text:
DiMarco makes 2006 TOUR debut at frenzied FBR Open Jan. 30, 2006
By Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
It's not a party until something gets broken. At the FBR Open there's always a party and about 500,000 of the PGA TOUR's closest friends are invited. And when players get on the Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale, some scoring records get broken.
A field consisting of 132 highly paid agronomy students visits suburban Phoenix this week for the best-attended event on TOUR. With a half-million fans in attendance and at least one player shooting 63 or better five of the last six years at the par-71 TPC of Scottsdale, it's no wonder the FBR Open is called, "The Greatest Show on Grass."
Five of the world's top 10 players and 12 former champions are among the visitors to the Stadium Course at the TPC of Scottsdale. Throw in eight of last year's top-10 finishers from a year ago and you have, well, an A-list type party with decent door prizes: $ 5.2 million total purse and $936,000 to the winner
There's always a buzz at the FBR Open. Trust us. Enough said.
Last year: A perfunctory but sometimes adventurous final-round 3-under-par 68 gave Phil Mickelson a 267 total and a runaway five-stroke victory over Scott McCarron and Kevin Na. Mickelson's largest margin of victory among his 27 PGA TOUR events was his second at the FBR Open.
How he did it: Mickelson, a former Scottsdale, Ariz., resident, was the first player in 2005 to protect a 54-hole lead, but he established his front-runner status in round 2 with a career-low 60 (in an official TOUR event). The 11-under-par total, which tied the course record, keyed a 19-under sprint in the last 54 holes. After six bogeys in an opening 73, Lefty made just two bogeys the rest of the tournament thanks to a hot putter. Though he ranked in the lower half of the field in driving accuracy and greens in regulation, Mickelson was second in putting.
Strange but true: The longest putt Tiger Woods made all weekend in winning the Buick Invitational of California was eight feet.
True but not necessarily strange: A PGA TOUR player has shot 60 each of the last three years and five times in the last five seasons. Two have come at the TPC of Scottsdale, by Mickelson and Mark Calcavecchia (in 2001). Grant Waite also shot 60 there in 1996.
If the course could talk: Excuse me, but I'm not the pushover I seem to be, low scores aside. Give me some desert chill and a little wind to work with, and I'll show you some defiance.
Worth knowing:
• Presidents Cup standout Chris DiMarco makes his PGA TOUR debut this week after winning his first tournament in four years two weeks ago abroad at the Abu Dhabi Championship. DiMarco's FBR Open record includes three top-5 finishes, all in the last five years, including his last TOUR title in 2002. He missed the cut last year.
• Camilo Villegas, who received a sponsor exemption into the FBR Open, seems to be fully healed from a slight mishap at his TOUR debut at the Sony Open in Hawaii. His left thumb had become infected after he pulled off the nail and he needed an injection to finish in Hawaii.
Chris DiMarco won the FBR Open in 2002. (Martin/WireImage)
• After switching drivers at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Jesper Parnevik is 31 under par in his last 10 rounds with a 62 and 64 to his credit and has as many top 10s (two) as he had all of 2005. Now Parnevik gets on a golf course where he's been under par in 12 of his last 16 rounds and where he won in 1998. By the way, his lowest round last year was a 65 -- at the FBR Open.
• David Duval returns to the TPC of Scottsdale for the first time since 2001. He has never finished in the top 10 in eight career starts, one of the few places he doesn't own a finish that high.
• Multiple left-handed players have finished in the top-10 in Scottsdale four of the last five years.
• Ben Crane withdrew from the Buick Invitational of California after one round because of a back injury, which he has battled in the past. It's bad enough to also force his withdrawal from the FBR Open.
TI's strength of field index: Five of the world's top-10 players, 12 former champions, 19 of last year's top-30 money winners … nice. 8.4
TI's power ranking for FBR Open: 1. Chris DiMarco, 2. Phil Mickelson, 3. Jesper Parnevik, 4. Vijay Singh, 5. Tom Lehman.


text:
I've got hold of MP3s of Paul doing Midnight Special and Things We Said Today, both recorded from the "Unplugged" concert in 1991.
I know these will exist on various bootlegs, but I'm trying to find whether they were ever part of an OFFICIAL release, perhaps as B sides to an "Off The Ground" era single released somewhere in the world.
Anyone any ideas whether they were officially released at any point?
Thanks in advance.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
RickStark79 wrote:Scott Dossett wrote:RickStark79 wrote:p.s. I do feel that Ringo should be inducted for the simple reason that many many of today's famouse drummers have said that Ringo was a major influence on them deciding to be a drummer...In fact, I've heard many say that he was the first drummer that anyone knew the name of...I know...you're not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition
Right, but this is because he was in the Beatles, which of course, he's already inducted. Ringo's solo career deserves ZERO consideration as a potential second time inductee. He's got a handful of solo hits, but come on.
I totally understand your point but as I said...I tend to lower my criteria when I see some of the names on the list of inductees...I agree that Ringo would be hard pressed to come up with just one greates hits CD that warrants induction but I do think he is one of the greatest drummers of all time...with The Beatles and as a solo artist...plus, there are plenty of inductees that just play instruments...Your point is well taken by me Rick.


text:
How do i find pout becuse test dont read
Q: I am pws it does not show that iam gluten but my stomavck feel blodedand smeely farts and milk intolrent
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The Obama administration announced this week that it plans to toughen U.S. ivory trafficking regulations.upsurge in poaching, with China cited as the largest market, followed, most experts said, by Thailand and Vietnam.
'You can go into New York City, or Wahington, D.C., or San Francisco, and there's ivory for sale.'U.S., conservationists say, still has a lot of work to do.
There currently is no requirement for pre-ban ivory to be certified or documented in the U.S.old or it's pre-ban – and a lot of times that's based on nothing.
The patchwork of state and federal laws tends to confuse consumers and can complicate enforcement.to increase staff levels in light of the newly announced enforcement strategy.
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text:
| A premium multifilament string, X-One BiPhase delivers superb comfort and feel and a crisp response. A good choice for players seeking an arm-friendly string without sacrificing power. Provides good tension maintenance too. About as gut-like as synthetics get. Offers a livelier feel, but with slightly less durability compared to the 16-gauge version and is a great choice to liven up a tight string pattern.
According to Tecnifibre, "the X-One Biphase string uses High Heat Capacity (H2C) fibers which allows the use of an innovative chemical treatment process called Trimerization. This new process increases the cohesion between chemical molecule links through extreme variations in temperature to result in ultimate dynamic efficiency (power) and exceptional feel. The new patented Biphasic process, with its visible marks on the string, extends string life by 20% and offers increased spin. Similar to its leading string, NRG2, the multifilament fibers within this string are immersed in polyurethane to provide shock absorption and optimum comfort."
Comments: Been revisiting this string in my new Blade 104 at 48 pounds. It felt better than the Gamma LWP
17g at the same 48 pounds. There seemed to be better feel and more spin on my groundies. My serves definitely felt like
they had more pop. It's too bad that the price has gone up about $3 a pack since my posting back in 2012.
From: Mike, 6/15
Comments: What a great string! I have tried it at 52lbs and now at 56lbs. Great at the baseline and for those
shots at the net. I have an on going tennis elbow problem and this string really helps. Pretty close to gut feel as you are
going to
get. A very forgiving sting that gives you extra control and enough pop. I have tried all kinds of strings, but this is the best
for me
right now. If you are looking to try a string and you have elbow problems or you want something close to gut at less then
half the
price, give it a try.
From: Steve, 11/13
Comments: I have about 7 hours on a full bed of this string strung at 58 lbs in a BLX Blade 98. Fantastic stuff.
love the NRG string, but this is better. Seems more durable, as I noticed the NRG fraying almost immediately and I don't
see any
of that with the X-one. Great power and good spin. Fantastic feel of the ball in the sweet spot and it seems to love hitting
forehands on high balls -- really provides great feedback and super easy on the elbow and shoulder, even hitting all out in
practice rallies. It's worth the cost to me, but I string it myself. I haven't found price a very good indicator of strings for
me, but
this stuff is worth the dough. I still doubt it will last long as with most multis, but I don't care -- it's all I am stringing my
with in the future.
From: Mike, 10/13
Comments: I used to use the BLX PS 6.1 95 with Babolat Ballistics. If I just push the ball, no tennis elbow. But
if I try
to add power and really pocket the ball, 5 minutes later the elbow would fight back and I barely would be able to pick up
my arm.
Then I read many reviews about these and decided my that elbow has reached its limits. When I first tried it out, it was a
very cold
day. Maybe around 40 degrees. I did have tennis elbow when I was playing, so I was very disappointed. A week later when
it was
warmer, the tennis elbow was gone. I was smacking every ball. It went in by the baseline, and no tennis elbow during
practice. I
did notice my arm was a little sore. I did not have to change the way I play for these strings. I did notice I became a lot
Especially my serves. More consistent and more pop. I did not get as much spin as I did before, but I somewhat kind of like
it a
little flatter than usual. Get if now if you have major elbow issues.
From: Tommy, 3/13
Comments: I used this string on a Prince Hybrid Air Ignite strung at 58 lbs. My goal was to really push the
strings to
it's limit while swinging with as much topspin as I'm capable of. I have roughly 7-10 hours worth of hitting divided over 4
When I first took the string out, it was pure magic. Hit seemed almost telepathic and the balls would spin straight down
with good
depth. Around day 4 I felt the performance drop off a little as my shots began to feel harder to control and would
dive passed the baseline. I thought it was my technique or fatigue so I put down the racket for a few days. I came back to
hit and
felt the same thing. I can definitely say playability decreased after the 7-10 hour mark. Those first 6 hours, however, are
downright splendid.
From: PS, 4/12
Comments: Really nice alternative to natural gut. I had a Dunlop 200 4D Tour racquet strung with the 16G
at 60 lbs and a newer racquet (same kind) strung with 17G version at 58 lbs. Both strings are very easy on the arm and
offer crisp
returns with good control. The 17G version has more power and better spin but less control than the 16G version as
strung. Both
strings move about (17G much more) and start fraying after about 2 months on but then seem to last for quite a while after
Did not see much difference in durability between the 16G and 17G as both are shot after about 6 months (playing twice
weekly). I
play doubles (3.5-4.0 level).
From: Bert, 3/12
Comments: I found this string by doing a Google search for best tennis strings. I have played with it two
weeks and
it is quite good, especially for the price. I was using the Gamma Live Wire Pro but at $20 a pack, it is costly. This is a much
option so far at $16.
From: Mike, 3/12
Comments: An excellent string for as long as it lasts, seems to fray then notch in less within 3 weeks then has
to be
replaced prior to breaking. I can't afford to use it.
From: Anon, 12/11
Comments: Advantages of the X1 string is that it has a soft feel to it. I can feel the ball well and it has spin
potential and good pop. Disadvantages would be that it breaks easily, and I don't like entire string bed with X-One as it
feels like a
spring board. I also found it pricey. I like X-One in my crosses with Signum Pro Poly-Plasma on the mains and it works
great. I
went this route to get a little extra feel on the ball I felt I was missing with Signum Pro Poly-Plasma or Black code strung
the entire
way. X-One is not very durable so if you are a string breaker and don't string your own racquets I would not recommend
you have very deep pockets. I am not what I would call a string breaker but I string 3 racquets at a time within 10 days
rotating all
racquets I will have to string at least one racquet again. I play around 3 days a week and am a 4.5 player.
From: David, 11/11
Comments: I agree with everyone else's reviews. This is an all around type string. I think it is similar to natural
in terms of feel and touch.
From: Mikel, 10/11
Comments: This is an excellent string. There is tons of power, spin and control. But string starts to fray after
hour. Anyway, this string has become my string of choice. I use a Babolat Drive Z strung at 55 lbs.
From: Gennady, 10/11
Comments: I really love the Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 17 string. It's the best string I've used. I've recently been
to compare this string to NRG2 17. I have two Babolat AeroPro Cortex racquets; one is strung with NRG2 and the other
with X-one
Biphase 17. Both racquets are strung at 60 lbs. The X-one string is better in many ways. I don't hit with heavy topspin and
generate moderate racquet head speed, but I can definitely see that I have more spin potential with X-one. I also notice
that the
string gives more control and "effortless" power. I get better net clearance, good depth and I find it easier to move the ball
the court. It gives good feel at the net as well. Also, it's very arm friendly and I can hit with a lot more comfort. When hitting
NRG, I can feel a slight pain returning to my elbow. When comparing X-one Biphase 17 and NRG2 17, X-one is just a bit
better in
all categories. I play twice a week and the only thing that I don't like about X-One is its durability. Once it starts to fray, it
some tension and the balls start to fly, a bit.
From: Glenn, 9/11
Comments: I love this string! It is very powerful and has a lot of comfort and
feel. It has more comfort and feel than power. But they are all evenly
spread out. I have a Head Youtek IG Speed MP 18x20 and I put these
strings on it because I am trying out Novak's setup as an experiment. I
even have his vibration dampener. These strings are great and I definitely recommend them. They play best around 57 lbs.
string! But it lacks spin. It has a low spin potential.
From: Anon, 9/11
Comments: Great string! I was a gut user all my tennis life (30 years) and this string is close as I found yet. It is
on arm and spin and power are there. I use it in my Head Prestige Pro 600 and it is a dream. 3.0-5.5 players can take
advantage of
the playability of this string.
From: Mark, 9/11
Comments: I have a hybrid of Tecnfibre X-One Biphase and Red Code 17 g at 26 Kg and while I love it, I have
to say
that it breaks way too quickly. X-One Biphase starts fraying in 3 hours and breaks in 4-5. The Red Code shows no signs of
whatsoever. I just came back from tennis camp, played about 18 hours and broke strings on all my racquets. If you don't
mind the
constant purchasing/restringing than you'll love everything about this string, but for me, not durable enough.
From: Adi, 8/11
Comments: I suspect that of all the strings listed on this site with customer feedback attached, the X-One may
generated the most comments and with good reason; this is a very good string! I have a little variety in my game and
whether I'm
hitting with slice or top-spin from the baseline, making an approach shot or at the net, this string offers an amazing
of power and control.
From: AJK, 7/11
Comments: My favorite string, bar none. I've tried dozens of others, but none match this string as a whole.
only weakness is its durability, but it will last you ten hours or more, which isn't bad for a multi. Don't hybrid this string
It always breaks on the crosses and a polyester in the mains just makes the crosses wear out faster. Don't wait until it
breaks to
replace it either. Once it begins to fray significantly it quickly begins to lose its control and everything will begin going long.
joy to string as well.
From: Darin, Richland, WA, USA. 5/11
Comments: I was an advocate of the Tecnifibre NRG 17g line. Well after trying this string I am switching. This
provides noticeably more power, control,and spin. The wear has been acceptable. It's a slightly higher price but well worth
From: Rich, Bethany Beach, DE, USA. 4/11
NTRP Rating: 4.5
Comments: Too crisp to be a real replacement for gut for me but it feels great to play with; good power and all
spins are very easy to generate. Serves felt good, but control on groundstrokes for me wasn't as good as gut, power
wasn't too
bad either. Strung in a k factor tour 90 at 58lbs in the mains with pro hurricane in the crosses at 55lbs. Much easier to
string than
gut with none of the panic that accompanies it. Playing in damp or wet conditions doesn't seem to be as big a deal as
when using
gut either; in my part of the world I'd be stringing 3 times a week if I let my gut get wet and it's simply not practical nor is it
financially possible. Gut is simply too expensive. If money was no object then I would be using 17g Babolat vs gut with the
hurricane I use now, but until then, this will more than suffice.
From: Steven, Scotland, 03/11
Comments:Words cannot describe how great this string is! It's virtually a natural gut at the fraction of the
price! I'm
a hard hitting all court player so durability is an issue and I found that for a multifilament string it holds up quite nicely, it
can last
about twenty hours before I need to restring. It wasn't too cost effective as a full bed but once I strung it with the black
code on
the mains durability, feel, power, and spin were all there!
From: Earl, San Diego, CA, USA, 03/11
Comments: The best multifilament out there!! This string has a great balance of feel, spin, comfort, control and
power. I quit using the NXT's and Babolat gut for this string. It's easy to string and the durability is good for a
multifilament. I
also appreciate it being easy on the body. If you like using a multifilament or gut...this is a must try!! Babolat Aero Pro
Drive /
Aero Pro Lite Mains 60 / Cross 57.
From: James, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA, 03/11
Comments: The best string I have ever played with. It really improved my weaknesses without harming what I
doing well with my prior string (Luxilon ALU Rough 125). Finally a string that doesn't make you have to compromise. My
simply got better! 4.0 Baseliner.
From: George, Boston, MA, USA, 02/11
Comments: This is my latest string choice, and I have played with it for 1 session. The feel is great; power is
decent, red color is so sharp that everybody can see it. This string has the ability to generate heavy spin, but it's not that
easy. The
surface of string is so smooth; I sometimes find the ball just slip off the string bed in some running shots. I have just tested
it for 2 hours of play; the surface of string is already having some wear. Not sure how long can this string last, I will keep on
playing to find it's average durability.
From: Henry, 01/11
Comments: Excellent string! At first I was a bit skeptical about switching from a poly to this multifilament
string. To
my surprise, it actually felt a lot better given the racquet I use. I found this racquet to have good power as well as control.
string also has more than average bite for a multi, producing good spin. The only downsides of this string is that on hot
days the
string can get a bit "mushy" and is not as crisp as a poly, but overall well worth the switch. 5.0 All around court player.
Youtek prestige mp 53lbs.
From: Jaime, Mississauga, ON, Canada, 01/11
Comments: I cannot believe I have been using full polyester set ups this long. After trying this string, I really
not trying them sooner. I hit the ball pretty flat and these strings were incredible. With minimal effort, I am able to generate
amazing power. While there is some loss of control, the feel, comfort and power are worth it.
From: Barrett, KY, USA, 12/10
Comments: The better choice in multifilament in my opinion. I use this string in the 17g version, strung at 61
on a K Pro Staff 88. Amazing gut-like feel and great for your wallet!!! You get a nice balance of power and control. I also
find this
string to be less conductive of vibrations. If you do your own string jobs, you can also carefully pre-stretch it and get little
drop over the life of the string.
From: Romain, Miami, FL, 10/10
Comments: Strung as mains in a Tecnifibre Speedflex 315 with Red Code crosses. I find sufficient power and
spin with these and also good touch. Very soft on my shoulder and easy to string. Tension maintenance has not been an
Prefer to string at lower tensions where they pocket the ball nicely. Excellent in a hybrid setup, which also helps with
Highly recommended.
From: Jay, Ontario, Canada, 08/10
Comments: This is the BEST STRING ON THE MARKET! PERIOD! You will not be disappointed in this string. It
excellent control, feel, power when you need it, and I was very surprised at the amount of spin it generates! WOW!
However, you
must string it 5 to 6lbs LESS than you normally would string your racquet. I don't know why, but after I had my Volkl power
mid10 strung at 58lbs. It felt like 63lbs! I thought my stringer strung it wrong, so I had it re-strung again; SAME PROBLEM!
So I
strung it way low like pro player Marcos Bagdatis at 50lbs. Mains and 46lbs. at crosses. WOW! There's so much more
power and
control. This set-up feels like 58lbs to me. This string is so good specially for the price, it lasts very long too! Amazing!
string on the market.
From: Will, CA, USA. 03/10
Comments: Bought for my daughter who plays varsity in high school and strings her own racquets. These
are expensive but the control/comfort/spin are almost worth it. They were not as durable as I hoped, lasting only 7 days (2
per days on the courts). My daughter hits with above average topspin. We are looking for something that plays as well and
is more
durable though.
From: Anon., 10/09
Comments: Agreed, don't pay attention to the negative comments. People need to pay more attention to the
construction of a string and compare it to similar strings. This string seems to work best in mid-size frames that are on the
side like a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 classic because it opens up the pattern a little more. The string is best comparable to other
fils like Wilson NXT and NGR. Personally I'll take this string over NXT because its a little firmer feel on ground strokes but
also has
softer touch on more delicate shots as well as good ball pocketing without TOO SOFT a feel.
From: Joe 4.5, Woodstock, Georgia USA 08/09
Comments: Don't pay attention to the negative reviews. I decided to try the Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 17 string
From the start a big, big difference. Immediately, I felt the advantages of using this strings. Better feel, better control, more
topspin, more power & spin on your serves, holds the tension well & at the same time soft on your arm. Actually, with these
strings, my new racquet became alive. The only thing I didn't like is the durability. I have been playing with the same strings
about three weeks now, but by the way they look, it seems that they only have one to two weeks more to go. So I decided
to put
on string savers on my next Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 17 string red that I have already bought for my new string job. Go
ahead &
try this strings, you won't be disappointed by the overall performance & actually it may improve the level of your game.
From: Luis, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Comments: This string is very GOOD as a hybrid, you just have to use the right poly on the mains otherwise it
crashes fast. I used a poly string as a hybrid and almost every shot i hit went in..you'll have to figure out the combination
can't let
the secret out!
From: Janae, USA. 04/09
Comments: This string is terrible. I'm sad to say that I bought into previous feedback comments of how great
a feel
it gave and the spin potential, but that was not the case at all. I strung my Tecnifibre TFlash 310 16x19 frames with this
one at 55lbs tension, the other at maximum (57lbs), but neither felt like I had gained any advantage in terms of power and
In fact, I lost some of that desperately needed spin when you hit a ball from an uncomfortable position that somehow has
to angle
and fall into the court; I'm used to hitting shots like those during matches, but they flew off the court w/ this dull string.
sense for me was that it very much muted the impact of the ball on the racquet and I could not tell whether I'd hit the
sweet spot
of the racquet or not. I consider myself a baseliner, not afraid to come in to net and able to put away shots, but this string
negative impact on all phases of my game. It needs a lot more liveliness. Anyway, the strings stayed on my frames for 1
then I got tired of them.
From: Arnie, Dallas, TX, USA, 10/08
Comments: This is a great string for spin potential. I used it as a hybrid, its really soft. I used this 17g with
Pro Hurricane Tour. I definitely felt the extra spin and really livened up my string bed. Also had a lot of feel, I could really
tell the
difference with my drop shots. I tensioned the x-one with a few more lbs because of the softness of the string.
From: Anthony, MN, USA, 09/08
Comments: This string is simply the best synthetic on the market today. It has the feel of natural gut, but with
little more power and durability.
From: John, Suitland, Maryland, USA. 8/08
Comments: Great string. I use them on the mains and hybrid with Prince Synthetic
Gut Duraflex 17g for the crosses. I find that it helps to maintain the feel longer when I sting the synth gut on the crosses 2
tighter. The red and white combo of my hybrid looks great too! I have tried the 18g as well, but only use the 18g for when I
playing in a tournament. The spin is much better as is the overall playability, but the 18g does not last me more than 1 set if
I am
From: Lawrence, Geneva area, Switzerland. 6/08
4.5 aggressive baseliner: frequent string breaker.
Comments: I've been using this string on the Ektelon O3 White for the past several months. I've used
before, but went away from it the past couple of years, mainly due to cost. This string is a great all around string. Great
great control and it seems to last quite a while. The red color just adds to the uniqueness of the string....and goes great
with the
white racquet.
From: Jeff, Central Cali, USA, 02/08
Comments: Great string gives me a lot of power and feel however loses feel quickly, still great string for good
From: Okonowo, Washington D.C., USA, 04/07
Comments: Compared to the new Wilson K Gut Pro, this string is fantastic. Both have a tacky feel when
strung. Nothing I've tried surpasses the soft, playable feel of X-One Biphase. The more expensive K-gut Pro is crisp, but
the soft
controlled feel of X-one is superior. I have 16-gauge X-One on my 18X20 Tecnifibre 320. I found no durability issues using
thicker gauge, but I used 17G on my Liquidmetal Rave mains with ALU Rough 16L on the crosses. Great for a 16x19
stringbed for
power and control if you don't mind the softer mains being cut by the stiffer poly crosses. I don't know how a hybrid bed
work with the X-One strings unless you use in the crosses. They are very soft and don't hold up in humidity or moist
(like gut).
X-One Biphase compares favorably with playable Gamma strings like Live Wire 17 and Gamma Professional. All of these
suffer in durability if you hit with heavy spin. Fraying is evident after just one play with 17 gauge versions. If you're a string
breaker, I recommend 16G X-One over all other brands. If you desire the extra feel from 17G, well the Tecnifibre X-one
strings are worth the price at 75% the cost of Gamma Professional or K Gut Pro.
From: Jim, Montgomery, TX, USA. 10/07
Comments: I love the way the ball feels when I hit using this string. I believe it is perfect for my Wilson nTour
(16x20) strung at 60lbs. I've noticed much more spin on my shots and the part I love the most is the way volley's go where
direct/want them to go like I've never experienced before. It also provides nice power and control blend in this low-
powered racquet. I've also noticed that I have more control on my lobs when opponents approach the net. I highly
this to any player looking for great feel, control, desire for topspin, and laser feel on volleys. I am a 3.5 player comfortable
enough at the net, but working toward being an all court player.
From: Mike, Arlington, VA, USA, 09/07
Comments: Every now and then I get this great idea that I should try another string. I catch myself reading
or comments and get curious. But every time I go back to Tecnifibre X-One Biphase...I wonder why I strayed away. X-One
with the right combination of feel, control, power and consistency for me. Some people say it goes dead after a short
amount of
time. To me it plays better and better right up to the breaking point. Only thing I have against the string is that it plays a
stiff the first hour or two. Gamma Professional is the only string I have played with that might play a bit better...but
the cost, I'll stay with X-one.
From: Rondall, Glen Burnie, MD, USA. 8/07
Comments:Only problem with this string is it isn't sold in a half set. Have to buy a whole set when using a
hybrid. I
like the power and pop with this string but with an 18x20 string pattern I could not generate much spin. I would
recommend this
as a good cross with Babolat hurricane or Wilson Enduro in the mains. This string also starts to fray within 2 hours of play.
From: Dave, Lajolla, CA, USA, 08/07
Comments: I tried this because of all the good feedback that there was, before this I had been using the HEAD
POWER 17, this string had much more control, and somewhat more spin. Overall I would recommend this string.
From: Vincent, USA, 06/07
Comments: These are the best strings ever. I play with Ashaway Kevlar 17 gauge tension 57 on mains and
from synthetic gut to Tecnifiber x-one gauge 17 on crosses. The spin, control, and power at tension 61 on head liquidmetal
radical are just amazing. This is the best string in the world right now. Period. No arguments.
From: Hormaz, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, 04/07
Comments: I tried these strings with some new Volkl V1 DNX frames. The 17-gauge string or the frame really
triggered some very severe tennis elbow. I have always used Tecnifibre strings in the past and used the NRG2 16 gauge
with great
success. It's been a year and after taking 6 months off my elbow is back to normal. I am going to go back to the NRG2
with the
same frame that caused the elbow problems and see if the elbow holds up.
From: John, Temecula, CA, USA, 03/07
Comments: Great string. I love it so much. The only thing I didn't like is the durability. So I decided to put on
savers and try the 16. Must try.
From: Anon, 12/06
Comments: Without a doubt the best synthetic string on the market (and better than some natural gut). I'm a
racquet stringer and use to recommend Wilson NXT 17 to my serious playing customers. In the last year from my
they're all playing with Tecnifibre x-one Biphase 17 now and everybody's happy.
From: John, USA. 11/06
Comments: Probably the best string I've used this far along with the Gamma TNT Fusion 19g. Initial feel was
but after a few hours of hitting it felt great. The only problem with this string was that it didn't last me very long so I don't
I'll use it again due to the price. And just a random bit of info, the strings broke on the crosses for me.
From: Lawrence, Placentia, CA 08/06
Comments: This is by far the best, most "gut-like" string I've ever played with. I
played with BDE gut Rally and was happy. In the past I have also tried many that claim
"gut-like" feel like Gamma Pro XP, Laserfiber Pro, etc...but nothing seems to come close. I
would say that this string even felt better than my favorite natural gut as far as feel, control
and power. I hybrid with Luxilon TI-MO as I did in my gut string. Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 17
String just feels better and my control is now awesome.
From: KC, California, USA 07/05
Comments: The best multifilament around for the first 15-20 hours, after which
the string becomes slow to react and I feel like I need to push the ball off the strings in
mid-stroke. I play a ProStaff 5.0 at 62lbs. Strings typically do not break until about a 30-40
hours and when it does it's always a cross.
From: Nekki, Los Angeles, CA, USA. 04/05
Comments: Great string. More control than NRG2 and better feel. Better than gut
in that you don't have to worry about the damp. This string is easier to string than gut. Great
string. The best multi out there for feel, great job Tecnifibre.
From: Bill, Alberta, Canada. 10/04
Comments: This string offers great feel, power and control. At half the price of
gut with similar characteristics-it's a great buy. String durability suffers with the thinner
gauge lasting about a month before fraying. I'm an all court 5.5 player who strings his Head
Mid-plus XL i.Prestige between 56 and 62lbs.
From: Damion, Los Angeles, CA, USA. 08/04
Comments: The 16g version is just as good. I would say that the string is stiff/
yet soft when you hit hard. Strings do lock in place.
Durability is extremely better than Tecnifibre NRG2. I play two times per week and have had
this string for almost two months. I'm almost tempted to say that it's worth the price.
From: mackadilly, Talk Tennis. 4/04
Comments: I thought this string was really nice. Gummy like the original
Tecnifibre 515, so the strings locked in place, responsive, powerful enough, great soft feel,
big sweetspot, great spin. Suspect the durability might be better than Tecnifibre NRG2,
especially since the strings aren't sliding around at my usual tension. Tension maintenance
appears to be much better. I did a pre-stretch when stringing.
From: NoBadMojo, aka Ameliaislanded, Talk Tennis. 4/04


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dm-cache is (albeit still classified "experimental") is in the just released Linux 3.9 kernel. It deals with generic block devices and uses the device mapper framework. While there have been a few other similar tools flying around, since this one has been adopted into the kernel it looks like this will be the one that you'll be seeing the most in to the future. It saves sysadmins the hassle of compiling extra stuff for a system.
A typical use is for an SSD to cache a HDD. Similar to a battery backed RAID controller, the objective is to insulate the application from latency caused by the mechanical device, the most laggy part of which is seek time (measured in milliseconds). Giventhe relatively high storage capacity of an SSD (in the hundreds of GBs), this allows you to mostly disregard the mechanical latency for writes and that's very useful for database systems such as MariaDB.
That covers writes (for the moment), but what about reads? Can MariaDB benefit from the read-caching? For the MyISAM storage engine, yes (as it relies on filesystem caching for speeding up row data access). For InnoDB, much less so. But let's explore this, because it's not quite a yes/no story – it depends. For typical systems with a correctly dimensioned system and InnoDB buffer pool, most of the active dataset will reside in RAM. For a system using a cached RAID controller that means that an actual disk read is not likely to be in the cache. With an SSD cache you might get lucky as it's bigger – so stuff that has been read or written in some recent past may still be there. What we have found from testing with hdlatency (on actual client/hosting infra) is that SANs typically don't have enough cache to pull that off – they too may have SSD caches now, but remember they get accessed by many more users with different data needs as well. The result of SSD filesystem caching for reads is actually similar to InnoDB tweaks that implement a secondary buffer pool on SSD storage, it creates a relatively large and cheap space for "lukewarm" pages (ones that haven't been recently accessed).
So why does it depend? Because your active dataset might be too large, and/or your combined reads/writes are still more than the physical disks can handle. It's very important to consider the latter: write caching insulates you from the seeks and allows an intermediate layer to re-order writes to optimise the head movement, but the writes still need to be done and thus ultimately you remain bound by an upper end physical limit. Insulation is not complete separation. If your active dataset is larger than RAM+SSD, then the reads also also need to be taken into account for seek capacity.
So right now you could say that at decent prices, if your active dataset is in the range of a few hundred GB to even a few TB, RAM with the optional addition of SSD caching can all work out nicely – what can still make it go sour is the rate of writes. Conclusion: this type of setup provides you with more headroom than a battery backed RAID controller, should you need that.
Separating reporting to distinct database servers (typically slaves, configured for relatively few connections and large queries) actually still helps quite a bit as it really changes what's in the buffer pool and other caches. Or, differently put, looking at the access patterns of the different parts of your application is important – there are numerous variation on this basic pattern. It's a form of functional sharding.
You'll have noticed I didn't mention any benchmarks when discussing all this (and most other topics). Many if not most benchmarks have artificial aspects to them, which makes them problematic when dealing with the real world. As shown above, applying background knowledge of the systems and structures, logic, and maths gets you a very long way (either independently or in consultation with us). It can get you through important decision processes quicker. Testing can still play an important part, but then it's either part of or very close to your real world environment, not a lab activity. It will be specific to you. Don't get trapped having to deliver on numbers from benchmarks.


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How can we at the Department of State better partner with U.S. businesses abroad to strengthen the U.S. economy and create jobs at home?
That is a question my colleagues in our over 200 missions around the world and I address each and every day. Last October, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton outlined a vision placing economic statecraft at the forefront of U.S. diplomacy. Economic statecraft has two parts: first, how we harness the forces and use the tools of global economics; and second, how we put that diplomacy and presence to work to strengthen our economy at home. Secretary Clinton emphasized that the future of U.S. economic growth increasingly relies upon "our ability to compete and win overseas." She asked all of us working in Washington and at our embassies overseas to look at ways to better leverage our platforms abroad. In other words, she asked us to answer the question: what can we do for U.S. business?
This week, Secretary Clinton is inviting senior representatives of U.S. business support organizations in over 120 countries to the first-ever "Secretary's Global Business Conference," hosted by the Department of State on February 21-22. We will focus on ways we can help companies enter new markets, create jobs, and accelerate America's economic renewal. We will also focus on the critical need to attract new investment into the United States and create American jobs.
We invite you to join us at the conference via live webcast as Secretary Clinton delivers remarks on February 21 at 12:45 p.m. (EST). Check out our website for more information about ongoing events during the conference, and you can also follow and engage with us on our social media sites, including @StateDept on Twitter and Facebook, and Assistant Secretary Fernandez of the Economic and Business Affairs Bureau via @EconEngage on Twitter and Facebook. You can also follow the conference on Twitter using the hashtags #SGBC, #EconDiplomacy, #jobs, #trade, and #exports.
We welcome your thoughts and questions on how we can support U.S. firms doing business overseas and promote economic opportunity here in the United States. As the Secretary said, "We have made it a core diplomatic mission to enhance our economic leadership in the world and to drive domestic economic renewal. Under President Obama's leadership, our National Security Strategy is focused on shoring up the sources of our global strength. Now, it's true that economic recovery is mostly a matter of good domestic policy, political will, and the willingness of the American people to stay focused on a better tomorrow. But, while our efforts may begin at home, they cannot end there."
For more information on economic issues, you can follow the WhiteHouse, the Departments of Commerce, Treasury and Energy, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
Related Content: Special Briefing on the Secretary's Global Business Conference


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|Ipswich, Massachusetts
Genealogy, local history and historical research in New England and other interesting places. Nutfield was the former land grant ................................. that is now the towns of Londonderry, Derry and Windham, New Hampshire.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Surname Saturday ~ Wells, Ipswich, Massachusetts
4 comments:
I don't think we knew this, but I have this line too. I think you are missing my line...Thomas had another child, Sarah, per TGM.ReplyDelete
I'll have to see the newest volume of TGM. I haven't seen a copy all winter and all my names seem to be T-Z (in that volume!)ReplyDelete
Well, we're 10th cousins on this line-- Thomas Wells Sr. and Abligail Warner are my 9th great grandparents (through their son Thomas and his wife Mary Perkins).ReplyDelete
This makes us both cousins of George Washington too, via the Warner line. :-) I wrote about my connection here:
Heather, it isn't in the latest TMG, it's in his first series, Vol. 11, under Massey. Sarah Wells m. John Massey, and it states her parents were Thomas W. and Abigail W. You probably wouldn't catch it, because I have that Massey line.ReplyDelete


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Napa, CA, October 12, 2007—If there was one message Brian Pretti had for the 300 Napa Valley business leaders gathered at the Napa County 2008 Economic Outlook meeting today, it was, "Globalization changes everything."
Pretti, head of Investment Management for Mechanics Bank, which manages a $1.6 billion portfolio, told the crowd, "Everything has to be put in the context of a changing global economy."
It might have been a frightening message for a local group—except for the fact that he emphasized the many opportunities that a rising tide of wealth outside the U.S. could present for Napa County.
"If you're in the hospitality business or the wine business, your Web site should have Russian, Asian and Middle Eastern translations available," he said. "Napa has an international reputation—and can attract wealth from other countries."
Pretti didn't mince words about what to expect domestically in the coming years: "accelerating inflationary pressures," "fierce competition for scarce resources," and "increasing volatility and magnitude" of swings in the international markets.
"It's not the space race or the Cold War anymore," he said. "It's going to be about competition for natural resources and raw materials."
Pretti repeatedly pointed out that U.S. consumers have been in denial for years about the impact that globalization is having on their lives. "Five years ago when I told a crowd of business people that oil would hit $100 a barrel, someone stood up and said, 'Our government would never let that happen,'" he said. "Well, it's happening today." He also pointed to the fact that more than half of all U.S. Treasury notes are now in the hands of foreign investors, who also are turning their sights to U.S. equities. "They will influence future policies," Pretti predicted.
Although his theme was global, Pretti offered plenty of local insight, too. For example, he predicted that despite the efforts of the Federal Reserve to prop up the housing market with lower interest rates, real estate values will continue to drop—maybe even another 10 to 15 percent. "Since 1980 every cycle has brought median housing costs to about 325 percent of median wages," he pointed out. "In this cycle, either housing has to drop another 15 percent, or wages have to go up substantially. Which is most likely?"
Pretti also took aim at the Federal Reserve for its actions. "They are socializing risk by using interest rates to try to shore up the housing market and rescue over-extended institutions," Pretti said. "The only people who think inflation isn't a problem are the members of the Federal Reserve Board."
On the other hand, however, Pretti said that the Fed is "doing what it has to do in an election year. There is zero tolerance for recession now, and residential real estate is still critical to domestic economic outcomes." To illustrate the point, Pretti showed the close correlation between housing trends and personal consumption, payrolls and industrial production.
What advice did Pretti have for investors?
"Money chases inflating assets," Pretti said. "That's not housing and it's not the dollar. It's oil, metals, commodities and global financial markets."
"A period of crisis means opportunity," he concluded, "as long as we have our eyes wide open."
Mechanics Bank, headquartered in Richmond, California, has two offices in the Napa area. The century-old family-owned community bank is one of the largest independent banks headquartered in Northern California, with more than $2.7 billion in assets.
Press contacts:
Ms. Hatti Hamlin
Mr. David Louis


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Flute World
America's #1 flute specialty house since 1983.
Turkish Songas (Turkische Lieder) for 1-2 C instruments and PianoArranged by Murat UstunIncludes two scores for 1-2 C instruments and a piano score.This representative collection contains Turkish folk songs which have been arranged in a way they easily can be played on traditional Western instruments. However, they retain their original style marked by monophonic melodies and compound time signatures.
Contents:Sut ictim dilim yandiKasapDere geliyor dereTinimini hanimCokertmeKatibimAnadolu


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At Vermont Woods Studios we're celebrating Summer with our biggest handmade furniture sale ever. You'll save 10% on every piece of our handcrafted, Vermont made solid wood furniture in the store. Check it out– this is the first time we've ever put everything on sale at once and we're excited to be able to offer these discounts on each and every furniture collection storewide.
Browse around to find bargains on our handmade bedroom furniture, dining furniture, TV stands and consoles, home office furniture and more. You can order furniture online through our secure shopping cart or contact us at 888-390-5571 to order by phone and discuss your questions and customizations. But hurry! This 5 Day Sale ends at midnight on Sunday June 27.
This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.


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Fair ~
High: 53°F ~ Low: 32°F
Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017
What would we do without them?Posted Friday, January 13, 2012, at 9:56 AM
It Is so easy to be critical of everything from people to businesses and anything
else that may cross our path in the course of a day. We seem to think that things
should always be to our liking, and how wonderful that would be. But, that is not
real life. Businesses are run by people and people make mistakes. We mess up
big sometimes. Of course, there are those people who do not give their best to
their job, their employers, their customers and clients or patients. In this case we
just have to be on our toes and deal with these people the way we know we should
no matter how hard it may be.
I am saying all this to lead up to what I really want to talk about.
We are a small town, therefore, our businesses are small. But, I have come to re-
spect and appreciate them very much.
The first is our local hospital and since we are a small town, we have a small
hospital. No, they don't offer all the services that a large town or city offer, but in
my opinion, they serve their purpose very well and I, for one, am thrilled that we can
say, "yes, Dexter has a hospital."
My beloved husband has multiple health issues and most are life and limb threat-
ening. Twice in the last five years had we not been blessed with our hospital, according
to his 'big hospital' doctors, he would have died. But, thanks to the quick and professional
actions of our hospital staff we still have him. Also, today he has his leg which would have
had to be amputated had our wonderful staff not performed their jobs quickly and efficiently.
I have jokingly made the comment many times about my youngest daughter, Shelly, that
we didn't have an emergency room until she was born. Meaning, I think we helped pay
for the emergency room with her. She was sick at birth and had many illnesses, plus
she became 'accident prone'. In raising her, I am very thankful that we had a hospital to
care for my sick child at the times I was scared out of my wits with her many accidents
and illnesses.
Yes, I am so thankful that the leaders of our community saw to it all those years ago, that
we have a 'small town hospital'.
Another business I am thankful for is our local newspaper. Small town newspapers have
been around since the seventeenth century with the publications of the first colonial
newspapers. Today, nationwide, newspapers are in trouble, mainly because so many
readers are going to the web. But to me it is just not the same as having a 'real' newspaper
to hold. Remember how Ricky sat across from Lucy and read the morning paper? Also,
Warren, on Leave it to Beaver. I love going into restaurants all over and seeing people
pouring over the newspaper, whether it is the financial pages, sports pages, lifestyle
pages or even Kathleen's Korner.
Our Daily Statesman originally was called "The Messenger" and was later purchased
by a new owner, who then made it into a bi-weekly. I'm not certain about the dates,
but possibly somewhere in the late seventies, it became a daily paper.
Perfect? No. But, although small, thanks to the staff, our Daily Statesman has won many
awards in the newspaper field. This, as a community, we can take pride in.
Shut your eyes and think about our hospital and newspaper buildings not being here, or
worse, sitting empty. The most important to me is the number of people who have jobs
because of these two businesses. Just think of the importance these two businesses
lend to the economy of our little town and imagine our lives without them. Besides, where
else could you meet me in a 'korner' other than our own Daily Statesman?
I'm sure you know by now who my heroes and heroines are this week. They are the owners,
employers, employees, writers, doctors, nurses, volunteers, everyone who has a part in our
local hospital and newspaper. And yes, I include you, the subscriber, advertiser, patient,
whatever role you play in supporting our local hospital and daily newspaper. My hat is off
to all of you. You are true heroes and heroines.
See ya next time somewhere in a 'korner'.
email@example.com - 573-820-2404 or blog with me at www.dailystatesman.com
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Ole Sherman Smith can give you a history lesson on the 'family tree(s)' of the current Statesman. The weekly Statesmen (where Sherm worked back in the day) was founded in 1910 by a Mr. Crowe (Methodist preacher with sikeston roots).The Messenger was the older/first Dexter paper--bought out by Barney Miller in the early 60's(?) after he bought the Statesmen in '58. Gary Rust & Sherm bought old Barney 'Fife' out. But, it was great reading 2 weekly papers 'back in the day' as they say...oh, and Sherman worked @ Sigler Chev.-Olds before he embarked on a newspaper career...
-- Posted by Bearcat66 on Sat, Jan 14, 2012, at 6:52 AM
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Kathleen's Korner
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Kathleen is a resident of Dexter. She was born in Indiana, but her parents moved their family back to the Dexter area when she was three. Other than three years she and her husband, Collin, lived in St. Charles, Mo. and ten years in Birmingham, Alabama, she has spent her life in Dexter. As you can tell, Kathleen is a people person and believes in giving credit to whom credit is due. Thus, the reason for her hero/heroine column every other week in Kathleen's Korner. As you can tell, she also like to have fun, most of the time at her own expense. Kathleen (Grubbs) is a 1964 graduate of Dexter High School and invites her friends to her "Korner."
Hot topicsAh, fall!
(1 ~ 6:08 AM, Oct 11)
The Gift of Friends
Wishing Away!
Thanks for the memories


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Visitors to public lands seek different experiences than in the past
Note: This story is part of a special HCN magazine issue devoted to travel in the West.
People who visit Oregon's state parks have a surprising desire to stay in yurts, even booking them months in advance. Eighteen state parks offer 96 "standard yurts" described by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department as "really cool" -- equipped with futon sofas, bunk beds and electricity -- plus another 88 that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The yurts rent for $35 to $41 per night, and many of them are pet friendly.
The Oregon agency's website describes a typical by-the-night yurt as "round, filled with comfy furniture, and pointy on top," adding that yurts are "a quickly growing national phenomenon that broke into the public camping scene right here in Oregon." The yurts are so popular that the U.S. Forest Service is also rushing to install them in national forests.
This desire to drive to the Oregon woods or coast to sleep on comfy beds in Mongolian-style tents is just one of the changing trends tracked by Chuck Frayer, recreation planner for Oregon and Washington's national forests. "We're starting to see a shift in use," the 40-year veteran says. "It's not like it was when I was a kid."
After decades of growth, the number of people engaged in recreation outdoors and on public land began to level off or decline in the 1980s and 1990s (see graph below). People appear to have less time, money or desire to venture to the more remote and undeveloped public lands, so they increasingly seek out more convenient outdoor recreation.
A 2008 study funded by The Nature Conservancy with an ominous title -- Evidence for a fundamental and pervasive shift away from nature-based recreation –– noted a recent decline in various activities, including national park visits, hunting and fishing license sales and camping. Similar studies, along with books like Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods, create the impression that Americans are hanging up their fishing rods and backpacks because they'd rather be glued to LCD screens than outside emulating Teddy Roosevelt, John Muir and Edward Abbey. Everything from the Internet and organized sports to the sagging economy and urbanization has been cited to explain the shifts in how often people visit public land, and what they do once they're out there.
The National Park Service fastidiously documents such trends. Park visitation climbed dramatically after World War II through the 1980s, as large, popular parks like Lake Mead and Glen Canyon national recreation areas (near fast-growing Las Vegas) were added to the system. The decline in the creation of new large parks was one factor behind decreasing visitation, says Butch Street, the Park Service's Denver-based data analyst. But that's not the only reason. Even though park visits have recently crept upward, approaching their mid-'90s peak (partly thanks to international tourists), total camping visits have not rebounded much, and RV stays have continued to decrease, a possible signal that people who do visit parks are spending less time in them. Free parks in urban areas, like the Golden Gate National Recreation Area near San Francisco, help buoy the numbers. As Street says, "If you give people free open space, most people are going to use it."
The U.S. Forest Service doesn't report such long-term trends because the agency has repeatedly changed its methods for counting visitors. But Robert Burns, an outdooor recreation researcher at West Virginia University who's working with the agency's new science-based monitoring system in Oregon and Washington, observes, "What we see in the West is that there are a lot of people traveling shorter distances and traveling for shorter periods of time. I see a decrease in national forest visitation to what we think of as traditional wilderness and deep-dark-forest kinds of settings."
This group spans generations. They like public lands for nature appreciation, challenge and excitement. They volunteer for trail maintenance quite a lot.
Basically seen as the scum of the earth by many evangelical "environmentalists" as it is a constant battle just to access these PUBLIC lands which many hold-outs from the earlier generations keep trying to legislate bicycles out of access .
Just my $.02 but if you're looking for an enthusiastic, human powered recreational user group who is growing. Then this is a large one.
I would be curious to see counts on number of closed campground sites versus of new sites built, of conversions of USFS campgrounds first to private concession paid camping, and later to advance on-line reservation camping, and of closures of dispersed camping areas, because as far as i can tell, there is in fact a diminishing number of opportunities available, while demand remains high.
In fact, over the last couple years, I had begun to wonder (half-seriously) if the USFS was deliberately restricting the amount of camping available, in order to drive up prices for the advance reservation private concession system.
Now, one thing I do agree is that tastes and usage is changing. There are a whole lot more RVs, large RVs, and people who want hook-ups for their RVs, out there than even a decade ago. But as far as demand goes, I see mainly full campgrounds and highly competitive dispersed site selection.
1) Every NP and NM I go to is full of traffic, every campsite is taken, and the rangers look tired. I hardly thing visitation can be that low! Also, trying to get permits for some of the more spectacular backcountry areas is downright impossible.
2) Like Bob, I am amazed at the omission of mountain biking, which I see as the next big recreational activity that will draw multiple generations and people from varying backgrounds into the backcountry. Around here, there's an insatiable appetite for more trails in the FS and BLM lands. What gives?


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Find The Perfect Gift AND Sleep In On Black Friday
November 19, 2013
If you're one of the frantic holiday shoppers that rises at the crack of dawn the day after Thanksgiving, here's an idea that will guarantee you find the perfect gift for everythone on your list AND be able to sleep like a baby on Black Friday. Just head to the all-new Nautlc Global Group Gear Store for a great selection of goodies from Hurricane Deck Boats. You'll find stylish new merchandise from t-shirts to hats and hoodies so folks in cooler climates can keep the fire burning through the fall and winter. Now the only reason you have to set the alarm the day after Thanksgiving is to enjoy the comfort of your warm bed and bask in a decision well-made for a few seconds before drifting back off to sleep. Now THAT'S a holiday weekend.


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Learn how MacUpdate Desktop can install apps on MacUpdate with the simple click of the icon. Plus, keep all your apps updated.
FontGenius can match both installed fonts and uninstalled fonts using a built in font profile database. An Internet search can also be performed on the list of results to locate, purchase, and/or download matched fonts.
FontGenius supports most image file formats, and can even grab
What's New
- Integrated Twitter and E-Mail sharing that allows FontGenius users to share font links with friends and co-workers.
- Faster more accurate font identification
- Miscellaneous bug fixes and updates, including support for Mac OS X 10.7.3, and Windows XP. Vista, and 7.


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Here's how RW members rated this race (399 votes).
In short: 7th time i,ve run this event and it is as good as ever if not better ! Date of review: October 8, 2006
In short: Set a PB on my 1st time out for this race and I'll be back next year to beat this year's timeDate of review: February 16, 2006
In short: Traffice free course is a nice bonus. Good possibilities for PB's aswell. Very well organised and plenty of parking close to the startDate of review: February 11, 2006
In short: Good 10K that's suitable for runners of all levels.In full: 5th February seems almost indecently early to be racing over 10K,but I decided to give it a go.The race "ticks most of the required boxes".The organisation was excellent-particular mention of the enthusiastic support for all runners by the organisers and the control of the car park after the race had finished.The course is very fast-only one hill of note and 2-3K downhill to the finish.Another big "plus" is that it's entirely traffic-free.My only reservations concern value-quite expensive for a local 10K and a curious goody-bag (an energy bar,coaster and packet of pasta sauce!).Good race overall and definitely a good choice for beginners.Date of review: February 8, 2006
In short: Fantastic Race!In full: What a great day I had, orgnisation was good, facilities were fantastic, race was very enjoyable, to top it all I cracked a PB and also hit a long standing target of getting under the 50 minute mark. All told a very good day! GrahamDate of review: February 7, 2006
In short: Brilliant dayIn full: Second time around for my on 'home' turf. Managed a PBDate of review: February 6, 2006
In short: Very friendly with nice scenery and a great downhill finish.In full: Very crowded start into a narrow lane coupled with a hill at 7km scuppered my PB ambitions. But very friendly with lots of opportunity to chat on the run and pretty fields all around. I liked the slate coaster memento, but didn't see the point of the powdered soup packet...Date of review: February 6, 2006
In short: Weather great, ran a PB & everyone friendlyIn full: Excellent course, well marshalled, pretty quick(partly because finish is well downhill from the start) so excellent PB potential.Everyone friendly & had my name & number called as I crossed the line (nice touch).Entered on line & confirmation email said about collecting race number on the day, and the Ashford Runners website had all the information.Only my 3rd race & I,ll be back next yearDate of review: February 6, 2006
In short: Very nice race indeed. Quick, mostly flat and no traffic.Date of review: February 6, 2006
In short: Great course, friendly peopleDate of review: February 6, 2006
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- Subjects:Reading, Classroom Management, Teacher Tips and Strategies
End-of-the-Year Reflections
- Grades: 1–2
As the school year draws to a close, I begin reflecting back on everything that's happened. What were the challenges this year? What could I have done differently? Join me as I answer these questions and more. You can also watch a cute video below of a few of my students reflecting on their 2nd grade year.
The end of 2nd grade is exciting and sad at the same time. My students have grown, learned, and changed so much in the past months. At our K–2 school, the 2nd graders will graduate and move on to our sister school across the street. They are looking forward to attending school with the older children and moving on in their educational careers.
Reflecting back on this year, I thought of the new things I tried and the things that I need to work on, including:
This year I changed my classroom library from front-facing, wall-mounted shelves to baskets organized by genre. It took me a long time to sort and label the books last summer, but I was ready by the beginning of the school year. I was worried that my kids would not be able to return the books to their proper areas and that the library would be a mess. After living with this new system for a year, I'm happy to report that the kids were very responsible about returning the books to their correct bins.
This year, in the middle of the year, I found a cool rainbow clip chart for classroom management from Rick Morris of New Management. I was using a stoplight, but I wanted to find a way to reward my great kids. It worked like a charm: it really allowed me to encourage model behavior in my well-behaved children while monitoring the kids who needed reminders and consequences. The kids really enjoyed competing with each other to move their pins up the chart during the day.
Lunch Count and Closet Organization
This is the second year that we have had to take a lunch count, and the magnets seemed to work out well. When the students came in the door in the morning, they moved a star to the area of their lunch choice. Last year I had paper star die cuts with the students' numbers on them, but it took forever for them to find their numbers, which caused traffic jams, with kids complaining and pushing.
As I have confessed in previous posts, I am not a naturally organized person. This is the first year that I both succeeded and failed at organizing my closets. The office supplies stayed organized in the correct bins, but the art supply closet didn't stay organized at all. The odd-sized containers for paint and watercolors never seemed to fit back into the closet the same way. My goal for next year is to reorganize the art supplies into smaller, uniform containers by media type. Also, the closet was overstuffed, so I couldn't readily get in and out of it. I also need to label the containers more clearly.
I have a love/hate relationship with these closets. They are wonderful in that they provide invaluable space for my shelving and a way to keep all of my language arts materials together and organized in a way that is easy to access and easy to hide. The curtain closet closest to my desk, however, is still a jumble of piles hidden behind a curtain.
So this summer, both the art closet and one of the curtain closets are in for a total overhaul.
Math Program
This year we adopted a new math program that is different from our old program in that the students receive newspaper-type handouts every day instead of having a math book. Also included in the program is a large baggie of math manipulatives for every student. So in addition to organizing math materials that I already had, I had to organize 25 sets of counters, base ten blocks, pattern blocks, linking cubes, etc., while keeping them easily accessible for me and for students working on their own. Overall, this worked well. The manipulatives were easy to clean up and return to their containers and the teacher's editions and the supplemental materials I had collected were easily sorted into the magazine files. I will probably continue to use this system next year.
Come back next week when my students will share their writing in a special Author's Chair Book Talk video. We will be reading books that my students wrote for the Young Author's Fair in our school district.
Happy teaching,
Comments (62)
Hi Nancy, I am a new reader of your post and love it. Currently I am a 4th grade teacher but it looks like I am moving to 1st or 2nd next year and I am very excited. I will be changing a lot due to the new grade level but I think the largest change I am going to make is not leveling my library anymore but rather organize it by genre, theme, and possibly also by favorite authors. I notice so often that students aren't interested in picking a book from the "m" basket, but rather want to read about their interests. :) (I am interested in the language arts bundle)
Thanks for all of your great tips and inspiring words each week! ~Katie
I also teach 2nd grade. I love the behavior system from New Management. I have used it this year. I do love the fact that i reward good behavior! My kids responded well to it! One thing i plan to work on this summer is my supply closet!!! I started out neat but right now it is a mess so i need to get busy! Thanks for letting me enjoy your reflections! 2nd grade is the best!
I also teach 2nd. This year I also changed my classroom behavior plan half way through the year after attending a training on Teaching With Love and Logic. While I feel it worked out well, I did find myself going back to some of my old behavior routines as time went on, and I want to be more concrete with that next year. Now that I've had situations arise I wasn't expecting, I'll be more prepared for next year.
I would like to better organize my math supplies as well. Just like you, we adopted a new curriculum this year, and I was overwhelmed by the resources. We didn't get to use the supplementary stuff as much I'd hoped simply because I wasn't thinking ahead to organize and prepare the materials. I'd like to do that for next year so I can incorporate more of that into my instruction.
Bright side- I wrote over $3000 worth of technology grants in January and February, and cannot wait to use this stuff for a FULL year next year! It has been truly wonderful!
I would love either your art or science packets! They're two areas I'm working on increasing interest in within my classroom! We don't have art at my school, so it's all on me!
I loved some of your suggestions. I am always looking for ways to stay organized. I like the library idea of having bins and labels on the front. I m thinking about how I could do this in Kindergarten. I also like the rainbow for behavior management!
I love the rainbow behavior chart. I'm most proud of taking down my stoplight chart in the middle of the year because it brought so much negativity to my class, the rainbow chart can focus on those who make good choices also! Love it!
Love your post. I actually have a classroom that has no closet at all, so it has been tricky trying to figure out storage. I have short 2-drawer file cabinets that serve as organizers and work top spaces. I also built large rolling bins that serve as storage and put a cushion on top for comfy spots to read.
This summer I have to try to find a way to organize the weekly paperwork that flows in from administration. I seem to accumulate a pile and then dive into it.
Would love the science bundle.
I am definately going to work on organizing my class library. I guess I'm getting ready to invest in baskets. I would also like to adopt the Rick Morrison behavior management system. The idea of rewarding good behavior is a great one. - I am interested in the Science Bundle :)
I am going to give students more responsibilty to manage the everyday things. I will have a homework and agenga checker, a lunch count person, take home paper passer-outer... I have also decided to rearrage my classroom library by genre in bins. I have the colored bins, but I have decided to put in all the sorting legwork over the summer. I also am going to label each book with the AR quiz # and level. This is going to take forever, but I know it will be worth it!
I'm going to be working on my differentiation in math. I want to do fewer whole-group lessons and more small group lessons.
Also, in Science, I'm going to have the kids take a more detailed science journal.
On your behavioral management chart, do you reward the students that move "up?"
I tried this system last year, but had difficulty finding the student's name and moving it, without it interrupting the flow of my teaching. Having the students move their own clips also proved to be a distraction. Perhaps I just need more practice.
Thank you for the informative post. Next year, I really want to try to implement a teaching approach called "Power Teaching". I have started this year, but it is not where I would like to be. Next year, I will fully intergrate it into all areas of my classroom, as I know that the kids really enjoy it. It is a great teaching tool. Also, my classroom library will be my summer project. I want to fully level all of the books that I have so that kids will be able to choose just right books easily. I am interested in the art pack please.
I am also going through my entire closet (it's a mess!) to get it organized and ready for next year! We just adopted enVision as well, and the kids love it!
Sylvia R.
I would be very interested in the science bundle!
Have a great day! :)


text:
Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (136 votes).
In short: Challenging but pretty course, excellent marshallsIn full: Excellent organisation. Marshalls were very encouraging and very friendly competitors. Beautiful scenery. Bit disappointed to be stopped to cross one of the roads and would like a medal! But I guess you can't have everything. Will be back again next year!Date of review: June 23, 2008
In short: Great organisationIn full: Excellent organisation and fantastic marshalls throughout the course. Friendly with events for the kids before / after. Not the flattest of courses but one which is certainly a challenge.Date of review: June 22, 2008
In short: Very well organised. Not a PB course. Date of review: June 22, 2008
In short: Great route with a few hicups.In full: I mostly enjoyed this race. It was well organised with good runs for the kids before the parents went off on the 10k. Is a mostly scenic course with some lovely meadows and woods to run through. Good marshalls with plenty of water. A challenging course with some small hills.The problems lie in the course. I had too walk 4 times which isn't great. Two narrow points - one leaving the main field and one after the wood where you had to squeeze through some posts. The other two were crossing main roads where the police were bloking the traffic but not when I ran through. I had about a minute wait each time. I was trying to help a friend get a PB and get under the hour mark and the waits could have been really annoying. As it happened, he got his PB so all was well.If you treat this race as one to run and enjoy rather than go for a time, its good.Date of review: June 22, 2008
In short: An enjoyable 10KIn full: Thank you Orpington Runners for a very well organised race. I thoroughly enjoyed it out there today even though I was dressed as Spiderman. The marshalls and crowd were superb and made the difficult parts whistle by.I would definately recommend this to someone who is looking for a challenging 10K and am hoping to return next year but hopefully without the fancy dress!Cheers everybody and I also had a lovely burger too so well done to the burger people.Date of review: June 22, 2008
In short: Marshals were excellent: thanks! In full: Hilly, demanding but satisfying. Thanks Orpington Road Runners and Darrick Wood School! Nice practical memento!Date of review: June 22, 2008
In short: Fantastic,beautiful,lovely etc.Date of review: June 22, 2008
In short: Lovely weather, lovely courseDate of review: June 22, 2008
In short: Overall enjoyed the challengeIn full: First time doing this one,hill were a bit dodgy but got ovet that knowing I was to come down the other side. I did enjoy it as it was very differant to other 10km, disappointed at finish with trolley token, website said medal - medal proves that I managed to finish.Date of review: June 22, 2008
In short: Great family day outIn full: A really beautiful race through woods and fields of flowers - probably the most scenic I have ever done. Lots of pinchpoints near the begining, which forced runners to walk. My children did the 2k fun run, which they loved - and it's much better for them to do that rather than just stand around watching me! So, a great time had by all. We will be back next year.Date of review: June 22, 2008
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Ann Kirkpatrick on Health Care
Opponent's argument to vote No:Rep. HEATH SHULER (D, NC-11): Putting a dangerous, overworked FDA in charge of tobacco is a threat to public safety. Last year, the FDA commissioner testified that he had serious concerns that this bill could undermine the public health role of the FDA. And the FDA Science Board said the FDA's inability to keep up with scientific advancements means that Americans' lives will be at risk.
Proponent's argument to vote Yes: Rep. HENRY WAXMAN (D, CA-30): The bill before us, the Waxman-Platts bill, has been carefully crafted over more than a decade, in close consultation with the public health community. It's been endorsed by over 1,000 different public health, scientific, medical, faith, and community organizations.
Sen. HARRY REID (D, NV): Yesterday, 3,500 children who had never smoked before tried their first cigarette. For some, it will also be their last cigarette but certainly not all. If you think 3,500 is a scary number, how about 3.5 million. That is a pretty scary number. That is how many American high school kids smoke--3.5 million. Nearly all of them aren't old enough to buy cigarettes. It means we have as many boys and girls smoking as are participating in athletics in high schools. We have as many as are playing football, basketball, track and field, and baseball combined.
Rep. FRANK PALLONE (D, NJ-6): In the last Congress, we passed legislation that enjoyed bipartisan support as well as the support of the American people. Unfortunately, it did not enjoy the support of the President, who vetoed our bill twice, and went on to proclaim that uninsured children can simply go to the emergency room to have their medical needs met. As the Nation moves deeper into a recession and unemployment rates continue to rise, millions of Americans are joining the ranks of the uninsured, many of whom are children. We can't delay. We must enact this legislation now.
Opponent's argument to vote No:Rep. ROY BLUNT (R, MI-7): This bill doesn't require the States to meet any kind of threshold standard that would ensure that States were doing everything they could to find kids who needed insurance before they begin to spend money to find kids who may not have the same need. Under the bill several thousands of American families would be poor enough to qualify for SCHIP and have the government pay for their health care, but they'd be rich enough to still be required to pay the alternative minimum tax. The bill changes welfare participation laws by eliminating the 5-year waiting period for legal immigrants to lawfully reside in the country before they can participate in this program. In the final bill, we assume that 65% of the children receiving the benefit wouldn't get the benefit anymore. It seems to me this bill needs more work, would have benefited from a committee hearing. It doesn't prioritize poor kids to ensure that they get health care first.
Christian Coalition publishes a number of special voter educational materials including the Christian Coalition Voter Guides, which provide voters with critical information about where candidates stand on important faith and family issues. The Christian Coalition Voters Guide summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Repealing "Obamacare" that forces citizens to buy insurance or pay a tax"
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"Listening" to His Business Key to Success for CEO of Award-Winning S.C. Business
Know thyself. And in the small business world, know thy business. As Rich Hagins, CEO of Upstate firm US&S, Inc., has realized, that's the basis for business success.
A retired Navy commander, Rich started his business in 2003 as Universal Supplies and Services with an initial $25,000 investment and two unpaid employees based out of a two-room Greenville office. Its initial focus was on janitorial and various other services, like security and maintenance.
Two years later, in May 2005, the business was accepted into the SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program, designed to help small disadvantaged businesses better compete for procurement opportunities in the federal government arena.
Over the next few years, the business grew by diversifying into additional industries and adding qualified and experienced employees to the team. By 2008, with 15 employees, the company's capabilities had grown from its janitorial roots to include services like minor construction, landscaping and environmental remediation. At the time, such a broad range of capabilities helped the company maximize its market share and therefore maximize its work opportunities.
"US&S, like any small business, started out being all things to all people," Rich explains. "That's what kept the lights on."
Rich wanted to ensure the company's leadership would be strong enough to support its continued growth. What that meant, he realized, was that as leader of the company, he needed a partnera co-leader whose strengths would complement his own. Rich found that partner in his cousin, Cleveland Christophe. Cleve's four decades of business experience included leading a multi-million dollar small business investment company that invested in minority-owned companies. In January 2009, Cleve joined the company as president and chief financial officer. His financial and administrative abilities were the perfect match to Rich's own operations management skills and entrepreneurial spirit.
Together, Cleve and Rich looked at how they could improve the business. To do this, they realized, they needed to listen to the business itself.
"Your business will tell you what direction it needs to go in," Rich says. "You figure out what the business is doing best."
In this case, what the business was doing best was providing contract management services that aligned neatly into two units: construction and facilities support services. All other fields, they decided, were simply extraneous.
To reflect the company's more streamlined focus, Universal Supplies and Services took on a more streamlined name, becoming US&S in 2009 with a redesigned logo and renewed mission. Its two business lines became US&S Construction, which included pre-construction, general construction, management and renovation services, and US&S Facilities Support Services, including services ranging from staffing and security to janitorial and general maintenance.
To support and enhance each of the business unit's capabilities, US&S sought partnerships with successful companies in related industries through the SBA's Mentor-Protégé Program, which facilitates private-sector mentoring relationships for 8(a) firms. In the summer of 2010, US&S teamed up with McCrory Construction Company, a successful large business based in Columbia, SC. McCrory matched US&S staff with its own experts in pre-construction and construction processes, finance, and risk management. US&S is completing a $10.5 million Army Corps of Engineers project in Charleston, SC, through the teaming relationship with McCrory. Just over a year later, US&S teamed up with E2 Consulting Engineers--a relationship focused on facilities support, staffing and operations and maintenance services. Teamed together, US&S and E2 won a basic ordering agreement contract supporting Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, a large Department of Energy contractor. US&S later established legal joint venture entities with both mentor companies. Recently, the US&S and E2 joint venture won a major contract supporting Savannah River Remediation, another large Department of Energy contractor.
Although Cleve retired in 2013, he left a major legacy. "Cleve significantly contributed to monumental changes and improvements to the company overall," says Euleta Alston, manager of business development at US&S.
Today, US&S has over 70 employees and multiple facilities around the Southeast. Its client list features big-name companies like Lockheed Martin and federal entities like the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) and the Army Corps of Engineers, and its revenues are in the multi-millions.
In 2011, Lockheed Martin recognized US&S with an Outstanding Small Business award. And in 2012, the SBA South Carolina District Office selected Rich to be the state's nominee for the 2012 Minority Small Business Person of the Year award.