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Cricetidae is an extremely diverse family of muroid rodents. This is one of the largest families of mammals, with 681 species in 130 genera and 6 subfamilies. The subfamilies of Cricetidae are: Arvicolinae (lemmings, voles, and muskrat), Cricetinae (hamsters), Lophiomyinae (crested rat), Neotominae (North American rats and mice), Sigmodontinae (New World rats and mice), and Tylomyinae (vesper rats and climbing rats). (Musser and Carleton, 2005)
Cricetids range throughout North America, South America, Europe, and most of Asia from southern China northwards. (Nowak, 1999)
Cricetids occupy a broad spectrum of habitats. Their range encompasses dry, wet, warm and cold climates. Habitats utilized by cricetids include grasslands, meadows, agricultural fields, forests, rocky mountain landscapes, deserts, suburban yards, human habitations, beaches, lakes, ponds, streams, marshes, swamps, and bogs. They also span a range of elevations from sea level to over 5000 meters above sea level. (Nowak, 1999)
Many cricetids are mouse-like or rat-like in appearance: they have small, somewhat elongated bodies, and are gray or brown with long tails, large eyes, and prominent ears and whiskers. However, body forms in this diverse group vary. Arvicolines, cricetines, and some sigmodontines have rounded bodies, with short tails, small eyes, and ears that are almost completely hidden in the fur. Pelage colors in this family include nearly every shade of brown and gray, including light golden brown, dark russet, and black. There is a tendency for the undersides to be paler, and many species have white bellies and chins. Pelage color may vary within cricetid species, as well, with two or more color morphs found in some populations. The texture of the fur ranges from silky and soft to coarse and spiny. Tails may be tufted, well-furred, or nearly naked. Cricetids are small (pygmy mice of the genus Baiomys weigh up to 8 grams) to large (muskrats, Ondatra zibethicus, weigh almost 2 kg) relative to other rodents. Sexual dimorphism varies across species: in some cases, males are larger than females, and in other cases, females are larger than males. Some species do not exhibit sexual dimorphism at all. There are various specializations for different lifestyles found in this group; for example, the long, powerful claws of long-clawed mole mice (Geoxus) are adapted for digging, whereas the partially webbed hind feet and rudder-like tails of muskrats are adapted for swimming.
The cricetid dental formula is usually 1/1, 0/0, 0/0, 3/3 = 16. (Carleton and Musser, 1984; Nowak, 1999; Smith, et al., 1972)
Some cricetid species are monogamous, living in small family groups consisting of a mated pair and their offspring. Juveniles of some arvicoline species help in raising their younger siblings. Many, perhaps the majority, are polygynous or promiscuous, having many different mates throughout the year with whom they associate for only brief periods of time. (Gubernick and Teferi, 2000; Nowak, 1999)
Cricetid reproduction is characterized by large litters and short interbirth intervals. Most cricetids are able to breed when they are just a few months old. Female cricetids often have a postpartum estrus and mate shortly after giving birth (although sometimes implantation is delayed until the female stops lactating). In some species, ovulation is induced by the act of mating. Seasonality of reproduction varies with climate; cricetids in warm, constant climates are likely to breed year round, whereas those in variable climates are more likely to only breed at favorable times of the year (although even those that live in unfavorable climates have been known to breed year round, even bearing litters beneath the snow). Under ideal conditions (such as those in the laboratory), cricetids have been known to produce more than 12 litters per year. (Carleton and Musser, 1984; Nowak, 1999)
Female cricetids often build nests in which they raise their offspring, which range from altricial to precocial. Like all mammals, they provide their young with milk until the young are able to eat solid food. Male parental care, including grooming, carrying, and huddling, exists in some species and has been shown to enhance survival of the young (Gubernick and Teferi 2000). Time to independence is usually short, and juveniles of many species disperse and breed on their own the same year they are born. (Gubernick and Teferi, 2000; Nowak, 1999)
As is the case with most small muroid rodents, cricetids face vast array of predators and usually live less than a year in the wild. Lifespan in captivity is often much longer, up to a decade in some species. (Nowak, 1999)
Cricetids are diverse in their behavior, as they are in all of their other characteristics. Some species are exclusively arboreal, while others rarely leave the ground, and some spend most of their time burrowing beneath it. Some are adapted for an aquatic lifestyle and are excellent swimmers. Most, but not all, cricetids are nocturnal. Cricetids often use torpor during cold periods to lower their energy requirements or aestivate when it is hot. Many build nests or burrows in which they seek refuge during periods of inactivity. Some species are known to be solitary and highly territorial, while others live in small social groups or in large colonies. Most are fairly sedentary, but some undergo huge population cycles and may disperse over large distances during periods of overabundance. (Nowak, 1999)
Cricetids use vision, hearing, touch, smell, and taste to perceive the world. The relative importance of these senses varies among species and relates to each species' lifestyle. For example, fossorial species tend to have a reduced need for vision, and often have reduced eyes, but may have a keen tactile sense. Some cricetids produce (and therefore are likely to hear) sounds that surpass the range of human hearing (Smith 1972). Chemical signaling with pheromones and scent marks is an extremely important aspect of communication in this group, as these odors can quickly send a signal about the identity and status of an individual (Johnston 2003). In general, cricetids communicate using a combination of chemical, tactile, visual, and auditory cues--the relative importance of which varies among species. (Johnston, 2003; Smith, 1972; Johnston, 2003; Nowak, 1999; Smith, 1972)
Cricetids may be carnivores, omnivores, or herbivores. Food eaten by the group as a whole include leaves, pine needles, seeds, berries, fruits, roots, tubers, stems, twigs, nuts, fungi, insects, slugs, earthworms, aquatic crustaceans, spiders, small terrestrial vertebrates, and fish. Many cricetids are generalists that dine on many of these food items, while some are specialists that eat just one or two. Some cricetid species cache food for later use. (Nowak, 1999)
Cricetids are preyed upon by a variety of mammalian carnivores (such as foxes, cats, and weasels), birds of prey (such as hawks, eagles, and owls) and snakes.
In order to avoid easy detection by predators, many cricetids are nocturnal. Their neutral-colored coats tend to blend in with the surroundings and afford some degree of camouflage. When alarmed, they seek refuge in trees, burrows, or other places where the predator cannot follow. As a last resort, cricetids often bite their attacker with their sharp incisors and utter high-pitched chirps. One unique cricetid species, Lophiomys imhausi, bears aposematic white and black patches, exudes a musky odor, and has erectile, stiff hairs that may mimic porcupines. (Carleton and Musser, 1984; Nowak, 1999)
Cricetids are valuable members of many ecosystems, in which they fulfill roles as predators, prey, and dispersers of seeds and mycorrhizal fungi. Fossorial species turn over earth as they dig and therefore aerate the soil. Cricetids have a large impact on forest succession by preying on tree seedlings, and are sometimes considered keystone species when they play such roles (Manson et al. 2001). Their high reproductive output and regular boom and bust cycles in population numbers result in dramatic impacts on their plant prey species and predators that rely mainly on cricetid prey. Many types of parasites use cricetids as hosts, including species of ticks and mites, fleas, lice, bot flies, nematodes, and flukes (Kinsella 1991). (Kinsella, 1991; Manson, et al., 2001; Nowak, 1999)
Some cricetid species, especially the hamsters, thrive in captivity and are popular pets. As research animals, cricetids have contributed greatly to the fields of ecology, physiology, and genetics. Some species are harvested for food or for their valuable fur. Also, cricetids play an important role in controlling populations of insect pests. (Nowak, 1999)
Some cricetids are vectors of human diseases, including hantavirus and lyme disease. Those that dwell in agricultural areas sometimes damage crops. Also, some species are considered nuisance animals when they enter homes, raid food stores, gnaw on household goods, and build nests in unwelcome places. (Nowak, 1999)
About 21% of the species in this family are included on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species. Of these, 58 are lower risk, 2 are near threatened, 27 are vulnerable, 27 are endangered, 11 are critically endangered, and 10 are lacking sufficient data. Another 6 (Pemberton's deer mice, Peromyscus pembertoni, Antillean giant rice rats, Megalomys desmarestii, Santa Lucia giant rice rats, Megalomys luciae, Darwin's Galapagos mice, Nesoryzomys darwini, indefatigable Galapagos mice, Nesoryzomys indefessus, and Nelson's rice rats, Oryzomys nelsoni) have gone extinct in recent years. Human-induced habitat loss and degradation threaten most of these species. Also, many cricetids have restricted geographic ranges, making them even more vulnerable to extinction. Few actions, other than basic research, are underway to conserve these and other rodent species, as most attention is directed toward saving larger, more charismatic fauna. (IUCN, 2004)
Allison Poor (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web.
living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.
living in the southern part of the New World. In other words, Central and South America.
living in the northern part of the Old World. In otherwords, Europe and Asia and northern Africa.
uses sound to communicate
living in landscapes dominated by human agriculture.
young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching.
having coloration that serves a protective function for the animal, usually used to refer to animals with colors that warn predators of their toxicity. For example: animals with bright red or yellow coloration are often toxic or distasteful.
Referring to an animal that lives in trees; tree-climbing.
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
a wetland area rich in accumulated plant material and with acidic soils surrounding a body of open water. Bogs have a flora dominated by sedges, heaths, and sphagnum.
an animal that mainly eats meat
Found in coastal areas between 30 and 40 degrees latitude, in areas with a Mediterranean climate. Vegetation is dominated by stands of dense, spiny shrubs with tough (hard or waxy) evergreen leaves. May be maintained by periodic fire. In South America it includes the scrub ecotone between forest and paramo.
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
used loosely to describe any group of organisms living together or in close proximity to each other - for example nesting shorebirds that live in large colonies. More specifically refers to a group of organisms in which members act as specialized subunits (a continuous, modular society) - as in clonal organisms.
helpers provide assistance in raising young that are not their own
active at dawn and dusk
having markings, coloration, shapes, or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment; being difficult to see or otherwise detect.
in mammals, a condition in which a fertilized egg reaches the uterus but delays its implantation in the uterine lining, sometimes for several months.
in deserts low (less than 30 cm per year) and unpredictable rainfall results in landscapes dominated by plants and animals adapted to aridity. Vegetation is typically sparse, though spectacular blooms may occur following rain. Deserts can be cold or warm and daily temperates typically fluctuate. In dune areas vegetation is also sparse and conditions are dry. This is because sand does not hold water well so little is available to plants. In dunes near seas and oceans this is compounded by the influence of salt in the air and soil. Salt limits the ability of plants to take up water through their roots.
ranking system or pecking order among members of a long-term social group, where dominance status affects access to resources or mates
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
union of egg and spermatozoan
an animal that mainly eats leaves.
A substance that provides both nutrients and energy to a living thing.
forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.
Referring to a burrowing life-style or behavior, specialized for digging or burrowing.
an animal that mainly eats fruit
an animal that mainly eats seeds
An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.
a distribution that more or less circles the Arctic, so occurring in both the Nearctic and Palearctic biogeographic regions.
Found in northern North America and northern Europe or Asia.
ovulation is stimulated by the act of copulation (does not occur spontaneously)
An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.
fertilization takes place within the female's body
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).
a species whose presence or absence strongly affects populations of other species in that area such that the extirpation of the keystone species in an area will result in the ultimate extirpation of many more species in that area (Example: sea otter).
marshes are wetland areas often dominated by grasses and reeds.
makes seasonal movements between breeding and wintering grounds
eats mollusks, members of Phylum Mollusca
Having one mate at a time.
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
This terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains, either without vegetation or covered by low, tundra-like vegetation.
an animal that mainly eats fungus
specialized for swimming
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
active during the night
an animal that mainly eats all kinds of things, including plants and animals
found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.
the business of buying and selling animals for people to keep in their homes as pets.
chemicals released into air or water that are detected by and responded to by other animals of the same species
an animal that mainly eats fish
the regions of the earth that surround the north and south poles, from the north pole to 60 degrees north and from the south pole to 60 degrees south.
the kind of polygamy in which a female pairs with several males, each of which also pairs with several different females.
having more than one female as a mate at one time
"many forms." A species is polymorphic if its individuals can be divided into two or more easily recognized groups, based on structure, color, or other similar characteristics. The term only applies when the distinct groups can be found in the same area; graded or clinal variation throughout the range of a species (e.g. a north-to-south decrease in size) is not polymorphism. Polymorphic characteristics may be inherited because the differences have a genetic basis, or they may be the result of environmental influences. We do not consider sexual differences (i.e. sexual dimorphism), seasonal changes (e.g. change in fur color), or age-related changes to be polymorphic. Polymorphism in a local population can be an adaptation to prevent density-dependent predation, where predators preferentially prey on the most common morph.
rainforests, both temperate and tropical, are dominated by trees often forming a closed canopy with little light reaching the ground. Epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant. Precipitation is typically not limiting, but may be somewhat seasonal.
Referring to something living or located adjacent to a waterbody (usually, but not always, a river or stream).
an animal that mainly eats dead animals
communicates by producing scents from special gland(s) and placing them on a surface whether others can smell or taste them
scrub forests develop in areas that experience dry seasons.
breeding is confined to a particular season
remains in the same area
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
associates with others of its species; forms social groups.
digs and breaks up soil so air and water can get in
lives alone
places a food item in a special place to be eaten later. Also called "hoarding"
living in residential areas on the outskirts of large cities or towns.
a wetland area that may be permanently or intermittently covered in water, often dominated by woody vegetation.
uses touch to communicate
Coniferous or boreal forest, located in a band across northern North America, Europe, and Asia. This terrestrial biome also occurs at high elevations. Long, cold winters and short, wet summers. Few species of trees are present; these are primarily conifers that grow in dense stands with little undergrowth. Some deciduous trees also may be present.
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
Living on the ground.
defends an area within the home range, occupied by a single animals or group of animals of the same species and held through overt defense, display, or advertisement
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.
A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.
A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.
A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.
A terrestrial biome with low, shrubby or mat-like vegetation found at extremely high latitudes or elevations, near the limit of plant growth. Soils usually subject to permafrost. Plant diversity is typically low and the growing season is short.
uses sound above the range of human hearing for either navigation or communication or both
living in cities and large towns, landscapes dominated by human structures and activity.
uses sight to communicate
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.
breeding takes place throughout the year
young are relatively well-developed when born
Alston, E. 1876. On the classification of the order Glires. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London: 61-98.
Carleton, M., G. Musser. 1984. Muroid Rodents. Pp. 289-379 in S Anderson, J Jones Jr., eds. Orders and Families of Recent Mammals of the World. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
Chaline, J., P. Mein, F. Petter. 1977. Les grandes lignes d'une classification évolutive des Muroidea. Mammalia, 41: 245-252.
Ellerman, J. 1940. The Families and Genera of Living Rodents, vol. I. London: British Museum (Natural History).
Ellerman, J. 1941. The Families and Genera of Living Rodents, vol. II. London: British Museum (Natural History).
Gubernick, D., T. Teferi. 2000. Adaptive significance of male parental care in a monogamous mammal. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, 267 (1439): 147-150.
IUCN, 2004. "2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" (On-line). Accessed April 21, 2005 at www.redlist.org.
Jansa, S., M. Weksler. 2004. Phylogeny of muroid rodents: relationships within and among major lineages as determined by IRBP gene sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 31: 256-276.
Johnston, R. 2003. Chemical communication in rodents: From pheromones to individual recognition. Journal of Mammalogy, 84 (4): 1141-1162.
Kinsella, J. 1991. Comparison of helminths of 3 species of mice, Podomys floridanus, Peromyscus gossypinus, and Peromyscus polionotus, from southern Florida. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 69 (12): 3078-3083.
Manson, R., R. Ostfeld, C. Canham. 2001. Long-term effects of rodent herbivores on tree invasion dynamics along forest-field edges. Ecology, 82 (12): 3320-3329.
Michaux, J., A. Reyes, F. Catzeflis. 2001. Evolutionary history of the most speciose mammals: molecular phylogeny of muroid rodents. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 18: 2017-2031.
Miller, G., J. Gidley. 1918. Synopsis of supergeneric groups of rodents. Journal of the Washington Academy of Science, 8: 431-448.
Musser, G., M. Carleton. 1993. Family Muridae. Pp. 501-753 in D Wilson, D Reeder, eds. Mammal Species of the World. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.
Musser, G., M. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. D Wilson, D Reeder, eds. Mammal Species of the World. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.
Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, vol. II. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Simpson, G. 1945. The principles of classification and a classification of mammals. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 85: 1-350.
Smith, J. 1972. Sound production by infant Peromyscus maniculatus (Rodentia:Myomorpha). Journal of Zoology, 168: 369-379.
Smith, M., J. Carmon, J. Gentry. 1972. Pelage color polymorphism in Peromyscus polionotus. Journal of Mammalogy, 53(4): 824-833.
Steppan, S., R. Adkins, J. Anderson. 2004. Phylogeny and divergence-date estimates of rapid radiations in muroid rodents based on multiple nuclear genes. Systematic Biology, 53(4): 533-553.
Thomas, O. 1896. On the genera of rodents: an attempt to bring up to date the current arrangement of the order. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London: 1012-1028.
Tullberg, T. 1899. Uber das system der nagethiere: eine phylogenetische studie. Nova Acta Regiae Societatis Scientiarum Upsaliensis, 3: 1-514.


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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Elizabeth Taylor surpassed Michael Jackson as the highest-earning dead celebrity in the past year, with her estate pulling in $210 million, much of it from the auction of her jewels, costumes and artwork, Forbes said on Wednesday.
Jackson, who died in 2009, dropped into second place with earnings of $145 million, followed by Elvis Presley with $55 million.
In addition to the Taylor auction, which totaled $184 million, the actress, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 79, also earned $75 million from sales of her top selling perfume White Diamonds.
"The rest of the money came from property sales and residuals from Taylor's movies," according to Forbes. "After 'Cleopatra,' the star smartly negotiated a 10 percent ownership in each of her films."
Although Taylor bumped Jackson from the top spot, Forbes said the pop star is likely to regain it next year due to steady revenues from music sales and other ventures.
Cartoonist Charles Schulz, who created the Peanuts comic strip, came in at No. 4 with earnings of $37 million, followed by reggae star Bob Marley with $17 million.
Forbes compiled the ranking by analyzing the dead celebrities' earnings between October 2011-2012.
"We count money coming into the estate and we don't deduct for how the estate handles it," Forbes said.
Films stars and musicians dominated the list but Nobel-prize winning physicist Albert Einstein tied with Marilyn Monroe for seventh place, with each earning $10 million.
The 13 dead celebrities on the list earned a total of $532.5 million.
The full list can be found at http://www.forbes.com/special-report/2012/1024_dead-celebrities.html
(Reporting by Patricia Reaney, Editing by Christine Kearney and Tim Dobbyn)

subset: commoncrawl


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Sarah Jessica Parker's Entourage Member -- Shoplifts in Norway
Sarah Jessica Parker Entourage Member Shoplifts Fab Sunglasses!
9:26 AM PT -- A rep for the Nobel Institute is now essentially calling out Sarah's people. The rep tells TMZ, "This individual (the shoplifter) is NOT an employee of and has no connection to the Nobel Institute, which awards the Peace Prize and presents the Peace Prize Concert. She is a freelance make-up artist who was contracted by an outside agency that specialized in that area."
8:00 AM PT -- A rep for Sarah tells us the culprit was NOT SJP's assistant, and was not on her payroll ... but was traveling as part of Sarah's entourage.
A source connected to Sarah claims the alleged shoplifter was actually working for the Nobel Peace Prize. SJP was in Oslo to host a concert for the organization.
If you were flying from Oslo, Norway to NYC on United today ... you would be plenty pissed off, because the plane was delayed for an hour while police dealt with a little shoplifting incident involving Sarah Jessica Parker's assistant.
Sources who work at the airport tell TMZ ... Sarah -- seen above arriving at the United terminal -- and her entourage were ready to board the plane when they were confronted by cops, who were called after an airport shop owner claimed one of Sarah's minions pilfered a pair of expensive sunglasses.
Police blocked the assistant from boarding and worked out a settlement of sorts -- a fine of $1,400, which was paid on the spot. We're told Sarah and the assistant then got on board and the plane took off.
That's what you get for horsing around in Norway.


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Dr. Wyche's Yellow Organic Tomato Seed
Dr. Wyche's Yellow Organic Tomato Seed
Robust flavor.
Yellow to golden fruits with meatier flavor and fewer blemishes than others in its class. Larger and more oblate than Valencia at 10–16 oz. Compared to Yellow Brandywine, which it replaces, it produces notably earlier, heavier yields on stronger plants. Indeterminate. USDA Certified Organic.Specs:
- This product does not ship to the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, Thailand, Taiwan, Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand.
DETERMINATE (Bush): Varieties do not need pruning and may be grown with or without support; fruit ripens within a concentrated time period.
INDETERMINATE (Climbing): Varieties should be staked, trellised, or caged, and pruned for best results; fruit ripens over an extended period.
CULTURE: Medium-rich soil with pH 6.0–6.8 preferred. Fertilize accurately since excess nitrogen causes rampant growth, rot, and delayed ripening. For short determinates, succession-plant every 4–6 weeks. Tomatoes typically germinate in 5–7 days.
TRANSPLANTING: Don't start too early—leggy, root-bound, or flowering transplants can cause stunting and reduce early production. About 5–6 weeks before transplanting, sow 1/4" deep in 20-row flats with 20 seeds/row, or in 200-cell trays with 1 seed/cell; lightly cover. Keep mix at 75–85°F (24–29°C) with moderate moisture. At first true leaf, pot-up to 50-cell trays or 4" pots, depending on expected transplant timing. Grow at constant 60–70°F (16–21°C) temp and use complete fertilizer until hardened-off. Supplemental lights and lower night temps control stretching. For earliest crop, plant under row cover around last frost date. Avoid exposing unprotected plants to consecutive nightly temperatures below 45°F (7°C). In rows 4–6' apart, space determinates 12–24" and indeterminates 24–36". Plant deeply to encourage adventitious rooting. Water seedlings with a high-phosphate fertilizer solution at planting to help boost early yields.
TRELLISING: Basket-weave by pounding 5–6' stakes every 2–3 plants, using heavier t-posts intermittently and at ends of beds. For tall indeterminates, consider short extensions or pruning once they outgrow a manageable size for easy harvest.
PRUNING: Indeterminates likely benefit by removing all suckers under the first strong branch directly below the first flower cluster. The lower bottom suckers often miss trellis supports, set fruit closer to soil, take energy from upper parts, and encourage spread of disease from soil. If needed later in season, consider thinning out leaves to increase airflow or topping plants to help finish ripening last fruits.
DISEASES & INSECT PESTS: Learn your common pests and options for control, including resistant cultivars and pesticides. Avoid wet leaves and handling when wet or using tobacco products. Manage plant debris and crop rotations.
HARVEST: Fruits ripen gradually from the blossom end to shoulders and from the base of clusters to the tips. Harvest softer fruit unstacked into shallow, padded trays. Use fully ripe fruit only for local retail or home-use. To deliver sound fruit, pick less ripe the further the distance and the longer the time between field and customer. Any fruit breaking color will still ripen post-harvest. Calyx can be removed or kept to prove freshness. If staking larger fruit with calyx on, consider trimming below shoulders when harvesting.
STORAGE: Store blemish-free, near-ripe fruit 4–7 days at room temperature in darkness. Store longer with proper variety selection, picking less-ripe, and keeping at cooler temperatures 45–60°F (7–16°C). Colder and picking too green will sacrifice end-quality.
DAYS TO MATURITY: From transplants.
TRANSPLANTS: Avg. 850 plants/1,000 seeds, 10,200 plants/oz.
SEED SPECS: Avg. 11,000–13,000 seeds/oz.
PACKET: 40 seeds, unless otherwise noted; plants about 60 feet.
Johnny's is committed to your success, every step of the way.
We want you, our customer, to be 100% satisfied with all of our seeds, tools, and supplies.
If anything you purchase from us proves unsatisfactory, we will either replace the item or refund the purchase price.


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Crab and barramundi ravioli
I promised the follow-up crab and barramundi ravioli and here it is! It was a cheat's version as I used store-bought egg-based wonton wrappers. It worked a treat and is a great shortcut for those of us who are time-starved... And hungry.
The filling was one I used in my last recipe for stuffed zucchini blossoms. It's a winner. The kind of filling you just eat straight out of the mixing bowl with a big spoon.
This is going to be a short post. Thank you for all your messages, comments and emails. Up next, a strawberries and cream crepe cake.


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Tangelo is the product of crossing tangerine with pomelo - the first man-made tangelo dates from 1897. The resulting fruit is easy to peel, thin skinned and full of juice. I always think the tangelo looks a bit like an old fashioned grenade due to that pronounced knob.
As it is winter here, one of our favourite comforting desserts are steamed puddings - the simplest of ones is the classic golden syrup pudding. I've given it a little tweak and incorporated both the zest and juice into the pudding. If tangelos are not in season, you could use orange or mandarines.
[Makes 1 pudding]
60 grams softened butter, cut into cubes
60 grams caster sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
60 grams self-raising flour, sifted
juice and zest of 1 tangelo
1 heaped tablespoon golden syrup, warmed
Beat the butter and sugar until think and creamy. Whisk in half the zest followed by the egg, a little at a time until fully incorporated.
Use a spatula to gently fold in the flour and then drizzle in enough tangelo juice to form a soft, spoonable batter.
In a small bowl, stir the golden syrup with and remaining tangelo zest and juice. Pour this into a well-buttered 2-cup pudding bowl.
Carefully top this with the batter - smoothing the surface with the back of a spoon. Cover with baking paper and secure with string or silicone ban.
Place in a steamer and steam for about 30 minutes or until cooked through - it should feel light and spongy to the touch and the sides should come easily away from the bowl.
As you turn out the pudding, the mix of golden syrup and juice will have thickened slightly as it cooks and formed a wonderful sauce that oozes out over the pudding.
If you're in the need for a little extra comfort, softly whipped cream is a perfect match.


text:
- From: Frédéric WANG <firstname.lastname@example.com>
- Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:47:44 +0200
- To: firstname.lastname@example.com
- Message-ID: <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Any update on this issue? From the previous discussion, It seems to me that a clarification would be to say that the "base size" of an embellished op includes stretching that has already taken place in the subexpression. This would be consistent for both vertical and horizontal stretching rules. That's how I plan to solve the Firefox's bug. On 25/02/2012 02:51, Dave Barton wrote: > I agree with Frédéric, that option 2 seems most consistent. The spec > (mostly) says a stretchy operator should stretch to the maximum of the > non-stretchy sizes that should influence it, if there are any. So > in Frédéric's cases of a stretchy horizontal operator with nested > under/over embellishments, or a stretchy vertical operator with nested > embellishments to its left or right (i.e. purely space-like elements > in a same <mrow>), the operator should stretch to the maximum of the > sizes. > > Actually, I really only agree with this for horizontal stretching, > because I don't like the mrow rule that Neil mentions, and states is > probably not implemented in MathPlayer or Mathematica. Currently mtext > elements are defined to be space-like > (http://www.w3.org/TR/MathML3/chapter3.html#id.184.108.40.206), so in > > <math display="block" alttext='f(A/B)+∫\text"some differential"'> > <mrow> > <mi>f</mi> > <mrow> > <mo>(</mo> > <mfrac> > <mi>A</mi> > <mi>B</mi> > </mfrac> > <mo>)</mo> > </mrow> > <mo>+</mo> > <mrow> > <mo>∫</mo> > <mtext>some differential</mtext> > </mrow> > </mrow> > </math> > > the final integral sign should stretch to cover the earlier tall > fraction, according to the spec. This is clearly not intended by the > author. I think the rules for embellished operators and space-like > elements are too aggressive. One can now add spacing using CSS, so > <mtext> elements are not usually just "space-like". Also without the > <mrow> rule for embellished operators, an author could control > stretching of e.g. this integral sign by choosing whether to put it in > a nested <mrow> or not. > > I am working on the MathML code in WebKit, as a volunteer. I haven't > gotten to horizontal stretching or even all the rules for embellished > operators yet, but this is my personal thinking so far. > > Cheers, Dave B. > > On Feb 24, 2012, at 12:21 AM, Frédéric WANG wrote: > >> On 24/02/2012 07:47, Neil Soiffer wrote: >>> I hope I'm stating this correctly: the embellished operator rules >>> are clear with the exception of the case of an mrow that contains an >>> embellished operator and space-like elements (the last rule in >>> http://www.w3.org/TR/MathML3/chapter3.html#id.22.214.171.124.3). >>> >>> ... >>> >>> For the vertical case, it is clear that if there was only one mrow, >>> then the maximum size would be used (200px). But that's not the >>> case. As your analysis in a subsequent email demonstrated, the >>> inner mrow should cause that mrow to be 200px. But since it should >>> act as an embellished operator, it is subject to further stretching. >>> >>> There are two possibilities: >>> 1. We ignore the stretching caused by the inner mrow and consider >>> the "normal" height to be be that of the unstretched "|". In this >>> case, the answer should be that the result is 100px because it >>> should stretch to the height f the space in the outer mrow. >>> >>> 2. We consider the stretched height of "|" caused by the inner >>> mrow's stretching to be the normal height of the operator. In this >>> case, the outer mrow doesn't stretch it further, so the answer is >>> 200px. If the outer mrow had a larger stretch than the inner one, >>> than the largest value should be used. >>> >>> The spec is silent on what to do here (AFAIK) -- the rule mentioned >>> for horizontal stretching is not listed as part of the vertical >>> stretching rules. I'm leaning towards '1' as being the correct >>> interpretation, so the result should be 100px. >>> >>> I haven't looked at the code, but I suspect that MathPlayer chooses >>> the inner one (even if the outer one is larger) because it doesn't >>> implement the "|mrow| whose arguments consist (in any order) of one >>> embellished operator and zero or more space-like elements" rule. >>> >>> I tried Mathematica and it behaves like MathPlayer (I didn't >>> implement this part of the code in MathPlayer, but did in >>> Mathematica). So both are doing it wrong (probably because they >>> didn't implement this rule). >>> >>> ... >>> >>> On Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 1:02 AM, Frédéric WANG <email@example.com >>> <mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com>> wrote: >>> >>> ... what should be the size of the arrows (100px or 200px?) in >>> these examples: >>> >>> <math> >>> <mover> >>> <mspace width="100px"/> >>> <munder> >>> <mo>→</mo> >>> <mspace width="200px"/> >>> </munder> >>> </mover> >>> </math> >>> >>> and >>> >>> <math> >>> <mover> >>> <mspace width="200px"/> >>> <munder> >>> <mo>→</mo> >>> <mspace width="100px"/> >>> </munder> >>> </mover> >>> </math> >>> >>> An example with vertical stretching rules: >>> >>> <math> >>> <mrow> >>> <mspace height="50px" depth="50px"/> >>> <mrow> >>> <mo>|</mo> >>> <mspace height="100px" depth="100px"/> >>> </mrow> >>> </mrow> >>> </math> >>> >>> ... >>> >>> >> Thanks for your answer, Neil. >> >> It seems that we all agree on the results of munderover, however it >> is not consistent with Option '1' for the vertical case with mrow's >> (consider what you said for the first non-trivial case). Firefox is >> (more or less) using option '1' and now it supports all the >> embellished op rules, that's even causing a bug for the trivial test >> case when an <mrow> is added around the <mover> (reported by MathJax >> folks). >> >> Karl's interpretation and MathJax's implementation seems to be option >> '2'. I don't really mind between '1' and '2' in the vertical case >> (although I suspect '2' will be more work to implement it in Firefox) >> but to be consistent with the horizontal case, I would rather propose >> option '2'. >> >> -- >> Frédéric Wang >> maths-informatique-jeux.com/blog/frederic <http://maths-informatique-jeux.com/blog/frederic> > -- Frédéric Wang maths-informatique-jeux.com/blog/frederic
Received on Tuesday, 27 March 2012 19:46:53 UTC


text:
I want to share some important emergency information to you for during the storm so that you and your family stay safe.
Recommended Practices for All Users
It is important for consumers to keep in mind that during an emergency, many more people are trying to use their wireless and wireline telephones at the same time when compared to normal calling activity. When more people try to call at the same time, the increased calling volume may create network congestion.
- Limit non-emergency phone calls. This will minimize network congestion, free up "space" on the network for emergency communications and conserve battery power if you are using a wireless phone;
- Keep all phone calls brief. If you need to use a phone, try to use it only to convey vital information to emergency personnel and/or family;
- For non-emergency calls, try text messaging, also known as short messaging service (SMS) when using your wireless phone. In many cases text messages will go through when your call may not. It will also help free up more "space" for emergency communications on the telephone network;
- If possible try a variety of communications services if you are unsuccessful in getting through with one. For example, if you are unsuccessful in getting through on your wireless phone, try a messaging capability like text messaging or email. Alternatively, try a landline phone if one is available. This will help spread the communications demand over multiple networks and should reduce overall congestion;
- Wait 10 seconds before redialing a call. On many wireless handsets, to re-dial a number, you simply push "send" after you've ended a call to redial the previous number. If you do this too quickly, the data from the handset to the cell sites do not have enough time to clear before you've resent the same data. This contributes to a clogged network;
- Have charged batteries and car-charger adapters available for backup power for your wireless phone;
- Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers in your phone;
- If in your vehicle, try to place calls while your vehicle is stationary;
- Have a family communications plan in place. Designate someone out of the area as a central contact, and make certain all family members know who to contact if they become separated;
- If you have Call Forwarding on your home number, forward your home number to your wireless number in the event of an evacuation. That way you will get incoming calls from your landline phone;
- After the storm has passed, if you lose power in your home, try using your car to charge cell phones or listen to news alerts on the car radio. But be careful – don't try to reach your car if it is not safe to do so, and remain vigilant about carbon monoxide emissions from your car if it is a closed space, such as a garage.
- Tune-in to broadcast and radio news for important news alerts.
- If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately. But if it's not an emergency, use other options.
Recommended Practices for People with Disabilities
- Register with your local Police Department. Remind them to keep a record of the help you may need during an evacuation, power outage or other emergency;
- If you have a Personal Care Attendant, work with that person to decide how you will communicate with each other, such as by cell phone, if you are separated during an emergency;
- Consider getting a medical alert system that will allow you to call for help if you are immobilized in an emergency. Most alert systems require a working phone line, so have a back up such as a cell phone or pager if the landlines are disrupted; and
- Learn about devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), text radio, pagers, etc. that can help you receive emergency instructions and warnings from local officials. Tip: Learn about NOAA Weather Radio for the hearing impaired.
Visit Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website at: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/specialplans.shtm for more information.
Recommended Practices for Communications Providers
- Work with local emergency services personnel and large communications users (e.g., enterprise customers and campus environments) to develop plans for managing communications surges during emergencies;
- Have procedures in place for provisioning additional capacity rapidly to areas that are experiencing surges in demand for communications services due to emergencies. These procedures are especially important for trunks that interconnect local switches with 911 tandems;
- Include information in billing/marketing distributions to customers advising them of practices that they should follow when trying to communicate in an emergency;
- Work with 911 call centers to help design and implement solutions that will enable them to manage heavy call volume during emergencies;
- Ensure that critical 911 circuits are registered with Telecommunications Service Priority to expedite restoration of service;
- Consider placing and maintaining 911 circuits over diverse interoffice transport facilities (e.g., geographically diverse facility routes, automatically invoked standby routing, diverse digital cross-connect system services, self-healing fiber ring topologies, or any combination thereof); and
- Move network access away from the 911 tandem during surge events that accompany an emergency.
If you need to find a shelter, Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362. Pass this msg via text to friends/family impacted. #Irene


text:
The Best Thing I've Ever Baked!
More baked goods to come as soon as I get some sleep... :)
Chocolate Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream
These cupcakes almost don't need words. Just read the name and look at the pictures. You really can't go wrong with chocolate and caramel. And the sea salt mixed into the buttercream just takes these to a whole different level. It cuts the sweetness of all the caramel, plus"salted caramel buttercream" sounds so much more sophisticated than just plain old "caramel buttercream".
And the best thing about these cupcakes? They are so easy! It's just a doctored up devil's food cake mix. (Shhhh. Don't tell all my friends that ate them last night. They think I made them from scratch!). I made them for Ross' 30th birthday yesterday, and the truth is I don't usually use boxed cake mixes, but being almost 41 weeks pregnant (yup, you read that right...41 weeks!), I wanted to take the easy route. I'm really glad I tried this recipe because it will definitely be my go to recipe if I don't feel like making a cake from scratch. Everyone raved about them and as soon everyone was done with their first, they eyed the table for someone to split a second cupcake with!
Chocolate Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream
Recipe: Adapted from My Baking Addiction
For the cupcakes:
- 1 (18.25 ounce) package Devil's Food Cake mix
- 1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
- 1 cup sour cream
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 4 eggs; lightly beaten
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
For the frosting:
- 3 sticks butter; room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2/3 cup caramel syrup
- 1 pound confectioners' sugar
- 24 rolos
- chocolate sprinkles
For the cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line (2) 12 cup muffin tins with paper liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs, water and vanilla until well combined and smooth.
- Evenly divide the batter amongst the prepared pans
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until top is springy to the touch.
- Cool cupcakes thoroughly on wire rack.
For the frosting:
- Cream the butter in the bowl of an electric or stand mixer. Add the vanilla extract, salt and caramel syrup and combine well.
- Begin adding in the sugar and mixing thoroughly after each addition. After all of the sugar has been added and mixed thoroughly, give it a taste and decide if you want to add in more caramel syrup. For thicker frosting you can gradually add in a little more sugar.
Pumpkin Cornbread
Is August too early to start baking with pumpkin? Maybe, but that's not stopping me...
The temperature was down in the 60's here the other day, making it really feel like Fall. All of a sudden the only thing I wanted to eat was a hot bowl of chili and some cornbread! As soon as I came across this recipe for pumpkin cornbread, that sealed the deal! The cornbread isn't overly pumpkin-y; it has just the right amount of pumpkin flavor hanging out in the background. It's perfect served with a drizzle of honey on top, alongside a bowl of chili!
Recipe: Adapted from SugarCrafter
- 1 cup flour
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup pumpkin purée
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 Tbsp honey
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and grease an 8×8″ baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, spices, brown sugar, and cornmeal.
- In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs, and then stir in the pumpkin, oil, milk and honey.
- Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until combined, and then pour the batter into the pan, smoothing out the top as much as possible.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Mini Carrot Cake Cheesecakes
When I was conceptualizing this dessert in my head I asked myself "Are you really going to cheesecake and top it with a cream cheese frosting?" The answer: A resounding yes!
I don't know if I should be ashamed of this cream cheese on top of cream cheese concoction or proud of it, but I do know that I am very glad I made it! And so is everyone else who got to try it. Somehow I justified this cream cheese overload to myself because I'm pregnant, but let's be honest, once the idea was in my head there was no turning back, pregnant or not!
If you're asking yourself it the cream cheese icing is really necessary, or thinking about making the cheesecake without the icing, let me just stop you right now. The icing is crucial. I tried one plain without it, and it just tasted okay. It really lacked that carrot cake taste. The cream cheese icing on top really brings out that true carrot cake flavor and brings the whole dessert together.
I thought this dessert was great as it is, but next time I might try incorporating some toasted walnut or pecan into the crust. Or maybe decorate the top with a nut (instead of making Ross fish out all the orange sprinkles out of a bag of multi-colored sprinkles). Also, it should be noted that the recipe could easily be doubled. I didn't trust myself with that much cheesecake around, so I made a small(er) batch. I used my mini cheesecake pan and got about 14 mini cheesecakes. They went fast.
Mini Carrot Cake Cheesecakes
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 8 0z cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 1/3 cup of sugar
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and finely grated
- 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 lemon extract (or a squeeze of lemon juice)
- To make the crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray mini cheesecake pans with non-stick spray, or line mini muffin tins with paper liners. Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar. Press into pans (I used about 1 tablespoon per cheesecake). Bake for 10 - 12 minutes until golden brown.
To make the cheesecake: Beat cream cheese and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the egg. Add carrots, flour, spices, and vanilla extract. Spoon on top of crusts so they are about 3/4 full.
Bake until set, about 18 to 22 minutes.
Transfer pans to a rack and let cool. Refrigerate until ready to frost.
- To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and extracts. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Frost with cream cheese icing. Enjoy!
Chocolate Covered Pretzles & One in the Oven!
Well some of you may have noticed that my blog has slowed down considerably over the last few months. If there was ever a good excuse, this is it... I'm pregnant! Very pregnant as a matter of fact, my due date is in less than a month! Ross and I couldn't possibly be more excited. This is our first baby and somehow time seems to be standing still and going in fast forward all at once.
I didn't plan on blogging so infrequently while I was pregnant, but it just kind of got away from me. It started with the first trimester nausea where I couldn't stomach the thought of being in the kitchen cooking. Then I took a few trips that had me out of town and away from my kitchen for awhile. And then I just kind of lost my baking mojo. I didn't seem to have the energy to bake, and when I did, I seemed to always forget to take pictures.
Now, with my due date quickly approaching, I seem to have my mojo back. I'm realizing that in one month I probably won't have the freedom (or energy) to whip up a back of cookies on a whim just because I feel like it. This has me taking advantage of what time I have left and all of sudden I have a long list of things I can't wait to make (and blog about)! I know I should probably be focused on making some freezer meals for after the baby is here, but I just can't help making a few sweet treats too.
These pretzels are an homage to my pregnancy. I didn't have any weird pregnancy cravings like pickles and ice cream, and I never sent Ross out in the middle of the night for something I just had to have, but I did develop a slight obsession with pretzels. It started in my first trimester when I was nauseous all the time; the only thing I seemed to want to eat was pretzels. I think I've consumed more pretzels in the past 8 months than I have in my entire life. I think it's something about the saltiness that really does it for me. And these chocolate covered pretzels, well they're just about perfection my eyes! The salty and the sweet are perfect together and the colorful sprinkles just make me happy!
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- Mini Pretzels
- 1 lb chocolate (any kind will do) or candy melts
- Sprinkles (optional)
- Melt the chocolate in a microwave or a double boiler.
- Dip the pretzels in the chocolate. I did this buy submerging the pretzels in the chocolate and then fishing it out with a fork. I would tap the fork against the side of the bowl to let any excess chocolate drip off.
- Place the pretzels on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.
- Apply sprinkles before the chocolate hardens.
The Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies
Even though I already had a peanut butter cookie recipe that I love, I had an itch to try a different recipe for no particular reason. And I am so glad that I did! This peanut butter cookie is indescribably good. It has a perfect peanut butter flavor and the texture is just what you want from a peanut butter cookie. The cookies are thick with a slightly crispy exterior and a thick, soft interior.
The cookie includes both chocolate and peanut butter chips. As a rule, I generally use dark chocolate when baking cookies, but peanut butter cookies are the one exception to this rule. I read in the Baked cookbook that milk chocolate is preferred for peanut butter cookies because the dark chocolate can taste bitter against all the sweetness of the peanut butter.
As a bonus, the cookies are rolled in sugar before they are baked. This step could probably be left out if you're short on time, but it does add to the texture, flavor, and appearance of the cookies. Either way you definitely want to have people to share these with, because trust me you don't want these cookies sitting in your kitchen testing your willpower. They will win!
Peanut Butter Cookies
Recipe from: Smitten Kitchen
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup peanut butter at room temperature (I used smooth)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate)
- 2 tablespoons of sugar, for sprinkling
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, the baking soda, the baking powder, and the salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the butter and the peanut butter together until fluffy. Add the sugars and beat until smooth. Add the egg and mix well. Add the milk and the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat thoroughly. Stir in the peanut butter and chocolate chips.
Place sprinkling sugar on a plate. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls into the sugar, then onto ungreased cookie sheets, leaving several inches between for expansion. Using a fork, lightly indent with a crisss-cross pattern (I used the back of a small offset spatula to keep it smooth on top), but do not overly flatten cookies.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Do not overbake. Cookies may appear to be underdone, but they are not. Cool the cookies on the sheets for 1 minute, then remove to a rack to cool completely.
Key Lime Pie Fudge
I absolutely love key lime pie, so when I saw a recipe for key lime pie fudge it took me all of .25 seconds to start writing down the ingredients on my grocery list. I had high hopes for this, and it did not disappoint. It's insanely easy to make. The only hard thing about this is keeping yourself from eating it all, because this stuff is addictive!
I thought this was really good the way it is, but when I make it again I think I'll increase the lime juice a little more. That's just a personal preference though. I like my citrus desserts to be really tart! I also added a pinch of salt to the fudge, which I think is necessary to cut the sweetness from all the white chocolate. With summer bbq's right around the corner, I have a feeling this will be making its way into my kitchen a lot!
Key Lime Pie Fudge
Recipe: Slightly adapted from Dozen Flours
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1-1/4 cups finely crushed graham crackers
- 3 cups or 4, 4-oz bars of good quality white chocolate, finely chopped
- 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tablespoon finely grated Key lime zest, about 5-6 Key limes
- 1/4 cup key lime juice – freshly squeezed is better
- Line a square 8"x8 baking pan with foil or parchment paper, extending it up and over pan (this helps you get it out of the pan later). Butter sides and bottom of the pan, especially the corners. Set aside.
- To make the crust: Preheat oven to 375. In a medium sized bowl, melt butter in them microwave. Stir in sugar with a fork, braking up any lumps. Add crushed graham crackers and toss to mix well. Spread evenly into the baking pan and bake for 4 to 5 minutes or until edge is lightly browned. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.
- Stir white chocolate and sweetened condensed milk in a large heavy saucepan over low heat just until chocolate is melted and all the lumps are gone. Remove from heat and stir in zest and juice. Spread mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
- Cover and chill for two hours or overnight. Lift the fudge from pan using edges of foil. Peel off foil and use a heavy non-serrated knife to cut the fudge into one-inch pieces. (Tip: Keep a damp kitchen towel handy to clean off the knife after each cut. This will keep give your fudge a cleaner appearance.) Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.


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Governments from over 50 countries in Africa will meet in Arusha, Tanzania from 13-15 February for the Fourth Africa Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (ARP) to address the challenges of building a disaster resilient society.
"With global warming affecting agriculture and livelihoods in a continent where agriculture contributes 50% of total exports and 21% of total GDP, it is evident that long-term action must lead to sustainable development policies which take account of these challenges. Climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and poverty reduction policies need to be integrated into the policies, budgets and planning of African countries and institutions," notes Pedro Basabe, head of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) regional office in Africa.
The event will also be a major milestone in providing recommendations on the future of the Hyogo Framework for Action -- the 10-year international framework for reducing disaster risks and building community resilience which ends in 2015.
In addition to organizing the Africa Regional Platform back-to-back with the UNDP Drylands Drought Forum, UNISDR will also be organizing media training on disaster risk reduction (DRR). The two-day training program is planned for 11 and 13 February and will accommodate 12-15 journalists and twelve DRR focal points from the Africa region.


text:
2022-23 Catalog and Student Handbook
2022-23 Catalog and Student Handbook > Courses > PNSG - Practical Nursing > 2000 > PNSG 2320
This second clinical course, in a series of four medical-surgical clinical courses, focuses on clinical client care including using the nursing process, performing assessments, applying critical thinking, engaging in client education and displaying cultural competence across the life span and with attention to special populations. At the completion of the four part sequence of these medical-surgical clinical courses students will have completed a minimum of 375 hours of clinical experience including 300 hours of comprehensive medical-surgical, 37.5 pediatric and 37.5 mental health experiences. Topics include: health management and maintenance; prevention of illness; care of the individual as a whole; hygiene and personal care; mobility and biomechanics; fluid and electrolytes; oxygen care; perioperative care; immunology; mental health; and oncology. In addition pathological diseases, disorders and deviations from the normal state of health, client care, treatment, pharmacology, nutrition and standard precautions with regard to cardiovascular, hematological, immunological, respiratory, neurological, sensory, musculoskeletal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, urinary, integumentary and reproductive systems.


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Dorothy Louise Henderson Pickhart of Mitchell passed away Saturday morning at Bedford Regional Medical Center at the age of 81.
Born in 1926 in Bedford to Benjamin and Rosa Grimes, Dorothy was a retiree of Mitchell Manor after working there for 28 years.
She is survived by her sons Larry and Jimmie, daughters Rebecca and Panda, sisters Betty, Catherine and Gertie, 9 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Farrell, and brothers Rollie, Harold and Ben.
Services will be held tomorrow morning at 10:00am at the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home in Mitchell with burial to follow at Mitchell Cemetery.
Visitation will be tonight from 4:00 until 8:00pm and again from 9:00am until time of service at Chastain.


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News that Pee-wee's Playhouse is heading for the stage is a fantastic holiday gift. But this triumphant return to the stage – and possibly the silver screen – only begins to address the tragedy that was Pee-wee Herman's totally unnecessary departure.
If the warm reception Paul Reubens received during recent appearances on Jay Leno and The Tonight Show, as well the massive demand for tickets to his L.A. stage show are any indication, America is ready to embrace Reubens anew.
"I probably have become more infamous from two misdemeanors than probably anyone i could think of," the man behind the bowtie told Dateline in 2004.
Too true, old friend. Pee-wee was first chased off the public stage in 1991 when overzealous Florida cops found Reubens taking in a double-bill of Nancy Nurse and Turn up the Heat, allegedly expressing his enthusiasm for the films in a way other than clapping.
Twelve years later, cops in Los Angeles accused him of child pornography, charges that were ultimately dropped to misdemeanor obscenity, but resulted in him being required to register his address with the sheriff's office and forbade him from being in the company of a minor without their parents' permission.
Except for a brief appearance at the MTV Music Awards following his first arrest, Pee-wee was forced underground for more than a decade.
That such a great and unique talent was banished for so long simply for engaging in behavior that Americans enjoy in to the tune of more than $2.5 billion annually is absurd. His return is overdue as it is welcomed.
U.S. & World
Here's hoping Reubens can stay out of trouble long enough to make the two movies he's been working on. In the past he's discussed The Pee-wee Herman Story, which he's described as a "Valley of the Dolls Pee-wee movie, because it's about fame and how it doesn't really agree with Pee-wee Herman." Additionally, his IMDB page promises that Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Movie is coming in 2011. Keep your fingers crossed.


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-- A federal judge in Florida has tossed out the sweeping health care reform law championed by President Barack Obama, setting up what is likely to be a contentious Supreme Court challenge over the legislation in coming months.
Monday's sweeping ruling came in the most closely watched of the two dozen separate challenges to the law. Florida along with 25 states had filed a lawsuit last spring, seeking to dismiss a law critics had labeled "Obamacare."
U.S. District Judge Robert Vinson declared unconstitutional the key provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act -- the so-called "individual mandate" requiring most Americans to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties. Vinson also declared unconstitutional the section of the act that withholds Medicare funds from states that refuse to participate.
But unlike another federal judge who ruled the individual mandate unconstitutional last month, Vinson ruled that the unconstitutionality voided the entire act.
"I must reluctantly conclude that Congress exceeded the bounds of its authority in passing the Act with the individual mandate. That is not to say, of course, that Congress is without power to address the problems and inequities in our health care system," wrote Vinson.
"Because the individual mandate is unconstitutional and not severable, the entire Act must be declared void. This has been a difficult decision to reach, and I am aware that it will have indeterminable implications," Vinson wrote, adding, "At a time when there is virtually unanimous agreement that health care reform is needed in this country, it is hard to invalidate and strike down a statute titled "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."
The Justice Department declared its intentions to appeal the ruling to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
"We strongly disagree with the court's ruling today and continue to believe -- as other federal courts have found -- that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional," said department spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler.
"This is one of a number of cases pending before courts around the country, including several that the government has won in the district courts that are now before the courts of appeals. There is clear and well-established legal precedent that Congress acted within its constitutional authority in passing this law and we are confident that we will ultimately prevail on appeal."
Schmaler added that the department is determining what other steps to take "including seeking a stay ... while the appeal is pending to continue our progress toward ensuring that Americans do not lose out on the important protections this law provides, that the millions of children and adults who depend on Medicaid programs receive the care the law requires, and that the millions of seniors on Medicare receive the benefits they need."
Sen. Marco Rubio, the Republian freshman senator from Florida, praised the ruling and called on the Senate to take up the recently approved House bill repealing the act.
"ObamaCare was a mistake," he said. "However, we cannot leave this decision in the hands of judges alone. The Senate Democrat leadership should follow the House's lead and hold an up-or-down vote to repeal ObamaCare. The optimal outcome for Florida and the American people is to repeal the federal health care law and replace it with common-sense reforms that will lower health care costs and get more Americans insured."
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, agreed that the Senate should take up the repeal bill, saying it was "the easiest way to protect the American people."
"Today's decision affirms the view, held by most of the states and a majority of the American people, that the federal government should not be in the business of forcing you to buy health insurance and punishing you if you don't," he said. "It's not only unconstitutional, it's also unaffordable. This health care law remains a major source of uncertainty for small businesses, which is why all parties involved should request that this case be sent to the U.S. Supreme Court for a swift and fair resolution."
Newly elected Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus joined the call for the Senate to vote on repeal -- after Senate Republicans noted earlier in the day that all of them would vote in favor.
"The new Republican House majority has already fulfilled its promise to the American people and voted to repeal this unaffordable, unconstitutional legislation and it is time for the Senate to follow suit," he said. "Senate Democrats cannot continue to defend the indefensible and keep a law on the books that is not only opposed by the American people but also raises clear constitutional concerns."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, however, disagreed that Americans want the act repealed.
"This lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt by those who want to raise taxes on small businesses, increase prescription prices for seniors and allow insurance companies to once again deny sick children medical care," he said. "Health care reform is the law of the land and, now that Americans see its benefits, a majority of them oppose Republicans' dangerous plans to repeal a law that put patients in control of their own health care. Rather than focusing obsessively on the past and pushing a plan that will add $1 trillion to the deficit, Republicans should join Democrats in working to create jobs and strengthen the middle class."
And Rep. Pete Stark, D-California, and ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, pointed out that Vinson's 78-page ruling went against several other district court rulings.
"Republicans have no problems with activist judges as long as they're taking rights away from the American people," he said. "Several other judges across the country have ruled that health reform is clearly constitutional, a viewpoint that will win the day at the end of all this partisan posturing."
The states bringing suit in this appeal are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Virginia and Oklahoma have filed separate challenges, along with other groups and individuals opposed to the law.
A federal judge in eastern Virginia has also found the health care law unconstitutional, while two other federal judges, one in western Virginia and one in Michigan, have ruled just the opposite. Additionally, according to the White House, 12 other federal judges have dismissed challenges to the law.
The two judges who ruled against the law were appointed by Republican presidents; the two who ruled in favor of the law were appointed by Democratic presidents.
Such disagreements almost ensure the high court will take up the issue. The various cases will likely have to go separate federal appeals courts before the justices would take up one or more of the cases.
There was no indication when the Supreme Court would take the case, although it could be as soon as later this year.
In the Florida case, opponents were targeting not only that individual mandate, but also the law's requirement that each state expand Medicaid to cover more of the low-income uninsured.
"It's an enormous burden on the states that they never agreed to," then-Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum said last month after oral arguments. The Medicaid expansion, he said, amounts to "the compulsion and coercion of the states, in violation of the 10th Amendment."
Under the law, the federal government is supposed to pay states for most of the cost of the Medicaid expansion -- an estimated 95 percent over the first five years, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. However, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott estimated the expansion could cost his state up to $25 billion over 10 years.
In his ruling Vinson seemed almost apologetic that he had to rule against the government on an issue he repeatedly referred to as monumental. But he said forcing Americans to buy a product like health care insurance that they may not want or need clearly violates the Constitution.
"I will simply observe, once again, that my conclusion in this case is based on an application of the Commerce Clause law as it exists pursuant to the Supreme Court's current interpretation and definition," he wrote. "Only the Supreme Court (or a Constitutional amendment) can expand that."
President Barack Obama has said the requirement is justified for the overall good.
"All we've said is, everybody has to get some basic insurance, so that we're not paying for you when you get sick," he said in an interview last month. "It's the right thing to do, and I'm confident that the courts will uphold it."
The mandate on individuals to buy insurance is not scheduled to go into effect until 2014. But if that portion of the law is ultimately struck down, analysts say it would make it difficult to pay for the law's other, more popular provisions.
In the meantime, the public will already benefit from several other provisions of the law, according to White House health care policy director Nancy-Ann DeParle. Those include requirements that insurers offer coverage to children of beneficiaries until age 26, not deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and not place a lifetime cap on benefits.
The case is Florida v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (3:10-cv-91-RV/EMT).


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Alastair Cook was finally dismissed, in controversial circumstances, as England nonetheless continued to dominate India on the third afternoon of the third Test at Eden Gardens.
England's captain fell 10 short of what would have been his third double-century, when Virat Kohli arrowed in a direct-hit throw from midwicket to run him out backing up. The complication was that Cook had appeared in position to ground his bat in time, only to raise it and allow the ball through.
His own reaction told the tale, however, that he was not forced into protective evasive action but merely for once guilty of a rare human error - a fact confirmed by third-umpire vindication of his departure. Cook had by then put his team in prime position to push for victory, and a 2-1 series lead, and at tea they moved on to 381 for three in reply to 316 all out.
The captain's eight-hour epic, encapsulating of course his record-breaking 23rd English Test century, underpinned an advantage which was consolidated in a stand of 173 with Jonathan Trott (87).
The second-wicket pair continued remorselessly, although Cook needed one significant piece of good fortune on 156 when Ishant Sharma put down a straightforward return catch.
India managed to apply the brakes either side of lunch but could not manage a breakthrough as Trott moved past his 131-ball half-century, with a leg-glance off Zaheer Khan for his seventh four - a shot which also brought up the 100 stand.
Spin replaced pace, to no avail until - in mid-afternoon - Trott was undone by one that turned from Pragyan Ojha and edged behind.
The arrival of Kevin Pietersen brought a familiar change in the bowling, Mahendra Singh Dhoni summoning Yuvraj Singh to try his luck against his favourite sparring partner. Save for an early mistimed cut into the ground and just past off-stump, however, Pietersen was unfazed.
Instead, it was Cook who at last showed some frailty - surprised perhaps by an Indian fielder excelling himself in a match when that has so rarely happened so far.
He hung his head in disappointment on instant realisation, and it would have been asking a lot for Dhoni to recall his team's tormentor merely because he was eventually run out. Amazingly it was the first time Cook has been run out in his 312 first-class innings.


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Growing needs of the business required we consolidate our efforts into a corporate entity and hence, Busisol Sourcing (India) Pvt. Ltd was formed in February 2004. Our Board of Directors comprises professionals from various disciplines who have decades of expertise in their respective domains.
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Tag Archives: Malcolm Gladwell
Intuition, Subliminal Perception and the Subconscious
Our subconscious knows more, sees more and hears more than we do. About Intuitions, Experiments Below the Awareness Threshold, and Free Will. →
Posted in meta, Research
Tagged 2012, awareness, consciousness, free will, intuition, Malcolm Gladwell, perception, senses, subconscious, subliminal
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A. Exterior awnings, including those not located over a public right-of-way and interior awnings located within malls and atriums, must comply with the provisions of Chapter 32 of the Building Code and this Title. Awnings may be fixed or retractable.
B. Exterior awnings must be designed to support appropriate snow and wind loads, including drifting.
C. Awnings and methods to attach and anchor awnings to buildings must be designed and constructed in accordance with applicable provisions of the Building Code. All awnings and attachments must be designed for the appropriate dead and seismic loads. The awning framework must be capable of supporting not less than 15 pounds per square foot of uniform load over the entire horizontal projection without consideration of snow drifting.
D. The supports for all awnings must be located outside of any right-of-way.
E. Welds of awning frames must be welded in accordance with the Building Code. Welding must be done by approved welders as provided in the Building Code.
F. Awning structures and anchorages to a building must be individually designed in accordance with the Building Code and the provisions of this Title, except as provided in Section 32.52.020, Pre-Approved Designs.


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2013 Pagani Huayra first drive
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It's tempting to dismiss the Pagani Huayra as another fringe hypercar -- another exclusive, expensive, pointless toy for the collector who's bored with his Ferraris and wants to tool around to the country club in something his rich buddies don't have. Tempting, that is, until you drive it.
The Huayra is the follow-up to the Zonda, the debut model from self-taught supercar auteur Horacio Pagani. It features an all-new chassis with a central monocoque made from titanium-infused carbon fiber, and the wheelbase has been stretched 2.75 inches over the Zonda. The suspension is pure race car stuff: double wishbones milled from billets of a copper-rich aluminum alloy called Avional, with pushrod-actuated Ohlins shocks.
The carbon bodywork was styled by Pagani himself, and features active aerodynamics -- flaps at each corner of the car that can move independently and alter downforce according to inputs from sensors that measure speed, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, roll, and steering angle. The suspension will also automatically lower the nose to increase the car's angle of attack and increase downforce at speed.
Here's the simple math: The Huayra weighs less than 3000 pounds (dry) and has 720 horsepower. Oh, and it also has more than 737 lb-ft of torque, courtesy of a new 60-degree, 6.0-liter twin-turbo V-12 developed expressly for the car by the engine wizards at AMG, replacing the 7.3-liter naturally aspirated AMG V-12 in the Zonda. The mid-mounted engine drives the rear wheels through a seven-speed, single clutch automated manual transmission built by Xtrac, the British company that makes trannys for F1 cars and Le Mans prototypes.
There was some wrangling over the new engine's configuration. Horacio Pagani didn't like the idea of turbos, and didn't like the naturally aspirated V-8 AMG first proposed as a replacement for the Zonda's 7.3. He wanted a V-12, but AMG engineers were insistent that to meet emissions and fuel consumption standards through the next decade, the engine had to have forced induction. AMG clearly knew what it was talking about. At cruising speeds, the Huayra is one of the most fuel-efficient supercars in the business, says Pagani, brandishing figures fresh from the test lab showing it has achieved 21 mpg (U.S.) on the Euro highway cycle.
Nailing the gas in the Huayra is like lighting the afterburners on an F-15, though. The new V-12, codenamed M158 in AMG-speak, will pull cleanly and smoothly from as little as 1000 rpm, but once the tach needle swings past the 2500 mark and the turbos get into their comfort zone, the thrust is epic and utterly relentless all the way to 6000 rpm. I didn't go past 160 mph more than once on the bumpy, busy autostrada near Bologna, but the Huayra got there without breaking sweat; a casual canter en route to its claimed 230 mph top speed.
More impressive than the Huayra's raw speed on the autostrada, however, is its agility on the winding two-lanes. This is a big car -- 181.2 inches long and 80.2 inches wide, rolling on a 110.2-inch wheelbase -- but its low mass -- it weighs about 200 pounds less than a Ferrari 458 Italia, and a whopping 1300 pounds less than a Bugatti Veyron -- means it darts and weaves through the twisties like Jerry Rice on a crossing route. Factor in that weapons-grade torque and a complete absence of turbo-lag, and the Huayra will destroy a canyon road using only second and third gears.
Which is just as well, because the seven-speed automated manual transmission is the car's weakest link. Sure, it's light -- at 211 pounds, the single-clutch unit is less than half the weight of the 458 Italia's dual-clutch 'box -- and the F1-style transverse gearset keeps most of the transmission's mass inside the wheelbase, but the speed and finesse of its shifts are nowhere near as good as those of the Ferrari. It feels like a first-gen Lamborghini automated manual -- slow and clumsy in auto mode, thumpingly brutal in manual mode if you keep your foot on the gas through the shifts.
The Huayra's steering isn't quite as tactile as that of the Zonda, but that's because Pagani has deliberately dialed some snooze factor into the chassis in recognition of the way most Huayra owners will actually drive the cars. When pushed hard into turns, the Huayra will eventually develop mild understeer, which Horacio Pagani prefers to the snap oversteer that usually bedevils mid-engine supercars at the limit. "It's safer," he says simply. The brakes, monster carbon-ceramic units developed in partnership with Brembo, are stellar. You can grenade the pedal time after time, and they just keep coming back for more.
Our tester was running on the standard P Zero tires specially developed for the Huayra by Pirelli. The optional P Zero Corsas have proven 20 percent faster on the track, says Pagani, but are 10 percent less efficient in the wet. If I had the money for a Huayra, I'd probably opt for the Corsas to give the car a touch more front end bite on initial turn in, and drive my Bentley Conti GT on rainy days.
Our tester was also only the fifth Huayra ever built. The Pagani shop is tiny and it's production methods artisanal, so development is ongoing. Andrea Galletti, who spent 10 years working for the Ferrari F1 team and helped develop the 599XX, said the variable front ride height settings will be changed to alter the car's angle of attack and improve stability at speed (I mentioned I had been chasing the front end around more than I had expected above 140 mph on the rough autostrada), and that anti-roll bar settings would also be changed to improve initial turn-in response.
A sport + mode is also being developed that will lower the car 10mm, eliminate the auto upshift (which currently happens when you hit the redline in either comfort or sport manual mode), and switch off both traction control and ABS. Galletti also acknowledged that for the typical Huayra customer -- someone who collects supercars and might drive them fast only occasionally -- the transmission needs work to improve comfort and response, particularly when the Huayra is being cruised around town. Among the changes under discussion is a shorter first gear so the engine doesn't rev as high before the clutch engages from a standstill.
Pagani currently holds 14 orders for the Huayra from U.S. customers (out of a total of 95 worldwide), its million dollar-plus price tag notwithstanding. U.S. market homologation, which includes the adoption of two-stage airbags, is expected to be completed by the end of this year, and the first U.S. spec Huayra is expected to be delivered by mid-2013. (The carbon/titanium central tub is so strong it has been used in seven crash tests so far, says Pagani proudly. They simply removed the buckled front and rear subframes after each test, and bolted on new ones.)
Before I drove my first Pagani 10 years ago, an early Zonda, I was a skeptic. I had expected a glorified kit car -- fast, but half-baked. I was surprised at how complete the Zonda felt. It drove and rode and steered like a real car developed by a real car company with thousands of engineers and a basement full of Cray supercomputers at its disposal. The Huayra is no different. Pagani may be tiny -- just 53 people work at the factory at San Cesario sul Panaro, just outside Modena -- but the Huayra is a real car. It has air conditioning and sat-nav and a stereo, all the mod-cons you'd expect in a modern supercar. It's a car in which you could comfortably knock off 1000 miles a day, and feel fresh enough for a chilled Dom Perignon before dinner.
But that's not what makes the Pagani Huayra special. What makes it special is that it's the singular product of one man's singular passion. "We are a design and research company based on the Renaissance theory of art and science working together," says Argentine-born Horacio Pagani. "That's not our idea -- it's 500 years old. We take our inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci." Pagani has thought through every single detail of this car -- his one-on-one walkthrough of the Huayra's technical highlights lasted more than three hours. He is truly autodom's Renaissance man (he named his first son Leonardo): part designer, part engineer, mostly self-taught, totally obsessed.
How else could you explain the fact that every one of the Huayra's 1400 titanium bolts has the Pagani logo etched on it (the pre-production bolt set used on the first five cars cost $112,000 -- per car); that Pagani spent nearly $900,000 developing a unique fuel system designed to eliminate the threat of fires in a crash; that the Huayra has a bespoke battery that's 26 pounds lighter than the one used in the Zonda (the old one cost $125, the new one is more than $1800). There are 1001 other examples I could quote, so just take it from me: The Huayra's detailing and workmanship is simply incredible. It makes a Ferrari look frumpy, a Veyron like a Volkswagen.
A Pagani is more than just a car. It is a rolling work of art, painstakingly created and beautifully rendered. Some Zonda models are now worth considerably more than what their owners paid for them, which perhaps proves the point that great art always goes up in value. But driving the Huayra is a lot more fun than looking at a painting on the wall.


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Adult Male
Name: unnamed
Species: Rabbitsune
Birthday: Sunday, February 11, 2024
Owner: sunsprite
Mother: unnamed
Father: unnamed
Element: Neutral
Adult rabbitsunes will some times sing to communicate with each other or even to communicate with humans. If asked nicely, and offered treats, a rabbitsune may be persuaded to perform for you and your guests. But beware, if the treats are not to your rabbitsune's liking, you may be treated to an earsplitting cacophony of sounds instead, your rabbitsune grinning from ear to ear bringing to mind the mischievous nature of their kitsune ancestors.
Rumours of the existence of rabbitsunes have persisted for many years but until now have never been proven, most having refused to even take these rumours as anything but drunken ramblings. That is, until Synara City hosted a grand music festival to kick off the solstice celebrations and the music attracted the rabbitsunes for all to see. This prompted an until now secret research group to publish their findings, sharing the wondrous details and speculations surrounding their origins. Some animals are better at handling food shortages than others and some go to great lengths to survive. The rabbitsunes fall into the latter category. They were once kitsunes, forced to eat various plants and berries due to a shortage of their usual chosen food, and this eventually prompted a powerful change in their bodies. They communicate through a range of sounds, the most remarkable a singing howl not unlike humans singing. This sound enables them to communicate over long distances. The constellation Lepus Minor appears in the northern skies during wintertime and is particularly bright around the winter solstice. It is believed that kitsunes that change into rabbitsunes under the influence of Lepus Minor will change into leporis rabbitsunes, whereas other rabbitsunes will mirror their kitsune ancestors. Perhaps, it is also this connection to the stars that gives them their powers. A rabbitsune's powers are not fully formed until they are about two years old. From then on they are able to use their five tails much like a compass, always aware of their current location and how to reach their destination.
Sprite art: Xenomorph/Lazuli | Description: NyxNoire