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^ Click to read about my party ^
Kaida23's F2P Blog!
"Goals don't have a deadline." - Lady Shahdie
Welcome fellow 'Scapers! It is I, Kaida23, and I invite you to join me on my quest to reach the pinnacle of Mining greatness: level 99.
First, an admission of sorts: I am a G.I.R.L. (ask your friends). That's right, my name is Ken and I'm from a small town south of Ottawa, Ontario. For some reason, I've always played female characters in games whenever possible. I'm 31 with an ex-wife, two kids, a mortgage and a dog. That's right, I'm living the American dream and I'm not even in America! I work for a service station maintenance company fixing gas pumps and related safety/control systems. No, really. Someone has to do it, right? I've been doing it for about 8 years and am the senior tech in my division. I have achieved this partially due to my mad skills, but mostly through attrition; everyone else who was with the company longer then me has left!
This is my second RuneScape character, my first having been smote by the mighty Jagex gods for, I'm ashamed to admit, botting . I now am strictly legit, not willing to risk all of my hard work a second time. Mining and Smithing were the first skills I started training and are what I like to refer to as my "focus" skills as they're the ones I've spent the most time on. Unfortunately, unlike other complimentary skills (like Woodcutting and Firemaking for example) these do not level evenly with Mining outpacing Smithing by a wide margin; sometimes as much as 10 levels! So I have decided to max out Mining before focusing on Smithing.
Alright, enough with the back story. Time to get to the meat of this blog: Mining!
Here's a pic of where I will be starting from.
Lastly, I freely admit that this blog was inspired, in no small part, by Lady Shahdie's recent ascension to Mining immortality. Her blog (read it here) and level 99 party were epic, and I will not do her the disservice of attempting to recreate either. I will be going about this in my own fashion, most likely alternating between stretches of powermining and superheating, and will be sharing my experiences and thoughts along the way. I hope that you enjoy it.
Goals & Achievements.
My Clan.
Quests and Holiday Events.
Mining Progress Pictures.


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The boy with the skirt2:42 AM
Sorry for the odd title. It's just that I feel like my outfit looks so boyish with the bow tie, polo and brogues going on and the only g...
brogues: primadonna | necklaces: bubbles
6 comments♥
i love your shoes ava! :)ReplyDelete
love the bow on your polo and your skirt, ava :)ReplyDelete
i really love your skirt. :)ReplyDelete
it's not androgynous at all!!!! you look so pretty and girly noh! :DReplyDelete
I thought you look great! and I love the print of your skirt :)ReplyDelete
Athan is so cute forever!!! ☺ And as usual, I love your outfit, Ava!ReplyDelete
Join my ASIAN VOGUE GIVEAWAY!
Join my FAB MANILA GIVEAWAY!
Thank you so much for reading my blog and for leaving lovely comments. Will also try my best to drop by your blogs!:) xo

subset: commoncrawl


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Shazia Ovaisi is a Conservative activist and London GP. She has taken part in the party's social action campaigns in Rwanda and Sierra Leone.
This election is the first transfer of power from one civilian government to another. Instead of it being a two horse race between the usual political dynasties who have dominated the landscape of Pakistani politics for decades (the Pakistan People's Party, PPP and Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, PML-N), a third contender, Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf or Movement for Justice (PTI) entered the playing field.
This has been called the bloodiest election in Pakistan's history with over 150 people killed yet in spite of the violence, large political rallies were held in most cities with the exception of Karachi. On election day itself voter turnout was high at approximately 60% which was : unprecedented given the threats of violence; it was inspiring to see the determination and passion of so many people of different classes come out to vote, many travelling miles, many first time voters, both young and old and a huge number of women queuing for hours in the heat in order to cast their ballot.
Although the system of "Baradri" voting (along clan lines where entire communities vote en bloc) and so-called feudal democracy still holds sway, there was far greater awareness of the choice of candidates and more discussion and critical appraisal of policies rather than just personalities.
The results were not suprising, with Mr Sharif's party coming out on top and a close battle for second and third place between PTI and PPP gaining about 30 seats each. The official tally has yet to be confirmed. However, no party has swept across all four provinces to gain a national mandate. Most seats were won along regional loyalties (PMLN gaining much of Punjab, PPP the Sindh, Balochistan was a patchwork of nationalist parties but interestingly the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gave PTI a large number of seats, allowing them to form a coalition government with other parties). This fragmented voting pattern adds to growing concerns about the gradual "Balkanisation" of Pakistan.
Although PTI did not deliver the Tsunami of change promised, the party did well and is now the third largest political force to be reckoned with. Its task in Kyber Pukthunkwwa (formerly the North West Frontier Province) should not be underestimated; this is one of the most challenging, violent and unpredictable regions within Pakistan. PTI has been given a chance to show what it can do; if it can implement good governance, accountability, meritocracy and above all tackle extremism and ensure peace and stability, who knows what could happen in the next elections.
The concerns raised prior to the election about vote rigging and electoral fraud appear to have been validated by evidence of widespread vote rigging. These elections were by no means "free and fair". Although disappointing, this was not unexpected. However what was different this time was that the media was on hand to capture images of blatant rigging and transmit them worldwide. This has led to a huge debate about electoral fraud and although international observers estimate rigging to have affected 10% of the vote, the actual figure is probably significantly higher.
The judiciary has been woefully silent on this issue and the Election Commission of Pakistan has not acted as swiftly and comprehensively as it ought to have done. However, what is refreshing is the debate and scrutiny which is being applied by the media and in particular the courage of journalists in revealing what went on in spite of open threats to their safety. This is something which could never have happened previously. The public reaction to this has been surprising too. Whereas in the past, people did not dare to question the results, we now have people taking to the streets peacefully to demand that action is taken against the fraud and re-counting is underway is some areas.
Though not widely reported in the international media, there are huge demonstrations and sit-ins going on in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and many other cities where many people feel their votes were stolen. Moreover, when one looks at those demonstrating, it is not the poor but rather middle and upper-middle class men, women and children who have come out in droves to fight not only for their rights but more so for the rights of the downtrodden, poorer classes who are seldom if ever heard. This is something which I have not previously seen in Pakistan and did not expect. This compassion and empathy is a positive sign for the future social cohesion and wellbeing of the country.
The challenges that lie ahead for the in-coming government are huge; crippling energy shortages, corruption, poverty, law and order breakdown, a broken health system, a rapidly growing gap between rich and poor, debt, terrorism, growing unemployment, sectarianism, attacks against minorities, and foreign policy issues such as the US drone strikes. Yet, in spite of the rigging, violence, intimidation and usual chaos which seem to be part and parcel of Pakistan's precarious political situation, what is emerging is a greater awareness and willingness to act amongst the public and to no longer be subjugated. As I watch the proceedings in Pakistan I sincerely hope that these elections, however flawed and bloody, herald the dawn of a new chapter in Pakistan's democratic evolution and offer a glimmer of hope for her people. Anything less would be a travesty.


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Managed Coin laundries Smart Card Technology
Providing – cash free, worry free laundromats
Coin laundries are magnets for theft related vandalism. In order to deter this type of vandalism, Garment Machinery Company, Inc. provides 'Smart Card Technology to both existing laundromats and new ones being built.
This cashless laundry payment card system uses secure non-laundry located pay stations, re-usable smartchip cards, and card scan stations to offer a secure and reliable solution to providing safer, user-financed coin laundry facilities. The system can dramatically reduce the problems associated with unsecured commercial coin laundry machines and removes the inconvenience and risks associated with regular cash handling.
Key components of the Smartcard system:
Smartcards: Reusable, durable and secure against fraud, the smartcards can only be used in the proprietary System.
Pay Station: Translates users money into Smartcard credit, it can be located anywhere on site - the more secure the better.
Card Scan Station: The laundry unit (washer, dryer, soap dispenser etc) debits the Smartcard and starts the machines. Either wireless for multiple machines or connected directly to individual commercial washers or dryers.
Receiver Units: Securely located inside each coin washer or coin dryer machine, they receive authorization from the Card Scan Station and start the machine cycle.
Reader Unit: Optional units to either check remaining Smartcard credit or, when used with a cash register, can be used to credit smartcards as well as the Pay Station.
The Smartcard system benefits both the site and the consumers that use the coin laundry.
Site benefits:
- Removes the risk of having money in unsecured laundry areas.
- Payment Station located in a secure environment of your choice.
- Secure against fraud and misuse.
- No need to regularly empty money or tokens from multiple machines.
- Removes the risk of staff carrying large, heavy amounts of coins around site.
- Suitable for all sites including existing coin laundries who would like to convert to a card store.
- Easy installation with minimum disruption to site
Consumer benefits:
- Reduce downtime of machines due to theft related vandalism.
- No need to find correct change for the laundry machines each time.
- No issue of the machines not working due to the coin or token box needing to be emptied.
For more information on the Smartcard Payment system, either View the Brochure or Contact Us.


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Thermal/Radiant Barrier
The plastic is there as a VAPOR barrier, not a thermal barrier. It protects your insulation from warm, moist inside air getting into your insulation and condensing into water when the temperature changes inside your insulation (the purpose of insulation: to provide a temperature barrier from the outside). That condensation can, in turn, rot out your insulation. The vapor barrier keeps the humidity inside of that barrier. Even though the temperature might pass through it, the denser moisture-vapor will not. 6 mil plastic sheeting is the most common, simplest, and inexpensive way to do so.
As such, DO NOT REMOVE THE VAPOR BARRIER. If you replace the plastic sheeting, make sure that the replacement is specifically RATED and LABELED to serve as a vapor barrier.
Your insulation should do the bulk of the radiant barrier work, though. This outer barrier merely provides draft protection, similar to the way a gore-tex shell provides wind protection from cold. Gore-tex shells usually suffice as a coat unless it gets below freezing even though the shells really do not provide much insulation at all. They suffice because they restrict direct transfer of cold and warm air. They do so by not allowing the cold air to blow through the barrier. Same thing on a house wrap. It prevents the cold air from blowing inside the insulation layer, thus making the insulation do its job of providing a true thermal barrier.
As far as I can tell, there would be no advantage to adding a second thermal barrier inside the insulation. It should be on the outside, not the inside.


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Mango news
Private equity investment in India retail assets up 15% in 2017 at $800 million: Report
During the between July and Dec 2017, demand for retail space remained strong, as international brands such as Tom Tailor, Miniso, Simon Carter, and Jo Malone opened their first outlets in the country.
Myntra heads out to buy 5% stake in Wildcraft
A Wildcraft spokesperson said they constantly evaluate options to raise funds and "there is nothing concrete to share at this point of time."
FirstCry may acquire Mothercare franchisee rights from DLF brands
Mothercare is the latest brand after Mango, Forever 21and Sephora among other global labels to change hands from DLF Brands.
Myntra plans to enter beauty store segment
Myntra already sells more than 100 beauty and cosmetics brands including MAC, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, and Estee Lauder, on its ecommerce platform.
After Thums Up Charged, Coca-Cola launches Maaza Gold
The new variant is available in modern retail outlets, select grocery stores and online stores.
Malled in, MNC fashion companies go for the slim fit
Gap, which entered India two years ago with stores of around 11,000 sq ft, has now decided to reduce the size of some existing and future outlets to 4,500-5,500 sq ft.
We need smart local partner in a big market like India: Daniel Lopez, executive vice president, Mango
Indian consumers travel a lot, much more than what we could imagine. They are spread across the globe. They are very well informed.
Myntra confident of turning profitable by fiscal-end
The companies expect to see about 250 per cent growth in business and a 50:50 split between online-offline sales.
Myntra looks at 10-15% sales from brands present in both online, offline
It plans to open 25 Mango stores in the next five years with five slated to open by the end of this year.
Abercrombie & Fitch planning to enter Indian market
Abercrombie & Fitch is in talks with a host of Indian companies, including Myntra.com, to open standalone outlets of Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister.
Flipkart planning offline cart to sell foreign brands
Flipkart is in advanced talks with Giordano for a licensing deal to sell the Hong Kong-based apparel and accessory retailer's products both offline and online in India.
Coca-Cola, partners to spend $1.7 billion on Indian agri ecosystem
Through this initiative company's bottling arm Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, 13 other independent franchise bottlers and fruit processing companies - will invest around Rs 5,793 crore over the next 5 years.
Esprit may soon open retail stores in India
Myntra already sells Esprit products online through an exclusive deal signed with the fashion brand late last year.
Missed early bird offers on Amazon India sale? With discounts upto 80%, here's what you can buy on Day 2
Footwear and accessories sold big on day one, with lucky shoppers grabbing great deals on Puma, UCB, Clarks, Hidesign and Woodland.
Myntra to sub-franchise Mango stores in India
Jaipur-based Samarth operates more than 100 outlets of Benetton, Hilfiger, Lee, Wrangler, Calvin Klein etc while New Delhi-based G&B operates 25 outlets of Benetton in NCR.
As note ban hits fashion street, brands to extend end-of-season-sales till Holi
For the first time in six years, the customary end-of-season sale at Zara, Mango and Marks and Spencer has meandered way past its traditional deadlines - without emptying the shelves.
Myntra to foray into offline retail segment with Mango brand
The Flipkart-owned company will acquire eight Mango outlets from current franchisees Major Brands and DLF Brands, and manage omnichannel strategy of the global fashion brand.


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Brixton Mosque – Press Release
The Westminster Attack
Brixton Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre is repulsed by the callous and repugnant terrorist attack at Westminster in London on Wednesday 22nd March 2017 which has resulted in the death of four people with forty other people seriously injured and maimed.
Such barbaric attacks on innocent people are totally contrary to the
fundamental teachings of Islam, and Islam is free from such criminal and heretical acts.
We at Brixton Mosque have no compunction when it comes to directly taking on, refuting and repudiating extremists wherever they may be, be it on our own doorstep in Brixton, London generally, Birmingham or wherever the Takfiri-Jihadi fanatics may
hide in the UK and use their tactics to sully the beautiful name of Islam.
Brixton Mosque further condemns in no uncertain terms the cowardly attacks on the Muslim community which usually follow such heretical and terrorist actions. Muslims should not only be on guard and protect themselves where necessary, but also seek
to report any hate crimes directed at them in the appropriate manner.
The Brixton Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre has, all praise is due to Allaah, a consistent and unblemished record when it comes to challenging, refuting and exposing extremism.
It is to the Mosque's credit that it has been at the forefront of
directly taking on extremism head-on before it became a fashion trend to do so post 9/11. The same can be said of other established Salafi communities in the UK.
The Salafi ethos of Brixton Mosque has been pivotal in critiquing and rebuffing the Khawarij and Jihadi-Takfiri method over the last twenty years.
However, it has been unfortunate to observe over the last few years in the UK attempts to criminalise those very Muslims who have been at the forefront of directly challenging the Takfiri ideology, via referring to the Salafis for example as being "non-violent extremists" and the Salafi method as in some way providing "mood music" to ISIS heresy and extremism?!
The newly concocted term of "non-violent extremism" is not only patronising but also demonstrates a distinct lack of engagement with those Muslims best equipped in society to undermine the corrupt, wicked and evil ideology upheld by deviant and
heretical sects such as ISIS and is contributory to the continuing radicalisation of people from all communities .
Furthermore, such a conflation demonstrates an acute ignorance of the fundamentals of Sunni Islam (Usul of Ahl us-Sunnah) and
Salafiyyah, which is the complete antithesis to the Khawaarij teachings of ISIS.
Indeed, the Salafi Muslims scholars have condemned the ISIS methodology in detail, taking the lead in countering ISIS.1
The public relations team are available for further discussion and are willing to assist serious and credible researchers and journalists.
Media and Public Relations Department
Brixton Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre, London
Thursday 23rd March 2017
1 See for example the following document, The ISIS Papers: A Compilation of the Statements of the Salafi Scholars
Regarding ISIS/ISIL:


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How to Make the Most of Your Education in a Job Interview
Interviewers glean more from your answers about education and training than just the facts. What you say reveals your decision-making processes, your values, your ability to keep up with the times, and your willingness to adapt to a technology-driven global economy.
What can you do when all the jobs you want seem to require a degree and you don't have one? Or you have an undergraduate degree, and the job requires a graduate degree? Or you have the 'wrong' degree?
If you must address your lack of required education, discuss your experience and skills as education. Speak of experience-based knowledge and skills, for instance, and redirect the conversation to your self-teaching efforts.
Assure the interviewer that the formal education you lack doesn't affect your ability to do the job well. Use specific examples from your experience to prove this point.
Admittedly, selling experience as education won't change anyone's mind when the education requirement is rigid — as it is in health fields, for example. But the strategy may keep your candidacy afloat when an educational requirement is simply a convenient screening device, as it often is.
You also have the choice of three more strategies that don't require returning to school:
Persevere. Continue interviewing at companies too small to operate a human resources department. HR staffers are paid to exclude applicants who miss job criteria, including education.
Work short term. Seek staffing firms that will send you on temporary or contract assignments so that employers can see how good you are and offer you a regular-status job.
Network. Try social networks, such as LinkedIn.com, to find a contact within your target company who will see that you're interviewed by a hiring manager. Hopefully your contact will advise the hiring manager that you're so talented that your experience is more than equivalent to a degree.
Whatever you do, don't lie about your education to get in the door. The digital explosion of online research channels makes it almost a certainty that false claims — especially false educational claims — will surface.


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Tap is a rhythmical variation of dance tapped out with the toe or heel of the dancer. Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 are offered for students ages 6-18. Students are placed according to age and skill with increased difficulty in combinations and styles taught at the higher levels.
Call today to schedule a complimentary placement class – (303) 973-2070.


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Last Thursday, the American Museum of Natural History in New York City hosted "Neuroscience Night: Wild, Wild Brains" during Brain Awareness Week in the Spitzer Hall of Human Origins. The night was filled with interactive games and flash lectures (i.e., a series of talks no more than 30 minutes long) that showcased how our human brains compare to those of our animal counterparts, both present day and extinct.
Amy Balanoff, Ph.D., who was one of the night's guest speakers, presented her own research on the evolutionary history of the avian (or, bird) brain. She and her colleagues use endocasts to study the brains of non-avian dinosaurs and Archaeopteryx (the first known transition between dinosaurs and flying birds) and then compare those casts to the brains of modern-day birds. An endocast is a casting of a hollow space—in this case, a fossilized cranial bone, which Balanoff created using CT imaging. Continue reading


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When plumbing issues arise, you have a choice to make; do you want to watch your money get flushed away with overpriced, inexperienced plumbers, or do you want the job done right at a fair rate? Wilmec Systems Ltd provides the Collingwood, ON area with professional and affordable plumbing installations, covering everything from water heating services to sump pump services if your sewer line is in need of repair.
With over 30 years of experience, our locally owned and operated company offers everything you need for commercial plumbing services and residential plumbing services. We can do water pipe replacement, boiler replacement, water tank replacement, and water heating services. Regardless of whether you are simply dealing with minor water line repairs or are in need of an emergency plumber with 24/7 service with free estimates, Wilmec Systems Ltd is confident that we have the equipment and manpower needed to handle your problem in a timely fashion while staying within your budget. Using only the highest quality products, you can be assured that the job will be done right the first time. We believe that there is nothing more important than the needs of our customers and our staff is constantly striving to do whatever we can to meet those needs.
Wilmec Systems Ltd wants to provide you with Collingwood plumbing contractors that you can trust to do the job right the first time. For complete plumbing services, Wilmec Systems Ltd is just the plumbing company to handle the job! Give us a call today and discover the benefits of having a plumber who cares about the customer!
Feel free to text Wilmec Systems Ltd at (705) 888-2252 for a faster response!


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Thank you for your letter of 11 February last, which brought to my attention the unacceptable mockery of the Holocaust at the Aalst Carnival in Belgium, where a fake Nazi rail car was included in the parade, accompanied by men dressed in Nazi SS officer uniforms.
I am deeply shocked by this display, which is an insult to the memory of the 6 million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust. This goes against the spirit of the Aalst Carnival, which is inscribed as part of humanity's intangible cultural heritage, and whose tradition of satire cannot possibly justify the recourse to anti-Semitic stereotypes.
This act is an offense also to the values of UNESCO, whose mandate is to promote mutual understanding, tolerance and peace. Holocaust education is a core part of this work, and UNESCO will not rest while discriminations in any form, including anti-Semitism and racism, remain prevalent in our societies. The history of the Holocaust must not be trivialized for the purposes of a local, political situation or to fuel hatred, belittling one of the darkest pages of the history of humanity.
I have condemned publicly this act as a violation of the spirit of the Aalst Carnival and the values that underpin UNESCO. Moreover, I contacted immediately the authorities of Belgium, as foreseen in the Directives of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Article 2 of which stipulates that UNESCO will give consideration solely to "such intangible cultural heritage as is compatible with existing international human rights instruments, as well as with the requirements of mutual respect among communities, groups and individuals, and of sustainable development."
In ending, allow me to assure you that the Organization will never be associated with any declaration or position that goes against its fundamental principles, or its the objective of promoting tolerance and mutual understanding on the basis of human rights and human dignity. This is my firm determination and commitment.


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Warning: This comic contains adult language, voilence, nudity, sexual images, and adult themes it is intended for mature audiences. Updated every Monday!
Warning: This comic contains adult language, voilence, nudity, sexual images, and adult themes it is intended for mature audiences. Updated every Monday!
October Donation Picture Announced
The October Picture will be a Hallowween themed picture with Serid and Kinar having some fun with tongues and mouths. If you have questions about how the donations work, feel free to read our Donations Page.The sample will be up when it's ready.
We also received confirmation that the sample pinted version of the first 54 pages has been sent to us. Once we review it, we'll be able to send it out, signed, to all of those premium donators. I'm really excited! And as always, thanks in advanced for your support and your donations.
Monthly Pictures
It has come to my attention that someone has been leaking the Monthly Donation Pictures. I have to say I am a disappointed. These pictures are gifts for those fans who choose to support this comic and support me. Leaking the pictures cheapens the gift. I keep an eye out for this stuff and I knew it was only a matter of time.
So I ask, please keep my gift pictures to yourself, after all, I put a lot of work into them and I hope those who support the comic enjoy them, as those are who they are meant for. It's kind of a bummer that someone choose to do this. For those of you who do donate, I appreciate your continued support.
September Donation Sample
The sample picture is up for the September donation. I wanted to get it up sooner but inspiration comes at random times. As a reminder there is only six more days to donate to get the september picture. Thanks in advanced to all my loyal fans, I hope you enjoy it!


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vichyssoise (potato & leek soup)
A simple and delicious soup that goes great with a spicy salad or grilled sandwich.
vegan tomato soup
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my version of a tortilla soup
Definitely not a traditional tortilla soup - this is just how I like to make it. If you like a rich spicy base that can be used for meat, fish, poultry or vegetarian soups, then give this a try.
corn & sweet potato chowder
One of the local farms that we buy from has finally harvested their corn (it is now mid-October). We set aside a couple of ears for eating on the cob and prepared most of it for the freezer but I saved some for a nice corn chowder.
chicken, shrimp and sausage gumbo
This recipe is based on the chicken, shrimp and sausage gumbo in Paul Prudhomme's Seasoned America cookbook. To make my wife happier I drastically reduced the fat used in the recipe from 1/2 c. to 2 t. To keep me happy I increased the amount of seasoning in the recipe to keep it tasting like the original.
tomatillo and roasted green chile soup
This flavourful soup was created to feed my need for some chiles and salsa on a snowy day.
pasta, bean, and sausage soup
It has been fairly cold for the past few weeks and I wanted a nice hearty soup to warm me up so I came up with this recipe after looking through the freezer and pantry. Cooking the pasta in the stock helped give the soup a really nice texture and added a lot of flavour to the pasta.
tomato vegetable soup
A light and refreshing soup to enjoy some of the middle to late summer vegetables. Freeze in small to medium size batches to enjoy your summer vegetables all winter long.
quick & easy tomato soup
Quick & easy were important for this recipe since I am doing all of my cooking in my utility room right now during my kitchen remodel. Right now my cooking appliances are a single induction burner, a toaster oven, a microwave oven, and an immersion blender.
roasted cauliflower soup
My wife and I had a roasted cauliflower soup at Camille's Restaurant in Bastion Square in Victoria, on Vancouver Island, that was quite nice. It was the first time that I actually enjoyed eating cauliflower so I recreated the soup at home - and made it a bit healthier (and vegan) by replacing the creame with a potato.
curry pumpkin soup
The original version of this soup came from a food article in the Oregonian in 1994 or 1995 and I have been making and modifying it ever since.
The original version only called for canned ingredients, and while it is quite good, making it with fresh or home made ingredients really elevates this simple dish.
southwestern sausage & bean soup
If you enjoy the flavours of chiles, beans, corn, and sausage, then this may be a soup for you. This recipe was inspired by a lack of time (getting home late from work and having students arriving soon) and items that were found in the freezer and pantry.
Tom Yum Gai (hot and sour chicken soup)
It took me about a year of searching and experimenting, but I finally came up with what I consider the ultimate Tom Yum Gai recipe. I had a great Tom Yum Goong (with shrimp instead of chicken) recipe, but it just didn't work doing a straight replacement of shrimp for chicken. After trying a number of different recipes, I went back and started tweaking the shrimp version. What I found was that it takes a little more tamrind and some clear chicken broth to balance out the flavor.
It is well worth a trip to your local Asian market to get these specialty food items. Fresh Galangal and Thai chiles are best, but get a stash of the dried versions so you can make up a batch of soup whenever you want.
mutton and barley soup
There are two ways to go with this soup. If you really like the taste of mutton (like I do, goat is even better but a bit harder to get a hold of), then get yourself some shoulder chops and shanks, trim off the meat and make yourself some mutton stock. If mutton is a bit too strong for you but you like the taste of a bit of lamb, then just get a couple of lamb leg steaks and make the soup using a good chicken stock or vegetable broth.
hot and sour soup
This is one of those soups that is so easy to do right that it is just amazing how many times you get bad hot and sour soup when you go out to Asian restaurants. You can even make decent hot and sour soup without any special ingredients, though if you take the time to select good seasonings and make good stock/broth you will be rewarded.
onion soup
This is a slight variation on traditional French onion soup. We like more onions, some garlic, and a touch of smokey heat.
We also reduce the fat in the soup 75% (4 T. to 1 T.).
chorizo & black bean soup
I wanted a different soup for my work lunches next week so I dug through the pantry and freezer for ingredients and came up with this one. I did the slow version for myself since I had the time and the dry beans on hand, but I am also including directions for how I would make a quick version of the same soup.
Cambodian lemongrass soup
I found the original soup recipe in the Oregonian 8 to 10 years ago and have been slowly adjusting the ingredients to suit my palate. I no longer have the original article or follow the original directions, but that was where the soup originally came from.
Get yourself some large bowls because you will not want to eat anything else during the meal when you start on a bowl of this soup.
black bean soup
Another simple and enjoyable soup (once you have made your ham stock). The ham stock can be replaced with vegetable broth and the ham bits can be replaced by tofu, cooked rice, or cooked pasta for a nice vegan meal.
split pea and ham soup
This thick and rich soup can also be made vegan by replacing the ham stock with a vegetable broth. (When making it this way for my friends that do not eat critters I replace the ham bits with tofu bits that are marinated in a paste of vegetable broth, chipotle powder, and a touch of honey.)


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Do you wish you knew how to navigate your way into the art world?
There are plenty of articles, blogs and books for artists, on how to approach galleries to sell their work. There are almost as many books on how to sell without gallery representation.
But there doesn't seem to be much advice for first time collectors to buy art!
So here are some ideas you might want to try.
Have a good look at your home. Where do you want to put your artwork? Have you got a minimum or maximum size? Have you got pallette in mind?
Have a look in your locality.
Go to a small gallery (often they are coffee shops too) and start working out what sort of things you like, and how much they cost. You don't have to buy from the gallery then and there, you can browse.
Go to an art fair. Small or large you'll find something that will at least help you hone your eye and make up your mind what you like.
Some art fairs are for galleries to show the work of artists they represent, others deal directly with the artist. Either way, its good to go and have a look. Collect plenty of flyers and cards so the you can look them up later.
Keep you eyes open in hospitals, hotels, restaurants - many artists are showcasing their work now in public places. They might not be for sale, but you'll get a name to look up later.
Don't be afraid of asking how much. Some galleries and some artists don't put their prices on their work. I'm surprised by this, as it takes courage to ask. But have that courage. You don't have to buy, just ask them. You don't have to say anything after they've told you!
Have a look online - Artists and Illustrators, etsy, artists network, local arts groups (mine is Plain Arts Salisbury) - you'll pick up lots of leads.
Most professional artists have their own websites, but you might not be able to find them based on a google search. Once you have a name go directly to the site.
Some artists have an online store, but many don't; don't be put off by this. You might be able to arrange a time to visit their studio.
If you make an appointment to see an artist in their studio, keep that appointment - they will have set aside time for you. Do not worry about buying straight away, Often artists anticipate visitors to their studio, might end up commissioning work rather than buying what's already there. Often couples visit together, want to go away and think about it, then come back and buy.
If you have seen their website, or work elsewhere, and you like it; tell the artist you'd like to see something similar. If an artist is setting up for an exhibition, they may have far too much work to display in their studio, give them a chance to show you what you wanted to see.
If you feel unable to approach an artist to arrange your own appointment, then email them asking if they are doing any open studio events in the future. They'll get back to you with date you can visit.
Try to have some alone time! I always try to leave any clients alone for a bit (I offer them a cup of tea and go off to make it) that way they can have a moment to get to grips with the work without pressure. Many artists do the same.
Ask them about their work.
Ask them about the medium they are working in.
Tell them where you're thinking about putting the work - they might have a great idea for you. Discuss what you might want, even if you're still unsure. The artist will want to help you.
It's probably not the best idea to be over critical to the artist, but you don't need to give the false praise either. If you really don't want to buy or commission anything, thank them for their time and leave politely.
If you want to buy; go for it! Artists who scrunch their noses up at smaller budgets are silly! Start with the work you like, if that's too expensive ask if they have anything in your budget. Many savvy artists take the time to ensure they have a variety of works at different prices for this very reason.
You can ask the artist to buy on approval. Many artists will be willing to give you a refund if you don't like the work, within a couple of weeks. You will of course have to return the work in pristine condition.
Some artists offer payment plans, but these tend to be for more expensive works.
If you commission a piece of work, artists tend to want a minimum of 20%-50% deposit and can ask for more. Make your mind up what you think is fair, and discuss this with the artist.
Some artists won't be able to sell you work if their work is appearing at a gallery at that time. it depends on the contract they have with the gallery. Some artists don't deal with galleries at all because of this restriction.
I'm not anti-gallery at all. I love them. Big ones, small ones, local ones, international ones. But there are times when artists get a raw deal in some galleries and it puts them off working with them. I love seeing galleries in every town and city and would honestly love to see more. But I need to explain to you what might be the circumstance for some artists in some galleries.
Galleries have huge overheads and often take 50% commission. If the gallery has big turnover they'll have to add VAT as well taking their commission. (Some solo artists don't have to charge VAT directly to the customer if their turnover is under £79,000). This means that for some artists, if a gallery sells their work for £400 the artist will only receive £120. When you consider the price of the raw materials and the hours it took to make the work, the artist might be paying themselves virtually nothing to produce the work!
So when you buy direct, artists are able to set their prices more realistically for you and for them.
It's honestly a really lovely experience visiting an artists studio. I love welcoming people to mine and showing them my work and how I create it.
You'd be welcome...
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Louise Luton
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July 2019


text:
I'm retired, how long will my savings last?
What are the tax advantages of an annuity?
Are my current retirement savings sufficient?
How much Life Insurance do I need?
The Fed signaled a pause in raising interest rates. How markets reacted and what the change says about the direction of the U.S. economy.


text:
Awardees from Ethiopia, Malaysia, Paraguay, and Syria
New York, September 15, 2015--The Committee to Protect Journalists will honor journalists from Ethiopia, Malaysia, Paraguay, and Syria with the 2015 International Press Freedom Awards. The journalists have endured death threats, physical attacks, legal action, imprisonment, or exile in the course of their work.
The 2015 awardees are:
- Zone 9 bloggers of Ethiopia, a group of bloggers of which six were arrested, imprisoned, and charged with terrorism in retaliation for critical reporting;
- Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, "Zunar," of Malaysia, CPJ's first cartoonist awardee, who is charged with sedition and faces a potential 43-year jail term for drawings lampooning high-level abuse in the Malaysian government;
- Cándido Figueredo Ruíz, a Paraguayan journalist who faces death threats and has lived under 24-hour police protection for the past two decades because of his reporting on drug smuggling on the Brazil-Paraguay border; and
- Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, a Syrian citizen journalist collective and one of the few independent news sources that continues to report from inside the Islamic State's self-proclaimed capital.
"In a very dangerous period for journalists, these awardees have braved threats from repressive governments, drug cartels, and Islamic State," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. "Whether through blogs or traditional media outlets, or by drawing cartoons, they risk their personal safety and freedom to bring us the news."
The Associated Press's special regional correspondent for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Kathy Gannon, will receive the Burton Benjamin Memorial Award for lifetime achievement in the cause of press freedom. Gannon has covered the region for the AP as a correspondent and bureau chief since 1988. In 2001, Gannon was the only Western journalist allowed by the Taliban to return to Kabul during the U.S.-led coalition's assault on Afghanistan. In 2005, Gannon authored I is for Infidel: From Holy War, to Holy Terror, 18 Years Inside Afghanistan, an examination of the Taliban and post-Taliban period, published by Public Affairs.
"Kathy Gannon has reported in South Central Asia for 18 years, through periods of extensive political turmoil and conflict," said Sandra Mims Rowe, chairman of CPJ's board of directors. "Her commitment to journalism has transcended personal risk and tragedy, including the loss of her colleague Anja Niedringhaus. Gannon is widely known as one of the most thoughtful and dedicated journalists covering the region."
All of the winners will be honored at CPJ's annual award and benefit dinner in New York City on November 24, 2015. David Muir, anchor of ABC World News Tonight, will host the event. Steven R. Swartz, president and chief executive officer of Hearst, is the dinner chairman.
Note to editors: CPJ International Press Freedom Award winners are available upon request for interviews prior to the awards dinner on November 24, 2015. For their full biographies, click here. Media accreditation for coverage of the awards dinner will begin on November 2, 2015. To purchase tickets to the dinner, please call CPJ's development office at +1 212-300-9021.
Media contacts:
Samantha Libby
Advocacy Officer
Ashley Parent
Communications Associate
EDITOR'S NOTE: The press release has been corrected to reflect that Paraguayan journalist Cándido Figueredo Ruíz has lived under 24-hour police protection for the past two decades.


text:
Convertible securities and mutual funds that invest in them have had a tough time this year, but money managers say that's given them incentive to buy.
The 30 convertible securities funds tracked by Standard & Poor's were down an average 2.3% through June 30. By comparison, domestic stock funds slid 0.3% and high-quality corporate bond funds rose 1.5% on average during that span.
"It's been a difficult year," Stephen Boesel, the manager of the $6-billion T Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund (PRWCX), said of convertibles, which account for about 15% of its assets.
Convertibles are bonds or preferred stock that can be converted into a predetermined number of shares of common stock. The hybrid securities typically have lower dividend yields than regular bonds, but they can make money because of the underlying stock.
The asset class suffered in the first half of the year because the stock and bond markets were relatively weak for large chunks of the period, Boesel said.
Convertibles went through "something in between a sharp correction and a bear market" that started in mid-March and ran through the second quarter, said David King, lead manager of the $700-million Putnam Convertible Income Growth Trust/A (PCONX).
King attributed the problem partly to weakness in the broad stock market, as opposed to the segments represented in the Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poor's 500 index.
In addition, King noted, convertibles were hurt when the bonds of giant auto manufacturers General Motors (GM) and Ford Motor (F) were downgraded to junk status in May. Both are heavy issuers of convertible securities, he said.
Hedge fund activity also pressured convertibles early this year, according to Boesel and King. Managers of these funds began to give up on convertibles when returns from so-called convertible arbitrage began to shrink, King said. (The strategy involves holding a long position in a convertible security and a short position in its underlying stock.)
Investors have also been pulling money out of convertibles funds lately. The funds, which took in $644 million in 2004 and about $3 billion in 2003, suffered outflows of $744 million through June this year, according to Financial Research Corp.
However, because the convertible market has taken a hit, valuations there have dropped to attractive levels, Boesel and King said.
Financial planner Steven Podnos also said he thinks convertibles are cheap. As a result, Podnos, a principal of WealthCare LLC in Merritt Island Fla., said he has been buying closed-end convertible bond funds for himself and and his clients.
The stock market's rally in recent weeks has added to the allure of convertibles, according to Boesel and King, who said they have been increasing their funds' stakes in the hybrids.
"I think if you get involved in convertibles now, you're not too late," King said. " I think between now and, say, the end of next year, you will have made a pretty good investment decision, in all probability."
Podnos recommend that investors limit their investments in convertible securities to about 5% of their portfolios because the securities can be more volatile than regular bonds. For the same reason, investors should cap their exposure to the sector at 5%-10% of their holdings, said Roseanne Pane, a mutual fund strategist with Standard & Poor's.
"You want to get your stock returns from stock funds, and your bond returns from bond funds," said Pane.
Contact Bob Keane with questions or comments at: email@example.com.


text:
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
More Xtra Loads
What makes a good commuting bike?
Sitting more upright takes strain off of your back, but sitting too far upright pretty much kills your speed. But you're not trying to win a race, you're just trying to get to the grocery store in a timely manner. Somewhere in the middle is nice.
-Good city tires.
Really fat & tready mountain tires just slow you down and work harder. Super hard & skinny road racing tires may make your butt feel more of the bumps in the road while not being able to support heavy loads. A good compromise is in-between. Something about 1.5" give or take with indented treads is nice.
-A rack! &/or basket &/or panniers &/or trailer &/or Xtracycle.
Some sort of Carrying Stuff System so that you can use your bike more & your car less.
Keeps your feet & butt dry, need I say more? Rain shouldn't deter you from riding your bike!
-Lights, front & rear.
It's not only the law, but it may save your life.
-Understated graphics.
Flashy paint jobs invite theft. Go understated.
-Flat kit.
A good cyclists is prepared. Don't just carry what you need to fix a flat, know how to do it!
Unless you're not going to carry much weight, travel far or go uphill- gears sure are helpful. You don't need a ton of them, just some of them.
I am hesitant to add this to the list, because I don't mean to say that bikes need to be so light as to merit carbon fiber.. but rather, big cruisers can weigh a TON while a reasonable commuter will ride quicker. Cruisers are fun, unless you're trying to get somewhere quickly.
Here are some examples of awesome commuter bikes I spied on the Whitman College campus.. they could use a few more items like lights, fenders, flat kits etc. but are great candidates for five-star commuters.
Tips for Bicycling Around Cars & Driving Around Bicyclists
from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance
Driving Around Bicyclists
1. Check the bike lane – when turning right across a bike lane, always look behind you for a bicyclist; bikes can travel fast enough to catch up with you even if you passed them more than a block ago; if someone is approaching, wait and yield rather than trying to "beat" them; think of the bike lane like a train track – never sit and idle on it, don't start across until you know you can clear it
2. Always signal – if you don't signal your turns, both right and left, bicyclists can't anticipate them and can't make an effort to stay out of your blind spot; if talking on your cell phone is preventing you from using your turn signal, stop talking on your cell phone, get a hands-free phone, or grow an extra arm
3. Pass with ample room – except over a double yellow line, you can cross the center line to pass a bicyclist safely, as long as oncoming traffic is clear; passing close, especially over 25 mph, is very scary for the cyclist
4. Don't honk to communicate with cyclists, unless there's an emergency – if your horn sounds loud from inside your car, imagine how loud and shocking it is from just in front of it
5. Don't follow closely – this is scary and intimidating, and the bicyclist probably would prefer to be out of your way as soon as possible but needs to be in the lane for some reason
6. Allow bicyclists to use crosswalks – they are permitted to do so, and in some places bicyclists rely on them for safe crossings
7. Look when opening your door – especially when you are parked next to a bike lane, but also on any street; many bicyclists ride close to parked cars to leave room for drivers to pass on their left, and this means you could hit them with your door if you don't look first
8. Be cautious in residential neighborhoods – bicyclists like to use quiet streets to get around, so if you are sloppy or impatient at stop signs you risk hitting someone on a silent or vulnerable vehicle; also, slow down and stop before you get to the stop sign, not as you roll by it, because children biking on the sidewalk may cross in front of you and if you aren't already slowing down you may run them over
9. Use good manners – apologize if you make a mistake and it will go a long way; eye contact and waves are very humanizing, especially in the stress of rush-hour traffic
Bicycling Around Cars
1. Be visible - #1 safety issue we see among bicyclists – use front and back lights, and wear light colored or reflective rain gear; invisible bicyclists risk their lives, and scare and infuriate even the most empathetic of car drivers
2. Learn to look over your left shoulder – helps with looking before leaving the bike lane to turn left, pass another cyclist or avoid a car door; helps with changing lanes; helps with making eye contact with passing motorists
3. Signal – for lane changes or turns, or stopping suddenly; motorists often are very nervous driving around bicyclists because they don't know what to expect; make your intentions clear, and they'll generally give you more space and time to do what you need to do; you aren't required to signal, however, if you need both hands on your handlebars
4. Take the lane when necessary – sometimes if a lane is so narrow that passing is dangerous, you may need to take the lane briefly to make that clear to drivers behind you; move over as soon as you can safely and let people stuck behind you pass; if you're going the speed of traffic, as often happens downtown or on downhills, feel free to take the lane – it is safer and more comfortable
5. Stay out of the "door zone" – be far enough away from parked cars that if someone opens a door without looking, you don't have to swerve suddenly
6. Use extra caution if passing on the right – avoid doing this when there isn't much room, when people are turning into driveways, or when traveling through an intersection; remember, there is no bike lane so drivers do not know to look for you there
7. Use good manners – if you make a mistake, give the "my bad" wave; if someone does something nice for you, give a wave of "thanks"; never steal the right-of-way, it is very offensive and terrible PR for bikes; give pedestrians lots of space
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Bill Mason: finding peace by canoe
Bill Mason: "artist, author, filmmaker, and world-renowned canoeist."
Bicycle Touring Pro
"Hello everyone! My name is Darren Alff and welcome to BicycleTouringPro.com. This is a brand new website that I've created to help connect bicycle tourists from around the world. I am an experienced bicycle tourist who has ridden across the United States six separate times and I just returned from a tour of Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic..."
Talk about credentials! This is perhaps the best website or just straight up resource on bicycle touring that I have seen. It's comprehensive, well-written & includes pictures & video. Here's a video on how to pack handlebar bags, one in a series of how-to videos:
Find more helpful bicycle touring information at bicycletouringpro.com!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
How do people use Xtracycles?
Some people immediately see the utility of an Xtracycle, but there are some people who ask, "well, what would you use it for?" I personally use it for grocery shopping, odd errands (moving lawn chairs, recycling or even large filing boxes) and have plans to tour & adventure as well. It pretty much replaces a car for me and is an invitation to new adventures as an added bonus. But here are some more answers that I got from the Xtracycle website:
- For faster, simpler, and more reliable backcountry and cross country touring.
- For human-powered multi-sport adventures combining biking and other outdoor activities such as surfing, skiing, kayaking, and climbing.
- Commuters are finding a new level of car-replacing utility.
- Accessing roadless areas with specialized gear and equipment.
- Businesses are using it for running errands, moving parts around facilities or from one store to another, and picking up office party favors.
- Many people use it primarily as a passenger vehicle for friends, family, and lovers.
- Replacing short car trips, such as for picking up groceries, recycling, and going yard-saleing.
- Musicians with large instruments are riding to gigs that they had to drive or walk to before.
- Bike messengers and courier companies are using it to carry bigger and more varied loads through congested city cores, faster than previously possible.
- Crazy kids are surfing on the SnapDeck; really crazy kids are surfing on the SnapDeck with no one steering the bike!
- For bike-based businesses like electrical contracting and landscaping.
- Parents are using it to tote around kids too big for a bike seat or trailer, and too small to keep up over long distances.
- Beginning and intermediate mountain bikers are using the S.U.B. to ride harder trails with more confidence.
Copenagen Cycle Chic
Introducing: Copenhagen Cycle Chic. Who said you couldn't wear heeled boots on a bike?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Choosing a Bike (from scratch!) for an Xtracycle
There a couple ways you can go about getting an Xtracycle.
A) You can choose a pre-built Xtracycle (that includes a bike) from their website.
b) You can just buy the Free Radical/Free Loader kit (the frame & rack) and attach it to a bike you already have.
C) If you don't have a (suitable) bike you can buy a pre-built (used or new) bike & attach the kit.
d) If you don't have a (suitable) bike you can buy a frame, components etc, to build up a bike that is ideal for an Xtracycle kit.
This post is about option (d). Choosing a suitable (and by suitable, I really mean 'ideal', because most bikes will work just fine for an Xtracycle) bicycle. And so it begins..
i. On frames..
If you're going to spend money anywhere, spend it on your frame. If you're going to get a headache over anything, get it over your frame. Your frame has the greatest impact on how your bike fits you, performs, and lifespan of your bike (you might still be riding it at 85!). Other things (handlebars, stem, seatpost, wheels etc) are much easier (and usually cheaper) to change. But don't get a headache. Nobody likes a headache.
STEP ONE: frame material
Choosing a frame begins with frame material. Generally, you'll be deciding between steel or aluminum (or a mix) since anything else (carbon) is really just for Fancy Pants Racing or Fancy Pants Racing Wannabes. & you're not looking to race, you're looking for something strong, durable & comfortable (as opposed to light, fast & aerodynamic).
Steel PROS: To quote Surly, "plentiful, durable, repairable and easily recyclable." Also cheap & dampens vibration wonderfully. (Imagine a 10hr car ride in a jeep vs. a luxury car.)
Steel CONS: Heavy. Some say rust, but that's easily preventable & even fixable.
Aluminum PROS: Cheap, light, stiff (stiff is good for power transfer, which is good for speed).
Aluminum CONS: Not so repairable. Imagine a pop can. Imagine putting a dent in the pop can. Now the pop can will easily crush.
Further reading on frame materials, particularly steel: Sheldon Brown, Surly, Rivendell.
So if you haven't noticed my bias already- I like steel. But really, aluminum is great, too- and just because a bike is aluminum, that should not be the sole reason to shy away from it. My race bike is aluminum & carbon.
STEP TWO: frame design
The geometry of a bike has influence not only on how the bike handles (zippy vs stable etc) but also on how your body handles the bike! (sore back vs happy back etc.) Let's go from one extreme to the other.
Racing time trial bike: more about aerodynamics than comfort.
Racing road bike: an 'aggressive' position, bending your back to reach the bars.
Touring road bike: a more relaxed position, but still bending a little bit.
Commuter hybrid: sitting much more upright, leaning forward only a little bit.
'Bike Path' bike: sitting very upright, hardly leaning forward at all.
Cruiser bike: like sitting on a couch.
The range that would be appropriate for an Xtracycle is anywhere between Touring & Cruiser. Where you fall in that spectrum depends on what you're comfortable with and what you intend to use your Xtracycle for.
If you want to use your Xtra as your primary commuting vehicle, but also go bicycle camping/touring on it.. if you're a roadie and can't get away from drop bars.. if you're more comfortable/accustomed to a road bike geometry than mountain.. my suggestion is a touring frame/bike.
Suggestions: Surly Long Haul Trucker
*That's my Surly Long Haul Trucker haulin' some pizza in that photo! I used the cardboard box that shipped my wideloaders. :)
If you want to use your Xtra as your primary commuting vehicle, not just downtown but also for longer distances.. my suggestion is a commuter/hybrid frame/bike.
Suggestions: Surly Big Dummy w/ flat bars, Marin Novato offered by Xtracycle, Jamis Coda Sport
If you want to use your Xtra as your frequent commuting vehicle, but aren't interested in terrifically large loads, going fast or going far.. if you're more comfortable/accustomed to upright mountain geometry than road.. my suggestion is a bike path or mountain frame/bike.
Suggestions: Surly Big Dummy w/ cruiser bars, Surly Instigator, Jamis Commuter
*An added advantage of Surly's Big Dummy (frame in the photo above right, full build with flat bars in the photo to the left) that it is the only frame actually that actually integrates Xtracycle's racks (Free Loaders) into its design. The benefits include a better ride & durability. Not to mention the cool factor.
If you want to use your Xtra as your frequent commuting vehicle, but only for short distances and at leisure speed.. if you plan on installing speakers, a keg & neon lights on the back.. my suggestion is a cruiser frame/bike.
Suggestions: Electra Townie offered by Xtracycle
STEP THREE: deciding everything else
All the other pieces are good to think about, and some are more important than others (your wheels are more important than your seat post, for example). So if you're going to spec' out your bike part by part, first you want to be familiar with what has priority for quality and where you can get away with.. less than quality. Here is my list in order of priority & my two cents on each.
Level One Priority
Your rear wheel in particular needs to be strong in order to support heavy loads. A weak or poorly built wheel will go easily out of true (wobble), break spokes or even just fail (turn into a taco shell instead of a round wheel). A wheel can be made strong by its rim design (a cyclocross wheel which is meant for rough riding would be designed for strength) but also its spoke count & pattern. Tandems, for example, have to support a lot of weight so their wheels often have 42+ spokes instead of 32. My rear wheel has 32 but uses a "3-cross" pattern where each spoke crosses another 2-3 times instead of crossing 0-1 times like my race wheels (which don't have to support as much weight and can afford to be "aerodynamic").
What I have: Mavic XC 717 Cross Rims 32h 3-cross pattern
Brakes are always important for safety, but they're extra important when you're carrying a load & riding in traffic. The advantage of disc brakes is that they perform just as well in wet weather, but they can be a pain to fix (especially if you plan to travel in remote places)- so unless you live in a rainy & hilly area, they're not necessary. V-brakes & Cantilevers, both found commonly on mountain bikes & some road bikes (e.g. cyclocross), are very strong & easy to repair. Caliper brakes, found on road racing bikes, are not very strong but okay if you're not carrying heavy loads.
What I have: Avid Brakes
Handle Bars
While the quality of handle bars may not matter so much (you're not trying to win a sprint finish in the Tour de France, are you?), the shape will vastly affect your comfort & how the bike handles. Drop bars provide not only an aerodynamic position, but several positions, which makes it beneficial for touring. However, your hands will be much closer to the center which may make large loads trickier to manage. Flat bars are nice in that they spread your arms wider and make loads easier to manage, but you don't have nearly as many options for hand positions. Cruiser bars are fun and allow you to sit completely upright, but I personally find them hard to maneuver (probably because I'm a roadie). If you don't have experience with a particular bar (drop bars, for example), they're bound to feel very strange at first- but give them a chance (say, borrow a friend's bike) and you can usually develop a feel for them.
What I have: Ritchey Biomax drop bars
Don't skimp here! This is your butt & your happiness we're talking about. But in searching for comfort, be aware that softer does not always mean better. Large & soft seats are good for cruisers which typically don't go on very long rides. Think of a saddle like a mattress. A really soft mattress feels great for a few minutes, but sleep on it all night and you'll have no support and feel sore in the morning. Likewise, sleeping on concrete doesn't do you any good either.
What I have: Terry
Cassette/Chain Rings
What matters here is a range of gears. While some purist Cool Cats like riding Xtracycles on single speeds (which is more about culture than about practical, if you ask me), it makes much more sense to have easy gears readily available for hauling large loads, especially up hills. I have a 46/?/26 triple up front and a 12-26 in the rear. So far, so good.
Also, I have a 9 speed as opposed to a 10 speed so that I can have a wider and thus more durable chain that is more widely available.
What I have: 46/?/26 triple up front, 12-16 in the rear
Level Two Priority
The headset is what holds your fork onto your frame and allows it to rotate. Riding on bumpy roads can put stress & wear on the headset. Because I want to not only commute, but also to explore on my bike, I chose a Chris King headset which is the "bling" of headsets. It's what you might call "over-manufactured," which means that it could undergo much tougher conditions than a bike could ever provide. Pretty much it could be your last headset. The downside is that they're really expensive. You can justify it, though, by thinking of buying a Chris King like buying the time of 2 or more regular headsets.
What I have: Chris King.. in pink
Bottom Bracket
The bottom bracket is the moving part that is between your two cranks. Same deal with the headset, only different name. I got a Phil Wood, another expensive and over-manufactured part so that I won't have to ever worry about what's goin' on down there.
What I have: Phil Wood
Wheel Hubs
The wheel hub is the moving part of your wheel, where all of the spokes meet. Generally, (as with the headset & bottom bracket) moving parts are what get a lot of wear on your bike and are worth investing in. This rule doesn't always apply, though- since a chain moves a lot, but is replaced the most and thus may not be worth spending extra money on each time.
What I have: Shimano XT
Rear Derailleur
The rear (arguably) is more important than the front since it is a more complicated mechanism & has more gears to change.
What I have: Shimano 105
Unless you live in the mountains, you don't need knobby mountain tires. They not only slow you down, they make riding more work. There are lots of great city tires out there that are mostly smooth (they usually have an indented pattern) and not too skinny (you want at least 1.5" wide unless you don't plan on carrying heavy loads).
What I have: Panaracer Pasela Touring 1.5"
Level Three Priority
I chose bar-end shifters for their simplicity so that they'd be easy to repair 'in the field'. Any manual shifter will also be cheaper. An STI shifter, which basically means things shifters that go 'click!' 'click!' and ta-da, you've shifted- are very nice to use, but more expensive & have lots of internal parts. Note that 'manual' shifters do have the option to go 'click!' 'click!' but can easily be converted to friction shifting which is when you slowly turn the lever until the gears have shifted.
What I have: Shimano bar-end
I got some cheap, but awesome platforms that look simple and grip great. Don't need bike shoes, just any shoes.
What I have: MKS Touring pedals
The quality isn't so important, but the size & angle are very important. This decides much of your body positioning on the bike.
Epilogue. How I chose the Surly Long Haul Trucker.
I wanted to tour on my bike as well as commute/haul, which lead me to consider touring bikes. I also wanted control over each part, which lead me to consider choosing a touring frame instead of a complete bike. I also wanted it to be made out of steel for repairability, durability & longevity, so that narrowed down the options some more. Then I wanted a no-frills, straightforward company that was environmentally responsible as well as affordable. And a sweet understated color. Thus was born the Surly Long Haul Trucker. Surly, in general, provides well-crafted steel frames that are smartly designed without the overhead spent on mass marketing, savings which transfer to your pocket book. I recommend them.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Tour of Walla Walla Report
& what new way of thinking is that?
Glad you asked. :)
Little more fun, little less stress.
Little more experience, little less results.
Little more play, lot less serious.
Little more sporadic, little less methodic.
Little more wool, little less spandex.
Little more steel, little less carbon.
It's not that I dislike racing. I spent 4 years racing and worked really hard doing it. Now I'm just ready for something else. Like bicycle camping. :)
So I had fun in the time trial, fun in the road race- and when it wasn't fun anymore, I sat up and stopped racing. Then I found a package of Clif Blocks on the road that still had some in the package. I ate them. Then I finished the road race at a 'Look at the Clouds' speed. I didn't race Sunday morning in the criterium, but I did cheer hard.
Who's the Weirdo?
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Critical Mass: We Are Traffic
A great documentary on Critical Mass (50min).
Thursday, April 17, 2008
"Field Performance Test"
The other week my road bike was still packed up in a cardboard box since I had taken the Greyhound from Seattle to Pasco (and naturally, whenever I travel, my bike goes with me)- but I wanted to go for a nice easy spin in the wheatfields so I just took my Surly/Xtracycle instead! It was a great test for "field performance" instead of the usual around-town riding my Xtra usually gets. In the end, I was actually fairly impressed with the rolling speed which says a lot since my other bike is an Orbea! ;)
Xavier Rudd: Better People
Better People by Xavier Rudd
you people saving whales,
giving your thanks to our seas
my respect to the ones in the forest,
Standing up for our old trees
Them giving food to the hungry
giving hope to the needy
giving life to a baby
giving care for free
there is freedom around us
We have everything we need
I will care for you
because you care for me
we all have opinions
Some of them get through
But there's better people
With more good to do.
what I have could be a message
or just some words from my heart
My respect to the ones making changes
For other lives they'll give their own
well our world it keeps spinning
round and round it goes
Human nature keeps spreading it's disease
And our children keep growing up with
what they know from what we teach
and what they see
And it's only a question of the time we have
And the lives that our children will lead
they can only keep growing up with
what they know from what we teach
and what they see
"Bicycle Camping for the Time Challenged"
Rivendell is an awesome bike shop in California that subscribes to a wool/not spandex, platforms/not clipless, steel/not carbon sort of philosophy. You can read some entertaining ramblings on this philosophy at their website, www.rivbike.com. I also recommend perusing some of the beautiful frames they design.
Anyway- the folks at Rivendell also like to promote bicycle camping, and more specifically, S24O's. An S24O (Es-Two-Four-Oh) is a Sub-24 hour-Overnight. That means loading up your bike with whatever you need for the night: food, sleeping bag, a book and taking off Friday evening & returning Saturday morning. You don't need to go far. Is there a state park within a day's ride? Or maybe there's a secluded hilltop just out of town. You also don't need to bring much. If you forget something (say, dinner)- it's not such a terrible thing because you'll be home in the morning and you'll have a good story anyhow. And you don't need much time to do it. Leave with enough light to get to your destination and return home in the morning. The "I have to work" excuse just won't work.
To read the article from Adventure Cycling, "Bicycle Camping for the Time Challenged," written by the Rivendell founder, click here.
To read an article from the Rivendell website on what to pack for a S24O, click here.
Go camping!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
World's Largest Bicycle
& I wonder how fast it could go with trained cyclists aboard..
Specialty Outdoors: handmade, quality, custom gear
Nice ski suit, huh? Well, it was hand made by Penny (the one in the picture) @ Specialty Outdoors.
Specialty Outdoors is a one-woman show based out of Spokane, WA. She makes custom outdoor clothing & alterations to clothing, packs etc. Also, if you're a handy sewer yourself, she has a wealth of information & tips on her website on how to make your own outdoor gear!
Some of the things Penny does (excerpt from website):
- Technical and shell clothing: altering for fit, repairs, modifying features
- Add features: pockets, pitzips, zippers, wear patches
- Custom technical wear: fleece, cycle, ski, etc. wear
- Fitting challenges: sleeves, length (too long or too short) torso length, resizing
- General repairs & rehabilitation (zippers, patches, elastic, Velcro� etc.)
- Taped Goretex ( and other similar fabrics) alterations & modifications
- Small packs: repairs and modifications
- Special request or idea? Contact me and let's see if it can be done! Trust me, it will not be the most far out thing I've ever been asked to make.
Bikes at Work
I've got one of these babies on order.
This is a trailer made by Bikes at Work Inc. They make and sell trailers as well as run a bicycle delivery service that picks up just about anything from weekly recycling to your household refrigerator. Their trailers are so well designed that the folks over at Pedal People, another recycle-by-bicycle organization use them happily. And soon I will be using one happily, too.
Okay, so I have an Xtracycle- why do I need yet ANOTHER hauling device that carries 300lbs? (For a total of 500lbs, in case you were counting.) Well. First of all, it is another step toward decreasing my "need" for a car. Secondly, I am interested in doing some trial runs of a recycle-by-bicycle business of my own. Thirdly, I also want to start painting & selling furniture @ Farmer's Market and need a way to move it all. Fourthly, even if none of my 'business' ventures work out, point one is still in effect and I can move whatever I need to or want to without having to call for help! And really, I just get a kick out of hauling things by bike.
Build Your Own Bamboo Trailer
A fantastic fellow recently introduced me to do-it-yourself bamboo bike trailers. Yes, I said bamboo.
The folks at Carry Freedom will supply you with free plans to make a bike trailer out of just about anything- bamboo, old shelving, sticks- and there aren't even power tools required. All that they ask in return is this (excerpt from their website):
1. Tell us what you are using the bicycle trailer for
2. Send us photos of the bicycle trailer you build
3. Tell us how to improve the instructions or the trailer
4. Accept that we might post your email on our blog
And also:
This project exists thanks to the quiet dedication of many people investing a small part of their own time money or skill. If you feel you can help in any way, then we will gratefully accept. For example you could:
- Teach others to build the trailer
- Create better ways of making the bicycle trailer
- Email us pictures of your trailer
- Link to this web page
- Use the bicycle trailer you build
- Use your skill or talent to bump the project along
- Bore people at parties about bamboo;)
Not a bad deal at all. And if you'd rather plunk down some cash instead of doing the work, they also make a really smart line of trailers for purchase.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Some favorite pictures from the weekend..
Yes, Zac, we know your brake was rubbing for the last 5 miles. ;)
The full race report (written by Yours Truly) can be found (soon) here.
Monday, April 14, 2008
How to Not Get Hit By Cars!
*Excerpt from bicyclesafe.com*
Collision Type #1: The Right Cross
This is one of the most common ways to get hit (or almost get hit). A car is pulling out of a side street, parking lot, or driveway on the right. Notice that there are actually two possible kinds of collisions here: Either you're in front of the car and the car hits you, or the car pulls out in front of you and you slam into it.
How to avoid this collision:
1. Get a headlight. If you're riding at night, you should absolutely use a front headlight. It's required by law, anyway. Even for daytime riding, a bright white light that has a flashing mode can make you more visible to motorists who might otherwise Right Cross you. Look for the new LED headlights which last ten times as long on a set of batteries as old-style lights. And helmet- or head-mounted lights are the best, because then you can look directly at the driver to make sure they see your light.
2. Honk. Get a loud horn and USE IT whenever you see a car approaching (or waiting) ahead of you and to the right. If you don't have a horn, then yell "Hey!" You may feel awkward honking or yelling, but it's better to be embarrassed than to get hit. Incidentally, the UK requires bells on bicycles.
3. Slow down. If you can't make eye contact with the driver (especially at night), slow down so much that you're able to completely stop if you have to. Sure, it's inconvenient, but it beats getting hit. Doing this has saved my life on too many occasions to count.
4. Ride further left. Notice the two blue lines "A" and "B" in the diagram. You're probably used to riding in "A", very close to the curb, because you're worried about being hit from behind. But take a look at the car. When that motorist is looking down the road for traffic, he's not looking in the bike lane or the area closest to the curb; he's looking in the MIDDLE of the lane, for other cars. The farther left you are (such as in "B"), the more likely the driver will see you. There's an added bonus here: if the motorist doesn't see you and starts pulling out, you may be able to go even FARTHER left, or may be able to speed up and get out of the way before impact, or roll onto their hood as they slam on their brakes. In short, it gives you some options. Because if you stay all the way to the right and they pull out, your only "option" may be to run right into the driver's side door. Using this method has saved me on three occasions in which a motorist ran into me and I wasn't hurt, and in which I definitely would have slammed into the driver's side door had I not moved left.
Of course, there's a tradeoff. Riding to the far right makes you invisible to the motorists ahead of you at intersections, but riding to the left makes you more vulnerable to the cars behind you. Your actual lane position may vary depending on how wide the street is, how many cars there are, how fast and how close they pass you, and how far you are from the next intersection. On fast roadways with few cross streets, you'll ride farther to the right, and on slow roads with many cross streets, you'll ride farther left.
For 9 more very helpful tips, click here.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
"No More Excuses"
Source: Compiled by Tim Cookingham for Austin City Connection,
Everyone's got a "reason" for why they can't ride their bike to work. But we've got a solution to nearly every excuse. Read on . . .
* It's too far to ride.
If you live too far from work, consider driving part of the way and riding the rest. Or you can ride the bus part way. Bike racks have been installed on all full-sized Capital Metro buses.
* It takes too long.
You'd be surprised. Because of traffic in urban areas, cycling generally takes less time than driving for trips of 3 miles or less, and about the same time for 3 to 5 mile trips. For longer trips, consider that you're saving time by combining your daily exercise with your commute.
* I'd have to get up much earlier if I rode my bicycle.
If your commute is less than 10 miles round trip, the difference in commute time will be insignificant. Even if your commute is longer, 30 minutes of extra sleep isn't as invigorating as a morning ride.
* I can't afford a special commuting bicycle.
You don't need one. Your old beater bike gathering dust in the garage will suffice if properly adjusted and maintained, and it's less attractive to thieves.With the fixed cost of operating an automobile at around 30 cents per mile, the money you would save commuting by bicycle on an average 10-mile round trip would buy you a $400 bicycle in six months time.
* I have to dress nice for work.
Some bicycle commuters simply ride in their business attire -- they seem to command more respect from motorists. Consider carrying your change of clothes in a pack or in panniers on the bike, or transport them back and forth on days when you don't ride.
* I can't shower at work.
Depending on the weather, you may not need a shower if you ride at a leisurely pace. If you do, take a washcloth, soap, towel and deodorant and clean up at the restroom sink, or look for a public facility or health club within walking distance of your workplace where you can shower.
* I'd have to ride in the dark.
There are a variety of bike-mounted lights that can help you see and be seen.
* I need my car for work.
Some transportation tasks could be handled equally well on a bike. Meet with your employer and see if your company might not benefit from a more environmentally friendly image if you conducted your business by bike. If you absolutely cannot use a bike at work, then use your bike for personal errands at work and at home.


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Learn about some of the most interesting wild animals and some cool facts about these gracious creatures. Terms of Use: This video is licensed under a Creative Commons CC-BY license. Its attributed to All Things Animals TV (facebook.com/allthingsanimaltv) Video being licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Licensed Material is licensed under Public License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Original Titles: MEERKAT: Animals for children. Kids videos. Kindergarten | Preschool learning Video Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIILtxz0pNw All rights reserved: All Things Animals TV
Gender:boys, girls
Ages:3 - 15
Published:3 years ago


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my eyes are constantly watering , making it damn near impossible to do a cat eye.
(sometimes i can make it an entire hour with my eye makeup in place - IF I'm lucky)
primer on the lid, corners and underneath the eye - makeup glue.
my eyes have stayed perfect everyday, ever since.


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Genesis 2:18 It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.
What we know about Eve is that she was the first woman in the world, yet she is the mother of us all. Adam now had another human being with whom to fellowship- someone with an equal share in God's image. Together they were greater than either could have been alone. Eve was approached by Satan in the Garden of Eden, where she and Adam lived.
Here are a few of her weaknesses and mistakes, she allowed her contentment to be undermined by Satan. She acted impulsively without talking either to God or Adam. Not only did she sinned, but she shared her sin with her husband, Adam. And when confronted, she blamed others instead of being accountable for her own actions. Let's learn from them shall we?
Satan questioned Eve's contentment by saying" how could you be happy when you are not allowed to eat from one of the trees? Satan helped Eve shift her focus from all that God had done. Sounds familiar? How often is our attention drawn from the much which is ours to the little that isn't? We get that" I've got to have it" feeling, Eve was typical of us all, and we consistently show we are her descendants by repeating her mistakes.
Our desires, like Eve's can be quite easily manipulated. They are not the best basis for actions, we need to keep God in our decision-making process always. His Word, the Bible, is our guidebook in decision making. The necessary ingredients for a strong marriage are commitment to each other, companionship with each other, complete oneness, absence of shame.
God could have created Eve from the dust of the ground as he made man. God, chose, however to make her from the man's flesh and bone. In so doing, He illustrated for us that a marriage man and woman symbolically become one flesh. This is a mystical union of the couple hearts and lives. Throughout the bible, God treats this special partnership seriously. If you are married or planning to be married, are you willing to keep the commitment that makes the two of you one? The goal in marriage should be more than friendship, it should be oneness.


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Full Fantastic Four in High Definition FormatNow you can enjoy Fantastic Four in top quality with duration 100 Min and has been aired on 2015-08-07 and MPAA rating is 561.
- Original Title : Fantastic Four
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- Release date of movie : 2015-08-07
- Companies of movie : 20th Century Fox, Marvel Entertainment, TSG Entertainment,
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- Actors of movie :Miles Teller (Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic), Kate Mara (Sue Storm / The Invisible Woman), Jamie Bell (Ben Grimm / The Thing), Toby Kebbell (Victor Domashev), Michael B. Jordan (Johnny Storm / The Human Torch), Tim Blake Nelson (Harvey Elder), Reg E. Cathey (Dr. Franklin Storm), Jodi Lyn Brockton (Lawyer), Chet Hanks (Jimmy Grimm), Jerrad Vunovich (Baxter Student), Christopher Heskey (Delta Force Soldier #2), Don Yesso (Pentagon General), Wayne Pére (Science Fair Judge), Shauna Rappold (Military Tech), Adam Fristoe (Quantum Gate Scientist), Tim Heidecker (Mr. Richards), Gretchen Koerner (Reed's Scientist)
Movie summary of Fantastic Four :
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Characters : Jack Kirby, Characters : Stan Lee, Screenplay : Jeremy Slater, Screenplay : Josh Trank, Producer : Simon Kinberg, Producer : Gregory Goodman, Creative Consultant : Mark Millar, Producer : Matthew Vaughn, Screenplay : Simon Kinberg, Executive Producer : Avi Arad, Executive Producer : Kevin Feige, Executive Producer : Stan Lee, Director : Josh Trank, Director of Photography : Matthew Jensen, Writer : T.S. Nowlin
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Pay MORE, get LESS as council tax bills SOAR in wake of Autumn Spending Review
BRITONS are facing soaring council tax bills as local authorities try to fill the £13billion hole left by Government cuts.
George Osborne's Autumn Spending Review has placed huge financial constraints on local authorities
Local authorities in England have warned there will be a massive funding gap by the end of the decade following George Osborne's spending review, even after an expected rise to council tax bills of almost £200.
The shortfall is driven not only by cuts in grants from Whitehall but also by the escalating cost of social care – which has been predicted to outstrip available funding by £2.9billion by 2020, the Local Government Association has warned.
New powers to hike council tax by two per cent to pay for social care, announced by the Chancellor, will ease some of the pressure on town halls but add to bills.
Council tax bills are expected to rise considerably in the next few years to compensate
But even if all eligible councils take advantage of the full surcharge, they will rake in just £1.6billion more by 2020.
If you are in one of the areas with a very low council tax base...you are not going to get any help at all
On top of the expected 1.99 per cent annual rise in council tax, this could see average Band D bills soar by £195 by the end of the decade.
Local government chiefs also warned that the change could widen the divide in service standards between comfortable and deprived areas, as councillors in poorer parts of the country hold back from rises which could be unaffordable to their residents.
The LGA calculated that, even where the two per cent surcharge is applied, it will be worth more in wealthier areas with more expensive homes, where it will add 15 per cent to councils' budgets by 2020 compared to five per cent in disadvantaged towns and cities.
The Chancellor has given councils the power to increase tax bills by 2% to cover social care costs
Government cuts have left local authorities with a £13bn funding deficit
LGA deputy chairman David Simmonds, who is the Tory leader of Hillingdon in west London, warned this would exacerbate the "postcode lottery" in social care.
He added: "If you are in one of the areas with a very low council tax base, unless you are somebody who physically cannot get out of bed, have a wash and feed yourself without someone coming round to your house, you are not going to get any help at all."
Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance pressure group, said: "There are still savings to be had in town halls up and down the country. Taxpayers will want to see their local politicians prioritise services and root out waste, so all non-essential spending must be up for review. "Furthermore, councils must put all of their assets under the microscope and look to share roles, services and back office functions with their neighbours to avoid tax hikes."


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Progressive? No, but the Mets' new front office doesn't have to be
Sandy Alderson, the new general manager of the New York Mets, is the kind of man who reminds other men of what they once thought they could be and sets them fawning. A Marine, a graduate of Harvard Law School, a successful general manager and CEO of major league ball clubs and breaker of umpires, he has, so far as one can tell, never failed at anything.
He also, as it happens, last ran a winning ball club in 1992. One can be quite impressed by the fact that Alderson was the man chosen to clean up baseball's notoriously corrupt operations in the Dominican Republic and still note that his last winner played in Barry Bonds' final year with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Derek Jeter was drafted that year. Andrew Friedman, general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, wasn't yet old enough to drive.
Curiously, no one has seemed very concerned by the implications of this since Alderson was hired two weeks ago. Take it as proof of the strength of the man's reputation or of the limitless optimism of Mets fans, but the common assumption seems to be that with one hiring, a backwards team has become a rational and progressive one.
This assumption has even survived Alderson's first major move, the installation of J.P. Ricciardi and Paul DePodesta as his top lieutenants. I can think of a lot of words to describe these hires, but "progressive" isn't one of them.
Ricciardi, 51, was the longtime general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, and a hard-luck case. (In 2008 his team was probably one of the five best in baseball, which was only good enough for a fourth-place finish in the American League East.) Ricciardi got relatively little credit for doing well because he signed players like Vernon Wells and B.J. Ryan to famously lousy contracts, and in all proved a highly conventional operator.
DePodesta, 37, has worked in baseball for 14 years, including a brief run as general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In his first year with the Dodgers, they made the playoffs; the next year they lost 90 games for just the second time since they moved from Brooklyn, and he lost his job. Aside from this, he has always been successful, having had a hand in the building of good teams in Cleveland, San Diego and Oakland.
This last stint is important, because like Alderson and Ricciardi, DePodesta is of course probably most famous for his role in Michael Lewis' Moneyball, and more broadly for his role in building the strong Oakland A's team that was its subject. Alderson was the man who brought Billy Beane to power; Ricciardi and DePodesta were his capos.
The merits and flaws of both the book and the philosophy that it celebrated aside, the Moneyball A's peaked a decade ago, and haven't had a winning season since 2006. Hiring Beane himself would at this point be a good move, but it would hardly be a coup to end coups. Why the hiring of three men best known for their affiliation with him should be treated as such is a bit of a mystery.
If this seems unfair, forget pedigree and think of these men objectively: Alderson is a 62-year-old bagman for commissioner Bud Selig, a decade and a half removed from baseball operations, and the other two are washed-out general managers who happen to have worked with Alderson in the past. This is caricature, but it captures the truth that this is a group not of revolutionaries, but of veteran baseball men who should not necessarily be looked to for novel ways of thinking. Their ideas may prove as stale in their way as former general manager Omar Minaya's did.
There is a lot more to baseball than having new ideas, though, which is why one can decline the Kool-Aid and still be excited about the changes in Flushing.
The problems with the Mets over the years, after all, have not been philosophical but mechanical. The team has consistently failed to develop clear lines of authority, to scout its own players properly, and to train players well. This has led to such spectacles as failures to put injured players on the disabled list, the promotion of prospects barely ready for Double-A to the major leagues, generations of pitchers who don't know how to throw a good curveball, and so on.
The new crew, whatever its flaws, is not going to allow straight-out dysfunction. Alderson may be many years removed from the general manager's desk, but I would bet my record collection against a dollar that under his leadership the Mets will know who has the authority to authorize surgery for a star player. One can be similarly sure that Ricciardi and DePodesta will not encourage the signing and promotion of random teenagers, or produce memos explaining the pressing need to spend a lot of money on Oliver Perez.
With the Mets' money and talent, simple mechanical competence is all they need out of their front office, and the new regime offers it. It further offers Alderson's prestige. A man who has been mentioned as a possible commissioner is not going to find himself without resources if the buffoonish Wilpon family tries to make a botch of his work. Mets fans should be happy -- and so should everyone else.
First, it's bad for baseball when a team as rich as the Mets is bad. Trickle-down mediocrity is one reason why the National League has been so much weaker than the American League over the past decade. In the Junior Circuit, the teams with the largest financial advantages -- the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels and White Sox -- are always good, which raises the league's metabolism and forces competitors to build strong teams. Of their National League equivalents, only the Phillies are consistently good. A Mets team that doesn't squander its edge over the rest of the league out of simple incompetence will force rivals to be better, which will be good for fans.
Second, that Beane's henchmen can enter the New York market as staid, fairly conventional figures is a great victory for rationalism, a sign that baseball accepts change. Ricciardi and DePodesta probably aren't going to deliver the next great idea in sports management. Given the searing experiences they had earlier in their careers, though -- when the press and baseball insiders alike deemed them numbers-drunk robots who simply didn't understand the game -- it's easy to imagine them hiring people who will.
With the rise of new technologies like Pitch f/x, and the opening of entire new continents as sources of talent, baseball is on the verge of an era of change as wrenching as the one to which Alderson and his men contributed so many years ago. The Mets may not lead it, but they probably won't be left behind.


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May you listen to your longing to be free. May the frames of your belonging be large enough for the dreams of your soul. May you arise each day with a voice of blessing whispering in your heart that something good is going to happen to you. May you find a harmony between your soul and your life. May the mansion of your soul never become a haunted place. May you know the eternal longing which lives at the heart of time. May there be kindness in your gaze when you look within. May you never place walls between the light and yourself. May your angel free you from the prisons of guilt, fear, disappointment, and despair. May you allow the wild beauty of the invisible world to gather you, mind you, and embrace you in belonging.
Poem excerpted from Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections On Our Yearning To Belong originally published in 1999 by bestselling author, John O'Donohue.
Image credit Abe Khamis. Copyright 2016: All rights reserved.