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Faith in Vermont: An Ode to Bag Balm
I read somewhere that the best way to tell a person's true age is to look at their hands. Thanks to the intersection of our vanity with innovations in technology and medicine, it's now possible to camouflage signs of age in the body, face, hair, and teeth. But as far as I know, not much can be done about wrinkled, mottled, vein—y hands.
Hands may just be the real Picture of Dorian Grey.
According to my hands, I am roughly 102 years old. I imagine that if, somehow, Mt. Mansfield were to erupt today, and my body was preserved, Pompeii-style, in ash, the future archaeologists who unearthed me would say: "Well, according to the hands on this one, she lived a long, hard life. It also appears that, at some point, she was attacked at high speeds by a stack of crisp paper, and she defended herself using only her hands."
By the end of this winter, my hands were chapped, wrinkled, and covered with small cracks. I've had dry skin before, but never like this. To blame: the extremely cold temperatures of this past winter, the dry air of a house heated by woodstove, and the hundreds of daily handwashings required by being home with four young children all day.
I tried wearing gloves for cleaning and dishwashing. I tried over-the-counter moisturizing creams. I stopped short of Vaseline, which my husband was promoting. (Vaseline caused a bit of a dispute in our house this winter. My husband likes to use it on his own chapped skin, which is fine – he's an adult – but when he applied it liberally to our daughters' chapped lips, which they subsequently rubbed all over our couch, Vaseline and I were on the outs. Ever tried getting Vaseline out of upholstery?)
It got so bad that when I took my daughter to the doctor for a checkup, the pediatrician stopped examining her when she saw my hands. "Whoa," she winced, "what happened to your hands?" She then advised me to ask my doctor about prescribing a steroid cream.
I ignored her advice until early April, when the temperature finally rose above freezing but my hands were as bad as ever. I'd started secretly comparing my hands to those of everyone I knew who did manual labor – farmers, contractors, large-animal vets. My hands always won.
So, I asked my doctor about a prescription cream, and he said, "Before you try that, try Bag Balm."
I almost laughed aloud. A few months earlier, I'd read Beach Conger's memoir, Bag Balm and Duct Tape: Tales of a Vermont Doctor, in which he jokes about Vermont dairy farmers' practice of treating all ills with – you guessed it – Bag Balm and Duct Tape. And here was my doctor, advising Bag Balm over a prescription.
A little background for the uninitiated: Bag Balm is a salve originally created to soften cow udders. The beautiful green-and-red tin in which it comes proclaims Bag Balm "the farmer's friend helping keep dairy cows from becoming chapped from the harsh Vermont environment." As such, it's officially intended for use only on animals, but legend has it that the dairy farmers' wives noticed how smooth their husbands' hands became after using Bag Balm on the cows, so it's now commonly used to soothe chapped human skin as well.
Bag Balm has a long and illustrious history. John L. Norris bought the formula from a Vermont druggist in 1899, and Bag Balm has been manufactured by the Dairy Association Company in Lyndonville, Vermont, ever since. Bag Balm was included in the provisions on Admiral Byrd's 1937 trip to the North Pole, was used to soothe the paws of rescue dogs searching through the rubble of the 9/11 attacks, and was sent to the U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I'm not receiving anything from Bag Balm for this endorsement (although I wouldn't turn down another tin or two). I'm just telling the truth: it's a quirky Vermont-made product that wasn't on my radar screen, and then it was, and two days after I started using it the cracks on my hands had healed and the skin had softened. They still aren't perfect, but in just two days, Bag Balm took a couple of decades off of my hands. More importantly, I no longer feel like I have a thousand papercuts.
Just what IS Bag Balm, anyway? Well, according to the green-and-red tin, it's 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate 0.3% in a petroleum jelly USP and lanolin base. In layman's terms: it's Vaseline mixed with an antiseptic. Fancy Vaseline.
So, my husband feels vindicated. Then again, he's switched from Vaseline to Bag Balm.
Faith Gong has worked as an elementary school teacher, a freelance photographer, and a nonprofit manager. Since moving to Addison County in 2011, her work has involved caring for a house in the woods, four young daughters, one anxiety-prone puppy — and writing for her blog, The Pickle Patch.


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Beauty, Quiet Pace and Dozens of Events Draw Travelers in the Know
SAN FRANCISCO – From cooking classes and blending seminars to art and wine festivals and meet-the-winemaker dinners, there are plenty of things to do in California wine country this winter. For those looking for something off the beaten path, there are appellation passport and cellar door weekends, opportunities to learn about pruning and winemaking and even an event designed around sampling wines while whale watching. For wine lovers looking for something special to do with their sweetheart on Valentine's Day, dozens of events all over the state — many involving chocolate! — will be held the weekend of February 14-15, 2009. And to make it easier than ever to learn about all these happenings — many of them free — consumers can log onto Wine Institute's www.discovercaliforniawine.com or the web sites of regional winery and grower associations throughout California. (These web sites, as well as a sample of some of the major events happening in February/March 2009, are listed at the end.)
"It's an insider's secret that one of the best times to visit California wine country is in the winter months," said Nancy Light, Wine Institute Director of Communications. "The scenery, with its tranquil winter beauty, is both breathtaking and soothing, the roads and tasting rooms are quiet and the pace is very relaxed,"added Karen Ross, President of the California Association of Winegrape Growers.
Indeed, many inns, spas and lodges offer reduced rates in the winter, and visiting California wine country this time of year can be a great way to snag that hard-to-get restaurant reservation. "The world-renowned restaurants of our valley are less crowded and reservations are easier to secure," says Linda Reiff, Executive Director, Napa Valley Vintners. "Plus, most places will have a warm and inviting fire burning in the hearth, so meals are cozy and relaxed."
For consumers looking for excursions close to home, touring California wine country in winter can be a great way to take a mini-vacation. Many appellations are within easy driving distance of major metropolitan areas, but the laid-back atmosphere of wine country is a world away. "People come to our tasting rooms for a genuine experience," notes Mark Chandler, Executive Director, Lodi Winegrape Commission, who notes that Lodi is within ninety minutes of the Bay Area. "Particularly in winter, it's often the winemaker or owner who's serving you behind the bar."
The opportunity to meet growers, winemakers and winery owners is what draws many people to California wine country this time of year. And many of the events — both those held at individual vineyards and those that involve multiple wineries — are designed to give consumers a more personal and engaging wine experience. "The quiet of the vineyards and the wineries before spring allows visitors to really connect with local winemakers, chefs, and tasting room personnel," says Honore Comfort, Executive Director, Sonoma County Vintners. "But for those seeking a little more activity, we have some wonderful winter and spring tasting events, as well."
About Wine Institute
Established in 1934, the Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group of 1,100 California wineries and affiliated businesses that initiate and advocate state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, consumption and enjoyment of wine. The Wine Institute membership represents 85 percent of U.S. production and 95 percent of U.S. wine exports. For more information about Wine Institute, go to www.wineinstitute.org.
About The California Association of Winegrape Growers
Established in 1974, the California Association of Winegrape Growers represents the growers of more than 50 percent of the gross grape tonnage crushed for wine and concentrate in California. The statewide association is an advocate for farmers, providing leadership on public policies, research and education programs, sustainable farming practices and trade policy to enhance the California winegrape growing business and our communities. For more information about CAWG, visit www.cawg.org.
Winter Wine Country Events
February-March 2009
(More than 80 wine events are listed at discovercaliforniawine.com)
Amador http://www.amadorwine.com
2/14-15 Amador Vintners' Behind the Cellar Door
Calaveras http://www.calaveraswines.org
2/14-15 President's Wine Weekend
El Dorado http://www.eldoradowines.com
3/28 & 29 Passport Weekend
Fresno http://www.fresnowines.com
2/14-15 Wine and Chocolate Lovers Weekend
Lodi http://www.lodiwine.com
2/14-15 Lodi Wine and Chocolate Weekend
3/27-28 29th Annual Spring Wine Show
Madera http://www.maderavintners.com
2/14-15 Wine and Chocolate Weekend
Mendocino http://www.mendowine.com; http://www.mendocino.com
2/21-22 International Alsace Varietals Festival
3/7 Mendocino Whale and Wine Festival
Monterey http://www.montereywines.org
2/21 Monterey Wine Auction and Gala
Napa Valley http://www.napavintners.com; http://www.mustardfestival.org
2/1-3/31 Napa Valley Mustard Festival
1/31 Mustard Festival Grand Opening
3/7-8 Calistoga Mustard, Mud and Music Jazz Festival
3/21 A Taste of Yountville
Paso Robles http://www.pasowine.com
2/13-16 Far Out Wineries Passport Weekend
2/15 Paso Robles Rhone Ranger Experience
3/21-22 Zinfandel Festivals at local wineries
Santa Barbara http://www.sbcountywines.com
2/7 A Wine Fantasy in February
3/6-7 World of Pinot Noir
Sonoma County http://www.sonomawine.com; http://www.sonomacounty.com
3/7-8 & Russian River Wine Road Barrel Tasting in Alexander Valley,
3/14-15 Dry Creek Valley and Russian River appellations
3/7 Russian River Valley Crab and Fennel Festival
3/29 Symphony of Food, Wine and Art
Temecula http://www.temeculawines.org
2/7 First Annual Pechanga Wine Festival
Contact: Gladys Horiuchi
Karen Ross
Mora Cronin/Kate Jones
707/227-2641 or

subset: commoncrawl


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This coming Sunday morning (Nov. 6) at MoSt Church, most of our adult classes will study James 4:1-12. We'll use this phrase to focus our mind on the meaning of this passage: learning how to grow toward God and away from Satan, selfishness, and sin. To help you get ready for this encounter with God's word and our discussion of it, here is the text and twenty exercises and questions.
What is the source of conflict among you? What is the source of your disputes? Don't they come from your cravings that are at war in your own lives? (2) You long for something you don't have, so you commit murder. You are jealous for something you can't get, so you struggle and fight. You don't have because you don't ask. (3) You ask and don't have because you ask with evil intentions, to waste it on your own cravings.
(4) You unfaithful people! Don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? (5) Or do you suppose that scripture is meaningless? Doesn't God long for our faithfulness in the life he has given to us? (6) But he gives us more grace. This is why it says, God stands against the proud, but favors the humble. (7) Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. (8) Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. (9) Cry out in sorrow, mourn, and weep! Let your laughter become mourning and your joy become sadness. (10) Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
(11) Brothers and sisters, don't say evil things about each other. Whoever insults or criticizes a brother or sister insults and criticizes the Law. If you find fault with the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge over it. (12) There is only one lawgiver and judge, and he is able to save and to destroy. But you who judge your neighbor, who are you? (James 4:1-12 CEB)
Exercises & questions
1. List all of the things we know that God does or will do in light of the teaching of this text.
2. List all of the sins you see directly referenced or implied in this passage that were apparently common among the Christians to whom James originally wrote.
3. List what we know about the devil from what is directly stated or implied in this passage.
4. List all of the direct commands given to Christians in this Scripture.
5. Clearly, selfishness is a huge problem among the Christians to whom James is writing. How big a problem would you say selfishness is among Christians in our country today? Explain.
6. Given the immediate context (and other passages in James such as 5:6), would you say the reference to "murder" in vs. 2 is literal or figurative? Explain.
7. "You long for something you don't have …" (vs.2). Good thing we don't have that problem anymore, huh? Comment on our culture's "cravings" and how we Christians often share the same cravings.
8. Struggle and fighting among Christians is sin and comes from sin. What sort of sins does James say fueled the struggles and fights he references in vs.1-3?
9. What does vs.2-3 teach you about prayer?
10. What does vs.3 have to say about the common teaching known as the "health and wealth" or "prosperity" gospel?
11. Given what is said in vs.4, would you say it is possible for a Christian to lose their salvation?
12. Verse 5-6b is notoriously difficult text to translate. Notice the variation in rendering by comparing the passage in several different English translations.
13. What does James mean that God "gives us more grace" (vs.6)?
14. Paul says God does not play favorites (Romans 2:11) and yet, here James says God "favors the humble" (vs.6b)? How can both of these statements be true, or can they be?
15. Given the context, what would you say might happen to a person if God draws near to them (vs.8a)?
16. What does it mean to be "double-minded?" (vs.8b)
17. As surely as we're called to "rejoice in the Lord" (Phil. 4:4), we're also called to "mourn" our sins (vs.8-10). How can a Christian do both of these things?
18. James says criticizing, disrespecting, insulting, or mistreating other Christians is akin to put yourself in the place of God (vs.10-12). What accounts elsewhere in Scripture come to your mind when you think of people (wittingly or unwittingly) putting themselves in God's place?
19. James is using every possible means of persuasion as he urges the Christians to whom he is writing to get their act together. Try to list the various motivations James appeals to in this text. Which do you find most powerful or persuasive?
20. This much is certain from this passage: church life can sometimes resemble be hell on earth. What advice, derived from this text or elsewhere in Scripture, would you give to a new or troubled Christians who found themselves in the middle of a selfish church caught up in civil war among themselves?


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Everyone on board survived when a new Boeing 737-800 aircraft landed in the water just short of the runway in Bali, Indonesia.
All 101 passengers and seven crew members aboard a Lion Air flight were rescued Saturday within minutes of the crash. Some 45 people have been taken to local hospitals with injuries, but none seemed life threatening, according to one Indonesian airport official.
Initial reports said the aircraft had overshot the runway. But a Lion Air spokesman, Edward Sirait, told reporters that the plane did not reach the runway, it hit the water first.
Three of the passengers aboard were foreigners, two Singaporeans and a French national, according to The Associated Press. The rest of those on board were Indonesians on a domestic flight that originated in Bandung, West Java. The flight had stopped at two other cities prior to the crash on Bali.
After the crash, evacuation and rescue efforts proceeded quickly, according to eyewitness accounts. An Australian surfer told The Sydney Morning Herald that the aircraft came down in shallow water about 300 yards from where he was paddling. By the time he joined the rescue effort, about five minutes later, he said that most of the passengers were on the wing or climbing onto rocks. He helped one man to shore on his surfboard.
The aircraft involved was a new Boeing 737-800, a popular design in use worldwide. A total of 4,293 of the 737 Next Generation aircraft (including the 737-600, -700-, -800, and -900ER models) have been delivered by the end of December 2012, according to Boeing.
Boeing boasts that the 737-800 is the best-selling aircraft in the Next Generation series (with more than 2,800 in operation and more than 4,000 ordered). Boeing says that the aircraft is "known for its reliability, fuel efficiency and economical performance, the 737-800 is selected by leading carriers throughout the world because it provides operators the flexibility to serve a wide range of markets. The single-aisle jet, which can seat between 162 to 189 passengers, can fly 260 nautical miles farther and consume 7 percent less fuel while carrying 12 more passengers than the competing model."
This was a new aircraft, only in operation since March, which should mean that aircraft mechanical reliability or age, shouldn't be an issue. But Lion Air spokesman Edward Sirait, hinted that the aircraft was the problem "When it tried to land at the airport, the aircraft was not able to reach the runway due to the incident," he said according to The Jakarta Post. The spokesman did not describe the nature of the incident. The pilot, said Sirait, had more than 10,000 hours of flying experience, but he didn't say in which types of aircraft.
So why did the aircraft crash-land short of the runway? It's too soon to say. Investigators will be looking at the black box, the data recorder, for information about the last minutes of the flight and will be questioning the flight crew. The weather was cloudy with a light rain at the time of the crash. There were no indications of thunderstorms or wind turbulence that might cause the plane to suddenly plummet just short of the runway.
In some cases in the past, when aircraft landed short of the runway, the causes were engine problems, and possible pilot error in response.
In 1989, a British Midland Airways Boeing 737-400 crashed short of the runway, killing 47 passengers. The two-engine aircraft had trouble in the No. 1 engine when a fan blade fractured, but the crew mistakenly shut down the No. 2 engine. The No. 1 engine continued operating, but upon approach to the airport, they lost that engine too. The accident report blamed the crash on the incorrect response by the flight crew to the malfunctioning No. 1 engine.
In 2008, a British Airways Boeing 777 crashed short of the runway at Heathrow after a 5,000-mile flight from Beijing, reported the BBC. The cause of the crash was later determined to be a loss of both engines due to a buildup of ice that restricted fuel flow, according to the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). There were no fatalities in the crash. Boeing identified the problem as specific to the Rolls-Royce engine fuel-oil heat exchangers, and Rolls-Royce developed a modification that European authorities required to be made on Rolls-Royce engines by January 2011. Boeing noted that the 777 fitted with GE and Pratt & Whitney engines had not experienced similar problems.
Lion Air, a discount air carrier, started operating in 2000 and has rapidly expanded to become Indonesia's largest private commercial airline.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that "Lion Air has had five crashes and major incidents in recent years. One of those crashes, in 2004, claimed the lives of 25 people. However its safety record has come under attack, with both the US and European Union banning the airline from its skies because it has failed to pass the required internationally recognized safety audit."
The airline had been sanctioned in January 2013 because some pilots and crew had been caught with crystal meth. "We have reprimanded the airline and revoked the license of the pilots and crew," the ministry's air transportation director general, Herry Bhakti Gumay, told The Jakarta Post.


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Penelope Collection
Viewer Comments
Penelope is a precious doll - Congratulations Paulette for your beautiful grand-daughter.
The products reflect a beautiful little lady.
On the stripe paper - what language are the words & what does it say?
Reply from Paper Wishes Customer Service:
The text in the Penelope pack is non-language. It is only text put through "greeking" which scrambles the letters to create the flow and look of words â without copyright issues.
Love the paper and the ideas
Penelope is a doll.
Your granddaughter is just beautiful! I love the paper named after her too.
Congratulations on your beautiful grandaughter. She is a cutety. I also luv the papers & all that goes with them.
thank you so much for all of the scrapbook page inspiration! Your granddaughter is just gorgeous!
Paulette, thank you for sharing your granddaughter's pic/pages. She is absoulutely adorable. Okay now about the paper collections, love it with all the other supplies. Very springing.
So beautiful! I love that you have done more scrapbook projects also. And Paulette, I agree, your granddaughter is lovely!!
Congratulations on your first granddaughter Paulette. Penelope is a doll! I became a first time grandmother of a little granddaughter in April 2012 and feel blessed every single day.
Love this new line--gorgeous colours, beautiful ribbon and fabulous papers!
What a lovely collection... the papers, the ribbons and of course the Dazzles are great as are the projects. Paulette, thank you for sharing pics of your sweet Granddaughter :)
Your grandbaby is adorable Paulette and just wanted to tell Gail how very talented I think she is. I am so enjoying her creations. Have this set and it's lovely.
Not only do I love all these products and the great ideas that go with them, Gail, I love your watch and rings! Paulette, your 1st granddaughter, Penelope is so precious and beautiful! Thanks for everything!
Lovely to meet your granddaughter I can see your a very proud grandma and i'm sure she'll be trilled to know that products were named after her when she is older the products are lovely like all your stuff
Great collection, ladies! What are the doilies used on the "Penelope" layout? They are so light and airy - just great for this collection.
Reply from Paper Wishes Customer Service:
The doilies in this project were created using the Nautical Wheeler Doily Cutting Dies here http://www.paperwishes.com/products/4006072 and you cen see the instructions for the project at this link here: http://www.paperwishes.com/webisodes/index.php?page=01082013_8&project
Happy Creating!
Beautiful, beautiful scrapbook pages!!!
Love the flower silhouettes stamps. Received mine and have been able to dupliate Gails Card "It takes a long time card" It is just beautiful in the black and white. Thanks Gail
Gail, I really love your work. Such nice touches and ideas that I wouldn't have thought of. You are talented!
This is by far the most beautiful collection that Paper Wishes puts out. I love the patterns and it works great with the paper tole and frame dazzles.
Thank you, Paulette for sharing the pics of your granddaughter Penelope. She is absolutely adorable!! I love the paper pack named after her too!
Ladies, you hit it right again, beautiful papers and such great projects to do. I am inspired to do some pages now.
Your little penelope is gorgeous! And the whole set is very sweet too.
Paper Wishes Weekly Webisodes feature free scrapbooking video classes and card making video classes! Every week Paulette and Gail bring you new online scrapbooking or card making classes demonstrating the very latest paper craft and scrapbooking techniques. Each of our free card making and scrapbooking classes also gives you unique project ideas and tips from Paper Wishes' Design Team. Come back often so you don't miss any of the fun in our card making and scrapbooking classes! You are sure to be inspired! Also watch for our "Week of Webisodes" events where we feature new scrapbooking video classes daily!


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Welcome to our classic American foursquare home situated on the lovely tree lined streets near Gonzaga University just minutes from Interstate 90. The Marianna Stoltz House has been a peaceful haven for travelers and visiting professionals for over 25 years. We are close to downtown for easy access to the Convention Center, Opera House, Ag Center, the Arena, shopping areas, and we are close to the bus line.
Built in 1908, this stately residence surrounded by century old trees displays the best craftsmanship of the day and is listed on the Spokane register of historic landmarks. Once inside, after pausing on the wide wrap-around veranda, guests encounter high ceilings, oriental rugs, fir woodwork, leaded glass, and shining maple floors. You have exclusive use of the spacious and elegant parlor, sitting, and dining rooms, which are all furnished with oriental rugs and authentic period pieces.
|Awaken to a generous and sumptuous breakfast which may include specialties such as Stoltz House Strada, Puffy Dutch Pancakes with homemade Apple Syrup or Peach Melba Parfait, prepared fresh each morning. We also offer coffee, tea, and cookies to be enjoyed at your leisure. Central city location and an ideal location for business travelers.
|Affiliations and References:
Registered Historic Landmark.
Spokane's Oldest Bed and Breakfast
Marianna Stoltz House
Bed And Breakfast
Your Innkeeper is Phyllis Maguire.
427 East Indiana · Spokane, WA 99207
Voice: (509) 483-4316
Reservations Only: 800-978-6587
(Please include your telephone number on all email correspondence.)
Check us out at Trip Advisor.


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Yep, it's hurricane season. And while residents up and down the East Coast have been battening down the hatches in preparation for Hurricane Earl, NASA has used the opportunity to examine the storms from every angle.
Earlier this week 80beats reported that NASA's Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) mission is sending a plane back and forth through the eye of Earl; researchers are gathering data to study how and why some storms turn into massive monsters while others dwindle away to nothing. This picture of Earl's eye was taken on Thursday morning while the plane was cruising at an altitude of 60,000 feet (11.4 miles up).
Discover Magazine


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Using a watertight double seal and a secure transparent window on both sides, your Sony Xperia Tablet S touchscreen will remain in full use, even underwater. Have the confidence to use your precious tablet around water, dirt or any other horrid stuff that you wouldn't want near its screen thanks to the BeachBuoy waterproof case.
Tested and approved by the British Standards Institute after being submerged at 5 metres for an hour, the BeachBuoy Waterproof Sony Xperia Tablet S Case passed BSI IP57 / IP58.
Dimensions: 265 x 200mm
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Twin Baby Panthers Born at Berlin's Tierpark Zoo | Pictures
Fur-rocious Babies Bristle in Berlin
Fur-rocious Babies Bristle in Berlin
The crowd at Berlin's Tierpark Zoo showered twin black panther cubs with oohs and awws when they debuted on Friday. Apparently, these 3-month-old cuties are so adorable that even papa panther is involved in their upbringing — something rarely seen in the wild. While these babes, named Remaong and Ferra, sure look lovable, they're clearly learning early how to bare their teeth and use their claws, just like Mom and Dad!


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Signature Precision
Series Description: The new series is created using Paiste's proprietary Signature Alloy, and features the typical hallmarks of Paiste's original Signature sound - brightness, fullness, strong presence and projection, with brilliant musicality. A particular quality of the Signature «Precision» is its clean and focused character in combination with a very articulate, straight-ahead sound. The finish of Signature «Precision» purposely follows the tradition established by the original Signature series. Fans of the original Signature sound, look and feel will thus find these cymbals a compelling choice for their cymbal sets. «The goal for the Signature 'Precision' was to create a more affordable Signature sound. We specifically researched and designed the manufacturing process to achieve that goal. Part of the success of this project is the incredible sound potency that already exists within the Signature Alloy.» - Erik Paiste
Since: 2013
Alloy: Proprietary Signature Bronze
Applications: Medium low to loud settings Live and recording Wide range of music styles such as Pop, Rock, Alternative, Hard Rock, Funk, Country, Blues, Gospel and R&B
Sound: Precise, bright, rich, warm, brilliant, full, transparent, colorful sound.
Download MP3 Sound Files Signature Precision
Drummer Feedback
|Franklin Vanderbilt # Lenny Kravitz
Signature 'Precision' have a perfect focus, great attack, and a beautiful, well rounded projection. These cymbals are giving you more than what they're priced at. It's a good investment for any drummer that likes many colors in their set up. I really liked the 18" Crash. Its body and nice round spread are most impressive. I am also a fan of the 18" China and the 14" Hi-Hat.
|Jason Sutter # Marilyn Manson
I feel that it's an entirely new line of cymbals. It harkens from the classic Signature sound and alloy but it's also a whole new sound palette. They have beautiful similarities to the classic models such as the clarity & articulation but there's a certain essence that is all their own. They're a great alternative for someone who wants to play Signature but can't meet the price point. They are also a great addition to the Signature family and other Paiste cymbal lines.
|Paul Leim # Studio Great
The new Signature 'Precision' series of cymbals are just that: cymbals with a precise, focused tonal center. Explosive sound, combined with all the look, feel and quality of the world class Signature series.
|Dave McAfee # Toby Keith
Paiste's new Signature 'Precision' series is the more aggressive cousin in the Signature family. They are definitely Signature cymbals and although they are a bit more focused, the 'Precision' are every bit as refined as the renowned Signature.
|Dean Butterworth # Good Charlotte
I love these cymbals. I could throw all of them in my cymbal bag and easily use them on gigs. The 18" Thin Crash & Crash would be a great combination to use live or in the studio.
|John «JR» Robinson # Studio Great
I'm totally surprised that these cymbals are at a lower price point than the Signature classic cymbals and that's important in today's times. I think these cymbals can go a long way. Any pro drummer can use these. I was particularly impressed with the 14" Sound Edge Hats.
|Scott Devours # Roger Daltrey
These cymbals are going to bring more people, more drummers, and more ears into the Signature line. To my ears, I would have never known that they are different from the current Signature. My ears can't tell that they are different in price point or level of cymbal.
Home > Products > Cymbals > Signature Precision > Rides | Crashes | Hi-Hats | Chinas (& Swishes) | Splashes (& Bells) |


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Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Uncertainty the name of the game with wheat
Writer: Robert Burns, 903-834-6191, email@example.com
COLLEGE STATION — Texas wheat growers may have some hard decisions to make this winter because of market and weather uncertainties, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service marketing expert.
Much of the uncertainty in prices stems from the drought, Waller said. Most of the state's wheat got a boost from late-summer, early fall rains, with much of the crop emerged, and some already grazeable, said Dr. Mark Waller, AgriLife Extension economist in grain marketing and policy, College Station.
"From a traditional standpoint, grain prices are high," he said. "We've been trading in a kind of sideways pattern since June, if you look at future market prices. A lot of that is because grain supplies are tight, and not only wheat supplies. If you look at what happened with the drought in the Midwest, we're likely to see pressure for more wheat to go toward feeding because there is a shorter corn crop."
Two-minute MP3 Audio of Texas crop, weather for Nov. 6, 2012Two-minute MP3 Audio of Texas crop, weather for Nov. 6, 2012
"Some of those look like relatively profitable decisions now," Waller said. "With prices at these levels they at least have something to consider — it's better than having low prices, but there's a lot of uncertainty right now."
And there's continued uncertainty when it comes to winter weather. As recently as late August, forecasters, including those at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center, were expecting a stronger-than-average El Niño to develop in the tropical Pacific. A strong El Niño would have increased the chances for a wetter than average winter, which is exactly what the crop needs, Waller said.
Most experts agree, he said, that because soil-moisture levels were severely depleted during the 2011 drought, this year's crop will need greater-that-average rainfall to show an average performance.
"The markets by this time would usually start to decline, but we're still looking at enough uncertainty, especially with changes in the weather forecast, that we may not see as much rainfall as earlier expected this year," he said.
More information on the current Texas drought and wildfire alerts can be found on the AgriLife Extension Agricultural Drought Task Force website at http://agrilife.tamu.edu/drought/ .
AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries for the week of Oct. 30- Nov. 5:
Central: Early emerged winter grasses and forages needed rain. Parts of the region received a killing frost. Winter wheat looked good. Wheat and oat pastures emerged but were not grazeable because of poorly developed root systems. Supplemental feeding livestock was expected to begin within a month. Some producers may be forced to feed hay earlier than planned. Armyworms were still being reported. The pecan harvest was going strong, with nut quality mixed.
Coastal Bend: Warm, humid weather returned, with scattered showers providing some moisture. A few areas experienced severe thunderstorms, small hail and high winds. However, most areas remained dry. Fall fieldwork continued, though most fields were worked, with producers waiting for better conditions for planting. Wheat planting continued. Warmer-than-normal temperatures resulted in more forage production, though most winter forages were moisture stressed. Producers were trying to take a last hay cutting before the first frost. Livestock producers were supplementing cattle with protein and hay. Pecans were being harvested in most areas. Many homeowners reported bad pecans, which was most likely associated with poor nutrition as a result of last year's drought, as well as stinkbug damage. Commercial pecan growers had some problems with pecans sprouting, but otherwise the crop looked very good.
East: Trinity County reported 1 inch of rain, but otherwise there was little to no rain across the region. Despite warmer than normal temperatures, many counties already had the first frost. Hay harvesting was winding down as many producers worked on their last cuttings. Winter pastures progress slowed because of lack of moisture. The cotton harvest was completed. Horn flies continued to be a problem. Feral hogs were on the move.
Far West: Highs were in the mid- to upper 70s, with lows in the mid- to upper 40s. Pecos County had a mild frost, which initiated defoliation of trees. Val Verde County received 0.5 inch of rain. In most counties, soil moisture levels were dropping, and cooler night temperatures caused perennial grasses to enter dormancy. Pecans were being harvested. In Pecos County, the cotton harvest was in full swing, and the chili harvest neared completion. Pumpkins were also being harvested, and the last alfalfa cuttings were being baled. Some stocker cattle were moved into Ward County to graze. Livestock producers in most counties continued to supplement livestock and wildlife.
North: Soil moisture was short in most counties. Winter wheat for grazing was emerging but needed more rain. Hay supplies were good going into winter, but because of the dry conditions, some cattle producers were already having to feed hay along with supplementation. There were isolated reports of armyworms.
Panhandle: For most of the week, the region had above-average temperatures, with colder weather by the weekend. Soil-moisture levels mostly were short. The warm weather and light winds were perfect for harvesting crops. Early planted wheat that was pre-watered looked good, and some was already being grazed. Without rain, much wheat continued to need irrigation. Dryland wheat needed moisture badly. Rangeland and pastures were mostly in very poor to poor condition. Cattle remained in good condition with supplemental feeding.
Rolling Plains: Conditions are getting desperately dry in some areas. Wheat and canola started to curl due to weather. Other producers needed a rain just to get wheat to emerge. The dry conditions were ideal for the cotton harvest, although a lot of cotton was shredded due to drought and yields on the remaining were below normal in some cases. Ranchers were working cattle, with a few ranchers weaning and shipping calves instead of over-wintering them. Pastures were in good to poor condition. Many cattle producers were providing supplemental feed. Stock tanks needed runoff water. The pecan harvest was ongoing with excellent yields in most instances.
South: Soil-moisture conditions varied widely. Northern counties had 60 to 100 percent adequate soil-moisture levels. Eastern counties had 50 to 100 percent very short soil-moisture levels. Most of the western parts of the region had 50 to 100 percent short soil-moisture levels, except for Dimmit and Maverick counties which had 40 to 60 percent adequate soil moisture. Soil-moisture levels in the southern counties were 20 to 80 percent short. Rangeland and pastures were in fair to good condition in most of the region, though there were exceptions such as Jim Hogg County, where extreme drought conditions had not lifted. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in most of the region, except in a few areas where better moisture conditions encouraged forage growth. Fall armyworm activity began to diminish with the cooler temperatures. Cattle body-condition scores remained fair to good. In Frio County, wheat and oat planting was completed, with most of the crop emerged. Also in that area, peanut harvesting and peanut hay baling continued. In Maverick County, producers were preparing fields for planting winter crops. Producers in that area were also busy harvesting coastal Bermuda grass hay and forage sorghum. Pecan growers there were in the midst of harvesting. In Starr County, the late-cantaloupe harvest continued.
South Plains: For most of the week, the region remained dry and mild, with another cold front moving in over the weekend. The pumpkin harvest was mostly completed, though freezes during the last few weeks damaged some of the remaining crop. The cotton harvest progressed rapidly with the dry, open weather. In Lynn County, cotton yields were from two to four bales per acre on irrigated land and a half to one bale per acre on dryland fields. The peanut harvest was mostly completed, and the grain sorghum harvest began. Dryland wheat was beginning to show signs of moisture stress. Pasture and rangeland also needed rain. Livestock producers were providing supplemental feed to some cattle due to poor pasture conditions.
Southeast: Montgomery County had light showers early in the week, but it did little to raise soil-moisture levels. Producers continued to plant winter annuals. San Jacinto, Orange and Waller counties also had continued dry conditions. In Burleson County, armyworms were active in oat and ryegrass pastures. Jefferson County reported temperatures in the low 30s and highs in the mid-80s. Forage development and root growth was limited by lack of moisture.
Southwest: Cooler temperatures continued, with some counties receiving 0.5 inch of rain. More moisture was needed. Winter wheat planting continued. Pastures looked good, and producers were cutting hay. Livestock were benefiting from the good conditions.
West Central: The region had mild weather, with warm days and cool nights. Rain was needed in all counties. Stock tanks were beginning to dry out. The cotton harvest was ongoing, with yields slightly below normal. Many dryland cotton acres were released by insurance companies to be destroyed. Irrigated cotton fields mostly had average yields. Wheat planting was in full swing. Already emerged wheat was doing very well. Producers were turning cattle onto some early planted wheat fields for grazing. Armyworms and spider mites were problems in some wheat fields, and producers continued to treat when needed. Producers were baling late-season hay. Rangeland and pastures continued to improve with fall growth from recent rains. Livestock remained in fair to good condition. Livestock producers were considering restocking or saving more replacements to rebuild their herds. The pecan harvest was in full swing.


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new study shows that lesbian are more likely to seek out mental health and addiction services)
what you think about that?
is it true?
here's the link
The study had a few theories as to why gays and lesbians might seek out therapy more often than straights.
there might be other reasons as well, like the stress of living in a culture that doesn't always accept you. Living daily with discrimination, violence and other stressful events can make gays and lesbians feel isolated and vulnerable and need someone to process it with. Some might seek therapy because they view their sexual orientation as a mental health problem."
okay this study got my attention cuz thats what i really noticed in the lesbians i know they are moody and got depressed often so blue
okay that what i think i don't why
I think the study is accurately right.. lesbians suffer form ordinary ppl's troubles plus their own, at least there they can seek mental help, someone to talk to but in the middle east some of us cant even whisper it to themselves.


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On Oct. 13, just before 9:15 a.m., Tatyana McFadden soared across the finish line at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, just two seconds before the racer behind her, taking the top spot in the women's wheelchair competition and making history.
McFadden, 24, an Atholton High School graduate who grew up in Clarksville, completed the marathon in 1 hour, 42 minutes and 35 seconds, about a three-minute improvement over her first-place times in the Boston and London marathons earlier this year. With wins in all three, she became the first athlete to win three major marathons in one year.
"It was such a very tight, close finish," she says. "We were within seconds of each other. When I hit the last climb, my arms were hurting badly. It was exhausting. But I just let my arms do the work. I had to be confident in myself."
On Nov. 3, she hopes that confidence will help her add the ING New York City Marathon to that list of wins and, in doing so, become the first athlete to win the "Grand Slam" of marathons in one year.
But that's still not enough of a challenge for the University of Illinois undergraduate, who also won six International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championship gold medals in 2013. She has a list of goals for the next year or two, including graduating in December, competing in more world competitions and taking up a whole new sport for the Winter Paralympic Games in February.
McFadden's life was not always strewn with medals and congratulations from the likes of Prince Harry of England. She was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1988 with spina bifida, a birth defect characterized by the incomplete development of the spinal cord or its coverings. In 1994, Debbie McFadden, a commissioner of disabilities for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, visited Tatyana's orphanage and decided to adopt her.
"She was very anemic, very sick," Debbie McFadden says. "When I brought her to [Johns] Hopkins [Hospital], they said she would not have a long life. I thought, 'How can I keep her alive?' "
Debbie enrolled Tatyana in swimming lessons, and sports became the answer.
Tatyana became involved with the Bennett Blazers, a Baltimore-based adaptive athletic program for young people with disabilities. Working with experts at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and elsewhere, McFadden eventually gained use of her legs and learned to walk with crutches. Eventually, she opted for a wheelchair, which lets her move around more quickly.
Her skills and dedication to sports continued to grow. In 2008, McFadden began school at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and started training with coach Adam Bleakney, also a Paralympic athlete. When she's in Illinois, McFadden trains for about three hours a day.
"She's every coach's dream as an athlete," Bleakney says. "The dedication and commitment to the sport and goals and, to me, it's unquestionable — when you take that dedication and marry that to the natural gifts she has an athlete, that's a great combination."
That mix is usually on display in McFadden's races: one of her sculpted arms raised in victory, a determined smile on her lips as she crosses the finish line.
"She has a God-given talent, but nobody can give you the will, strength of personality and character she has," says Kathy Finney, a pediatric nurse practitioner at Kennedy Krieger. "She's soft-spoken but just delightful. She could have quite the ego doing the things she's done. But she's just so down to earth and sweet."
Finney credits Debbie McFadden for much of Tatyana's success. "Debbie has so much energy and a gift of love for people with disabilities," Finney says. In addition to Tatyana, Debbie has two other adopted daughters: 17-year-old Hannah and 14-year old Ruthi.
Debbie McFadden concedes that watching her child compete in such an intense, physical sport can be scary, but her pride and faith in Tatyana trump her fear.
For Tatyana, fear is not part of the equation. "I love the competitive drive and the fun," she says. "Everyone's there to support you. You have your teammates, family and friends. I love what I do."
The next few years will be busy ones for McFadden. On track to graduate in December, she is already thinking ahead to the World Championships in 2015 and Paralympics in 2016. "Hopefully, I'll keep training for marathons and the Olympics in Rio [de Janeiro] after that. I know it'll take a lot of hard work," she says.
But first, she has her sights set on the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.
Wheelchair racing isn't a part of the Winter Games, so McFadden is branching out, learning how to ski. After the New York City Marathon, she will turn her attention to training for the Nordic ski event, a type of cross-country skiing.
In the Paralympics, individuals with different levels of disabilities can participate in the event. Tatyana started learning the sport with a borrowed, oversized ski sled that she pushed through snow with her arms.
To succeed in her new sport, her mother says, Tatyana will need technique, cardiovascular endurance and brute strength — which she has to spare. "She is the strongest wheelchair racer in the world," Debbie says, "but I don't really think I understood until I saw her in the snow, pushing. She has a power that is unreachable."
And her intense marathon training will translate into the new sport, which requires similar physical skills and determination.
If she qualifies for Sochi, Tatyana will join a short and elite list of athletes who have competed in the Paralympics in multiple sports. And she'll still be having a good time. "It's great crossover training," she says. "It's going to be fun training in the snow and getting better."
But before any of that comes the New York race.
"It's a very different race — lots of climbing and downhills," says McFadden. "I'm nervous and excited. It will be tough for all of us."
Watch McFadden's next race
To watch Tatyana McFadden at the New York City Marathon, tune in to ESPN2 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3.
Tatyana McFadden's Advice
A dedicated and determined athlete, Tatyana McFadden's mental approach is a big part of her success. Here, she offers some advice:
Be confident: Though McFadden was exhausted as she approached the end of the Chicago Marathon, she continued to push and had faith that her body would carry her across the finish line. "My arms had the muscle memory of the training," she says. "I just went as hard as I could."
Take care: For any athlete, training is demanding and requires a high level of awareness of physical health. She warns that it's necessary to pay attention to your body and, sometimes, stop training or racing. "I think the hardest part is training or if you injure yourself," McFadden says. "You have to take time off, and you worry about things that could really affect your performance."
Get back up: "We all have failures in our lives," says McFadden. "It's just how you get up and what you learn to make yourself better." When she loses a race, she learns and adjusts. "You can't just stop because you didn't win. You have to keep going."


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Monday, January 14, 2008
A Weekend Full of Cooking, and a Recipe for Chocolate Brownies
I love weekends like that.
And it looks like there's something American in the air at the moment. Only recently I found myself making coleslaw in the midst of winter. And two of the four cakes I brought along to K's mum's place were distinctly American - Manhattan cheesecake and Chocolate brownies. It's not surprising, of course, considering that many of my favourite food blogs and daily reads are written by Americans. No wonder then that my culinary mind and appetite lusts after American classics every now and then. However, the brownie recipe I've used for years is from Thorntons, the British high-street chocolatier. I've tried few others, but this is the one I keep returning to over and over again, when I'm craving chocolate. I don't like crumbly and over-baked brownies. This recipe results in brownies with a perfectly chewy-crispy top, and moist-chocolatey inside (even if one cannot really see that on the photo). I love large squares of it when still warm. And when it's cold, I cut it into tiny squares - no bigger than 2 cm - and eat as nutty chocolate candies :)
Chocolate Brownies
Makes 16
200 g butter
200 g dark chocolate (min. 70%)
3 medium eggs
250 g sugar
100 g plain/all-purpose flour
100 g walnuts, chopped
0.5 tsp salt
0.5 tsp vanilla extract
Line a square cake tin (24x24 cm) with a parchment paper.
Melt the butter and chocolate in a bain marie or microwave. Cool a little.
Whisk eggs and sugar with an electric mixture. Stir in the melted chocolate and butter mixture.
Fold in flour, salt, chopped walnuts and vanilla extract and stir until well combined.
Pour the batter into the tin, and bake in a preheated 170˚C oven for 30-35 minutes, until the cake is chewy-crisp on the top and still moist inside.
Serve when still warm.
Alternatively, let cool in a tin, then cut into (smallish) squares.
17 comments:
- ksklein said...
delicious... i always want to try making my own brownies. but there are so many recipes that i just feel overwhelmed. do you have a suggestion which chocolate brownie recipe you have tried is the best so far?
- 12:12 pm, January 14, 2008
- Lydia said...
No matter how good my brownies are, I'm always looking for a better recipe. Is there such a thing as the ultimate brownie? Or is this my excuse for baking more and more?! Will definitely try your recipe, because I also like my brownies on the chewy side.
- 2:31 pm, January 14, 2008
- Gretchen Noelle said...
I love weekends like that also!
- 3:25 pm, January 14, 2008
- Rosa said...
Your photo is gorgeous! And, as for the brownies, well... I have to do something with those 2.5 kilos of Barry chocolate that I bought recently for purposes of "economy"! This looks like the perfect start.
- 7:05 pm, January 14, 2008
- Wendy said...
Your idea of a perfect weekend is VERY similar to mine. :)
- 7:30 pm, January 14, 2008
- The Cooking Ninja said...
Those brownies look delicious. My better half loves brownies. Whenever I bake them, he will not let me give away some. :)
- 8:32 pm, January 14, 2008
- swirlingnotions said...
Mmmmm . . . My friend from Austin, TX just brought me a box of cappucino chipotle brownies which I'm dying to try. Now I've got two recipes to try!
- 11:39 pm, January 14, 2008
- Brilynn said...
I've had a craving for brownies lately, I need to make some!
- 3:01 am, January 15, 2008
- K & S said...
these look delicious! will make some soon :)
- 5:54 am, January 15, 2008
- lobstersquad said...
baking chewy brownies in my oven is high-anxiety work, but oh the result! always worth it.
and the little squares for later, yum.
- 10:17 am, January 15, 2008
- Chloe said...
i love weekends like that too! Your photographs are so beautiful and warm, this blog is getting better and better and better. Will you consider a cookbook? (I am first in line to buy it).
- 6:21 pm, January 15, 2008
- joey said...
What a classic this is...I think you can never have to many brownie or chocolate chip cookie recipes to try! :) I am definitely filing this one too...thanks Pille for sharing it! They do look divine :)
- 7:41 am, January 16, 2008
- Coffee & Vanilla said...
Very nice recipe, and seems easy... I have to finally try making brownies...
Have a good day,
- 6:50 pm, January 16, 2008
- Susan from Food Blogga said...
You baked four cakes, and didn't invite me over? What's up with that? ;)
- 3:02 am, January 17, 2008
- Kevin Kossowan said...
It has been FAR too long since I've made brownies. FAR too long.
- 3:24 am, January 20, 2008
- Laurie Constantino said...
I love weekends like that, they will buoy me through the coming week in a good mood. You've described exactly the kind of brownies I like - I hate the cakey kind or the ones that are dry in the middle. Yours look heavenly.
- 9:44 am, January 20, 2008
- Pille said...
Ksklein – my own, of course :)
Lydia – well, I think I'll bake my own brownies for a few more times, and then when (if?) I get tired, I venture out there in the foodblogosphere and look for other brownie recipes :)
Gretchen Noelle – they're great, aren't they!
Rosa – 2.5 kilos of chocolate??? I can think of many chocolate cakes to make :)
Wendy – well, us, foodbloggers, aren't so different :)
The Cooking Ninja – I was a cruel woman this time – I didn't let K. try any until we were at his mum's place..
SwirlingNotions – will you share the cappuccino chipotle brownie recipe? I've tried chocolate chilli muffins before, but chipotle brownie sounds like a dream!
Brilynn – here's the perfect recipe then :)
K&S – thank you!
Lobstersquad – I can just imagine how much better and more rewarding the brownies taste after all that anxiety :)
Chloe – thank you for your very kind words :) No cookbook just yet (and if there is, it'll be in Estonian at first). Re: photography – K. is taking at least half of them, plus he paid for all the new gear, so he deserves all the praise :)
Joey – not even sure I've got a good chocolate chip cookie recipe!?!?
Margot – of course you must!!
Susan – they were all eat-immediately-type cakes. But if you ever come over, I'll bake any cakes you request :)
Kevin – so how will you deal with it then? LOL
Laurie – they were actually much moister in reality than they appear on the photo, believe me :)
- 12:38 pm, January 24, 2008


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Well deserved
Well deserved
what a honour
Brad McNamara @bbuzzmc
Will say this once and then nothing else. Defamation laws quite clear in Aus.be careful.
Congratulations to the ICC Hall of fame.
ICC hall of fame does deserve McGrath.
RIP Phil Hughes. Forever 63*
Best fast bowler of all time. Well deserved.
WWCC - Loyaulte Mi Lie
The modern conservative is engaged in one of mans oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." - JK Galbraith
"Do you know why I have credibility? Because I don't exude morality." - Bob Hawke
#408. Sixty three not out forever.
why wasn't he there already?
And smalishah's avatar is the most classy one by far Jan certainly echoes the sentiments of CW
Yeah we don't crap in the first world; most of us would actually have no idea what that was emanating from Ajmal's backside. Why isn't it roses and rainbows like what happens here? PEWS's retort to Ganeshran on Daemon's picture depicting Ajmal's excreta
They can be inducted only after 5 years of retirement
I remember the first time I heard about McGrath was from my father before the 1996 world cup. I was doing this newspaper exercise of making a world XI before WC started. Back then I did not know about cricketers round the world as much. My dad suggested that I should pick McGrath who he said was going to be a great bowler. I was familiar with names like Akram and Ambrose, but McGrath was an unknown name. Now looking back, I wonder how did my dad foresee McGrath's greatness. Don't know if he expected to be proven right so emphatically in another decade's time! The first time I saw him and was instantly impressed was in the match against India in Mumbai in same world cup. He sent down 3 (?) straight maidens before Tendulkar went on to take him apart for quite a few.
Just a random story that comes to my mind whenever I think of McGrath.
Last edited by ankitj; 31-12-2012 at 10:44 PM.
the first time I remember hearing of McGrath and wondered if he would be as good McDermott because McDermott used to spearhead the Aussie attack at that time
It should be renamed the Glenn McGrath hall of fame. Best bowler of all time.
-My beliefs summarized in words much more eloquent than I could come up with
How the Universe came from nothing
If bowling is about analyzing a batsman's weaknesses and getting him out in the most efficient manner possible (and of course it is), then Mcgrath is bowling refined to purest principles. Greatest for mine, too.
Great achievement, but it is meaningless unless he's named one of the Opening bowlers for the Best ODI XI from the Tendulkar Era.
He's close to the best quick ever.
Right there, along with Lillee, Marshall, Ambrose, Trueman, Hadlee, Waqar and Donald imo.
Well deserved.
Congreats to Mcgrath, imo the second greatest fast bowler to have played the game.
Simpson^ | Hayden | Bradman | Chappell^ | Ponting | Border* | Gilchrist+ | Davidson3 | Warne4^ | Lillee1 | McGrath2
Greenidge | Hunte | Richards^ | Headley* | Lara^ | Sobers5^ | Walcott+ | Marshall1 | Ambrose2 | Holding3 | Garner4
Richards | Smith*^ | Kallis5^ | Pollock | deViliers^ | Nourse | Cameron+ | Procter3 | Steyn1 | Tayfield4 | Donald2
Hobbs | Hutton*^ | Hammond^ | Compton | Barrington | Botham5^ | Knott | Trueman1 | Laker4 | Larwood2 | Barnes3
Congrats, but surprised he was inducted before Warne.
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* '''UX / interaction design'''
* '''UX / interaction design'''
* '''all of the above!'''
* '''all of the above!'''
| Your Project Here || Your Project's IRC channel || Your Project's web page || Your name || Notes on the projects your intern could work on.
| Your Project Here || Your Project's IRC channel || Your Project's web page || Your name || Notes on the projects your intern could work on.
Revision as of 13:00, 13 November 2012
Here is a list of some nice folks in Fedora who can help you make your first contribution as part of the Outreach Program for Women. Once you decide what project you are interested in contributing to and explore the information available on that project's wiki, you can introduce yourself to the project's mentor and ask them any questions you have about contributing to the project. The mentor can help you identify an easy task to take on, introduce you to how work gets done in the project (for example, for design projects, they will introduce you to Inkscape), or guide you with development tasks such as building the project's code, identify an easy bug to start with, and help you with your patch for that bug. The mentor can guide you through your subsequent contributions and point to the resources for solving particular issues.
Typically, there are other people on the project's IRC channel, who can help you too. So please ask your questions in the channel. You can address the mentor directly by using their nick in your question. E.g. if the mentor's IRC nick is kelly, you can say "kelly: hi! I just built project-foo and looking for a bug to fix - I found bug 123 and bug 321 in the project's bugzilla that both look like something I can try to work on, but I wanted to see if you have any recommendation, since you are listed as a mentor for the project".
You can find the information about the projects on the project pages they have listed below. The link next to the project name is the name of the project's IRC channel on irc.freenode.org. The string next to each mentor's name is their IRC nick. You can learn more about the use of IRC for Fedora development and how to install an IRC client here. You can find out other contact information and more about each mentor on their individual pages.
If you are interested in finding a mentor for a project not listed here, you can look at the project's commit log to see who are its most frequent contributors and try to find them on IRC. You can also ask on the #fedora-women IRC channel.
Mentors, please read the information for mentors before adding yourself and your project to this page.
Project List
|IRC Channel
|Web Page
|Anaconda (The Fedora Installer)
|Anaconda Team Wiki Page
|Máirín Duffy
|We're in the final development stages of a complete redesign of the Fedora installer's user interface, which will debut in Fedora 18 (due to come out just around the time your internship will be starting.) Since the new UI is a big departure from how the old UI looked, we are looking to conduct usability tests and other assessments of the new UI's effectiveness, and we'd like to identify usability and other design issues and also develop plans to correct them. Your internship with this project, then, could involve any of the following:
|HyperKitty (mailing-list archiver)
|HyperKitty project page
|Aurélien Bompard
|Mailman, the very popular mailing-list manager, is about to release a new version (v3), which is a redesign of the current one (v2). The web archiver component was stripped off, and an programming interface was implemented to let third parties create their own archivers. HyperKitty is such an archiver. Please see the project page for design overview and details. It is written in Python / Django. Your internship with this project could involve any or all of the following :
|Your Project Here
|Your Project's IRC channel
|Your Project's web page
|Your name
|Notes on the projects your intern could work on.


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Glitter Details
✦ Iridescent
✦ 5 Gram Jar – .12 Ounce
✦ 10 Gram Jar – .25 Ounce
✦ This Glitter is NOT Solvent Resistant
✦ Glitter Powder Mixed with .040" Hexagons
Glitter Description
A beautiful mix of Sunshine Fine Glitter Powder .008" and Diamond Dust .040" Hexagon.
Made from precision-cut color enhanced Acrylic film particles coated with an outside layer of polyester material. This glitter is brilliantly bright and iridescent, with just the right amount of sparkle! High quality glitter Made in the USA.
This glitter should NOT be immersed in nail polish/solvents, but CAN be sprinkled on top of gel/nail polish or mixed with acrylic, and gel.
Shimmering Sand
- Availability: In Stock
- $3.95


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Bear River, Utah--Overgrazed riparian vegetation
High cattle density in a feedlot along the Bear River (Utah/Idaho) has completely denuded riparian vegetation. Increased sedimentation and nutrients are released to the river under these situations. Photo by Nancy Mesner.
Photo Details
Wayne Wurtsbaugh
See all User Photos
- Registered:
- January 2000
- Posts:
- 955


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http://news.yale.edu/2012/10/31/exhaust ... sification
Note that this team sets the "original" bird at 50 million years ago - it was more likely 65.5 or so.
Thus the correction is most likely a factor of 65.5/50.
They estimate genetic mutation based on radiation flow, so this correction may be applicable to hominid evolution estimates.
I picture "the" bird survival as having been in a north facing rock cleft rookery on a cliff wall in some far northern area.


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How it works
Customize your watch in no time with a simple drag and drop interface in the Kronaby app. The watch and its many features is designed and developed by the Kronaby team in Malmö, Sweden. Here are a few features we know you will love.
When the whole world seems to compete for your attention, Kronaby helps you filter through the clutter. A gentle vibration on the wrist notifies you only by the people and goings-on you care most about.
Through the push of a button, you are given instant access to all your favorite tunes and podcasts. Kronaby gives you total control of your listening experience, whenever and wherever you want. Just press play.
phone recovery
With Kronaby, the tracking and locating of a misplaced device is a tap of a finger away. Simply push the watch's pre-programmed pusher to reveal your phone's whereabouts.
App + Watch
Kronaby runs together with our app. The Kronaby app lets you configure the functions of the watch. The watch also relies on the capabilities of the app and your phone. Always keep the Kronaby app running for a functioning watch!
General Features
Keeping track of time is a full-time job better left to Kronaby. No matter how many time zones you cross, it automatically displays the local time accurately.
With a standard battery that lasts up to two-years (depending on use), you'll never again have to put life on hold while searching for an outlet to recharge.
There is a fine line between staying connected and being distracted. That is why Kronaby lets you choose to be notified only by the people and of the goings-on you care most about.
Get up and get moving – there is increasing evidence that we need to spend less time sitting to maintain a healthy physique. Let Kronaby send you a gentle reminder when you've been inactive for too long.
In our connected world, prioritizing incoming phone calls is an inevitable modern-day nuisance. Kronaby just made it a little less of a hassle through the Decline Call button on your wrist.
By switching on the silent alarm, the watch's soundless vibrations wake only you, letting those around you carry on snoozing.
Can't find your watch? Left it at the gym, at home or simply misplaced it somewhere? Locate it in the app. A map will show you where the watch was last connected to your phone.
Watch Face Features
Kronaby keeps you continuously connected with the outside world by letting you select an additional time zone to be displayed on the watch face.
Track how fast you run a mile, time individual laps, or simply track the time it takes to complete a task. The Kronaby stopwatch combine the traditional with digital precision to cover all your tracking needs.
Statistics shows that activity is a key for a healthier life. Set a step goal and monitor your progress directly on your wrist. Let your smartphone analyze your activity for deeper insights.
Knowing the current date is a fundamental piece of information that is readily available through the push of a button. How would you be able to stay in the present moment otherwise?
Proper time management is hard to achieve without the right tools. A timer allows you to box your chores and find your focus. Done right, time management is life management.
Pusher Features
The built-in camera remote lets you switch places, from always being the person behind the camera to sharing the moment with your friends in front of it. It is sure to make for a prettier picture.
Busy days make us all forget and misplace things. The clever pusher on your watch reveals your phone's whereabouts, saving you the involuntary scavenger hunt.
Kronaby gives you instant access to your favourite music, whenever and wherever you want. Press Play and let it influence how you think, feel and move.
Part of living is trying new things and experiencing unfamiliar places. But before you do, make sure to press the GeoTag button, so you can be sure to find your way back to the spot whence you embarked upon that new adventure.
Being free to move around safely should be everyone's prerogative. A push of button sends a signal to a loved one, letting them respond and follow your every step. It's like having someone walk you home, but from a distance.
Control your surroundings and favourite apps with Kronaby and IFTTT. The Kronaby watch will act as a trigger and the outcome is up to you. Brew a cup of coffee or open the garage door. Browse through hundreds of services and create your own personalised applet. Learn more


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Faculty research and teaching continues to put the program at the forefront of its field, nearly 100 years after department formation (1940s faculty photo).
Established subfields include American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Methods and Models, Political Theory, and Race, Ethnicity, and Politics.
The department hosts or co-sponsors nearly 100 events each academic year, including major annual lectures, cross-disciplinary symposia, subfield workshops, and doctoral student job talks.
Ralph J. Bunche (B.S. Political Science, 1927; summa cum laude). Winner of the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize; United Nations Undersecretary from 1955 to 1970.
2013 Mock Constitutional Convention as part of PS 149 Applied Politics course, "Amending the Constitution"


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Hollywood has always been interested in fairy tales as source material, but lately it seems to have become something of an obsession, and not just for Disney, but for wide-ranging directors making everything from action films to TV dramas. In the last couple of years we've had more teen-oriented versions, with Red Riding Hood, Snow White and the Huntsman, Mirror Mirror, and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, not to mention series like Grimm, Once Upon A Time, and Beauty and the Beast all going for modern twists and adaptations aimed squarely at adult viewers.
And now we're in for another wave, with Oz The Great and Powerful starting soon and an adventurous-looking Jack the Giant Slayer not far behind, plus Disney have nearly finished filming on Maleficent - starring Angelina Jolie as the wicked witch from Sleeping Beauty, and focusing on her backstory.
Meanwhile, Guillermo del Toro is working on a more macabre stop-motion version of Pinocchio and is rumoured to be looking at a new take on Beauty and the Beast, and Atonement director Joe Wright has expressed interest in re-doing The Little Mermaid.
It's quite an avalanche. Sure, some of the films are still aimed at a family audience, but most of them are delving into the darker side of fairy tales regardless of their target market - looking at the less heroic, more troubled, more peculiar characters (like Oz, and Maleficent, and the giants from the tale of Jack), delving into details and backstories which haven't been presented before.
How did Oz end up in the Emerald City? What made Maleficent want to curse Aurora? And what was the giants' side of the story?
It's great to see film-makers getting adventurous and trying new angles with the well-loved tales. But my question is, could they go further?
Fairy tales were never traditionally children's stories, and in their original forms were far more dark and gory than anything we'd expect Disney to put out. Tales of virtue, tenacity, and honesty are great for the whole family, but there was no room to delve into the more multi-faceted character angles, or details like the fact that Ariel (from The Little Mermaid) would have her tongue removed in order to gain legs, or that it felt like she was walking about on swords, or that in the end she must choose between a painful death, or slaying the prince in order to return to the sea.
But it seems that there's an increasing fascination with the more adult themes found in these stories, and with the technology to combine real actors and live action, with the fantastical worlds that people like Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm dreamed up hundreds of years ago, these characters can become ever more relatable and real.
Del Toro paved the way somewhat with his wonderfully original, but quite deeply frightening Pan's Labyrinth in 2006, and director Tim Burton has always had a knack for more twisted fantasy stories, but wouldn't it be wonderful to see a grown-up film version of a story like The Little Mermaid or The Tinderbox, or one of the many traditional folk tales out there?
If it has to be a fairy tale movie, then combining the escapist fantasy notions we already know with the richer, more human, and sometimes more difficult or horrifying aspects of these original tales can make for a far more engrossing film. Here's hoping that's what Joe Wright is thinking.
- TimeOut


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The European Commission said on Saturday it had agreed a deal with Beijing to resolve a dispute over alleged Chinese dumping of solar panels in Europe, agreeing a minimum price for China's imports.
The deal to resolve the biggest trade dispute between China and the European Union will avoid punitive tariffs from August on Chinese solar imports into Europe that were worth 21 billion euros ($27 billion) last year.
"We found an amicable solution," EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said in a statement.
"I am satisfied with the offer of a price undertaking submitted by China's solar panel exporters," he said, referring to an agreement for a minimum price for China's imports.
Chinese solar panel production quadrupled between 2009 and 2011 to more than the entire global demand, and the Commission accused China of dumping its solar panels at below the cost of production in Europe.
The Commission, the EU executive, imposed low tariffs in June, which were due to jump to punitive levels on Aug. 6, but six weeks of talks appear to have resolved the row.


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|Internet Use Guidelines
General Guidelines
Library staff members are happy to answer basic computer usage questions. Staff members cannot provide in-depth assistance or tutoring in the computer center.
No more than two persons at a workstation.
All prints cost .10 per page. Patrons are responsible for previewing print jobs, there will be no refunds for misprints.
Marion Public Library's Main location provides patron computers in two areas:
• Computers in the upstairs area are reserved for patrons age 12 and older.
• Computers in the Kids Area are reserved for patrons age 11 and under.
Computers for patrons of all ages are available at each branch location.
Regardless of age, all patrons must follow the rules outlined in the library's Internet Use policy.
Special Rules for Kids Area Computers
Special Rules for Patron Services Computers
Internet Use Policy
The Marion Public Library develops collections, resources, and services to meet the information needs of the diverse population of the Marion area. The Marion Public Library offers access to the Internet via the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) as another means of meeting those needs.
The Marion Public Library is not liable for the reliability of the local network and the Internet, nor is it liable for the content or accuracy of the information found on the network or the Internet. You are responsible for evaluating information on the Internet for reliability and point of view.
You may not display sexually explicit materials or profanity.
Patrons are expected to behave online in a civil manner. You may not use the library's computers to harass or harm others.
You may not use the Library computers for illegal purposes. This includes activities that may constitute copyright infringement, such as unauthorized file sharing.
These computers are intended for non-commercial personal use.
The Marion Public Library does not provide e-mail accounts for its patrons.
As with all library materials, the parent or guardian of minor children assumes responsibility for supervising access to Internet resources in the Library. The Marion Public Library recognizes that some patrons have had little or no experience with Internet use or are concerned about its impact on their families. Library staff cannot provide in-depth training but may be able to offer searching suggestions, to answer questions, or to locate self-help books.
Computer and Internet access from the Library is a privilege, not a right. Violation of these guidelines or other misuse of the Library's computers and services may result in loss of computer privileges, loss of Library borrowing privileges, expulsion from the Library, or civil/criminal prosecution.


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Child Care Lookup
Parents can find information about licensed child care programs and contracted family day home agencies with the Child Care Look-Up Tool. This tool provides information about the location, ages of children served, number of children that can be served in the program, the program's accreditation status and recent inspection results.
The recently enhanced Child Care Lookup Tool features the ability to...
- Search for an early childhood development program by postal code
- Select more than one age category
- Select more than one search criteria box for a program type
- Select a program type and child range so that all centres offering child care in those ranges appear instead of a null result
Licensed child care programs in Alberta are required to post their inspection reports in a prominent and visible place on the program premises. Contracted family day home agencies are required to provide information to parents on the compliance history of individual providers.
Parents are encouraged to speak to individual programs if they want more information about a program's compliance history, or for further details on the inspection visit and its results.
See the disclaimer and a glossary of terms used within this tool.


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The 5" long anodized aluminum body is textured for grip, and can be used with the included neoprene pads for increased friction and to protect delicate surfaces. An elongated hole in the body allows mounting in a T-track as a hold-down for stock up to 1" thick (hardware not included).
Sold as a pair of blocks and pads.
Made in USA.


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Last week, we invited a group of public relations and social media professionals to Google Austin to introduce them to the range of features offered as part of Google Places. Most of the attendees were experts on the basics (for instance, claiming a Place page), but many were surprised to learn about the other ways Google Places can help them connect with their customers.
The Dashboard
Once you've claimed your Place page, you can see detailed analytics on a handy dashboard, including information on the number of time your Place page was viewed (impressions) and the search terms your customers use to find you:
Ratings and Reviews
Customers can rate and review the places they go through Google, offering valuable feedback about what they liked and didn't like about their experience. This information appears on the Place page for a business. Business owners also have the ability to respond to those reviews publicly — a great way to engage with customers and show you're listening to their feedback. Once you claim your Place page and you're logged in, you'll see the option to respond to individual reviews.
Sharing Your Expertise
Beyond encouraging customers to rate and review their businesses via Google Places, attendees at our Austin Tech Talk also discussed how they could set up their own Google Places profile for their business to rate and review, as a way to show their community involvement and local support. Here's what came out of a brainstorming session:
- Restaurants could rate and review local farms, farmers markets, and artisans to show that they are using local ingredients.
- Hotels could rate and review local attractions that may be of interest to their guests, or use their profile to provide their concierge with a "cheat sheet" of useful info.
- Gyms could rate and review local restaurants to point out the healthiest menu items for their members so that they can reach their fitness goals.
These were just some of the many ideas that were shared!
Google Places Business Kit
The most talked-about topic of the night was the Google Places Business Kit, a box of info and schwag that business owners can request, detailing how they can better interact with their customers on Google. Some of the items a business owner can request include after-dinner mints and Place pin–shaped coffee stirrers, to remind and encourage customers to rate and review that business on Google.
What are some of the ways you're using Google Places to connect with your customers? Learn more by visiting our Google Places Help Center.
Posted by Whitney Francis, Austin community manager