavender candle, eased my body into the almost too-hot-to-stand-it water, and trickled in ginger and lemongrass aromatherapy oils. Sipping from a glass of merlot, I leaned back, closed my eyes, and my thoughts wandered.
Experiencing an earthquake; the dizziness, the weightless feeling in a tub of warm water; it all reminded me of falling in love. It all felt the same… and it all started with a fifty cent cup of coffee.
Newly divorced in 1990, I speed dated a few guys, including one totally boring and slightly scary man who immediately wanted me to meet his parents after the first (and last) date, along with a couple of total idiots whose combined IQs prolly didn't equal my Border Collie's. Those unsavory experiences became flashing red lights–STOP! NO! THINK!–impossible to ignore–that I seriously needed to take some time off the dating circuit.
It was the perfect time for a list.
I'm an inveterate list maker; I prioritize my errands and even list groceries in the order of where they're located in the store– like my own custom board game–where I start at the entrance and finish at the cash register.
I wrote this particular list with the hope that if I documented the qualities desired in a significant other, the universe would deliver the right one when all the planets were aligned. Or so I dreamed.
At midnight on August 7th, 1990, with a bottle of wine to seal the deal, I made a promise to myself–I would not date (or do anything else) for a very long time, and the next one would be "the one".
The List
1. Must call when he says he will. This is non-negotiable.
2. Must show up on time for dates.
3. Must love pets. Also non-negotiable.
4. No cigarettes. No smoking, and of course, no drugs.
5. Likes to exercise, work out, eat healthy, etc.
6. Must have gainful employment.
7. Must be nice and polite and honest and trustworthy.
8. Fidelity is of paramount importance.
9. When the time is right and he meets my son, my son has to like him. Also non-negotiable.
Fast forward to a year later, the following September 1991.
Part Two…Just a cup of coffee, the love story of Princess Rosebud and the tugboat captain
Related articles
- Where My Ladyz At: Strong Women Campaign – Princess Rosebud (thefurfiles.com)
- The Secret of Seashells (reflectivemindsets.wordpress.com)
- Friday Fun: Seashell Pancake Art! (beachtreasuresandtreasurebeaches.com)
- Free romance anthology + prizes (trsparties.com)
- Seashell Wallflowers! Display Your Beach Treasures. (beachtreasuresandtreasurebeaches.com)
- A New Direction? (chowderheadbazoo.typepad.com)
- Smith's Minted Rosebud Salve (dailyglow.com)
- Festive Seashell Caroler and Angel Ornaments (beachtreasuresandtreasurebeaches.com)


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Part of National Museums Liverpool
Also in this section…?
7 April 2006 - 30 July 2006
2006 marked the bi-centenary of the death of George Stubbs, Liverpool's most famous artist. The son of a currier who lived in Ormond Street, a stone's throw from Liverpool Town Hall, Stubbs was intimately acquainted with horses from his earliest days. He was to achieve fame throughout Europe for his publication 'The Anatomy of the Horse' (1766), a study of the equine skeleton and muscles on which he laboured for nearly ten years.
As well as being an anatomist, a draughtsman and a printmaker, Stubbs was also a great painter. Although his contemporaries pigeon-holed him as a portraitist of horses, Stubbs himself regretted this.
He sought to elevate his pictures through their subject-matter and by employing obvious classical design principles. He was a superb landscape artist, and the backgrounds of his works add enormously to their feeling and poetry.
This exhibition aimed to reflect the whole range of his paintings, in which people and other animals feature almost as much as horses.
Stubbs occupies a special place in the heart of many Liverpudlians, and to reflect this we asked a cross section of people connected with Liverpool, young and old, famous and unknown, to say what they felt about the pictures in the exhibition labels that were displayed at the Walker. You can read some of these labels in the exhibition website.
During the exhibition we asked visitors to contribute their own labels for the remaining paintings, through workshops and a label writing competition (please note that the competition closed on 4 June 2006).
The winning labels from the competition were displayed in the exhibition from 1 to 30 July 2006. You can read them plus some of the highly commended entries by runners up on this website.
Have a look at some of the works of art from each of the sections of the exhibition using the links below.
Other animals
Label writing competition winners
The exhibition has now closed but you can still do the following activities on this website:
Read more about George Stubbs and his paintings in National Museums Liverpool's collections in our online featured artist section.
This exhibition was organised by the Walker Art Gallery, National Museums Liverpool; Tate Britain, London and the Frick Collection, New York.
Sponsored by Halliwells
The views expressed in the labels accompanying this exhibition are those of the people credited on the labels and are not those of National Museums Liverpool.
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