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Cuba Abstracts
The Third International Ophiolite Workshop of IGCP-649 Project successfully held in Cuba
During April 3rd-14th, the Third International Ophiolite Workshop of International Geoscience Programme вҖңDiamonds and Recycled MantleвҖқ (IGCP-649) was successfully held in Havana, Cuba. After the workshop, participants took part in the field trip of the MayarГӯ-Baracoa ophiolites and related chromitites in eastern Cuba. This Third International Ophiolite Workshop is jointly organized by the IGCP-649 Project Team and the Cuban Geological Survey. This workshop is one special session of the VII Cuba Earth Science Convention. Since 1980s, diamond, moissanite and other unusual minerals were successively reported to be recovered from peridotites and chromitites in ophiolites of different ages and locations. Under this background, the goal of the International Ophiolite workshop is to investigate the composition and evolution of deep mantle in the oceanic lithosphere by comparing study of ophiolites in different orogenic belts all over the world, and also to provide new ideas for chromitite prospecting and exploration by studying the deep-mantle origin of ophiolite and chromitite.
About 100 scientists from China, America, Germany, Canada, Russia, Turkey, Egypt, Cuba and countries around Cuba attended this ophiolite workshop of IGCP-649. After the workshop, 40 scientists participated in the field trip about the eastern Cuban ophiolites. At the beginning of the workshop, Dr. Enrique Castellanos Abella (Director of Cuba Ministry of Energy and Mines), Dr. Kenya E. NГәГұez Cambra (President of Cuba Geological Society), and Dr. Angelica Isabel Lianes Castro (Cuba Geological Survey) made the opening speeches. Angelica Isabel Lianes Castro and other members from Cuba Geological Survey organized the field investigation and introduction.
During the workshop, scientists from different countries reported the research status and progress on ophiolites of different tectonic settings in different locations of the world and also discussed the problems existing in the study of ophiolites and chromitites. Manuel Iturralde Vinent from Cuba Geological Survey systematically introduced the geological evolution of Cuba and the Cuban ophiolites, from which Chinese geologists who came to Cuba for the first time had benefited a lot. Dr. Jingsui Yang from Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CAGS) reported the progress on the studies of diamond and other unusual minerals recovered from different ophiolites and proposed a new name of вҖңLuobusa-typeвҖқ diamond for the diamond recovered from ophiolite. The new name of вҖңLuobusa-typeвҖқ diamond is named after the Luobusa ophiolite, from which the first вҖңLuobusa-typeвҖқ diamond was recovered. Michael Wiedenbeck from German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) introduced the advanced analytical technology which can be used in the study of ophiolites and chromitites. This workshop provided a precious opportunity for researchers working on ophiolites and chromitites to study and communicate with each other.
Cuba situated in Central America has experienced a complicated geological process including the generation and metamorphism of oceanic crust, the growth of island arc and the final emplacement of oceanic lithospheric relicts. Three major ophiolite-bearing units exists in Cuba including: 1) the northern ophiolitic belt; 2) the metamorphic basement of the Cretaceous volcanic arc terrane; and 3) tectonic slices in the Escambray massif (one of the metamorphic terranes) in Central Cuba. However, over 90% of the oceanic lithosphere remains in Cuba are included in the Northern ophiolitic belt (NOB). The NOB is mainly a large mГ©lange that stretches 1000 km along the northern Cuba, whose blocks are composed mainly by ophiolitic suite components, floating in a serpentinitic matrix. The age of this ophiolitic belt is thought to be Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous. Tectonized ultramafic rocks and cumulative rocks ate the most common lithologies, whereas the basalts and sedimentary rocks are poorly exposed. Only few age data are available for the NOB rocks.
MayarГӯ-Baracoa ophiolite in the eastern segment of the northern ophiolitic belt is the main chromitite mining area in Cuba. MayarГӯ-Baracoa ophiolite is mianly composed the Moa-Baracoa massif in the east and the MayarГӯ-Cristal massif in the west. The Moa-Baracoa massif covers an area of 1500 km2. This ophiolitic massif mainly composed of mantle peridotites and the Moho-transition zone rocks. MayarГӯ-Cristal massif is the most important high-Al chromitite mining area in Cuba, which has around 100 ore bodies. Of these ore bodies, Mercedita chromitite is the biggest one, having over 5 million tons of chromitite. The MayarГӯ-Cristal massif is about 1200 km2. This massif is dominated by mantle peridotites with the thickness of 5 km. MayarГӯ-Cristal mainly have two big high-Cr chromitite ore bodies with ore reserves of over 200 thousand tons. Both high-Cr and high-Al chromitites occur in the Havana-Matanza ophiolite of western Cuba, while only high-Cr chromitite occurs in Tibet, China. Metamorphic rocks including eclogite, amphibolite and antigoritite can be found in Cuban ophiolitic belt, which may have recorded the metamorphic history of Cuban ophiolites. During the field trip, peridotite, chromitite, mafic dike, cumulate gabbro, pegmatite and pillow lava in MayarГӯ-Baracoa ophiolites in eastern Cuba are investigated in detail. Mafic dike rocks in these ophiolites were sampled systematically for geochemical studies and age dating. Large amounts of peridotites and chromitites samples from MayarГӯ-Baracoa ophiolitic belts were collected for future mineral separation work and geochemical studies.
IGCP-649 is a global research programme, which is undertaken by Center for Advanced Research on Mantle (CARMA) of Institute of Geology, CAGs. This project will conduct extensive and systematic researches on peridotites, chromitites and related unusual minerals (diamond, moissanites and other unusual minerals) from different ophiolites in global orogenic belts, to discuss and understand new scientific problems such as the formation and origin of deep-mantle minerals in oceanic lithosphere, the origin of carbon source for вҖңLuobusa-typeвҖқ diamond, the evolution of earth mantle and the dynamic process of ophiolite emplacement. IGCP-649 project lasting for five years (2015-2020) were awarded and sponsored by UNESCO and IUGS. In August of 2015, the First Ophiolite Workshop was held in Xining of Qinghai Province, China. After the workshop, participants were organized to investigate the Early Paleozoic ophiolite and high-pressure metamorphic belt in Qilian Mountain. The Second Ophiolite Workshop was held in Cyprus. Field trip was organized to investigate the world-renowned Troodos ophiolite.
Simplified geological map of Cuba
Kenya E. NГәГұez Cambra, President of Cuba Geological Society, making the opening speech
Famous geologist Dr. Manuel Iturralde Vinent from Cuba Geological Survey making introduction of Cuba Geology
Participants listening to Michael WiedenbeckвҖҷs report
Participants making discussion on posters
Cumulate gabbro in Cuba ophiolite
Massive chromitite hosted by harzburgite in Cuba ophiolite
Chromitite with typical nodular texture
Group photo of participants for the Third International Workshop of IGCP-649
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We're just about in the middle of this spring's Fashion Week here in Tokyo, and what better way to celebrate one of our favourite bi-annual events with a quick look inside the main Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tokyo event spaces at Roppongi's Midtown?
This Fashion Week has been a bit of an odd one for me – I've been struck down with a horrible cold, so I'm not exactly feeling at my best as we run around to an average six shows per day. I've got a ton of medicine and vitamin drinks stashed in my giant telephone tote bag, and I'm constantly seeking a cup of tea wherever I go… I think Samuel and I now know the best spots in Midtown for a decent cuppa! Despite all the gross illness that's plaguing me this time, Fashion Week has yet to disappoint. There's definitely a different atmosphere now that Mercedes-Benz have taken over the main sponsorship (a subject to return to at length one day), and it's been a rather breath-taking week so far: thankfully there's space inside Midtown to flop down and grab a quick coffee…
Coffee and make-up! Hurrah!
The colourful (and loud) Maybelline corner. You're free to try the make-up for yourself – I declined as I didn't really relish the thought of infecting Tokyo's brightest and best with my germs.
Super visuals.
Prize-winner Yuima Nakazato's display:
Full report coming soon, but in the mean time check out our videos of the show.
Overseeing the crowd of photographers starting to queue up.
A selection of dresses on show from the previous season:
Newcomer Atsushi Nakashima – one of my new ones to watch! Very excited to write a full article on this young designer's debut collection soon.
Christian Dada – of course we're really looking forward to the show later today…
Jenny Fax takes it back to school. I got some amazing photos from her installation earlier this week.
Motonari Ono looking rather dark and delicious.
And finally, Somarta doing what Somarta do best.
As always with Fashion Week, Samuel and I are so overjoyed and happy to be here – every invite we receive and every show we attend just makes us more certain that we want to share this fantastic Japanese fashion world with everyone. Stay on the line at Tokyo Telephone over the next few weeks as we'll be bringing you full-length reviews, photos and exclusive video of the best and most exciting events from Tokyo Fashion Week 2012.

subset: commoncrawl


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This giveaway is hosted by Adventures of Country Divas and their Blogger friends
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The Giveaway is open to US only, 18+
The Giveaway ends April , 5th at 1159pm est
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Just a bit more than a week before Valentine's Day, Florence Main Street hosted our 4th Annual Chocolate Crawl! This year was just as great as the rest with delicious chocolate treats that were to die for and new businesses to visit as well as our returning favorites!
Tickets this year sold out 3 days before the event and even though it was cold out, we had a great crowd! We saw so many new faces and heard a lot of positive feedback from the patrons. Many of them said it was the best year yet!
On top of that, ticket holders enjoyed 15% off their purchases as well as a chocolate treat at participating businesses. Grier Insurance even gave away dinner for 2 at Ricatoni's to one lucky winner!
This year's chocolate treat winner was Cloth & Stone with their Chocolate Wine Cake! Great job to the Cloth & Stone team, we heard crawlers raving about that treat and the store it was in all day.
A very close second was Miss Beth's Tailoring and Alterations with their Oreo Bon Bons! Miss Beth's was a first time participant in the crawl this year and nearly clenched the victory, so congratulations to all involved; everyone seemed very impressed.
A few honorable mentions this year were North Alabama Chiropractic's Chocolate Covered Bacon, Jack O' Lantern Farm's Mocha Turnovers, and Printers and Stationer's Mini Cannoli's, but there were many more amazing treats as well that were very well made and well received.
We can't thank the participants enough. The bar had already been set high by the previous years and the ball was still knocked out of the park by each and every one of you!
If you missed out this year, don't worry; there's always next year! If you love bacon, be on the lookout for our Bacon Fest in June that will include our annual Bacon Crawl!


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HO HO HO! 'Tis the season to be jolly and to make cute Pinterest boards:)
When my Lova Across the Pond graciously asked me to participate in her sparkling Pin It to Win it Christmas Extravaganza Giveaway~I could not refuse due to the pure awesomeness of the event.
A dazzling group of stylists + bloggers whipped up themed Pinterest Boards to share ideas and inspiration with the world and to give you all the chance to win one seriously fabulous Christmas Stocking filled with over $1200 worth of shiny swag.
You can enter to win the GINORMOUS SWAGGER STOCKING below or on Bird's blog! The prizes for one lucky winner are simply astounding.
You can pin my board and the brill boards in the days that follow to gain 3 BONUS ENTRIES! Just pin with the hash tag #PinParty.
My board is was dubbed "Visions of Sugar Plums." Color palette I needed to use as my inspiration was pink, turquoise and fuchsia. Not sure what a sugar plum really is, but it sounds good and sugar smacked, so I am all in.
Good luck! So thankful for you~Lovas. Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a peaceful, beautiful new year.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


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If you feel store bought Mothers Day gift basket ideas are a bit on the pricey side and not really what you are looking for, make your own homemade Mother's Day basket. It's easy to do.
These gift ideas for Mothers Day are not only for Mother's Day but can be for any time of year. Choose a pretty basket , keep in mind the basket can be reused for her toiletries, cosmetics and so on and placed in the bathroom or mom's bedroom.
Below are some great Mothers Day gift basket ideas that are not too expensive but will make great unique gift basket ideas, just for mom.
The basket for this gift could be a round basket, like the one on the left. Fill it 3/4 full of scrunched up paper, then on the top, add some scrunched colored tissue paper, then start assembling your gifts.
You could fill this basket with lavender, Rose water or your mom's favorite toiletry products. For example, body wash, bath sponge, body lotion, a hand towel, slippers, fragrant candles and a gift certificate to a day at the spa.
Let mom have a wonderful long relaxing soak in the bath with a spa gift basket by her side. With all these relaxing fragrances she will feel like a new woman.
A foot spa gift basket is the ideal gift for busy moms. After a busy day running around after the kids or a busy day at work, what nicer way to end the day than with a soothing foot spa.
You can buy a pretty bowl, (could be a plastic bowl) that will fit two feet in. There are lots of pretty colored ones around.
Line the bowl with a hand towel and fill it with bottles of aromatherapy oils for the feet, foot lotions, scented candles (for a relaxing feeling), a relaxing CD, some nice colored nail polish, nail files, nail clippers..... and in between all these glorious gifts would be a welcome gift certificate for a pedicure. A Mothers Day gift basket ideas.
The basket for this could be a small basket like in the picture. Fill the basket with tissue paper then arrange your gifts on top.
You could put items like a small tea pot, a lovely china or glass mug (herbal tea somehow tastes better in a glass mug), a book on herbal teas (which she can read while sipping on some refreshing tea), a few lemons to squeeze into hot water, and honey for sweetening herbal teas.
Or some delicious cookies or a small box of chocolates wrapped in a beautiful wrapper, so she can indulge herself while sipping on refreshing tea and reading her favorite book. When you have arranged your gifts you can either shrink wrap your basket or wrap it in clear cellophane and tie with a nice colored bow.
ho doesn't like chocolates? Every mom likes to indulge herself once in a while. A quiet moment to herself with some chocolates. If you want to spend a little extra money, go to a specialist chocolate store.
There, you will find chocolates that are handmade and they melt in your mouth. Trust me, I have had some! You could add anything chocolaty, the choice is yours. You can also add a small bottle of coffee liqueur, or maybe a small bottle of Bailey's?
This basket is not only for Mothers Day; it's for any time of year. Birthdays, thank you, anniversary........
Wrap these unique gift basket ideas for Mothers Day in cellophane or shrink wrap them. Transform an ordinary basket by spray painting the basket with the color you want. Wrap it in cellophane. Tie the cellophane with a big bow and attach a handmade gift tag. "To mom with love."
You can make beautiful personalized Mothers Day gift basket ideas mom will love to receive. Wonderful!
Don't want to make a gift basket but you want to give a small gift? How about making this gift bag.
This pretty gift bag has travel size toiletries inside and some body wash sachets, body lotions, hand lotion, bath sponge, pumice stone and a small bar of soap.
I made this gift bag from a piece of fabric I had left over from another project I did.I think the fabric looks fresh looking, ideal for a Mothers Day gift bag. I tied it with a pink ribbon and attached a handmade gift tag. A Mothers Day gift idea.
Flowers for Mothers Day is the perfect gift. For the more creative people amongst you, you can make a basket with beautiful flowers. like these three below.
You could choose the less expensive flowers, like Carnations, Chrysanthemums, Daisies or Gerbera and by adding one or two Roses, Lilies or Orchids here and there and some greenery you can create a basket bursting with color and freshness.
You could have different kinds of flowers all the same color or a mixture of colors.
r to make it even easier, you could buy one or two bunches of flowers from the supermarket and arrange them into a beautiful floral gift basket bursting with color. Like I did with the Rose gift basket on the left.
Speaking of color, why not color your own flowers for Mothers Day?
Maybe your mom would like to preserve her Mothers Day gift basket ideas of fresh flowers she received, but not sure how to do it.
Pressing flowers and Air Drying Flowers are just two ways you can do this.
How about getting the children to make a special handmade card or handmade gift tag to go with your special Mothers Day gift basket ideas and give your mother something she can keep forever.
Make a beautiful Mothers Day card or gift tag with her favorite pressed flowers on the front or, if you have a program on your computer that prints seasonal cards, do that and add a special poem written inside.
This is guaranteed to bring tears of joy to the best mom in the world and will go nicely with Mother's Day gift basket ideas.
If your mother is like me, I have kept all my children's cards they made me over the years. Write the date on the back of the card, because it's nice to look back at the cards in later years.
Or did you make one for your mom? I would love to hear your stories, ideas or tips for making gift baskets. Go to my contact me page and share your ideas with me and others.
Gift Tags Made from Recycled Christmas Cards
Gift Tags Made from Recycled Birthday Cards
How to Make Your Own Shredded Tissue Paper
Colored Cellophane for Gift Baskets
Handsewn Gifts for Gift Baskets
Return from Mothers Day Gift Basket Ideas to Homepage
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Mother's Day is centuries old and can be dated back to ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods.
In England in the early 1600's the Christians celebrated a day of remembrance to Mary, the mother of Christ.
As the years went by the church later extended this
celebration to all mothers and it was called, Mothering Sunday.
Mothering Sunday falls on the second Sunday of May. So don't forget!!
Make this special card for mom from dried Pansies.
How to make a gift tag from recycled greeting cards.
Why not start a website about your favorite things and earn extra cash at the same time.


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Craster Kippers
A British Classic. Craster Kippers are whole herring split from mouth to tail which are immersed in brine for a short while and cold smoked overnight. This produces a flavoursome balance of salt and smoke.
Kippering was traditionally a fish cure that consisted of brining followed by drying and smoking. It originally applied to both salmon and herring but the origination of the kipper in the modern sense i.e.exclusively herring is attributed to John Woodger who worked at Seahouses on the Northumbrian coast in the 1840s (source reference: The Taste of Britain by Laura Mason and Catherine Brown)
Pack of two whole kippers approx 450g.
Perfect for freezing.
Key Facts
- Perfect for freezing.
Temperature Controlled Delivery
Following extensive testing, our packaging has been certified to maintain food at fridge temperature for 48 hours.
England, Wales and Scotland (excl. Scottish Highlands and Islands)
- Delivery 9am-5pm £7.95
- Delivery Before Midday: £11.50
- Delivery Before 10am: £13.95
Scottish Highlands and Islands, Channel Islands (2 working days)
- Delivery 9am-5pm £16.50.
Isle of Man, Northern Ireland & Republic of Ireland (1-2 working days)
- Delivery 9am-5pm £19.95


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A selection, made by Zannier himself, of one hundred photos coming from his private archives. The reconstruction of that ideological journey which led him, in many years of activity in the world of photography, to a search for the "unusual beauty� of several images that make up the history of photography, from when it was invented up to today. Seventy authors who, with their works, have contributed to the formulation of a photographic aesthetics. "An almanac of sublime and humble photographic materials�, as Zannier has written: all of them, however, are equally important, and have a story that has always implicated whoever happened to read them.
Technical info
- Author
- P. Costantini
- Pages:
- 96
- Number Photos:
- 100
- Format:
- 29,5x24 cm
- Binding:
- Softcover
- Alinari Code:


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About Kingsburg
Just a few miles southeast of Selma and a half-hour drive from Fresno, the charming city of Kingsburg has a rich history surrounding its prominence on the Central Pacific Railroad's Valley Line in the early 1870s. This picturesque town has been known for its lush vineyards, raisin production (it's home to the Sun-Maid Growers of California headquarters) and the locally famous Kingsburg water tower.
Because of Kingsburg's convenient location on Highway 99 and its close proximity to Fresno (it's nearly halfway between Fresno and Visalia), many people find that it's the ideal place to live.
Homes for Sale in Kingsburg, CA
You'll find a remarkable array of homes for sale in Kingsburg, CA. From sprawling ranch-style homes to cozy cottages, there's truly something for everyone in this beautiful city.
About Kingsburg Homes for Sale
You'll find a number of notable subdivisions and neighborhoods in Kingsburg. Two of the newest custom home subdivisions, Holly Oaks and Satterberg Estates, are extremely popular among buyers. We also have Kingsburg homes for sale in more established neighborhoods with ample amenities, so whether you're looking for a home on a quiet, tree-lined street or you'd rather live in a vibrant subdivision dotted with playgrounds, walking trails and other charming amenities, we'll be able to find the perfect place for you to call home.
Dining, Shopping and Entertainment in Kingsburg
There are plenty of great places to eat, shop and play in Kingsburg. This thriving community has everything you need, from grocery stores to quaint cafés, but it's never lost its small-town feel.
Amazing ethnic eateries, old-fashioned American comfort food and a number of other fabulous dining options line the streets in the downtown Kingsburg area. Many of the restaurants are tucked between Kingsburg High School and Highway 99.
While you won't find a huge number of major retailers right in Kingsburg (most of those are in the nearby cities of Visalia and Fresno), you will find several locally owned stores, boutiques and shops right in downtown Kingsburg.
Things to Do in Kingsburg
The Kingsburg Parks and Recreation Department operates and maintains a number of fantastic parks in the community, including:
- Bicentennial Park
- Downtown Park
- Erling Park
- Historical Park
- Memorial Park
The department also runs a busy schedule of youth and adult sports, swimming classes at the Crandall Swimming Complex, and after-school and summer recreation programs.
The annual Kingsburg Swedish Festival brings in thousands of people each year,
Kingsburg Schools
The city of Kingsburg is served by the Kingsburg Elementary Charter School System. The schools in Kingsburg include:
- Washington Elementary (Kindergarten only)
- Roosevelt Elementary (First grade only)
- Lincoln Elementary (Second and third grades)
- Ronald Reagan Elementary (Fourth, fifth and sixth grades)
- Rafer Johnson Junior High (Seventh and eight grades)
- Kingsburg High School
- Central Valley Home School
Kingsburg Commute Times
Because of Kingsburg's convenient location, it's the ideal place for commuters to live. From the center of Kingsburg to:
Find Homes for Sale in Kingsburg, CA Today
When you're ready to find your next home in Kingsburg, we'd love to help you.
Call us at 559-730-1403 or contact us online to let us know what you want from your next home. We'll begin a custom search right away.
1 Click Kingsburg Home Searches
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- Kingsburg Homes under 100k
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- Kingsburg Homes 900k – 1 Million
- Kingsburg Homes over 1 Million


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Ben and Kayti – Seattle Wedding Photography
It was such a joy to capture Ben Heller and Kayti Krepel's marriage! I already knew them a bit from our church in Seattle, but I felt like I got to really see them at their wedding. The service was a beautiful celebration of their relationship and their faith. I also loved all the hippy details that made their day special: outside at Parsons Gardens, barefoot, acoustic, and full of color. And did I mention that the entire wedding party decided to climb up into a tree for photos? Awesome.
"Reflection" by Lisa Rickey – Seattle MFA Photographer
Last week I shot an MFA show for one of my sculpture teachers, Lisa Rickey. Her piece, "Reflection," is currently on display at the Henry Art Gallery in Seattle. She made the group of giant metal pillows by inflating flat stainless sheet steel (sealed on the edges) with pressurized gas. In Lisa's work, I particularly appreciate her interest in unique material behaviors. In "Reflection" she uses the specular properties of stainless steel to create a sort of visual conversation amongst the pillows and their environment. I find it fitting that her orignal title was going to be "Pillow Talk."
Jason – Seattle Portrait Photographer
Last week I did a short shoot with my friend Jason in Ravenna Park, Seattle. We had a fun time talking about random stuff and shooting some informal portraits. As you can see, Jason is awesome :)
Prints and more images available here.
Elliot and Julia – Seattle Engagement Photos
After seeing her brother's engagement pictures Julia and her fiancé Elliot decided to book an engagement session with me at Discovery Park. The weather was the warmest day so far this year, which made jumping in the ocean relatively comfortable. It was an honor to capture their quiet playful love for each other.
Joe and Ashley – Seattle Engagement Photos
I shot Joe and Ashley's engagement photos at Magnuson Park in Seattle. They are a really energetic (not to mention mushy!) couple and the weather was fantastic, so the shoot was really fun.
For their pictures, I spent a bit of time experimenting with new editing techniques in post-processing. I'd love feedback.
Frazier Healthcare Holiday Party
A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to do some candid event photography for Frazier Healthcare Ventures at their annual holiday party. It was a neat opportunity to capture a more intimate side the company. The pictures are just being distributed internally, so I was basically their "family photographer" for the day.
All images were shot using limited available light at ISO 6400. Lenses used were 17-35 mm f/2.8, 24-70 mm f/2.8, and 50 mm f/1.4
Chris and Jenniey – Seattle Wedding Photographer
Chris and Jenniey celebrated their marriage with a beautiful traditional ceremony at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption in Seattle. I felt really welcomed by their family and wedding party, which made the day very rewarding and enjoyable. The tone may have been just a touch mellower than "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," but it was still an adventure all the same!


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OK, it's a hospital -- the "new state-of-the-art University Hospital at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas" that the UT System Board of Regents agreed to fund to the tune of $800 million. The 12-story, 424-bed facility will open in 2015 on Harry Hines Boulevard at Record Crossing Road and replace St. Paul. Sounds nice too: "Each patient room will include a dedicated seating area for families and visitors, refrigerators, bedside and dimmer controls for lighting, multimedia options, and patient Internet access." I only hope I can hold on till 2015.
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Detroit rap-rocker Kid Rock said Tuesday on Howard Stern's SiriusXM radio show he will not run for Senate in his home state of Michigan.
"F--- no, I'm not running for Senate. Are you kidding me?" he said in response to a question, the Detroit Free Press reported.
The singer, whose legal name is Robert Ritchie, had publicly toyed with the idea of running for Senate and said those flirtations were mostly a joke.
"It's the worst advice I ever gave myself, but it's been the most creative thing I've ever done," he said. "I've gotten to see everyone's true colors."
Ritchie said many people in his inner circle were "in on the joke." During his shows at Detroit's Little Caesars Arena, there were voter registration tables.
Multiple polls showed Ritchie trailing the state's incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who is one of 10 Democratic senators running for re-election next year in states won by President Donald Trump last fall.
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone or your Android.


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According to St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert, over the last 24 hour reporting period, the Sheriff's Office responded to 52 complaints and reports the following arrests:
Darian Hoskins, 36, 20017 Highway 182 West Jeanerette, Jeanerette, LA was arrested on November 5, 2015 at 9:51 am on a warrant from Chitimacha Police for indecent behavior with juveniles and on a warrant from the 16th Judicial District Court for issuing worthless checks. Hoskins came to the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office in Franklin after learning that authorities were looking for him. A deputy transported Hoskins to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.
Mandi Taylor, 39, 3435 3rd Street, Berwick, LA was arrested on November 5, 2015 at 1:49 pm on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of no seat belt and operating a vehicle with a suspended license. A deputy investigating a separate complaint made contact with Taylor and located the active warrant for her arrest. She was released after posting a $250 bond.
Gary Davis, 29, 7527 Highway 182 East, Morgan City, LA was arrested on November 5, 2015 at 3:50 pm for driving while intoxicated. A deputy was dispatched to a complaint of a suspicious vehicle at the St. Mary Plaza on Highway 90 in Bayou Vista. While en route, the dispatcher advised the deputy of a second complaint which was a crash involving a parked vehicle. Upon arrival, the deputy located the suspect vehicle and attempted to make contact with the driver, later identified as Davis. Davis appeared to be asleep at the wheel with the vehicle still in gear. While speaking with Davis, the deputy observed that he was slurring his speech and was unaware of where he was. Davis was unable to perform a field sobriety test and later registered a 0.00g% on a breath test. Following the investigation, the deputy transported Davis to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.
Jalon J. Span, 21, 1606 Cherry Street, Patterson, LA was arrested on November 5, 2015 at 8:02 pm on 2 warrants for failure to appear for a drug court status conference and failure to comply with the terms and conditions of drug court. A deputy received notification from Patterson Police that Span turned himself in at their office on the warrant. A deputy transported Span from the Patterson Police Department to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. Bail is set at $200,000.
Traci Landry
St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office
Public Information Officer


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Make each day count!
Each day is filled with infinite possibilities, what will you create today? Keep this print by your desk or workspace as a reminder of how much you can achieve in just a day!
Designed by Rebecca in her London studio, using a hand painted design to create the unique lettering.
- Get your name foiled in either gold or rose gold foil
- Size - 8x10 inches
- Printed using high quality, vibrant inks onto 230gsm matt poster paper
- Designed by Rebecca and printed locally in Britain
- Also available in PINK and BLUE.
Please note this item is sold unframed.
Usually sent in 1-3 working days.
UK – Sent via Royal Mail First class (1-2 business days) - £1.50 or FREE on orders over £25
International – Royal Mail Standard International delivery can take between 3-5 days (Europe) and 5-7 days (rest of the World) - £4 or FREE on orders over £50.
Find more info on shipping here.


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A Grown Up Lasagna
>> Wednesday, August 18, 2010
*** Reminder... Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a $40 gift card to CSN stores. The giveaway ends Sunday, and there's lots of room for new entries! :) All you have to do is leave a comment***
Whew.. what a week. I'm super tired from unloading boxes, setting up stuff exactly where we want it, and then rearranging it, because we realize that's not the spot that makes the most sense! But it's been fun.
Minus the crazy drainage problem we discovered and had water flood our bathroom floor x 3, and leaking out the washing machine x 1! Luckily that got fixed on the quick.
My friend Aimee let me borrow one of her favorite cookbooks, and I love it. I haven't had anything bad from it yet, and she's made a lot of things for me! :) This lasagna recipe comes from there, and it includes a whole lotta yummy ingredients - but dressed up a little different - meaning, no red sauce, making it a little fancier.
You make your own sauce out of a rue, and include sauteed mushrooms and garlic, and prosciutto (I used bacon because I had it on hand). The recipe calls for ricotta, but I cut the portion in half and used mascarpone cheese for the other half, because again, I had it on hand, and I LOVE mascarpone. It made the flavor nice and creamy! The lasagna is so good, it would make a great entree for having a dinner party, or taking a meal to an event!
P.S. - I halved the recipe because it's just me and my husband, and it turned out great!
CHEESY CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM LASAGNA (Adapted from: Simply Classic, The Junior League of Seattle).
Serves 6-8
12 lasagna noodles
1 pound portobello mushrooms, sliced
6 TBS. butter, divided
1 TBS. olive oil
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup. fresh parsley, chopped
6 TBS. flour
2 cups milk
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. white pepper
1/4 cup half and half
3 cups chicken breast, cubed
1/3 pound prosciutto or bacon
8 oz ricotta cheese
8 oz mascarpone cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place cubed chicken in pan, and cook thoroughly until browned, about 4 minutes.
3. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water. Lay noodles flat on paper towels.
4. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, over medium-high heat, saute mushrooms in 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon oil until golden, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, add garlic and parsley, saute 2 minutes more, being careful not to brown the garlic.
5. For Sauce: in a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter. Add flour and cook without browning for 2 minutes, whisking constantly.
6. Add milk and chicken stock, a little at a time. Cook until smooth and thickened, about 3 minutes, stirring constantly. To avoid scorching, remove sauce from heat as soon as it starts to boil. Sauce will not thicken any further once it has boiled. Season sauce with salt and white pepper.
7. To Assemble: set aside 2 tablespoons parmesan. Mix together ricotta and mascarpone.
Pour half and half in the bottom of a 10x12-inch baking pan. Lay 4 noodles ina single layer in pan. Pace 1/3 each of the mushroom mixture, chicken, and prosciutto over the noodle layer. Dot with 1/3 of the ricotta/mascarpone mixture. Sprinkle with 1/3 each of the mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover with 1/3 of teh sauce. Repeat this process 2 more times, beginning with the noodles and ending with the white sauce. Sprinkle with reserved Parmesan.
8. Bake, uncovered, until heated through, about 40 minutes. Cover and let sit 10 min. before serving.


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FieldFLEX leverages facilities information to streamline the workflow. As a leading developer for corporate real estate and workplace management organizations, FieldFLEX optimizes the collection, distribution and management of mission-critical data through a full suite of mobile enterprise productivity applications.
The applications include employee self-service, graphical wayfinding, asset tracking and logistics, and field operations such as work order management, workplace inspections, facility assessments, and surveys.
Because the world does not exist behind the desk, our goal is to enable your organization to efficiently manage the work cycle by reducing operational inefficiencies related to productivity, data integrity, and costs through highly reliable point-of-data capture products.
FieldFLEX's products are configurable, integrate with most enterprise systems on the market today, and can be implemented all at once or individually
Find out more at www.fieldflex.com or follow @fieldflexmobile


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I usually post my contributions to the Wordpress weekly photo challenge on my Perfecting Motherhood blog but I thought this week's theme photos would be a better fit on this website, so here we go!
Remember you can click on each photo below to see a larger view of it.
I find it interesting, not to say awkward, to choose "renewal" as a theme in November, when everything in nature is dying or falling asleep. So most of the photos I'm displaying here were taken at another time of the year.
Well, expect for this first one, which I took last fall after a rainstorm. The clouds were still quite grey but the sun rays did their best to light up the golden leaves of the poplars that live by the San Diego River. I love to watch the rain do its magic as it revives and replenishes the trees that have been thirsty for so long, giving them one last burst of energy before they go to sleep for the winter.
The WordPress person who wrote the post on this weekly photo challenge suggested us to stay away from the stereotypical renewal of sunrises. Well, I love sunrises and they are inherently a sign of daily renewal. But I like moon rises just as much, especially when they happen in the daylight. They remind us that day and night work together to bring constant renewal to the earth.
I used the photo below for another photo challenge theme but I think it fits this one perfectly. This is a small pine tree growing out of the root of a seemingly dead tree. Nature knows best how to renew.
Finally, nothing screams renewal more than brand new flowers in the spring. In this case, these are California wildflowers, which are also featured in my 2013 photo calendar.
What is your idea of renewal?


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Housing sales fell by 4 percent to 2,63,720 units last year, lowest since 2010, in the eight major cities of the country on account of demand slowdown in the real estate market despite interest rate cut by the RBI.
The National Capital Region (NCR) continued to be the worst performing market in India with sales and launches at six year low.
Launches of new homes fell by 21 percent in 2015 at 2,44,944 units in the primary market of eight major cities – NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad and Ahmadabad.
Developers would take more than 2.5 years to exhaust this unsold stock.
While the office market grew from strength to strength, residential did not perform as expected. Residential segment continued to face slowdown with launches at a five year low, despite the festive season. "Sales in 2015 were lower than 2014 levels. Despite the 125 bps rate cut by RBI, demand did not see an uptake.
However, launches of new homes fell by 20 per cent to 63,458 units in NCR. The unsold inventory in NCR stands at 2.06 lakh units at the end of 2015.
The office space absorption stood at 40.4 million sq ft, highest since 2012, in six cities – Mumbai, NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune. Delhi-NCR witnessed absorption of 7.4 million sq ft of office space last year.


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- Home
- Eastwood 5 Piece T Dolly Set
Eastwood 5 Piece T Dolly Set
Eastwood 5 Piece T Dolly Set
Item #14516 Brand: Eastwood
They're the same specialty straight T-dollies auto body shops and fabricators use to form and shape flanges and edges. You get 5 straight T-dollies in different lengths and diameters.
- Form gentle and compound curves; ideal for shrinking
- Clamp into any vise
- Polished forming surfaces for consistent, smooth forming
About Eastwood 5 Piece T Dolly Set
Simply place the T-dolly in your vise and hammer the metal over the rounded dolly surface. Plastic or wood mallets or slappers work best to form the metal. Different sizes allow you to form different crowned edges or contours in sheet metal, steel, aluminum. High-quality carbon steel T-dollies have forming surfaces that are polished and clear-coated for consistent and smooth forming.
5 Straight T-Dollies:
2.75"L x 0.500"D
3.00"L x 0.625"D
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4.25"L x 1.000"D
5.25"L x 1.125"D
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Joseph P Schwieterman is Professor of Public Service Management at DePaul University in Chicago. His publications include 'When the Railroad Leaves Town: American Communities in the Age of Rail Line Abandonment'.
EFFORTS to create a high speed rail network in the United States have been described as a process of taking two steps forward and then one step back — over and over again. Just when a breakthrough seems imminent, a setback makes it necessary to revise expectations downward.
'We haven't yet been able to forge a political consensus to build entirely new high speed routes in the USA', says Mark Walbrun, Vice-President at transport consultancy TranSystems. But along with a growing number of transportation officials, he is encouraged by recent improvements to the passenger network. More than a dozen state governments have stepped up investment in rail corridors, and many are reporting dramatic ridership gains. 'The states are seeing some benefits similar to high speed rail simply by offering services that are equal to or slightly faster than using private automobiles', Walbrun explains.
Amtrak President Alex Kummant has voiced similar optimism, recently noting that 'the stars may be aligning for a resurgence of passenger rail.' In sharp contrast to just a few years ago, when Amtrak was fighting for its survival, the national passenger operator now appears poised to expand.
A wide variety of motives underlie the growing push for faster trains in the USA, ranging from stimulating economic development to protecting the environment and forestalling costly additions to airport capacity. Some high speed rail proposals are nothing more than political pipedreams, while others are more firmly grounded in reality. Yet it is noteworthy that state and local officials, even in areas with low population density, are increasingly accepting the notion that faster trains are critical to their future. This represents a fundamental change in thinking. 'There is growing pressure for government agencies throughout the country to expand passenger rail corridors', says Walbrun.
Taking stock
A proper account of US passenger rail aspirations requires acknowledging that 'high speed rail' is a term loosely defined on this side of the Atlantic. In Europe and Asia planners often limit its use to trains running at 200 km/h and above, but in America the term often applies to corridors achieving only 175 km/h (110 mile/h), hardly a standard of performance that will put the USA among the world's high speed elite.
Limiting speeds to 175 km/h avoids having to comply with federal regulations requiring total grade separation of road and rail alignments above this speed, which would be a major obstacle on routes with numerous level crossings. 'Much of what we're proposing really isn't high speed, but a way to give travellers more attractive options,' notes Richard Harnish, Director of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, an advocacy organisation based in Illinois with 1 700 members.
American railroad companies seemed destined to be on the cutting edge of development after World War II. The largest carriers experimented with new rolling stock and tracks realigned for higher speeds. But advances in air and car travel, accelerated by major federal investment in new roads and airports, had a devastating effect, and by the mid-1960s the bottom had fallen out of the passenger train market.
In 1965 the federal government jump-started investment by passing the High Speed Ground Transportation Act. This made possible the launch of Metroliner services between New York and Washington DC from 1969, routinely hitting 190 km/h. The rest of the country watched the passenger network gradually shrink and in 1971 the publicly-owned Amtrak assumed responsibility for most remaining services to ensure the continued existence of a national network.
Experiencing something of a long-term decline, the high speed movement did not reach its next milestone until 2001, when Amtrak brought its Acela trainsets into service on the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington DC. For the first time the USA had regularly-scheduled trains travelling at speeds greater than 215 km/h. On the Boston route, trains reached speeds of 240 km/h over several short stretches, although average speeds remained much lower.
Nevertheless, Acela failed to spark the hoped-for revolution in rail travel. Not only did the trainsets suffer from serious mechanical problems which have now been resolved, but no further investment was to follow for several years. A soft economy as well as rising costs stretched government budgets to their limits, and by 2004 even the continued existence of Amtrak was in question.
Good news from the states
Attitudes towards developing the passenger network have since brightened appreciably. There has been a boom in ridership on trains operating even at moderate speeds that are nevertheless still competitive with the private car. These gains have been fuelled by increasing road congestion and rising fuel prices.
Rather than waiting for the federal government to take action, state governments have provided funding to upgrade short and medium-distance corridors, focusing primarily on poor track that limits maximum speed and bottlenecks that constrain capacity. The number of states providing funds for such corridors has grown to 14, helping to compensate for the severe shortfalls in federal funding.
'From Washington to Florida, from New York to California, and everywhere in between, states have committed hundreds of millions of dollars for short-term, incremental improvements that have fuelled the growth in Amtrak ridership', Frank J Busalacchi, Chair of the States for Passenger Rail Coalition, told a subcommittee of the US Congress earlier this year. In state-funded corridors, traffic has risen more than 25% since 2002 while that on the rest of the Amtrak system has been relatively flat.
Students and other young travellers are responding to improvements in a particularly noteworthy fashion. 'The current generation is not as fascinated with cars as their parents and grandparents were. They are not "anti-car" as the environmentalists might wish, but they don't feel any particular social stigma if they ride a train or the local transit system', notes F K Plous, a consultant with Corridor Capital LLC. 'Consumer electronics are also changing travel patterns, especially among young people, who bring BlackBerries, iPods and DVD players onboard.'
California's programme has grown to encompass 60 Amtrak services, making it a case study of the benefits of an incremental approach. 'California made a strong commitment many years ago to building conventional corridors, and it is paying off', says Plous. Although the maximum speed remains just 126 km/h, passenger traffic on three major state-supported routes has grown by more than 20% over the past three years, with the Capitol Corridor linking San Jose, Oakland (San Francisco) and Sacramento growing by more than 13% this year alone.
In the Pacific Northwest between Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, infrastructure investment as well as the introduction of Talgo rolling stock have helped to cut journey times and improve Amtrak's image. Planning is underway to realign portions of the route to further cut the journey time between Seattle and Portland by 1 h to just 2 h 30 min.
In Pennsylvania, train speeds on the 170 km Keystone Corridor from Harrisburg to Philadelphia were raised from 126 to 175 km/h last year, sparking a 14% jump in traffic. The improvements cut 20 min from the schedule, allowing Amtrak to increase the service frequency without acquiring additional rolling stock.
Another success story is the Downeaster from Boston to Portland, Maine, which is supported by three states. The maximum speed on the 185 km route is also 126 km/h, but worsening highway congestion keeps enough passengers coming to ensure that a significant proportion of the five daily return trips are regularly filled to capacity. Downeaster services carried a total of 330 000 passengers in 2006, nearly 25% more than in 2005. This growth occurred despite the fact that rail passengers cannot cross Boston without changing stations.
Elsewhere in the northeast, Acela now also appears to be on a roll. After years of chronic underperformance, the trains finally appear to be living up to expectations. On-time performance has climbed to 87%, and the service attracted 6% more riders in 2006 than in the previous year. Revenue climbed even faster due to aggressive pricing that routinely makes the train more expensive than flying.
For the first time in many years, there is also a push to create a new inter-city route into New York City. This entails rebuilding a partially-abandoned 210 km route from Hoboken, New Jersey, to Scranton, Pennsylvania. In the past, limitations on terminal and tunnel capacity in New York impaired the development of new services. The completion in 2003 of the new Secaucus Junction in New Jersey has, however, boosted the viability of the proposed line to Scranton by creating an interchange between the Northeast Corridor and regional feeder routes.
Midwest developments
Midwest states were initially slow to embrace passenger rail, but this is changing. Results have been particularly encouraging on routes radiating from Chicago, a major Amtrak hub, and in 2006 passenger volumes grew by more than 20% on the Wolverine Corridor from Chicago to Detroit.
With seven daily round trips, the Hiawatha Corridor from Chicago to Milwaukee now has the highest frequency of any inter-city route outside California or the northeast. A new station at Milwaukee's Mitchell Airport has heightened interest in air–rail interchange nationwide. 'Mitchell station shows that many of Amtrak's best opportunities revolve around airports, where passengers have more services available to them than at the downtown terminals', notes Walbrun.
Last year saw the addition of two extra return trips on the 457 km Chicago – St Louis route, increasing the number of services to five a day. Ridership is up by more than 30% as a result. 'There is enormous potential here', believes Plous. 'The corridor has striking similarities to the Paris — Lyon route, with respect to both travel distance and the population served.'
States in the south of the USA have had less success in developing inter-city passenger corridors. Ambitious proposals for 'bullet trains' operating on tracks built in the median strips of highways in Florida have come and gone, hampered by high construction costs and a treacherous political environment that is often hostile to rail.
These setbacks have encouraged planners to concentrate their attention on launching conventional services on existing routes. Many point to the success of North Carolina's 280 km corridor linking Charlotte with Raleigh, which operates on infrastructure owned by a private–public partnership. This corridor saw a double-digit percentage increase in passenger traffic last year, helped by a 30 min reduction in journey time.
Notwithstanding these improvements, it is considered something of a policy failure that there is no longer any inter-city rail service to many major cities in the US interior where the population is greater than 1 million, including Columbus, Nashville and Phoenix. Nor is the passenger train present in such busy corridors as Houston — Dallas, or from Atlanta to Florida.
Higher speeds on the horizon?
Passenger rail advocates are hopeful th at improvements now in hand will become a springboard for major investment in a true high speed network. Few expect new high speed lines to emerge anytime soon, but a study that I conducted, and whose results will appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the Transportation Research Board, shows that there are many serious proposals ready to move forward as soon as funding becomes available.
The potential of faster passenger services to contribute to economic development has been recognised across the country, and government agencies have identified 64 corridors where services would operate at 176 km/h or above (Table I). These corridors encompass 24 940 route-km, and form 21 networks that could serve 93 of the largest 100 metropolitan areas in the continental USA.
More than 18 400 km of these routes are envisioned to use conventional technology, with diesel traction operating at a maximum speed of 176 km/h. Increasing speed from the present maximum of 126 km/h will generally require large-scale increases in track capacity, perhaps even the addition of a dedicated track to separate freight and passenger operations.
Adding to the challenge is the fact that less than 12% of routes identified for faster service are publicly owned, which will make it necessary to negotiate with the freight railroads before making improvements. More than 70% of these lines are single track and handle more than 10 million tonnes of freight a year, making potential operating conflicts between freight and passenger services a major issue. The persistent delays facing Amtrak's long-distance trains, some of which rarely arrive on time, serve to illustrate the severity of the problem.
300 km/h and above
An additional 5 120 route-km have been identified by state governments as having potential for passenger services operating at speeds above 300 km/h. The proponents of these advanced systems in California, Florida and Texas envision building new lines on the median strips of major highways and on alignments alongside existing railways to attain TGV-style speeds. Although decisions have yet to be made about the preferred technology, promoters of several other routes under consideration, including Los Angeles — Las Vegas, are suggesting the adoption of maglev.
There is a particularly vigorous debate now underway over a high speed system linking Los Angeles with San Francisco and other cities in California. Few expect this project to move beyond the planning stage in the immediate future, but the intensity of debate suggests that passenger rail will remain on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's agenda. A key question is whether to push hard for these ambitious proposals, or to focus on more modest initiatives that are perhaps more achievable, such as the expansion of conventional corridors that have a proven track record of success.
In truth, no-one expects that a high speed revolution is now just around the corner. Making it a reality outside of the Northeast Corridor will require a political breakthrough in Washington. Several corridors have received federal funding to improve safety at level crossings, but the absence of a significant financial commitment remains a major stumbling block. 'After nearly a century of federal investment in road, air and water infrastructure, we still have no federal fund for development of a modern passenger rail system', laments Jim Coston, who served on the Amtrak Reform Council.
On a more positive note, there is a proposal in Congress to establish a pool of federal matching funds for a limited number of state-sponsored rail projects. This initiative, sponsored by senators Frank Lautenberg and Trent Lott, has garnered significant political support. Although limited, it would certainly be a sign that the federal government is waking up to the reality of corridor development.
Whether or not such funding materialises, it is clear that recent improvements are expanding the political constituency for modern passenger rail service. 'There is something significant happening to change attitudes about high speed trains in this country', declares Plous. 'Part of this change is attributable to growing ridership, but another part is the embarrassment seeing Europe and Asia move forward with high speed rail much more rapidly.'
- Caption: Princeton, Illinois, is served by the Chicago to Quincy route, one of Amtrak's fastest growing corridors
- Caption: Acela trains have brought speeds of up to 240 km/h to parts of the Boston – New York – Washington route
- Caption: The Portland – Boston Downeaster recorded a 25% increase in traffic in 2005-06, and is regularly filled to capacity
- Caption: Seattle is the largest of the Pacific Northwest cities served by Amtrak's Cascade Corridor, where the introduction of Talgo rolling stock has cut journey times and helped improve Amtrak's image. Realignments are planned to cut Seattle – Portland trips to 2 h 30 min
Table I. Corridors proposed for passenger rail services at 175 km/h and above
|Length km
|1 Midwest
|5 712
|2 Southeast
|3 061
|3 California
|2 306
|high speed electric and diesel
|4 Florida
|2 123
|high speed electric
|5 South Central and Texas
|1 890
|high speed electric and diesel
|6 Ohio and Lake Erie hub
|1 778
|7 Gulf Coast
|1 389
|8 Front Range
|1 261
|9 Empire Corridor
|1 157
|high speed electric and diesel
|10 North New England
|11 Cascade
|12 Northeast Corridor
|13 Keystone Corridor
|electric and diesel
|14 California - Nevada
|15 Atlanta - Chattanooga
|16 Pocono
|17 Arizona
|18 Downeaster
|19 Virginia
|20 Minnesota
|high speed electric
|21 Baltimore - Washington


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They are a type of quick connector along with quick disconnect couplings and quick disconnect fasteners. These terms are sometimes used interchangeably by different industries, and there is frequently overlap in their definitions.
Generally, quick release fittings are able to provide fast connections for pipes and hoses without the use of tools. They can be attached and removed by hand quite easily. There are no valves or seals, but the connections are typically leak proof. Fluids are free to flow through them, and if the fitting is removed, there are no shut-off valves to prevent the fluids from coming out, unlike quick couplings.
Quick release fittings are also called quick disconnect fittings and are usually as easy to remove as they are to install. If any extra effort is required, it is a basic twist-and-pull technique, though some fittings need a simple tool in order to be disconnected. Quick release fittings are hollow shells made of plastic, brass, stainless steel or aluminum; other materials such as glass reinforced resin are available as well. These fittings can accommodate high pressures and temperatures.
Quick release fittings are used with fluids, whether liquid or air, and many are resistant to chemicals or mildly corrosive substances. Fittings are commonly used in plumbing or sprinkler systems for water transport.
There are three common shapes for quick release fittings: straight, tee or a 90° elbow. These can be combined for more connections or for use in tight spaces with difficult angles. Most fittings are push fit or use hose barbs to make connections. Push fit quick release fittings use lubricated gaskets or stainless steel teeth to hold a pipe or hose in place once it is firmly inserted inside the fitting.
Installation is straightforward and takes only a few seconds to complete because it does not require flame, heat, crimping, twisting or any other action. Different fittings use hose barbs to make connections. Various hose barb designs are shaped like bolts and have threading on one side with a tapered end on the other. The tapered end has low ridges called barbs that catch and grip the material that slides over them. Stainless steel clamps are often used to encircle the fitting and keep the connection tight.
Other hose barb fittings are not threaded; hose barb unions for instance have two tapered ends and are used to join two hoses. The Society of Automotive Engineers has established certain standards, and JIC and SAE threaded hose barbs are manufactured accordingly. There are many variations of quick release fittings, and custom designs are available.


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More decorative artwork than practical pieces of furniture, side tables play a huge role in living room interior design, offering you the ideal opportunity to add a beautiful statement feature.
Striking Statement Chairs. Use a statement chair to create a striking impact within your design. Place a single chair in a contrasting colour to the other lounge seating, powerfully punctuating with your chosen accent colour and adding that distinctive finishing touch to the room. Or opt for a unique chair that will stand out within the design, such as a chaise longue
Often overlooked when pondering living room furniture ideas, artwork plays an essential role. The choice of artwork can define the style of the interiors so select pieces which enhance the overall design, either by utilising complementary colours or adding a stark colour contrast for dramatic effect.
Cushions complete a room, adding personality and depth, so don't neglect this excellent opportunity to make your living room interiors sing! Be bold in your choice. Use patterned fabrics and robust colours to add decorative accents that contrast with the sofa fabric and do not blend in. Consider the size of the cushions you use; smaller cushions may be lost on a large sofa, whereas oversized cushions may dominate a smaller sofa
About Us
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Enjoy these links to some of our "favorite things" – with awesome women behind each link!
Pen & Page Communications on Facebook – our own Jen Ashenfelter's business, offering communications and marketing services
Christine Brandt Little – featuring perfectly-crafted freelance articles by our very own Chris Little
Hendricks Communications – showcasing freelance writing and thoughts on marketing/PR by our very own Karen Hendricks
The Not So Big House – a series of books by Sarah Susanka, featured on our website several times
Daily Presents – Our friend and fellow mom blogger Lisa writes about "finding the extraordinary in the every day"
Fiesta Kitchens – if you're a "foodie," you will love our friend Jennifer's gorgeous foodie blog
Hip Fusion Designs – personalized and handcrafted jewelry. Edgy, urban and as unique as you.
Robyn Graham Photography – beautiful, beautiful images!
Travel. Garden. Eat. – Kat is a fellow mom blogger whose tagline is "Enjoy the good things in life – you can always clean tomorrow!"
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In New York City, 97 out of 188 neighborhoods do not provide enough play space for children. Meanwhile, one in four children is obese. In a city where space is at a premium and there simply isn't enough room in some areas for new parks and playgrounds, how can we ensure that more children are able to play outside?
We have two words for you: Play streets. An initiative of Transportation Alternatives, in partnership with the Strategic Alliance for Health, play streets repurpose residential streets as spaces for communities to gather and play. Closed to cars at regularly scheduled times, a play street can be in operation for one day a week, or, as is the case with some play streets in front of schools, every school day.
More and more people are finding that the most effective way to combat childhood obesity is not by lecturing about good health, but by making healthy living a no-brainer. A play street makes it easy to let your child run around outside, just as a nearby farmer's market makes it easy to buy fresh fruits and veggies.
Play streets also build community by providing neighbors with a regularly scheduled time to socialize. Three years ago, residents of Jackson Heights established a play street as a way to address their community's lack of open spaces. They have enjoyed the experience so much that they recently transformed their play street from a once-a-week affair during the summer to a daily event during July and August. Over 200 people attended a meeting to show their support, including elected officials.
Some neighborhoods have used play streets to combat crime by overwhelming perceptions of danger with positive activities. One citizen advocate in Brooklyn directly asked neighborhood drug dealers and gang members if they could refrain from conducting their business on or near a play street—and to many residents' surprise, they agreed. Currently, the Police Athletic League runs about 60 play streets during the summer, most in neighborhoods with high rates of crime.
Play streets are a brilliantly simple initiative to promote outdoor play, personal health, and community development—all in one fell swoop. We hope more cities follow suit!
Learn more about Transportation Alternatives.
Other Bright Ideas:
Photo courtesy of Transportation Alternatives.


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Over the period of last few year I went from nothing is pink in my wardrobe to everything is pink in my wardrobe kind of unintentionally. It happened somewhere at the very edge of my consciousness and I cannot remember really paying attention to it. But one day I just looked in the mirror and saw myself as I was – wearing a pink dress, a pink coat, pink shoes, huge pink glasses and holding my favourite pink bag – and realized how much has changed. It turns out that, well, whether I like it or not, I am seriously addicted to pink.
Come on, it never used to be the case. I struggle to remember even one piece of pink clothing – let it be a hairband even – that I had owned before I went to Uni. There are also plenty of colours that will never make it to my wardrobe (brown for that matter; why are all shoes brown? brown makes me aesthetically sick), yet somehow only pink managed to complete a full and unexpected transition from colour non gratus to thing to have. I am not the only one though – many of my friends and acquaintances struggle with this bizarre love-hate fluctuation for pink. It seems to be relatively common at our age. The question is therefore – if since childhood the consumption-focused media and society tries to force pink down our throats, why can we only realize its full potential only once we are fully grown adults? [Read more…]


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Guide to Running Payroll Reports
This handy guide will guide you through the various types of payroll reports you may wish to run through SmartPayroll. It covers employee pay reports, costing reports, leave balance reports, leave history reports, year to date earnings reports and more. If you are having trouble getting any of the payroll reports to work, get in touch with our friendly helpdesk team at firstname.lastname@example.com or call on 0800 10 10 38.
How to set up employees
Watch a short video showing how to set… Read more
Employers' Handy Guide
A guide for first-time employers or new SmartPayroll users. Read more
Guide to Running Payroll Reports
This handy guide will guide you through the various types… Read more
Employee Details Guide
This Payroll guide covers anything you need to know about… Read more
Guide to Running a Pay
This Payroll guide covers the step by step process of… Read more
Employers Recruitment Guide
How to hire and manage your team while reducing stress… Read more


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Following pregnancy, many women find that their bodies have gone through so many changes that they can hardly recognize themselves. The abdomen and breasts typically fill out, and the skin covering them stretches. This can lead to sagging breasts, extra abdominal skin and possibly abdominal fat that are difficult to rid oneself of using diet and exercise alone. Rather than giving in to these seemingly inevitable changes, women who are done having children may want to consider one or two cosmetic procedures that can return their bodies to normal.
Cosmetic Surgery After Childbirth
Moms may want to consider a breast lift, which can remove the look of sagging, drooping breasts and instead give them newly lifted breasts by removing excess skin and tissue. This procedure may be combined with a breast augmentation for women who have gone down several cup sizes following pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Cosmetic Procedures in Newport Beach
Dr. Tavoussi performs each of these procedures at the Pacifica Outpatient Surgery Center north of our Newport Beach office. They are all same-day procedures with minimal recovery times. While women will need several days to recover, they can typically return to work within a week following these surgeries.


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2012 Porsche Panamera Tires
Get great 2012 Porsche Panamera tires at a great price
For the widest selection of low-priced 2012 Porsche Panamera tires, turn to your nearest Tires Plus location. Explore our full catalog of 2012 Panamera tires and browse tires by type, size, features, and more. Whether you're looking for tires built to enhance fuel-efficiency, outperform bad weather, or provide a comfortable ride, you can count on our tire experts to help you choose the right tires for your vehicle, and to install each for maximum performance and control. Come to Tires Plus Total Car Care, where we make it simple for you to fit a tire repair or replacement into your schedule. Get started by pre-booking your appointment online and stop by when it is most convenient for you. Our stores are even open on weekends and on many holidays!


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Fran Howard
Website: www.franhoward.org.uk
I was born in Sussex in 1935 but lived in South Africa from 1946 to 1973. Since then I have lived in London. For many years I have visited Eastern and Southern Africa.
I took up painting in watercolour in 1991. For a time I had the pleasure of being tutored by the late Charles Longbotham RWS. I spend an increasing amount of time painting in the field and my Mortlake studio.
I particularly enjoy painting water and look out for river landscapes, coastal scenes and seascapes. I find my subjects mainly in the UK, including the Thames, on which I live, in Provence, Eastern and Southern Africa.
I have exhibited in the southern counties and in charity exhibitions in London, and at the Chelsea Art Society's annual exhibitions since 2005.
© Fran Howard


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It's the blue barrel special.
Pathmark is selling 77-gallon shipping drums filled with rice, corn oil and sugar — a $59.98 package deal for those looking to ship food abroad.
Problem is, welfare scammers are likely to partake.
In July, The Post exposed how New Yorkers on taxpayer-funded food stamps are stuffing American staples into the barrels and shipping them to the Caribbean, where the goods are often sold for a profit on the black market.
Last week, Pathmark advertised what it called "the barrel savings deal" at its 21 city stores.
The bulk products are just some of the items friends and family of American welfare users are hawking in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
The supermarket chain declined to comment.


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"Every single time someone helps somebody stand up, this helps humanity rise". Antarkranti, an initiative of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, has sprouted humanity to the utmost by helping the inmates to stand up and begin a fresh chapter of their life. Swami Dheeranand Ji, Swami Margdeepanand Ji and Swami Haricharnanand Ji conducted 3 Days Session enriched with the human values & spiritual flavour, at the District Jail Sonipat, Haryana from 4th to 6th Feb'15.
During the session, a surge in the participation of the inmates, with 230, 450 and 520 attendance on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd day respectively was well witnessed. The sessions focused on motivating the inmates to know the ultimate meaning of their life and show them the right direction to move on to reach the destination. The preachers exquisitely elucidated that "Don't confuse your path with your destination, just because it's stormy now doesn't mean you aren't headed for sunshine".
The issue of emergence of drug dependence and the way it has imprisoned the life of the prisoners was also taken up. The session made the inmates contemplate, and inquisitive enough to know the way they could get rid of all the negativities and move ahead by giving themselves another chance.
The three day spiritual discourse and counselling session was concluded by the speech of Shri Jai Kishan Chillar, Jail Superintendent. He acknowledged the work and selfless efforts of the entire team, Antarkranti and Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan for the service. He expressed his views by saying that he hope and expects from all that at least everyone would try something from whatsoever they grasped today and get initiated with the spiritual knowledge.


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It's been a long time coming but the edit-train has begun to blow a few puffs of smoke – this week I commenced from Day 1 of the European leg of our expedition. Hopefully over the next few weeks we will have progressed right through Europe and begin reliving our journey into Central Asia.
Following the often remote, sometimes uncomfortable and always new- experiences of West Africa, we were looking forward to getting back to some familiar comforts once we hit Europe. We'd booked a flight on a oneworld airline between Morocco and Paris for two reasons:
- So that we would not be lumped with some outrageous charges for our bicycles, and
- So that we could exploit our membership to the airport lounge with a six-hour layover in Madrid where we indulged with a hot shower and lots of food including several servings of ice cream and espresso 😛
Hitting the tarmac in Paris it was pushing midnight so we decided to save ourselves the mission of finding/paying for a hotel or a sneaky camping spot in the parks – and sought the comfort of airport sleeping to provide our shelter for the night. So out came our camping gear as we pitched under a staircase inside the airport. It turns out there's quite a community of airport sleepers – and even a website to support them.
For all the beauty that Paris provides we tried to do it justice with a day of cycling around the landmarks – though our pockets and our appetite for mileage into the country led us out of there within 36 hours.
Heading north out of Paris we meandered through beautifully manicured fields and quaint villages before hitting the old cobbled roads which form the race route of the historic Paris-Roubaix spring classic cycle race.
Hitting the cobbles was a whole lot of fun – there were remnants of the race from six weeks prior forming a sense of being a part of the race; quite a buzz after only ever seeing this gruelling event on the television.
In a country notorious for its social nuances we found France to be a stunning place to ride albeit one of the least engaging communities we'd travelled through. We are told this all changes when you speak a little french – but I still find it a strange social barrier that must limit the experiences shared in contrast to the open and welcoming connection we feel with so many places we travel.
It took us less than three days to ride from Paris to Belgium, where we felt very welcome, and almost famous at our first drink stop.
So here it is, a taster for the riding and experience we had in France – enjoy:


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John Paul II and La Pira
John Paul II on several occasions evoked the memory of La Pira, holding him up as an example of the Christian layman with an involvement in the cultural and political world. He mentioned him on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Politicians, and on the occasion of specific celebrations he delivered his message and his blessing.
A particular instance is 26 April 2004 when, in the context of the centenary of La Pira's birth, the pope gave hospitality in the Vatican to the meeting with which the National Committee of the ANCI (Associazione Nazionale dei Comuni d'Italia) had decided to commemorate La Pira, granting an audience to the participants.
During the audience the Pontiff made a brief speech during which, among other things, he recalled the fact that "La Pira's was an extraordinary experience as political figure and as believer, capable of combining contemplation and prayer with social and administrative activities, with a special feeling for the poor and the suffering (…)
"Following the example of Giorgio La Pira," urged the pope. "place yourselves wholeheartedly at the service of your communities, with special attention to the younger age-groups, while also encouraging their spiritual development. Do not fail to cultivate those human and Christian values which compose the rich idealistic patrimony of Europe. It has given rise to a civilization which in the course of centuries has furthered the growth of genuinely democratic societies. Without ethical foundations democracy runs the risk of deteriorating over time and even of disappearing.
"Thanks to the contribution made by all, the dream of a better world can come true. May God grant it to humanity to see this prophesy of peace fulfilled!"


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1. Vera Bradley
These bags are not only cute, whimsical, and colorful, they are also easy to clean. Just take out the hard bottom and throw the bag into the washing machine. If you visit the sale section at VeraBradley.com you will often find purses ranging from $20-$40. Right now they have a special - Buy one sale item, get one 50% off.
2. Guess
If you're looking for a bag with more of an evening out feel, Guess might be for you. Go to the Guess Factory Outlet site and you'll find handbags that range from $30-$60
3. Coach
The Coach Factory Outlet website. Once you register (it's free) you can sometimes find purses as low as $25.


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So many things just seem like a good idea, or make perfect sense at the time…but they are so utterly bad in the long run—issues of bad design, bad queries, bad tuning. MySQL has many features, and some are often abused for what Lentz would call evil purposes. Perhaps you can think of some yourself? Other issues are that old relational database "rules" do not always apply in 2004. But people just remember the rule, not the reason.
This talk covers a wide range of "no-no's." We will discuss them, and look at better solutions using very short, simple, and specific cases as examples. You may wish to take notes! The title was to get your attention, but Lentz promises to keep it lighthearted.
Arjen initially started with C programming, but has since branched out to other stuff that blends geekness with more human interaction.
Arjen was employee #25 at MySQL AB (2001-2007), dealing with Documentation, Community Relations, Training, Support, Licensing, and acting as Program Chair for the 2005 and 2006 MySQL Users Conferences. He also co-authored the 2nd edition of O'Reilly's popular "High Performance MySQL" book.
Arjen founded Open Query, delivering affordable remote and on-site MySQL support and training. He also does some coding again with the OQGRAPH engine, and his work on OurDelta (Builds for MySQL & MariaDB).
Outside work Arjen likes spending time with his daughter, bushwalking, camping, and dabbles in organic gardening.
View a complete list of MySQL contacts.


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Mizuno Wave Paradox 5 Running Shoes
Ideal for your daily runs. The Wave Paradox 5 is constructed with DynamotionFit and Mizuno's signature wave technology for a perfect fit with optimal support. The ap+ and U4icX in the midsole work in tandem to provide maximum stability with necessary comfort and cushioning.
Dynamotion Fit Upper
Dynamotion Fit uppers will encase each foot in breathable comfort. AIRmesh is used to increase airflow; creating a better, healthier environment for your feet to thrive in. Dynamotion Fit is all about creating a shoe that works with your foot through the design and materials used to create it. As your foot twists, bends and stretches in each step, the shoe upper moves with you. Flex Eyelets help keep your heel secure by allowing the upper to stretch and contract as needed; reducing in-shoe slippage for a smooth, distraction-free ride.
The Stretch Mesh eliminates the bunching and pulling that can cause discomfort and even blisters, especially at toe-off. Together, the features of Dynamotion Fit create a shoe that gets out of your way, so you can become the best runner you can be. Overlays wrap the midfoot and heel to increase lateral stability. A premium insock lies atop lightweight midsole to supply an extra, removable, layer of comfort and cushioning. A new U4icX strobel lasting board has been implemented for an even cushier, flexible footbed.
Mizuno Wave Midsole
Mizuno's redesigned, full-length U-shaped Fan Wave technology resides in the midsole to attenuate shock and supply a firm, solid platform for stable running. Inspired by nature and sandwiched between the U4icX and U4ic midsole materials, the Fan Wave's unique structure features waves of differing heights to enhance both stability and cushioning. The higher density plate on the medial side of the midsole exists to control overpronation, preventing injury and increasing running efficiency. The proprietary technology also dissipates impact forces away from the foot for a more smooth, cushioned feel on every step.
Manufactured from Pebax Rnew, the Wave's sustainable construction spares your joints as you strike down onto hard, unforgiving concrete, whilst answering to the environmental awareness of its consumers. Performance isn't compromised though, you still get exceptional lightness, spring-back, impact resistance and improved flex fatigue resistance. The unique U4ic midsole platform encases the Wave plate to increase the level of comfort and performance provided by the Wave Paradox 5, without sacrificing its stable nature. It is an engineered polymer that is light, responsive and cushioned, and it delivers you these properties, kilometre after kilometre, day after day. Then, beneath the wave plate, a layer of U4icX foam exists to add yet another dollop of premium underfoot softness.
X10 Outsole
Stay cool and dry as you pound the pavements. Mizuno Intercool solves the problem of heat and humidity build-up in a running shoe. It does this by incorporating a full-length ventilation system in the sole of the shoe that removes heat and humidity from the foot through a system of ventilation channels, to keep flagging feet happy on longer distance days. Durability and traction arrive in the form of an X10 outsole. The extremely substantial carbon rubber allows for longer wear in high impact areas and provides more traction at the heel strike so you can run hard, knowing that your shoes can handle the heat.
Mizuno integrates their Smoothride technology to minimise the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the foot during transition, creating the smoothest ride possible. Smoothride begins working the moment your foot touches the ground; flex Grooves adorn the outsole to promote natural movement from the heel to the forefoot, initiating that rocking-chair motion for fluid, uninhibited strides. Choose the Wave Paradox 5, for slick speed and smooth stability.
- Air Mesh - Allows air to permeate the exterior providing breathability.
- Dynamotion Fit - Provides a fit that moves the way you do, actively working with your foot throughout the gait cycle.
- Synthetic Overlays - Add durability and support to the construction.
- Removable Insock - Offers extra underfoot cushioning and comfort.
- Fan Wave Midsole Technology - For maximum stability and a plush, responsive ride.
- U4ic Midsole Material - Provides a high level comfort and performance, while still being extremely lightweight.
- U4icX Foam Below The Plate - Adds premium underfoot softness.
- Intercool - A full-length ventilation system.
- X10 - Allows for longer wear in high impact areas and provides more traction at the heel strike.
- SmoothRide - Promotes a smooth, natural stride.
- Weight - 315g.
Delivery Options
Rather than bombard you with a highly complex system of delivery options, we thought that we would keep things simple, so we offer 4 options:
Delivery Estimate
In-Store Collection
Ready for collection within 48 hours - you will be notified when colleciton is available
Free Standard Shipping
On all orders over £30.00
2-5 working days
1-2 working days
Special Delivery
Guaranteed Next Day before 1pm delivery
International Delivery
3-10 working days
Order and Collect
All orders placed by 3pm should be ready for collection within 24 hours; however please check your emails regularly in case we have contacted you regarding your order; we wouldn't want you to make the journey to collect if your order wasn't ready due to one of the exceptions noted in the exceptions section below.
Additional Delivery Instructions
You may tell us of any additional requirements you have with your order or delivery in the "Order Notes" when placing your order, please note that we cannot be held responsible for missing items if special delivery instructions (i.e. "leave in porch") are requested in the order notes.
Missing Deliveries
If you haven't received your item within the estimated time slot then please contact us on 02392 698285 or email: email@example.com with your order details and we can track your parcel and find out what's happened.
All claims for missing items must be made within 28 days of the estimated delivery date.
Order and Collect Terms
If you have placed your order online and have chosen to collect in-store, please ensure you bring a valid form of photographic identification with you (passport, driving license, military or services ID) as well as proof of address (recent utility bill, driving license etc.); for security reasons only the person who is named on the payment method of the order can collect that order in-store.
Please note that we will hold orders for a maximum of 1 month, during which time we will remind you regularly to collect your goods. If your order has not been collected within this time period it will be disposed of and we will be unable to refund any monies paid to us for the order.
Apart from the delivery time exceptions, noted above, we do have a few exceptions where deliveries are either not possible or our customer service team will need to contact you to explain your options before processing and charging for your order; these may result in a slight delay in processing.
Here is a list of examples that may be relevant:
- An item from your order is either found to be faulty or damaged before we dispatch and there is no more stock available in this product – we will contact you to discuss alternatives or confirm a cancellation.
- You are attempting to order from outside the European Union or to a PO Box address.
- Your order value exceeds £600.00 – There are some exceptional purchase variables that may result in us needing to charge a delivery cost; this is only in the event of very heavy orders (i.e. if you were to order very large quantities of energy drink powders); we would contact you before making any charges.
- Your order is flagged by our system as a possible fraudulent order – apologies if this happens; however, the system makes this decision based upon information from banks and other agencies as well as the combination of items ordered; we will contact you to confirm your identity and order before processing such orders. This is for everyone's security so please don't be offended.
- Duplicate orders – We will contact you before processing duplicate orders, in case the duplicate was due to an internet connection (or other) problem on your network when you placed the order.
- Your item is not available – We operate a state-of-the-art live stocking system that is accurate to within 5 minutes; unfortunately even this still leaves room for rare stock control errors where your item may be shown as available; when in fact it is out of stock. On the rare occasion that this may occur, we will contact you to discuss further options.
No Hassle Returns
We all change our mind from time to time, some people more than others! So we understand that you may wish to return an item for lots of different reasons; no worries!
Simply return the item in its original condition with a completed returns form (you'll get one of these with your package or can download one here) to us at the below address and we'll arrange an exchange or refund as you wish. In the event that the item is not returned in the original or resell-able condition (including packaging), the item will be returned and/or a re-stocking fee will be charged. You will be contacted before any actions are taken.
Fast Processing
We'll process your request the day we receive it, but please allow 2 working days just in case we are extra busy or the postman is delayed! You can do this for refunds anytime within 14 days from the date you received the item, or anytime within 60 days if you would simply like to exchange for another size/colour or similar product.
Easy returns
We completely understand that having the right fit and/or style is crucial to your comfort and performance, that's why we always recommend that you come in and try before you buy; however if this isn't possible and you find that what you have bought from us isn't quite right, then send it back and try again!
Unlimited returns
You can do this as many times as you like until you get it just right, some places will charge a re-stocking fee, we just want you to be happy, so we won't charge you a penny; just pop it in the post with a completed returns form to the below address and we'll send your replacement ASAP.
Get it right first time
Many of our customers buy two pairs of the same shoe a half size apart and then send back the one that doesn't fit; if you want to do this just let us know when you order and we'll even send you a pre-addressed mailbag to return the unwanted pair, all you'll need to do is pay the postage; easy!
Please note, all returns must be received in the original state they were received in, should the item(s) be deemed unfit for resale and/or damaged in anyway charges may apply to your refund/credit. Should this happen all our customers will be notified via email first.
Returns Address:
Web Returns Alexandra Sports
140 Gladys Avenue,


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Soft play and softplay elements
When designing a play area, you can add soft plays to our wooden wall games and play systems. These articles are soft play elements that are suitable for children of all ages. Soft plays create extra play value for small, active children; they can play safely with the soft play elements, they can throw them about and climb onto them. They can also be used as a seating element or as a kids' pouf. Our collection includes animals, fruits, and monsters. In addition to our standard soft play collection, we can also create custom designs that match your company style.
Sustainable and safe soft plays
Sustainability and durability start with the choice of resources: only the best wood, paint without any chemical traces, the least amount of plastic, and maximum recycling. Our soft plays are, for example, made of high-quality PU leather. Making sustainable choices also means choosing products with a long lifespan. Our products last for many years. The soft plays are TÜV certified according to the MSZ EN71-1 standard. This certificate guarantees that our products are safe.


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I've had a bag of dried split peas sitting in my cupboard for awhile now. I saw them while I was cleaning my kitchen today and thought I should actually do something with them. So I decided to make good ol' split pea soup. I hated split pea soup as a kid. Canned ones were way too mushy and way too salty. And homemade ones had chewy, overcooked ham pieces. So gross. But awhile ago I saw Alton Brown make a Curried Split Pea Soup on Good Eats and my faith was restored. His soup was smooth, not mushy, and properly seasoned. My version is based on this recipe, just minus the ham and add some green bean for extra nutrients.
Curried Split Pea Soup
1 cup dried split peas
1 tps of vegan butter
2 cups water
Pinch of Salt
2 cups green beans, fresh or frozen, cut into bite size pieces
1 cup vegetable broth
2 cups water
1 tbs curry powder
1 tbs garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
Put the split peas in a bowl and pick out all the bad looking pieces. Cover with water and soak for at least 2 hours, overnight if you can.
Drain and rinse the peas.
Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt the butter. Add the peas and cook until slightly tender, about 5-7 minutes.
Add the two cups of water and the pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer then cover and cook until completely tender, 10-15 minutes.
Whether using frozen or fresh green beans, cook them first. I used frozen so I microwaved them. I suggest steaming fresh ones. Add the cooked beans to the pot along with all the remaining ingredients, then mix together.
To make the soup a thicker, puree it in a blender. Reserve about a cup and half of the pea and bean chunks first to add back in after. This way the soup has some texture and isn't just green mush.
Ladle into serving bowls and enjoy. The curry gives it nice background flavor without overpowering the richness of the peas and beans. Love the color too.


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Is God interested in our personal lives? Does He speak to us? How do we hear His voice? Come with me on my listening journey. This is a book about listening to God through the second person in the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit.
As you go on this "listening journey" with me, you will be encouraged to hear His voice speaking to you. Yes, God wants to speak to your heart-to encourage, edify, strengthen, and comfort you
"Let love be your highest goal, but also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives, especially the gift of prophecy."-I Corinthians 14:3, NLT
"But one who prophesies is helping others grow in the Lord, encouraging and comforting them."-I Corinthians 14:3 NLT
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