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Varieties of hardwood lumber are the staple materials for the woodworker, particularly those who focus on fine woodworking projects such as furniture. However, the term hardwood can be a bit deceiving, as it has less to do with the "hardness" of the material than the species of the tree from which the lumber is harvested.
Hardwoods come from deciduous, or broad-leaved trees, as opposed to softwoods, that are harvested from from evergreens. In general, the lumber derived from hardwood species is typically harder than softwoods, although there are exceptions (balsa wood is very light and soft, but is considered a hardwood). Most hardwood tree species lose their leaves in winter and generally offer a much wider variety of colors and textures than softwoods. Typically, stock from hardwood species is a lot more expensive than those from softwoods.
Which Hardwood to Choose?
When preparing to build a project, the choice of which hardwood material to use can be a daunting question. To make it easier, start with determining how you want to finish the project. Will you stain or paint it?
If you choose paint for your finish, you won't want to waste your money on woods known for their color and beauty when stained, so avoid richly-colored species such as oak, maple, walnut or mahogany. For painted projects, poplar is a very good choice because it is relatively stable and takes paint quite well (not to mention that it doesn't look all that good stained).
However, if you want to stain or clear-coat the project, you'll have a number of choices to look through. Since your local home center megamart will probably only carry a couple of hardwood species (poplar and red oak are common) spend time at a fine wood supplier and look through the varieties available. They should be able to help you determine how each species will look when finished, which will go a long way toward refining your decision.
Location, Location, Location
In addition to the type of finish you want, the location of the final installation should be considered when choosing a hardwood species. While it won't have as much bearing on furniture pieces to be used indoors, you may want to consider some more moisture-resistant species (such as cypress or the ever-increasingly endangered teak) for outdoor projects. Again, your local woodworking supplier will be able to help with this decision if you are unsure about what species might work well for your particular application and climate.
Seasonal Considerations
One subject that a woodworker must always consider when building a project is how seasonal moisture and temperature fluctuations will cause expansion and contraction of the wood stock in the assembled project. For instance, if you've ever experienced a drawer that sticks only in the winter time, you've experienced seasonal movement of wood. Since each wood species is affected by these temperature and moisture fluctuations, you'll need to know a bit about the climate where the project will be used, and how your chosen wood stock is affected by the climate changes. Again, your local woodworking supplier can be a great resource for answering these types of questions in your area.
Additional Resources
If you'd like to learn more about the differences between hardwood species, I can think of no better resource than R. Bruce Hoadley's 1980 masterpiece, Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology. Not only does Hoadley detail nearly every species used for woodworking, but he also does an exceptional job at describing how to prepare, work with and finish these hardwoods. This is an industry-standard resource, one that I'd highly recommend to every woodworker.


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I am so happy because now the weather is wonderful. In Poland during cold winters it is too cold for nice outfits and for this reason I think that summer is the best period to get the best from my blog and outfits. You have see already my coral jumpsuit, and this time I want to show the casual version :) Compared to the previous one, this look is more modern thanks to the accessories and the leather jacket.
The jumpsuit is available in AreYouFashion. I suggest you to take a look there, they have very cool clothes and the prices are more than nice :)
Jumpsuit – AreYouFashion
Jewelry – diva

subset: commoncrawl


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Opposed piston technology reduces total cost of ownership when compared to leading medium and high-speed engines used in prime power applications
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – December 5, 2017 – Fairbanks Morse - an EnPro Industries company (NYSE: NPO) and leading provider of solutions that are powering the world forward - announced today its new Trident OP™ 3.8 MW opposed piston diesel engine that boasts 50 percent fuel efficiency, which is best-in-class when compared to leading medium speed engines. The cost savings from fuel efficiency and increased reliability from 30 percent fewer moving parts equate to a lower total lifecycle cost when comparing Trident OP against other high or medium speed engines for prime power applications.
Affordable reliability is of critical importance for base load power generation. The Trident OP bypasses minor overhauls that other high or medium speed engines require around 20,000 hours and can run for 40,000 hours until the first major servicing. Additionally, the engine has embedded smart sensors and controls that communicate in real-time to the Fairbanks Morse PoweReliability™ platform – a cloud-enabled, condition-based monitoring solution also launched today that is allowing the company to offer first-of-its-kind fuel consumption and reliability guarantees for prime power customers.
"The Trident OP has been designed from the ground up and leverages Fairbanks Morse's 85 years of experience designing and manufacturing the only medium-speed, opposed-piston engines available in the world," said Marvin Riley, Fairbanks Morse President. "Known for their fuel efficiency and reliability, our opposed piston engines have been trusted in distributed, baseload power for decades. Today we are excited to announce a new, proud chapter in our history of ingenuity and innovation with this breakthrough in fuel efficiency and advanced engine design allowing Fairbanks Morse to deliver power where it is needed most in the world."
The Trident OP gives significant total lifecycle cost (LCC) savings with far lower lifetime fuel expenses, lower total part count, and fewer moving parts when compared to conventional engines. Counter-rotating crankshafts and counter-reciprocating piston assemblies inherently balance the Trident OP, resulting in lower vibrations and greater reliability. Advanced engineering design and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) help the 60 Hz model of the engine achieve an EPA Tier 4F emissions rating and can be adjusted to meet even the most stringent emissions standards. Withstanding challenging operating and environmental conditions with ease, this cost-effective solution delivers high performance with lower overall costs, making the Trident OP ideally suited for modern power applications by maintaining maximum uptime.
"The Trident OP has lower total life cycle cost for most scenarios where a significant amount of fuel is expected to be consumed," said Mark Kuhn, vice president at global engineering and environmental consultancy Ricardo. "For example, in a typical continuous power generation scenario with an annual uptime of 8,500 hours, the lower operating cost of the Trident OP engine pays off in less than 2 years. Even with reduced annual operational time down to 1,300 hours, the Trident OP engine is still less expensive to own and operate than a conventional high-speed engine."
In conjunction with the Trident OP announcement, Fairbanks Morse also launched its new PoweReliability-as-a-Service platform today at the POWER-GEN International conference in Las Vegas. Backed by fuel efficiency and reliability guarantees that are monitored in the cloudbased platform, PoweReliability-as-a-Service reduces risk and operating expenses for end users who want to generate their own power - whether remote, off grid, or grid-tied. In a 10- megawatt power plant configuration, Fairbanks Morse projects $35 million in savings to be achieved in fuel consumption and increased reliability.
Learn how Ricardo calculated the total cost of ownership by downloading their whitepaper or get technical specifications about the Trident OP at TridentOP.com.
About Fairbanks Morse Engine
For over 125 years, Fairbanks Morse has been powering the world forward with innovative distributed power generation solutions that deliver optimal performance in a wide range of applications from base load and standby in municipal, nuclear, and institutional facilities to locomotive engines, and naval and commercial-class ship propulsion and shipboard power. Reliable and dependable, their flagship Opposed Piston (OP) engine technology has been trusted for decades and has totaled over 100 million operating hours – many units with over 40 years of service. Learn more about how Fairbanks Morse is committed to delivering power where it is needed most in the world by visiting www.fairbanksmorse.com.
About EnPro Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NPO)
EnPro Industries, Inc. is a leader in sealing products, metal polymer and filament wound bearings, components and service for reciprocating compressors, diesel and dual-fuel engines and other engineered products for use in critical applications by industries worldwide. For more information about EnPro, visit www.enproindustries.com.


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There are 5 camping sites in Amsterdam. Prices of these Amsterdam camping sites are around €17 for tent + 2 people and €30 for a family with caravan or camper in high season. The camping sites in Amsterdam are clean, welcoming and they all come with wifi. Most are only open from April 1 till October. Surrounded by water and green and within easy reach of the Amsterdam city centre, a stay at a camping ground in Amsterdam is a very interesting option for those willing to hand in some luxuries and stay in a greener and more relaxed area. People visiting Amsterdam by camper van or trailer might opt for the basic camper site in Amsterdam NDSM.
1. Camping site Amsterdam Zeeburg
Camping Zeeburg is one of the few camping sites that's open all year. It's only a 15 tram ride from the Amsterdam city centre. The camping site is located along the water of the IJ-water and the Amsterdam Rijnkanaal.
This camping ground is popular among youngsters and backpackers visiting Amsterdam, so it can be a bit noisy in the night. Apart from camping in you own tents, caravans or camper, this Amsterdam camping site offers colourful wagonettes (small trailers) and so called eco-cabins, but they don't come with cooking possibilities, unless you bring you own cooker. Camping site Zeeburg is one of the more popular camping grounds in Amsterdam. In summer, activities and outdoor film screenings are organised and you are likely to make new friends while camping out.
The view is amazing. From your tent along the water, you are looking out on the Amsterdam bridge to IJburg. The views have a down side too, as the chilly winds hit the camping grounds easily so it can be a bit chilly.
Transport into Amsterdam
You can reach the Amsterdam centre with Amsterdam public transport by taking tram 7 or 14. Tram 26 takes you to Amsterdam Central station.
During the night, you can take night bus 359 from Amsterdam Central Station to go back to the camping site.
Entertainment and sports
The nearby outdoor swimming pool Flevoparkbad offers free entrance to guest of the camping site Zeeburg. Children might enjoy some animals at the camping (a couple of goats). There is a barbecue zone, a ping pong table and a actual beach to take a dip in the IJ-water right from the camping site.
This campsite is located at the outskirt of the city. The green area along the Flevopark and along the IJ-water is a beautiful, quiet area where you can cycle, kayak, skate and hike. Kayaks and bicycles can be rented at the camping.
Wagons and cabins
The Amsterdam camping ground of Zeeburg is open all year and to endure camping in the cold Dutch winters, you will need some more shelter than a tent can offer. Therefore, camping site Zeeburg has put up a large number of wagonettes, small, colourful trailers with bunk beds. The eco-cabins are hikers huts with a little bit more room. Important aspect of the wagonettes is that they all come with heating, electricity sockets and a table and chair. The wagons and cabins don't have a kitchen. Bed covers and pillows, and linnen are provided for. Reservations for the cabins and wagonettes are recommended.
Food and drinks
The cosy bar and restaurant makes for a great hangout that makes everyone feel at home. You can charge your phone, shoot pool and on cold days, cuddle up around the fireplace. In summer the large terrace is open and with a fun program of outdoor film screening and the occasional live music you don't need to explore the Amsterdam night life every night but instead enjoy an fun night at the camping. In the morning you can get breakfast at the restaurant breakfast buffet or prepare your own from the groceries and bread available at the small camping shop.
Prices Camping Zeeburg
Two people and tent will pay €17 for one night in high season. A family with 2 children and caravan or camper pays €35 per night, this price includes the car. The 2-person wagonettes are €45 per night at high season. A 4-person eco-cabin costs €100 a night in high season, but you have stay for 2 nights minimum.
In winter season, prices for the Amsterdam camping site are much lower. A 4-person eco-cabin on weekends costs €75 in low season, which makes it a very interesting option when choosing between a crowded Amsterdam hostel or a quiet camping spot. To use the shower, you need a shower coin (€0,80).
2. Camping Vliegenbos
Amsterdam camping site Vliegenbos is open from April until the end of September. The Camping site of Vliegenbos is located in a large park. The camping site is surrounded by trees. There is a roofed pick nick area and camp fires are allowed. The camping ground is located across the IJ-water in Amsterdam Noord.
Transport to the city centre
Amsterdam Noord can be accessed easily by public transport in Amsterdam: metro, bus and ferry. Amsterdam city centre is easily and quickly reached. Walking 20 minutes, you find the free ferry who takes you to Amsterdam Central Station in less than 5 minutes. The ferry runs 24 hours a day. From Amsterdam Central Station the camping site is also reachable by bus 361 which runs until 6 am. Bus 32 runs from 6 am to midnight.
In 2018, the new Amsterdam North-South Metro Line 52 was opened, which gets you to Central Station in minutes (stop: Noorderpark).
Entertainment and sport
For people who would like to take a day trip to Monnickendam or Volendam these can be reached from the camping on a wonderful bike ride. The Amsterdam camping site of Vliegenbos also has 30 wooden cabins for travellers that have no tent. A cooker is present in the cabin, but you have to bring your own cooking equipment.
Camper site Amsterdam Vliegenbos
Campers are welcome, but there is no room to sit outside and you still pay the same price as a caravan with extra space to put out a table.
Food and drinks
Camping Vliegenbos has a bar and restaurant with terrace. At the camping shop you can get freshly baked bread.
For a small tent and two people you pay over €20. Camping with a car, a caravan, electricity, two adults and two children in high season you pay over €40. Hot showers are free.
3. Camping site near Amsterdam: De Badhoeve
De Badhoeve is a camping site located at a natural reserve along the IJsselmeer, the large inner sea of The Netherlands. Swimming, windsurfing and canoeing is all possible at this camping site. From this camping site near Amsterdam, you walk to the lovely typically Dutch village of Durgerdam or visit Amsterdam city centre on a day trip.
Camping site De Badhoeve is only open during summer (April – September). The Amsterdam camping site De Badhoeve is surrounded by a typical Dutch landscape of grass, marshlands and the large fresh water lake. You can place your tent directly by the lake and start you day with a nice swim.
Entertainment and sports
You enjoy the waterside camping by renting a canoe or boat and a bicycle. There is a football field and a 18-hole golf course just 10 minutes away from the camping site. At the camping cafe, you can play games typically played at these Dutch 'brown cafés': billiards and darts. Children might enjoy the gaming zone, which includes a Playstation and a Nintendo gamecube.
Food and drinks
For food, you can choose between a snack bar, a restaurant with terrace and a café. There is a small camp shop for fresh bread in the morning. The nearest supermarket is located at shopping centre Waterlandplein, a 10 minute bus or car ride away. At the village of Durgerdam there are two cafés/restaurants to enjoy local speciality like fresh eel.
Prices Camping De Badhoeve
For a tent and 2 persons you pay €16 a night. Camper vans are €9,50, caravans €11,50, all added with €5 per person and €2,50 per child. Electricity is €2,50 a night. Showering for 8 minutes costs €1.
4. Camping site Amsterdamse Bos
The forest park near Amsterdam, Amsterdamse Bos is home to a quiet camping site. The camping grounds are surrounded by trees, water and grass. Getting into the Amsterdam city centre is not easy, you will have to take first a bus and then taking the tram 5 or 51 or take a direct bus into the city. This Amsterdam camping site is not only one of the cheapest in the area, but it's also the only one with a communal kitchen and dining room. Camping Amsterdamse Bos is open all year. In winter, you can stay at one of the heated (optional) wooden cabins.
Communal kitchen
The cooking place has 4 4-pits cookers and all the basic cooking equipment, but it lacks the very necessary refrigerator and coffee machine. The kitchen can be closed in wintertime.
Entertainment and sports
The camping and forest offer many options for sports: hiking, biking, swimming and canoeing. Bikes can be rented at the camping site, canoes can be rented at the forest. The forest furthermore hosts a pancake house, a goat far, an indoor swimming pool, a spa/sauna, horse riding and fishing. Restaurant, bars an supermarket options are very limited. In most cases you need a car, bike or take a bus.
Transport from camping to Amsterdam
Bus 199 stops in walking distance of the camping and takes you to Amsterdam Zuid metro and train station, but it takes an awful long time. It's best walk to bus 171 (or walk) to take tram 51. Tram 51 takes you to Waterloo Square and Amsterdam Central Station in around 40 minutes. Anyway, for being this close to Amsterdam, the transport is not easy and not fast. On the other hand, Bus 199 does have a fast connection with Schiphol Airport, where you can catch trains to all parts of The Netherlands. Easiest is probably by bike, as there is a long bike road leading you into the centre of Amsterdam in about 45 minutes.
Cabins and hostel
On the camping grounds of Amsterdamse Bos camping site, there's room for tents, caravans and camper vans, but there is also a full fledge cabins, chalets and cottages in all price and luxury ranges. The cottages and chalets have separate bedrooms, private bathrooms, a kitchen and central heating. In summer months, these cosy wooden houses function as shared rooms and you rent a bunk bed, like in hostel.
In winter months, these t and cottages offer temporary housing for for example expats or temporary workers.
Prices Camping Amsterdamse Bos
One night at Camping Amsterdamse Bos with your tent and 2 people costs €15. For caravans it's €20 (including 2 people). Children are €2,50. Long, temporary stay costs €350 per month in summer and €450 in winter, which makes this is viable option for desperate house seekers looking for a spot to start looking or a more long term solution.
5. Camping Gaasper in Amsterdam Southeast
Camping site Gaasper is located in an recreational zone in Amsterdam Southeast (Amsterdam Zuidoost), consisting of a lake with city beach and a large park with playgrounds. The city centre of Amsterdam is easily reached by metro. At night, you can take the night bus back to the camping, which stops in front of the camps ground.
Near Gaasperplas is the zone Bijlmer, known for its colourful inhabitants, that have come from all over the world, often having fled wars and the bad economic situation in their own country.
Some parts of the Bijlmer are best to avoid, especially after dark, for security reasons. Cycling from the camping to the city centre is quite far (more than 45 minutes) and is best avoided after dark.
Food and drinks
The camp site has its own restaurant for a simple dish or pizza that you enjoy inside, outside on the sunny terrace or take away to your own camping spot. There's a camp site shop for fresh bread, coffee and last minute camping gear.
Prices Camping Gaasper
In high season a tent + 2 persons is €17,50. A caravan with a family with 2 children, car and electricity is €33,50.
Shower coins are €0,80.
6. Camper site in Amsterdam
For people arriving by camper van, there is a special camping site for camper car and trailers near the NDSM terrain in Amsterdam Noord. This Amsterdam camper site is open all year. Basically, the camper camp ground consists of a large parking space to park you camper van or trailer, added with free toilets and showers. Dogs are allowed and you can check in and check out 24 hours a day at the self service desk.
The view over the IJ-water is spectacular, the entertainment at the NDSM and Amsterdam Noord is fabulous and the Amsterdam city centre is easily reachable within 20 minutes. Parking your camper van at the camper site is cheaper than parking in Amsterdam city.
From NDSM there is a direct free ferry that will take you to Amsterdam Central Station in less than 15 minutes. Be wary that this ferry runs until midnight. But at the former NDSM shipyard, there enough restaurants, bars with live music and club nights art exhibition, city beach and market s to keep you entertained at the NDSM terrain itself.
Prices Camper site NDSM
The Amsterdam camper site costs €15 (includes two people) and €18 in high season. Electricity is an added €3.
For an Amsterdam camping site, this is probably the cheapest option for people with a camper van.
Amsterdam City Camp, camping site for camper vans and trailers


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Fact: Style doesn't fade with age. To prove it, Salvatore Ferragamo's celebrating its 100th anniversary in America with a range of some of the chicest bags, shoes, and accessories we've spotted in a long time.
Mixing arty, lucite jewels with camel-colored calfskin heels, and a ridiculously cool orange-snakeskin handbag, the limited-edition range manages to combine a dash of old world Tuscany craftsmanship with a dose of syrupy-sweet, classic Hollywood glam. And, the result pretty much leaves us in an insatiable fashion frenzy.
Wanna see all of the prettiness after the jump in person? The Ferragamo Hollywood pop-up shop will be open to the public at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (9390 North Santa Monica Boulevard) from October 18 through November 15.


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There are a number of ways you can nominate an IBO as an Amway Volunteer:
- Nominate an IBO by emailing us email@example.com
- Share their stories by posting on the Amway ANZ Facebook page using the #nominateAmwayVolunteers hashtag. You can find the Amway ANZ page at facebook.com/amway.australia.newzealand.
- Fill out the 'Nominate Today' form on the 'Amway Volunteering' Guide on the Amway Events ANZ app.
You can download the Amway Volunteers Guide from the Amway Events ANZ App by following the steps below:
Step 1: Go the App Store or Google Play Store and download Amway Events ANZ
Step 2: Search for 'Amway Volunteering'


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Not too long ago, my company moved office buildings. Our new building is so cool an modern, it looks like it came right out of Pinterest! From chalkboard walls, to a game room with a keg, it seriously has it all. To celebrate our new office, we had a big work party a few weeks ago. I love the way the office looks, especially the colors, so I knew I wanted to do nails to match.
Our office is mostly shades of blue and gray, with some pops of yellow thrown in. I found this summer nail art and got inspired to do my own variation.


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Due to damages caused by Hurricane Matthew and the pending repairs, Fernandina Harbor Marina will close Friday, November 23, 2018. This will include the dinghy, short term, transient docks, mooring field and boat ramp. The marina is scheduled to reopen Summer 2019. Our transient docks are closed for repairs and construction. Please call 904-310-3304 for more information.
Our mooring field is closed due to repairs taking place at the marina. Please call 904-310-3304 for more information.
Our dinghy dock and shower facilities are closed to transient and short term dockage customers due to repairs taking place at the marina.
Merchandise/Docking Agreement/Events
The City Manager or his designee shall be authorized, and is responsible for the establishment of operational procedures for marina services, merchandise, and berthing agreements that are not otherwise provided herein, including the following:
- Fuel prices and quantity discounts;
- Concession and mooring pricing;
- Dockage and mooring agreements and seasonal discount pricing;
- Special events, holidays, high demand daily and weekly dockage/mooring pricing.
- Special commercial activity, not defined in the standard fees;
- Merchandise pricing and incentive discount pricing;
- Live-aboard surcharge;
- All other items not specifically addressed herein, necessary for the effective and profitable operation of market-based business.


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Awesome first day and…
..not so great second day.
Lets start with the good stuff lol
So I was amazed by the amount of calories that I burned yesterday and I was feeling so good! I had heaps of energy even if I was lacking sleep until I hurt by back in the afternoon. When I went to bed my back was really sore. I chose not to exercise in the morning to take it easy on my back because I need it to work and live but I was not happy about not doing it.
This morning when the alarm went off I, the person who is too asleep to make wise decision but still thinks she has all her head, decided to reset both alarm clock for 30 minutes later instead of hitting snooze 20 times. So 1 hour later she wakes up by some miracle with 15 minutes to get herself and her daughter ready.
I hate those morning. I absolutely cannot be late because people will show up at my door anyway (have a home day care) and I will have to answer the door hiding in my bathrobe with the blanket printed of my face. This is why I have a battery alarm clock and an electric one too. Maybe I need another one on top of a shelf so high that I would have to climb on a chair to smack it.
So lets push the complaining further
- Sore back
- No work out
- Got up late
- The parcel that I was going to pick up tonight at the post shop is now under the snow because the roof just collapsed because there was about 4 feet of snow on the store's flat roof( some people are just %#%?$#, a flat roof and snow don't go together)
- Just had 2 timtams (decadent sip your coffee through it chocolate biscuits)
Now because I need it I will do as Berestain Bears Mamma would say and …
Count my blessings
- I just had 2 timtams and a a delicious latté
- The physical therapy clinic accepted to take me in tonight despite the short notice
- The kids are sleeping so I get to complain to you guys
- I have a beautiful family that I love
- I have great loyal blogging friends that are there for me
- I am able to make an acceptable income from my home
- I have food to eat, water to drink
- I can still walk
- I have a new computer not because I wanted one but because the old one died
- I just loaded windows writer and so much easier to write a post on it.
- And I could go on and on.. but that will do for now


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We are proud of our identity and our special relationship with our lands, our islands and the seas. This pride is reflected in our traditional and contemporary art, music and dance. Our artforms are recognised worldwide as among Australia's most distinctive cultural contributions.
Our music takes many forms and is more than entertainment to us. Music plays a major role in traditional Aboriginal societies and is intimately linked with a person's ancestry and country. It is traditionally connected with important events such as the bringing of rain, healing, wounding enemies and the winning of battles. It is used in sacred and secret ceremonies and to pass stories and knowledge between generations.
More contemporary music continues to be an important tool for the transmission of knowledge and has been used by activists to highlight the social and historical injustices faced by us.
Many of our communities have been sustained by songs like 'Nemeralla Pines', 'Yorta Yorta Man' and others that protested against the conditions faced by Aboriginal people.
Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have found success in popular music, including country music and, more recently, hip hop. In a different field, Maroochy Barambah and Deborah Cheetham have become celebrated performers of Western classical music, following in the footsteps of the famous singer, Harold Blair.
The sheer variety of our music demonstrates how readily we absorb cultural influences, making them our own. Torres Strait Islanders have always been skilled absorbers and adaptors of the musical traditions of other people, from hymns and choruses in the 1870s, to Hawaiian-Pan-Pacific songs. Until the 1990s, most of the music heard in the islands was locally composed.
Recording the didjeridu with songmen at Wadeye, July 1999. L–R: John Nummar, Charles Kungiung, Maurice Ngulkur, Les Kundjil, Allan Marett and Ambrose Miarlum. Photo © Graeme K Ward.
Theatre and dance
Dance is a vital part of Aboriginal culture, both as a part of ceremonies and as entertainment. All communities have their own distinct style of expression and dances are passed through the generations.
Some dances derive from the Dreaming while others reflect a more contemporary history. The Aeroplane Dance, for example, tells the story of a World War II bomber that came down near Borroloola in the Northern Territory. Dancers mimic the flight of the aeroplane while performing the traditional stamping dance.
We have also taken up contemporary theatrical styles. The Bangarra Dance Theatre is a leading modern Australian dance company which has forged an international reputation for artistic innovation. The source of Bangarra's inspiration is Indigenous culture and each member in the group draws on their own heritage. Other contemporary theatrical performances touring nationally include Bran Nue Dae, Corrugation Road and Ngapartji Ngapartji.
Our dances have been influenced by other cultures. The Chooky Dancers from Arnhem Land have become a worldwide phenomenon with their 'Zorba the Greek Yolngu Style'. Torres Strait Islanders have been influenced by South Sea Island music and dance, adopting this style and making it their own.
Visual art
We have always been artists. Art is intrinsic to our culture and traditions such as painting in rock shelters and on our bodies for ceremony endure today. Carpenter's Gap rock paintings in the Kimberley have been dated to 40,000 years ago and central Australia's concentric circle art is thought to be the oldest continuing art tradition in the world. We also paint on tools, shields and musical instruments.
We make art for sale in both traditional and contemporary styles, and the styles are as diverse as the artists' cultures and histories. We paint huge canvasses, create intricate body-art, and apply ochre designs onto flat bark. Our art hangs in museums and galleries around the world. We also create other kinds of artforms: decorated ceramics, fibre sculptures, batik and print-making, linocuts, shell necklace-making and basketry, photography and film, and bronze sculpture. We have even revived older practices like possum-skin cloak decoration.
We sell our work through community organisations and galleries. The Deadly Awards, the Red Ochre Awards, and the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award all celebrate our art and culture.
Our flags
The Aboriginal flag was designed by Harold Thomas, a Luritja man from central Australia and was first flown on National Aboriginal Day in July 1971 in Adelaide and given legal recognition in July 1995 as a flag of Australia. The red at the bottom represents the earth and our relationship to it. The black above represents all the Aboriginal people including our ancestors. The yellow sun is, of course, the source of life.
The Torres Strait Islander flag was designed by Bernard Namok from Thursday Island. It was first flown in 1992 and was given legal recognition in July 1995 as a flag of Australia. It has horizontal bands, two of green for the land and one of blue for the sea. The bands are separated by black lines representing the people. The white dari/dhoeri is a traditional headdress and represents our Torres Strait Islander culture while the five-pointed white star represents the five island groups: eastern, western, central, and the areas surrounding Port Kennedy and inhabited islands the northern peninsula.
Film and television
Our artists have readily adapted to new media, and TV and cinema has become a successful new vehicle for storytelling and the transmission of knowledge. In 1985 the Warlpiri people established the first Aboriginal television station in Australia. Still running today, the Walpiri Media Association is best known for its 2001 documentary series 'Bush Mechanics'.
Australian film and television has produced an array of celebrated artists including actors, writers, directors and producers that have been recognised at festivals both locally and overseas. Importantly, it is a medium that allows us to tell our stories to non-Indigenous audiences. Some films provide unflinching, contemporary insider visions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lives that many Australians would otherwise not see, while documentaries convey little-known events in our history and our struggle for social justice.
Like our film-makers and artists, our writers have embraced and now excel in a non-traditional artform. We began writing soon after the colonisers introduced this form of communication to the country. By the 1830s and 1940s the Palawa people of Tasmania, among others, were creating subversive versions of the Bible, as well as writing sermons, community newspapers and letters to colonial authorities. For example, people from Lake Condah and Coranderrk in Victoria wrote letters to the government complaining of conditions on the missions.
Contemporary Indigenous writers include Alexis Wright, Melissa Lucashenko, Terri Janke, Vivienne Cleven, Jared Thomas, Samuel Wagan Watson, Philip McLaren, Tony Birch and John Clarke. Two of our authors, Kim Scott (Benang and That Deadman Dance) and Alexis Wright (Carpentaria), have won the Miles Franklin Award, Australia's most prestigious writing prize.
We also have our own publishing houses. North Queensland's Black Ink Press produces a range of children's books, some of which have been used in the accelerated literacy program in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Others include Magabala Books in Broome, the Institute of Aboriginal Development (IAD) in Alice Springs, Batchelor Press in Katherine and Aboriginal Studies Press (part of AIATSIS) in Canberra.
Albert David of the Mabo Dance Company. Photo Colin Murty Photo © Newspix / News Ltd / 3rd Party Managed Reproduction & Supply Rights.
Source: http://rekorennie.com/
Indigeneous Art Code logo. Photo © Indigenous Art Code (www.indigenousartcode.org).
Our Comedians.
Working with Indigenous Authors.
'Mimi', by Warwick Thornton. Photo © Blackfella Films.
Source: Injalak Stone Country Arts and Crafts, www.injalak.com
'There's nothing I would rather be than to be an Aborigine'. A satirical song from the film Bran Nue Dae, directed by Rachel Perkins and based on the 1990 musical by Jimmy Chi. Courtesy Roadshow Films.
Source: http://aso.gov.au/titles/documentaries/bran-nue-dae/clip1/?nojs.
Victorian Indigenous Art Awards finalist Megan Cadd with her artwork 'One Dress, So Much History at 45 Downstairs', 2011. Photo Ben Swinnerton, © Newspix / News Ltd / 3rd Party Managed Reproduction & Supply Rights.


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ButterLONDON Holiday 2012 Gift Sets
|The Sparkle Sparkle Lip Trio Set in Frilly Knickers, West End Wonderland and Rosie, £27
More loveliness from butterLONDON in the form of gift sets.
|Holiday Remover Kit, £16
|Holiday Lacquer Collection in Fiddlesticks, Fairy Cakes and Shambolic, £30.
|Sparkle, Sparkle Holiday Trio in Shambolic, Jack The Lad and Scuppered, £30
These are all available from Harvey Nichols or butterLONDON
from November.
*all products are sent to me as samples from brands and agencies unless otherwise stated. Affiliate links may be used. Posts are not affiliate driven.
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Love the look of the polish sets, gorgeous colours, especially shambolic 🙂


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NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. — As part of its Silver Anniversary celebration, the Little East Conference 25th Anniversary Men's and Women's Basketball Teams were announced Saturday afternoon following the 2011 LEC Basketball Championship games, and five former Plymouth State University student-athletes were recognized.
Each team, which included 25 student-athletes and one coach, was voted upon by LEC athletic administrators and coaches. The highly-decorated teams are highlighted by 19 men's and 14 women's Player of the Year award winners, including 14 multiple honorees, and 12 Rookie of the Year award recipients.
To be considered for the 25th anniversary teams, a student-athlete must have met the following criteria: a conference player of the year award winner, and/or a two- time All-Little East, first-team selection. The student-athletes that earned All-Little East, first-team honors during its first two years as a conference-sponsored sport were also placed on the ballot.
The five Plymouth State selections have all been inducted into the PSU Athletic Hall of Fame. The men's honorees include Moses Jean-Pierre, who played for the Panthers from 1990-94, Adam DeChristopher (1995-99) and Nick Pelotte (2001-05), while the women's representatives are Courtney Albert (Hudson, 1999-03) and Jenn Pelletier (Derry, 1999-03).
Initially formed in 1986 as a six-team men's and women's basketball conference, the Little East Conference has since grown to its present eight-school membership, sponsoring championship play in 19 intercollegiate athletics: baseball; men's and women's basketball; men's and women's cross country; field hockey; men's and women's lacrosse; men's and women's soccer; softball; women's swimming; men's and women's tennis; men's and women's indoor track; men's and women's outdoor track and women's volleyball. The 2010-11 academic years marks the 25th anniversary for the Little East Conference.
PSU's Greco honored by MASCAC
PLYMOUTH — The leading scorer on the Plymouth State University men's ice hockey team was recognized Monday by the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) for his performance in a pair of Panther games last week.
Sophomore Kyle Greco was named to the MASCAC Weekly Honor Roll, marking the third time this season he has received weekly conference honors. Greco has been a key figure for PSU this season after transferring from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Greco recorded a five-point week with three goals and two assists, leading PSU to a 1-1 week in a pair of MASCAC games. The 6-foot, 190-pound forward scored a power-play goal in Thursday's 6-3 loss at Fitchburg State, and he tallied two goals and two assists in Saturday's 7-4 win over Westfield State. His first goal against Westfield extended PSU's lead to 3-1 just 39 seconds into the second period; he assisted on consecutive power play goals later in the period as PSU turned a 3-2 lead into a 5-2 advantage; and he sealed the victory late in the third period, stealing the puck and scoring on a breakaway with two minutes to play.
Greco increased his team-leading season totals to 16 goals and 29 points in 21 games. He ranks third in the MASCAC in goals and tied for seventh in points.
Plymouth State, 15-5-5 overall, is the third seed in this week's MASCAC Tournament, and will host sixth-seeded Westfield State in a quarterfinal game tonight (7) at Hanaway Rink.
College: Former PSU stars honored by LEC
NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. — As part of its Silver Anniversary celebration, the Little East Conference 25th Anniversary Men's and Women's Basketball Teams were announced Saturday afternoon following the 2011 LEC Basketball Championship games, and five former Plymouth State University student-athletes were recognized.


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After permanently locking down a Cincinnati-area elementary school to protect kids from frequent gunfire, Ohio education officials are now under rhetorical fire from local residents, who allege the hard security measures have racist overtones.
Princeton City School District officials decided this week to lock down Lincoln Heights Elementary School for the rest of the year, meaning the cancellation primarily of outside activities like recess and P.E. Officials cited several previous lockdowns that resulted from gunfire incidents, including a bullet entering a school bus and lodging next to a bus driver's head, as their reasoning.
But at a testy meeting with parents on Friday, some parents alleged the lockdown is a plot and a set-up to close down the long-time neighborhood school and thus, in a larger sense, turning their back on the troubled neighborhood they call home.
"Makes me think that the majority of the people that want to close the school down are racist," said Elbert Daniels, a local resident, according to Fox 19 News.
The situation pits the legal imperatives of a large school district against the sensitivities of residents who struggle with the legacy of racism and who live in some of America's most violent crime areas.
Notably, the clash over race and safety at an inner-city black school in America came on the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision by the Supreme Court, ordering the end of segregated schools.
Because of primarily socio-economic realities, large parts of America, mostly in the Northeast and Midwest, are instead now seeing segregation deepening and class boundaries hardening. Marking the success of Brown, the South is today the least segregated region of the country.
A celebration of Brown "should … involve thinking seriously about why the country has turned away from the goal of Brown and accepted deepening polarization and inequality in our schools," writes Gary Orfield, co-author of a new study called "Brown at 60," and co-director of the Civil Rights Project, at UCLA.
As a result, researchers argue, many Americans see the world through dramatically different cultural prisms, a fact that came to the fore at Lincoln Heights as some parents took efforts to protect their children at school as a racist plot.
What Americans who live in safer parts of the country might find shocking about reports of gun fire near a school has become, in places like Lincoln Heights, part of normal, to the extent that violence in some cases no longer engenders fear among residents, studies have found.
"The percentage of students who should feel afraid may be higher [than one in five]: many students who reported exposure to crime and violence did not report commensurate feelings of fear," according to "Students in Peril," a landmark report from the University of North Carolina's School of Social Work.
That appeared to be the sentiment of one Lincoln Heights mom, who was quoted by Fox 19 as saying, "I care about the fact that the fools [are] up there shooting on the hill, but don't act like it is everybody. Don't act like we don't care … [or that] we don't want our children educated because we do."
Beleaguered school officials defended the lockdown, telling parents that it's the sixth lockdown since a school bus was hit by a bullet in December. At the start of the school year, said Princeton Schools Superintendent Gary Pack, a child was hit by a stray bullet inside a car. The lockdown comes about a week after two people were shot around the corner from the school.
"We feel that it is necessary [to lock the school down] due to the continued random shootings in the neighborhood, and the fact that bullets don't have eyes," said Mr. Pack. "[Shootings are] happening during the day when school is in session."
Cincinnati has some of the country's highest levels of racial segregation, and is one of the most crime-ridden cities in the US, averaging 273 crimes per square mile per year, compared to the national average of 39 crimes per square mile.
As the community around Lincoln Heights Elementary School complained and sought answers to why their kids can't go outside for recess, federal school officials continued to fret about how to close the wide disparities that permeate America's school districts.
"We need to focus on fixing, not closing, neighborhood schools – on stabilizing, not destabilizing, neighborhoods, whether they be in inner cities or rural areas," American Federation of Teachers head Randi Weingarten told CBS News on Friday.
New NAACP head Cornell William Brooks told USA Today on Friday that he plans to "fight to insure voting rights, economic equality, health equity and an end to racial discrimination for all people."
In the "Brown at 60" report, Mr. Orfield urges President Obama to commission a major study looking at the "intimate relationship" between housing and school segregation, as well as "the problems of massive racial change in suburbia," in order to forestall the deepening racial and class divides in America's schools.
"There is no evidence that these problems are self-curing," Mr. Orfield writes.
Meanwhile, Lincoln Heights may more immediately face a harsher future. The school board will decide Monday whether to close the school for the rest of the year, scattering its 200 students to buildings further away from the gunfire. Elected officials will hear public comment at that meeting.


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Parajumpers Gobi Masterpiece Bomber Jacket in Navy: This best selling bomber jacket features a stunning real fur hood, front and sleeve pockets with the PJS logo on one sleeve and the signature snap hook fastening with yellow tag at the neck. Styled in water and wind resistant fabric, this jacket will see you from the city to the slopes with ease.
. Navy blue bomber style coat
. Real fur hood
. Front and sleeve pockets
. Parajumpers logo badge on one sleeve
. Signature snap hook with yellow tag on the neck
. Shell: 100% polyamide, lining: 100% polyester, fill: 90% down, 10% feather.


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WARNING. This section of my website contains big, fat, heavy spoilers for the immersive video
game Uru: Ages of Myst. It is intended to be read by people who either already own the game and have
beaten it, or who have no intention of buying the game and enjoying laughing at the misadventures of others.
Uru was an attempt to turn the game that shattered sales records into an on-line shared experience, where you would actually have the chance to interact with others and group-solve the game together. Wonderful idea, but even those of us who were enthusiastic about it were dubious. How was this going to work, exactly?
The folks at UbiSoft had planned to, in a sense, mass-produce Ages for people to solve so that the content was always changing and fresh. There would be the ability for multiple players to join the same Age at the same time, without everyone who was exploring that Age at the moment interfering with each other. Inclusive, but still private.
Unfortunately, not enough people joined in for their tastes, and the project has been discontinued. The Uru engine hadn't been made for Macs, and therefore it is likely that it never will be, at least not in stores. On the other hand, the people who did try it and got to play loved it and the idea, and they're starting a grass-roots campaign to keep the Uru concept alive. We'll produce the content, they say. Just give us access to the engine and don't sue us please.
Astonishingly, Cyan and Ubi did not immediately say no. I wish them all the luck in the world.
In the meantime, there's the original game to play that never did allow for a multi-player mode, more Ages available for download, and a booster bundle available later this year.
This section of the site will be a record of my experiences in playing the game. Most websites that reveal the secrets of the game are walkthroughs - they are designed to help fellow players get through the game by either providing step-by-step instructions of how to solve puzzles, or some kind of hint system to nudge them through. This section is neither of those. I call it a stumblethrough.
If you are reading this section to try to get you through the game, it will work, eventually. By the time I've finished it, I will have put down the solution to every puzzle here. On the other hand, I will also be including every half-witted theory that I come up with for what may be going on, and if I lead you merrily astray, the only consolation you will have is that I was also down that same garden path, in the truest approximation of Uru's raison d'être. I do not yet know where I'm going; I'm simply telling the world how I'm getting there.
At the moment, the project is unfinished, as I have not solved the whole game. Until then, join me on my journey.


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Law > Guidance > Section 25 > Exemptions - Information otherwise accessible (section 25)
Section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (the Act) exempts information from disclosure where the requester can reasonably obtain the information without making a request for it.
It has a different focus from other exemptions. It is not about withholding the information from the public, but recognises that where information is already available to the requester, there is no need to provide an alternative right of access to it through the Act.
Download the guidance below:
Section 25 exemption briefing
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EnOcean and ROHM announce strategic partnership at electronica 2012
Cooperation of worldwide industry leaders to strengthen energy harvesting wireless technology and standard in the Japanese market
Munich, Germany/Kyoto, Japan, November 12, 2012 – EnOcean and ROHM Co., Ltd., a Japanese semiconductor manufacturer, will announce their strategic partnership at electronica 2012 (hall A5, booth 542). As a major objective of this agreement, ROHM and EnOcean will work together to establish EnOcean's energy harvesting wireless technology in the Japanese market and strengthen the presence of EnOcean in the Asian region. In addition, ROHM's long-standing experience in wireless communication as well as low-power ICs and modules gives the perfect basis to further help develop EnOcean's technology in the future, to address the needs of Japanese customers.
EnOcean modules collect the energy they need for wireless communication from the surrounding environment using motion, light or temperature differentials. This innovative principle of energy harvesting enables ultra-low power sensor networks to operate without cables and batteries. Being maintenance-free and highly flexible, EnOcean products are ideal for countless fields of application, including energy management, building and industry automation, smart home solutions or logistics monitoring. The EnOcean wireless protocol is standardised internationally as ISO/IEC 14543-3-10, the only standard for ultra-low power and energy harvesting wireless solutions.
Following the partnership with EnOcean and as a promoter of the EnOcean Alliance, ROHM will support further development of energy harvesting wireless technology as an international communication standard as well as strengthen marketing and sales of EnOcean modules on the Japanese market.
"EnOcean's batteryless wireless and maintenance-free technology opens up new opportunities not only for building and home automation systems but also for the growing sensor network market in transportation, logistics and health care," says Hidemi Takasu, Managing Director, Research and Development Headquarters of ROHM Co., Ltd. "ROHM will work closely with EnOcean and proceed in developing and enhancing batteryless wireless sensor networks by providing our sensor technology and low-power consumption technology."
ROHM offers Large Scale Integration (LSI) systems, discrete components and module products, utilizing the latest semiconductor technology. Its in-house production uses the most advanced automation technology keeping the products at the forefront of the electronic component manufacturing industry and enabling customised product development. The company's product portfolio offers a wide range of applications and solutions including products for wireless sensor networks and the energy harvesting market, for example, various types of sensors, low-power ICs such as nonvolatile logic, modules and high efficiency dye-sensitised solar cells.
"I'm very excited about the partnership of ROHM and EnOcean. This important strategic step will not only drive the success of EnOcean's batteryless wireless technology on the Japanese market. It will also increase the perception of energy harvesting wireless technology throughout the Asian region," said Laurent Giai-Miniet, CEO of EnOcean. "I'm very proud EnOcean now has such a strong worldwide acting Japanese partner. The partnership with ROHM is a pillar of EnOcean's business development to become a powerful global player on the international stage in several industries such as telecommunications, IT, consumer electronics or automotive."
Beky Cann
Neesham Public Relations
Tel: 44 (0) 1296 628180
Email: email@example.com
About ROHM Co., Ltd.
ROHM was established in Kyoto, Japan, in 1958 and designs, manufactures, and sells various types of semiconductors for consumer electronics, mobile phones and networks, automotive electronics, and other applications. ROHM's design and manufacturing teams provide high-quality products to customers through the company's global design centers and sales networks worldwide. ROHM employs over 21,000 people worldwide and posted sales of 304 billion yen in FY2011 (for the year ended March 31, 2012).
For additional information, please visit ROHM's web site at http://www.rohm.com.
About EnOcean
EnOcean is the originator of patented energy harvesting wireless technology. Headquartered in Oberhaching, near Munich, the company manufactures and markets energy harvesting wireless modules for use in building and industrial applications as well as in further application fields such as smart home, smart metering, logistics or transport. EnOcean technology combines miniaturised energy converters with ultra-low-power electronics and robust RF communication. For 10 years, leading product manufacturers have chosen wireless modules from EnOcean to enable their system ideas. EnOcean is a promoter of the EnOcean Alliance, a consortium of companies from the world's building sector that has set itself the aim of creating innovative solutions for sustainable buildings. Self-powered wireless technology from EnOcean has been successfully deployed in more than 250,000 buildings worldwide. The EnOcean wireless protocol is standardised internationally as ISO/IEC 14543-3-10, which is optimised for wireless solutions with ultra-low power consumption and energy harvesting. For more information visit www.enocean.com


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Beautiful New Fairy, Princess & Ride On Costumes
You are going to love the new kids fancy dress costumes we now have available!
From beautiful girls princess costumes, fantastic fairies and fun boys and girls ride on costumes, your little one is not short of choices this season. My favourite is the summer fairy costume a pretty pink layered dress with flower details and matching wand, I am sure it will be a very popular line.
However it may have competition with the equally adorable vintage fairy! This one takes me back to playing with my flower fairies in their little pretty shower and bath. A magical world I just loved to immerse myself in as a little girl. For book days and school events the new cloak and ride on costumes could be a perfect choice. The boys cloak costume is versatile and can be used with other items to create multiple fancy dress costumes for Halloween, school event costumes, parties or just plain fun!
Not only this but we still have some amazing styles still to come! Watch this space or contact us with the subject 'first to know' to be added to our special VIP first to know list and be notified when these new styles arrive!


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I am not a fan of unnecessary gadgets and appliances, but if you invest in kitchen products for yourself or a friend I think they should be frequently used quality wares that will last you a really, really long time. Even if quality is a little more expensive, it is less wasteful (of your money and of our natural resources) to own products that do not need to be thrown away and replaced every couple of years. We received most of our versions of these items as gifts or found them on ebay, but here they are listed by increasing retail cost and linked to Amazon or another distributor. Your kitchen dwelling friends may also enjoy a few handwritten recipes as an accompanying gift to any of these.
Oxo Silicone Sink Strainer
Ours was: from Amazon.com
Why I like it...
- As with most apartment dwellers, we handwash all of our dishes and have no garbage disposal. I don't know what is the great difference between the mouth watering food on the table that you can't wait to get your hands on and the little bits of the same food that you don't want to touch your hand, but even as a biologist, emptying the sink strainer was not on my favorite activities list. This strainer is silicone and allows you to push the food into the garbage can from the bottom, which usually flicks out most pieces without scraping.
- The holes on the strainer are large and plentiful enough to let water through even if there is a lot of debri, but small enough to catch a water soaked grain of rice. (We aren't fill-the-sink-with-water type dish washers here, we just use a sudsy rag and then rinse.)
- Lastly, the bowl of the strainer is deep, this combined with the plentiful holes greatly reduces the collected food from splashing back out of the strainer once it has rested there.
Chef'n Switchit All-Purpose Silicone Spatula
Ours was: a gift (from a kitchen store sale)
Why I like it...
- Since most of the other cooking utensils in our kitchen are wood or bamboo, our Chef'n switchit (an earlier and slightly differently shaped model) is in constant use as our only spatula. Since it is made of food grade silicon it is heat safe up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it useful for frying eggs, stirring fudge, and just about anything else you do in an average kitchen. I have had mine for 6 years and it looks the same other than some turmeric stains.
- The switchit is available in seven colors, and has a hardened steel core, which gives it a nice weight.
- Since the entire spatula is coated in silicon it is very easy to clean. In contrast to many other spatulas, you don't have to worry about scorching a wooden handle, melting a plastic one, or being burned by a metal one.
Large Stone Mortar and Pestle
Ours was: a gift, and we have also purchased many to give as gifts. We have frequently seen them for the best price ($9.99-$12.99) at Marshalls, T.J.Maxx and Ross.
Why I like it...
- Being able to crush your own spices and herbs makes you feel powerful.
- Stone is easy to clean (unlike wood), you don't need to worry about cracking it while you pound (unlike some sad personal experience with a porcelain m and p), and the natural weight of the pestle does some of the work for you (unlike both wood and porcelain).
- I use my mortar and pestle daily, and you may have noticed it make some appearances here on the blog crushing fresh ginger, cloves, and fennel seeds. A selection of whole spices would make a good accompanying gift (the aforementioned or cumin, coriander, black pepper, cardamom or anise).
Zevro Spice Mill
Ours was: a wedding gift (from Zevro website)
Why I like it...
- I enjoy having fresh ground pepper available right at the table, and salt over which you have excellent quality control. If I were a food snob I might say fresh ground sea salt is invaluable, but I can't say that I notice a large flavor difference from crystals. While I was growing up my parents had salt and pepper mills, but since then this was the first stylish version I had encountered. They come in five colors and are very simple and space efficient.
- Despite having a plastic exterior, the grinding mechanism is ceramic, which should allow it to last a very long time. The adjustment knob also allows exact specification of how much you want your pepper or salt ground, from powdery to very coarse.
Rösle Garlic Press Ours Was: Nathanael's first Christmas gift to me (he found it on ebay) Why I like it...
Garlic presses should not be something you have to wrangle to the ground in order to get your garlic squished. This garlic press can crush garlic (or peppers or sliced ginger) as though there is nothing there at all.
- The grate does not come out, but swings open, making it easy to clean without losing any pieces.
- The entire press is stainless steel, which not only prevents most appearance of wear, but also removes the smell of garlic from your hands automatically.
Helpful Free Bits
Library card Alright, this one is not linked to Amazon, but this free item is essential for the creative cook, because you just can't buy all of the cookbooks containing fun recipes. You would either run out of money or space.
Measuring Cup is a free database that is like itunes for recipes. This is where I store all of the recipes I collect from library books, friends, and relatives. There are even features which allow you to email all of your typed recipes to other Measuring Cup users, or to print out nicely organized recipes. Measuring Cup only works for Mac OS, but if you are interested and have a PC you may want to explore the many other free options out there such as Living Cookbook, Cook'n Recipe Organizer, Big Oven or Recipe Center (none of which I have tried, but I have been thinking about it). Why would this free software be a gift? Because even though downloading software is easy, typing or finding recipes online is sometimes time consuming. So, with a little time and no money, you could give a friend a customized cookbook of your favorite recipes, or recipes from their favorite ethnic cuisine. ...And just so you know my favorites are Indian, Thai and Mexican.
* Note: Harmless Color can now be sucribed to by email! Just enter your address in the subscription box on the right side and google's feedburner will email you posts the instant I publish them.


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05 October 2016
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Meningococcal disease: a very dangerous form of meningitis
Meningitis is a very serious, possibly fatal, disease. Several different bacteria can cause meningitis but one very virulent strain, meningococcal disease, is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. This strain of meningitis could lead to an infection of the blood or lining of the brain and spinal cord.
Meningococcal disease can manifest itself very rapidly in otherwise normal healthy people. It can be spread without warning between two individuals through close contact (coughing, runny noses or kissing) or through groups living in close contact (bunks at sleep away camps, the military or college dorms). Even with early diagnosis and treatment, there is a 15-20% death rate and a 25-30% disability rate (hearing loss, brain damage and limb amputations) from meningococcal disease.
There are at least 12 types of meningococcal bacteria called "serogroups"
The most common serogroups are type A, C, W, Y and B. Until recently, there was only one meningococcal vaccine that helped protect against the first four serogroups. Recently, the FDA has approved the licensing of two vaccines to help prevent the type B disease: Trumemba and Bexsero.
- Bexsero is a 2-dose series given at least one month apart.
- Trumemba is a 2- or 3-dose series. The number of doses that is right for you is up to your doctor. The 2-dose series is given six months apart. The 3-dose series is given 2 and 6 months apart. If you are planning to spend an extended period of time outside the United States, please tell your doctor so he/she may suggest the best possible vaccine.
Both vaccines are strongly recommended by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) for individuals 10 years or older whose spleen is damaged or removed, have certain rare immune deficiencies, or who work in a lab with the bacteria and are therefore at risk for serogroup B disease outbreak (on college campuses). These two vaccines are also recommended for young people 16-23 years old who require short term protection (i.e., living or enrolling in college) against certain strains of serogroup B disease in the United States.
It is a good idea to get one of these vaccines prior to attending college
Both are generally safe; major side effects are fever, malaise and soreness at the site of injection.
Even though serogroup meningococcal B disease is extremely rare (approximately 50 cases per year in the USA), it is a very dangerous disease. These two licensed vaccines provide some added protection against this disease. They are not 100% protective (nor is any other vaccine). One recent study showed increased antibody titers in around 70% of vaccinated college students. The vaccination program did stop the spread of the disease on one college campus. Professional opinions have concluded that any increased rate of protection against such a deadly and devastating disease is worth strong consideration for its implementation.
By Mason Gomberg, MD, Pediatric Physician with Westchester Health Pediatrics, member of Northwell Health Physician Partners
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In recent years instrumentation, control, and automation has become a key technology for water and wastewater systems. There is a difference in wastewater treatment and water treatment system as one is driven by load and other by demand. Water treatment, intake, and transmission and distribution related activity received high importance due to some fear factors such as water shortage, low quality of portable water and increasing supply of processed water Different technologies, treatment and instruments are used for purification and waste water management.
General Electric Company (U.S.), or GE, is one of the worlds largest multinational conglomerates, operating as an infrastructure and financial services company worldwide. It operates in eight segments-power and water, oil and gas, energy management, aviation, healthcare, transportation, home and business solutions, and capital. The GE water & process technology was formerly known as GE Glegg Water Technologies Inc.; it was changed to GE Water Technologies Inc. in January 2002.GE spends more than $1 billion every year on waste water management activities. GE combines advanced technologies and a deep industry knowledge to provide water-wastewater solutions that drive a greater efficiency, consistency, and accountability throughout operations. The company operates through offices in the U.S., Brazil, Belgium, and China. The strong brand recall value, financial capabilities, and global presence are a competitive advantage for the company. Thus, GE is a promising leader in the water automation industry.
Siemens ranks second after GE in the water automation industry. Siemens operates in the field of electronics and electrical engineering. The company works under six different segments; Industry, Energy, Healthcare, Equity Investments, Siemens IT Solutions and Services and Siemens Financial Services (SFS). Siemens has geographic presence in the Americas, Europe, CIS, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. The company focuses on automation and drive solutions for the control of water applications for municipalities and industries. Siemens Water Technologies offers solutions for the municipal and industrial water purification and wastewater treatment, along with the corresponding service activities. The company provides products, services, and solutions for an efficient use of resources and energy, building automation systems, fire safety, and building security. Technology driven services and diversified revenue are an advantage for Siemens AG.
Related Reports:
Water Automation and Instrumentation Market by Process stage (Collection, Treatment and Distribution), Automation Technology, Instrumentation, End user Application and Geography - Analysis & Forecast (2014 - 2020)
Mr. Rohan
North - Dominion Plaza,
17304 Preston Road,
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text: Inspirational Love Quotes About Life Inspirational Love Life Quotes You cant live without love can make you do. By love i mean a noble and sensuous passion absorbing the energies of the soul fulfilling destiny and reducing all that has gone before it to the level of a mere. 100 Best Inspirational Romantic Love Quotes For Him And Her March Welcome to the great love quotes collection. ...Read more


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|Chapter 1.2 Chemical Monitoring of Surface Waters
|LEPOM Peter; HANKE GEORG
|John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
|Publication Year:
|Articles in periodicals and books
|A strategy for dealing with pollution of water from chemicals is set out in Article 16 of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD). As a first step of this strategy, a list of priority substances was adopted (Decision 2455/2001/EC) identifying 33 substances or groups of substances of priority concern at Community level. Recently, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new Directive to protect surface water from pollution (COM(2006)397 final). The proposed Directive will set limits on concentrations in surface waters of 41 dangerous chemical substances including 33 priority substances and 8 other pollutants that pose a particular risk to animal and plant life in the aquatic environment and to human health. The proposal is accompanied by a Communication (COM(2006)398 final) which elaborates on this approach and an Impact Assessment (SEC(2006)947), which illustrates the choices that the Commission made. In addition, the WFD requires Member States to identify specific pollutants in their river basins, and to include them in the monitoring programmes. Monitoring of both WFD priority substances and other pollutants for the purpose of determination of the chemical and ecological status shall be performed according to Article 8 and Annex V of the WFD. The book chapter deals with the guidelines for chemical monitoring available at the current state of preparation for the upcoming directive on Environmental quality standards.
|JRC Directorate:
|Sustainable Resources
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Paper Football Championship Bowl Game 4
It's hard to believe that it's been four years since we started our annual Paper Football Championship Bowl Games! While the wrestling matches between Char and I certainly grabbed your attention, it was our paper football games that brought out our most intense competition!
There's little reason why… it's the classic underdog story that everyone loves. I had played paper football countless times without a single defeat. I introduce Char to the game… and she goes down, as well, game after game. Until, suddenly and unexpectedly, she surprises herself, me, and all of our fans with a stunning 56-17 victory over me. If there is anything stronger than her desire to hand me my first defeat, it has been her desire to make sure I never beat her again. We've made huge productions of our annual Paper Football Championship Bowl Games, and each year Char has held on to her title.
Enjoy this year's paper football competition, complete with brand new fake commercials… and Char playing in her Dark Char costume!


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Limited Divorce
Maryland's limited divorce is the equivalent of a judicial separation in other states. You must begin the proceedings by filing a complaint, and the court requires grounds: desertion or constructive desertion, cruelty or excessively vicious conduct, or separation. Constructive desertion means you were the one who left the marriage, but your spouse drove you away. Cruelty and excessively vicious conduct are much the same -- the inflicted harm may be emotional or physical, against either yourself or your child. The first three grounds for limited divorce require proving misconduct on the part of your spouse, but separation only requires that you live apart with no intention of reconciling. Unlike when you file for an absolute divorce, the separation period does not have to last a particular length of time, but you and your spouse do have to reside in separate households at the time you file.
Separation as Divorce Grounds
Separation is also grounds for an absolute divorce, which legally terminates your marriage. Maryland requires that you and your spouse live apart for a year to file on this no-fault ground, and you can't do so until the year is behind you – the time period can't run while you're waiting for your divorce proceedings to unfold. You can negotiate a marital settlement agreement or separation agreement during this time, which is legally binding as a contract. The terms can then carry over to your divorce decree.
Absolute Divorce
Other grounds for absolute divorce include desertion of at least a year, constructive desertion, adultery, cruelty or excessively vicious conduct, conviction of a crime and insanity. Several exacting requirements apply to the insanity and conviction grounds, so they're cumbersome to use. If you don't want to cast blame for the demise of your marriage, the only no-fault option in this state is to wait out a year's separation.
Equitable Distribution of Property
When the court issues a judgment of absolute divorce, the judge will divide your marital assets according to the principals of equitable distribution. This does not mean that property will be divided equally, but that the court will distribute it in a way that seems fair. Marital property is anything acquired while you and your spouse were married, but does not include gifts or inheritances you may have received in your name. It typically does not include anything you owned before you married. If you or your spouse waived your right to certain property in a prenuptial agreement, this is also excluded from distribution in a divorce. Maryland courts can consider marital misconduct when dividing property if the misconduct led to the end of the marriage. The court cannot make a final determination regarding marital property when granting a limited divorce, but it can address issues of possession of property while you're separated.
Child Custody
If you have children, Maryland is in line with most other states when it comes to custody. The court will place the children with the parent who is most likely to provide for their best interests. Like most states, Maryland recognizes two forms of custody – physical and legal. Physical custody relates to which parent provides the primary home for your children. Legal custody relates to who makes important decisions for your children; this responsibility can be jointly shared with your spouse or one of you may be awarded sole legal custody.


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Create a Day Trading Routine to Avoid Mistakes: Here's Mine
Establish habits and routine to help minimize mistakes.
Mistakes happen in day trading. They often occur because too much information is coming in at once and you feel overloaded, panicked, and aggressive, or they often occur during quiet/bring times when your guard is down. And of course, there are always random mistakes, such as hitting the wrong button – buy instead of sell – or putting out the wrong position size. Such errors can even happen with automated strategies.
Before every trading day take a few minutes to go through a day trading routine to help minimize errors throughout the day. Here are the steps I go through. Depending on the market you trade, you may wish to add a few additional steps. This whole process only takes a couple of minutes but saves you a lot of frustration and money.
Check Economic Calendar
High impact economic events can cause price spikes/gaps, creating significant slippage (the difference between the price you expect and the price you get) on stop loss orders. It's best to avoid being in trades for the few minutes surrounding high impact scheduled news event. Check your economic calendar before trading, and note the high impact news times. For U.S. stocks and futures, you can use Bloomberg. For Forex, check out the DailyFX economic calendar.
If you trade individual stocks on a regular basis, check the company doesn't have earnings or other announcements due out that day. The Yahoo! Finance earnings calendar works well. Be aware of these times, to avoid trading right before the announcement.
Launch Platform
Launch your platform. Make sure quotes are streaming (not lagging or sporadic) and the program is running smoothly. Most brokers provide reliable data feeds, but problems can arise. If the data feed is intermittent or seems inaccurate, don't trade until the issue is fixed. If it looks right, proceed.
Trading Correct Account and/or Contract
In MetaTrader and NinjaTrader (for example) you can log in to multiple accounts using the same platform. Make sure you are trading the correct account. Be especially vigilant if you practice day trading in a simulated account, but also have live accounts. You don't want to have a great day, only to realize you traded in simulation instead of with real capital.
If day trading futures, make sure you are trading the correct highest volume contract. Be aware of expiration dates on the contracts you trade.
Write Text Notes to Yourself
On your chart, put text notes stating when high impact news releases are. If engrossed in a trade you may forget about one of these events, and it could cost you dearly. Write it down on your chart. If the event occurs later in the day, scroll over and put the text note near the approximate time of the announcement. That way you will see it when the time comes.
Check (Re-Check) Automated Strategies
Even if you day trade manually, you may have some automated orders. For example, in NinjaTrader and MetaTrader, you can send out stop loss orders and targets the moment you enter a position. Make sure these stop loss orders and targets are set appropriately.
If trading with a "robot," make sure all settings are accurate before starting it.
Default Position Size
If you trade with a default position size, make sure it is set appropriately. Adding an extra digit to a position size could spell disaster. Dropping a digit means you trade a fraction of what you could have, and you miss out on an opportunity.
If you manually adjust your position size based on your entry point and stop loss locations, note your account balance before trading. Proper position sizing limits risk to a small percentage of account capital, such as 1%. If you have a $35,000 account, you can risk up to $350 on a trade. Keep this maximum risk in mind throughout the day (or write a text note on your screen) to remind yourself this is the most you can risk on one trade.
See Determining Proper Position Size When Day Trading Stocks, Futures or Forex for more information.
Key Thoughts
Remind yourself of your problematic tendencies, and how you will handle those situations should they arise. Go over your Key Trading Thoughts (see: Weird Trading Psychology Tip to Improve Day Trading Performance).
Market Conditions
Make a quick assessment of trading conditions so far. Is the pre-market showing a lot of volatility, or is it sedate? Is there a trend or specific tendencies you notice?
Such an assessment lets you know how to proceed, and whether you should be trading your system at all. This is especially important if using a subjective system – a system that varies slightly based on market conditions. For example, in volatile conditions, you may have a larger expected profit target than on a day when there is almost no volatility. See 4 Things To Know About Every Trade You Take for more on this topic.
Start Trading...With Key Thoughts in Mind
You're set to trade. This process should help eliminate some mistakes related to position size, trading the wrong account/contract, trading during news or just not preparing your mind to trade.
As you start looking for potential trade setups, keep your Key Trading Thoughts in mind. This will help keep you out of bad trades (ones not in your trading plan) and keep you alert and ready to pounce on good opportunities (see First Three Goals of a Day Trader).
Create End Time (Optional)
If you notice a time of the day you trend to give back profits on a regular basis, write a note to yourself to stop trading at that time. Many day traders tend to lose money in the time surrounding (and including) the New York lunch hour, if trading U.S. markets. If you notice this tendency, don't fight it. Stop trading during segments of the day you typically lose money. Remind yourself of this when you begin trading each day.


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Easter in Spain #EasterinSpain
Patronato de Turismo de Salamanca
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Tamborada (drum festival). Hellín.
Calendar | FiestasFrom 04/08/2020 to 04/12/2020
…02400. Hellín. Albacete. (Castilla-La Mancha) E-mail: email@example.com. http://www.tamborada.com/. The pinnacle of the Easter week in Hellín, Albacete province, is the Tamborada (drum-playing). This is the most i…
Easter week in Orihuela. Orihuela.
Calendar | FiestasFrom 04/05/2020 to 04/12/2020
…Orihuela. Alicante - Alacant. (Region of Valencia) E-mail: email@example.com. http://www.semanasantaorihuela.com/. This spectacular event features public participation, and a rich artistic heritage thank…
Easter Week in Crevillent. Crevillent.
Calendar | FiestasFrom 04/05/2020 to 04/12/2020
…03330. Crevillente. Crevillent. Alicante - Alacant. (Region of Valencia) E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com. http://semanasantacrevillent.es/. Easter week in Crevillent (Alicante province), is a fusion of art, popula…
Calendar | FiestasFrom 04/05/2020 to 04/12/2020
…Ávila. (Castilla y Leon) http://www.avilaturismo.com. Ávila has been holding its Easter week celebrations since the 16th century. Outstanding amongst the many commemorative events is the Miserere procession held on Easte…
Easter Week in Cáceres. Cáceres.
Calendar | FiestasFrom 04/05/2020 to 04/12/2020
…Cáceres. (Extremadura) http://turismoextremadura.com/viajar/turismo/es/explora/Semana-Santa-en-Caceres/. Sobriety and religious fervour at a monumental site declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Cáceres has intere…
Easter week in Granada. Granada.
Calendar | FiestasFrom 04/05/2020 to 04/12/2020
…Granada. (Andalusia) http://www.granadatur.com/semana-santa. Monumental settings for a colourful and memorable celebration. There are numerous unforgettable moments in the Easter celebrations in Granada, in which 32 cofr…
Calendar | FiestasFrom 04/05/2020 to 04/12/2020
…Pza. Mayor, nº 1, 2º. 24003. León. (Castilla y Leon) E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com. http://www.semanasantaleon.org/. During this holiday, processions pass through the city, carrying extraordinary sculptures created h…
Easter Week in Cartagena. Cartagena.
Calendar | FiestasFrom 04/05/2020 to 04/12/2020
…Cartagena. Murcia. (Region of Murcia) http://semanasanta.cartagena.es. The Easter Week commemorations in this town are particularly famous for the magnificent floral decorations adorning the religious statues. In Cartage…
Easter Week in Sevilla. Seville.
Calendar | FiestasFrom 04/05/2020 to 04/12/2020
…Sevilla. (Andalusia) E-mail: email@example.com. www.visitasevilla.es. These celebrations are famous for their statues of the Virgin Mary with canopies: they are Baroque statues with silver and gold crowns, embroi…
Easter Week in Salamanca. Salamanca.
Calendar | FiestasFrom 04/05/2020 to 04/12/2020
…Salamanca. (Castilla y Leon) E-mail: email@example.com. The Maundy Thursday services in the University and the taking down of Christ from the cross are two of the most noteworthy events in these celebrations. East…


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First and foremost, I appreciate the fact that the government of Kenya has taken the initiative of banning the use of plastic bags. It's a measure taken to ensure our environment is conserved and protected since plastic is non biodegradable hence not environmental friendly.
Other than that, I think the government should have done a test ban with one town or estate and see the results. If positive, they would therefore go ahead and ban countrywide. But if not, they would have looked for other alternatives.
Personally, I do believe even when plastic will be banned, if the citizens are not well informed about the importance of a clean environment, that won't be effective since there are other pollutants other than plastic.
In my opinion, I think the public should have been educated on the importance of clean environment before the banning of plastic bags and implementing other environment related by-laws.
This plastic ban shall affect the economy as much as its environmental friendly. Companies will have to shut down or venture into a different field which will leave hundreds or thousands jobless. As we all know, lack of employment increases crime rate in our society. Have you thought of how the common 'mwananchi' shall survive? Especially business men/women? Look at the scenario for 'mama mboga' and all those people who offer plastic bags as after sales services to their customers.
Let's not forget Kenya is a third world country and it might not manage to deal with this ban. Kenya is struggling with economy growth and development to be able to cope with the ban. Yes our environment holds everything but when you look deep into the matter, this isn't sustainable.
Lets not think plastic ban will make Kenya the cleanest state! It takes discipline of the citizens to achieve that!
On the brighter side, the basket industry shall be boosted. "Kiondos" and simple biodegradable bags will be on high demand hence providing employment opportunities for art industry.
All in all, am in support of plastic ban and I pray and hope we the people shall make our environment clean. The power is in us, the people!


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|Onkyo TX-DS989 Version2 Receiver
|Friday, 01 November 2002
Page 1 of 3Introduction
Onkyo actually produces two separate lines of consumer audio equipment. Like Panasonic and Technics, Onkyo has an eponymous line and a higher-end line sold under the Integra name. But this should not give the impression that the regular Onkyo products are anything less than high quality – in fact, the TX-DS989, the top of the Onkyo receiver line at around $3,500, is an excellent component all round.
Since the unit was originally reviewed in AudioRevolution in the fall of 2000, the 989 has lived up to its "future-proof" promise, initially with the addition of DTS-ES, Neo 6 and Dolby Pro Logic II decoding in 2001 and now with version 2 firmware and some hardware updates -- which are available to existing owners as well as being provided as standard on new units -- offering THX Ultra2 and DTS96/24 capability.
At the heart of the TX-DS989 is a beefy seven-channel power amp offering up to 130 watts RMS per channel, driven by a power supply with a hefty power transformer, which is always a good sign when evaluating a receiver. The unit is THX Ultra2 certified, meeting the stringent THX specs for low distortion, frequency response and other criteria. The unit features 192 kHz, 24-bit D/A converters, which on the face of it is a complete waste of time. Unless you have a very unusual Firewire (IEEE1394) connection from your DVD-Audio player, you won't ever be giving it higher sample rates than 96Hz (or even 48 kHz a lot of the time) from an external source, as this is the maximum sample rate the majority of manufacturers will give you from the digital outputs of their DVD players – although 96 kHz outs are increasingly common (even my cheap Sampo has it – see review).
However, it's possible that those cool digital-to-analog converters are not such a waste of time: the Onkyo is firmware-upgradeable via a built-in RS232 serial port: there's no reason why future upgrades shouldn't provide some nice surprises, such as encrypted high-definition audio to link to a DVD-Audio player, or even upsampling to 192 kHz. Only time will tell, but several possibilities are there.
An interesting design feature of the amplifier is included in its "Wide Range Amplifier Technology," or WRAT, which includes particularly low negative feedback. Negative feedback is a common process for improving the performance of an amplifier – however, if over-used, it can produce problems. Negative feedback compensates for errors in the amplification process by feeding a correction signal back from output to input, and this is all very well if the signal is cyclic, or repetitive, like a sine wave. But unlike a test signal, music generally is not truly cyclic: in particular, transients such as drum beats or note attacks just happen once, and negative feedback essentially causes a distorted transient to be followed by a distorted space. In addition, the back-to-front impedance of the amplifier can be reduced if the feedback loop extends across the whole unit, and this can make the system very sensitive to the acoustic environment. Imagine this: a sound comes out of the speakers and bounces around the room and then gets picked up by the speakers (acting as microphones), is fed back round the feedback loop due to its low impedance and is presented, incorrectly, at the amp input as an error signal in need of correction. Matti Otala at the University of Finland identified this problem in the 1970s, calling called it "Interface Intermodulation Distortion." Those of us who discovered it in the studio called it "Ricochet Effect." High levels of overall negative feedback are believed to be one of the main reasons why some tube amps (with low overall negative feedback), now as in the past, can sound better than many early solid state amps (with high levels of overall feedback): this effect can also make a system very sensitive to the quality of loudspeaker cables, and cause an amp to change its sound quite dramatically in response to small changes in room acoustics. But that's a subject for another time.
There are also plenty of A/V features. There is THX Surround EX to add two rear surround channels to permit 7.1 operation, built-in DTS ES, Dolby and Pro Logic II decoding, a 7.1 analog input for SACD or DVD-A players with analog outs, and an up-sampling capability that doubles the sample rate of digital input signals at 44.1 or 48 kHz sampling up to 88.4 or 96 kHz. Done correctly, upsampling can reduce jitter and improve sonic accuracy. In addition, the TX-DS989 has a comprehensive system for handling multi-room/multi-source activity.


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All Issues > Volume 18, Issue 1
Jesus is "a Sign of contradiction for the rise and fall of many" (Lk 2:34, our transl). He was crucified because He was believed to be advocating a revolution, although His kingdom was not of this world (Jn 18:36). Even before He was born, Mary, His mother, prophesied: "He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places. The hungry He has given every good thing, while the rich He has sent empty away" (Lk 1:52-53). Shortly after Jesus was born, King Herod tried to kill Him, for Herod saw Jesus as a threat to his power (Mt 2:3, 13, 16). The early Church, following in the footsteps of the Lord, turned the world right side up (Acts 17:6) and was persecuted as Jesus was because it was a threat to the powers that be. Christianity eventually brought down the Roman Empire and many other dynasties. In our times, Christianity has brought down some forms of Communism. Christians are revolutionaries in the Holy Spirit.
Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birthday. We want to give Jesus a present for His birthday, a Christmas present. Jesus would like to have a revolution for His birthday/Christmas present — a revolution of repentance and love in our hearts leading to a revolution of evangelization and discipleship which will overturn the culture of death and replace it with a civilization of life and love. Give Jesus what He wants for Christmas.