text:
Creationism should be taught in schools as a scientific alternative to modern evolution theory based on natural selection. Creationism can fit within the context of a falsifiable scientific theory. Its introduction in the educational curriculum is necessary to provide a fair balance of values.
This is an excerpt from my book Beyond Intelligent Design: From an Autonomous Universe to a Functional Virtual reality:
"There is something more important than physics or metaphysics that warrants serious consideration of an alternative look at our world: it is the system of values cultivated in people by a science that has placed too much emphasis on the purported autonomy of the material world. The results of the cultivation of this system of values are evident in our rapidly growing technological society, which is dominated by greed and lack of respect for the environment and human values. Even if we are not certain that the alternative look of the world presented in this book is correct, we should still introduce it, or some suitable version of it, into the educational curriculum for the purpose of providing a balance of values. Some would argue that this should be the task of ethics or religion courses without a need for providing alternative theories about the nature of physical reality. However, as I have already pointed out in this book, these are the not subjects that shape value systems any longer in a technologically and material society."
You can find the book in Amazon.


text:
Effect of Sugar on Behavior
The effect of sugar intake on children's behavior is a hotly debated topic in pediatrics. Parents and educators often contend that sugar and other carbohydrate ingestion can dramatically impact behavior, particularly activity levels.
Physicians, on the other hand, have looked at controlled studies of sugar intake and have not found hypoglycemia or other blood sugar abnormalities in children who are consuming large amounts of sugar. Numerous researchers reason that the problem is not sugar, per se, but highly refined sugars and carbohydrates, which enter the bloodstream quickly and produce more rapid fluctuations in blood glucose levels.
Here are some of the facts:
* Sugar is high in calories and has little nutritional value like vitamins, minerals, protein or fiber. Sugar is typically added to foods during processing, preparation or at the table. Typical "junk foods" that are high in sugar include soda, cookies, cake, candy, and frozen desserts. However, many brands of children's favorite foods — such as yogurt, cereal, and fruit juice — also contain large amounts of added sugar.
* Naturally occurring (intrinsic) sugars are "good" sugars that are an integral part of whole fruit, vegetable, and milk products (such as fructose found in fruit and lactose found in milk).
* Added (extrinsic) sugars are "bad" sugars and syrups that are added to foods during processing or preparation and include sugars and syrups added at the table.
* Studies show that children are consuming too much sugar. The American Heart Association (AHA) found children as young as 1 to 3 years old consuming around 12 teaspoons of sugar per day. By the time a child is 4 to 8 years old, sugar consumption jumps to an average of 21 teaspoons a day. These amounts are way above the recommended intake of sugar. Diets high in sugar have also been linked to other health issues in children including tooth decay and obesity.
In 2009, the AHA released new recommendations for children's consumption of sugar:
* Toddlers and preschoolers with a daily caloric intake of 1,200 to 1,400 calories should not consume more than 170 calories, or about 4 teaspoons (around 17 grams) of added sugar a day.
* Children ages 4 to 8 with a daily caloric intake of 1,600 calories should consume no more than 130 calories, or about 3 teaspoons (around 12 and a half grams) of added sugar a day. (One teaspoon of sugar is equal to about 4.2 grams.)
Friday: More recommendations

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Pork pie hat
A pork pie hat is one of several different styles of hat that have been popular in one context or another since the mid-19th century, all of which bear superficial resemblance to a pork pie.[1]
The first hat to be called a pork pie was a hat worn primarily by British and American women from around 1830 through to about 1865. It consisted of a small round hat with a narrow curled-up brim, a low flat or slightly domed crown with a crease running around the inside top edge, and usually with a ribbon or hatband fastened around the shoulder where the crown joined the brim.[2] It was often worn with a small feather or two attached to a bow on one side of the hat. Such hats might be made of any number of materials (straw, felt, cotton canvas covered in silk, etc.). What caused them to be called "pork pies" was the shape and crease of the crown and the narrowness of the brim (sometimes called a "stingy brim" in reference to its brevity).
Buster Keaton and the 1920sEdit
The pork pie began to appear in Britain as a man's hat not long after the turn of the century in the fashion style of the man-about-town, but its resurgence in the United States in the 1920s is credited to the silent film actor Buster Keaton who wore them in many of his films.[3] The hats from his films were ones the actor made himself by converting fedoras and other hats into pork pies,[4] creating more than a thousand in his lifetime.[5] This kind of pork pie had a very flat top and similar short flat brim.
1930s and 1940sEdit
The heyday of the pork pie hat occurred during the Great Depression. In this incarnation, the pork pie regained its snap brim and increased slightly in height. The dished crown of such hats became known among milliners as "telescopic crowns" or "tight telescopes" because when worn the top could be made to pop up slightly.[6] Furthermore, as stated in a newspaper clipping from the mid-1930s: "The true pork pie hat is so made that it cannot be worn successfully except when telescoped." The same clipping refers to the hat also as "the bi crowned".[7] Among famous wearers of the pork pie during this era are Frank Lloyd Wright, whose pork pie hat had a very wide brim and rather tall crown. Lester Young, whose career as a jazz saxophonist spans from the mid 1920s to the late 1950s, regularly wore a pork pie hat during his performances, and after his death the composer Charles Mingus wrote an elegy for him titled "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat". Young's pork pie had a broader brim than seen in earlier styles but retained the definitive round, flat, creased crown.
In African American culture in the 1940s the pork pie—flashy, feathered, color-coordinated—became associated with the zoot suit. By 1944 the hat was even prevalent in New Guinea.[8]
Post 1950Edit
After the end of World War II the pork pie's broad popularity declined somewhat, though as a result of the zoot suit connection it continued its association with African American music culture, particularly jazz, blues, and ska. In television between 1951 and 1955, Art Carney frequently wore one in his characterization of Ed Norton in The Honeymooners, and in Puerto Rico the actor Joaquín Monserrat, known as Pacheco, was the host of many children's 1950s TV shows and was known for his straw pork pie hat and bow tie—in this incarnation, the pork pie returned to its Buster Keaton style with rigidly flat brim and extremely low flat crown.
In the 1960s in Jamaica, the "rude boy" subculture popularized the hat and brought it back into style in the United Kingdom, thereby influencing its occasional appearance in the mod and rave subculture.
The porkpie hat enjoyed a slight resurgence in exposure and popularity after Gene Hackman's character Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle wore one in the 1971 film The French Connection.[9] Doyle was based on real-life policeman Eddie Egan, who played the captain in the film, and his exploits. Egan was famous all his life for wearing a pork pie hat, and refused to surrender his hat to Gene Hackman to wear in the film. The producers were forced to obtain Hackman's hat elsewhere.[10] At about the same time, Robert De Niro wore a pork pie hat in the 1973 film Mean Streets (the same hat he wore when he auditioned for the film).[11]
Contemporary associationsEdit
Today the wearing of a pork pie hat retains some of its 1930s and 40s associations. Fashion writer Glenn O'Brien says, "the porkpie hat is the mark of the determined hipster, the kind of cat you might see hanging around a jazz club or a pool hall, maybe wearing a button-front leather jacket and pointy shoes. It's a Tom Waits, Johnny Thunders kind of hat. It has a narrower brim than a fedora and a flat top with a circular indent. Usually the brim is worn up. It is often worn with a goatee, soul patch, and/or toothpick."[12] Musician D.J. Bonebrake, of X and The Flesh Eaters, has accordingly worn a pork pie hat for many years.
David Kramer, the well known South African, guitar playing, folk musician wears a pork pie hat. He is renowned for always appearing in bright red velskoen (literally translated from Afrikaans as 'leather shoes') and a very low sitting pork pie hat.
Bryan Cranston's character Walter White wears a pork pie hat in the AMC series Breaking Bad when he appears as his alter ego "Heisenberg", whose persona is associated with the hat. Sony Pictures Television donated "Heisenberg's" hat to the Smithsonian Institution[13]. The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest typically features a pork pie hat–wearing hype man announcing the entry of each contestant, invoking the carnival barkers of the early 20th century.
- ^ Article in online etymological dictionary. Etymonline.com.
- ^ Lewandowski, Elizabeth J. (2011). The Complete Costume Dictionary. Scarecrow. p. 236. ISBN 9780810877856.
- ^ Sherwood, Dana; Wood, Sandy (2007). The Pocket Idiot's Guide to More Not So Useless Facts. Penguin. p. 93. ISBN 9781436294553.
- ^ Bryant, Vickie; Hess, Camille (2012). Top O' Hill Terrace. Arcadia. p. 39. ISBN 9780738585277.
- ^ "How to Make a Porkpie Hat". Buster Keaton, interviewed in 1964 at the Movieland Wax Museum. Henry Gris. Busterkeaton.com.
- ^ Barry, Dan (2009). City Lights: Stories About New York. Macmillan. p. 287. ISBN 9780312538910.
- ^ The true pork pie hat Archived 15 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Appalachian History (24 March 2008).
- ^ Australia in the War of 1939–1945: Series 1. Army, Volume VI—The New Guinea Offensives (First ed.). Canberra: Australian War Memorial. 1961. p. 766. OCLC 254562463.
- ^ porkpie (clothing) – Britannica Encyclopedia.
- ^ Wilkins, Barbara. (10 November 1975) The Real Popeye Doyle, Eddie Egan, Cops a Comeback in Joe Forrester. People.
- ^ Rausch, Andrew J. (2010). The Films of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro. Scarecrow. p. 7. ISBN 9780810874145.
- ^ O'Brien, Glenn (2011). How to Be a Man: A Guide to Style and Behavior for the Modern Gentleman. Random House Digital. p. 101. ISBN 9780847835478.
- ^ Smithsonian (10 November 2015). "10 #BreakingBad items join the @amhistorymuseum collection. Sorry #RoofPizza fans, it didn't make the cut.pic.twitter.com/v3c9NOOi7K".
External linksEdit
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pork pie hats.
- Pork Pie Hat vs. Fedora—Article on key differences in hat styles


text:
By Dana Von Berg
At the University of Arizona Libraries we have a professional book making machine known as the Espresso Book Machine which produces professional, self-published books. It is ideal for anyone interested in self-publishing their work. Examples include aspiring authors preferring to bypass expensive publishing houses, individuals who would like to publish their memoirs or a graduate student who wants to make copies of their dissertation to give to family and friends. Recently an instructor for a beginning photography course had each of his students print a book of their photographic portfolios as their final project. The Espresso Book Machine was used for printing these student portfolios. It produced very clear, high quality color prints of each student's photographs. There are very few of these machines in the country so the University of Arizona Libraries feel very fortunate to be able to provide this service for customers. For more information, please visit our website at: http://www.library.arizona.edu/services/self-publishing.


text:
Sellout.Woot! is offering a refurbished Toshiba Thrive 10.1" 32GB Android Tablet with Wi-Fi for only $319.99 + $5 S&H. This is a pretty sweet Android Tablet, back when I was debating what tablet to buy it came down to the Thrive and the ASUS Transformer. In the end I decided on the Transformer (though I ended up holding out for the Transformer Prime, which I now have and love), but it was a near thing.
The Thrive has specs pretty much the same as all the other Android tablets of the same generation. It has a 1GHz dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 CPU, a 10.1? 1280×800 display, 1GB RAM, 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, 32GB of built-in storage, etc. It is a little bulkier than the other tablets – but that is due to its unique features. The back cover of the tablet is removable and swappable for different colors, though the main reason it is removable is to allow the battery to be swapped. This is the only Android tablet I'm aware of with a removable battery.
The bulk is also due in part to the inclusion of full size ports. While other tablets may have microUSB, microHDMI, microSD – or may even lack some or all of these features entirely, relying solely on a proprietary connector – the Thrive has a full size USB port, a full size HDMI port, a full size SD slot, and a miniUSB port, in addition to a docking connector. The inclusion of full size ports allows you to use standard cables, and to connect standard USB input devices (keyboard & mouse) if you wish. Connect a keyboard and mouse to the USB port (using a USB hub if you need to), and connect the HDMI to an external display, and you can use the Thrive like a desktop machine.
The 32GB Toshiba Thrive sells new for $479.99 at Amazon, so this is a pretty good deal.


text:
Feedburner: get the email addresses of your list of subscribers!
You may have heard the rumor that Google is preparing to close Feedburner October 20. In fact, it is not that Feedburner closes but the API disappears. Feedburner has never been a priority for Google now seems to be completely abandoned.
Despite this lack of Google, it would be surprising Feedburner closes without warning. However, I strongly suggest you download a backup copy of the mailing list email your blog. This list that you have built over months and years is undoubtedly a key factor in the distribution of the contents of your blog.
How to retrieve email addresses from your list of subscribers on Feedburner:
- Access your account Feedburner.
- Once Feedburner, select the stream of your blog.
- Then, select the Publicize.
- On this window, in the left column, select Email Subscriptions.
- A sub-menu will appear, click Subscription Management.
- At the bottom of the page, click on the link that is called Subscribers View Details.
Finally, click Export CSV.
Once you have your list of subscribers in hand, you can easily migrate your customers to another service. There are several alternatives to turn your Feedburner RSS feed newsletter. I suggest you take a look at services like Wysija or MailChimp.


text:
Used Varistors
BMI Surplus offers a broad range of new and quality used Varsitors in the used Electronic Test Equipment product category. We stock used Varsitors such as, NTE NTE1V017 Varistor, Harris V131BA60 Metal-Oxide Varistors, and more used Varsitors and used Electronic Test Equipment Components from leading industry manufacturers.
Shop Used Varsitors Online
Buy Online or feel free to call 781-871-8868 if you can't find the used electronic equipment you're looking for... we're ready to help you - and will consider all reasonable offers on any used electronic test equipment product!
Items per page


text:
After reading countless stories of millennials and gen-Xers who shoulder many of the same debts, we asked ourselves how we ended up in the same situation as everyone else…
"When did we decide that 'debt' was something we could afford?"
With that unanswered question in mind, we made 2015 the year we change our lives. We embarked on a journey to achieve debt freedom.
It took two years, but we're happy to report that we're 100% debt free (no mortgage!).
How We Achieved Debt Freedom in Two Years
To achieve debt freedom, set two personal finance goals: cut our expenses and increase our income.
Cutting our expenses and increasing our income at the same time meant we had more money to apply to our debt, so we paid it off faster than if we had only used one of those two strategies.
March 2017: $0 (We paid off the last student loan, so we are 100% debt free!)
February 2017: $10,286.53
January 2017: $10,679.54
December 2016: $23,785.73
November 2016: $24,495.32 (We paid off the small house mortgage!)
October 2016: $38,005.47
September 2016: $41,241.00
August 2016: $42,012.70
July 2016: $54,686.12
June 2016: $60,048.36
May 2016: $65,981.97 (We sold the big house and shed its mortgage!)
April 2016: $219,071.25
March 2016: $223,946.70
February 2016: $227,062.32
January 2016: $227,913.35
December 2015: $234,443.56
November 2015: $240,352.35 (We took on a mortgage for the small house.)
October 2015: $188,455.59 (We paid off our credit card debt!)
September 2015: $194,844.52
August 2015: $197,673.60
July 2015: $200,098.43
June 2015: $200,941.46
May 2015: $202,583.02
April 2015: $204,971.31 (We include the mortgage, student loans and credit card debts.)
March 2015: We decided to take control of our personal finance situation and get out of debt. The debts we had at the start of our personal finance journey (a month before we started blogging)…
- Credit Cards: $16,515
- Mortgage: $156,013
- Student Loans: $36,079
How We Cut Our Expenses to Save Money & Pay Off Debt
1. PF knowledge: On a regular basis, we read personal finance books, blog posts, and listen to personal finance podcasts to learn more about managing money.
2. Budgeting: We created a budget for our money. Once we knew where we were spending our money, we were able to make adjustments to reallocate more money to our debt repayment.
3. Cutting housing-related expenses: We downsized to a small house to cut housing-related expenses, including utilities and taxes.
4. Cutting transportation-related expenses: We're a one-car family.
5. Shopping ban for clothing: We hadn't purchased clothes for two years while we were getting out of debt.
6. Cutting cable: We did this several years ago and haven't looked back. We don't have Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon, either.
7. Coupon clipping: We clipped coupons for fresh berries from Driscoll's. We used the grocery coupon app Ibotta to clip coupons.
8. Cutting restaurant / going out for meals: We stopped going out for meals and started cooking at home more often.
9. DIY: Whenever we can, we do it ourselves. We maintain our own home, fix our car, make our own food, and much more.
10. Water: We drink water. It's a free or cheap, no calorie drink, so we stopped buying bottled drinks of all kinds; our favorite water bottle is the Hydro Flask (aff link).
11. Coffee: We make espresso with a Bialetti.
12. Lawn Maintenance: We DIY. Our lawn at the small house is quite small, so we're able to push a mower around fairly quickly.
13: Home Maintenance: We painted our own fence and porch. We clean our own house.
14. Cell Phone Service: Since we pay for only one of our cell phones, we switched to Xfinity Mobile to cut our bill significantly.


text:
Our Story
The idea behind Brad Sears Shave Works was born in late 2012 when Brad, a professional studio wood turner, together with his wife Nancy (who manages our office functions), set out to develop a more comfortable shaving brush that adheres to time-proven design and ergonomic principles.
Joining several shaving forums, Brad submitted several of his new brush designs for critique by fellow wet shaving enthusiasts. From their comments and commissions emerged new classically-inspired shaving brush patterns, the most popular of which are offered for your consideration.
Our philosophy harkens back to a slower time--a time when shaving brushes were created one at a time by highly trained master craftsmen using detailed engineering drawings, meticulously constructed wooden reference patterns and hand-held calipers to aid a finely trained eye. Such shaving brushes are a delight to behold and a pleasure to use.
Because our shaving brushes are fully hand-crafted as opposed to the computer-controlled industrial production typified by modern shaving brush makers, each brush is slightly different. Like the classic Purdy, Holland & Holland and Boss double guns, these subtle differences assure the owner that his (or her!) shaving brush is unique in all the world!
And because each brush is hand-made, our production is limited to 15--30 brushes a week. Therefore, you will probably need to wait a while before your brush is ready for delivery. In this--as in many other worthwhile endeavors--your patience will be rewarded!
In that regard, Brad adheres to the old-fashioned notion that each shaving brush that leaves his studio represents a bond of trust with its new owner--a promise that it is both beautiful and will function flawlessly for years to come.
We can be reached through the "Contact" page of this website or by phone at +(570) 807-8100.


text:
HP SPECTRE X360 13T-AP0080TU, 8th Generation CI7-8565U 1.8Ghz UP TO 4.6 Ghz, 8GB Ram, 512GB SSD HDD, 13.3″ FHD LED TOUCH SCREEN, DARK ASH SLIVER (5MG97PA)
Time is now on your side. With this revolutionary battery life in a quad-core convertible, you have more of it. Power through your longest days and nights on a dazzling up to 4K touchscreen. And, go further with the thin, light, and portable Spectre convertible - featuring a gem-cut, all-aluminum designed to elegantly take you wherever your passions lead you.
Long-lasting battery life
With long-lasting battery life [2] in a quad-core convertible you get more time to do more of what you love. Stay at peak performance longer and re-energize quickly with HP Fast Charge.
The power to take you farther
Elevate your every day with the most stunning Spectre yet—featuring the latest Intel® Core™ processor for top-of-the-line efficiency and speed. Heighten your Spectre's performance to a new level by managing thermal settings and choosing from cool, quiet, or performance modes depending on needs.
Securely shape your world
Effortlessly move through your world with enhanced security features designed to safeguard your privacy. From an integrated IR camera, fingerprint reader, and privacy camera kill switch for secure interactions with your PC to the optional HP Sure View privacy screen; you can work confidently knowing your information is secure and private.
Rs. 227,000
Confirm price and availability on call
Summary: Intel® Core™ i7-8565U QuadCore Processor (8 MB cache, 4 cores 8 Threads),512 GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD,8 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (1 x 8 GB),13.3" diagonal FHD IPS BrightView WLED-backlit multitouch-enabled edge-to-edge glas
- Brand: Hewlett-Packard
- Product Code: 5MG97PA
- Availability: In Stock
Facebook Users
Non Facebook Users
Tags: HP SPECTRE X360 13T-AP0080TU, 8th Generation CI7-8565U 1.8Ghz UP TO 4.6 Ghz, 8GB Ram, 512GB SSD HDD, 13.3″ FHD LED TOUCH SCREEN, DARK ASH SLIVER (5MG97PA)


text:
This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is one of the rarest mammal species in North America. Captive breeding has prevented extinction of this species, but successful reintroduction of ferrets into their native grassland habitat is a complex endeavor. As specialist predators, ferrets depend almost exclusively on prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) for both food and shelter, so successful black-footed ferret reintroduction hinges on maintaining large colonies of prairie dogs. However, prairie dogs are also considered agricultural pests and are often subjected to eradication programs. These eradication programs hamper efforts to reintroduce ferrets and disrupt the valuable ecosystem services prairie dogs provide in their role as both keystone and foundation species. Even when agreements are reached to maintain prairie dog colonies, plague (Yersinia pestis), which infects both prairie dogs and ferrets, can threaten the success of a ferret reintroduction program. We describe the research on the complex ecological relationships and socio-environmental challenges of reintroducing endangered black-footed ferrets, with a focus on the most abundant prairie dog species, the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus).
- © 2018 by the Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. Please direct all requests for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Press's Reprints and Permissions web page, www.ucpress.edu/journals.php?p=reprints.


text: Flake (The Skin I'm In, 1998) gives a rock-solid portrayal of an inner-city life where money colors everything. At 13, Raspberry avidly collects opportunities to make a little green wherever she can find them. Readers see her obsession driving her to peddle rotten chocolate and spare pencils long before they learn of her history of living on the street or the tenuousness of her home security that makes her greed understandable. Her friends both express disgust at her avidity and want in on the spoils. Raspberry's mom and girlfriends Janae, Mai, and Zora along with the guys that swirl around them leap to life as Raspberry doggedly pursues her desire to stash enough money away for some kind of safety. But there is never enough, and earnings are hard to hang onto. The energetic interaction of the projects' neighborhood, lively language, the realistic school scenes and Raspberry's moneymaking schemes, along with the inevitable convoluted ethical dilemmas keep the pace brisk. Suddenly, Mom erupts when she thinks Raspberry's begun to steal, and she tosses money out the window in an effort to wake her up. The result is that their home is burglarized. Realizing they'll never be safe there again, the two hit the streets in a move that devastates Raspberry. There's a satisfying fairy-tale ending, but Flake successfully conveys a situation where life is precarious. Kids who live like Raspberry will find validation in seeing themselves sympathetically portrayed, and more pampered readers will find their eyes opened wide. (Fiction. 10-14)


text:
Rabbits should be spayed or neutered for multiple reasons, namely:
• To prevent diseases, mainly uterine cancer
• To be able to have two or more rabbits together
• To prevent stress caused by hormones
• To have a better pet
All of these factors will help the rabbit's health and may let it live longer. In this text, I will explain more thoroughly why spaying and neutering can help you maintain a healthy, happy rabbit.
Preventing diseases
Unspayed female rabbits are exposed to a high risk of uterine cancer. If spayed, the uterus and ovaries are removed, and the risk is therefore eliminated. Wild rabbits are meant to begin reproducing at a young age and continue reproducing frequently. As a result, the tissue in the uterus is fairly active. This means that the cells of the uterine tissue are constantly dividing, and mutations that can lead to tumors happen quite often. (Kruse 2003)
Different studies of uterine cancer in rabbits show different results. Regardless, it is agreed that it is a common disease that affects many unspayed female rabbits. Here are some quotations from books and articles that show the prevalence of uterine cancer.
"Up to 85% of female rabbits develop uterine cancer by the age of four if they have not been spayed." (Kruse 2003)
"Unspayed female rabbits have a very high incidence of ovarian and uterine cancer – as high as 80-90% by age three." (Smith 2003:32)
"Spaying eliminates the risk of uterine cancer (up to 80% in 5-years old)." (Harriman 2005:72)
"The classic study (Greene, 1958) which is so widely quoted in houserabbit circles showed 4% of does had uterine cancer age 2-3 years of age, rising to 80% at 5-6 years. It doesn't make any difference whether the doe has been bred from or not (Adams, 1962) or what breed she is." (Dykes 2004)
Regardless of which statistics are the most correct, one can safely say that the risk of getting uterine cancer in an unspayed female rabbit is alarmingly high. Not only is the rabbit exposed to uterine cancer, she is also a prey animal and a master in disguising her pains. That will in most cases mean that it is too late to treat the cancer when it's first discovered, seeing as the cancer may have spread, often to the lungs. (Kruse 2003)
The risk of diseases for fertile males are not very well recognised today. It is possible that elderly, un-neutered males are exposed to testicular cancer, prostate cancer and other prostate tumors, but this is not conclusively proven through research. (Kruse 2003)
It is stated that by using less of the rabbit's energy to look for a mate, keep up the sex drifts, and protect their territory, the rabbit will have more energy for other bodily functions and generally be more healthy.
Two or more rabbits
Rabbits are social animals and appreciate the company of other rabbits. Sexual and aggressive behavior caused by hormones needs to be eliminated for the rabbits to be friends, regardless of sexes. When the rabbit is spayed or neutered, its body will stop producing fertility hormones, and its aggressive behavior is likely to stop, that is, if hormones were the cause of the behavior. (HRS)
Many are convinced that rabbits will have a better life by living together. If having multiple rabbits interests you, you may read the articles about bonding on the page Information about Rabbits.
Prevent stress caused by hormones and frustration
Stress caused by hormones and general frustration can be shown in sexual, aggressive and territorial behavior. The males may try to mate with objects like your hand or a teddy bear, and will run around you in circles, humming, to attempt to charm you into mating. The male rabbit will often mark its territory with droppings and by spraying urine over an area, and he can be aggressive towards people or other rabbits, especially in its own territory. These behaviors will often stop or fade with neutering. (Kruse 2003, SLD, Rabbit Welfare Fund, Pavia 2003, Davis & Demello 2003)
In female rabbits, stress caused by hormones and general frustration will be shown as repeated false pregnancies, aggressiveness and protection of her territory in connection with maturing and the estrous cycle. Female rabbits can make grunting noises and punch with their front paws towards people and other rabbits trespassing. They may also mark their territory with droppings and spraying. This behavior usually fades with spaying. (SDL, Rabbit Welfare Fund 2007, Pavia 2003, Davis & Demello 2003)
One should note that rabbits are colony animals; they live side by side in nature, each with their own territory. Rabbits will always be territorial because of this, but to a lesser extent when spayed or neutered.
To have a better pet
When the rabbit stops its aggressive, sexual and territorial behavior, it is of course better- suited to be a pet, especially if it lives indoors. The spayed or neutered rabbit will often be a better toilet-user and easier to handle. It is likely to get a more calm temper, want more cuddles, and decrease destructive behavior such as chewing and digging (HRS, Kruse 2003, Smith 2003)
By Ida N Hartvedt (http://www.hjemme.no/idaweb/kastrering.html) (Norwegian page)
Translated to English by Silje Hatlø Hagen
Davis, S. & Demello, M. (2003): Stories rabbits tell, a natural and cultural history of a misunderstood creature. Latern Books, New York.
Harriman, M. (2005): House Rabbit Handbook, how to live with an urban rabbit. 4. utgave, Drollery Press, California.
Pavia, P. (2003): Rabbits for dummies. Wiley Publishing, Indiana.
Smith, K. (2003): Rabbit Health in the 21st century, a guide for bunny parents. 2. utgave, iUniverse, Inc, Lincoln.
Dykes, L. (2004): Uterine cancer in the doe: What's the story? Rabbit Welfare Fund (RWF): http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resource ... terine.htm Lest 14.01.08
House Rabbit Society (HRS): Spaying and neutering. http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/spay-neuter.html Read 14.01.08. No author/year mentioned
Kruse, A (2003): Why spay your rabbit? House Rabbit Network Articles: http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/spay.shtml Read 14.01.08.
Rabbit Welfare Fund (RWF)(2007): The RWF guide to having your rabbit neutered. http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resource ... 8.8.07.pdf Read 18.01.08. No author mentioned
Smådyrakutten Lillestrøm Dyreklinikk (SLD): Kanin, Generelt. http://www.smadyrakutten.no/Kanin.html 18.01.08. No author/year mentioned (Norwegian veterinary clinic's informatin\on pages, Rabbits, General info)
Secondary sources:
Adams, WM Jr 1962 The natural history of adenocarcinoma of the uterus in the Phipps rabbit colony. N. Med. Sci Thesis, Henry Phipps Institute, Univ of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Greene, HSN 1958 Adenocarcinoma of the uterine fundus in aged rabbits. Am J. Pathol. 68: 653-56
Copyright (c) 2008. All rights reserved. Ida N Hartvedt


text:
"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is a type of lyric poem. This poem is not meant to tell a story, but it works to show the emotions and feelings that the poet is experiencing.
This poem has a total of four stanzas which are the sections of the poem. Each of these has five lines and every other line rhymes, except the fifth line in each of the stanzas. The rhyme scheme follows an ABAAB pattern and with the exception of the poem's last line, all of the rhymes are masculine and strict. Each of the lines contain four stressed syllables.


text:
Getting empty error dialog
I just installed the latest DataBridge in DW CC 2015 (via DMX Extension Manager). When I selected WebAssist > SecurityAssist > Authenticate User while my log-in page is open, I get an empty error dialog (see attached screen grab). No text, nothing.
Do I need to add something else? Like the MySQLi server behaviors or does DataBridge only work with the old DW database/behaviors/server behavior windows installed?
Thanks - Joe


text:
SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - A brief power outage caused food stamp recipients in 17 states to lose access for much of Saturday to the electronic system used by stores to verify their benefits, leaving many unable to buy groceries, the company that manages the system said.
The power outage that started the problem was fixed within 20 minutes, Xerox Corp spokesman Kevin Lightfoot said, but shoppers kept running into difficulties through the day.
People enrolled in the government food assistance program use plastic vouchers similar to debit cards. Starting at about 11 a.m. EDT, some of those cards stopped working, Lightfoot said.
Shortly before 10 p.m. EDT, the company said access was restored, and promised to work to improve its system so that similar events do not occur.
"We realize that access to these benefits is important to families in the states we serve," the company said in a statement provided by Lightfoot. "We continue to investigate the cause of the issue so we can take steps to ensure a similar interruption does not re-occur."
The glitch was unrelated to the partial federal government shutdown that began on October 1, Lightfoot said, adding it was unclear how many beneficiaries were affected.
The breakdown involved the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Women, Infants and Children program.
Edlyn Bautista, assistant manager at the Food Basics supermarket in Belleville, New Jersey, said many customers abandoned their groceries in frustration.
"A lot of carts were left behind," Bautista said. "The store is empty."
At the Pathmark grocery in Newark, New Jersey, workers had to reshelve perishable items after customers walked away, according to store officials.
"Initially, the customers were leaving carriages in the aisle because we couldn't give them a timetable," said a store manager who asked not to be identified. "It's been an all-day thing."
In most states, retailers can get permission to issue emergency paper vouchers that allow people to buy food. But some states limit the value of those vouchers, Lightfoot said.
For example, beneficiaries in Ohio can buy no more than $50 of groceries on an emergency voucher, he said.
States experiencing problems were Alabama, California, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia, Lightfoot said.
Reporting by Sharon Bernstein and David Jones; Editing by David Bailey, Xavier Briand and Peter Cooney


text:
Instantel® vibration and overpressure monitors are among the most versatile seismographs available in the world today. From the simplest to the most demanding applications, Instantel® Micromate® and Minimate® instruments offer innovative features, specialized sensors, and a variety of recording formats that increase their functionality and allow for flexibility across a wide variety of applications.
Trusted in over 110 countries, Instantel seismographs monitor ground vibration, air blasts, and water pressure changes created by blasting, demolition, mining, quarrying, and construction activities. Instantel monitors are the instruments of choice for:


text:
Petzl TACTIKKA® - 200 Lumens
Compact headlamp with white light and red light for preserving night vision and stealth. 200 lumens
Designed for occasional use, the TACTIKKA headlamp offers 200 lumens of power and versatile lighting: comfortable proximity lighting for close-range work and red lighting to preserve night vision and stealth. TACTIKKA is a HYBRID headlamp that is compatible with the CORE rechargeable battery.


text:
#13 – 'Ga-Ga-Ga-Ghost!?!'
(Originally published 3/16/09.)
Well, here it is. The Holy Grail that followers of the Paranormal have been waiting their entire lives for. The indisputable, ironclad photographic proof that yes, spiritual entities walk among us in reality. Gosh, I really should have tipped off the folks at Coast to Coast or TAPS beforehand; this could have been a real media frenzy had I marketed it correctly. In fact, until I saw the photos that I am about to present to you, I thought that correct marketing was all you really needed to make the Paranormal come to life; no real evidence required. Nonetheless, prepare to have your minds collectively blown across the room and spattered against the wall.
It's become a lot harder for me to believe in ghosts now that I've stopped believing in an Afterlife. After all, there's not much space for the supernatural to roam if I've mentally closed the door on the idea that we go anywhere when we die. Still, I'm relatively pleased with my revelation, remain optimistic about the current (and theoretically, only) life I'm living, and still have no legit proof that spirits are real, despite 20 years of my own personal searching.
It's a bummer, but I can't pretend anymore. I'm not going to be like devoted followers of faith healers and mediums, convinced that these con artists have a gift from God, when what they're really clinging to is the extreme hope that there's somehow more to life than simply being mortal. It's comforting as all get out, but…you know, makes absolutely no sense in a logical reality.
For the record, I still hope that I'm 100% wrong about all of this, but I'm probably not. The beauty of believing or denying the Afterlife, however, is that you'll likely never know if you were right or wrong. While it would certainly be nice to laugh in the face of those who insist on praying for my sinful, Agnostic soul, it sort of defeats the purpose of my beliefs to make it so. Proof in the Pudding, and soforth.
I used to be obsessed with the paranormal, and I have about 60 books and 30 videos on the matter to prove it. There used to be a particular book on ghosts that I would routinely check out of the elementary school library each week until I was told I could no longer read it (in fact, the photograph of the 'Missus' in my 'First Time Here?' essay is taken directly from it). And while I no longer peruse websites for nights at a time or seek further opinions on the truth of the paranormal, I still find the entire genre interesting on a completely different level than I did as a kid: a Social level.
To me, the question is no longer, "Are ghosts real?" Now, I care more about the question, "Why do people believe in ghosts?" Why do people believe in anything that lacks tangible proof, really? Is the terror of death so great that it inspires faith merely to counteract the thought of the inevitable?
Well…yeah. Totally. Death scares the shit out of me, no question about it.
Once my focus shifted from the non-tangible, theoretical level to the very real, humanist level, did my entire outlook change. Like most, I now know that I believed in ghosts because it's comforting to know that it's possible to somehow survive death in a non-human, non-living, spiritual form. Heck, who wouldn't want to believe that this isn't all that we have?
Be that as it may (and getting back on topic), we won't be any closer to solving this little life riddle by examining these upcoming photos, even for several lifetimes in a row.
Here's how this 'ghost photo' stuff all started. Several months ago, a co-worker approached me in the break room of our office:
"Hey, you're into ghosts and stuff, right?"
"Well…no, not really. I mean, I was, but not anymore. You see, in January I had what you would call a Near-Death Experience, and instead of seeing Heaven, the thin veil of my own mortality fell like an iron curtain, and I was instantly disillusioned and surprisingly free of burden in the face of uncertainty, despair and terror. I saw an infinite nothingness that pretty much changed my entire-"
"Um…yeah. Anyway, I have some neat pictures that my brother sent me of a ghost."
"Really? Send 'em my way. I'd love to publicly out your brother as some sort of borderline-insane basket case that photographs rocking chairs for absolutely no reason other than to speculate what invisible things might be sitting in them."
"…Wow, you're kind of a jerk. Do you know that?"
"Someday you'll thank me for my evolved wisdom."
"I highly doubt that. You just dunked your necktie into your coffee mug."
So, she sends me the photos, and I'm finally going to share them with you. But a stern word of warning: Don't expect to see anything that even remotely resembles anything paranormal. I could easily send you a shoebox full of cat crap and tell you it was Whistler's Mother, and a reader can just as soon send me photographs of a television set and say that it's a ghost. I'm only sharing them for two reasons. One, to show how quickly we jump at the prospect of the paranormal if it suits our belief in an afterlife. And two, because it's endlessly entertaining stuff, hoax or not.
Here we see Photograph #1. It had been titled, "The Mist Begins." Begins where?
Some quick, random observations. First off, there is no mist whatsoever, so let's just move right on from there. Secondly, the claim was that the guy took all of these pictures from his bedroom on a Polaroid camera, which leads me to ask, "What's a grown man doing with a ceramic horse-drawn carriage on his nightstand…on top of a doily?" To me, this is a mystery far more compelling than anything paranormal that was taking place that evening.
I mean, if I'm being nice, I'll admit to seeing some off-balance light emitting off of the top of the carriage, but it's extremely far from being referred to as 'mist.' Furthermore, it looks like the carriage is a plugged-in lamp of some sort, so it could just be actual light illuminating from the thing.
Also, if these photographs were taken with a Polaroid camera, why were they scanned and cropped to appear like rectangular, 'normal' photos? Doesn't make much sense to me, but let's move on, because we've just scratched the surface of stuff that makes no sense.
This is Photograph #2, and it was titled "Face Image." Indeed, it is an image of a face or possibly faces, bathing in a blue, white-noisy hue.
Now, this is a neat-looking photo; certainly the coolest one out of the four that were given to me. Problem is, I was told that these photos were taken in succession within minutes, and all of this was taking place around the bedroom. So remember all that natural light in the first photo? Well, now we're in complete darkness, and a hologram is apparently manifesting itself above the guy's bed.
Looks pretty two-dimensional, doesn't it? Looks like it lacks depth, right? Well, you'd be correct, because this is most likely a close-up photo of a television set. What is being viewed on said television is a mystery, but the pitch-dark, depth-less nature of this image makes it all but impossible to be something that took shape in the vast space between the six walls of a bedroom.
Cool picture, though.
This is Photo #3, and it was titled, "Who Is She?"
Okay. Here's where I begin to feel like my intelligence is being insulted. In an almost identical design as Photo #2, we have another photograph of a two-dimensional object that was claimed to be manifesting itself within a room. This is sort of true, in that it manifested itself onto a television set, when the television set was plugged in and turned to a station that manifested this image during a show.
Not that these photos need any more scrutiny, but do you notice the differences between the first picture and the next two? The first photo is a picture of something that exists in reality. Admittedly, a frilly reality that likes doilys and carousel horse lamps, but a reality nonetheless. The next two photos are of a flat surface, and we know this because our eyes can process depth, even by just viewing a photograph of it.
And again, for a photo that was taken on a 'Polaroid' camera, it's been bizarrely cropped again, this time as a portrait-sized image. Why would someone do that? If you thought you had some solid paranormal evidence on your hands, would you alter the photos at all?
Oh, and if this were a ghost, then it's the most detailed and well-manifested paranormal entity in the history of Mankind.
This is a long way past shenanigans, but we still have one more to go.
Fourth and finally, we have "A Clear Face Image!"
Indeed we do. Indeed we do. In fact, I find this image to be quite beautiful. What an amazing thing to have materialize above your bed one night. I also love how the Angel brought her own illuminated light to reflect off the top of her head, while somehow leaving the rest of the bedroom behind her pitch black. That had to have taken some divine interstellar intervention, not to mention a complete lack of basic physics. Sorry kids, it's another picture of a television. And hey, what happened to the blue glow? Did the guy change the channel from AMC to TCM?
The final verdict?


text:
When a friend of mine was complaining about her life, I told her to change it, excuse it or live with it. She said I was being rude. This is what I told her.
You come to me and moan and groan about how things are. Yet you don't do anything to change it. You always give excuses and then you go home and live with it even more.
If you were truly serious about wanting to do something different, you'd change it. But you haven't. So, you need to stop giving it excuses and either live with it or DO something and change it.
We only get one life to live. I say live it well, live it happy and live it to the fullest you can. If you can do this, you can do anything.
You see, I used to be her. In fact, sometimes I still do this and I have to stop and ask myself… Can I do something to change it? If not, how can I live with it? I need to stop excusing it. Whatever the IT is.
Shortly after I turned 18, I got married. I was six months pregnant with our first child. He would tell me that I was fat, ugly, worthless, no good for nothing, sex was horrible with me and that he'd be better off fucking a hole in the floor than a whale like me.
Needless to say, it hurt my feelings. I complained to my friends who didn't understand. They tried telling me that he wasn't worthy of me, that I was better than that…. but what I really heard was that they were trying to break me and my husband up. So, I didn't talk to my friends anymore. The excuses I gave myself were: (1) He had lost his job and was feeling depressed (2) He was trying to help me not gain a lot of weight (3) He was upset that all I did was sleep and not care for him like a wife should.
These are excuses and I got better at them as he got worse on me. Yes, he beat me. He called me names, he used money against me… the list goes on. He would verbally, mentally, physically and sexually abuse me to make him feel better. He really is no better than a bully. A mean bully.
Instead of changing things in my power, like leaving him, I made excuses and I lived with it as long as I could; 13 1/2 years.
Don't you do the same. If you can change it, do so! I know you are scared, I was too. I know what it's like to KNOW the situation you are in as feeling "comfortable" vs leaving and being all alone and scared. I had 3 children and I left him, divorced him and have been happier ever since. It was scary. I had to learn how to cook, clean and pay bills all on my own at the age of 30. I never had to cook or clean before, my ex did that for me. I never paid bills as I never had money, he held it all and paid or not paid as he saw fit.
It took me a while to learn to actually cook and not just warm things up in the microwave. You can too.
If you truly want to change, you will find a way; if you don't, you will find an excuse. Either way, you have to live with your choice.
So, I implore you, make a wise choice. Choose happiness, safety and love above all else.
I'm here if you want to talk more about this, or anything else.
Much Love,


text:
Submit a Critic ScoreClose
|Post Wines and Spirits
|USD 74.99 $74.99 750ml
|Oregon Wine Merchants
|USD 65.50 $65.50 750ml
Le Vieux Donjon Red Rhone Blend Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007
Member Review by zufrieden:
Notwithstanding some complaints by friends about the scent of this wine, I find the nose quite enticing: the soft red fruit has camperis mushroom and bacon fat in the background plus some barnyard straw. On entry more mushroom and acidic wild red fruit (like pincherry); there is a slight acerbity on the finish common with Grenache (in my experience). A fine CdP for the price. Keep for 2-3 years or drink now. 90 points.Add winemaker's notes
Member Reviews for Le Vieux Donjon Red Rhone Blend Châteauneuf-du-PapeAdd your review
Notwithstanding some complaints by friends about the scent of this wine, I find the nose quite enticing: the soft red fruit has camperis mushroom and bacon fat in the background plus some barnyard straw. On entry more mushroom and acidic wild red fruit (like pincherry); there is a slight acerbity on the finish common with Grenache (in my experience). A fine CdP for the price. Keep for 2-3 years or drink now. 90 points.
The nose opened over time to show blackberry, dark currant, crisp bacon, ginger spice, herbes de Provence and a hint of citrus. On the palate it was full bodied with dark fruit tones hinting at blueberry and plum, along with dark earth, minerals and fig, which last through the finish, coating the palate with intense fruit extract and a hint of tannin. This wine continued to open up over the three hours it was in decanter. It's was still showing youthful tannin but there's so much intense fruit that I can imagine it will only get better. At this time, it's highly enjoyable but would benefit from a few more years in the cellar. (93 points)
External Reviews for Le Vieux Donjon Red Rhone Blend Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The outstanding 1998 Le Vieux Donjon could turn out to be a spectacular Chacirc;teauneuf-du-Pape that rivals the dazzlingly sumptuous 1990. The color is a saturated ruby/purple, and the wine is obviously made from extremely low yields and/or old vines. Knock-out aromas of smoke, spice, licorice, dried herbs, and black fruit jumps from the glass of this full-bodied powerfully constructed, unctuously-textured wine. A riveting mid-palate suggests superb intensity, concentration, and potential longevity. Think of this wine as blood of the Grenache! Its low acidity gives it a forward appeal, which will serve well when released. It also possesses the power, stirring, and concentration to last for 15+ years. A blockbuster!
Vieux Donjon's 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape is a powerful, seriously-endowed effort for the vintage, displaying more structure and muscle than most wines in this forward, fruit-friendly year. Classic Provencal characteristics of garrigue, licorice, lavender, pepper, and kirsch soar from the glass of this dark ruby/purple-tinged offering. In the mouth, it is masculine, tannic, medium to full-bodied, and powerfully built. Potentially one of the longest lived wines of the vintage, it will require 4-5 years of bottle age, and should evolve for two decades.
A very strong vintage for this traditionally made Chateauneuf du Pape, the 2003, a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and the rest Mourvedre and Cinsault, has a deep ruby/plum/purple color and a big sweet nose of dried Provencal herbs, licorice, seaweed, and spice box. The wine is massively concentrated, relatively high in alcohol by the standards here (15% plus on their component parts), and has a long, concentrated, chewy finish with high tannin and equally high extract. If there is one Chateauneuf du Pape that smells like an open-air Provencal spice, flower, and food market, it is Vieux Donjon. It is a classic, concentrated essence of Provence, all in an alcoholic beverage. This wine will need 4ndash;5 years of cellaring when released and drink well for 15ndash;20 years.
Deep ruby cast. Moderately full-bodied. Full acidity. Moderately extracted. Moderately tannic. Pepper, red fruits, minerals. Engagingly aromatic, with a lean and firm quality that reveals impressive, mineral depth and persistence through the finish. A ldquo;traditionalrdquo; style in the best sense of the word.
The three component parts of the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape, Syrah from the estatersquo;s holdings in Pialons, old vine Grenache from sandy terroirs, and Mourvedre, are all brilliant, hence the estimated rating of (94ndash;96). The wine reveals a dense purple color along with a gorgeous bouquet of camphor, licorice, graphite, sweet red and black fruits, smoked meats. and a hint of charcoal. Full-bodied and pure with plenty of Provencal garrigue and meaty characters, this superb, chewy red should turn out to be their first effort since the 1998 and 1990. It is a classic, traditionally made Chateauneuf du Pape to drink between 2013ndash;2026.
Super-rich and full-bodied, with an exotic, over-ripe quality, this large-scale wine was obviously made from extremely ripe fruit and low yieldshellip; a potential blockbuster for the vintage.
Crackles with an urgency atypical for the vintage, with juniper, cassis bush and tobacco notes that manage to be more prominent than the well of dark plum and currant fruit this has in reserve. Racy and invigorating, with the fruit's sappy intensity offset perfectly by the mouthwatering minerality. Best from 2010 through 2028.
All Prices
Post Wines and Spirits
Syosset, NY (250 mi)
Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf Du Pape 2007 »
$74.99 750ml USD 74.99
Oregon Wine Merchants
Eugene, OR (2,400 mi)
Le Vieux Donjon, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2007 »
$65.50 750ml USD 65.50
R & B Wines Ltd
Londres, UK (4,000 mi)
Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf Du Pape Rouge (2007) »
£45.00 USD $ 750ml GBP 45.00
Food Pairings for Le Vieux Donjon Red Rhone Blend Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Photos+ Add an Image for this wine
Top Châteauneuf-du. Lists
Best Wine Deals
$16.9915% offSchild Estate Shiraz 2010
$20.8922% offAmavi Cellars Semillon 2012


text:
The town of Wrentham, Massachusetts is located approximately 34 miles southwest of Boston. Wrentham has a population of 11,116 and a total area of 22.9 square miles. Wrentham was once home to education reformer Horace Mann and author and political activist Helen Keller. Wrentham is part of Norfolk County. The Wrentham District Court is located at 60 East Street and serves the following municipalities:
For over 25 years, Boston Legal Malpractice Attorney Keith L. Miller has been representing victims of professional malpractice throughout Massachusetts. If you or a loved one If you or a loved one has suffered damages which you believe were caused by your former attorney's mistakes, contact Boston Legal Malpractice Lawyer Keith L. Miller to arrange a free consultation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by telephone at (617) 523-5803, or click here to send him an email. You will be contacted within 24 hours.


text:
Lodi's 2012 harvest thus far: ideal pace & patience
Although the Lodi vintners began picking white wine grapes like Sauvignon Blanc and Verdelho in August, and Zinfandel as early as the first week of September, so far the 2012 harvest has been a little more mañana and a little less of the usual frenzied poco loco. There was a slight spike in activity in Lodi vineyards and wineries this past week (September 23-28), but so far vintage 2012 in Lodi Wine Country has been a surprisingly calm, methodical affair. But like all vintages, there have been anomalies. Perhaps most unusual, much of the American Viticultural Area's Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon..Continue »
This October 6: LoCA Uncorked (Lodi winefest) roars in with Blue Angels o'er Treasure Island
There once was an artist formerly known as Prince who is now known as… Prince. Well, there once was a yearly event in October known as the Treasure Island WineFest that is now known as LoCA Uncorked – The Best of Lodi California Wines… and why not? Like a Prince by any other name, these annual affairs are one and the same and not 2b 4gotten: taking place on beautiful Treasure Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay, and featuring the wines of California's Lodi AVA – a Delta climate wine region growing in international prestige seemingly by the..Continue »
Mystery wine for the ages: the 2010 Borra Heritage red
Part of being a winemaker in Lodi, evidently, is being a prognosticator; albeit, no spooky powers necessary – just good sense. During the first week of October 2010, on the day that Steve Borra, and his Borra Vineyards field manager Manuel Maldonado picked the grapes going into their yearly "field blend," Borra winemaker Markus Niggli took one look at the fruit coming in – plump and bursting with vivid, zesty flavors – and pronounced the quality "fantastic," and confidently predicted, "2010 will be a great vintage" (re our original October 14, 2010 blogpost, Rhapsody in red). And now, drum roll..Continue »
Interview with George Mettler: the patriarch of Harney Lane
The latest wine by Harney Lane Winery – a red wine bottled as the Harney Lane Lodi Patriarch's Promise ($40) – is as special as any that this acclaimed winery has ever made: thick and chewy with dense, yet perfectly smooth, flavors of dried trail-mix berries, spiced with cinnamon, cracked pepper and, strangely enough, aromatic suggestions of fennel root and loamy earth, veering towards a mushroomy broth; at the same time, brightly fruited and full bodied, without tasting weighty or ponderous. Patriarch's Promise is also three other things: 1) a non-vintaged blend of some of the winery's best red wines,..Continue »
Early days of harvest in Lodi
Of yearly harvests, Carl Sandburg once waxed poetic: Under the summer roses When the flagrant crimson Lurks in the dusk Of the wild red leaves, Love, with little hands, Comes and touches you With a thousand memories, And asks you Beautiful, unanswerable questions. … and some of our own memories of the first few weeks of Lodi's 2012 harvest.Continue »
Passport advisory: where to find Lodi wines that walk the wild side
Attention, "all you protest kids" (to quote Lou Reed's Sweet Jane) on the look-out for something off-the-beaten-track during this month's Passport (good through October 6) Road Trip!: the Lodi AVA does indeed grow and produce its share of glass shattering wines… if you know wherefore or what to look for. Wines, that is to say, that are very much contemporary in terms of having a little lighter body and zingier,, tongue prickling natural grape acidity – qualities associated with wine descriptors like "balance" and "elegance." Either that, or wines that simply slap you upside the head with never-before-tasted sensations, tasting..Continue »
Game plan for your LoCA Passport Road Trip!
As part of Discover California's official California Wine Month, Lodi's winegrowers have put together an exciting calendar of events running through the entire month of April and through October 6, 2012: the LoCA Road Trip! And to make it easy for you to pick and choose, there is a LoCA Road Trip Passport that will get you into everything either for free or entitling you to fantastic discounts. If you haven't yet taken a LoCA road trip, one thing you will also find: that Lodi's brand of hospitality is a no-snobbery/no-robbery experience. Simply put, Lodi's vintners have a way of rolling out the red carpet..Continue »


text:
Character Change and Story Dynamic
Choose Your Challenge
Writers come up with many ways to establish the characters in their stories, especially the main character: character interviews, worst fear, early childhood, habits good and bad, etc. What readers want is action.
The easiest way to reconcile your wealth of knowledge about your character and engaging readers in the story is to confront your character with obstacles and challenges. Think of all the character background in the same way you do research:
Click to Tweet: Character background is like research. Only 20% actually shows up in your story.
Create the Challenges
As a storyteller, not just a character creator, find the challenges that reveal your character. The moment the character responds is the moment your reader is right there with the character. Each scene has some small or large difficulty where the character must respond in thought, word, or deed. When the character cares, your reader cares.
In traditional fiction and many genre's this scene by scene challenge is the crux of getting your reader to turn the pages. As your character develops through the challenges your reader experiences the changes.
As your story and your main character progress, readers tune in to the changes. By the time your story reaches a climax, your reader knows your character, sympathizes with his situation and the final changes of the culmination of all those challenges along the way.
Your character becomes dynamic through her reactions to the challenges you create.
Wait! My Character Doesn't Change
Yes, some stories have a main character whose attributes connect them to a world they must change. The strengths of the character meet the challenges of outside forces and reshape (change) those challenges by enforcing their character traits. Thrillers, crime fiction, and mysteries often follow this story path. Miss Jane Marple doesn't change. She uses her particular character strengths to reveal (change) the perpetrator.
Raymond Chandler depicts the perfect non-changing PI. This is the essence of a character who uses his attributes to change an imperfect world.
Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. He is the hero; he is everything. He must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of honor—by instinct, by inevitability, without thought of it, and certainly without saying it. He must be the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world.
Change is the Story Key
Call it change or transformation. Whether your character changes or changes the world around, the key to movement and dynamism in your story is the obstacles—great and small-—that build story tension and keep the reader turning pages.
Infographic from Reedsy
Reedsy came up with a great illustration of different dynamic characters. Different dynamics for great story.
Zara Altair
Zara Altair writes mysteries set in ancient Italy. Argolicus thinks he has retired, but he and his tutor, Nikolaos, are drawn into puzzles, politics, and murder.
The Secret Sauce of Fellow Writers
Fellow writers provide a rich source of knowledge. You can use this knowledge to expand yours. From writing groups to indie author idea exchanges you can build your personal knowledge base on writing and publishing skills.
New writers, especially, can fall into the trap of spending hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars on writing and publishing courses. Before you do that seek out fellow writers for critiques of those courses before you buy in by midnight tonight.
I'm not saying don't take courses. Education is beneficial. First get feedback on the cost reward of the program. Build a network of fellow writers to learn which courses and which paid blog or advertising spots will serve you well.
Ways to Plumb Writing Wisdom
There are many ways to gather invaluable knowledge for other writers and authors.
By the time you have expanded your circle of writing and author friends you will know more about how to improve your own writing, where best to spend your writing budget, and you will discover tips and resources you would not have imagined if you had not connected with other writers.
Keep Meeting Other Writers
These suggestions are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning from other writers. You'll find offhand remarks that change your thinking and tips that refine your writing, your publishing skills, and your professionalism.
Zara Altair
Zara Altair writes mysteries set in ancient Italy. Argolicus thinks he has retired, but he and his tutor, Nikolaos, are drawn into puzzles, politics, and murder.
She consults with a select group of writers as The Story Bodyguard.
Setting: What's In The Room
Setting is important in any story. In historical novels, setting details give the reader a sense of what is around the characters. Without setting the characters are "floating in space" with nothing to ground them to surroundings.
In the video of the mosaic discovery, the details of vibrancy and varied images are a fine example of the style of flooring in Italy and the Mediterranean.
Setting details are the perfect way to enrich historical fiction without an overload of info-dump. When characters in The Roman Heir gather in a new room to meet the murdered man's widow, the description is brief but sets the tone of the meeting.
Aemilia Atia, Philo's mother, had left her bedroom and gathered everyone in the entertainment room when she learned of the guest. The floor was covered in a dizzying array of black and white mosaics and the walls were painted with intricate scenes of trees and flowers and young people playing musical instruments in nature. Braziers, next to seats, warmed the room from the winter cold. Slaves brought trays of gustum: small tidbits of fruit, cheese, and salads for nibbling placed on platters and bowls around the seats, but no one was eating.
Homes at the time of the story (512 A.D./C.E.) were highly decorated. A floor plan of the house in Ostia illustrates the elaborate mosaics in every room. Even the kitchen had designs on the floor, though not as elaborate as other communal rooms. In the scene with the widow, the characters are gathered in the room marked number 10.
Vibrant Walls
Italian homes of the time were not limited to vibrant and intricate flooring. Walls were painted in bright colors often with detailed figures. These are the walls in the "side room" where Argolicus first sees the body of the murdered Patrician.
Our current Western decor--from rustic to industrial to modern--is far from the colorful indoor life of Italian life at the time of Theodoric.
Visual imagery is a powerful aid in writing research, especially for historical genres. I find myself looking at images as I write scenes to help me get into the story.
Zara Altair
Zara Altair writes mysteries set in ancient Italy. Argolicus thinks he has retired, but he and his tutor, Nikolaos, are drawn into puzzles, politics, and murder.
L—d! said my mother, what is all this story about?
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman Laurence Sterne
I enjoy when writers can find a balance between exposition and mystery. Too much accounting always ruins the mystery of a novel, and the unknown is what propels us to read further."
– Peter Miller, PMA Literary and Film Management
The puzzle of politics, the mystery of murder in ancient Italy. After Rome, before the Middle Ages, Italy belonged to the Ostrogoths.
Get to know Argolicus in the Argolicus Mysteries starting with The Used Virgin. The Peach Widow will be out soon.
Work in progress: Ravenna: A Mosaic a historical thriller.
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
June 2013
Author Bio
Author Interview
Author Learning
Author Platform
Background Reserch
Book Cover
Book Launch
Creating Characters
Historical Mystery
Mystery Writing
Novel Writing
Point Of View
Social Media
Story Outline Template
Story Scene
Story Setting
Story Structure
The Hero
The Peach Widow
The Used Virgin
Writing Craft
Zara Altair


text:
But it looks pretty realistic, and in line with recent Mazda designs.
I've heard rumors a while ago that Mazda might not offer the next generation in the US.
That would really be too bad, as the current Mazda2 is one of the nicest car in its class.
It hasn't sold very well in the US. About 19 300 units last year. Which compares to about 57 000 for the Ford Fiesta.
But the Fiesta has 2 body styles. And offers many more options.
Plus, there seem to be zero advertising of the small Mazda.
I think, if marketed correctly, the next Mazda2 could do really well in the US.


text:
The owner of a noodle restaurant has confessed to lacing his trademark dish with opium – so customers would keep coming back for more.
The restaurant owner, known only as Zhang, admitted to police that he had been grinding poppy buds into the food after one of his regular customers tested positive for opium during a routine traffic stop earlier this month.
Customer Liu Juyou, 26, was initially baffled when he tested positive for the drug but soon managed to prove his innocence by convincing family members to eat at the Shaanxi province restaurant and then have themselves tested.
Zhang said that he had purchased 4.4lbs of poppy buds for $100 (£61) in August and had been crushing them and adding them to the noodles to 'make it taste better and to improve his business'.
Although the quantity in the noodles was not enough to be habit-forming – which therefore means Zhang's plan failed – it is enough to show up in drug tests.
China has a history of adding poppy powder to dishes, though it has been banned for some time.
MORE: Alcohol manufacturer allegedly adds Viagra drinks, hopes to trigger a rise (in profits)


text:
White rapper Macklemore has released an excruciatingly self-flagellating near nine-minute song explaining how white privilege is responsible for everything from his own success to why Officer Darren Wilson was "let off" after killing Michael Brown.
The song's lyrics go:
White supremacy isn't just a white dude in Idaho
White supremacy protects the privilege I hold
White supremacy is the soil, the foundation, the cement and the flag that flies outside of my home
White supremacy is our country's lineage, designed for us to be indifferent
My success is the product of the same system that let off Darren Wilson—guilty
"White Privilege II" is a twelve hundred-plus word song decrying black cultural appropriation sung by a rich-straight-white-male. It is accompanied by a website describing the song as "the outcome of an ongoing dialogue with musicians, activists, and teachers within our community in Seattle and beyond."
The rapper continues:
We want to dress like, walk like, talk like, dance like, yet we just stand by
We take all we want from black culture, but will we show up for black lives?
We want to dress like, walk like, talk like, dance like, yet we just stand by
We take all we want from black culture, but will we show up for black lives?
This pseudo philosophical gobbledygook is pretty rich.
The white rapper who beat out a black rapper, Kendrick Lamar, for last year's Grammy for best rap album is whining about how white people feel free to profit from black culture while staying silent when blacks get bilked?
Some of the Seattle-based rapper's lyrics make a shoddy attempt at self-awareness. But the entire effort still reeks of self-loathing elitism: A rich, white, heterosexual man admits that his only place in today's Black Lives Matter movement is to simply nod his head in agreement–but ends up rapping about it for almost 10 minutes.
And it gets worse, still.
Macklemore's (and Ryan Lewis's) "White Privilege II" will become the leading single from a forthcoming album from which the rapper will make millions in album and ticket sales. An anthem meant to bring attention to the supposed ever-present and ever-oppressing problem of white privilege will ultimately end up being a million dollar money-making anthem for a white man.
The irony of a song so tone deaf is beyond brilliant.
And it's quite fitting for Macklemore.
In 2012, the 32-year-old 9/11 truther pushed and shoved his way into the civil rights sphere with the Grammy-nominated song "Same Love," which was pro-gay marriage. That episode also left many scratching their heads and asking why a straight male felt the need to perform a song about such a personally inconsequential subject.
Perhaps it's because Macklemore is less a musician than an opportunistic culture vulture.


text:
Weekender package
Stay with us for two nights over a weekend (either Friday & Saturday or Sunday & Sunday) and enjoy full English breakfast on both mornings and a complimentary glass of wine each during your stay.
From £112.50 per person (based on two people sharing a cosy double room), the package includes:
- two nights' accommodation
- full English breakfast each morning
- a complimentary glass of wine
- unlimited access to our swimming pool and sauna
Upgrades are available – total room prices* for two nights are as follows:
- cosy double £225
- classic room £275
- deluxe room £345
*Prices are based on two people sharing. Single occupancy discount £25.
To book the Weekender package online, please follow this link.


text:
Kidde Engineered Systems, a global leader in fire, mass notification and life safety solutions, is proud to exhibit this year at the ISC West Conference in Booth 3041. The conference is at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 5 – 7, 2017.
Kidde will introduce its new FX Series, VM Series and VS Series panels. The FX Series features both conventional and intelligent models for small to mid-sized buildings. The VM and VS Series are ideal for mid-to large-sized buildings and both platforms offer high performance and flexibility for installation. These solutions are key components to strengthen communications and emergency plans. In addition, the fire panels are designed to work with existing platforms to enhance the overall life safety need for any building structure.


text:
Scott Weber - 2019 TAPPI Extrusion Coating Course Chair
Application Development & Technical Support Engineer, Celanese Chemical Co.
Scott Weber is an Application Development and Technical Support Engineer at Celanese working in their EVA Polymers group. Scott holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology which he earned at Miami University of Oxford, Ohio. As an industry veteran, Scott has over 25 years of experience in extrusion coating and lamination, blown and cast film which focused on flexible packaging applications. Scott currently has one patent and has been involved in the development of other products that have also been patented during his career. Continuing to help others develop and grow in the industry is very important to Scott. This has led him to become involved with TAPPI. Scott has chaired the TAPPI Extrusion Coating Short course for the past seven years and will be chairing again in 2019. Scott resides in West Chester, Ohio his wife Lori. Together they enjoy spending time at Lake Cumberland, Kentucky with their family and friends. Scott is the proud father of two daughters and grandpa of three grandsons.
Carmelo Declet-Perez, Associate Technical Service & Development Scientist
Dow Chemical Company
|Carmelo Declet-Perez is an Associate Technical Service & Development Scientist for the Packaging and Specialty Plastics & Hydrocarbons (PSP&H) business at Dow. In his current role, Carmelo is responsible for technical relationship management at various customers in the Food & Specialty Packaging market segment. He also leads various platforms for understanding multilayer packaging structures and design for sustainability. Prior to this role, Carmelo was part of the PSP&H Polyethylene Product Group. In this role he was the technical focal point for extrusion coating and led a variety of projects across LDPE and Solution LLDPE. Carmelo is an active member and participant of employee resource groups, which seek to drive innovation through a more inclusive workplace. Carmelo holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. In his free time, Carmelo enjoys photography, hiking, and exploring new cuisines.
Kelly Frey, Extrusion Coating Technical Service
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
|Kelly Frey graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton, Canada, in 1990 with a degree in Plastics Engineering Technology. Upon graduation Kelly was employed by Dow Chemical Canada in Sarnia, Ontario where he worked in Polyethylene Technical Service and Development for approximately 10 years. While employed at Dow Chemical, Kelly worked in TS&D supporting Dow's blow molding, blown film, and injection molding polyethylene business. Kelly then joined Chevron in Orange,TX in 1999 where he worked in Chevron's molding technical service group and then transitioned to extrusion coating technical service in 2000. Kelly then joined Chevron Phillips Chemical Company during its formation in 2001 and has since worked in extrusion coating technical service. Kelly has presented technical papers at both Antec and TAPPI's PLACE conference and is an active member of the TAPPI International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion division. Kelly currently is married and has two daughters and currently resides in Owasso, OK.
Robert Hammond, Technical Sales Director
Mica Corporation
|Rob started at Mica in 1998. He started in the laboratory both developing new products and creating the QA procedures for testing manufacturing products. 3 years later, he moved into the Technical Sales department. In 2014, he took on the role of Technical Sales Director. He is an active member of SPE, AIMCAL, IoPP, and ACS. Rob previously worked for 17 years in Corporate Research and Development; those companies were Allied Chemical (Honeywell), GTE Laboratories (Verizon), and Polaroid. His professional fields of specialization include molecular spectroscopy, thermal analysis, polymer technology and coating technology.
Sam Iuliano, Chief Technologist
EDI® Dies & Feedblocks
|Sam Iuliano provides high-level technical support to customers, consulting with them to help improve performance in their extrusion and coating processes and alerting them to advances in die system technology. At the same time, he supports new technology programs, coordinating with all departments to develop innovations that meet emerging customer needs. He serves as an advisor to Nordson's engineering specialists and presents the results of the latest research on tooling and processing to the extrusion and converting industries.
Dr. Jochen C. Koenig, Managing Director
Schenk Vision
Dr. Koenig received his Dr.-Ing degree in Electrical Engineering in 1994 from the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. From 1991 until 1994 he was a Project Coordinator at Samson AG Frankfurt and responsible for a joint venture research project with Hartman & Braun AG and the University of Kaiserslautern. From 1994, Dr. Koenig was a System Engineer at Dr. Schenk GmbH in Munich, Germany. In April 1995 he founded the Dr. Schenk US representation, application research and assembly operations that then primarily engaged in the Web Inspection and Optical Media industries in North and South America. He is now the Managing Director of Schenk Vision and has expanded the inspection system technology leadership of Schenk to include a broad spectrum of surface inspection systems for the solar, flat glass, nonwoven and paper, film and foil, converting, and semiconductor industries.
Todd Krupa, Regional Sales Manager – Corona, Plasma and Flame Surface Treating
Enercon Industries
|Todd Krupa is Enercon's Regional Sales Manager for Corona, Plasma & Flame Surface Treating. His extensive experience in digital and flexographic printing technologies includes collaboration with OEMS, Brand Owners and Printers looking to achieve optimal printing success. As an active member of TLMI, and a frequent presenter of technical seminars, Todd has a passion for sharing insights on corona treating to help converters successfully manage surface preparation for proper adhesion. The combination of his application expertise and equipment technology make him a valuable industry resource to OEMS and converters.
Susie Lange, Technical Sales
Mica Corporation
Susie Lange was raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the energy capital of the world. The bomb was built in Oak Ridge. The local joke there is that people from Oak Ridge glow in the dark. Her parents both worked at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She is a twin. Her maiden name was Pfuderer, which once learned is never forgotten. Her interests include writing children's books, tiling, making stained glass, pottery and fused glass art. She is a Chemical Engineer from University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is married to a stock broker who is active in local politics. She has 2 daughters. One is a married teacher and one is a doctor. Susie has worked for Alcan, Bemis, Coating Excellence, Duralam, and Packaging Corporation. Her job titles included quality manager, department manager, process engineer, and research engineer. She is currently working for Mica Corporation as a technical sales person.
Joe Lutz, R&D Manager
Pelletron Corporation
Currently the R&D Manager for the Pelletron Corporation, Joe has a decade of experience developing bulk material handling products and processes for the plastics industry. He earned his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia University and began his career developing custom automated equipment. His career at Pelletron began as an R&D Engineer spending a lot of time in the pneumatic conveying test lab but over the years he has designed and commissioned many pneumatic conveying and dedusting systems in the "real world" too. This combination of experience makes him a unique asset to the industry.
Scott Marks, Senior Technical Consultant
Dow Chemical Company
Scott Marks is a Senior Technical Consultant at Dow effective April 2019, having migrated with the Ethylene Copolymers business which moved from DuPont to Dow. He is a key member for global technical support of co-extrudable adhesive polymers, consults on technical applications with North American extrusion converters, and conducts global training programs internally and externally for technical proficiency. Since 1984, Scott has been as a member of TAPPI's International Flexible Packaging & Extrusion Division (formerly called PLACE in 2001-2016, and PLC in 1984-2000). He was co-chair of the International Planning Committee, has held all the Division Council positions for PLACE, remains a Chair Emeritus of the Division, and serves as Council Member At-Large. Scott has served multiple times as session chair in the Tappi PLACE conference, presented papers, and currently chairs the Peer Review committee for the conference. He has been an instructor for the Extrusion Coating Short Course and the Film Extrusion course for many years. He holds degrees in mechanical engineering and business administration from Rutgers University of New Jersey. Graduating from Rutgers in 1982 and joining DuPont, Scott worked in several engineering and technical positions. From 1986 through 2008, Scott worked for DuPont's packaging materials business covering the Asia-Pacific region performing technical troubleshooting, market development, application development, training (both internal and external), and mentoring new sales personnel. His processes background includes extrusion coating and laminating, blown film, and cast film, including multilayer co-extrusions and end-use packaging equipment. He has also worked with coextruded sheet extrusion and tubing extrusion. Beginning April 2008, Scott worked on several revitalization projects in DuPont's Lab Extrusion Facilities specifying and commissioning new equipment, and is now involved in similar activities in Dow.
Vipul Padman
Berry Global
Vipul Padman, Ph.D. is a Sr. Research Scientist at Clopay Plastic Products in Mason, OH. He received his Bachelor's degree from Pune University, India in Polymer Engineering and his Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi in Polymer Science and Engineering. Currently, he is pursuing an MBA from Indiana University. His research experience covers various aspects of polymer rheology, cast extrusion processing, material selection, formulation design and simulation. While working in the rheology field for more than a decade; he has successfully derived and established several structure-property relationships for a wide range of polymer systems, such as solutions, gels, and colloids. His current focus is largely on understanding polymer melt behavior during extrusion processing. He has successfully established structure-processing relationships of polymer melts and developed models that can predict processing behavior. His expertise includes designing rheological tests and using simulation software to resolve processing issues.
Lou Piffer, Senior Sales Engineer
Davis-Standard LLC
Lou Piffer is a Senior Sales Engineer for Davis-Standard LLC, Converting Systems for the past 28 years. He received a BS in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University in 1985. Lou is a former TAPPI Division Chairman and Leadership award winner. He has taught at the extrusion coating course for over 15 years. Lou supports the Extrusion Coating and Cast Film product lines for Davis-Standard.
Christine Ronaghan, Technical Director
Cloeren Incorporated
Christine Ronaghan holds BE and ME degrees in Polymer Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology as well as an MBA in Management of Innovation and Technology from Rutgers University. She spent many years at Davis-Standard LLC responsible primarily for extrusion and screw design for Cast Film and Extrusion Coating. Chris is currently Technical Director at Cloeren Incorporated, working on feed-block and die design as well as providing extrusion process support industry wide. She has been involved in various technical organizations, including TAPPI and the Society of Plastics Engineers among others. Chris has been a speaker in a variety of training classes, and has presented papers in a number of conferences throughout her career.
Ted Schnackertz, OEM Sales Manager
|Ted has over 40 years of experience in the process control industry with real-time on-line measurement and control systems in the paper and plastics industry. He has held positions as a field engineer, systems engineer, project manager, applications engineer and currently is the OEM Sales Manager for NDC. Ted studied electronics engineering at CCNY (New York) and electrical engineering at Lowell Institute of Technology in Lowell, MA. Ted is a TAPPI member and has instructed in a variety of Short Courses and delivered TAPPI PLACE conference papers since 1998.
Duane Smith, Process Manager, Web Handling & Specialty Winding
Davis-Standard, LLC
|Duane Smith is Process Manager, Web Handling & Specialty Winding at Davis-Standard, LLC. Duane has over 45 years of experience, and is widely known throughout the paper, film and nonwoven industries for his technical knowledge on web handling and winding. He has been awarded two patents in winding. Duane has made over 85 technical presentations, and published over 30 articles in major international trade journals and magazines. He is the author of the Winding Chapter of the TAPPI Film Extrusion Manual and is currently working on the Unwinding/Splicing and Winding chapters of the upcoming 5th edition of the TAPPI Extrusion Coating manual. He has been an instructor at 18 TAPPI short courses and has published three books through TAPPI Press. He is the editor of TAPPI Press' first e-book, The Ultimate Roll and Web Defect Troubleshooting Guide. Duane has been active in TAPPI for over thirty five (35) years. In 2011 Duane was named a TAPPI Fellow by the TAPPI Board of Directors.
Rory Wolf, Business Unit Manager
ITW Pillar Technologies
|Rory Wolf is currently the Business Unit Manager for ITW's Pillar Technologies, Hartland, WI, USA and a recognized industry resource in the field of polymer surface modification. He has 31 years of experience within international positions in the plastics and packaging industries, and specific experience in polymer-based flexible packaging, polymer surface modification systems, and printing industry segments. Prior to joining Pillar, Rory worked for several companies including Enercon Industries where he championed the growth of plasma treating technologies. He has published 33 technical papers,41 industry articles, and 3 books on the topic of plastic surface modification by atmospheric plasma technology. Rory is a professional member of TAPPI, SPE, and AIMCAL.