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A new educational initiative in astronomy was officially launched at a press briefing at the General Assembly on Tuesday. Universe Awareness (UNAWE) is an international project that will expose underprivileged young children, aged between 4 and 10 years, to the inspirational aspects of astronomy. The team overseeing the development of UNAWE has representatives from 15 countries on 5 continents.
By conveying a feeling for the vastness and beauty of the Universe UNAWE aims to broaden the minds of the children, to enhance their understanding of the world and to demonstrate the power of rational thought." said George Miley, who pioneered the UNAWE concept together with Claus Madsen of ESO.
The rationale of Universe Awareness is that exposing children to the beautiful images captured by modern telescopes and the vastness of the Universe inferred by modern science will help give them a balanced perspective on the world.
"Wonderment of the night sky has been a source of inspiration throughout the history of humankind. Astronomy has deep roots in most civilizations and as such can help us understand our identity and diversity." said Dr Carolina Ödman, UNAWE project manager.
Successful UNAWE pilot projects were carried out in Venezuela and Tunisia during 2006. The full UNAWE programme will be implemented in 2009 (planned to be the International Year of Astronomy), in at least 4 emerging countries and 4 disadvantaged regions of EU member states. UNAWE has been endorsed by distinguished scientists and international personalities, including 3 Nobel Prize winners.
"Astronomy involves natural sciences and technology and has strong links to philosophy, the arts and human development. Because of its multi-facetted nature, astronomy is a unique discipline for exciting young children and imbuing them with an appreciation of both science and culture." said Claus Madsen from ESO, the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere, which is supporting UNAWE.
"Knowledge about the Universe should be a birthright of all children, but access to this knowledge is most difficult in disadvantaged regions and communities throughout the world." said Dr Cecilia Scorza de Appl, Chair of the UNAWE Education sub-committee.
At present UNAWE has contacts, collaborators and contributors in the following countries: Chile, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Venezuela.
For further information:
Dr. Carolina Ödman
Leiden Observatory,
NL ? 2333 CA Leiden,
The Netherlands
email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Mini, emerging & junior squad
Mini Squad
Aim: Develop stroke technique across all strokes and basic squad training concepts. Swimmers will learn and refine the four competitive strokes (Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle), in addition to developing critical skills such as the streamline, underwater kicking, competitive turns and finishes, and dives. Mini Squad swimmers would be encouraged to attend Race Nights.
Equipment: Training fins (flippers), goggles, cap, drink bottle
- $18.50/per lesson (Paid as fortnightly Direct debit of $37.00)
Emerging Squad
Aim: Squad developed for identified swimmers who are interested in pursuing competitive swimming. Swimmers will be asked to attend two sessions per week in order to help them develop greater proficiency in the four competitive strokes (Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle), in addition to critical race skills such as streamlines, dives, underwater kicking, turns and finishes.
Coached by qualified and experienced coaches, swimmers will be introduced to basic training skills and concepts such as cycles and the use of the pace clock.
With a focus on technique, skill, fun and competition, swimmers will be exposed to racing and would be expected to attend Race Nights and at coaches' discretion join the Macquarie University Swimming Club and compete at Swimming NSW meets.
Equipment: Training fins (flippers), goggles, cap, drink bottle
- $18.50/per lesson (Paid as fortnightly Direct debit of $37.00)
Junior Squad
Aim: Squad developed to cater for young swimmers who are interested in competition and qualifying for Metropolitan and State Championships.
Junior swimmers will begin to learn and develop the skills important to FAST swimming (including all four competitive strokes, underwater skills, starts, turns and finishes), whilst developing a well-rounded approach to health, sport and competition.
Junior Squad is an opportunity for an athlete to make a decision to take the next step in the sport of swimming. This is the first level within the program for swimmers who have shown that they have the ability to qualify for meets and where a genuine commitment of between 3-5 sessions (recommendation to be made by coach) is required to achieve their swimming goals.
Equipment: Training fins (flippers), kick board, pull buoy, paddles, goggles, cap, drink bottle
All Junior Squad swimmers are expected to attend Race Nights, register as Macquarie University (MQU) Swimming Club members and compete at targeted meets.
Junior Squad Training times:
- Monday 4:00pm - 5:15pm
- Tuesday 4:00pm - 6:30pm
- Wednesday 4:00pm - 5:15pm
- Thursday 4:00pm - 6:30pm
- Friday 4:00pm - 5:15pm
Coach: Ryan Hammond
- $60.00/Fortnight (+ MQU Swimming Club registration $120/year)
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Content owner: Campus Sport Last updated: 10 Sep 2019 10:46am

subset: commoncrawl


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Why Choose Gladiator
Specializing in Copper & PEX Repipes
Gladiator Repipe in San Jose has perfected the art of copper repiping. We have hand-selected the finest plumbers and pipe sweaters in the Bay Area in order to bring you the best possible copper and PEX repipe systems available. Gladiator Repipe uses only the highest quality, American-made copper piping materials that will last your home a lifetime. Imagine repiping your house and NOT every having to worry about it again! Gladiator Repipe provides a 50-year manufacturer and Lifetime workmanship warranty on all repipes performed.
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A Transplanted Heart
Track 2 of 9 in the Primal Christianity - Love4 series
Running time: 1 hour, 03 minutes, 25 seconds.
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01/16/2011Scripture: Ezekiel 36:26-27; Psalms 139:13-16; Gene...
Track 2 of 9 in the Primal Christianity - Love4 series
Running time: 1 hour, 03 minutes, 25 seconds.
Just like with the human heart that gives off the cellular memories, the Heart of Christ does the same things. What Jesus loves, we love also. What grieves Jesus grieves us as well. We take on His hearts cellular memories and become like him, think like him and comprehend like him. Chief among the spiritual emotions we receive from Jesus heart is compassion. The things that affect Jesus heart affect ours
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Speaker: Mike Nobis
Sunday School Teacher, Former Elder at Madison Park Christian Church. Mike is President of JK Creative Printers & Mailing in Quincy, IL. He is married to Pam and has three children, Tom, Tyler and Jennifer. Mike has three grandchildren: Ryne, Ivy and Alicia.
View all sermons by this speaker.
The Heart of Christianity
A Transplanted Heart
What did you spend your time doing and how much time?
Our study over the next several weeks will take us into the understanding of what the Greatest Commandment is all about in understanding but more importantly, in action in our own lives. Over many centuries, Christianity has piled on layers and layers of tradition and culture that it is hard to see what the real, the first or original, the primal essence of Christianity when It all started. Our study will seek to recapture that essence in our own lives and to get back to the basics and do the basics great. The problem with the church today is we are not great at the Great Commandment. In fact, for many churches, they arent even good at it.
The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Our lesion series is going to attempt to strip away all the superficial layers of our modern Christianity and look at what Christianity meant in the very beginning. What did primal Christianity look like and how does 21st century Christianity measure up? I often wonder how my Christianity would measure up in the 1st century. What would happen if I had a chance to meet Paul and asked him if I could travel with him as he went out preaching the Gospel. Would he accept me as part of his team with Silas and Timothy or would he consider me a John Mark and refuse to take me.
What about you? Do you ever wonder the same thing? What would Paul do with you? Would he take you or leave you behind?
If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each mans life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with him? What is he trying to tell us?
Heart transplants are amazing feats of technology and human ingenuity. A heart transplant is a procedure to take a working heart from a recently deceased organ donor and implant it into the patient. The world's first human heart transplant was performed by Christiaan Barnard on December 3, 1967 in Cape Town South Africa. Since then, today on average, 3,500 heart transplants are performed every year worldwide. However, there are over 800,000 people worldwide in need of a new heart. This tremendous need has led to research and heart operations using artificial hearts or hearts from other species of animals. The success rate using an artificial heart is low thus a tremendous need to find live working hearts for transplant.
Even though the procedure to transplant a heart is awesome, the human heart goes way beyond what medicine can explain or understand. It does more than just pump blood through your body, studies suggest that the heart has a mind of its own. The heart secretes its own brainlike hormones and has cellular memories. So a heart transplant recipient doesnt just receive a new organ, they also receive the cellular memories of the donor.
Charles Siebert, a famous heart surgeon, concludes and has several studies to back up his conclusion that when a recipient receives a new heart, along with that new heart, they receive whole new sensory responses, cravings and habits.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Ezekiel described what you and I now have. He prophesied that a time would come when worship and loving God would change from a thing of duty to a heartfelt reaction to His love. There are a lot of amazing moments in life but nothing begins to compare with that miraculous moment when you give your heart to Jesus. That spiritual decision sets off a spiritual chain reaction with infinite implications. For me in the early morning of August 17th, 1971, my life was totally changed.
People ask me how I know for sure that God exists and that Jesus actually lives. For me it is easy, I see so many lives that have been changed, I have all around me people with transformed hearts hearts that have been transplanted by Jesus. If Jesus werent really real and alive today, transformed hearts wouldnt be a reality. When you and I allow Jesus to enter into our hearts, we become a member of the Tribe of the Transplanted.
Just like with the human heart that gives off the cellular memories, the Heart of Christ does the same things. What Jesus loves, we love also. What grieves Jesus grieves us as well. We take on His hearts cellular memories and become like him, think like him and comprehend like him. Chief among the spiritual emotions we receive from Jesus heart is compassion. The things that affect Jesus heart affect ours.
If this being true, then how come in several studies is the Church described by the world as being heartless? Is there any worse criticism that can be said about the Church? What do you think they mean? Do we show ourselves at times as being heartless?
The problem isnt Christianity at large; the problem is you and me. When the world looks at you and at me, what do they see? Do they see our actions as compassionate? In other words, how would you rate yourself at the Great Commandment?
Here is the Good News, even though at times we might be part of the problem, we can be part of the solution. We can change the face of Christianity but it will require more than a face-lift. It starts with a change of heart.
How powerful is a number? Is a number a personal thing or an abstract thing? What happens when a person is relegated to just a number? Examples?
When we look back at the Holocaust and what the Nazis did to their victims, they replaced the human element in their enemies to just a single number. The Jew lost his or her name and became a number. Numbers are desensitizing.Ever year 15 million children die of starvation in the world. When you break the number down, that is 40,000 children per day or 29 children every minute. By the time this class ends, 1,740 children will die of starvation. But here is the problem, we dont know their names. We only know their number and numbers are numbing. It is so easy for us to ignore suffering when it doesnt have a name or a face.
So here is a simple question we need to ask ourselves, are we okay with this?
The real problem in Christianity, most Christians are okay with this because the suffering are just a number, a faceless statistic. When you add a name or face to the suffering, better yet, add experience face to face relationships with the suffering or hold a dying child who is starving in our arms, our sensitivity to the problem becomes much different. God knows each of those names and God knows each of those faces and it breaks His heart.
Psalms 139:13-16 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.
Have you ever had a sympathy breakthrough? (A moment when your inclination to hate was overcome by your will to love.) This is a time when proactive compassion overrode reactive anger. A time when you cared about someone elses pain than your own.
Have you ever received a scathing criticism over something you did or said?
What is your first initial reaction? How does a person with Christs heart respond?
George Orwell Not shooting at a man (fascst) during the Spanish Civil War because he was holding up his pants. A man holding up his pants is not a fascist.
Accounts from the American Civil War tell us that several lives were spared on both sides of the line when enemies came face to face. Eye to eye contact many times short-circuited hand to hand combat. It is hard for a human to kill someone in combat looking into the enemies eyes.
It is in these types of moments when you recapture parts of your soul that you have lost. These are the moments when you learn what it really means to love God with all your heart.
Can anyone tell me what an IQ is? Intelligence Quotient. is an assessment of your ability to think and reason. IQ score is a standardized way of comparing this ability with the majority of people the same age as you are. A score of 100 means that compared to these people in your general age group that you have basically an average intelligence. IQ score fails to measure things such as manual dexterity (obviously), musical talent, and a slew of other abilities that may lead one to many different successes in life. My IQ is 105.The IQ accounts for 20% to factors leading to career success
Can you tell me what your EQ is? Emotional Quotient a self-perceived ability to identify, assess, and control the emotions of oneself, of others, and of groups. Controlling emotional impulses and regulating moods. One important dimension of emotional intelligence is empathy the ability to put yourself in the shoes of someone else. EQ is more important than IQ.
Can anyone tell me what SQ is? Spiritual Quotient The ability to empathize with God. We feel what He feels.
We experience sympathy breakthroughs as we see the image of God in everyone we meet and those feelings turn into compassionate actions, they trigger a chain reaction with eternal ramifications. Dont underestimate the spiritual significance of even one act of compassion done in the name of Jesus. Your one act of Spirit-prompted compassion can change the course of history.
Is this actually true? Are you and I capable of changing the course of history with one act of compassion? How many of you have done it? How do you know? Do you have any examples where this actually happened?
Genesis 37:2 This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his fathers wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
What can you tell me about Jacobss family from these few verses? Can you imagine how things went when Joseph told his brothers that he had a dream and they were bowing down to him? What happened? What would have happened if Joseph had just kept his mouth shut? Does suffering help a person become a little less self-absorbed?
What is interesting about suffering, it helps the person understand compassion better and to produce the quality more in their life. That is exactly what happened to Joseph while he lingered away in prison accused of doing something he didnt do.
Genesis 40:1-7 Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time, each of the two menthe cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prisonhad a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaohs officials who were in custody with him in his masters house, Why are your faces so sad today?
Did you catch it? Joseph noticed that they both looked upset. So what? It doesnt seem such a big thing but that one instance of emotional intelligence saved two nations from extinction.
How many times when we have problems of our own do we notice the problems of others? Do your problems tend to make you less or more likely to care about the problem of others especially when our troubles come to us unfairly.
What was behind the cupbearers dream? Joseph cared enough to inquire and to interpret the dream. 3 days later it came true and the cupbearer was released. For several years after that the cupbearer forgot all about Joseph until Pharaoh experienced a dream no one was able to interpret. It was at that time the cupbearer remembered Joseph and he was called before Pharaoh to give his interpretation and the rest his history. Joseph was promoted to 2nd in command and through his trust in God, developed a plan to survive a coming famine that not only saved all of Egypt, but his own family in Israel as well. It all began with that one simple act of compassion to care enough about a dream another person was upset over.
Never underestimate a single act of compassion, no matter how small. It can change the course of history in ways that only eternity will tell.
Homework: For next week, I want you to think about this one question: what will kill you if you dont do it? What makes you glad or sad? What puts a smile on your face? What causes your spirit sob? What makes you want to pound your fist on the table because of injustice? Somewhere in the mix of your gladness, sadness and madness is your God-ordained passion. Or may we say, compassion because you are feeling what God feels. The only question remains, once you identify it, what are you going to do about it?
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Any/all songs are copyrighted by original publishers and are used by permission. CCLI#52394.
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Eddie and Sons Locksmith in Brooklyn NY 718-701-8833
Locksmith in Brooklyn NY has continually proven itself to be a leader when it comes to providing quality and reliable service. The level of skill of a locksmith is measured by the kind of lock he can build. The safer and breach proof a lock is the better the tech. We have only the best employees who ensure that your security and safety is not compromised. The rate of crimes and thefts is currently on the rise. There is therefore a need to keep our families, especially children, safe from any malicious attackers. Our property and treasured valuables also need to be kept completely secure. You can only do this by seeking the services of a quality and professional security services company. We are such a company. With our services you will not regret anything.
Read about Locksmith in Brooklyn NY – a leading giant in the provision of high quality and professional services. With a highly qualified team of professional and highly trained techs, the company has proved to be the best solution in the region for any residential, commercial, automotive or emergency services. We provide services for vehicles, residential houses, business premises and safes.
Our services are just a call away and with our quick response time of fifteen minute you can be assured that we will be there within no time. To further save on time we also provide quick on-site services like key replacements and opening locked doors. So, next time you lose your keys do not break down the door, simply call us and your problem will be solved in no time at all.


text: Many multisport athletes are pretty secret about their training plans, workouts, or exercises. Since I find that to be utterly absurd, I have decided to share every workout that I have done, have found, or know about in hopes that you will have a library of workouts to chose from the next time you are creating a training plan. If anyone has a workout that they love and think should be on here so everyone else can enjoy, please email me at email@example.com and I will get it up as soon as I get to it!


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Let the Sun Shine - It's Daylight Savings Time!
Daylight Savings Time
All across most of this great land, people are breathing a collective sigh of relief: We made it. Winter is once again behind us. The clocks will "spring forward" for Daylight Savings Time at 2:00 a.m. making it effectively 3:00 a.m. For those heading to work Monday morning, it's fair to say that losing that extra hour of sleep hits you where it hurts, but the ride home usually makes things look a lot brighter, literally.
So, why do we do it? The idea reportedly came from Benjamin Franklin who drafted the proposal as a way to save on candle usage by providing more daylight in the evening hours since most people slept past dawn (though the change never happened in his lifetime). The first instance of American Daylight Savings was during WWI in an effort to save on fuel. In 1966, President Johnson made it official, but states had the option to opt out, which is why Hawaii and most of Arizona don't change.
Interestingly, the Department of Transportation oversees the switch because of the alleged energy savings, minimization of traffic accidents, and the decline in crime. Statistics have shown, however, that the plan doesn't really work. Basically, they forgot to account for sleep deprivation. An article in USA Today sums it up nicely citing a spike in the heart attack rate (in the fall, too) as well as a jump in the number of car accidents. The energy-friendly angle is also askew: despite saving 1% of energy for lighting, there's a 2–3% increase for heating and A/C. *womp womp* Changes in crime rates were not confirmed in the article.
So who benefits from the extra hour? Workers and Small Business America, that's who! An article from wnyc.org reveals that "…if you give workers more sunlight at the end of the day, they'll stop and shop on their way home." Clearly a little more daylight gives us all a little more energy, which everyone needs at the end of long working day.
Question is, what are YOU going to do with that extra hour of energy? We highly recommend checking out some of Bottle & Bottega's studio and pop-up events to find one that can really channel that newfound vitality. Try to take full advantage by gathering with your friends for a bright night out!
The clocks won't change back to Standard Time until November 6th, so enjoy it while you can!


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Third Section of the High Line Opens Sept. 21st!
My best friend and I have a thing for the High Line. Ever since the completion of the second part we have been speculating on how long it will take for the third part to be completed. Now there is a date for when it will open to the public. If your bet was September 21st, then you have won. Hooray! I cannotwait to see it. No, I will not be rushing to 30th St. and 10th Ave. on that day. It is a Sunday and I do not like how the MTA treats me on Sundays. Anyway, Monday seems like a smarter day to visit if you are like me and will probably be visiting by your lonely self. Not complaining. Also It is smarter because they are hosting eventsthe entire week to mark the completion of the project.
Have a blast!
Have a blast!


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GOP Candidate Forums Planned In Mo.'s 8th District
SALEM, Mo. (AP) - The public will have a chance to hear from some of the Republicans hoping to succeed Rep. Jo Ann Emerson in the U.S. House.
Republican candidate forums are scheduled Thursday evening in Salem and Jan. 17 in Cape Girardeau.
Emerson, who was re-elected in November, plans to resign by February to take a job as director of National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Political party committees are to nominate candidates for a special election to succeed Emerson in southeast Missouri's 8th Congressional District.
Eddy Justice, chairman of the Republicans' 8th Congressional District Committee, says that 17 people have expressed interest in seeking the nomination.
He says many of the potential candidates have made phone calls, sent letters or personally visited with members of the Republican congressional district committee that will make the selection.


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February 23, 2017
Stray observations and gratuitous wisecracks for you to chew on while awaiting that sweetest of seminal sporting moments: first results from the Grapefruit League.
With the allegedly hottest starting rotation this side of the legendary Feller, Wynn, Lemon, Garcia, Newhouser axis of the '54 Indians, why is Red Sox Nation obsessing about its relief pitching? With $66 million per annum invested in your top three starters having to fret about the bullpen seems a touch manic, even by the Nation's shaky standards. But, then, GM Dombrowski needs something to spare him from boredom.
Talk of your cakewalks! Early predictions of pundits have the Red Sox winning the AL East by a minimum of five games, with the Yankees no better than 17 games behind. But it won't be easy for your Town Team to face the long season without a plausible excuse should they muck it up.
Otherwise, looks like a lock! Play Ball!
But it's still hockey season …
And wacky is what it has become. The twist that unjustly made Claude Julien the scapegoat of the Bruins three-year drift only for him to land the crown jewel of hockey posts has to be one of the more delicious ironies in the game's recent annals. Much as he loved Boston (and he clearly did), for a French-Canadian gentleman of Julien's elegant style and breeding to emerge from such turmoil as coach of Les Habitants borders on divine intervention.
Some suggest the Bruins were nuts to release him thereby risking him haunting them down the road. But you like to think they did it because it was the right thing to do and not just to save a few bucks. Hockey is that kind of game and the Bruins have always played it that way.
With the chastened team suddenly sizzling and winning four straight under Butch Cassidy hopes raise for a B's-Habs Stanley Cup joust and can you imagine the drama Julien's return here this season would rouse. Alas, that prospect obliges genuine divine intervention to materialize. We should be so lucky.
Flying out of Rio.
The international news agency Reuters has offered a terrific analysis detailing what has become of the multi-billion dollar Rio De Janeiro Olympics facilities since the Games merrily skipped town last summer to a Samba melody we might politely call "Serenade for Saps."
You'll recall Olympics officials loftily promising the venues Brazil provided at such staggering costs would magically re-make deeply impoverished Rio, rife with the slums that accommodate most of its 20 million residents. There were assurances the venues would be promptly converted into civic treasures like parks, playgrounds, leisure centers, municipal swimming pools, gyms, courts, and ball fields.
Surprise! After only six months, Reuters finds venues abandoned and unpoliced, swimming pools brimming with stagnant water, parks and water sites and golf courses pad-locked, buildings without air or electricity rapidly decaying, soccer patches sprouting weeds and looking like gravel pits, no grounds in use, no kids playing anything anywhere.
Nothing has been converted to the public domain or seems likely to be. Meanwhile, the government has collapsed and the poor have gotten poorer.
Looks like the joke's on Rio. But there's nothing new about this miserable tale. Leaving only the question: How do the Olympics poohbahs get away with this madness again and again and again?
The well-heeled Pats
The most remarkable thing about the Patriots is not so much how they pulled off their latest coup but how it leaves them even stronger than ever. In this way, they defy the physics of modern sport.
In today's heavily regulated scenario, with its iron-clad salary caps topping a glut of financial restraints and roster controls, parity is relentlessly promoted and dynasties deplored. It is so in all the games. All the league commissioners pledge: "No more Yankees, Celtics, Canadiens dominating entire leagues for whole generations."
But here we have the Patriots sneering at all that while seizing their niche high among the true tyrants of yore.
They won again with one of the NFL's lowest payrolls, fewest long-term financial commitments, and best draft situations while now having only a few quite manageable contract issues. Most teams that win big must pay big by having to face draconian contract, free agent, and payroll issues. Not these guys. No team in any sport gets more bang for its buck. Roughly a third of their roster was drafted in either the last three rounds or plucked from the waiver wire. In other words, they get their talent cheap. It's amazing.
Boss Belichick receives all the credit, nor does he deny it. But one suspects his scrupulously low-profile director of player-personnel deserves some at least. Stand up and take a bow, Nick Caserio.
Impossible Dreaming
A sub-theme of this coming Red Sox season, at least for the more sentimental, will be the celebrating of the 50th anniversary of the 1967 season. Whatever nostalgic excesses it generates are much deserved.
There was never a better or more important sports story in this town, at least not in my lifetime.
Having been there for that season-long magic carpet ride, the last wild weeks of the season, and on through the World Series, I'll be claiming the right to bore you with some wistful re-telling in the coming weeks. You've been forewarned!


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Located ¾ mile from the marina, Southern Pines offers nightly, weekly, and monthly rates to those who prefer "roughing" it. For inquires or more information on Southern Pines please contact the Marina Store at (334)644-3881.
Southern Pines Rates
If you would like to leave your camper with us, we also offer a couple of storage options.
Southern Harbor Resort & Marina
1133 County Road 294
Lanett, AL 36863
(334) 644-3881


text: BABYMETAL played for first time at Namba Hatch for "Apocrypha, The White Mass" shows Day 1 on August 8 (Show report) and Day 1 on August 9 (Show report). Day 1 featured the live debut of Syncopation, while Day 2 feature the return of many songs and the return of LEDA as God Of Guitar! Photos below courtesy of BABYMETAL, Kami Band and Pre/Post show photos by many fans featuring: Shiro Saki, Atsumetal, Eee-Metal, Keisan, Maruchian, LG21, and Harutchi.


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
If you wish to file a complaint, please complete the corresponding form below.
The City of Mount Airy Code Enforcement Office handles complaints ranging from junk and nuisance vehicles to minimum housing and overgrown grass. To contact the code enforcement office you may call 336-648-8360. If calling to file a complaint, please provide sufficient details along with a name and phone number where a call may be returned to you. Our Code Enforcement officer is typically in our office 2 days a week, so please be aware of the possible delay in responding to complaints. The staff here on a regular basis will do our best to get the information to the Code Enforcement Officer when he is not here.


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The bulletin board is currently closed to new posts. Instead, why not check out Chris' Twitter and Facebook pages?
Cause after all, we need the invaluable experience of someone who has filed for bankruptcy 4 times over and counting.
I didn't see this live, but from what I hear, he was booed on his way in the door.
My favorite quip is the one about the Miss America pageant._________________"Life's a garden: dig it" - Voltaire (well, he basically said it)
This is all I will say about this, because my view on Trump's 2012 candidacy is extremely simple: If it comes down to Buffoon vs. Buffoon on November 6, I might as well vote for the Republican Buffoon. That is all._________________Scruffy|SRD Books
As a republican, I would vote Obama rather than Trump._________________Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand
-Kurt Vonnegut
Or Palin._________________Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand
-Kurt Vonnegut
Personally, I think Palin and Trump are more useful to the party as a whole in their current roles as leading activists and so on. I wouldn't oppose either of them as President, but I do think that they are both too publicly "damaged" to be an effective candidate against Obama and the Democrats. Honestly, at this point in the game, I'm not sure who we will eventually put up._________________Scruffy|SRD Books
Why would you consider voting for someone who wouldn't shake your hand and has a proven track record of bad business practices?
The line is that man is a germophobe surpassing Howie Mandel. As far as Trump's concerned, we're all too filthy for his pristine dermis to contact. No American, how ever lowly their circumstance, should accept such a snub from a public servant or anyone who aspires to be. Foreign relations would surely suffer as the envoys would certainly take great offense at such treatment from a US political figure.
Trump has run 4 companies into bankruptcy while lining his own pockets and blaming underlings for the mismanagement and managed several failed real estate projects in which everyone lost but him.
Like Palin, Trump's all flash and no substance. Unlike Palin, he has no inclination to claim that he's "one of us", no illusion that he ever was and no desire ever to be._________________To Learn is to Know
To Know is to Love
To Love is our aim
Why should we bother with immortality when we are eternal?
The man is worse that the lingering odor of dog shit after you've wiped it from your shoe.
Sould have took him out with Osama, collaterol damage don'cha kno.... _________________We all enter this world in the same way: naked; screaming; soaked in blood.
But if you live your life right, that kind of thing doesn't have to stop there." Dana Gould
are you kidding me ..... both are ridiculous and I think they are bad for the republican party ...... give me a break .....
"they sure can rally the base" ......whatever ..... they sure can rally the idiots .....
if either one of them is near the ticket Obama is guaranteed 4 more years ..... why do you think MSNBC can't leave them alone ? they are good business for the left ......
If either represents the GOP in 2012 it will be a massacre without precedence._________________Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand
-Kurt Vonnegut
There are three things I've learned never to discuss with people: Religion, Politics and the Great Pumpkin._________________Scruffy|SRD Books
Hey, how about some Great Pumpkin pie?
I just want to say I like Donald Trump and that in my country the guy asking for the birth cert will be payed by the guy going to show it. They are on the same side. Like OJ and the guy who asked him to do the glove.
And what a pleasure it is to speak out loud instead being discreet on FB._________________Your religion, you miserable man, begins in your stomach and ends in a lavatory - Nodar Dumbadze


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(also known as: internal contradiction, logical inconsistency)
Description: In terms of a fallacious argument, two or more propositions are asserted that cannot both possibly be true. In a more general sense, holding two or more views/beliefs that cannot all be true together. Quotes from Yogi Berra (even if apocryphal) are great examples of fallacies, especially inconsistencies.
Example #1:
"I never said most of the things I said." - Yogi Berra
Explanation: I know this requires no explanation, and I don't mean to insult your intelligence, but for consistency's sake, I will explain. If he had said those things, then he said them, which is a contradiction to his claim that he never said them. This is both an internal inconsistency and a logical inconsistency. It is internal because the inconsistency is contained within the statement itself; it doesn't require any other premises or arguments.
Example #2:
"Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded." - Yogi Berra
Explanation: Again, I apologize, but here it goes... If "nobody" went there, then it could not possibly be crowded, since "crowded" implies too many people are there. This is both an internal inconsistency and a logical inconsistency.
Exception: One needs to be able to explain how the beliefs are not inconsistent.
Tip: Think about your beliefs. Are there any inconsistent with each other? Any inconsistent with how you act and what you do?
Logically Fallacious is one of the most comprehensive collections of logical fallacies with all original examples and easy to understand descriptions; perfect for educators, debaters, or anyone who wants to improve his or her reasoning skills.
Get the book, Logically Fallacious by Bo Bennett, PhD by selecting one of the following options:
Enroll in the Mastering Logical Fallacies Online Course. Over 10 hours of video and interactive learning. Go beyond the book!
Enroll in the Fallacy-A-Day Passive Course. Sit back and learn fallacies the easy way—in just a few minutes per day, via e-mail delivery.
Have a podcast or know someone who does? Putting on a conference? Dr. Bennett is available for interviews and public speaking events. Contact him directly here.


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Woooow ! I love it !
Really great job. I added your creation in my fav' ^^
2048x1536 Wallpaper
Artist Comment
Pasted from AP:
Full View plz ^^
Yo everyone.... Back after ages !
Enough lazy body and I'm gonna do some more walls till the end of my summer break ,Atleast that way it feels I didn't waste my summer (^t^) emoticon
This walls was on progress for 1.5 month but things kept coming and pauses couldn't be helped and not lying that I was supper lazy and suddenly ran out of ideas 9(>_>) emoticon
This is could be called my first all vector wall and the thoughest and most brain terminator vector I have done so
far...Also this is my first monochrome wall.
For vector this manga scan of Kururu was used (Damn I love Air Gear and I love this scan))
As you might have noticed 95% of the wall is just the HAIR...I lost half of my eye sight over vectoring the hair but the rest was easier to do !
Called it gray since the presence of black is hardly there and I like this color combination more ..During the wall process I noticed how much I love this combination...u will see more gray style walls in the future !
Overall the vector consist of 1468 layers (Dont remember how many hours it was but surely it's Three digits) : 1213 layers for Hair and the rest went for bag,face,body
My sister suggested the text and its design so credit goes to her
1280x1024 _ other resolutions can be found here (No wide)
yeh ,I'm sorry guys but there is no wide this time..Made this specially suited for my firends Huge CRT.Tried too make a wide too but it just looks so horrible !
Comments and Favs are appreciated...feel free to bombard me with your CritiQs :)
Chosen by gaara-no-shukaku and MapleRose
The beautiful contrast of the blue eyes against the greyscale is what drew me to this at first. Upon fullview, I was amazed by the detail of the vector, especially in the hair. I also love the soft shading of the skin. I think all the work that luches put in this wallpaper is worth it, the end result is awesome!
Proposed by gaara-no-shukaku and highlighted by MapleRose.
More Air Gear Wallpapers
Browse Air Gear Gallery: Recent | Popular.
Nekopix Aug 02, 2009
Woooow ! I love it !
daiegou Aug 02, 2009
Se ve genial, como si solo fuese un recuerdo vago de una mujer bella en nuestra vida :D
dslassey Aug 02, 2009
Hot damn, this is fine craftsmanship!
Everything looks so detailed! - a loooot of time and effort must've been put into this. And the outcome proves that it was all worth it.
I especially love the depth of the eyes - they look so... three dimensional and deep - as if I could be sucked into them at any moment.
Very good work, luches. <3
Bernouli Retired Moderator Aug 02, 2009
Those eyes < 3
DarthTofu Aug 02, 2009
The eyes... are gorgeous <3 Oh my God. :D
very effective use of grayscale, too.
UberDog Aug 03, 2009
I Love the shadow Depth. Nice Monochrome.
ScarXHeart Aug 03, 2009
Love the monochrome! It looks better than in color! Great job on the wallpaper!
M2Vz Aug 03, 2009
aww this is so cute~ ^^
I love the monochrome stuffs <3 nice eyes as well!
+fav :D
merged: 08-03-2009 ~ 06:02am
and I gotta say : the details are amazing @@
Sashinka Banned Member Aug 03, 2009
Like i said in AP awesome work! =^^=
rizacaga Aug 03, 2009
im not a fan of monochrome wall...but this is too damn cool!
ayumi-90 Aug 03, 2009
OMG! woooooow i love it *-* <3 the eyes are sooo beautiful... i think this wall looks better than in color... this monochrome is my favourite, thanks for sharing!
gaara-no-shukaku Aug 03, 2009
Aw, no widescreen version? :\
Anyway, really excellent job with the detailed vector. I loved the shading, especially on her skin. And not to mention the only coloured part - the eyes made this wall striking enough to put on desktop. ^^
Clicker Aug 03, 2009
so pure a girl~~Brilliant work~~thanks a lot....looking forward to more amazing ones~~
Omone Aug 03, 2009
wow! i can clearly see all the effort you put into this wallpaper. all the details. OMG!
And those eyes *-* amazing! I totally adore this wallpaper! Great job!
iwa-c Aug 03, 2009
I love the soft coloring
Gamefish Aug 03, 2009
Great wall, truely a shame that there is no(/won't be a) wide screen version, it'd definitely be great for those sizes..
*crosses fingers, hoping there still might be one in the future*
Alenas Retired Moderator Aug 03, 2009
Haha, found you here, too! You already know I'm in love with this wall so no more words are needed. :P
melymay Aug 03, 2009
Amazing vectoring skills :)
Tsukiyomi Aug 03, 2009
nice work you've got talent
thanks for sharing it
LongBlackAndHairy Aug 03, 2009
wow this is beautiful O.O
MapleRose Retired Moderator Aug 04, 2009
I love the blue against the grey, and all the details in the hair and skin are amazing....
nxia Aug 04, 2009
OMGah! this wall really caught my eyes!
amazing!~ you did so well in making the eyes, skin & hair!
Great work! xD defintely +fav.
Kan-tastic Aug 04, 2009
Nice to see something non-CLAMP in the "Popular Anime Wallpapers" section. I like it.
stupideatshit Aug 04, 2009
cool~ great job.... the eyes... so special.... like it....
thanks for sharing...
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Researchers say that DNA samples taken from Loch Ness suggest the mythical monster could actually be a large eel. more...
January 29 , 1886 : The first successful gas-powered car was patented. more...
Learn something new every day
More Info... by email
A carbide end mill is a type of industrial tool used for cutting and shaping metals and other solid materials. Though its appearance is similar to that of a drill bit, an end mill can cut in all lateral directions as well as axially like a drill bit. End mills are often made from carbide, also called tungsten carbide. Carbide is a very tough and heavy material that can cut metal without breaking or scratching.
The carbide end mill is one of several types of milling tools that are commonly used. End mills are distinguished from other types because they have cutting teeth at one end as well as on the sides. End mills also have one or more "flutes," meaning deep helical grooves that run up and down the cutter.
The helical shape of the flutes gives two advantages. First, as the teeth cut through the material, chips are pulled away from the cutting surface by the rotation of the flutes. Secondly, the helix shape reduces vibration and gives a more polished finish than if the whole cutting tooth impacted the material at once.
Depending on the material that is being milled, and how the milling is to be done, there are many types of carbide end mill, with different shapes and geometries. For instance, if the material to be cut is a hard metal like stainless steel, shallow flutes and a square cutting edge will be optimal. With a softer metal like aluminum, deeper flutes with sharp cutting edges will be advantageous.
High speed steel was the traditional raw material for end mills, but most are now made of tungsten carbide. This is a highly rigid material that is extremely wear-resistant, giving a carbide end mill a longer life than a steel one. Some of the more impressive properties of carbide include its high melting point, at 5,200 degrees Fahrenheit (2,870 degrees C). It also measures about 8.5 to 9.0 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral harness. By comparison, hardened steel only measures seven to eight.
Because of the precision required in its manufacture, a carbide end mill will usually be made by computerized machines. Inside the machine, the mills are ground by abrasive wheels mounted on spindles. The wheels are made with industrial diamond, one of the few materials on earth that is harder than tungsten carbide. Temperatures in these grinding machines are kept at bay with high-pressure lubricants, which include oils, oil-water emulsions, and sometimes plain water.
Post 5
The carbide endmills are much more expensive than HSS endmill. An carbide endmill is a kind of cutting tool used on a milling machine, and mostly on a Computer Numerical Control(CNC) milling machine. According to the different shape of the end, the end mill is separated into different types, like square type endmill, ball type endmill, nose type end mill and so on.
Post 3
I love your site. I am currently writing SEO content for a large industrial supply company. I know nothing about machining or machinery and your site has been a huge help in clarifying what they are and how they're used.
Just thought I'd compliment you on a job well done!
Post 2
Carbide is per se more expensive, per tool. But for longer running jobs carbide comes out to be more efficient. Use end mills specifically designed for aluminum. Two and three flute tools work best for aluminum. HSS is cheaper but won't last as long. Good for short runs, or to get you by.
Post 1
Hello There,
Since i'm kind of new to using a milling machine tooling, i was wondering what are the pro's and cons between using carbide and HSS endmills.
I'm working on aluminum most of the time. Besides,
The carbide endmills are cheaper than HSS's, right?
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!


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Imagine that every time you print a document, it automatically includes a secret code that could be used to identify the printer -- and, potentially, the person who used it. Sounds like something from a spy movie, right?
Unfortunately, this scenario isn't fictional. Most color laser printers and color copiers are designed to print invisible tracking codes across every single printed page of their output. These codes reveal which machine produced a document and, in some cases, when the document was printed or copied.
This is a video tutorial on viewing your printer's secret dots (fingerprints). For the full tutorial on finding out your printer's fingerprint marks, go to Instructables.


text:
Behind the name of this band there are nine distinguished artists of Italy's dance music, circulating from the '80s till now; they decided to combine the tribute to Michael Jackson with charity for the pediatric department of the 'Saint Paul' 's Hospital in Milan. Obviously all Bandance artists lent their work for free.
Singers :
Ryan Paris (unforgettable his 'Dolce Vita'), P. Lion (author of the '80s smash hit 'Happy Children'), Miko Mission (at the top of the charts with 'How Old Are You' ) Vivian B (from Da Blitz), Kim Lukas, Neja, Luca Zeta, Nathalie Aarts (from The Soundlovers), and Be Angel.
The "Guiding Star" CD (printed by Pull Music and distributed by Self Distribution) will be released on June 25th, the same day many radio stations begin simultaneously to program 'Guiding Star' on their frequencies. "Guiding Star", mixed and mastered by me, is the new single of this pop project I'm taking part in.


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MBAStern MBA Graduate Course: Sustainability for Competitive Advantage (BSPA GB 2305.30)
Spring Semester
Applies to supply chain, leadership and social impact specializations.
This course is designed to assist students in developing the knowledge, skills, and perspective they need to understand and address environmental and social challenges in business, so that as leaders they can reduce risk, create competitive advantage, and develop innovative services, products, and processes, while building value for society and protecting the planet. In this course, students will develop an effective leadership perspective through pursuit of the following learning objectives:
- To become familiar with the key environmental and social issues affecting business today
- To understand the evolution of corporate response – from compliance to engagement to innovation
- To begin to develop some of the skills required for leading in this new social and political environment
- To explore the efficiencies and innovations being developed by corporate leaders in pursuit of sustainability
- To explore innovations in finance (true cost accounting net positive value, social impact bonds)
- To become familiar with the latest consumer insight research on sustainability
Business leaders and specialists in the topics will be invited to speak to the students and we will hold a Sustainability Career Panel with Stern alums during the last class.
Questions? Email us at email@example.com


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Rethinking sex offenders: State works to treat, reintegrate sex offenders, who yearn to qualify for release
By Nora G. Hertel Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism | 0 comments
Second of three parts
From the outside, Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center looks like a maximum security prison. Razor wire tops a double fence; the inner layer is electrified. The facility, about a mile from residential neighborhoods, is surrounded by fields, forests and an industrial park.
"That was part of the agreement with the town, before we built here," said Steve Schneider, the facility's security director. Sand Ridge opened in 2001 in Mauston, about 70 miles northwest of Madison. With 537 full-time positions, it is one of the largest employers in the area.
Inside, the building has cream cinder block walls and tiled floors with blue trim. Purchased and patient-made art decorate the hallways. It smells, like a hospital, of disinfectant and cafeteria food. Staff and patients - persons committed as sexually violent - move freely about some of the halls.
Patients wearing green shirts are involved in food service or janitorial work; others wear their own clothes. That is one advantage from when they served their criminal sentences before being involuntarily committed to the state in civil trials.
More than 300 men live at Sand Ridge, committed there by juries and judges throughout the state.
Sand Ridge residents are barred from using metal utensils, to keep them from hurting themselves or others.
Some residents say they had never been diagnosed as mentally ill before their commitment.
"It's beyond me that the state can do that," said Sand Ridge resident Clint, convicted of a sex crime in 1988 and committed in 2008. "Take a criminal case and make it a (mental illness) case," against someone who has already served their time.
Clint, 49, shared his views during an interview with six other Sand Ridge patients in November. Sand Ridge officials asked, as a condition of access, that the offenders interviewed be identified by first name only, because they are considered patients, not prisoners.
During the past 10 years, the population of committed sex offenders has changed. As more men complete their treatment and return to the community, said Sand Ridge director Deborah McCulloch, the patients who remain have more serious mental illnesses or cognitive disabilities.
Ten percent of the facility's current patient population has a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, according to Sand Ridge data. Eighty-two percent have personality disorders; most are considered psychopathic in varying degrees. Nine percent are labeled "mentally retarded."
"In addition to mental illness, many of them have various learning disabilities," said R. Keith Ramsey, Sand Ridge treatment supervisor. "We have a huge challenge here."
The state's sexually violent persons law, passed in 1994, was designed for a smaller pool of offenders. It was later expanded to include persons who had committed less serious offenses.
Initially, the sexual offenders committed under the law were kept in existing state facilities for the mentally ill. But in 2001, the state built Sand Ridge, with 300 beds, at a cost of $39 million. The facility added a wing and 200 additional beds in 2009, but the population has declined since then.
The facility had a budget of $50.9 million in fiscal 2012, up from $37.3 million in fiscal 2007.
Poor work histories
At Sand Ridge, patients are encouraged to mingle and socialize, but are subject to strict rules, including a ban on sexual activity. Staff say the patient population is generally passive, but there are times when higher-functioning patients may not relate well with lower-functioning ones.
There have been six incidents of patient-against-patient physical assault since Sand Ridge began tracking this in mid-2011, but no incidents of sexual assault.
"We have to protect patients from each other," Ramsey said.
Sand Ridge also has a work program for patients who help staff the kitchens and complete janitorial work. They start at $2 an hour and can only receive wage increases as they progress in treatment.
"Many patients have very poor work and education histories," McCulloch said.
Some of the patients interviewed would like to see more vocational training. But there are no trade programs, such as construction or electrical training.
Clint, who works in the Sand Ridge kitchen, hopes to build his résumé and leadership skills. While he likes some of the treatment, including group work on mindfulness and learning to slow his thinking to make better decisions, he finds some of the program repeats Department of Corrections material.
Still, he complies because he wants to qualify for supervised release.
"As far as the law goes, we're here for treatment," Clint said. "So it's helpful that way, to get significant progress in treatment."


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Under the leadership of Lee Kwan Yew, and those with whom he worked, Singapore became the only country in Asia to achieve a higher per capita GDP than the US by every measure.
Calculated at current exchange rates by 2013, the latest World Bank data, Singapore's per capita GDP was 104% of the US. Calculated at Parity Purchasing Powers (PPPs) Singapore's GDP was 148% of the US.
Figure 1
Emphasis has been given to Lee Kwan Yew's 'authoritarian' politics but what was the fundamental basis of his economic success? What lesson can be drawn from Singapore's 'economic miracle'?
Every major study shows that Singapore's development was based overwhelmingly on accumulation of capital and labour - with only a tiny contribution coming from productivity growth (technically from Total Factor Productivity - TFP).
This was first found in the 1990s by the UK based economist Alwyn Young.1 This finding has been repeated by every major study since. The latest, by Vu Minh Khuong of the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore is shown in the chart. It found that of Singapore's economic growth 59% came from capital accumulation, 34% from growth of labour inputs, and only 8% from productivity (TFP) increases. 2
Figure 2
In short every major study finds that Singapore achieving the highest level of economic development in Asia, a higher level of per capita GDP than the US, was based on massive accumulation first of capital, and second of labour, with productivity (TFP) growth playing a tiny, almost no, role.
To put it in blunt but accurate terms, Lee Kwan Yew showed by Singapore's economic development that in achieving a higher level of per capita GDP than the US quantity was far more important than quality.
1. Young, A. (1995, August). The tyranny of numbers: confronting the statistical reality of the East Asian growth experience. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 110, 641-680.
2. Vu, K. M. (2013). The Dynamics of Economic Growth - Policy Insights from Comparative Analyses in Asia. Cheltenham, UK and Northampton, M.A., US: Edward Elgar.


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UBC Public Scholars Award
Annual Value
Degree Level
psi applications for the 2019/20 period Are now closed. The 5th cohort of public scholars will be announced in september!!
applications for the 6th cohort of public scholars will start in march 2020.
This award is part of the UBC Public Scholars Initiative (PSI) which intends to build connections, community, and capacity for doctoral students who are interested in explicitly linking their doctoral work to an arena of public benefit and integrating broader and more career-relevant forms of scholarship into their doctoral education process.
Up to $10,000 twice, for a total of $20,000 per student is available to support innovative/collaborative scholarship which the student would otherwise be unable to pursue. Funding can be used for:
- A research allowance (including allowance for professional development or travel relevant to the scholarly work)
- Student stipend, if the student's current funding source would not allow the alternative project(s)
Every year funding is available for up to 30-40 new students . Students may be eligible for renewal for a second year (pending new PSI funding).
- UBC Vancouver doctoral students (PhD, EdD, and DMA) in years 1-5
- Applicants must have completed no more than 48 months of doctoral study as of 31 August 2019
- Applicants must be registered in a UBC doctoral program as of 1 September 2019
- Applicants in their 6th year (48 to 60 months of doctoral study) will be accepted only in the most exceptional circumstances
Requirements for all funded students:
- Submission of a report at the end of their first (and if applicable, second) year of funding
- Presentation of their work at a Network event PhDs Go Public.
All students, faculty, and collaborators will be asked to complete a questionnaire at the end of their funding/involvement. Student dissertations and student completion and career outcomes will also be reviewed as part of the assessment of this pilot initiative.
Evaluation Criteria
- Student's past accomplishments and future promise. Breadth of interest and accomplishment will be important, as well as an indication of the student's fit with the proposed project.
- Project's relationship to PSI goals, which is to encourage and enable a broadened conception of doctoral education, such that:
- Students gain experience in the environments and types of scholarship they may productively engage in post-graduation
- Students' work is evaluated as part of the degree, ensuring it is of the highest quality, and signaling that the university considers these diverse forms of scholarship worthy of recognition
- Students gain enhanced career opportunities and they foster positive public perception of the value of the doctorate
- Students can contribute to the public good in diverse ways through rigorous scholarship
- Quality of proposed scholarship. The following factors will be taken into account:
- The work requires a high level of expertise in a discipline(s) and/or methodology
- The goals are clearly defined, realistic, and identify important questions
- Adequate preparation for and understanding of the subject is indicated
- Appropriate methods are proposed to achieve the goals
- Plans to document and disseminate the work are appropriate and effective
- The work has significance and is likely to contribute positively to the public good
- Need for alternative funding sources
- Consideration will also be given to breadth of the initiative across disciplines
Application Procedures
First download and read the instructions carefully. When you're ready:
Adjudication Procedures
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will convene a multi-disciplinary adjudication committee to review eligible applications and select funding recipients. Funding decisions will be announced in the second half of June.
Profiles of Award Holders
Further Information
For questions about the Public Scholars Initiative and application procedures, contact Public Scholarship Coordinator Serbulent Turan: email@example.com


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The meeting will discuss Vyapar- Are Indian businesses ready for the changing times?, and is expected to bring together leading entrepreneurs from all over India, who own and operate the automotive retail business for passenger and commercial vehicle manufacturers.
The aim is to create a forum of dialogue and inspiration for the diaspora acknowledging the change of laws, taxes and ecosystem.
This is the first time that this conference is being held at such a large scale, and at this precarious juncture in the Indian economic landscape, and is likely to benefit over 2.5 million people employed by these dealerships pan-India.
The evening will aim to show that being an entrepreneur is not just one role, played only as a chief of an organization or function - it is rather a combination of roles individual plays - at work, at home, in society and as a citizen.
Entrepreneurship is not just financial management, it is rather the sum of values, experiences, learnings from failures and an ability to put it all together to make a difference in one's own life and that of others.
The meeting is likely to witness over 500 established businessmen and women from over 2,342 cities together under one roof.
Also Read: Three cess slabs for mid-sized cars, luxury cars & SUVs
The FADA AGM aims to bring together the traditional and the new age entrepreneurs who have determined, fallen, risen and achieved beyond their means with the changing times. These are icons which the FADA fraternity will look forward to learning from and sharing with.


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TYLT Charging Pad
The TYLT VÜ is the perfect wireless charger for your Qi™ compatible phone. Its free positioning technology and large charging area allows you to simply place your phone onto the VÜ and let it charge no matter how it's placed– portrait, landscape or even upside-down. We designed the VÜ at a 45-degree angle so you can access your calls or texts comfortably while the phone charges.
$ 36.50
- 3 Coil Wireless charger for all Qi-Compatible phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S6, Nexus 6, Motorola Turbo, Lumia 920, and more.
- Rapidly charges your phone as quickly as a traditional plug-in charger.
- 45 degree angle is set for optimal viewing while your phone is charging.
- Features a LED light to indicate charging status.
- Available in 4 bright colors to brighten up your home or office.


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All bail bond companies, including Armstrong Bail Bonds, are regulated by the California Department of Insurance. This government organization has set the standardized fee, or "premium," a bail bondsman can charge at 10%, meaning that if a defendant's bail is set at $5,000, the cost of a bail bond company's premium is required, by law, to be no more and no less than $500. The Department of Insurance makes certain exceptions in the case senior citizens, active members of the United States military, union members, and defendants that have secured legal representation—for these individuals, a bail bondsmen may legally charge 8% of the total bail amount. Take Note: bail bond premiums are always non-refundable, and if the defendant fails to appear in court (called a "forfeiture"), the person who purchased the bail bond (indemnitor) must pay the bail bondsman the total amount of the bail.
How Armstrong Bail Bonds Evaluates Risk
Because a bail bond company is essentially using their own money to pay for the total amount of your friend or loved one's bail, bail bondsmen must evaluate the risk before writing each bond. Risk is evaluated based on a number of different factors, including:
- The Nature of the Offense
- The Criminal Background of the Defendant
- The Potential Jail Time Facing the Defendant
- The Relationship Between Indemnitor & Defendant
- Employment Status of Indemnitor
- Indemnitor's Credit Rating & Financial Situation
- Indemnitor's Residency Status (Homeowner vs Renter)
- Assets & Collateral of Either Indemnitor or Defendant
- Bail Bond Payment Method
Negotiating Bail Bond Payment
When applying for a bail bond, both the bail bond company and the indemnitor must agree on how the 10% premium will be paid. Applicants should always be honest about their financial position; even if you have limited funds, Armstrong Bail Bonds will work with you to develop a payment plan or leverage your assets (collateral) to get your friend or family member out of jail as quickly as possible. Types of collateral may include:
- Property
- House
- Vehicle
- Jewelry
- Electronics
Mutual trust is paramount in the bail bond industry, and we will constantly strive to find an equitable arrangement for all parties.
Bail Bond Payment Options
Armstrong Bail Bonds provides several flexible bail bond payment options. If you are unable to pay the 10% premium upfront, Armstrong will work with you to develop a custom payment plan based on your individual financial situation. Call today to speak with one of our friendly bail bond agents.
Cash Or Personal Check
Armstrong gladly accepts cash payments, personal checks, or certified money orders.
Major Credit Cards
Pay with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, or online through PayPal.
Flexible Financing
Unsure about how to pay? Armstrong offers financing options for those who qualify.
Discounted Rates
Armstrong offers discounts to seniors, union members, and active members of the U.S. Military.


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COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- A stream of stars in a distant galaxy is evidence of an unexpected cosmic collision and merger between two dwarf galaxies, Danish astrophysicists say.
The galaxy Andromeda II is one of a swarm of small satellite galaxies surrounding the Andromeda Galaxy, a spiral galaxy like our Milky Way just 2.3 million light years away.
Movement of some stars in the small galaxy -- less than 1 percent of the Milky Way -- tells us that what we are observing is the remnant of a merger between two dwarf galaxies, scientists at the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen reported Sunday.
Mergers between galaxies of such low mass have not been observed before, they said.
"Stars in a dwarf galaxy often move around at random, but this is not exactly the case for Andromeda II," astrophysicist Nicola C. Amorisco said. "In particular we could see that a stream of stars is moving around differently than the rest in a very coherent way."
The rotating stream of stars in the galaxy is entirely made up of old stars and their properties and movements suggest a dramatic cosmic event, they said.
"What we are seeing is the remains of a collision between two dwarf galaxies, which had a dramatic effect on the dynamics of the remnant," Amorisco said.
Mergers between such small galaxies would have been common in the galaxy formation process in the early universe, but are rare at present times and had not been observed before, the scientists said.


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Tuesday, August 21, 2007
more on the "horriblest" hike ever - june 07
Posted by April at 7:22 PM 2 comments
Thursday, August 16, 2007
It's gone.
I went home at lunch to meet a couple who wanted to look at my couch, and they bought it.
I said "you're taking it now?"
They said "yes."
"oh...I guess I didn't think it would be right away..."
They picked it up and carried it out and it's gone.
When they left, I sat down to listen to a message from Mary who had called when the couple was looking at the couch. I called her back and when I began to talk, my voice echoed in the empty room.
And I started to cry. I couldn't talk...it's sentimental, I didn't get to sit on it one last time...and it's gone. And, it's only a couch. But it represents so much.
Then, I read this on my friend Kristin's blog:
Gary Haugen of International Justice Mission, in his recent book wrote, "and charged his readers to be able to look the next generation in the eyes and tell them confidently, that we did not sit idly by, we gave up convenience and comfort to follow our loving God of justice into a world where suffering and oppression abounds, and did something."
And I cried some more. I cried because I'm a rich white American who cries when she sells her couch. I cried because I sold my couch and would never relax in its plush, deep loveliness again. I cried because everything is changing. I cried because I hope that I can look those I love in the eyes and say that I gave this up because I love Jesus, I believe in His Kingdom more than I believe in anything else in this world. I do it for those I love...I do it for those I have not yet met. I lay it all out...and down...in my empty echo of an apartment.
Posted by April at 4:06 PM 4 comments
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
moving on...
Last night Suzanne and Sarah came to look at my stuff to see if they wanted any of it. They did...my table and chairs, side table, rug, curtains, glasses, and TV stand. For which I am so grateful. And then I woke up early this morning (not sure what time because I refused to let myself actually look at the time for fear I wouldn't be able to fall back to sleep...which was slightly ridiculous because I couldn't fall back to sleep anyway, but I never looked at the clock!...) with my heart beating soo fast. Letting go can be hard to do.
I told the ladies in accounting that I woke this morning with a speeding heart and the little Polish lady said, "You are too young for this! If it continues I will call the doctor and ask for prozac!" I thought a bottle of wine might do just as nicely. She agreed...they are going to take me to lunch before I finish working here on Aug. 30.
At Geraldine's this weekend(Geraldine's is a cafe in Seattle, not anyone I know), I cried with my friends Amanda, Susan, and Jenny...anticipating the leaving, the saying good-bye, the letting go and moving on that is all wrapped up in going to Romania. I'm sure I'll have more on this later.
But for now, here are a few of the items I still have to sell...along with the greatest yogurt ever made (I've totally been craving it and cheese and crackers). If you can get Brown Cow cream top yougurt where you live, do so. You will thank me.
And these lovely little pictures of Brynne who is getting so big so fast. When she smiles at you it does something to your heart...
Posted by April at 1:55 PM 4 comments
Friday, August 03, 2007
Wise Sayings of Ava-LouRellie
I was getting in my car the other night with my niece Ava(she's 4), when out of the blue she declared: I hate Starbucks! They are taking over the world! It was quite random because at the moment we were in her isolated yard not even talking about Starbucks. I laughed and asked her why she disliked the corporate giant so much. She said: Because they are taking over the world. How do you know this, I inquired? She said: I just KNOWED it...and for the next 5 minutes went into length about losing all the Coffee Peoples which are being replaced by Starbucks...
Ava is also famous for coining the term 'figurized,' a combo of realized and figured...she really uses it as an actual word. She belives it is a word. We figurize that it works well and are adapting in into our everyday vernacular.
Finally, on the same night she monologued regarding Starbucks, I bought her some Reeses Pieces...which we call yumminess (I coined that term...wonder where Ava gets it...) We were all indulging in my sister's family basement, when Jonah decided to hit Ava over the head with a light saber (he was just super excited...no malice inteded). Still, it hurt and she cried. With parental units otherwise occupied, I scooped her into my lap and rubbed her head. I said: Would some yumminess make you feel better? Yes, she said. So, I gave her a few. After eating them she said: I think a few more yumminess would make me feel all better, maybe 1 or 3 or 2 or 5... I gave her a few more, she sighed, leaned back and said: yumminess feels everything better.
Yes it does...it certainly does. Yumminess anyone?
Posted by April at 10:16 AM 4 comments


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valentine day movie subtitles english
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Getting Started with Astrophotography
Astrophotographs are among the most beautiful images around. They are full of mystery, colour, and objects that inspire us with their beauty, and their complexity.
Getting started with astrophotography requires only a camera and your imagination.
However, you will soon find that your images could be better, with some extra equipment, some post processing, some new skills. And, depending on your enthusiasm, your budget, and the time you can devote to it, could lead you down a path to creating amazing images, and definitely collecting a lot of pieces of really cool kit.
In this post I'm going to get you started with photographing the Milky Way. There is a lot more to it than this, and many more options for subjects to photograph.
I am an amateur astronomer who takes a few pictures. I am a raw beginner when it comes to making great astrophotography images, but I have been doing astronomy and photography as a hobby for over 25 years. So what you will learn in this blog post are the very first steps, and the tips I have learned over the years.
My start with astrophotography began with a lot of failure. Then I went on a short Canon workshop and learned everything I needed to know to take me from failure to: "Wow, I can actually do this." The image above is one that I took on this workshop.
Let me start with these three pieces of advice:
- Be happy with the images you end up with.
- Don't compare your work to the work of professionals.
- Make a better image next time.
If you are just starting out you'll make rubbish images. Really, lots of images that you will want to throw away. But anything worth doing is worth doing badly at first. Examine what you do, learn from it, and do better. Every great astrophotographer started out that way.
I've sprinkled some of my images through this post. They aren't brilliant, but I'm amazed that I can make them at all.
I'll start with some basic tips for your first attempts at astrophotography. These aren't the only ways to do things, and there is plenty of great advice out there on the Internet. I've linked to a few of the best at the bottom.
Getting Started
As I said, I've been doing astronomy and photography for decades. Even I had thought that astrophotography was far to technical for me to get close to. I was wrong about that, but I have no doubt that my experience with both these hobbies helped me to get going quickly. So let me share some of the things I knew before I went into this so that you can get a head start too.
In this discussion I'm talking mostly about photographing the Milky Way. These are often called landscape astrophotography. There is a lot of scope too make amazing images, and you don't need a telescope. Most of the concepts apply to using a telescope as well.
You can't do photography without a camera. I have 7 cameras. 1x iPhone, 1x iPad, 2x DSLR (one old and one newer), 1x Point and shoot, one on my laptop and a USB webcam. I could do astrophotography with any of these. My newer DSLR will give me the best results, but getting started with any of the other cameras is easy.
Processing software
There are plenty of photography processing software around, and some is even free. I use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Lightroom has a great iPhone app that lets me do a lot of work without my laptop.
'll do some reviews of software at another time. Here is a good list of free processing software.
Whatever software you use there are some basics you'll need to learn. I'll take you through these in the processing section later. But there is a lot more you can do than the basics.
Every piece of software has a learning curve. You'll benefit from understanding how it works, so take your time. There are plenty of experts and tutorials out there. I'll talk about processing in general later, so check out how you do these functions in your software.
Understanding photography
Understanding some terminology and concepts in photography will help you make better images.
How a digital camera works: Light is reflected of any object you are looking at, this light passes from the object, through the lens in your camera onto an electronic device that senses the light and turns it into data. These data are recorded in your camera.
It's just like your eye, which instead of electronic your retina is biological. It senses light and turns it into neural impulses to be recorded in your brain.
Lenses: In order to create a coherent picture out of the light coming from objects the light needs to be focused. The camera lens focuses the light onto the sensor.
You see the world because your eye lens focuses the light on your retina. For those of us with less good vision, our glasses or contact lenses make adjustments to the incoming light to compensate for the inadequacies of our own eye lens.
Lenses also magnify your subject, making it look closer, or widen the view with a wide angle lens. Here is an example of a very wide angle and can do other functions such as fisheye to get a very wide of the scene in front of you. Here us an example of very wide angle astrophotography.
Aperture: This is the opening that allows the light in onto the sensor. This is usually a function of your lens. The wider the aperture, the more light comes in. This is important in astrophotography when you are dealing with very low light. This is referred to as a f number and the lower the number the wider the opening.
Its also the same with your eye. Your pupil will dilate (create a bigger opening) in low light conditions to let more light through to your retina.
Shutter speed: Your camera sensor will collect light for as long as it is exposed to light. The more light it collects, the more detail you will have on your image. The camera shutter speed is how long the sensor is open to light, and how long it should collect light data for.
ISO: The ISO is a technical reference to how sensitive your camera sensor is. You might think that a more sensitive sensor will make a better image, but it isn't that simple. Greater sensitivity also creates more digital noise in your camera sensor. So there is a balance to find – enough sensitivity to capture a great image, and not too much to generate noise. Good cameras will have better performance at higher ISO.
White Balance: This relates to how your camera perceives the wavelengths of light as it records them. You've probably taken pictures at night and said: "It didn't look like that". This is because your eyes (actually your brain) make an adjustment for the general colour of the light in the scene you are looking at. Your camera may have an automatic white balance, which means it will adjust when it is in a room lit by fluorescent light differently to a sunlit scene. For astrophotography it is better to be sure and set it yourself.
File Format: If your camera can shoot in RAW, and you have processing software that will open RAW then you should shoot astrophotography in RAW. If not, you will be shooting and processing in JPG. The bigger the file the more you will be able to do with it. So if your camera has options for the size of the file it records, select the largest file size. Remember that bigger file sizes will fill up your storage space more quickly.
The Sky
When you are photographing the sky there are a few things to remember. These things will affect the outcome of your image. Understanding them will improve your images.
Long exposures need stability
You will be taking long exposures, whether that is using an app like Nightcap or Manual, or even Lighroom camera to control your mobile phone camera, or using a DSLR, the longer the exposure you can take, the more starlight you will have to work with. But you can't take anything useful with a long exposure unless you stabilise your camera. If you don't have a tripod to support your camera, here are some ideas:
Lay it on a flat surface, with the camera lens pointing up. Remember you can set the camera to timer so that you can set it off and position it flat. You can also take images with the side buttons, but be careful not to move your phone.
Fold paper into wedges and stabilise with tape to get different angles.
Use tape to stick it to something stable, such as a post or a wall. You may need some paper wedges to make this work too. I use tape to with my iPhone and tripod.
It's possible without a tripod, but easier with one.
The Sky Moves*
Even a perfectly placed solid tripod won't move with the sky. You'll need to account for the movement of the sky during your exposure. The wider your angle, and the wider your aperture, the longer your exposure can be.
There is a calculation which I've included below when I talk about exposure.
You might also want to photograph star trails. This is a specific type of astrophotography and can be beautiful. Timelapse techniques take advantage of the sky moving and can look amazing. There is a stunning example from Mark Gee below.
*Technically, it's the Earth that is moving. But we perceive it as the sky moving.
Objects are small
The moon is the largest single object you will be imaging. It is 0.5 degrees in size (sky sizes are measured in degrees which are part of a circle. There are 360 degrees around the entire horizon). Through a camera lens, the Moon is tiny.
Telescopes are just big lenses. With a good telephoto lens you can take images of the moon and some other large objects such as Andromeda, and constellations, but you'll need a very big lens to capture those lovely cloudy images of the Orion Nebula and Pleades.
You can use binoculars to capture the moon and bright sky objects, even with a mobile phone. Make sure they are fixed to a tripod and use manual settings to get the best exposure.
That doesn't mean that astrophotography is out of reach. Some of the best images are of the Milky Way. This surrounds us, and the opportunities to make amazing images of it are endless. Many professional astrophotographers capture only the Milky Way.
If you are in the right latitudes, that is far enough North or South, Aurora are also amazing subjects. I don't see them from where I am, but I have seen them and wish I had known how to take images of them.
The Milky Way and Aurora are great subjects for mobile phones, small cameras and wide angle lenses.
Remember that all the skills you learn in creating amazing photographs of the Milky Way will give you a head start when you can get access to equipment that takes you deeper into the sky.
Whatever your camera equipment, your images are going to be disappointing if you don't get the focus right. You can't fix focus in processing.
I wear multi-focal glasses and focus is a bit tricky with those. I don't wear them when I am viewing through my telescope. Instead I focus for my eyes. But focusing with a camera has to be just right.
For most phone and tablet devices you simply touch the screen on the object you want to focus on. When the sky is dark this can be a bit of a problem.
You'll need to understand how your camera works to focus, and if you can focus manually, or focus automatically and lock the focus. This is also the case with exposures. Setting manual exposures will get you the best results.
Focus on a star using a DSLR Screen
Do this on your tripod if you can because it's tricky to hold the camera steady and do things on the screen at the same time
Your camera will now be focused on the stars. Try not to bump it out of focus.
The Sky is bright
There is a lot more light in the sky than your eyes perceive. Your camera sensor is a lot better at collecting light, so expect to be surprised, and disappointed by what you see.
When you process your images you'll see shapes and structures in your the Milky Way that you didn't know where there. This is one of the surprising things about astrophotography, you can find all kinds of exciting shapes and colours in your images that you could not see with your eyes.
You'll also discover that the sky is full of light that does not come from the stars. Finding a dark sky is difficult when you live near population centres.
You'll discover that your images are filled with upspilled light, glows of towns on the horizon and light reflecting off haze, smoke, or seaspray in the air. We can manage this through processing and you can still take great images. When you get out into a dark sky you will be ready to take those really special shots.
3 Steps to a Great Photo
Time to get down to the business of taking an image. You've done the theory. Here is the practice.
Firstly – start slowly. Practice. Try out different settings. See what works with your equipment and your software. Learn by trial and error.
Secondly – Share your images, even if you think they are terrible. In a good community you'll get feedback from people to help you improve your images.
Practice makes perfect, and feedback helps.
The three steps to a great photo:
- Plan – Object, Time, location, equipment, exposures
- Image – setup, focus, image, review, redo.
- Process – Exposure, contrast, colours,
STEP 1 Plan
Making a plan is always the first step to success. You want to be spending your time taking images of the sky, not fussing with equipment, or figuring out exposures. The more images you are able to take, the more likely you are of getting something you are excited about. Here are some places to start for your plan:
What are you going to take an image of? Is it the sky at night from your backyard? Or are you planning something more spectacular? This is where you get to be creative. Reproduce an image that you have seen, or thing of a place nearby that will have a skyscape that will inspire your creativity.
When will you take the image? Do you need to be ready on a special day and time, for example for a meteor shower, or a conjunction?
Where will you take your images from? Can you get to a darker site, or are you just practicing so from your suburb is OK?
What gear will you need? Create a checklist to ensure that you take everything with you. If you ever forget something, add it to your checklist. I say this from experience. Here are some things your checklist might include:
- Your Plan
- Charged batteries
- Battery backup
- Space on memory card, or a spare card
- Notebook
- Red light (for reading and not messing with your night vision)
- Warm clothes
- Tape
- Tripod
- Camera
What shots will you take? How many exposures will you need? Do you need props or tools for light painting (brightening part of the landscape to get it exposed in the shot)? What shots at different exposures will you take? How much are you experimenting? What will be a perfect shot for the night?
You'll get better at planning as you learn what works and what doesn't with your equipment. Remember that it is easy to take shots with a digital camera, and the more options you give yourself in processing, the better your chances of a good shot.
Basic Settings for DSLR Landscape Astrophotography
Most good cameras can accommodate these settings. Some mobile phone apps will do a better job than the standard camera. Learn what your equipment can do and work with it.
Calculate your Maximum Shutter Speed
500 / (lens focal length x crop factor)
This will give you the maximum shutter speed in seconds before star trails will appear in your image.
Exposure guide.
If you've got this far in the blog post you won't be just pointing and clicking, you are prepared to work for a good image. Getting the exposure right is much easier if you have this starting point.
The exposure guide above will give you the basic settings for your camera. All of these assume that you can set them manually in your camera.
The maximum shutter speed is dependent on your lens, and your camera sensor. If your shutter is open too long you will get star trails. This is only good if you want star trails.
If your camera is not full frame you'll need to know the crop factor. This is the difference in scale between a full frame (same as 35mm film frame) camera sensor and the one on your camera.
For my DSLR the crop factor is 1.6. Others are 1.5. For an Iphone is it 7.21
Remember to adjust the calculation if you are using a zoom lens. If you zoom in your maximum shutter speed will be lower.
For my camera this is 17.3s. For my iPhone this is 16.6s. For my camera on my telescope it is less than a second!
With all this set up on your camera you are ready to choose your angle and view, and take your picture.
I usually do a test image, and review the settings, before working through my plan, just to make sure I have everything right. I also manage my camera, includign shutter release, from my iPhone after connecting it to the camera. This reduces the chances of wobbling the camera when I press the button.
STEP 3 Process your Image
Using the best screen you have open your image in your chosen processing app.
The software you are using can probably do a lot more than you need. I'll give you the things to start with. Get familiar with the changes that these settings make. Play around with them. The best settings will vary with your subject, exposure, camera, the sky, and your image preferences.
If you are working with a RAW image you have control over white balance and more pixels to work with. RAW is great for astrophotography because no light is lost through compression.
This is a brief checklist of what you can do to make your image pop, whatever format you are using. The easiest way is to adjust the settings until the image looks right. Then note the settings to save time on your next image.
- If you are in RAW adjust the White Balance if you need to.
- Using the "whites", scale it up until the stars pop out and you are happy with how it looks.
- Using the "blacks", scale this down until the sky is dark and shapes are visible.
- I like to increase the contrast, and changing the brightness can make a difference.
- If your software has a "Clarity" option, then adjust this a little. Be careful not to add noise, you'll see this when you zoom in.
- If your sky has been very washed out using "de-haze" can also make a difference.
- Sharpen and reduce noise if these help.
There is a lot more that you can do, such as modifying a part of your image only, but this should result in a great image.
Remember that this is your image, and your creativity, and your eye. Make the image that you love to look at. Then share it with others. I have no doubt that other people will be surprised by your work.
At Our Wide Sky we love to see the images of people who are getting started with Astrophotography. Share with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. I've love to hear about your experience with these techniques.
Below are some of the best resources I could find on the Internet. There are plenty more out there so consider this a starting point.
Sky and Telescope: Removing Light Pollution from your Astro Images
Lonely Speck: Astrophotography Tutorials
Lonely Speck: Astrophotography 101
Lonely Speck: Focusing at night
Lonely Speck: Processing Milky Way Images in Lightroom
Mark Gee: Photographing the night sky
Improve Photography: Ultimate Guide to Editing Milky Way Images
Peta Pixel: Picking a great lens for Milky Way Photography
Canon Australia: Astrophotography
Iphone Photography School: The Night Sky (lots of annoying popus, but a good resource)