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Rays General Manager for a Day
One of the hardest jobs in all of baseball is not the Managers' position, but the title of General Manager. I think that more GM's have taken a bullet for the failures of their teams than any of baseball field mangers. It is said that the stream of blood runs downhill after a slaughter and usually that blood starts at the scalp of the GM, who is the first sacrificial lamb for the public and the media.
The position has a bit of give and take from the bottom to the top, but for all intentions, can be the lonliest post when things are going bad for your team . You have to dictate and slice through all of the BS coming out of the clubhouse and the publics mouths, plus select the most rightious information and sage advice from scouting to make a calculated and educated gamble on a player or a team situation.
For Rays General Manager aka Boy Wonder of 1 Tropicana Drive, Andrew Friedman, so far in his tenure in the position, the scale has been weighed heavily in his favor. Considering that less than 3 years ago he was not even involved with the Tampa Bay Rays, and his name was no more known in public circles than my name. But in three years with help from wily old veteran G.M. Gary "Obi Wan" Hunsicker he has built upon a solid core of players and eager staff members to reign alone on top of the G.M. mountaintop.
Decision after decision went wrong for him in the beginning. He stayed silent and towed the line on trade talks that could have meant the world to the team, and moved on ones that might have dealt them a death blow in the past.pile But with a few years of plus and minues calculations, the Rays G.M. has eliminated the risk management portion of his position and is seeing only sunny skies and rainbows right now.
Well, on today's front page, MLBlogs asked a simple question that will either rock the nether worlds or simply go down as more Internet babble and ramblings by people who love to play God behind a keyboard. I am one of those ramblers, but I can atest to countless hours of thinking about this ( 2 hours) and entered debate after debate during the morning to strengthen my fortitude and latitude to accept this challenge. I am to become the G.M. of the American League champions for a short time and plot the course for the Rays cruiseliner. Hopefully I will not need a toll for the river Styx after I am done with my opinions and raw mental brainfarts. But in the office of the G.M., even ordering coffee can be met with critcism and second-guessing.
I am not sure if I want to play a higher power, but I would like a crack at a few situations I would consider if I was the Rays GM for the next few days in Las Vegas. With that in mind, I am going to put myself in WWAD ( What Would Andrew Do ) mode and trya and make a few educated guesses as to the betterment of the Rays roster and their minor league system. I even have a play that should be added to their 40-man roster before Friday, or lose him to another team is a sure bet.
So, here we go, I am acting GM of the Tampa Bay Rays for about an hour. My first round of business will be to get minor leaguer Rhyne Hughes on the 40-man roster. Hughes had a monster Arizona Fall League and might be going the route that current Rays pitcher James Shields took a few years back. Hughes made the All- AFL selection squad and hit the cover off the ball in Arizona.
He has been at the Double-A level in 2008, but might start there then move up to Triple-A depending on the Bulls need for a power first baseman. But getting this kid hidden on the 40-man roster is a vital cog that has to be done ASAP. The Rays took care of a roster spot on Monday evening by assigning pitcher Chad Orvella, who is coming off of shoulder surgery outright to the Durham Bulls.
The Rays might not have as many holes as usual this coming year, which actually plays well into their hands during negotiations with players. There are several key guys up for arbitration like Dioner Navarro, Jason Bartlett, Edwin Jackson and Jonny Gomes. In the next several weeks a few of those guys might not be here by trade or being released by the team. I would put more money on the trade situation than losing all value for the players. Even a guy like Gomes, who had a miserible 2008, has value to a team looking for a 4th outfielder or even a DH for hire.
I am going to cut to the chase in this blog and attack the two main needs for the team in 2009. The right-field slot and the DH position are highly publicized and 'must need' positions on the team. I have a few ideas about each and will explore them in two ways. First to list the free agent solutions, and then by trade.
First off, let's tackle the need for a DH or bench player for the Rays via the free agent market. With the recent lunch date with Milton Bradley going so well for the Rays, the only thing standing in the way besides a contract is if the guy is worth losing your first round pick for him. With Bradley being considered a top tier free agent, the team would have to forfeit a draft pick to secure his signing.
Another plus about Bradley that the Rays can build on is his ability to protect hitters in front of him bcause of his .324 average last season. To add onto that is the fact he also hit 22 home runs and struck out only 112 times last season. He is also an on-base guy, posting .439 On-Base Percentage, largely because of his 80 walks. His sttitude and personality quirks have also mellowed with age and he has become a calm force in the locker room. He might not be Cliff Floyd, but the guy commands respect and leads by example.
The second alternative to a DH via the free agent wire is also a very attractive one for the Rays. Mostly because this player can still contribute in the field at some lengths and could be a valuable asset to the club. Also considering some of the milestones he is approaching, he could be a great PR tool for the team to attract fans. If you have no figured it out yet, it is Ken Griffey Junior. I have been a huge Griffey fans since his Mariner days and would consider him in a second for the DH position.
Junior might have slipped a bit in production in the last few seasons, but he also has been playing the field almost every day while in the National League, and took over center for the Chicago White Sox after being traded at the trading deadline in 2008. If he was to be a DH, with an occasional stroll into the outfield, he could protect his knees and still hit daily for the team. Griffey hit only a combined .248 between both leagues in 2008, but his low amount of strikeouts ( 25 ) shows that the plate discipline is still there and he can rebound off a bad 2008.
The Rays might be able to get Griffey at a Florida discount becuase of his home being in Orlando, but still might command about $ 4-6 million a year. Griffeys' 2008 salary was set at about $ 8.2 million, which would put him out of Tampa Bay puse strings if he commands the same salary in 2009.
Bradley made about $ 5.25 million last season. If Bradley wants to play on a competitive team for 2009, he also might be into giving the Rays a discount on base salary with some incentive bonuses tied to production. I would think a $ 4 million dollar salary with up to 2 million in incentives might do the trick for Bradley.
Let's now consider the right-field slot. I honestly feel that the team can find a suitable player who is right-handed without breaking the bank in 2009. Alot of names have been tossed around lately, but there is aslo one that has not come to the surface yet in refference to the Rays. Brad Wilkerson has been playing right-field in the majors for a long time. He started 2008 with the Seattle Mariners, then moved onto the Toronto Blue Jays and provided great relief and power from the right-side of the plate.
Most of baseball has not even considered him after a sub-par 2008 while both rehabbing and trying to fit into a tight outfield situation in Toronto. But he might be a low cost alternative to the high priced guys seeking positions through the MLB. His sub .250 average for 2008 was mostly covered by his injury that he tried to play through before going down and finally getting healthy.
This is the one position on the Rays that I think they can make a great trade that can help both ballclubs. In the past, the Rays have been linked as the third team with the Chicago Cubs for Jake Peavy. But the real factor is that they do not need the Cubs to make a trade with San Diego. The Padres are seeking a shortstopn and a pitcher to replace two players currently either treaded or deep into discussion to part the Padres.
Tampa Bay was eager to pout in a claim for Brian Giles on the waiver wire in 2008, but got one-upped by the Boston Red Sox. The Sox blocked the attempt to claim Giles to keep him off the Rays roster and maybe get him for themselves. Giles did not want to go to the Red Sox, but might be open to a Rays attempt at a trade because they have a true opening for him in right-field.
One problem with this trade off the bat is the amount of salary owed to Giles in 2009. The Rays might not be willing to take on the entire amount of the 2009 salary and would want to offset some of it by having the Padres eat a bit of the contract. The players' that the Padres could get for Giles could be a nice smorgasboard of up-and-coming pitchers and a infielder.
The Rays have a abundance of pitchers who are log-jammed at the minor league level and might be willing to part with a MLB level pitcher and a Triple-A starter. The pitchers in question could range from Edwin Jackson and Jason Hammel to Jeff Niemann and Mitch Talbot. All have been at the major league level and have proven to be quality pitchers.
The Rays also have a few infielders who could be packaged in the deal, which includes Reid Brignac, Elliott Johnson, who have limited major league experience to Ben Zobrist or even Jason Bartlett who have MLB experience. Zobrist is actually a player who could play any role for the Padres and is still under contract for 2009. Bartlett is arbitration-eligible, but might only cost about $ 2 million a year fater the hearing.
Giles is my trade target for the team in 2009. I think if the team packaged Jeff Neimann, Jason Bartlett and maybe another reliever, Dale Thayer or a Double-A player, plus take on $ 2 million dollars of Giles salary, we could have a great deal for both teams. But that is just my opinion here.
So here we go, I have taken on two trouble spots for the Rays in 2009 and tackled them my way. How do I think I did as GM for the Day for the Rays? That depends on if I can get these guys signed sealed and delivered for Rays Manager Joe Maddon and the boys by Febuary 2009.
8 Comments
On the DH issue, I think the Rays should go with Bradley over Junior, even though the latter is a HOF-er. Bradley's still a potent hitter while Jr. is on the downside of his career – too many strikeouts, especially when you assume he'll be batting with Upton and company on base.
In a perfect world, we could still have Josh Hamilton in our lineup and would not need anyone else. Could platoon the outfielders then, plus still have Baldelli.
But, I like Bradley too, will just depend on what he asks for, and what we are willing to give him now. People say he has a problem with his temper, but it has never been directed at anyone. It is just the highly motivated anger of a perfectionist playing out in an imperfect sport.
It seems that both would be good for the clubhouse, I like Jr for all he has done up to now on so many levels. Maybe the Ambassadorship will take him away from baseball………
Rays Renegade
Sorry about tucking you in the corner there raysrenegade. When you look at it one way, it means that you are so deep with knowledge into MLB baseball that you are out of the picture. :)
Giles could possibly hit 30 homeruns in Tropicana. That San Diego ballpark is not kind to him. He is a great on-base guy too, I like his game a lot.
I have to disagree with Brad Wilkerson. He provided nothing for the Jays last season other than the obvious fact that he belongs in the minors. He made Vernon Wells mid-season injury all the more unbearable for the team.
You never know though, I thought Eric Hinske was done. Don't even get me started on the year he had for Tampa this past year. Makes me upset after all the years we struggled with him – after he won that Rookie of the Year.
Dude, that is totally okay.
I like the way you answered that……………..very quick and snappy answer. Just heard from a friend that Burnett is trying to tie a 5th year on his request. When is money enough for some of these guys. Guess this is his big contract to keep him warm when he is old and gray.
Rays Renegade
Eric is a bull, but a great guy to chat baseball with at a bar. I had a few short chats with him and he is sports-oriented it is silly. I tried to get him to get in my Fantasy Football League, but he is already in too many of them.
As for Giles, huge stud if he got to hit in the Trop. But I have a feeling that the trade might not gather anymore steam after this week. But you never know, after Peavy is gone, the Padres might take on another young pitcher.
As for Wilkerson, I have known the guy for years becuase of his association with Gator baseball. He was having the owrst year physically last year ans hid a few injuries. But, he did have a sub-par year and that might work into the Rays favor for a small contract. I just think his style fits the club and the right-field of the Trop.
He is another guy who might not even get a shot here, but I wanted to get him mentioned and see what happened.
Rays Renegade
Just heard you guys traded Edwin Jackson for an outfielder? Where will the new guy play? Or he is a minor league prospect?
My buddy Edwin will be heading to Detroit and we got a young outfielder named Matt Joyce, who we will control for 6 more years. He played against the Rays in 6 out of the 7 games this year, not hitting great, but who did some night against us.
He is a great defensive right-fielder who still has a ton of options, so if he is in the log-jam, we are not stuck with a guy who has to stay up all year long. Bummer is he is a left-handed batter. But all is good, we have a guy who can play right and grow with the team, and Edwin get to go somewhere he can start and keep rolling on in his career.
Rays Renegade


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Lisa Davis necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 137 diseños de 51 diseñadores freelance.
I am looking for a logo to use for general use (on business cards, letterhead, collateral, website, etc). My primary focus from this contest is the logo, but if you want to also design a business card, letterhead, and business envelope, that would be a plus.
Desired Color Scheme:
navy blue, but open to other suggestions
Desired Style:
classy, but not too "slick"
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png), vector files .ai or .eps.
Lowenberg Partners is a boutique financial services firm in Austin, Texas, USA. Our clients areprimarily in Texas, but we have clients all over America and are planning to break in to the NYC market this year. We serve ultra-affluent individuals and business owners. Our clients are typically conservative in nature, but come to us for cutting-edge products and services. We are very creative in how we use financial products to achieve a client's goal. Our creativity is something we pride ourselves on, as well as our over-the-top "Four Seasons" concierge-style service. The firm's guiding value is "Wealth on Purpose®" - meaning we believe one's wealth should be used to do good....for yourself, your heirs, and your community and society. Also it means one should purposefully guide your wealth planning in such a way to make your wealth do what you want it to do; not just to gain more wealth for the sake of being wealthier, but to do good things with your wealth now and after your lifetime. It's all about STEWARDSHIP!
Check out http://www.LWMG.com. This is our sister company.
Currently our colors are navy blue with chocolate brown and red/brick colored accents, but I'm open to other colors too. Every thing we have is very high-end and very classy, but not too "slick" or glossy.
If you would like more information about our firm or more about our look, please ask. I'll be happy to expand on this to get a great logo design. Thanks and I'm really looking forward to some great designs!Â
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.

subset: commoncrawl


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UAB Center for Clinical and Translational ScienceBy Tara Hulen
If technology transfer is a journey between the laboratory bench and the patient's bedside, then the role of the UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) is to gas up the engine and clear the road. The interdisciplinary center exists to make research more efficient, in other words—to help scientists reduce any friction that might slow a breakthrough's progress.
"We drive the collaborative culture of discovery and innovation in life science and human health for UAB," explains Kimberly, who directs the CCTS. "It's a network; it's team science. We drive the team." Sometimes it's about bringing together investigators with different skills but matching interests, he explains. Or it's providing them with the research support and resources they need to move a discovery along the translational pipeline. By making research more efficient, the CCTS can help to develop new and more efficient ways of delivering medical care, Kimberly says.
The CCTS is active across the spectrum of translational research, from fundamental studies in the earliest phases of development through the different phases of clinical trials. CCTS grants can help jump-start research projects, while access to experts in biostatistics, epidemiology, data management, regulations, and outcomes and effectiveness research offers crucial support for developing studies and interpreting findings. The center also provides an entire clinical research unit for phase 1 and 2 clinical trials with patients.
Group Project
Collaborations within universities—and larger collaborations with centers doing similar research elsewhere—are speeding drug discovery and FDA approval of new drug therapies, Kimberly says. At UAB, the lines that define which entity does what are clear in some cases and collaborative in others, but the process is designed to capitalize on each group's strengths. "It's unusual for folks to wear only one hat," Kimberly adds. For example, the CCTS has the capacity to look at the metabolism of a compound and its distribution in the body, "working in a synergistic fashion with the Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance (ADDA) and Southern Research (SR)," he says. "SR has a lot of pharmaceutical contracts and a discovery unit, which means it has heightened drug-capacity screening, but when it comes to using human specimens, SR works with CCTS in the clinical research unit. ADDA is a mechanism to bring together people with experience in drug development, and those people are from the CCTS, Comprehensive Cancer Center, SR, and so on. We work as a team, bringing our scientific expertise as well as our organizational expertise."
UAB scientists also can connect with patient populations and researchers across the country though the CCTS, which is one of 60 institutional recipients of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA). Kimberly explains that the CTSA is a National Institutes of Health initiative to improve human health through transformation of institutional research infrastructure to enhance the efficiency and quality of clinical and translational research. "Being a CTSA institution not only makes us part of this national investigative scene, but it also makes us generators of information that goes into that mix," Kimberly says.
Kimberly says the CCTS is involved in "both taking de novo discoveries that are UAB-driven and moving them along the pipeline and working with new compounds and therapeutics that might be developed by external companies and researched at UAB under contract."
For example, the CCTS has worked with the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center to study a monoclonal antibody that might be used in cancer treatment. UAB identified a suitable target, developed the antibody, and studied its biology, Kimberly says. "And then, in partnership with a large pharmaceutical company, that therapeutic monoclonal was humanized, and safety in preclinical models was established." The CCTS and the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center then coordinated the phase 1 studies in humans.
CCTS-supported research is also advancing diagnostics, such as a project examining a biomarker that may predict the efficiency of certain therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. "We're working in partnership with other groups on campus, and the CCTS provided the critical capacity for biospecimens and analysis," Kimberly explains.
The CCTS also recently received a $1.5-million award from the Alabama Innovation Fund, part of the Accelerate Alabama state economic development plan that targets high-tech research. Combined with federal and institutional support, "these funds will enhance the translation of fundamental discovery to human health" and "lead to novel therapeutic targets for drug discovery and development," Kimberly says. He adds that the combined investments will boost the economy, with the potential of creating up to 60 jobs in the state.


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In defense of San Francisco's techies
On a Saturday evening this month, Ariel Waldman was walking to dinner with friends along Valencia Street when she noticed a line of people snapping pictures of a wall.
As she got closer, Waldman realized why. Someone had tagged the wood panel, near 16th Street in the heart of the Mission District, with the words: "F- your start up."
Waldman, the founder of Spacehack.org, shot an image of her own and posted it to Instagram, where it earned dozens of likes. Other versions of the graffiti in different parts of the Mission popped up on Twitter, including an image of a woman smiling next to the words with, as if to drive home the point, her middle finger in the air.
It would be difficult to make the message any clearer. A growing number of San Franciscans are fed up, not just with startups, but with techies in general. With their apps and buses, their gourmet coffee and skinny jeans, their venture capital wishes and IPO dreams. They're tired of watching rents soar, friends forced to relocate and beloved neighborhoods drained of diversity.
I understand the frustration, but wonder: Are we embracing a soft xenophobia applied to a sector rather than a race, to some cohesive elite tech class that doesn't exist outside of our own minds?
Last month, a group of gentrification protesters unleashed their rage on a piñata of a Google Bus, an act that seemed at once sadly impotent and uncomfortably close to violence.
If the tag on Valencia had read "F- immigrants," or that piñata was made to represent a transvestite, would San Francisco's famously progressive citizens be posing next to it or clapping along?
There is a real risk in indulging visceral responses to this set of issues, as The Chronicle and other publications and activists have. If we blame the wrong things for real problems - like unaffordable housing and gentrification - it's much harder to arrive at the right solutions. And there's simply no question that we're starting with the wrong assumptions whenever we aim a rambling set of resentments and frustrations at a broad category of people.
'Regular people'
"I am a computer programmer in San Francisco," one resident, who asked not to be named, wrote to me in an e-mail earlier this month. "I am not even remotely close to rich - only a tiny percentage of tech workers have gotten rich.
"We are regular people like you, and we are not all the same," he said.
Indeed, many tech workers are stretching to make the region's rents as well. Properly addressing these very real economic challenges requires carefully considering the deeper issues at work here, not scapegoating the latest arrivals.
I too see the signs of conspicuous wealth, attitudes of entitlement and naked greed. And there's no question that there has been displacement in recent years or that the current tech boom is chiefly responsible for rents rising nearly 25 percent in the last two years. No other sector is growing nearly as fast.
At a conference last week, Mayor Ed Lee said that there are now more than 1,800 tech companies in San Francisco, more than ever before. That's up by more than 300 since the end of 2010, according to an analysis of state data by the CBRE Group.
But this boom, like all booms, will end. The trend of American cities becoming wealthier and less diverse, a reversal of the decades-long pattern of suburban flight, preceded this expansion and will outlast it.
So short of some radical plan that allots housing units by skill type or bans tech companies, our only option for solving the part of this problem that we can is to make housing more affordable. We can do that in three basic ways: Build more, set aside a greater portion as affordable and protect the existing stock.
There's room for debate about the appropriate path among these options, but that's where this policy discussion lives. Public airings of resentment toward a particular type of worker is both mean-spirited and a waste of everyone's time.
Hipster hatred
It's worth remembering that, for all the attention the sector receives, the vast majority of San Francisco residents don't work in tech. The city's technology companies create just 7.5 percent of its jobs, CBRE found. And the expansion in the industry also translates to growth in retail, restaurants and other sectors, said Ted Egan, San Francisco's chief economist.
The truth is that a lot of this debate isn't actually about rent, gentrification or economics, or anything rooted in a real class struggle. Some of it is just hipster-on-hipster hatred. Middle-class humanities majors grumbling about middle-class computer science majors.
"It's amusing at some level," Waldman said. "People are complaining that their nice cafe views are being ruined by Google Buses."
And too much of it is just a knee-jerk reaction to change, a point of view for which I have close to zero sympathy.
Change a constant
Generations have arrived here, each in turn believing San Francisco was perfect the moment they crossed the bridge and has been on a downhill slide ever since. That those subsequent beats, hippies or gays were positively ruining the joint.
But that San Francisco draws the most intelligent, creative and open-minded people from across the world, decade after decade, is precisely what's so wonderful about it.
This is a city largely made up of people who have chosen to be here, to live and work alongside others more inspiring and interesting than the folks with whom they grew up. (I'm looking at you, Fremont, Ohio.)
Many of those minds want to work in technology because technology, whether you like it or not, is the dominant economic and cultural force of our time, redefining art, music, media and more.
San Francisco changes because the world changes. It was formed in a gold rush and reshaped by every one that followed.
James Temple is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Dot-Commentary appears three days a week. E-mail: email@example.com Twitter: @jtemple


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How virtual storage systems turn buildings into batteries
How virtual storage systems turn buildings into batteries
Editor's note: This is the second of a three-part series focused on virtual energy storage. Part I delved into the way buildings can be used as batteries. To learn more about energy storage and buildings, be sure to check out [email protected] November 12-13.
Terry Boston, PJM President and CEO, once remarked, "Energy storage technology is the silver bullet that helps resolve the variability in power demand." When most people conceive of energy storage, images of massive battery banks, reservoirs for hydrologic pump storage, or compressed-air systems come to mind. Yet these capital-intensive "hard storage" approaches are expensive and fall well short our energy storage needs. If energy storage represents the "silver bullet" to variability in power demand, as Boston contends, we must embrace more nimble, lower-cost solutions.
Fortunately, these solutions exist. As we have outlined previously, "virtual storage" systems have the capacity to transform buildings into batteries. Virtual storage systems include a new generation of building controls and technologies that more effectively meet energy storage needs – at a lower cost – than most of hard storage technologies now receiving investment from utilities and VC firms. As our power demand becomes more variable, virtual storage systems have the potential to revolutionize energy delivery. Instead of energy supply matching variability in demand, virtual storage will allow energy demand to match variability in supply.
Electric Vehicles and Renewable Power
Enormous uncertainty surrounds the future of U.S. electricity demand. The unclear growth trajectory of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles is one reason why. The figure below summarizes of various credible projections about likely new EV penetration in the U.S. in 2020, ranging from a 1 percent projection by the Energy Information Agency, up to 11 percent in the U.S. (and even higher in Europe) by Deutsche Bank.[1]
Where these vehicles recharge (or potentially discharge) will have dramatic consequences for the shape of load demand. Cars charging at work could add to peak-load demand. Or, if charged at home during off-peak periods, these vehicles could provide load demand to efficiently use nighttime wind. Alternatively, these vehicles could potentially charge at home, and then discharge some of their power back to the grid through connections at work during peak hours. The potential for electric vehicles to ameliorate — or possibly, worsen — electricity demand and supply will emerge as a large policy issue in the coming decade.
Increased adoption of renewable energy generation introduces an additional element of uncertainty into forecasting U.S. electricity demand. From 2007 through 2010, an average of 38 percent of new U.S. generating capacity was wind. Since wind is available only part time (e.g., 35 percent) and at varying times, this translates into substantially lower power available (e.g., MwH) than baseload power such as coal, nuclear or some hydro and natural gas plants. While the large increase in wind generation — jumping from 2 percent of new capacity in 2004 to a high of 43 percent in only five years — represents huge gains for U.S. security and employment, it also creates uncertainty for utility planning and investment. This uncertainty is worsened by volatile year-to-year changes in federal support for wind. Consequently, utility regulators and planners have a need for storage to shape and balance uncertain power demand, as well as shifting supply.
Similar circumstances apply for other types of renewable power generation. Power generation for solar photovoltaics peaks when the sun is highest at mid-day, some hours before the grid's peak power needs, which is typically between 3 and 6 p.m. Storage can shift forward electricity from solar power by several hours to make it coincident with greatest demand – and higher prices. And because on-site storage does not need to traverse congested power transmission lines, it reduces transmission congestion and power line losses.
The Virtual Future
The uncertainty of load growth contributes to the need for storage – or the ability to reshape load. Hard storage investments — e.g., CAES and battery banks — are expensive, relatively inflexible and slow to install compared to virtual storage. In contrast, virtual storage relies mainly on software and low-cost hardware such as sensors and building management software upgrades. Through load shifting and efficiency, virtual storage delivers similar load-management benefits as hard storage but at far lower cost, making it the optimum strategy to manage risks and cut the costs of increasingly uncertain electricity demand and supply. While hard storage does provide back-up power — an important service that virtual storage does not offer. Stand-by power provided by hard storage can be very valuable or even critical. For example, ensuring continued operations of critical needs such as communications when grids fail is an excellent use of hard storage. However, the majority of demand for storage is for load reshaping, peak flattening, renewables integration and the ability to respond dynamically to utility needs to cut power consumption. These services are far more cost-effectively provided by virtual storage.
So how exactly does a virtual storage system address variability in power demand? Currently, utilities respond to spikes in power demand by firing up "peaker" power plants — usually among the dirtiest in the power generation fleet.
Within a virtual storage system, however, demand would be modified to match the available supply of power. Imagine an intelligent building system, such as BuildingIQ, that automatically adjusts HVAC and lighting levels, and starts on-site clean power generation. Electrochromatic glass on the building's exterior reconfigures the amount of heat and light that passes through the window's glazing, automatically. Smart grid systems, such as Tendril, activate demand response systems and coordinate hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats to shed load. Coupled with utility price incentives that create the financial motivation for load shaping, existing technologies can provide the means to smooth out the variations in power load.
[1] "Electric Cars: Plugged In" Deutsche Bank Global Markets Research, Rod Lache et al, 9 June 2008
This article was adapted by the co-authors from a longer version published in October 2012 in Electricity Journal.
Image of batteries by Termit via Shutterstock


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Live, Love, Rescue Paw Pendant Necklace
Give your jewelry collection a stylish boost with the addition of this fashionable Live, Love, Rescue Pendant Necklace. The length of the chain highlights your pendant cuts below the collarbone. The accessory will make the ideal birthday gift for any pet lover. Durable and economical, the copper alloy material are always a great choice of casual jewelry. The simple design of this Live, Love, Rescue Pendant Necklace is suitable for everyday use.
- Materials:Metal
- Shape\pattern: Animal
- Metals Type: Copper Alloy
- Length: 50cm+5cm/adjustable
- Style: Trendy
- Please allow between 15-45 days for your order to arrive.
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- Weight: 0.08 lbs
- Dimensions: 15 x 12 x 2 cm
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Our Mission
Our mission is to provide:
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We want you to be completely satisfied with every item you purchase. If you're not satisfied, you may return the item within 30-days of the order date for a full refund, excluding shipping, handling, gift wrap, or other charges. The item must be returned, unused or used, in good condition, in original boxes , and accessories to receive full refund.
Why Choose Us
Handcrafts.co offers uniquely designed, high quality products at competitive prices. We value our customers and work hard to ensure their complete satisfaction. Before, during and after every sale, we will be there to answer any questions and to provide them with the best shopping experience possible. Shop with us today and let our experienced team make you a Handcrafts.co customer for life.
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|Avoid any touch with comestice,perfume,hair gel etc acidity substance ,jewelry will fade
Take off when swiming ,because it will be oxidized if touch with chloride in the pool
Take off when you sweat a lot, there will be chemical reaction which leads to the black dot appeared
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text: This Week at State: May 17, 2019 By DipNote Bloggers on May 17, 2019 1 minutes read time Did you miss key foreign policy developments this week? Each week, DipNote recaps the latest U.S. Department of State highlights spanning a wide range of global issues, events, and initiatives in one blog post. more


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Chances are, robots will destroy us all. But would the merciless killing machines dare slay one of their own...well...half-own? We consider this Robocop suit an insurance plan.
One eBay seller claims to have an actual Robocop
prop set of armour that was possibly worn in Robocops 2 and 3 for "stunt/distant shots." Supposedly, it's one of just five such suits ever produced.
And you know what they say, it's never too early to prepare for Halloween and/or singularity. Pick up your own possibly authentic Robocop suit for a Buy It Now price of $US2,250. [eBay via TechEBlog via OhGizmo!]


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New Zealand
|2018 (e)
|2019 (f)
|GDP growth (%)
|Inflation (yearly average, %)
|Budget balance* (% GDP)
|Current account balance (% GDP)
|Public debt (% GDP)
(e): Estimate. (f): Forecast. *Fiscal year 2019: July 2018 - June 2019.
- Proximity to Asia and Australia
- Touristic appeal
- Large and competitive agricultural sector
- Balanced public accounts; contained public debt
- Dynamic demographics thanks to immigration
- Quality of life
- Dependency on foreign investment
- High household and corporate debt levels (particularly in agriculture)
- Reliance on Chinese demand
- Shortages of skilled labour
- Housing shortage and housing price surge (+60% since 2008)
- Lack of R&D
- Insularity
Growth remains strong
Growth will slightly slow due to the stalling progression of consumption progression, the main contributor to GDP development. Although it will be supported by low interest rates, an accommodating fiscal policy, and rising real wages thanks to low and declining unemployment, consumption will suffer from high household debt (166% of income), the cooling housing market, and higher inflation. Inflation will be spurred by higher oil and import prices as a result of the New Zealand dollar's continued depreciation. However, considering that core inflation (not including commodity prices) remains well within the inflation target range (1-3%), the central bank is unlikely to trade off growth prospects to fend off inflation in 2019: the monetary policy is very likely to remain accommodating, with a continuation of the 1.75% policy rate (a record low).
Both foreign and domestic investment growth will slow, with net FDI flows becoming negative, as a result of declining confidence and uncertainty regarding global trade and national governance. Notably, a government decision to curb immigration (by hardening the access to low-skilled work and student visas, supposedly to reduce housing price pressures) triggered fears of future shortage of workers for businesses, and was perceived as a populist policy. Furthermore, the nonetheless visible cooling of the housing market will translate into reduced construction investment.
The trade balance should be under less pressure than in 2018, as milk prices should remain higher than in 2018 throughout the year. Agricultural products (dairy and meat especially) make up the main part of exports, which leaves the performance of the external sector quite exposed to fluctuations in commodity prices and climate conditions. The slowdown in the Chinese economy, the main recipient for NZ exports, will also impact trade. The tourism sector is expected to perform well, although its contribution to growth will likely be smaller than that of goods exports.
Solid budget situation; current account imbalance
The government limits public spending to follow its budget responsibility objectives – net debt should be under 20% of GDP in 2022. Public debt will continue to decline and the budget will stay in surplus in 2019. Social spending is the main expenditure item, including income tax exemptions for those on very low incomes, as well as increases in family allowances. The country will have to find a way of dealing with an increasing deficit in its social security system (ageing population). Substantial infrastructure and housing investments are also expected, notably with the ongoing reconstruction of the roads and railways damaged in the November 2016 major earthquake and the KiwiBuild Programme. Moreover tax incentives for private investment in R&D will be introduced, with the goal of bringing R&D to 2% of GDP.
The current account deficit will again worsen, but much less steeply than in 2018. The structural deficit of the income balance is linked to the outward transfer of profits by foreign firms. In 2019, the trade balance will also show a wider deficit as the import bill increases with investment related imports, higher oil prices, and the local currency's depreciation. It will also be under pressure due to milk prices below their long-term average (although they have increased since 2018). The balance of services, however, should remain in surplus, mainly thanks to tourism. Moreover, the financial account will also continue to show a deficit because of the repayment of external debt (above 90% of GDP, mainly household debt) and the low domestic savings rate.
The coalition government carries on
In the September 2017 parliamentary elections, the conservative National Party, in office since 2008, led the vote with 56 seats out of 120, but was short of an absolute majority. Long negotiations led the centre-left Labour Party (46 seats) to form a coalition government with the support of the populist New Zealand First party and the Green Party. After over a year in office, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern continues to enjoy high popularity rates, although delivering on promises to increase disposable income, as well as handling the housing crisis and child poverty, is challenged by a prudent fiscal stance and prospects of slowing GDP growth. The coalition does not seem at risk in 2019, although misconducts and resignation within the Labour party and the government have tarnished its image. Nevertheless, disagreements between the coalition member parties could derail the coalition, especially as the National Party remains a powerful opposition force in Parliament.
At the international level, the country will benefit from being a founding member of the CPTPP, although having the United States and China as its main trade partners spreads uncertainty in the global context of trade wars and rising protectionism.
Last update : February 2019
Primary payment methods in New Zealand consist of card (debit card and credit card) and electronic credit or debit (direct debits and credits, automated bill payments and electronic transfers). There has been a rapid increase in the use of contactless payments, mobile phone-based applications, and payments using the internet. Although cash remains important, its use is reducing significantly and cheque usage halved between 2013 and 2016. Wire transfers and SWIFT bank transfers are the most commonly used payment methods for domestic and international transactions. Most of New Zealand's banks are connected to the SWIFT network.
Debt Collection
The debt collection process usually begins with serving a letter of demand, where the creditor notifies the debtor of their payment obligations (including any contractual interest due) with a time limit for making the payment.
Summary judgment proceedings
If the creditor does not receive payment after issuing a letter of demand, a next possible step is to issue summary judgment proceedings. This procedure is intended for situations where the debtor has no defence against the claim. An application can be made to the District Court or High Court, depending on the value of the claim. The District Court has jurisdiction to hear matters for claims up to NZD 350,000, and the High Court typically hears matters for claims above NZD 350,000. A statement of claim must be filed, along with a notice of proceedings, an application for summary judgment and a supporting affidavit by the creditor (or in the case of a company, an individual with personal knowledge of the facts who is authorised to submit an affidavit on behalf of the company), which sets out the facts of the claim. A summary judgment typically involves a hearing, which lasts around one day (if the debtor raises a defence), with evidence given by way of affidavit rather than requiring witnesses. If the application is successful, the Court may enter a judgment in favour of the creditor. If the application is undefended, judgment may be entered by default in favour of the creditor, without the need for a full hearing although an appearance in Court to call the matter will be required. If the defendant is able to show an arguable defence, the Court may decline summary judgment and direct the matter to be heard as an ordinary proceeding.
Ordinary proceedings
Ordinary proceedings are used where summary judgment is unavailable because the debtor has raised a genuine defence, or if summary judgment is not granted. Ordinary proceedings are initiated by filing a notice of proceeding and a statement of claim. Depending on the value of the claim (as outlined above), these proceedings can take place in the District Court or the High Court. Unlike summary judgment, an ordinary defended proceeding may involve additional processes, such as discovery, hearing of evidence and interlocutory applications, or serving of briefs of evidence, depending on the nature of the proceeding.
The High Court determines appeals from the District Court. The Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to hear appeals from the High Court. Appeals are generally restricted to questions of law only. Appeals to the highest appellate court in New Zealand, the Supreme Court, can only be heard with leave of that Court. Leave will be granted if the Supreme Court is satisfied that it is necessary in the interests of justice to hear the appeal.
Enforcement of a Legal Decision
If the Court enters judgment in favour of the creditor, there is no appeal, or all appeal avenues have been exhausted, the creditor can apply to the High Court, or District Court (depending on the value of the claim as outlined above), seeking enforcement action. This can include a deduction from the debtor's wages or benefits (if the debtor is an individual), seizure of property, garnishee proceedings, or placing a charge on the debtor's property.
Foreign judgments must first be recognised by the Court under the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Act 1934, or common law.
Insolvency Proceedings
If the creditor does not receive payment after obtaining judgment against a debtor and that debtor is an individual, the creditor can issue a bankruptcy notice served on the debtor. Failure by the debtor to comply with a bankruptcy notice is considered by the law to be an act of bankruptcy.
Statutory demand
If the debtor does not make payment pursuant to the letter of demand and that debtor is a company, a further potential step is for the creditor to prepare and serve a statutory demand for the outstanding debt. This can be used as an alternative to summary judgment or ordinary proceedings. A statutory demand can only be issued if there is no substantial dispute over the debt. Once the statutory demand is served on the debtor, the debtor has 15 working days to pay the debt, or to enter into an arrangement for payment which is agreed by the creditor. If the debtor company does not make payment pursuant to the statutory demand, the creditor has a further 30 working days to commence liquidation proceedings against the debtor company, using non-compliance with the statutory demand as evidence of the debtor's inability to pay its due debts. However, a debtor company can make an application to set aside a statutory demand within 10 working days of being served with it. The Court may set aside the statutory demand if there is a substantial dispute as to whether or not the debt is due, if the debtor company has a counterclaim, set-off or cross-demand, or if there are other adequate grounds to do so.
Liquidation involves the realisation and distribution of a debtor company's assets when the company is insolvent, or does not expect to remain in business. A liquidator is appointed to the company, who takes over the management of the company, realises its assets, pays its creditors and distributes the remainder to its shareholders.
Creditors' compromise
There are two potential forms of creditors compromise, either an informal agreement between debtor and creditor, or a formal creditors' compromise under the Companies Act 1993. A formal creditors' compromise is a binding agreement between a debtor company and its creditor(s) regarding the payment of its debts, with terms and conditions that are less exacting than the strict legal rights of creditors. A compromise may involve payments over time, deferred payments, or accepting a lesser sum in full and final settlement of the debt. Once a creditors' compromise is approved by the required majority of creditors, or the Court, the compromise binds all creditors. An equivalent procedure exists for individuals under the Insolvency Act 2006.
Voluntary administration
The debtor company may go into voluntary administration to try and maximise the chances of an insolvent company continuing to operate, or if that is not possible, to allow for a better return for creditors than immediate liquidation. It enhances the existing creditors' compromise procedure as an alternative to liquidation, by imposing a moratorium on creditors taking steps to enforce their debts.
Other alternative processes
The Disputes Tribunal conducts an informal and confidential process run by a referee to encourage both sides to reach an agreement, or make a binding decision if both sides cannot agree. At the first instance, this is typically a less costly option, as it avoids lawyers. However, the Disputes Tribunal can only hear claims for disputed debts of below NZD 15,000 or, if both parties agree to extend the financial limit, of up to NZD 20,000.
Arbitration or mediation (often less expensive than court proceedings) may also be used to resolve disputes and obtain more rapid out-of-court settlements.


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Custom Inflatable Advertising
Increase the Sales of Your Product or Service With High Visual Impact
It's been proven over and over again… when you make a strong visual impression, your product or service stays in the minds of consumers longer. In fact, visuals are the elements that are viewed first in almost all forms of advertising.
Just imagine the attention grabbing and branding power a 25-foot tall reproduction of your product or logo will have. And in addition to being eye-catching, inflatables and balloons offer a number of other benefits such as:
- Drawing traffic to your location
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You'll find the answers to many of your questions on this site. After you've taken time to look around, contact us for a free estimate of your custom-made inflatable or balloon, inflatable display, or banner; or to ask any additional questions you may have.


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Choose a meeting space that will engage your attendees and energize your meeting or corporate events in Norwalk. Our fully-flexible ballroom seats up to 200 guests, while private reception rooms offer a more intimate boardroom style meeting space. Plus, we'll make sure you have everything you need like complimentary wireless internet, audio visual equipment including high definition TV screens, wireless microphones, and an on-site projector. Anything else, just ask!
We understand the importance of taking a break from your to-do list and making time to play! Mingle with co-workers over drinks at the bar or strike up a little friendly office competition at our upscale bowling lanes or bocce courts. Our Norwalk team building event venue encourages you to connect, relax, and to change your frame of mind.
Whether you're planning a breakfast meeting, luncheon, evening seminar, or holiday party, food is a key component. Pinstripes prepares every dish in-house, providing your team with only the freshest, highest-quality options. Plus, pair with a bar package and a full range of hosted or cash bar selections.
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Plan with confidence knowing our expert team of Event Sales Managers are ready to help coordinate and lend assistance.


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Logo made from Hibiscus flower and teacup form. It is suitable for tea shops, tea bars, tea and hot drink processing. Strong colors are there to give vivid apperiance and crisp effect.
- Re-sizable Vector logo.
- Easy to edit, clean vector drawings.
- Black and White/grayscale version.
- Color variations.
- EPS files, both with outlined and non-outlined text, AI fully editable file.
- Sofia and Otari Bold fonts used in files. You can download it at: http://www.google.com/webfonts/specimen/Sofia and http://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/Otari


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The Complete Webern EditionIn a century with no scarcity of remarkable figures, Webern nevertheless occupies a special place. Revolutionary? Certainly, but without any fuss and with an incredible discretion. Radical? Absolutely, but with a kind of unworldly naďvete - creating music that gradually distanced itself from immediate seductiveness to achieve the fascination of a deliberate asceticism. Purity - of language, of expression, of intention: this is perhaps the best word for summing up the character of this music, seemingly sparse yet rich in its multiple repercussions.
Full Discography


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Pioneer's X-SMC4-K Elite Music Tap AirPlay Music System is feature-rich but fares poorly
Today's Best Tech Deals
Picked by TechHive's Editors
Top Deals On Great Products
Picked by Techconnect's Editors
Pioneer X-SMC4-K Elite Music Tap Elite AirPlay Music System
Pioneer's $479 X-SMC4-K Elite Music Tap is a mouthful to name—I'll refer to it as the SMC4 from here on out—and a handful to use. The SMC4 can play audio from just about any source, thanks to an iPhone/iPod dock, a USB port, and an auxiliary-audio input; support for Bluetooth, AirPlay, DLNA, and Internet radio; and a built-in FM tuner. And the system's audio quality is stellar. Unfortunately, the SMC4 exhibits some serious flaws that make using the system frustrating.
The 4.5-pound SMC4 is 20.5 inches wide, 8.6 inches tall, and 6.1 inches deep, taking the shape of a slightly curved mix of black plastic and metal; a metal grille covers the speaker at each end. The body of the system sits atop a built-in chrome stand. Positioned between the speakers is a shiny, black-plastic face with two displays built into it: To the left is a 2.5-inch-square color screen, and to the right is a red-LED clock.
Oddly, the clock departs from any of the accepted display formats I've come across for digital clocks. It reads P 4:36 for 4:36 p.m., or A 10:02 for 10:02 a.m. This kind of confusing design is a frequent problem with the SMC4.
To its credit, the SMC4 does some things right. The unit's 1/8-inch (3.5mm) auxiliary-input port is right on the front for each access, alongside a headphone jack and the aforementioned USB port (which is for connecting USB sticks and drives, not an iPod or iPhone.
Below the LED clock, just above the SMC4's base, is the iPhone/iPod dock. The dock cradle hides within the unit; a firm press on the front triggers the mechanism that slowly rolls out the cradle. The button to expose the cradle is deeply recessed, just above the unit's base; reaching it doesn't exactly require finger gymnastics, but it's awkwardly placed. On the back of the SMC4 sit an FM antenna port, an ethernet port, a composite-video output, and the connector for the included AC adapter.
Across the top of the SMC4 sit eight buttons: Power, Function, BT Audio, Air Jam, Play/Pause, Stop, Volume Down, and Volume Up. The Function button is the main on-board means of switching between input sources, BT Audio puts the device in Bluetooth-pairing mode, and Air Jam triggers a party mode that allows up to four iPhone owners running Pioneer's Air Jam app to add songs to a communal playlist.
Absent from this row of buttons, as you may have noticed, are Previous and Next controls. You'll find those buttons on the SMC4's large remote. In addition to these two, as well as duplicates of the buttons on the SMC4 itself, the remote provides buttons for Display Off, Sleep, Clock, Set Up, Mute, Shuffle, Repeat, Rewind, Fast Forward, and Sound (for adjusting various audio options), as well as numbers 0 through 9 and various menu-navigation controls.
The first thing you'll do with the SMC4 when you want to use it, of course, is turn it on. The problem is that the power-on sequence can take between 45 seconds and a full minute. You can shorten startup time considerably by turning on Quick Start Mode, but Pioneer says that Quick Start Mode requires 16 Watts. Fully powered-on mode consumes 23 Watts. Quick Start mode hews awfully close to "just leaving the darn thing on," in my opinion.
Once it's on, the SMC4 works as expected. I did have one control beef, though: As with many of the speaker systems we've tested, you choose your audio input by cycling through the available options. However, the SMC4 has so many playback options—eight, by my count—that choosing one is a hassle. I'd rather be able to switch directly to the input source of your choosing.
Pairing the unit via Bluetooth was a seamless process, and playing music from a docked iPhone or iPod was simple, too. As with most speaker systems that use Apple's Universal dock design, Pioneer warns that you must use the appropriate dock-cradle insert for your iPod or iPhone to avoid damage or malfunction. I didn't—I placed my iPhone directly in the bare dock cradle—and my phone remained damage- and malfunction-free. I successfully played music from a USB stick, as well, and FM reception using the included wire antenna was in line with my expectations. (Note that you can't use the USB port to charge a device unless you're in USB-playback mode—the port's dead in other modes.)
To listen to Internet radio, DLNA-streamed audio, or AirPlay, you need to get the SMC4 online. The included manual lacks decent instructions for connecting the SMC4 to a wireless network, but, fortunately, it's not too difficult. You use the remote to slowly key in your settings on the 2.5-inch screen. To its credit, the unit connected quickly to my local network, and the signal-strength meter on the display is a nice touch. Connecting via ethernet was straightforward, as well—you just plug in your network cable. Note, however, that switching between wired and wireless connections requires a system reboot—meaning waiting through the aforementioned 45- to 60-second startup time. Luckily, most people won't need to go through that process often.
Browsing Internet radio stations is fairly simple thanks to the SMC4's screen, although—and this obviously isn't the system's fault—I quickly lost interest in this feature thanks to the preponderance of low-quality streams. The SMC4 can't connect to streaming-audio services such as Pandora or Spotify.
The SMC4's AirPlay implementation is ostensibly well done. Once the system was on the network, my iOS devices and iTunes on my Mac immediately recognized the SMC4 as an AirPlay option, and during AirPlay playback, the SMC4's display shows various bits of info for the currently track. (The display shows such data only during AirPlay and Internet Radio playback.) According to Pioneer, the display should also show album artwork, but it did so for me only intermittently.
However, I saw constant AirPlay dropouts when using the SMC4 over Wi-Fi. In my experience, AirPlay playback is rarely without the occasional hiccup, but the SMC4 suffered from major stutterfests. Wireless playback wasn't always marred, but I experienced issues on two Wi-Fi networks using three different base stations. At best, Wi-Fi playback experienced only occasional hiccups; at worst, the hiccups left the music unlistenable. (The SMC4 fared far, far better when connected to a wired Internet connection.)
While I'm on the topic of performance, three times over the course of my testing, the SMC4 crashed—in the software sense of the word—and forced itself to reboot. While I couldn't methodically reproduce each crash, they occurred when I took some specific action, such as pressing Set Up on the remote while in AirPlay mode. While this isn't the first AirPlay system I've tested that's experienced stuttering playback to one degree or another, it is the first that's crashed on me.
The SMC4 employs a pair of 2.6-inch full-range drives, along with a pair of 3-inch passive radiators, generating the kind of sound that initially impresses. Bass presence isn't overly powerful, but there's respectable oomph, and music generally sounded clean and clear.
The SMC4 gets plenty loud, but things fall apart once you crank up the volume. The volume display goes from 0 to 50, and I started to notice light distortion around the mid- to upper-30s. From the upper-40s on, there was so much distortion that I found the audio unlistenable. For a system at this price, that's unacceptable.
You get a couple sound processors with the SMC4, each of which you enable using the remote. Virtual Surround attempts to simulate a stereo image wider than the SMC4's physical wingspan; audiophiles don't always appreciate such acoustic trickery, but I found I liked the effect. The second setting, Sound Retriever, attempts to counterbalance the compression effects of lower-quality MP3s. To my ears, the feature sounded like an EQ adjustment. I ended up leaving it on. Regardless of whether I left these sound processors enabled or not, however, I heard that same distortion at louder volumes.
Macworld's buying advice
With the SMC4's steep price tag, it needs to be easier to use, more stable, and more capable at loud volumes. While I can't rule out network interference as the cause of my Wi-Fi AirPlay issues, no other AirPlay system I've tested has had the same problems in the same testing environment. For $70 more, Klipsch's Gallery G17 Air is a much simpler and more acoustically impressive device, even if it doesn't provide as many input options. Given the price, I can't recommend the SMC4.
This story, "Pioneer's X-SMC4-K Elite Music Tap AirPlay Music System is feature-rich but fares poorly" was originally published by Macworld.
Pioneer X-SMC4-K Elite Music Tap Elite AirPlay Music System


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Amsterdam boasts of being the only city in the world that houses more bikes than people. The bicycles clutter the canal sidewalks, over-run the cars in the streets, and nowhere can one be found in the City Centrum where there isn't some whizzing ding of a bell making music. (Especially if you're a tourist walking in the bike lane). There are even special traffic lights just for the cyclists!
Naturally, then, the best way to see the city is like a local. At the advice of one of my flatmates, on day 1 of our Amsterdam Adventure, Abby and i took a gander with Mike's Bike Tours. The ride spanned 2.5 hours and the major circumference of the city – seeing everything from the Anne Frank House to a Picasso statue in Vondel Park. The bike shop even had two shop cats!
The tour definitely does not shy away from talking about the naughtier sides of Amsterdam (as in, prostitution and drugs) so i wouldn't recommend it for anyone wanting to stick to pretty canals and old churches.
But Abby and i had a blast wheeling around Jordaan, the Museumplein, and sweet little streets lining the canals. Our fingers and toes were frozen solid in the sub-freezing weather, but there was a pit stop for a much-need hot cocoa and the most delicious apple turnover i've ever had in my life at the Bertram & Brood. And, since you asked: yes the Red Light District felt safe, and yes: going about it during the daytime is certainly less seedy than at night. The women who work there are, after all, human beings engaging in a legal and heavily guarded profession.
I have to admit, though, i sort of pictured the Red Light District to be like a scene from Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge. You know, 19th-century can-can dresses and simpering red lips. I fear to say my imagination did not match the reality at all!
Riding a bike in Amsterdam, though, is no joke. Sure, the whole city is as flat as Kansas, but being on a bike here is kind of like driving a car in New York City. You have to constantly be aware, assertive, and unafraid to stick to your decisions (even in the face of an oncoming tram!). At one point, a father and his toddler son whizzed past me so fast i – literally – backpedaled. The most embarrassing part? The kid had one glasses like me and looked ridiculously cool for someone who couldn't have been older than four.
Europeans, ya'll. I am constantly being out-fahsion-ed. Even by the babies.
Our noses falling off from the cold, our legs sore from out-pumping oncoming traffic, and our ears stuffed with fun tidbits about Nieuwmarket and the vivacity of Dutch life all made for a great afternoon in Amsterdam. Should you ever get the chance to voyage to this once-quaint-seaside-villa, be sure to include a bike tour into your stay!
current jam: 'lovely ladies' from les misérables. (i can't help it! stuck in my head after all that!)
best thing: apple turnovers.


text:
November 25, 2011
The scene before me was picturesque: a swiftly flowing river bubbling over and around rocks framed by flowering banks and protruding ledges. I was visiting a natural beauty spot but swirling pools of foam caused by detergent being carelessly drained into the river somewhere upstream made the experience bittersweet.
Many years have passed since my journey to that formerly favorite tourist retreat and considering the progress made in cleaning up the environment I suspect the scene has changed to a more natural and pleasant one. We've made great strides in improving the quality of the water we drink and in the appearance of our rivers and streams. Lakes are cleaner, fish taste better and, though the task is far from finished, clouds that now color our sunsets are less likely to be heavenly mountains of pollution rising from industrial complexes.
Does this concern for improving the environment have anything to do with carrying out the will of God on earth?
Instructions regarding the protection of the environment, including the cultivation and care of the earth so it would remain productive and beautiful appear early in the Biblical account of creation (Genesis 2:15). These ancient environmental commands have never been revoked and should affect our conduct regarding everything around us every day. But there is another environmental obligation to consider: our responsibility to lift the moral and spiritual tone of the communities in which we live; which would in turn affect our entire nation and even the world.
CLEANING UP THE ENVIRONMENT PAGE TWO Roger Campbell
Polluted minds that produce violence and immorality are more dangerous than polluted air and water. And if we're to clean up the most important environment of all we'll have to begin at home.
Our Lord explained that the most serious source of moral pollution is within, saying: "For from within, out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness" (Mark 7:21-23). Pretty strong words but we all know they're true!
Let's face it: evil is rampant among us. Witness the horrifying headlines that greet us daily and the scary content of late night television news roundups that disturb our sleep.
Can't we pass laws that will clean up the moral pollution of our time?
Don't count on it. Most lawmakers aren't likely to tackle cleaning up the moral environment for fear of being accused of trying to legislate morality.
So the ball is in our court. Churches must take the lead in standing up to moral polluters and members must become committed to conduct that pleases their Lord.
The Psalmist's prayer for purity would be a good starting place for us all: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14).
Let's clear the air on this important subject. The stimulus needed to produce a better moral and spiritual environment in our land must begin with you and me.
Roger Campbell is an author, broadcaster and columnist who was a pastor for 22 years.
He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
A California university and AMC think you can learn something from "The Walking Dead."
The University of California, Irvine said Wednesday it will offer a free online course based on the network's hit zombie series. A team of UC Irvine professors will teach the eight-week course, which begins on Monday, Oct. 14, the day after the AMC drama has its season premiere.
AMC says fans of the show know it's about more than zombies: it's about survival, leadership and adapting to uncertain situations. Topics addressed in the classroom will include the hierarchy of needs in a crisis, the physiology of stress and population modeling to predict a species' survival.
U.S. & World
Professors in public health, social sciences, physics and math will teach "Society, Science, Survival: Lessons from AMC's 'The Walking Dead.'"


text:
28 November 2008
What I'm Wearing
photos by Tom b.
dress: vintage
tights: AA
shoes, purse & hat: vintage
Yesterday I planned on waking up early to finish posting all of my Ebay auctions and cook our vegetarian turkey and gravy all in time to leave for Tom's sisters house for the family Thanksgiving gathering. I didn't set the alarm because I have pretty a accurate internal clock and can usually wake up on time on my own. Of course, the one day I need to wake up early I overslept! A little bit of panic set in when I rolled over and the clock said 10:40. Yikes! How did that happen?! So... long story short I cooked but didn't finish getting all of the auctions posted. Not to worry. I'm finishing them up this morning and they'll be in the store by this afternoon.
9 comments:
- Anonymous said...
ugg I hate when that happens, but at least you look chic, love the double breasted buttons on the dress
- November 28, 2008
- Lauren Goddard said...
That's such a bummer! You still look lovely though, the photo with the sunlight is so pretty. I just started a blog yesterday and have you to thank for the motivation to do so!
x x x
- November 28, 2008
- Riikka Aaltonen said...
I overslept once this week and almost missed an important exam.
It's funny how you always tend to oversleep on the most important mornings.
Your outfit is great, though.
I'm kind of coveting your dress at the moment.
And you always have the prettiest photos.
On the sidenote - I really can't understand how you and some other top eBay-sellers find the time and patience to list items every week.
We haven't had the time to post our Etsy-items yet, even though we have been working on them for weeks now. :)
- November 28, 2008
- Anonymous said...
I love your dress!
- November 28, 2008
- Penny said...
eek!! i have no idea how you wake up without an alarm, i could sleep all day!
love your photographs, they always look so lovely :)
- November 28, 2008
- petrushkabiel said...
Hello...Let me introduce myself...I'm Gita, from the first time I saw your blog...I'm amazed, you always have a wonderful pictures and amazing style...You are so inspiring...How did you make such a beautiful pictures? I'm so happy if I got one pictures of mine as lovely as you have...Also have a great taste of style...
All the best wishes for you, have a nice day ;)
- November 29, 2008
- Unknown said...
The vintage bag is amazing.
- November 29, 2008
- Squishybubble said...
I adore the outfit - the dress amazes me!
- November 29, 2008
- Anonymous said...
lovely dress!
- November 30, 2008