text:
Roco Line With Roadbed Is Back
Roco Line With Roadbed Is Back!
A look at why this product became an instant classic
By Ernest H. Robl
When it was introduced in stages in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Roco Line HO code 83 track system drew an enormous amount of attention for its many innovative features. Both the overall system and individual components won model of the year honors and other awards from a range of European model railroad publications and organizations over several years.
(Roco had previously offered an extensive code 100 track system — sold in North America under a variety of brand names, such as Model Power, in addition to its own — which continued to be produced, though with a limited range of components, long after Roco Line was introduced.)
This new code 83 track system from Roco included both track with and without roadbed, a wide range of curve radii and specialized components — for example three different radii of curved turnouts — but also had a geometrical design that allowed the building of a wide number of configurations with only a few compensation pieces, which were usually supplied with switches.
The track with roadbed looked good enough for installation on layouts (usually with a little bit of additional weathering) but was also solid enough to allow it to be stepped on by children when laid on the floor for a temporary setup. Of course, for those insisting on doing their own ballasting, there was always the track without roadbed, which had an identical geometry.
Perhaps the most innovative feature of the track with roadbed was that it was almost infinitely repairable. Yes, some track configurations required cutting the roadbed shoulders, but not only was this easy to do with the soft roadbed material, but those roadbed shoulders could later be replaced (if the track was to be later used in a different configuration) and the repair would be almost undetectable.
If the track itself was damaged but the roadbed still intact, the track was easy to replace by purchasing the matching component from the system without roadbed.
A Roco catalog illustration from around 2001 shows some of the possibilities of the Roco Line track system with roadbed.
In fact, the system's modular design allowed most track pieces (switches were an exception) to be easily removed from their roadbed, making it easy to paint the roadbed.
Switches with roadbed (with the exception of some simple versions supplied with starter sets) were supplied from the beginning with frog polarization, which worked even when the switch was used in manual mode — which required no additional manual switch operation mechanism.
Purpose designed switch motors fit invisibly under switches with roadbed, and, in later years, also included switch motors with built-in decoders.
The roadbed profile was to scale width, unlike some previously (and currently) available track with roadbed, where the roadbed is much too narrow, particularly for mainline tracks.
Among other things, the Roco Line with roadbed track also provided a great way to display models set up on bookshelves.
Gone, but not forgotten
Then, suddenly in 2005, Roco Line with roadbed ceased to be produced, for reasons which were complex, and to which I'll get in a moment. (Roco Line without roadbed continued to be available.)
Dealers who still had Roco Line with roadbed items in stock considered them orphan items and put them on sale as remainders.
A Roco Line double slip switch with roadbed, showing the supplied compensation pieces which can be used to maintain correct track geometry. (Roco catalog illustration.)
But, those dealers failed to understand the popularity base for the roadbed track. Roco Line with roadbed gained a new life on the second-hand market, including on Internet sales sites such as eBay.
As some items became scarce, used versions would often fetch double the price of the same items when they were new.
And, from time to time, unused Roco Line with roadbed items would still show up — and be quickly gobbled up. (One large German hobby shop specializes, among other things, in buying up the inventory of hobby shops that are closing or otherwise going out of business. And those inventories often included a few odd pieces of Roco Line with roadbed that were still in their factory packaging.)
So, in a way, Roco Line with roadbed never totally went away, though it was no longer in production.
A Roco Line with roadbed R9/10 curved turnout. (Roco catalog illustration.)
What happened?
Roco, like many other model railroad manufacturers, got into financial trouble in the first decade of this century. All of these manufacturers had huge investments in the development of new models and were trying to outdo each other in the number and range of items being offered, often in a wide range of scales.
Roco, for example, had even begun offering such fan items as jackets and umbrellas with the Roco label. It was only one example of Roco going "a bridge too far." Roco had also decided to offer three different HO lines — Playtime, Professional, and Platinum. The first was an attempted to get more into the toy markets by offering items with so little detail that some "models" could at best be described as "crude." There Roco was trying to enter an unfamiliar market segment. Because even the crude models had Roco drive trains, they were still on the expensive side for toys. And, if someone with Playtime "models" decided to get into serious model railroading, the Playtime items really didn't fit in.
At the same time, two other factors had a major effect:
- The global recession greatly reduced the amount of money available for such discretionary areas as hobbies
- And, the Internet greatly changed the world market place.
Though Roco was probably not any more overextended financially than other model railroad manufacturers, the bank holding most of its loans decided to call in those loans and not to offer further financing, which might have carried Roco through some rough years. That forced Roco into bankruptcy.
The then owner of Roco was not happy with the circumstances under which the company was forced into bankruptcy. (Austrian news media reported that the bank made a tidy profit when it later sold the Roco assets it acquired through the bankruptcy. Some of those media have also indicated that there were, at the very least, two sides to the story and that though it had made some bad decisions, Roco might have survived, had the bank been willing to support it.)
Well, it turned out that the then owner of Roco himself, not the company, owned the patents for the Roco Line with roadbed. (The patents for the track without roadbed were among the general assets of the company.)
Well, as he was not happy with being forced out, that owner was not about to part with the patents for one of Roco's signature products.
So, the new owners of Roco who had acquired the assets of the bankrupt company from the bank, were forced almost overnight to come up with a new track system. That system was Roco geoLine. This new track system had a few of the features of Roco Line, such as being able to manually operate switches without a switch motor or other accessory control being installed, but had a far smaller range of track radii and other components. New Roco HO start sets now included the geoLine tracks.
It's baaaaack!
This year (2017) Roco suddenly announced that Roco Line with roadbed would again be available, with production runs scheduled for later this year. (Dealers can pre-order items; none of the items were available as of spring 2017.)
But, based on the Roco 2017 new items listings, the new selection of Roco Line roadbed products will apparently be essentially the entire range of products that was available in 2005.
So, with more than a decade having passed and with several changes of Roco management in the meantime, Roco was able to come to an agreement with the owner of the Roco Line patents which allowed new production.
Thoughts about the system
I plan to use Roco Line with roadbed for most of the visible portions of my layout. I have been acquiring pieces since the system was introduced, at first, primarily for display tracks. (I ended up with some geoLine tracks with a Roco start set that I purchased and plan to use those in a large industrial area; I also plan to use older Kleinbahn tracks in the station at the end of my branch line — simply because I have a lot of these Kleinbahn tracks, and by using them I'm saving several hundred dollars. Most of the hidden tracks, including the nine-track staging yard will be with older Roco code 100 track.)
Work on my previous layout convinced me that the next time around, I didn't want to have to ballast every inch of track. So, track with roadbed — particularly a well-designed system like Roco Line — appeared to be the solution.
I acquired my first pieces of Roco Line while it was still in full production. Then I bought a number of items when dealers had remainder sales after production ceased. But, about half of the track that I currently own was acquired in the last five years, as I began finalizing my track plan. And of that, about half of that was used, the remainder unused items that showed up from time to time.
I've painted most of the roadbed and have been weathering track over the last few weeks, applying a light wash of rust. That's something you can do with roadbed track, prior to installation.
Would I recommend Roco Line with roadbed for others? Certainly.
But I do have a few cautions:
- To use the larger radii, you really need a lot of space. But these radii do look impressive.
- The same is true for the 10 degree turnouts. Use these sparingly unless you have space to spare.
- On the other hand, I would stay away from radius R2 (there isn't any R1) except for industrial tracks that will only be used by small switchers and short freight cars. That includes the R2/3 curved turnouts. Yes, my 1:100 passenger cars, longer freight cars, and all my engines will operate on R2 tracks (including R2/3 turnouts) on my current test loop, but the equipment just doesn't look right, and backup moves can be tricky. You could run into problems with full-length 303mm passenger cars on parallel R2 and R3 tracks, particularly if those tracks include curved turnouts.
- Roco Line includes extra economical versions of both the 15 degree right and left standard turnouts and the left and right R2/3 curved turnouts without frog polarization. I would stay away from these, as they would be difficult to polarize later, should you need polarized frogs. And, the cheaper turnouts (primarily intended for start sets) do not come with the compensation pieces that are included with the polarized turnouts. Should you want to use a polarized turnout as a spring switch, which can be trailed through, it is a simple matter of disconnecting the polarization wire. That can later be reconnected, if needed. Saving a few dollars per turnout isn't worth the loss of versatility. (Having said that, I need to note that I do have some of these turnouts, but plan to use them at easily accessible locations not on the main line.)
It will be interesting to see how Roco promotes this track to those not familiar with the system — and whether it plans to carry the roadbed line long-term. (In the early 2000s, Roco had entire brochures focusing just on Roco Line track and describing its innovative features.)
Quick hints-Roco Line with roadbed products have 425xxx catalog numbers. Matching Roco Line track without roadbed have identical 424xx numbers. Accessories, some of which are designed for only the roadbed line, while others fit both track systems, are in the 426xx catalog numbers.
What will be the hot items? Undoubtedly the roadbed switch motors. These have been hard to come by, and used ones have been going for more than twice their original price. I've pre-ordered some at prices that are quite reasonable — and much less than switch motors offered by most other manufacturers.
Another item that has been in short supply have been the R9 curved tracks. These are needed in conjunction with the R9/10 switches (of which there appear to be quite a few around, despite their space requirements) and for narrower spacing of parallel tracks. R10 is the counter curve for the 15 degree switches, but R9 can be used if you want a slightly narrower track spacing.
On the whole, the renewed availability of Roco Line with roadbed is good news — except for those who have been making good money off of it on the used market.
At the very least, these make great display tracks.
While I am happy to answer questions about Roco Line with roadbed, as I own a wide range of components and have done quite a bit of research on it, I do not want to get into a debate here about whether Roco Line with roadbed is better (or worse) than some other track system. The track system that you choose, like many other aspects of model railroading, is a matter of taste. What satisfies one person may not do the same for another.
As always, comments are welcome.
15 Responses to Roco Line With Roadbed Is Back
Very interesting write up, Ernest. Too bad its HO! Still I enjoyed your description.
I have a considerable amount of the rubber edged track including many new long points that are still boxed along with new boxed point motors and new boxed curves,I am seriously changing to an alternative as yet undecided, and would like information as to get the best market price, any information would gratefully received, I live seven miles north of Nottingham. Yours Mike Sherwin.
The value of used model railroad equipment can fluctuate greatly. (I realize that you said that some of your items have never been removed from the boxes. However, at least in the U.S., the convention is that once an item has been sold by a retailer, it is "used." It can be described as like new or some other way to show that it is in perfect condition.
Assuming the vendor from whom you bought these items is still in business, you may want to contact that store to see if it would sell your items on a consignment basis. In such cases, the vendor gets a percentage of the sale, so it is in his interest to sell the item at the beat price.
You can also look at the version of ebay for your country — or other country-specific online auction sites.
But, be aware of the prices for the current new production runs of these Roco items. A used (pre-owned) price would have to be below those, as the new items would have a factory warranty.
I obviously really like the Roco line with roadbed, and think it can appear quite realistic, particularly if it is painted and aged. I already have — or have on order — what I anticipate needing, and will likely not purchase any more of this track in the immediate future. I am using the long (10 degree) switches at only a couple of locations on my layout, simply for space reasons.
As mentioned in the post above, Roco Line with roadbed can also serve as excellent display tracks on shelves.
Good luck.
– Ernest
Hi as any body herd a rumour that fleischman ho proffi track is being taken out of production
Fleischmann [or rather the holding company that owns Fleischmann and Roco] has announced that it is phasing out Fleischmann's HO line. All HO toolings and supplies will go over to Roco. (Fleischmann will continue to produce N scale items.) Fleischmann HO will come to an end at the end of this year (2018).
At this time it is not clear which Fleischmann items will continue to be available — but now with Roco catalog numbers. I expect that Fleischmann Profi couplers and similar basic supplies (unique to Fleischmann) will continue to be available as Roco items.
As Roco currently has two different HO track systems, I doubt that it will continue Fleischmann tracks. So, if there are particular Fleischmann track components you really want, it would be best to order them now.
Of course, almost all HO track systems can be made to connect with each other. And, where a particular radius is not available in a particular track system, you can use flex track as a substitute.
This year's Fleischmann HO catalog will also be the last Fleischmann HO catalog. So, that may end up being a collector's item.
– Ernest
Many thanks for info going for Roco line c/w track bed cheers
Great article!! I just found the REI blog! didnt know you had one. I also didnt know geoLine was from the ashes of Roco line track.
I have decided to keep my Roco track but I have hit a problem that I would appreciate any help at all with ,namely how do you program Roco point motors using my preferred NCE Powercab controller ? I do not wish to purchase the somewhat toyish multi mous system and if a solution cannot be found what track with built in roadbed would anyone consider an equivalent as regards appearance and functionality , hoping someone can answer my dilemma ! Yours in anticipation .
Mike Sherwin .UK.
I would not sell the Roco Multimaus-based system short. It is one of the most widely used digital control systems in the world for a reason. Among other things, it is highly intuitive, and I could show someone how to use it within a few minutes. Yes, I have three Multimaus controllers myself.
But, at the same time, as with most aspects of model railroading, each person has his or her own preferences.
Programming any digital model railroad device, whether locomotive or turnout, is a combination of the attributes of the control system, the attributes of the decoder, and the attributes of the item being controlled. You may have to combine instructions from all three to get the desired result.
Programming for digital control or Roco Line roadbed switches depends, in part, on which of the following applies:
You are using analog Roco roadbed switch motors, controlled by a multi-port Roco switch decoder.
You are using digital Roco switch motors. Or,
You are using analog Roco switch motors, controlled by a third-party multi-port switch decoder.
In all of these cases, you will need a programming track connected to your control station, with only the decoder being programmed receiving the programming signals. I do not know anything about your control system, so, you will have to figure out on your own how to put it in switch programming mode and how to program switch addresses with it.
If you are using the analog Roco switch motors, connected to an eight-port Roco switch decoder, note that the decoder is divided into two banks of four addresses. You place the decoder into programming mode with the button on the decoder. (You should be able to download the decoder instructions from the Roco factory Web site. Prior to purchase.)
You program the addresses for each bank of four addresses one bank at a time. When you assign an address to the first port on a bank, the first port receives that address; each of the following ports automatically gets an address one number higher.
So, if you program the first port to address 9, the three other ports in that bank will get addresses 10, 11, and 12. You then do the same thing with the second bank of pots. You can program the ports on the decoder before it is connected to any turnout motors.
If you are using the Roco digital turnout motors, you must first install the turnout motor in a Roco Line roadbed turnout. Note that there are two wires in the turnout motor – one of which goes to each track. In normal operation, these provide both the power and the digital signal for the motor. A third wire is used only during programming, and, in fact, puts the motor into programming mode. You will need to read the specific instructions that come with the motor. (Again, these should be downloadable from the Roco site.)
Once the programming is done, you disconnect the third wire and you are now ready to install the turnout.
If you are using a third party multi-port switch decoder, you will have to read the instructions for that particular unit as to how to place it into programming mode and how digital addresses can be assigned.
Some will require you use consecutive addresses for consecutive ports; some will not. But all should work to receive commands from any data bus sending standard digital signals.
Note that some third party decoders offer the option of either powering the decoder (and attached switch motors) from the digital bus or having a separate power source. The latter will help reduce the power demand on the digital control station or booster to which the decoder is connected.
I hope that helps.
– Ernest
Hi Ernest,
I'm in Brazil and I adopted the Roco Line with roadbed system. So far, so good. I'm about to buy some motors with decoders (the white ones), just waiting for some options (shipping costs).
I'm also looking for clubs or specialized discussion groups of RL owners. The clubs in US or Europe, to visit when I travel and the discussion groups because I'm the only one I know of using this system in Brazil, so I'm looking forward to a technical group for discussion and research.
I am not aware of any discussion groups or clubs specifically focusing on Roco Line track. Roco itself has published a variety of brochures on Roco Line over the years, and these sometimes show up on the used market. Roco currently offers a book of Roco Line track plans — which I have not seen — but which may provide some useful ideas.
The Roco magazine, published by the company itself, has had numerous articles about Roco Line track. Subscriptions are expensive (and I am not sure the magazine is still being produced), but you can sometimes find back issues on the used market, such as on Ebay.
I'm sure that Roco Line track comes up at times on various German model discussion forums — but these are, of course, all in German. Though I read and speak German, I normally don't visit any of these forums on a regular basis — there's just too much material to read. But, I have read some discussions on them when I was searching for particular information.
Many European model clubs — particularly in Austria and Germany — use Roco Line without roadbed.
During my travels in Austria, I managed to visit several clubs, even at times they were not normally open to the public, just by contacting them ahead of time.
This year, for the first time in many years, Roco announced a new Roco Line item — R3/4 turnouts both with and without roadbed. So, I assume Roco will continue to expand the system — even though it already has a huge selection of track elements. I would hope that at some point Roco would offer equilateral ("Y") turnouts.
Don't overlook German model railroad magazines, which typically review new items. I have subscribed to the Austrian magazine Modellbahnwelt for a number of years. It's published six times a year and contains a lot of product information — as well as inspirational photos of layouts.
I've painted and weathered almost all my Roco Line roadbed. That's involved a lot of experimentation. Doing so will depend on what paint colors and equipment you nave available — and the effect you are trying to achieve.
– Ernest
I have some geoLine and Roco Line, I use geoLine because I find it easier – I like how easy it is for me to hide wires under the track. I guess I am just wondering why use one over the other? What is the reason for the difference and why people are into one vs. the other. I cans that the rubbery base of the Roco Line makes is hug and cover things easier as you put it down, but most of the time I am backing my scanning up to the track – like grass or rocks – so what is the market difference here?
Well, you can hide wires under the Roco Line track, too.
But, as to the differences:
On the whole, Roco Line is more prototypical in terms of roadbed width, parallel track spacing, and a number of other features. Roco Line can be purchased with or without roadbed, for those situations where you want to do your own ballasting or to model special features, such as tracks set in concrete.
Roco Line has a far wider range of track radii and other components.
Roco Line flex track (with or without roadbed) is easier to work with in a number of ways. Roco Line offers flex track with either wood or concrete ties.
The rubbery Roco Line roadbed can be cut to fit track to special situations — but then again repaired with the roadbed shoulder pieces available for that purpose.
Roco Line roadbed is fairly easy to weather (paint) and age, because most track components can be removed from the roadbed fairly easily. Switches are an exception. They need to have track masked when the roadbed is painted.
Noise generated by trains running over model track is in part dependent on the substructure.
Having said all that, there is nothing terribly wrong with GeoLine. I have some that came with two different start sets — and I purchased a few add-on pieces. I plan to use the GeoLine in one industrial area on my layout — and possibly for some hidden trackage.
If you do like GeoLine, you probably need to get the components you want soon, as that entire product line is likely being phased out. It does not make sense for Roco/Fleischmann to support multiple HO track systems. You may find some GeoLine items a close-out sales. And, of course, GeoLine is likely to be available on the used market for some time to come.
I hope that helps.
– Ernest
My entire scenery was purchased and built here in Montreal, Canada….All my tracks are "Atlas" based…Can I use Rocco rolling stock, [Steam Engines, power supply, and cars] on these tracks, or any other manufactures tracks…thanks, Rudy… ?
The short answer is yes. Over the years, much Atlas track was actually made by Roco. There should not be any problems as long as both the track and rolling stock are fairly recent — from the last three decades or so.
Power supplies and digital controls are independent of track. You can use most any power supplies with most any track — again, with a very few exceptions.
You can combine the track of many manufacturers on a layhout
There are some minor differences in the appearance of prototype American and European tracks — and therefore their models. But, the average person would never notice these. Weathering of the track and how it is blended into the scenery makes much more of a difference.
I am working on a longer piece on a variety of compatibility issues and will try to have that posted in the near future.
– Ernest


text:
A team of University students featuring two former De Aston pupils managed to win £20,000 while taking part in a game show hosted by actor Warwick Davis.
Market Rasen's Hannah Molave and Daisy Miller, both 22, were joined by three others on the popular daytime quiz show Tenable.
The show aired on Friday, with the girls winning £20,000 in the game which requires contestants to list 10 correct answers to win a cash prize.
On what inspired them to enter, Hannah said: "Being students we do watch a lot of daytime TV.
"Normally we just play in our front room, but then we applied for pretty much every game show on TV."
They received a call from Tenable while in the library at Nottingham University, where all but Daisy studied.
Hannah described getting the call as 'surreal' and said: "We didn't believe it had happened."
In preparation for the show, Hannah told the Mail that they 'tried to revise everything they could'.
Daisy said: "We are all nervous but giddy at the same time."
Their stint on Tenable saw Hannah answer the final question - naming all 10 members of Ron Weasley's family.
Hannah said: "I am a massive fan of Harry Potter.
"As soon as the question came up I knew the answer, I knew I had won."
Daisy said: "We knew we had a very strong change, we had a lot of confidence in her."
Even though the episode was filmed in June, the win still hasn't quite sunk in for Hannah.
She said: "I can't even believe it, it was absolutely crazy. I am still in shock."
Daisy said: "When we first did it, it was amazing. The excitement has come back, I just can't believe it happened."
Daisy and Hannah were joined by Lucy Bryan, Katie Pullan and Brittany Hopkins on the show.
After leaving Tenable victorious, the girls had another reason to celebrate as they all received the news that they had got 2:1's in their degree.
Hannah said: "It was the most surreal weekend ever."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
An Aquarelle
It was December and a scorching afternoon: a north wind blew; and the pale wind-streaked sky, the little verandahed houses, the glaring roads, the very air itself, all were white with heat and dust. In comparison the bathroom struck cool, being windowless, and lit only by a raised skylight. A good-sized room, it was really made for bathing in, was made to get wet, a concrete floor sloping towards a drain in one corner. Except for a large hanging mirror and a wooden table, it held nothing but a huge old zinc bath, the sides of which were streaked rust-brown from the tide-marks of the many waters that had filled it. Over the broad end hung a shower-ring. This dripped without ceasing, drops forming continuously on its under-surface, gathering volume, depending perilously, then falling on the zinc with a toneless thud. The water that oozed out when the large old-fashioned cock opened was not unlike muddied milk, and for the most part lukewarm. But it gushed freely, making up by abundance for its tepidness and want of clarity.
To-day it ran very red, for a storm overnight had churned up the mud bottom of the reservoir.
Four half-grown girls had come dancing into the room, and eight hands were busy; for all four had cried as one: "A bath! Let us have a bath!"
And while the water raced and sang, shoes were kicked off and clothes fell, a bit here, an oddment there, in their owners' haste to be rid of encumbrances.
First ready was a fattish little blonde; though, as the eldest of the party, she had set to work more sedately than the rest. But, in her hurry to reach the water, one of the four had pulled a knot, and a brown and a red head were bent over it.
Meanwhile, Blonde sat on the side of the bath, swinging one leg. Her skin was of a delicate transparency, through which the veins showed blue as forget-me-nots. A wonderful prong, running down the chest, forked and lost itself in the whiteness of the barely-hinted breasts. Round her throat were two lines that might have been scored by a thumb-nail in wet clay; and below the ribs were two more — the lines of sitting beauty — deeply indented and wavy, like the lines carved by ripples on the sea-shore.
The knot unravelled, Red Head was out of her clothes in a twinkling, and now advanced, shoulders hunched, arms crossed and hugging their uppers. While she stood waiting for the tide to rise, rubbing the sole of one foot up and down the other leg, she made her brown-haired little companion, the youngest of the four, and still skinny and straight as a boy, look very dark; for, in Red Hair, the promise of a pale face powdered with freckles was fulfilled: her skin was white as milk from top to toe, and velvety as rose-petals to the touch.
Last came the knot-puller — a tall, slim, brown-eyed creature with a sallow face, flushed pink at the moment from heat and hurry, and a head of short golden curls. Against the others she stood out for the richness of her colouring; her skin was the shade of old, old ivory, tinting to amber, to a dusky gold, in all crevices: where the curls met her neck, and in the hollows of her armpits. Her young breasts — at this moment laid flat, for she was stretching with the abandon of a cat, both hands clasped tight behind her neck — ended in rings the colour of blue grapes dashed with sepia.
By now the bath was full to the brim. And while the four still lingered, chattering, twittering, exulting in their freedom, there was the sound of a heavy foot in the passage outside. And the room had three doors, none of which locked. Whrr! Like a herd of startled wild things, all made for the water at once, a phalanx of cream, white, and dusky legs whisking over the side with incredible rapidity. Amber came off worst: she was too tall; crouching did not help her. So she lay at full length, the others half-leaning, half-sitting on her, to keep her down. But the threatened intrusion passed; and with a fresh run of giggles and trills the bathers rose to their feet.— The water that trickled down their skins left visible traces, like tears on a grimy face.
Then the shower was pulled. Amber and Brownie stood under it, holding their heads to the gush and hiss, Amber raising an arm to screen her eyes, the little one pressing her face against her companion's ribs. And, bristling and stinging, the shower flew off at right-angles, squirting madly out into the room. Blonde and Red Head dodged and scuttled. Then it was their turn. Blonde would not wet her hair; she leant her head and shoulders far back, stretching her lined throat, meeting the brunt of the water on her chest; or, stooping forward, let it hammer down the ridgeway of her spine.
Next, all tried to get under water at the same time. The result was wildest confusion; for the one below kicked, and splashed, and rolled over three slippery bodies, in her efforts to come to the surface. — Taking Blonde by the toes, the others floated her up and down.
An elderly woman looked in: the bathers gathered water in their joined palms and pelted her, in a perpendicular shower. Then they played at leaping. The game was: to go to the end of the room and take a running jump over the side, to see who could splash highest. Red Head was awkward, slipped and fell face downwards, to be half-drowned by the one who came after. This led to a free fight. The weapons were a big and little sponge: inflated to their fullest, they were hurled against any portion of a body that offered; and tireless hands, which scooped and flung, tweaked and slapped. The walls ran water, the concrete floor was a-swim with it.
In the midst of these gambols, a clock struck five. Like ghosts surprised by the dawn, the four were out of the bath in a trice and a-scramble for the towels that hung behind a door. There was a hasty rubbing down of sides and fronts; towels seesawed over backs, knees bent, curly toes wriggled dry. Grasped in two hands garments were poised for a moment high in air, then dropped into place, blotting out faces in the transit. And soon, of all that had lain bare, no more was visible than four damp-ringed, motley-coloured heads.— Though the long glass had given back in full the madcap riot of the bath, none had troubled to cast so much as a look at her naked self. Clothed, it was otherwise: here a sodden mass of curls was twitched and fingered, there the sit of a frock stroked into place.
Now a voice was heard calling — an urgent voice, that brooked no delay. Without a further backward glance each in turn followed the summons, vanishing swiftly. Four times the door opened and shut; till the room was empty. The splashed walls and swimming floor drained dry; the bath-water gurgled off; and the mirror's surface lay blank, no conjurer being at hand to call to life the lovely shapes that slumbered in its depth.


text:
Hoof Print In History: The Quarter Horse Congress
[Originally published in the October 2015 issue of Show Horse Today]
In 1966, few would have guessed that the idea just being tossed around by Blair Folck (the owner of National Equine Sales) would grow to the magnitude the All American Quarter Horse Congress has become today. Based on a Charolais cattle event Folck had seen in St. Louis, he wanted to create a similar event in Ohio that would become one of the premier events in the quarter horse industry.
As is often the case with change, Folck's ideas were met with mixed reviews. Some of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association board members entertained the plan while others met it with skepticism. After all, even today putting on just a weekend show is a big financial commitment, much less a show with hopes of becoming a multi-week event as the Congress has become.
In January of 1967, a tentative agreement was made on the condition that $10,000 (equivalent to a little over $71,000 in 2015) could be raised by the May 1 in order to support the show. Otherwise, the show would be canceled, and Folck's dream would fail to become reality. Folck and Pete Drake, who would serve as OQHA President for the first three years the Congress took place, began fundraising and pitching the idea to interested parties along with securing exhibition permits. By the May 1 deadline, they had managed to outraise their goal of $10,000 and the All American Quarter Horse Congress was born.
Held November 3-5, 1967 at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, the first Congress cost exhibitors $20 for the entire show, $15 for the weekend, and $5 for Sunday only.
On the official Quarter Horse Congress website, Drake writes, "There would be no free rides. We had heard a report that the National Reining Horse Association had incurred a $4,000 debt in their effort to put on their first Futurity in 1966 and we surely did not want to duplicate their errors. We decreed that every trustee – working or not – must pay his own admission to attend. Everyone must also pay their own expenses, i.e., hotel, transportation, etc."
Their management decisions paid dividends and the inaugural Congress saw a whopping 5,000 horsemen and women in attendance, and brought in over $15,000 for OQHA in only three days. That was only the start for what would become the world's largest single breed show, spanning over three weeks in length, and boasting more than 17,000 entries. Additional events and attractions have come and gone, like the Million Dollar Stallion Avenue and the Amateur Versatility class, but new events have taken their place and familiar favorites continue to highlight most of the month of October, when thousands descend upon Columbus, Ohio.
Flip to page 86 of the Congress 2015 issue of Show Horse Today to read the full article and photo scrapbook.


text:
High Blood Pressure Diet
Diet for people suffering from high blood pressure is the right decision for the normalization of health condition of both adults and children. High blood pressure is the cause of diseases of the cardiovascular system. The increased pressure acts as provoking factor of various kinds of ailments and constant migraines.
High blood pressure is called hypertension, and most often it appears in the background of excess weight. There is a theory, according to which, every extra kilogram of weight increases blood pressure by 1 mm Hg. Diet for the increased pressure is aimed at normalization of water-salt balance and also to put in order condition of the body.
Nutrition should be carefully thought out, and most importantly – balanced. Every day, your ration should contain fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Daily amount of calories is distributed as follows: 15% proteins, 55% carbohydrates and 30% fats.
The number of meals should be 5 to 7 times a day, and you need to eat always at the same time. The interval between the first and the last meal should be no longer than ten hours. Before going to sleep it is forbidden to overeat.
You should limit salt intake to 5-3 grams per day. This allows you to withdraw fluid from the body quickly, not detaining it and causing swelling. Another important rule of nutrition at increased pressure – drinking regime. Avoid carbonated and sugary drinks. Every day you need to drink at least 1.5-2 liters of clean water. It will be beneficial to drink warm beverages, green tea, tea from chicory and hibiscus.
Diet at increased pressure should be based on fruits and vegetables, preferably without heat treatment. Healthy meals are fish dishes, low-fat (diet) boiled meat, dairy products and foods that contain a lot of protein.
Permitted foods at increased pressure
Crackers, crispbread from flour of first and second grade.
Seafood, fish (boiled).
Chicken, rabbit meat, turkey, veal (only boiled).
Light soups with cereals, porridges and soups from milk.
Porridges (buckwheat, barley), pasta.
Any egg dishes (per day it is recommended to consume no more than two eggs).
Dairy products, cottage cheese, cream, yogurt, sour cream, kefir, butter.
Dill, parsley and spices such as cinnamon, vanillin, bay leaf.
Fresh vegetables in any quantity, vegetable salads.
Fresh berries and fruit compotes, jelly.
Honey, jam.
Decoctions, fresh fruit juices, teas.
Forbidden foods at increased pressure
Pastries, fresh bread, pies, muffins and any flour products.
Salty, spicy, smoked, fried dishes.
Soups based on meat broth, mushroom soups, canned fish and meat.
Garlic, beans, pickled vegetables.
Fatty cheeses, fatty fish, meat, animal fats.
Meat of ducks, liver, brain.
Horseradish, mustard, mayonnaise.
Carbonated drinks, chocolate, coffee.
The approximate menu
Fresh cottage cheese.
Tea (herbal or green).
Grain bread and a slice of cheese.
Juice of fruit or vegetables.
Oat flakes with milk.
Any fruit.
Salad of vegetables or fruit.
A cup of broth hips or tea.
Puree of apples or pumpkins.
A glass of mineral water or green tea.
Any fish and lean meat, steamed or boiled.
Ragout of vegetables or salad with vegetable oil.
Juice from vegetables with pulp.
Steamed cutlets with sour cream sauce.
Boiled potatoes.
Compote or baked fruit.
A pair of grain crackers.
A cup of green tea or hibiscus tea.
Any fruit.
Cottage cheese or a slice of cheese casserole.
Yogurt or a glass of kefir.
A fresh vegetable salad.
Steamed vegetable cutlets.
A cup of green tea.
Snack (before bedtime)
A glass of kefir or milk.
An apple or half a grapefruit.


text:
An anonymous poet has written:
I saw the sign on the highway
'Prepare to meet thy God.'
But when I got a little closer
There were no further instructions.
Advent is a season like that: one where we prepare, we wait, we discern what the "further instructions" are!
Contrary to the dominant and prevailing view in our American culture, however, Advent doesn't begin with unbridled celebration or a shopping spree! Rather, Advent deals with a community of hurt, with you and me, real people who know pain, depression, inadequacy and failure, particularly at this time in our country. We're people who articulate our hurt and aren't afraid to let it show. Such a community of hurt knows the One to Whom it speaks in prayer of its suffering. We call upon God, the Lord of hurt, whom we trust to bring our suffering to an end.
Since our hope and prayer is directed to the One whose reign is never really in doubt, our community of hurt is also ultimately a community of hope. We passionately hope for the end of our troubles. Our living faith assures us that God reign will eventually come. The hope which we express isn't wishful thinking, but a concrete hope: as real as the pain we feel. Hurt and hope go together in our lives, even though you and I don't like to accept that reality. We'd like to think that, somehow, we can have the one (guess which?) without the other. Yet it's precisely the reality of our present hurt which motivates us to have hope.
The first reading (Isaiah 64:1-9) pictures a waiting community of Israel as a child abandoned, but not orphaned: in desolate loneliness and disarray, yet still able to hope in One who will set things right. The author of the passage is undoubtedly that anonymous inspired prophet, referred to by scholars as Second Isaiah. He addresses a hurt people who've been in exile in Babylon for nearly 50 years. They're unaware that in another 10 years Cyrus the Persian will vanquish Nabonídus and his son, Belshazzar. And that will make it possible for the Jewish exiles to return to their beloved, devastated land and, subsequently, to rebuild their sacred Temple. But the only immediate thing they have to hold onto is the memory, the hope, of God their Father: "...For You are our Father. Were Abraham not to know us, nor Israel to acknowledge us, You, Lord, are our Father…" (Isaiah 63:16) "...no ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen any God but You, doing such works for those who wait for God…" (64:4) These are Advent's parameters: whatever it is that bothers or plagues us, you and I begin and end knowing whose we are. That is our Christian hope.
Second Isaiah explores what it means to look to an ever-present, though hidden, God in the midst of suffering. He accuses God of misleading and of abandoning sometimes. He begs God to come back. He calls to mind God's previous interventions and, in doing so, reminds us of our lives and the times when God takes each of us, individually and as a community, by surprise, and shatters our expectations. Advent teaches us to wait for another future coming like that. It gives us focus at those times when, because of the weighing-down burden of our selfishness and weakness, we feel unclean, like a dirty garment, or blown about and abandoned, as a faded autumn leaf.
Yet, says the prophet, "Yet, O Lord, you are our Father...you are our potter...we are the clay...we are all the work of your hand!" The basis of Advent is a "yet" which contradicts what we see around us and feel within ourselves, a "yet" grounded in the Person of the Holy and Mighty God in whom we dare hope and to whom we belong, even in our hurt: a God "who works for those who wait for God".
In the Epistle passage (1 Corinthians 1:3-9) St. Paul addresses such a community of hope in Corinth. Generally, the Corinthians weren't any greater on waiting than we are. Corinth, like ours, was a self-indulgent society. They had the idea that all that was to be given had already been delivered...to them! They were self-sufficient, rugged individuals. That mentality, understandably, spilled over into the life of the Christian community at Corinth. So much so, that Paul later takes to task this church which had been blessed, as he puts it, "in every way...in speech and knowledge of every kind...in every spiritual gift…"
Paul addresses himself to people who have a different set of expectations, people aware of their hurt and weakness, people who wait in hope for Jesus to reveal himself in all his fullness. In our day, "end time" talk can be somewhat embarrassing, if not outright off-putting. Advent deals with the reality of the eschaton = the end time: the end of creation as we know it; the end of a world of abandonment, sorrow, alienation, and injustice.
Mark's Gospel narrative (13:24-37) affirms this. Often called a "little Apocalypse", i.e., a miniature revelation, it speaks of waiting for a decisively disruptive coming. Mark uses extravagant end-time images: a darkened sun/moon; falling stars; the assembling of the chosen from everywhere. If we can get beyond this tumultuous and somewhat overpowering imagery, we can recognize that, in themselves, these verses are simple, sober and disciplined. They convey a transparent message: the advent, the coming, of Jesus the Chosen One, in whose coming the world as we know it, "heaven and earth", will be transformed. The crucial point which Mark stresses is to "beware, keep alert"
This common thread runs through all of today's readings: the end of what we know as "the world" will be brought about by God alone and in God's time alone. Our task is to wait, watch and be alert for the coming reign of God. Advent isn't a business-as-usual festival of things which we now know and possess, or perhaps seek to possess under the Christmas tree! Jesus the Chosen One for whom we wait isn't just a gentle baby who comes to fit into our preconceived world, but rather the mighty Son of Man who breaks into our hurting and hopeful humanity. Advent reminds us that his in-breaking is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, there's a shattering of our this-worldly settledness and our comfortable assumptions that we can buy our way to whatever we want. But there's also a liberation, a setting-free, by shattering the narrowness that restricts us, the selfishness that binds us and others, and the paralysis and apathy which shuts us down.
These may be hard words for us who claim to rely on God, but whose actions so often imply that we're really in charge. The temptation for all of us is to think of God as a "Sugar Daddy" who presides over a predictable world in order to keep it user-friendly and benign for us. We'd really like to believe that if we only work at it in clever ways, perhaps we can have the world, and our family, and our job, and our Church on our terms. "Well," writes theologian Walter Bruggemann, "that is conventional. But it is not biblical, not Christian, not news."
Ironically, the greatest barriers between us and God may oftentimes not be our sins and guilt, but our gifts and talents. God asks us to repent not only of our sins, but of our reliance on our own resources, virtues and power. To live as though my priorities could ever supercede God's is full-blown spiritual pride. To live as though I have God's own private cell phone number is to live an arrogant pretension which separates me from others and from God. To allow myself to feel religiously superior because of my real or supposed religious "experiences" or insights is to substitute those things for God, and that is idolatry. The clay, in its self-importance, tries to tell the Potter how and when and whom to mold!
Advent is meant to shatter our fantasy worlds, and to teach us to accept and to speak about our pain and the world's; to look in hope, not to ourselves, but to Jesus. Advent asks if you and I are open enough for a newness to be given, if we're trusting enough of the faithful God to let go of this world. Advent should lead us to reflect on Jesus' observation (Mark 13:2) that "Not one stone will be left here upon another…"
Larry Parton, in a now-defunct little magazine called alive now!, wrote: "The one we wait for is the one who will get in our way. He is the one who will disturb us and our peace. He is the one who will stop cooing and begin to talk about things that will trouble us." Realizing that, do we, as 1st century Christians did, still dare to pray without ceasing throughout our Advent wait: "Maranatha -- Come, Lord Jesus"?


text:
Celebrity is hard to cope with but some people find it natural and easy. You see so many washed- up celebrities that have or had a lot of money, and don't know what to do with it. Using drugs and getting into scandals that you may get to think that being famous is synonym to […]
Archive for the 'Joise Maran' Category
Joise Maran Moisturizers Review
Posted by admin on March 8th, 2012


text:
Plug-in hybrids claim to be much more fuel efficient, therefore cheaper to run, than regular models that are powered only by combustion engines. But, instead of looking at the increase in gas prices when driving your hybrid, you have to keep an eye on your electricity bill for the cost of charging your car battery.
General Motors has realized this and their OnStar service is curretly testing an application that will inform Chevy Volt owners about the cost of charging their extended-range plug-in hybrid. The app also known as the EcoHub will compare the total energy consumed by the home to the Volt's energy use in the corresponding day, month, or year.
To obtain overall domestic energy usage info, OnStar's new app uses an energy data source, such as a utility or smart meter company. At the same time, the energy data source collects charging info from Volt owners who choose this app and OnStar subscribers.
"We've found that Volt owners love to keep track of and compare their personal driving stats, like electric miles driven for example," said Chevrolet Volt marketing director Cristi Landy. "The EcoHub app is another great example of using the vehicle's embedded technology to provide Volt owners with useful information."
The EcoHub will initially be available to a smart grid community in Austin Texas named the Pecan Street demonstration project. The gallery below shows different features of the EcoHub app.
Images courtesy of Quirk Auto Dealers and simonk


text:
LEAVE IT IN BLOOD Guestbook
Oops, you forgot something.
The words you entered did not match the given text. Please try again.
Yo Pimpin.. Nice site homie had to drop in and say hello. We all signed up here and glad to be!!
Yo Im down with you cats for life! Keep tearing it up out there!


text:
Material Type
Call Number
Item Available
On Order
Real-life stories of struggle, achievement, victory, and sometimes loss that are an ideal companion for history, social science, language and geography studies. The Extroardinary People series is the perfect starter for students who want to know more about the people who shaped their world, focusing on the unique histories of people from every culture, and every walk of life.
Author Notes
P Stephen Hardy is the author of several nonfiction books for children.
Reviews 2
School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-This refreshing book looks at the achievements of seldom-mentioned leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, filling a gap in the literature of the period. In addition to biographical sketches of 61 key individuals and organizations of the era, most of which are accompanied by a black-and-white photograph, the text provides an overview of the events leading up to the movement. The profiles begin with Asa Philip Randolph and end with Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon. The book also looks at the Greensboro Four, the Freedom Riders, and those who were killed in the often-forgotten Orangeburg massacre. In short, this title recounts countless acts of raw courage and heroism from ordinary people who did extraordinary things, risking their own lives. This is a time that must be remembered, and these are people who deserve to be celebrated. This book does just those things.-Carol Jones Collins, Columbia High School, Maplewood, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
This chronologically arranged volumes in the Extraordinary People series covers "extraordinary achievers." Biographical entries on 53 individuals such as Fannie Lou Hamer and Robert Moses are joined by topical entries highlighting a few groups and key events from the 1960s. Entries are three or four pages long and include at least one black-and-white illustration. Other features are paragraph-length entries on an additional 27 people, a glossary, and a list of resources "To Find Out More." --Mary Ellen Quinn Copyright 2007 Booklist
Table of Contents
|p. 8
|Timeline of Key Events, 1954-1968
|p. 11
|Asa Philip Randolph: (1889-1979) Union Leader and Organizer
|p. 17
|Charles Hamilton Houston: (1895-1950) Chief Legal Counsel for the NAACP
|p. 21
|Septima Poinsette Clark: (1898-1987) Civil Rights Activist and Educator
|p. 25
|Zephaniah Alexander Looby: (1899-1972) Attorney
|p. 29
|Edgar Daniel Nixon: (1899-1987) Civil Rights Activist, Alabama
|p. 33
|Modjeska Monteith Simkins: (1899-1992) Civil Rights Activist, South Carolina
|p. 36
|Roy Wilkins: (1901-1981) Journalist and Executive Secretary of the NAACP
|p. 40
|Ella Josephine Baker: (1903-1986) Executive Director of the SCLC and Leader of the SNCC
|p. 43
|Myles Horton: (1905-1990) Founder of the Highlander Folk School
|p. 47
|Thurgood Marshall: (1908-1993) U.S. Supreme Court Justice
|p. 51
|Clarence Mitchell Jr.: (1911-1984) Lawyer and Lobbyist
|p. 55
|Amzie Moore: (1911-1982) Civil Rights Activist, Mississippi
|p. 59
|Isaiah DeQuincey Newman: (1911-1985) Civil Rights Activist, South Carolina
|p. 63
|Bayard Taylor Rustin: (1912-1987) Cofounder of the SCLC
|p. 66
|Daisy Bates: (1914-1999) Friend and Adviser to the Little Rock Nine
|p. 70
|Fannie Lou Hamer: (1917-1977) Civil Rights Activist and Cofounder of the MFDP
|p. 75
|James Leonard Farmer Jr.: (1920-1999) Civil Rights Leader, Cofounder of CORE
|p. 79
|Dr. Joseph Lowery: (1921-) Civil Rights Activist, Alabama
|p. 84
|Constance Baker Motley: (1921-2005) Attorney, Politician, Federal Judge
|p. 87
|Avon Nyanza Williams Jr.: (1921-1994) Attorney
|p. 90
|Fred Lee Shuttlesworth: (1922-) Civil Rights Leader, Cofounder of the SCLC
|p. 94
|Ernest C. Withers: (1922-) Photographer
|p. 97
|Aaron Henry: (1922-1997) Civil Rights Leader, Mississippi
|p. 100
|Charles Evers: (1922-) Civil Rights Activist, Mississippi
|p. 104
|Mae Bertha Carter: (1923-1999) Civil Rights Activist, Mississippi
|p. 107
|Cordy Tindell Vivian: (1924-) Civil Rights Activist, Tennessee
|p. 111
|Medgar Evers: (1925-1963) Civil Rights Leader
|p. 114
|Malcolm Little, a.k.a. Malcoln X, El Hajj Malik El Shabazz: (1925-1965) Civil Rights Leader
|p. 119
|Ralph Abernathy: (1926-1990) Civil Rights Leader
|p. 124
|Hosea Williams: (1926-2000) Civil Rights Activist and Organizer
|p. 127
|Harold "Harry" George Belafonte Jr.: (1927-) Singer, Actor, Producer, Activist, and Humanitarian
|p. 131
|Coretta Scott King: (1927-2006) First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement
|p. 135
|James Lawson: (1928-) Civil Rights Leader
|p. 139
|Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: (1929-1968) Civil Rights Leader
|p. 143
|Dorothy Foreman Cotton: (c. 1931-) Civil Rights Leader, Educator
|p. 149
|Richard "Dick" Claxton Gregory: (1932-) Comedian, Civil Rights Activist, Author
|p. 152
|Andrew Jackson Young Jr.: (1932-) Civil Rights Leader
|p. 156
|Unita Blackwell: (1933-) Civil Rights Leader, Mississippi
|p. 159
|Walter Fauntroy: (1933-) Civil Rights Activist and Lobbyist
|p. 163
|James Meredith: (1933-) Civil Rights Activist, Mississippi
|p. 167
|Myrlie Evers-Williams: (1933-) Civil Rights Leader
|p. 171
|Robert "Bob" Moses: (1935-) Civil Rights Activist, Organizer, and Educator
|p. 174
|Marion Shepilov Barry Jr.: (1936-) Civil Rights Leader, Politician
|p. 177
|Dr. James Luther Bevel: (1936-) Civil Rights Leader
|p. 181
|Diane Nash: (1938-) Civil Rights Activist, Tennessee
|p. 186
|Horace Julian Bond: (1940-) Civil Rights Leader and Journalist
|p. 190
|John R. Lewis: (1940-) Civil Rights Leader, Politician
|p. 194
|James Zwerg: (1940-) Civil Rights Activist
|p. 198
|Stokely Carmichael, a.k.a. Kwame Toure: (1941-1998) Civil Rights Leader
|p. 202
|Jesse Louis Jackson Sr.: (1941-) Civil Rights Leader, Politician
|p. 206
|Emmett Till: (1941-1955) Innocent Victim
|p. 210
|Dr. James Edward Orange: (1942-) Civil Rights Activist, Alabama
|p. 214
|Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon: (1942-) Civil Rights Activist, Singer, Composer, and Scholar
|p. 217
|The Women of the Montgomery Bus Boycott: (1955) Jo Ann Robinson, Claudette Colvin, and Rosa Parks
|p. 221
|The Greensboro Four: (1960) Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr., and David Richmond
|p. 226
|The Freedom Rides: (1961)
|p. 230
|Freedom Summer: (1964)
|p. 235
|From Selma to Montgomery: Marching for the Vote: (1965)
|p. 240
|The Martyrs of the Orangeburg Massacre: (1968) Henry Smith, Samuel Hammond Jr., DeLano Middleton, and Cleveland Sellers
|p. 244
|The Memphis Sanitation Workers' Strike: (1968)
|p. 248
|Resurrection City and the Poor People's Campaign: (1968)
|p. 253
|More Extraordinary People of the Civil Rights Movement
|p. 257
|p. 268
|To Find Out More
|p. 272
|p. 279
|About the Authors
|p. 288


text:
We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By clicking OK or by continuing to browse the website, you consent to their use.
Click here to review our Cookie Use Policy.
by QSR
Supports robust qualitative and mixed methods research for virtually any data source and any research method.
Learn more
Intuitive data analysis software designed for public policy experts analyzing surveys.
Creating software to help you discover the rich insights from humanised data.
The most advanced analysis tools for your qualitative research needs.
Your automated transcription assistant – quick, easy, precise.
Meet some of NVivo's typical users
#1 software chosen by academics for qualitative research
Powering business and government decisions with deeper analysis
Learn how others use NVivo and get useful tips from experts
Find and connect with us on social media
Explore our research hub celebrating qualitative research projects
Access the community knowledge base about NVivo
Join the NVivo user testing community
Download a free trial of NVivo
Get the best out of NVivo - online, onsite, or virtually
Beginner guides for NVivo versions
Find everything you need to succeed with NVivo
Read the latest Whitepapers from Nvivo
Apply to become a Certified NVivo Expert or Trainer.
Location training services can be provided:
Australia, New Zealand and Online
Products covered:
Lyn established Academic Consulting in 1999 following a successful career in the tertiary sector. Her 20+ years background in education, combined with a PhD which examined self-regulated learning at a tertiary level, provide a solid platform for developing the company's innovative training programme. Her love of teaching and education, alongside her flexible teaching style and engaging sense of humour, contribute to an outstanding reputation as a training facilitator. As well as overseeing the company, Lyn provides individual support to researchers and postgraduate students. This has seen her work alongside a diverse range of clients – including senior academics in leading tertiary institutions, PhD students both within New Zealand and internationally, and research teams within central government. With extensive experience in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, she is also actively involved in all research project work undertaken by the company, particularly projects involving the advanced use of NVivo.
Who uses NVivo
Explore our range...


text:
image shown is a representation only
RS9113-NB0-S1C 12 new Flash
Supplier: Redpine Signals
Matchcode: RS9113-NB0-S1C-12
Rutronik No.: WLAN1382
Unit Pack: 1
package: MODULE
Packaging: TRAY
RS9113-NB0-S1C 12 new Flash Description
The RS9113 Connect-io-n™ module is based on Redpine Signals RS9113
ultra-low-power, single spatial stream, dual-band 802.11n + Bluetooth
(BT4.0) + ZigBee (ZB) Convergence SoC. The RS9113 module is a complete
IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n, ZB and BT wireless device server that provides a
wireless interface to any equipment with a SDIO, UART, SPI or USB
interface. The RS9113 module integrates a multi-threaded MAC processor
with integrated analog peripherals and support for digital peripherals,
baseband digital signal processor, analog front-end, crystal oscillator,
calibration OTP memory, dual-band RF transceiver, dual-band high-power
amplifiers, baluns, diplexers, diversity switch and Quad-SPI Flash thus
providing a fully-integrated solution for embedded wireless applications
and all WLAN, BT and ZB protocols and networking stack functionality in
embedded firmware to make a fully self-contained wireless solution for a
variety of applications. The module integrates an antenna and a U.FL
connector for external antenna with an option to select either one of
them. The M2MCombo (RS9113) chips and modules leverage and improve upon
Redpine's proven low power innovations from Lite-FiTM products (RS9110)
and provide WLAN 802.11n, BT4.0 and ZB convergence solution for
integration into mobile and M2M communication devices.
- WLAN standard
- a/b/g/n
- Frequency
- 2.4 GHz
- Interface
- Software
- Internal
- Antenna
- Yes + uFL
- Tx/Rx
- 1x1
- Sensitivity
- 97 -dBm
- Transmit power
- 20 dBm
- Supply voltage
- 3.0 to 3.6 V
- Oper.temp.
- -40 to +85 °C
- Size
- 27x16x3 mm
- Automotive
- Package
- Leadfree Defin.
- 10
- Packaging
- 5a002.a.1
- Customs Tariff No.
- 85176200000
- Country
- India
- ABC-Code
- Supplier Lead time
- 20 weeks


text:
This week on Boagworld: We interview the founder of Digg.com Kevin Rose, take a first look at Codeslam and plan the future of the show.
200th Boagworld
On the 12th February Boagworld will have finally reached 200 episodes!
To mark this momentus achievement we are going to do a live 12 hour marathon!
The show will start at 10AM UK time and finish at 10PM in the evening. Guests will include:
- Drew McLellan
- Rachel Andrew
- Simon Collison
- Christian Heilmann
- Sarah Parmenter
- Dan Rubin
- Paul Stanton
- Ryan Taylor
- and many more!
If you want to get involved with the 200th episodes you have 3 options…
- Come and join us at the Barn for part of the day (drop me an email if interested)
- Throw a Boagworld Party and dial into the show. To do this simply register a party on upcoming.org with the tag 'boagworld' and let me know by email.
- Email me with why you would be a great guest on the show and we will pick the best to include.
Coming soon: Boagworld Bites
We have been putting some thought into the future of the show and have decided to introduce a new version of the podcast following the 200th episode.
This will not affect the current show that will continue to be released every Friday. However, we recognise that not everybody finds the current show to their taste:
- Some find it too long
- Others get annoyed by the banter (especially at the beginning)
- Others are only interested in specific parts of the show (e.g. the interviews)
We are therefore introducing 'Boagworld Bitesize (iTunes Link – RSS Link)', which will be released three times a week. Each 'Bite' will be approximately 20 minutes long and will include one of the three sections of the main show. For example a 'bite' could consist of the news, an interview, a feature or a review.
This gives you the listener a choice. You can either subscribe to the existing show which is normally about one hour long. Or you can subscribe to the shorter 'bites'. You also have the option of just downloading whichever 'bite' takes your fancy.
Hopefully this will increase our audience without alienating existing listeners :-)
For those starting out
As this is our first podcast of 2010 it seemed only right to start from the beginning. I would therefore like to recommend a couple of sites that provide some excellent basic information for those starting out.
Now if you have really just started out in web design then I would recommend Build Your Own Website The Right Way Using HTML & CSS by Ian Lloyd or The Website Owners Manual if you are running a website rather than building it.
However, if you are looking for the next step, then check out the following two websites:
- Web Design + – This site is an amalgamation of web-standards solutions for common web development issues and problems — a way to tackle development in the cleanest, most accessible and semantic way possible. It is a great starting point for anybody new to standards.
- Getting started with jQuery – Six Revisions have recently posted an article providing an outline of jQuery. It asks why use a Javascript library before going on to explain the basics of how jQuery works. It's a great starting point for any designer looking to move beyond HTML and CSS. That said, it is also good to understand Javascript itself and for that I would recommend DOM Scripting by Jeremy Keith.
That should be enough to keep you newbies occupied ;-)
User experience resources
Talking of useful resources, there have been a couple of new user experience ones worth mentioning.
The first is a post by Smashing Magazine entitled 25 User Experience Videos That Are Worth Your Time. To be honest it is somewhat overwhelming because all of the videos are so good. There is just too much content to watch!
It even has one of my favourite UX talks ever, UX Team of One by Leah Buley of Adaptive Path.
The second resource is a new website called 52 Weeks of UX. The site is the work of Joshua Brewer and Joshua Porter. It appears to be a 52 week project that has only just started. Each week they are posting user experience related articles and judging by the first two it will turn into a useful resource.
The posts are short and easy to digest. I also love the fact that they are not just focused on web based user experience. They are already talking about advertisements, call centres and any other contact point with your organisation.
Ambient user experience
While on the subject of user experience I would also like to briefly mention Ambient User Experience.
I recently wrote a post on stock photography. At one point I wrote:
Good imagery is about conveying a sense of personality and character, not a literal representation of what you do.
What I was talking about there was apart of ambient user experience.
As UX booth explain in their recent post on the subject, ambient user experience is about shaping how users feel about their experience. It does not necessarily make something easier to use and is not intrinsic to getting stuff done.
Instead it creates a tone and personality that influence perception. In my opinion this kind of subtlety sets apart a great site from a good one.
If you have a well established site that has overcome many of the basic problems of usability, accessibility and content, then you should be looking at ambient user experience. This is the area that will allow your website to move froward and not stagnate.
Explaining the fold
Let's conclude by moving from advanced subtleties of design, to addressing a fundamental basic – the fold.
As designers we love to chant the mantra, "there is no fold." However, although we know this to be true we are often bad at communicating it to clients.
If you are a website owner, you may well be wondering what us designers are talking about. After all when you load up your webpage you can clearly see the point at which users have to scroll.
What then is the fold and what does it mean to the design of our websites? How do you explain that it isn't the issue it appears to be at first glance?
Well the guys at Clockwork have attempted to clarify the situation in "How to discuss the fold with clients."
Although this is obviously aimed at web designers who struggle to explain why the analogy of the fold is fundamentally flawed, it is also useful for anybody unsure about the fold.
In short I would pretty much recommend this post to anyone.
Interview: Kevin Rose, founder of Digg.com
At this years at Future of Web Apps I was fortunate enough to interview Kevin Rose, the founder of digg.com about running online community. To read the transcript of this interview go to: Kevin Rose On Community.
Interview with Andreas from Codeslam
Stanton: Ok, so joining me today is Andreas Carlsson, and we've got him on tonight to talk to us about CodeSlam, Hello Andreas!
Andreas: Hello.
Stanton: How are you?
Andreas: I'm Fine. Fine thanks.
Stanton: Fantastic! Ok, so do you want to give us your elevator pitch, a really quick run down of what Code Slam is and what it does?
Andreas: Yea i'd Love to. Code Slam is basically an online code editor and a development environment and we like to think of it as like code development in the cloud.
The goal is to have a device and a platform independent coding environment where you have no setting up of local servers, no configuration, no installing apache or php or mysql, just log in and start to develop your web projects. Right now it supports php, and all that good stuff. We wanted to have a clean warm interface where you can access your web projects from anywhere, anytime.
The main target is front end developers and designers who do a lot of coding and developing and but also the tech savvy and pros can use CodeSlam as an extension to their existing development environment. You can sign up at http://www.getcodeslam.com and get started, and that's about it.
Stanton: Fantastic, so do you see this being like a replacement for a normal desktop based editor, development environment, or kind of a supplementary thing?
Andreas: Somewhere in between. The phase we're in right now is stable basic functionality, so we're starting to poke around projects in CodeSlam. The only time you can't use CodeSlam is when you don't have web access, so it might be a good idea to have an offline version. We're integrating SVN or Getintoit, so you can work on your projects when you don't have internet access.
Stanton: Ok, so you're integrating source control directly in the editor, so is that automatic, are you doing that for people who don't want it, or do they have to set it up separately?
Andreas: Not actually sure how we're going to solve it right now, but the basic idea is to have, we're not going to have our repository on our CodeSlam servers, so people can have, use external repositories service like you do in Coda, or most other code editors, you just collect yourself to the repp and it automatically picks up changes from the repp and into CodeSlam.
Stanton: Ok, so if people already have a repository they can just tap straight into that. So if someone's across the other side of the world at an internet cafe and they need to do some emergency fixes they can log into CodeSlam, connect to the central repository and start making changes straight away?
Andreas: Exactly.
Stanton: Fantastic. OK so their are other browser based editing environments, the first one that comes to mind is Besbin by Mozilla, how are you different from those, or what's the feature of CodeSlam?
Andreas: I think where we're different is we're trying to focus on a little more of the user flow. Many of the other services similar to CodeSlam, their either imitating a desktop app on the web or their just real focused on getting as much technology and features into it. But we're trying to have it really really simple. It's very simple to create a project, connect to your live web server, and start the project. So I think the user flow, the logics of how you interact with it, is what sets us apart. Also I think we have a little more friendly interface and environment.
Stanton: Ok, so i've tinkered about the beta you've got up and running at the moment, and it seems to be quiet focused on collaboration as well, getting people in so you can collaboratively work on projects, I guess that's another main focus of yours.
Andreas: Yea it is, and that's also where the subversion thing come in to.
Stanton: And you're in beta at the moment aren't you?
Andreas: Yea, private beta actually. We have a few hundred people signed up, and we let, I think 50+ in to try it, because there's somethings we thought would be greater use to us, that has been some pretty huge issues to solve.
Stanton: So what's the ultimate road map, when are you aiming to go live effectively?
Andreas: The basic road map is public beta this first week in October, and then go fully live in the beginning of January. We were running a little late for the public beta, so I think January we can do.
Stanton: Ok so for anyone wanting to sign up for the Beta queue or find out more information where can they go?
Andreas: getcodeslam.com.
Stanton: OK, and you have a @codeslam as well?
Andreas: Yea, it's @codeslam, yea.
Stanton: Alright well that's great, so hopefully we'll get some people interested and we'll hear back from you soon as to how it's developing.
Andreas: Perfect, thanks very much.
Stanton: Cheers!
Thanks goes to Chris Pasveer for transcribing thi
s interview.


text:
Male Hypogonadism
Hypogonadism is one of the most common endocrine disorders in men and is characterized by low serum testosterone levels and/or low sperm counts with clinical signs and symptoms of androgen loss. Hypogonadism can be primary or secondary, congenital or acquired. Common causes of acquired hypogonadism include diabetes mellitus (DM) and long-term use of opioid medications.
Tabs Content
Content Review:
July 2017
Last Update: October 2019


text:
The Legacy Offering is given toward five specific lanes to help resource and fulfill God's vision for Journey Church.
Every single penny given at Journey Church goes to help people take one more step toward loving God more and loving more people. We believe in living generously because God has been so very generous toward us.
Here's how you can join us in being generous.
A Generosity Rockstar is any person who sets up online recurring giving at Journey Church. Generosity Rockstars enable us to keep ministry high and overhead low. We automate the things that are important to us in life like car payments, utility bills, mortgages; why should our generosity toward God be any different? You can setup online recurring giving by clicking on the link below
-2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV
The Hope App has one goal – to restore hope. We believe people matter and that together we can make a difference through the simplest of things. The Hope App is a micro donation app that allows you to take your spare change and turn it into a powerful tool to bring hope to others. The Hope App partners with you to round up your transactions to the nearest dollar and then sends the money to support the causes of your choosing.
Do you give at least $20 per week? If so, you are a part of the Journey Church online giving team, and therefore, a Generosity Rockstar! Head to the Rockstar booth to pick up a commemorative T-Shirt as a thank you for being a Generosity Rockstar. Remember, there is always a "next step" you can take to continue living a life of generosity. See a member of the Giving & Generosity team if you have any questions.
The Bible says, we are called to be obedient by giving back a portion of what God has blessed us with; specifically, a tithe equal to 10% of our gross household income. At Journey, we believe that ultimately, when it comes to living a life of generosity, God cares about your heart. For some, tithing may be too big of a step. But if you have the heart of generosity, or you would like to grow in your generosity, you are invited to take a step of faith and join the Generosity Rockstar team by setting up a recurring gift of at least $20 per week.
Keeping your confidential information secure is extremely important to us. We can confidently say that online giving is the best and easiest way to give. In fact, we make sure your information is only handled by trained members of our Giving & Generosity team.
We will mail you an updated giving statements four times per year. If at any time you would like a copy of your giving records you can email firstname.lastname@example.com or call the church office. You can update your online giving by clicking on the Give icon on the Journey Church app or at journeypeople.com/give.
If you believe an error has been made in connection with your online donation, contact us at email@example.com We will work with you to correct any error and, if necessary, make any refund or correction that is appropriate. To request a refund, email email@example.com within 14 calendar days of the date of your giving.


text:
Kate Walsh Ends a Beautiful Friendship
A solo Kate Walsh pays a visit to a senior citizen center in Los Angeles on Sunday morning (April 25).
Production for season three of Private Practice wrapped on Friday. The synopsis for the season finale was recently released.
In episode "The End of a Beautiful Friendship," Maya and her unborn baby are fighting for their lives on the operating table, and Addison, Amelia and Fife try everything humanly possible to save them. Meanwhile, Sam operates on an incoming crash victim and later makes a grim discovery; Cooper makes an ill-timed but valiant effort with Charlotte, and the staff's world gets rocked by an unexpected death.
The season finale of Private Practice airs on Thursday (May 13) @ 10PM ET/PT on ABC.
Kate isn't getting a break anytime soon. She begins work on her off-Broadway play, Dusk Rings a Bell, on Monday (April 26).
10+ pictures inside of Kate Walsh out and about…


text:
- sweetpea87
- 6 years ago
- Wedding: January 2012
I was thinking about Darling Husband and myself going on an early or late summer vacation to the Rockies, but I want to see snow. We live in the South, so I rarely see much, haha. I guess that means I'm wondering if somewhere around Colorado or Utah, it might snow in May or late September. I've never been to the Rockies, so maybe that's a dumb question, and it doesn't snow in May anywhere, but I can hope! I know it might be more likely in Canada, but that's probably not an option, so just the US, please! Also, I have never skiied or snowboarded, so I'm not terribly interested in that. I just really just want to see giant mountains and some snow and sit in a hot tub. 🙂


text:
Well, it's been quite a crazy year living on a ship off the coast of Africa. As I type this I'm currently sitting in the comforts of my oh-so-spacious bedroom back in Scottsdale and I'll be honest - while I love being back in Phoenix I also miss Africa so much. It's very, very bittersweet. I know without a doubt that Phoenix is where God has me for now...so we'll see what comes my way! I initially took a job working at Cardon Children's Hospital for the remainder of 2010 and then I'm returning to my old position at the Cancer Center at Phoenix Children's in early 2011. This will be my last post, and I'll leave y'all with my final newsletter and a video that a friend of mine made from the ship. With his permission, I am sharing that here. So many of these folks in his video were my patients. I wish I had the time to share all the amazing stories. So feel free to ask me about them when you see me, and thanks for following along with me this year. I know I've been so lucky to see and experience all that I have. God has been good to me.
View my final newsletter here


text:
Welcome to the top ten. If you've followed along from the beginning, thanks for sticking with me. If you're here for the first time, click here for links to the rest of the list.
No. 10 Killen's Barbecue (Pearland): There's not much that can be said about Killen's Barbecue that hasn't already been covered on any number of the local or national write ups that Ronnie Killen's smoked meat Mecca has received since it opened. With one of the state's largest and most well executed barbecue menus, Killen's delivers a full restaurant experience. The array of meat options are of the highest quality, from well rendered brisket to pepper packed beef ribs, and Killen's boasts a roster of sides and desserts that take a backseat to no joint. No corners are cut at Killen's in terms of quality, including some of the best smoked turkey in Texas. There's good reason why the restaurant offers a five meat plate option as choosing what to order is difficult. My advice: don't miss the brisket or the creamed corn, whatever you do. While the line can be cumbersome and the trip to Pearland inconvenient for many, Killen's Barbecue is a pilgrimage every meat eater should make.
|Hunky Dory: scones with jam, butter, and clotted cream | HD Burger and fries | lamb sausage with beans and egg.
|The ever-changing lunch special at Himalaya.
No. 8: Himalaya (Ghandi District): Kaiser Lashkari, the chef/owner of one of Houston's greatest culinary treasures, is one of the busiest people I've ever met. Kaiser oversees service at Himalaya every day and never seems to slow down. He's constantly on the phone, taking to-go orders, scheduling repairs needed at the restaurant, and checking on the tables to make sure diners enjoyed their meal. If that seems like a lot, then factor in that Kaiser also prepares much of Himalaya's daily menu. Himalaya is revered by locals and industry people alike for its intensely flavorful meats and curries. The dining experience at Himalaya never feels stale as Lashkari is always adding specials, such as a recent masala spiced brisket. The daily lunch special at Himalaya is one of my favorite meals in Houston. Served in a cafeteria tray, it has a rotating selection of curries along with rice, naan, and usually another savory treat in each of the tray's sectioned squares. Kaiser's newest experiment, spiced fried chicken, was on the tray on a recent visit. The food at Himalaya is among the most authentic and delicious in the city and Himalaya remains one of the most quintessential Houston restaurants.
No. 7 Public Services Wine and Whisky (Market Square Downtown): I am not a bar person, but Public Services is not your typical bar. That is just one of the reasons why I love the place so much. Owned by Oxheart's Justin Vann, Justin Yu, and Karen Man and operated by Vann, Public Services has the city's most varied selection of rare wines and whiskies in the city. The enthusiasm the Public Services staff has about their menu is infectious, and service is always attentive but never pushy. It is a delight to walk into Public Services during their splendid happy hour (4:00-6:30 daily) at which time the entire wine list is half off and pull up a seat at the bar. Most trips in, I take a quick glance at the menu and then just put my drinking decisions in the hands of Vann and his talented staff. The food menu at Public Services is small but as strong as one would expect based on its owners. The house-made "baloney" is the perfect fatty treat, served with cheese and ritz crackers, and the smoked fish spread is a great snack, though I recommend making sure your drink order pairs well with it. If you're not a wine or whisky expert, or even if you are, I cannot recommend enough making a trip to Public Services and entrusting its crew to provide you with one of the most laid back and interesting bar experiences in Houston.
|Whole branzino from Helen Greek Food and Wine.
No. 6 Helen Greek Food and Wine (Rice Village): Helen is the rare restaurant where every meal I've had there is better than the last. This is an exciting thought for my next visit considering the spectacular dinner I enjoyed there last month. Respected sommelier Evan Turner realized his dream of bringing his version of Greek food to Houston last year when Helen opened in a small space in Rice Village. Chef William Wright leads the kitchen, and though he does not have a background in Greek cooking, Chef Wright expertly executes Helen's menu of traditional Greek flavors with touches of Houston mixed in to create some of the most interesting plates I've had anywhere in the country in recent memory. The trio of dips, available on all of Helen's menus, is a must order on any visit. The flavors change frequently, but much thought is put into each dip and they are a great introduction to the rest of the menu. Whether it be a smoky eggplant or spiced red bell pepper with feta dip, it is a great bite spooned atop grilled pita bread. Turner's love of Greek wine is on full display at Helen, which boasts one of the largest selections of Greek wines in the country. It is a well priced list and the staff does a great job of pairing the wine with the diners' menu selections. The salads at Helen pop with freshness and a perfect amount of acidity, and a grilled whole branzino dish I enjoyed on my last trip in was one of the best fish dishes I've ever had. The lunch menu equals the appeal of dinner at Helen, where a flavorful brined chicken is served with confit potatoes, a generous lunch portion for its $14 price tag. Helen has brought life to a mostly quiet dining area of Houston, and is one of those restaurants that I feel will get better with age.


text:
Down to Earth Christmas Truffles
The possibilities for these little truffles are endless! Use any variation of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit – also extra yummy with a few drops of organic peppermint extract.
You will need:
- ½ cup almonds or cashew nuts
- 1 cup dessicated coconut
- 1/3 cup raw organic cacao powder
- ½ cup organic dates
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup (optional)
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil
- Pinch of Himalayan salt
-Put nuts, coconut, cacao, dates and salt in a food processor.
-Blend until mixture is crumbly.
-Add maple syrup (or a little water if not using) and coconut oil.
-Process until mixture comes together.
-Roll into small balls.
-Coat in cacao powder or coconut.
-Refrigerate for a few hours.
Variations: Replace some of the coconut with cacao nibs for extra crunch, or use different dried fruit or seeds.


text:
Acorn Class 2019 - 2020
Mrs Ryles
Acorn Classroom
Welcome to Acorns Class Page. I am Miss Sharples and very proud to be the class teacher of this awesome class of little people. Our teaching assistants are Mrs Horton and Mrs Wain but we also have lots of lovely people who come to work with us like Mrs Bosson, Miss Sumner and Mrs Bailey.
Without further ado it's over to the reception children to introduce themselves.
Welcome to Acorns, watch us grow.
We're Reception don't you know!
We imagine, we create, we sing and we play,
About all the interesting things that we learn in a day.
English, Maths and phonics are what we like to do.
We're scientists who care and share
And we'd love to be friends with you!
We love to blog about the exciting things that we have been getting up to. Our new blog will be available to see on our class page but if you would like to read our past blogs please follow this link: https://misssharplesacorns.wordpress.com
Should you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me on email@example.com
Below is the PowerPoint that was shared at our parent's welcome meeting. If you have any questions do not hesitate to come and speak to me.
Files to Download
Acorn Class: Blog items
There are no blog items to display
Acorn Class: Calendar items
School Closes for Half term, by Mrs Timmis
Half Term break, by Mrs Timmis
Half Term break, by Mrs Timmis


text:
Stock #: 100038
Engine: 1.8L
Transmission: Automatic
Drive Train: RWD
Mileage: 54,174
Color: Red
Interior: Leather
Vin: WDDPK4HA7FF100038
Estimated By E.P.A.
Actual Mileage May Vary
I hereby consent to receive text messages from or on behalf of dealer at the mobile phone number I provided above. I understand that I am opting in to receive text messages from dealer or their employees. I include consent to receive phone calls at the mobile phone number I provided. I understand that message and data rates may apply.


text:
The U.S. Marine recently freed from an Iranian prison arrived home in Michigan Thursday, stepping off a small plane to a burst of applause from relatives and supporters.
"I'm happy to finally be home," Amir Hekmati said after landing in Flint. "It's been a very long road. A very long journey."
It was Hekmati's first time in Michigan since he left for Iran in 2011 to visit an ailing grandmother. He was accused of spying and sentenced to death in January 2012, but the Iranian Supreme Court overturned the sentence. He was awaiting a second trial while his family worked to get him released.
Hekmati, 32, was sprung Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange along with Christian minister Saeed Abedini, Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, and another American, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari. Before his flight home, he spent a few days recuperating at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
His two sisters and a brother-in-law accompanied him on the flight to Flint. He appeared pale and weary when he stepped onto the tarmac after relatives, including a young nephew and niece, climbed into the plane to welcome him.
Hekmati spoke briefly to reporters, thanking President Obama, his local congressman and "everyday Americans" who pressed for his release.
"I"m standing here healthy, tall, my head held high," he said.
Related: American Freed From Iran: 'It's Like Being Born Again'
Officials said Hekmati spent long periods in solitary and was subjected to sleep deprivation in Iran. He has said his military training helped him survive "inhumane conditions."
"I didn't want to let my fellow Marines down, and the reputation of the Marine Corps, so I tried my best to keep my head up and withstand all the pressure that were put upon me," he said during his stopover in Germany.
Although he didn't say much at the Flint airport, Hekmati said he'd talk more about his ordeal in the near future.
Abedini returned to the U.S. Thursday and will spend some time resting and visiting with his family at the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, North Carolina, the center said in a statement. He and his family have asked for privacy, the center said.
"None of us in America can begin to understand or appreciate what Saeed has endured after being imprisoned in Iran because of his Christian faith," Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the relief organization Samaritan's Purse, said.


text:
Successful music programs and great music travel go hand in hand. Encore's customized touring packages help define a sense of purpose for ensembles, build ensemble unity and strengthen friendships. They help boost the ensemble's reputation in the community and enhance recruitment and fundraising efforts. And, perhaps most importantly, they allow diverse cultures to come together and share in the universal language of music. But, Encore goes beyond travel. We are committed to supporting music education at home. From our director workshops and professional networking events to our scholarships programs for young musicians, we continue to give back to our musical communities year-round. That's why "taking your music program to new places" is our mission. Whether "places" refers to exciting destinations or supporting your music programs at home, Encore is with you every step of the way.
Just because you're out of school, does that mean you're beyond discovering? How old is too old for learning about new people and new cultures? Who says adults like dealing with all the logistics on a trip? It's questions like these that helped us create Travel & Company. And it's a huge success for our adult travelers. They experience the world, and they leave the planning, logistics, and education in the hand of the experts—ACIS.
ACIS is the educational travel division of AIFS, Inc., the American Institute For Foreign Study. Founded in 1964, AIFS is a leading worldwide sponsor of educational programs for more than 50,000 students a year. Their programs include college study abroad, au pair placement, camp counselors and staff, gifted education, high school study/travel and insurance services.


text:
El dia de hoy (Martes) fui a mi projecto por primera vez. A mira ! Ya ni la pense y estoy hablando en espanol derepente ! hahaha how funny…I didn't even think about it and I just started typing spanish. That has never happened before. I guess I have never been exposed to so many native spanish speakers at once at this magnitude haha. How funny… Anyway, as I was saying…
Today was my first day at the project: "Las Chakras de Merced" is what the town is called. I didn't get to do much today because I simply had enough time to meet them and get an orientation of the place. This town is about 15 minutes away from Cordoba. Though it is completely different. As soon as we turned into the town I noticed that it is ridiculously polluted. There is trash everyhere. There is more trash than anything. It is extremely polluted. You can't breathe without feeling like you're gonna get sick. I probably will, I barely went one day and Im already coughing a lot. On the bright side though, there is a pharmacy at every block or "manzana" as then call them here, and maybe my immune system will get stronger. Here's to hoping. Anyway, there is no pavement or concrete, just dirt and mood and flooded streets at the project. Tomorrow will be my first official day and I will take pictures so I can show you. The town "center" consists of a school, a hospital, and Las Omas which is where I volunteer at. Thats it. It's sad to say but my house and my classroom put together are bigger than the "town center".
I will be getting to and from Las Omas every day on a bus. Here they call busses colectivos, or omnibus, not camion. I go on bus 68 which drops me off pretty close to where I live and school. It's very convenient. The comfort level, thats a different story. However, the authenticity is there without a doubt.
The women and children that I met today are all incredible. They all have a different story, though I have not heard them all yet. I met some of the children and they are so loving . They just jump on you and sweetly ask "Vos de donde Sos ?" (Where are you from ?) hahahah even the children can tell " I aint from around these parts 😛 . "
Everyone here calls me Estephy, and I like it. It sounds loving. On a different note….Argentinians and their kissing !!!! You can enter a room with 50 people and you have to kiss every single one of them when you come in the room or you are considered rude. I know Mexicans do it as well , but I didn't know it was that strict ! I find it kind of funny. What if I go home and accidentally start kissing everyone ?
My Spanish professor is AWESOME ! He is a really good teacher and I feel that I am learning more spanish than I have ever learned before. I get spanish lessons every day from 4-6 until I leave. I am the only one in my class because they put us into groups by level and I speak more spanish than the Germans and the French haha. It's probably NOT because my family is MEXICAN that surely has nothing to do with it. 😉
Anyway, thats a little bit more about what has been happening around here. It's been raining at night and there have been thunderstorms. I have never experienced such loud thunder before !
I want you all to know i'm wearing mosquito repellent like perfume so don't freak out, ill be fine. Also , the food is delicious ! The EMPANADAS….yummmmmmm I want another one…
Don't worry mom…I wont get fat…I walk around all day non stop haha…
Anyway, I apologize for the bad grammar and disorganized train of thoughts I have delivered to you. I feel exhausted and I'm trying to write about everything that comes to mind but…did I mention I'm exhausted ? … I need sleep. I really love this feeling though. Feeling accomplished and passing out like a rock.
Im barely about to have dinner though. Thats another thing thats different here. Their schedules are very different. They have dinner really late and wake up late and come back from work in the middle of the day to have lunch "merienda" together… they close everything early and during the weekend absolutely nothing is open. It's strange. I know that its because of the value of "family time". I think that its great that family is so important ! But I can honestly say that I would go crazy if we did this in the U.S … sometimes you just need your In N Out fix , you know ? …. I shouldn't have said that…now I want animal fries and I'm not getting any … any time soon.
but I have EMPANADAS !!! Muahahahaha ^_^
I will start being more organized with my updates well… I will TRY haha
Goodnight everyone ! I am sending you a BIG BIG BIG Hug .
Feliz Dia de la Mujer !
(Side note before I leave. My day was very special because I got to talk to the most important women in my life (my family) and I got to meet new , strong women who I know will touch my life deeply throughout the next two weeks. I will never forget this day !
Time to go eat and finish my homework….
Buenas noches !!!!!
Muah !
Yours Truly,
"Estephy" haha