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by Hugh Gilmore
In previous episodes, I described tinkering for 12 years with a book I'd come to title "Last Night on the Gorilla Tour." In actuality, I worked and reworked it for six years, a process akin to dragging an arched-back two-year-old somewhere he doesn't want to go. Then I set the book aside and wrote other things for the next six years.
Last August I puffed myself up and vowed to rewrite"Gorilla Tour" by New Year's eve. That I did. I self-published the book in time for a book launch party at Musehouse in February. I should have begun my sales campaign then, but I discovered, after publication, that my book had 25 errors in it. I was mortified.
To avoid further embarrassment (I'd sold 50 copies already), I corrected the mistakes and resubmitted the book as a 'revised edition.' (That cost an additional $50) The publisher told me it would be ready by mid-April. I could then revive my promotional campaign.
Not to be. I'd met 'la femme mystérieuse' whose "real" pseudonym I've promised not to reveal. I've named her "Felice" for column purposes. I knew little else about her than that Facebook name. All communications were by Facebook message system.
Felice was a fan of my column, but not of my books. In fact, she intensely disliked my novels. I found that bearable, but I was crushed when Felice read "Gorilla Tour" (before the revised version was available) and sent me a list of 110 errors she'd found, 77 of which I'd missed. I'd been too hasty and full of myself last summer when I returned to this project.
I was chagrined, certainly, but glad I hadn't sent copies out for review or for professional notice. (All I'd done was ripoff my friends and fans.) What follows is based on our continued correspondence during these dark hours of my writing life.
I wrote to Felice and told her of my grammatical/spelling scorecard tabulations and thanked her for helping me.
She replied: "As for me catching 110 errors, there were only 109. I read and it's like stumbling when walking when I come across an error. Maybe like someone with perfect pitch who hears a discordant note, though I don't have perfect grammar, etc."
I wrote, "I'm really worried that I've hurt my progress."
Felice replied, "I don't know that you hurt yourself all that much. People care more about the story than the punctuation. My intent was to help make the book more polished and professional. You do have writing ability, but you can't just dash something off and assume it will be pearls. (I know, you didn't just dash it off, you worked hard at it. But you know what I mean.) Just because you weren't an instant success doesn't mean you're hopeless – far from it. You CAN write, but you need to be rigorously honest about where you're falling short and work on that."
Amen, sister. Meanwhile, 40 copies of the 2nd edition arrived. I did not even bother to open the box, since I'd already seen the proof. That box cost me $280 – for 40 books containing, en masse, 4,360 errors, each of which stung like a mocking laugh. At least Philadelphia allows books to be recycled.
A week later, I wrote Felice, thanking her again and telling her that I'd incorporated her revisions into my manuscript. I'd sent the "3rd, revised edition" to the publisher. (Another $50) The 'final' version would not be ready until mid-June. Quite a way from my original February launch date.
And then, suddenly, the party was over.
Felice wrote, "I told you way back when we first started writing that I was eliminating FB because it is a distraction. I'd always expected our conversation would wind down, but it just kept expanding, and into more and more topics that for me are very thought-provoking. As much as I've enjoyed our correspondence, the time is just right for me to take that path I've chosen, and I fear it won't come again. So I need to fade out. I know you're willing to wait for me to come up for air, and I won't say never, but the reality is, I can't see that … So I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but good-bye and I wish that all kinds of great and wonderful things come into your life."
With that, my fairy godmother "twinked" and disappeared.
I didn't know whether or not to say goodbye, but, just in case I wrote "Thank you."
Two separate stories had merged during the months of my knowing Felice in the limited way that I did. First, there's the story of me getting wised up about myself. I should not have hurried my 'Gorilla Tour' book into print. I'd been captured by the idea of self-empowerment, made too simple by the ease of self-publishing.
Three books in a year. Three public engagements. Each of them successful as an evening's entertainment. The experience, as an author, is quite heady, quite seductive. But the pain of embarrassment that follows poor 'quality control' after a 'product launch' is mortifying. I apologize here and now to all who bought my book and minded its sloppiness.
The second story involves the woman who helped me find the error(s) of my ways by pointing out, voluntarily, the technical weak spots of my book. Only after our correspondence was well under way did she reveal to me that she was hiding behind a pseudonym. I guessed that revelation meant that we had opened a deeper layer of friendship, and I let the secrecy stand.
I've ventured many personal guesses about who she is. I don't think I know her or have met her in person. I don't think she's married. (Is it possible to exchange thousands of words over the course of months without one "we"?) Sometimes I think she's young ("OMG," "awesome," "LOL," plus: she still has dreams and ambitions). Sometimes I think she's over 60 (" I loved Richard Brautigan." And the tone of authority with which she sometimes spoke). It matters not.
Although I've had some fun in this column referring to the mystery of her hidden identity as if she might have been a femme fatale, she never said or implied anything of a spicy or invitational nature. It was just never an agenda item.
I sometimes wonder what it would be like if I were at a restaurant or book event and she came up and introduced herself to me as Felice, I'm not sure how I would feel. Happy to meet an old friend? Disappointed to have a charming mystery taken away? I feel we'll talk again somehow, but probably still through gauze in dusky light.
Ahem. I should end this seven-part story here, but I wonder if my readers might prefer the truth. Probably not, but here goes.
My "Gorilla Tour" book: Felice's suggested corrections incorporated, I submitted the revised 3rd edition manuscript. The proof of the book arrived just when Part Seven of this series should have been published. I'd anticipated saying that a clean, error-free copy of the book was now for sale. Apologies to all. Really. And now we're back in business!
Except: the Local held my Part Six column two weeks ago for lack of space (against more timely news stories). And wadda ya know? Just yesterday, fresh in from Seattle, an email from a grammar-bound friend arrived. He said, "I enjoyed the book. And as a Ruth Rendell fan, I very much liked the loose cannon of a Rendellian character you created as the fulcrum of the story."
Oh how nice. He was referring to the character named Linder. But he went on, "You're probably going to hate me – but it looks to me as if you got progressively more tired as you approached the end of the book. Here are a bunch of suggested corrections, which I'm sending to you as an attachment because I can't make some typographical points clear in my email program."
"Ha Ha Ha," I cried madly, tearing my shirt, and falling across the great boulder I'd been so cruelly chained to. His large, Oxford-trained shadow loomed over me, blocking the sun. I turned and held up my Felice crucifix.
To no avail. He'd caught twelve mistakes that Felice had missed. "Ha, Ha, Ha," I cried again. Then, screaming to the Universe, I cried, "Twelve mistakes? Do you expect me to send my manuscript back again, and pay 50 bucks again, and wait six weeks again, for a lousy twelve mistakes? Do you?"
An error-free version of "Last Night on the Gorilla Tour" should be available by Labor Day – if Hugh doesn't make any new "friends" over the summer.


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My friends, have you heard the good news?
The blog carnival is coming to town.
It's time for Yarnival!
The time has come to sing the praises of the knit and fiber blog.
In these last days, I'm calling on all my fellow fiberists to look back over this past year and bear witness to the light, laughter and love of fiber that is shared throughout the year on our knit blogs.
In the new year, on January 15th, I will hold a gathering here of your testimony and will post with links so that all may behold the beauty of the blogs handiwork.
Oh, I know there are those among who are saying,
" You poor thing, haven't you heard?
The time of the knit blog has come and gone,
it is a thing of the past.
Blog is dead!"
The flock has lost their way, you say.
They have strayed from the truth and the light of the written word of the blog.
They have foregone the warmth and loft of the fiber blog and have been caught up in their wild Ravelry and have turned their backs to blog.
I hear you.
Oh, I hear you
and I'm here to say;
Repent, say I.
Oh, hear me my fellow knitters!
It's not too late to turn from your wanton and wayward ways and come back to the fold.
Come back to blog.
Blog still loves you,
blog has always loved spinners.
Here at Knits and Giggles
I'll be hosting an ole time revival meeting.
I'll be pitching my tent here at throughout the month of December
I'm calling on the faithful brothers and sisters
(and the, ahem, not-so-faithful*),
to submit their favorite fiber or knit related blog post over this past year.
I'm looking for those posts that inspired you to greater knitting endeavers,
posts that renewed your faith in fiber crafts,
and those posts that ended any or all doubts that you suffered alone in your trials and tribulations that is knitting.
The one you couldn't help telling all your friends and loved ones about even though they had no idea what you were going on about.
To make your entry for consideration, please submit your choice here.
*Hey now, there 's no call for the pointing of any fingers, nobody's to be pointing any fingers.
It's not polite to point, you know.
"For (s)he who is without spin may cast on from the first cone."
Err.. something like that...anyway you get my point.
Remember what I told you about pointing.
Can I Get A Witness?
Posted by
on Monday, December 22, 2008
1 Opinions:
- elizabeth said...
I can't believe you didn't get any comments on this post! It's awesome! Long live the knit blog!
- Friday, February 05, 2010 3:54:00 PM

subset: commoncrawl


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Mary Papantoniou needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 111 designs submitted by 16 freelance designers.
This is a new website for baby's clothing using expensive, bold colours and unusual fabrics. I would like the logo to reflect this. The logo does not need to have a picture of a baby either. Nothing old fashion, would like it to reflect today and now. This website will cater to the young, sexy, hot mother that has a baby - everything will be extremely modern and unusual. After all, people shouldn't look drab and boring because they are parents.
There is an existing market out there with no point of difference. Everyone seems to be doing the same thing. This website will target mothers, like the others, but will only have organic and funky new designs. No frilly baby clothes here, and no pinks and blues. :) Think of young celebrities that are parents. Jessica Alba, Heidi Klum, Angelina Jolie etc. Babies seem to be the latest trend these days and this site will sell expensive beautiful clothes and accessories. Fabric from all over the world has been sourced for the designs.
Will leave this to you guys, but would like the logo to be bold, colourful and different. Thanks
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Driver in fatal crash jailed
Woman sentenced for leaving accident
A Petersburgh woman cried as she told a judge Monday of her husband's last moments as he lay dying three months after he was hit by a car driven by Becky Goodermote.
"For 119 days I watched him fight and I held him for hours, praying for the courage to tell him it was OK to go now," Jennifer Ratelle said of her comatose husband, Matthew. "I held him until my husband was not warm anymore."
On Monday, Rensselaer County Judge Debra Young sentenced Goodermote to 2⅓ to 7 years for her plea to leaving the scene of an accident that caused a death and 1⅓ to 4 years for criminally negligent homicide, both felonies. The sentences will be served at the same time.
"I will have to live with this for the rest of my life," Goodermote, 38, said before being led from the court in handcuffs. "I pray that one day they will find it in their hearts to forgive me."
Goodermote admitted she was taking prescription drugs and left the scene after she struck Ratelle, 40, as he was bicycling north at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 3, 2012. Officials said Goodermote was going 70 mph on Route 22 outside Hoosick Falls when she struck Ratelle. The impact threw him 150 feet into a field, police said.
Ratelle never regained consciousness and died just before Christmas that year.
Ratelle's father was not very forgiving.
"It was a selfish, careless, stupid and cowardly act that you did leaving him there like he was road kill," said Jerry Ratelle in his victim impact statement. "May you rot in hell."
Goodermote pleaded guilty Sept. 26.
Ratelle, who worked in the radiology department at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, leaves three children. His wife found out she was pregnant with their third child shortly before the accident. Ratelle died before the baby was born.
Jennifer Ratelle, standing in court with her older daughter, Kylie Rituck, said it breaks her heart when her young son asks about his father, whom he knows only through pictures.
"He points to the sky and says 'Daddy up, up and away?'" the victim's wife said as other family members sobbed in the courtroom.
According to police statements, Goodermote told authorities she was talking to her brother on speakerphone around the time of the crash.
She was driving about 70 mph on a straight stretch of Route 22 just south of the Barbecue Recreation Bowling Center restaurant when she hit Ratelle, officials have said.
The indictment charged that Goodermote was under the combined influences of oxycodone, hydrocodone and pregabalin, which is marketed under the trade name Lyrica.
"I don't know what I hit," Goodermote told State Police, according to depositions filed in the case. "I stopped and didn't see anything. What did I hit? A sign?"
Goodermote told police she left the accident scene so she could go home to file a claim with her insurance company because the car was new. In her police statement, she said she took those medications with breakfast before the crash, according to a trooper's deposition.
State Police said Goodermote was interviewed three hours after the crash at her Hovie Avenue home after a concerned family member advised police that she returned with extensive damage to the front end of her vehicle that she could not explain.
The Ratelle family agreed during Goodermote's plea that she will pay $12,000 in restitution to settle any future civil action in the matter.
email@example.com • 518-454-5696 • @BobGardinier


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I like to focus my energy on collecting experiences as opposed to "things" and would much rather spend my money on a trip to a foreign country than on a fancy new car
You should message me if you are Smart, Sexy, Sophisticated, Sassy and Spontaneous.
Flirthut is a completely free dating site where people like you meet other people looking for a relationship, love or just friends. You can message djc240960 by signing in or registering.Find out more about us » Join us for free and get searching for your match


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An interesting thing has happened with regard to the looming fiscal cliff since the Nov. 6 presidential election results. You hear Democratic pundits downplay its importance and suggest it may not be such a bad thing and you hear those on the other side talk more about its importance.
One right leaning commentator actually complained about the rigid stance by Senate leader Harry Reid on taxes. We wouldn't want any rigid position on taxes would we, Mr. Norquist?
Let's talk about what the fiscal cliff is. Basically all the Bush era tax cuts and President Obama's middle class payroll tax cut expire at the end of the year. In addition to that automatic spending cuts, sequestration, that were put in place when Congress and the Administration couldn't agree on what to cut during the 2011 debt limit debate will hit at the same time.
The mountain of money that this double whammy will remove from the economy would slice several points of growth from GDP and lead to a recession according to the Congressional Budget Office, Federal Reserve and just about any economist you ask. It is scary when economists agree.
But what to do? This, after all, is really the responsible thing to do; even if we arrived at it in an irresponsible manner.
Basically what happened is like two friends deciding to run a marathon but unable to agree on a training strategy, they decide not to train at all but promise that in six months' time they will run the marathon. Not a recipe for success.
The Simpson Bowles Commission and before that a comprehensive study sponsored by the MacArthur foundation both highlighted the importance of addressing the debt issue and both also noted it will be necessary to address this on the revenue side and spending side. Bottom line, spending cuts or increased taxes cannot get us where we need to go, we have to do both. Actually, we need to do both in a responsible manner so that the economy can grow more robustly as we need all three: increased revenues, spending cuts and solid growth.


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Johnny Depp is one of the world"s great movie stars. But he can play the role of rock star pretty convincingly, too.
The actor, 48, grabbed his guitar and joined Marilyn Manson on stage Wednesday night for a rollicking performance at Revolver magazine"s Golden Gods Awards concert at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.
But in true Depp style, he played it cool – keeping his head low, almost to the point of being incognito. And indeed, it took a while for the crowd to realize that a Hollywood superstar was in their midst.
With an ivory guitar slung low on his thigh, Depp wore a black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, black boots, black jeans and a black cowboy hat with a white feather pulled down, covering most of his face.
After running through the song "Sweet Dreams," Manson, 43, shouted to the crowd, "If you don"t recognize my personal friend … my personal savior, my personal guitar hero … Johnny Depp!" The crowd roared its approval.
Next they moved on the Manson"s "The Beautiful People." All the while Depp was straight faced, focusing on his playing, though he broke into an occasional smile – absolutely in control, bemused at times, but obviously enjoying himself.
The actor has made a point of hanging out with rock stars lately. Back in February he chilled out with Sir Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen at the Foo Fighters" after-Grammys party.


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FREMONT — Police are asking the public's help to find a suspect wanted on a $1 million warrant in connection to a slew of home burglaries in the city.
Hayward resident Lawrence Nero, 25, is wanted for break-ins that include a March 1 home burglary on Meyer Court, said police spokeswoman Geneva Bosques.
Shortly after the burglary, he led officers on vehicle pursuit in the area of Paseo Padre and Isherwood Drive, police said.
During the pursuit, he dumped an unregistered maroon Buick Regal and ran from police, jumping fences on Fairfax Court, Bosques said. Following the chase, police never located Nero.
A search of the Buick recovered additional property taken during a residential burglary on Feb. 25 in Fremont on the 35000 block of Armour Way.
On March 5, Nero was once again spotted in Fremont, but not caught.
"He was positively ID'd in a residential burglary that occurred on the 43800 block of Moray Street," Bosques said. "In most of the cases, the suspect first rings the front door bell and when he believes no one to be home, he jumps the fence and proceeds to gain entry into the back of the house."
On March 5, witnesses reported that Nero had longer facial hair and was wearing orange shoes.
Police described him as a black man in his mid 20s, 5 feet 10 inches with short hair, a beard and a muscular build. He was last seen wearing a dark blue sweatshirt and blue jeans or sweatpants.
Investigators believe Nero may also be responsible for additional burglaries in Fremont and surrounding cities.
Anyone with information about Nero's whereabouts is asked to call police at 510-790-6800 and select option 3 or send an anonymous tip by visiting www.fremontpolice.org/Tip.
Contact Natalie Neysa Alund at 510-293-2469. Follow her at Twitter.com/nataliealund.


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The Navy has extended Hewlett-Packard Co.'s contract to keep operating the Navy Marine Corps Intranet by another $679.8 million and two months.
The continuity of services contract, which was given to HP when the original NMCI contract expired, is continuing to be extended as the Navy works toward awarding the Next Generation Enterprise Network or NGEN.
The contract is now worth $5.6 billion, and will expire in June 2014, though some portions will continue into 2015.
HP is locked into a battle with a team led by Computer Sciences Corp. and Harris Corp. for NGEN, a $5 billion prize.
NMCI is an interesting contract in that it nearly bankrupted EDS, the original winner, and it weakened the company enough that HP could afford to buy it.
By that point though, EDS and the Navy had turned NMCI around and the continuity of service contract has become quite lucrative for HP. According to Deltek's database, the NMCI program, which started in 2000, is worth $13 billion to HP.
That's a $1 billion a year. There are very few contracts with that kind of revenue flow to a single prime contractor.
NGEN will continue that pace, and is slated to be worth $5 billion over five years.
The Navy is taking its time with the award, and I'm sure part of it is to make the decision bulletproof, as far as protests are concerned.
Interestingly, the new contract is being evaluated as a lowest price, technically acceptable vehicle, so I'm sure there is a lot of haggling going on there.
When the Navy released the request for proposals last year, Capt. Shawn Hendricks, program manager for the Naval Enterprise Networks program office, choked up as he talked about the effort his people were putting into the contract. I don't doubt his sincerity.
We are looking at awards in July or later.
The drama might not end with an award. The Navy has structured the contract so that it can be broken up, and have portions recompeted even before the five-year run is over.
Will that really happen? I doubt it, but that's a pretty powerful hammer to keep in line whoever the prime is.
Posted by Nick Wakeman on Jun 25, 2013 at 9:37 AM
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Much copy in this week's issue is devoted to Pope Francis' interview with an Italian newspaper earlier this month (Pages 4 and 5). Among the many subjects the Holy Father spoke on, one was birth control and Pope Paul VI's encyclical Humanae Vitae. Pope Francis said the former pope's "genius was prophetic" — prophetic because nearly 46 years after the encyclical was published, the fruits of the contraception era are prolific.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, more than 99 percent of women ages 15 to 44 who have ever participated in sexual intercourse have used at least one method of birth control. What's more, a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued at the end of 2013 indicated that the fertility rate in the United States in 2012 fell to a record low for the second consecutive year, and another CDC report estimated that American women in today's society will give birth to an average of 1.9 children — just below the replacement number.
The flip side of these numbers, though, reflects the women who are desperate, yet unable, to have children. Many are turning to assisted reproductive methods, such as surrogacy or in vitro fertilization, to assist with conception. The CDC also reported that 65,179 children in 2012 were brought into the world as a result of fertilization technology. While only 1 percent of infants born in the United States are conceived in this manner, the technology's use has doubled during the past 10 years and — as it's a largely unregulated $3 billion a year industry — shows no signs of slowing down.
It's understandable. Probably few things in this world are more painful than the inability to have children, and the stories of women craving a child but unable to have one are heartbreaking. But one of the unintended consequences of assisted reproductive technology — no matter how well intended — is that it is creating an unprecedented identity crisis for this new generation of children and young adults. As moral theologian Janet Smith points out in this week's In Focus (Pages 9-12): "Being raised in single parenthood households, in households wracked by divorce, being made through artificial technology — all this leads to generations of children who do not have strong family influences and formation in being raised." In short, she said, "we are raising generations of badly formed and psychologically wounded young people (who) will find it very difficult to face the challenges ahead."
Just a few minutes spent on the website AnonymousUs.org shows the heartbreaking and very real reality of children generated by technology and conceived in a test tube. Here, scores of individuals conceived with donated sperm or eggs express hurt, anger, abandonment, confusion, loss and sorrow. Above all else, they confess an endless search for identity, for roots; they long for knowledge of their father or mother or step-siblings. For any knowledge that can help fill the holes in their hearts and in their gene pools.
In Humanae Vitae, Paul VI wrote that if the unitive and procreative qualities of the marriage act are preserved, "the use of marriage fully retains its sense of true mutual love and its ordination to the supreme responsibility of parenthood to which man is called." What we're now seeing is that when this dual nature of the marital act is severed, not only does it impact the couple, but also the children that may be conceived.
Editorial Board: Greg Erlandson, publisher; Msgr. Owen F. Campion, associate publisher; Beth McNamara, editorial director; Gretchen R. Crowe, editor
Do you have a question for The Catholic Answer? Ask away! Send it to us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Copyright © 1996-2019 Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.


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The updates for apps to take advantage of Windows Phone 8 features keep on coming. Today we get the popular BBC News Mobile for Windows Phone hitting up the Marketplace. The app is a popular way for readers around the globe to access the BBC News website in an optimized format for your device.
It's been a little over a week since we showed you what to expect in the version 4 of the app (completely rewritten), but here is a quick refresher of some features you can look forward when updating:
- Lockscreen support – Use a new picture from the In Pictures blog as your lockscreen, will update daily.
- Improved performance
- Support for small, medium, and large Live Tiles
- New welcome experience – Walks a user though setting up the app when launched for the first time.
I've updated the app and already notice the improvement in performance. It wasn't really a slouch before, but the app is really fluid now when swiping between panorama view or opening articles.
If the BBC is your source of news, this app is worth download or updating right away. Obviously, those improvements above like lockscreen support and different tile sizes will work for those running Windows Phone 8.
You can download the app right here in the marketplace or use the QR code below. It's available for free.


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Infinity Wind Power has announced that it has acquired three wind projects in western Kansas.
In June 2012, the company acquired two Kansas projects under development in Ford, Gray and Finney counties from local developer Zephyr Wind Power, and in the first week of this year, Infinity finalized the purchase of the Pioneer Wind Project in Ford County, Kan., from Clipper Windpower Development.
Combined, the two acquisitions have the potential to produce over 1.5 GW of wind energy, Infinity Wind Power says.
"These acquisitions bring Infinity's total development pipeline in western Kansas to over 2.5 GW," says Infinity Wind Power CEO Matt Riley. "We are making these investments in western Kansas in anticipation of future transmission-line infrastructure reaching the region. Kansas has been a strong leader nationally for the wind industry, and we hope that continues through the rest of the decade."
Infinity plans to interconnect these projects to the Grain Belt Express Clean Line transmission line, a high-voltage direct-current transmission line currently being developed by Clean Line Energy Partners. The transmission line will collect 3.5 GW of low-cost wind energy from the central and southern plains and export that power to markets in Missouri, Indiana and points farther east.Â
The Grain Belt Express transmission line is scheduled to begin construction as early as 2015 and be energized in 2018. The wind projects in Finney, Ford, Gray and Hodgeman counties are scheduled to start construction by 2016 in order to ensure that they will be operational in 2018, when the energy is able to flow to those new markets.


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Thermo measures the room temperature. After installation choose Menu > Calibration > and follow instructions.
What's New in This Release:
· bug fixed - When user doesn't have Internet connection Thermo runs well
What's New in 3.4:
· Talking Albert icon in apps form
· changes in rating form
What's New in 3.3:
· translated to Italian language
· translated to Brazilian Portuguese
What's New in 2.7:
· search option
What's New in 2.6:
· twitter button
· more apps in application form
What's New in 2.4:
· Faster loading
· Application form changes
· New Instructions form
What's New in 2.3:
· Application form changes
What's New in 1.6:
· Translated to: Bulgarian, English, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional.
· Some little bugs fixes


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HYPETRAK Premiere: DJ Muggs – People of the Earth
DJ Muggs explores the idea that shape-shifting reptilian people will control our world by taking on human form and gaining political power to manipulate our society in his brand new video for "People of the Earth." Conspiracy theorists believe that many world leaders are reptilians from the Alpha Draconis star system attempting to gain power to run the world."People of The Earth" uses elements of political satire and is a modern parody of the classic Science Fiction B movie with a hard hitting back beat of bass pumping Dub Step. "People of The Earth" is from DJ Muggs' upcoming Ultra Records debut, Bass For your Face. Check it out and leave your thoughts below.


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Phys.org informs us about lots of legitimate news but sometimes it loves to spread hype about some absolute nonsense. When it switches to the nonsense mode, it usually promotes the craziest articles to the "featured" category. On Friday, they posted a crazy article about a topic that everyone should be able to understand,
Scientists make the case to restore Pluto's planet statusPluto is a hero of the title but this very fact is ludicrous. Some people feel sad about the downgraded status of a piece of rock they have never seen with their eyes. But there's something else that the title doesn't convey: The people who want to redefine a "planet" again intend to make sure that there are over 100 planets in the Solar System so that the list would include the Earth's Moon – where some TRF readers have been – among many others.
Two Plutos, taken from the article about a Daesh astronomer who wants to rename Pluto to the Moon of Mohammed LOL. See also ISIS plans to carry attacks on Pluto.
The main proponent of the new definition is Mr Kirby Runyon (and "Mr" should be understood in the same way as when Dr Gablehauser talks to Mr Howard Wolowitz), a graduate student at John Hopkins, a Christian, and an owner of a cat. Quite some credentials.
We learn that there is "nothing non-planety" about Pluto and Jupiter's Europa and the Earth's Moon should be planets, too, along with 100+ other objects. Their new definition should be all about the "intrinsic qualities" of the celestial bodies.
Holy cow, what a pile of rubbish.
What I find amazing is that the journalist focuses on Pluto – whether it's a dwarf planet, like it is today (since a 2006 decision, see some older TRF texts here), or whether it would be turned into a planet again. But the fact that the Moon would become a planet as well seems like an unimportant detail to the journalist. Please, you can't be serious! Whether the Moon is a planet is much more important than whether Pluto is a planet. The Moon is a body we see almost every night and some of us have been there. We haven't considered it a planet for some 500 years so if someone forced us to say that it is a planet, it would be a pretty radical change.
The history of the term "planet" is long and people tried to be rather scientific from the beginning. But they didn't quite understand the laws of the Universe – even who orbits whom – and they didn't have a sufficient technology to observationally answer all the questions they wanted to be answered. That's why it was unavoidable that scientifically, the lists of planets and other things made "almost complete sense" but not quite.
So one of these anomalies was fixed in 2006 and we got a fully scientific definition of a planet – even though there may still exist marginal or disputable cases. A planet is something that is
- rounded (by self-gravity)
- not yet a star (no fusion)
- dominant in its orbit (has swept the garbage in its neighborhood)
The current definition isn't the only possible definition that would "make sense" but it is surely one that makes a lot of sense. One eliminates the stars – where the thermonuclear fusion is taking place because they're massive enough. It eliminates rocks that fly somewhere but are so light that they haven't bothered to round their shape by the self-gravity. And it eliminates some Moons and groups of Moons and round bodies that still have lots of rocks around them. It simply has to be a dominant "sweeper" somewhere. When reasonably applied, the list of such planets almost coincides with the informal list of planets that people had before they bothered to work with accurate enough definitions. It's a good efficiency.
Note that the condition of "dominance in its orbit" is an "external" condition that depends on the relationship of the would-be planet with its environment. Kirby and pals want to use intrinsic properties of the objects only. Why? It makes absolutely no sense. After all, the term planet arose from the Ancient Greek
πλάνητες ἀστέρες (planētes asteres, "wandering stars") or simply πλανῆται (planētai, "wanderers").So the very word "planet" is linguistically linked to "wandering". When you are "wandering", you must be "wandering somewhere", so where you are wandering clearly matters. "Wandering" means "moving relatively to the rest and from some point of view". It is not an intrinsic adjective. The reason is the same as in the case of the word "tourist", among many others. A tourist isn't defined by his having muscles or vegetables in the stomach etc. A tourist is defined by his location relatively to his home – they are different – and the purpose of his location's being different from his home – fun or recreation. Similarly, a planet is "wandering" which means that it probably orbits something else (a star) but does so actively enough – so it's not just one of many rocks that do so etc.
When I mention etymology, it's good to know that a satellite comes from Latin or Middle French where it simply meant a "companion". It makes perfect sense. A satellite is something that orbits someone else, his boss. Note that the Russian word Sputnik is just a direct translation to Russian (the analogous Czech word would be "souputník"). Sputnik is literally a "fellow traveler". The letter "s" or "sou" in Czech is "fellow" (or "co-") while "putn*" are Slavic roots related to traveling or wandering or journeys.
The word "Moon" is derived from Old Germanic languages where it meant both the Moon and a month. Those two are related because it takes approximately a month for the Moon to complete the orbit around the Earth. Luna is an alternative Latin name that is more mythological and alchemists and others were also linking it to light and silver, possibly assuming that our satellite is made of silver.
The jihad defending the pride of Pluto is utterly irrational. It's driven by nothing else than some stubborn defense of protoscientific factoids that one was taught as a kid. These days, Pluto is simply considered a dwarf planet, along with Ceres, Haumea, Makemakea, and Eris. There are probably hundreds of dwarf planets in the Solar System that haven't been seen or understood properly yet. But it's simply a fact that at least these four other objects are highly comparable to Pluto in all the characteristics you can invent. For example, Eris is three times heavier than Pluto.
It may be confusing that "dwarf planets" aren't a subset of "planets" – "dwarf" seems to be just an adjective that refines the noun "planet". But it's normal for similar terms not to define subsets. For example, a shadow minister isn't a minister and junk science isn't science. You simply cannot disentangle the term "dwarf planet" to small pieces – this term, like others, should be understood as if it were a single new word. The adjective doesn't "refine" the noun; in this case and in some others, it modifies it.
In the past, the Solar System was presented as the Sun, nine planets, and other things which are less important. So Pluto made it into the top ten, above a big gap. Whatever your precise conditions are, as long as they are scientific – and not just some cultural habits – this high status of Pluto was indefensible. If one does science, Pluto's status simply had to be downgraded. I find the word "planet" so elementary that it's a good idea to try to make it possible to remember the full list of planets in the Solar System. And that's how it was done: the list of planets according to the 2006 definitions includes the "objects previously known as planets" minus Pluto.
The subtraction of Pluto from the list of planets was scientifically meaningful. But it wasn't even contradicting centuries of cultural traditions. Why? Because Pluto was only discovered in 1930. It was only called "a planet" for some 76 years because it wasn't known prior to 1930 and it wasn't a planet after 2006. Those 11 years since 2006 are already about 1/7 of the period when Pluto "was" a planet. It's becoming increasingly reasonable to consider the era in which "Pluto was a planet" a temporary anomaly.
Note that Neptune was predicted mathematically and observed in 1846. So between 1846 and 1930, for some 84 years – long than the 76 years above – the list of planets in the Solar System contained exactly the same 8 objects as the list since 2006. That's a reason to say that the claim that "Pluto should be kept in the list of planet" is unjustifiable even historically. It just wants to revert the terminology to a period that was neither the most glorious or accurate one nor the longest one. It just makes no sense.
But to promote the Moon to a planet would contradict centuries of culture and history. Yes, I must admit, not thousands of years. The ancient Greeks' list of planets was: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. (Uranus was only discovered in 1781.) They're all the things that are moving relatively to the stars which seem static. But since the acceptance of the heliocentric model, the Sun and the Moon were removed from the list of planet – for analogous but opposite reasons. The Sun is more important than the planets because the planets orbit it. The Moon is less important than the planets because unlike the planets, it orbits the Earth which is substantially heavier.
To reincorporate the Moon to the list of planet would be basically denying a fundamental lore of the whole astronomy since Copernicus. I can't imagine that something like that would be approved by a majority of astronomers or astrophysicists anywhere. I can't understand how someone would be willing to fight for such a brutal change of the meaning of the words just because of the pride of some dwarf planet.


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Surnames and Family Research Forum
Re:Grant, Pinckney/Pinkney, Williams, Montgomery
In Response To: Grant, Pinckney/Pinkney, Williams, Montgomery ()
Hi Sharon!
There is a genealogy group in Phoenix that meet every 3rd Saturday at the Ocotillo Library just off of Central and Southern. The meeting starts at 11:00 A.M. and ends at 2:00 P.M.
Now, I am curious about your surnames.
Pickney: I went to grade school with a Jackie Pickney: Would she be someone you know.
Grant: Patricia Grant, do you happen to know her. Her father was Patrick.
Williams: There are several Williams families with ties to each other..I am thinking of a Susan, Thelma, Robert, and others not necessarily in the same household.
Hope to hear from you soon
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My name is Susan Wayland or simply Sway. I was born June 23rd 1980 in Leipzig, Germany. As a teenage girl I had a big weakness for sexy and extravagant outfits.
I met Norman and we both discovered latex and also became a wonderful artistic team. It was such a new, interesting and exiting feeling to model in latex.
Soon I was totally addicted to that beautiful material which became an important part in my life. Latex is such an unique material, it's so soft and nestles to my body so closely and perfectly.
Every touch feels much more intensive when you wear latex and I feel myself incredibely sexy and feminine like in no other material.
|Come and Meet Me. Take my Free Tour Today!


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by roberta naas | October 16, 2013 | Watches & Jewelry
L.U.C Louis-Ulysse–The Tribute pocket watch, Chopard ($54,240). Charcoal wool suit with burgundy stripe ($2,330) and white cotton button-down shirt ($280). Available at ferragamo.com.
This Chopard L.U.C Louis-Ulysse–The Tribute pocket watch ($54,240) is an interchangeable COSC-certified chronometer, which can be worn as a pocket watch (PREVIOUS) or fitted into a cradle on a leather strap and worn as a wristwatch. It is a limited edition, with only 150 offered.
The Panerai PAM 446 Pocket Watch Tourbillon GMT Ceramica ($223,400) features a 59mm ceramic case, housing a highly skeletonized mechanical movement with tourbillon escapement.
This Bell & Ross PW1 Steel pocket watch ($3,000) is part of the WW1 collection. The 49mm PVD polished case houses a manual-wind movement.
From Tissot, this mechanical Savonnette pocket watch ($1,295) is inspired by an archival piece. It features a stainless steel half-hunter case and steel chain.
From Vacheron Constantin, this Patrimony Contemporaine pocket watch ($69,900) is crafted in platinum and is sold on a calfskin leather cord.
This 48mm Patek Philippe men's hunter pocket watch ($54,400) is crafted in 18k yellow gold and houses a 154-part manual-wind movement.
Just a few months ago at the Christie's Important Watches Auction, Lot Number 71—a fine 18k pink-gold Patek Philippe pocket watch that was manufactured in 1898 and sold in 1900 to Stephen S. Palmer, former director of the National City Bank of New York and then-president of the newly formed New Jersey Zinc Company—achieved an amazing price of just over $2.25 million. While this was no ordinary pocket watch (it offered a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, split-seconds chronograph, grande and petite sonnerie, and moon-phase indicator), its sale reflected the revived interest of collectors and watch aficionados in vintage and newly released pocket watches.
"We have seen a renewed trend in wearing pocket watches for special events, such as weddings or anniversaries," says John Reardon, head of watches for Christie's Americas. "It is a way to honor the past, the present, and the future because today's pocket watches can be tomorrow's heirlooms." According to Reardon, people are buying new pocket watches due to their passion for the workmanship and classic beauty. "These watches embody a true way to own historically inspired modern watches."
Further evidence of the allure of the pocket watch can be seen in the number of brands creating them in their current collections. About 10 years ago, you could count on one hand the watch brands offering new pocket watches. Today, that number has more than doubled. True heritage brands such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, and Chopard all offer a pocket watch selection. Additionally, brands with a younger history, such as Parmigiani Fleurier and Bell & Ross are also embracing the concept.
"What makes pocket watches so relevant today is that they offer a connection to the past, to tradition, which so many people are seeking," says Stacie Orloff, president of the Americas for Bell & Ross. "There is a romance to it." Orloff says that many of the Bell & Ross pocket-watch wearers are young and looking for a little historical inspiration. The Bell & Ross pocket watches that start at about $3,000 give watch lovers new options. "Many of the young hipsters find that pocket watches make an individual statement. We even have women who love them as pendants, or as a special and unique gift for a boyfriend."
As top watch brands turn closer attention to their archives for inspiration, many are unveiling modern-day pocket watches that have more to offer than just time in the pocket. Some brands are creating new renditions of original designs, but are adding a twist, such as developing stylishly updated clasps and closures for the chains or offering the watch on a leather fob instead of on traditional chains. Other makers are recalling the past but with a nod toward today's discerning clientele by adding versatility. Several key brands are unveiling pocket watches as convertible pieces that can be changed from a pocket watch to a wristwatch and, in some instances, even a table clock. These new interchangeable watches are cleverly engineered using different systems (including wristwatch cradles or fold down partial-hunter casebacks) that let the wearer convert the timepiece with ease.
"Today's more versatile pocket watches that can also be worn as wristwatches offer men more choices, leading to a resurgence of interest in pocket watches," says Jack Forster, editor-in-chief of Revolution, a watch industry publication, and owner of several pocket watches. Forster says wearing a pocket watch is a private pleasure because it remains hidden until the wearer chooses to bring it out and check the time, thereby making a very distinct statement. "As sartorially minded men dress and consider accessories, they enjoy wearing a pocket watch because of its elegant and classic appeal."
For watch brands, the challenge of bringing today's pocket watches to the forefront involves creating them out of new materials, or with unusual twists and turns. While many of the truly heritage-inspired pieces continue to be made in precious metals such as platinum and rose gold, some of the newer interpretations are offered in stainless steel and revered high-tech materials such as ceramic, titanium, or a diamond-like carbon coating. Some brands also blend tradition and modernity by adding fine details such as skeletonized movements, tourbillon escapements, and other functions.
Price range is also a consideration when it comes to properly marketing the pocket watch. Naturally, the luxury brands offer precious metals and complex mechanics that demand prices of tens of thousands of dollars. Other brands, in an effort to attract new clientele, have priced their steel pocket watches in the range of several thousand dollars. This more approachable price tag is a perfect fit for the younger customer who enjoys wearing the pocket watch in new ways, such as from belt loops and in pants pockets.
Hugues de Pins, president of Vacheron Constantin North America, agrees. "We see some people wearing pocket watches with jeans on a single or double chain, often with the chain attached to the belt loop, and with the pocket watch in the pants pocket instead of a traditional waistcoat pocket," he says. He is quick to add that pants pockets are not the ideal place for delicate pocket watches due to the company of coins and keys. "Many of our DC area customers, though, are in business or politics, so they tend to wear suits and waistcoats, and the watch adds a touch of elegance." Vacheron Constantin, which offers a very classic, archive-inspired platinum pocket watch, puts its watch on a leather cord and sells it with a leather holding pouch for a luxurious, modern-day appeal.
photography by jeff crawford/big top studio; courtesy of patek philippe; styling by terry lewis; suiting courtesy of ferragamo; modeling courtesy of direct model management;


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THE ADVENT of Roundup Ready technology made weed-control programs much simpler — perhaps too simple. Industry and university extension professionals are sounding the alarm that producers need to rethink how they plan and implement their herbicide programs.
"Producers have had more than a decade with Roundup Ready technology, which provided a simple and effective weed-control program," says Dale Shaner, plant physiologist with the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. "But we are starting to see clean fields that are now having problems. Weeds are starting to come back, and we need to control them."
Continual use of glyphosate over the years has created resistant biotypes of certain weeds, which glyphosate won't kill. Scientists have identified nine glyphosate-resistant biotypes in the United States, but the list includes some significant weeds: horseweed (marestail), giant ragweed, common ragweed, Palmer amaranth and waterhemp.
Although most producers have yet to see glyphosate resistance on their farms, it may be only a matter of time. Current surveys indicate that almost 20% of U.S. producers have found glyphosate-resistant weeds on their farms. Glyphosate resistance isn't something that is going away, and odds are good that the number of acres where resistance is confirmed will continue to increase.
"The sheer simplicity of the glyphosate system drove its adoption," says Dan Westberg, technical marketing manager for BASF. "But that also has led to problems, and we're starting to run the wheels off glyphosate."
Glyphosate is still a very effective herbicide and provides control to nearly 170 different weeds. However, experts caution that any system in which one chemical is favored, and used, continuously will speed development of a weed specie's resistance.
What is probably the most worrisome weed right now is glyphosate-resistant waterhemp. "Waterhemp has already shown resistance to triazines and ALS [acetolactate synthase] inhibitors, and now glyphosate," Shaner says. "And waterhemp will probably continue to spread. That's the weed that will really cause headaches."
Mix it up
Experts agree that a key component in preventing glyphosate-resistant weed development — and effectively controlling weeds — is to mix it up. That means rotating crops, herbicides and modes of action to ensure that weeds aren't getting the same dose of the same herbicide.
"There are areas of the country where we are starting to see the population of resistant weed biotypes explode," says Jim Bloomberg, product development manager for Bayer CropScience. "We need to go back to the table to look at some older chemistries that worked previously and integrate them with the new selective and nonselective herbicides available in the marketplace today. Together, these products could form a solid integrated weed management program."
Companies have been aggressive in developing new products based on old chemistries that fell out of favor when Roundup Ready systems took hold. Putting down a preemergence herbicide with residual control is making economic sense. Studies show that doing so not only nets a cleaner field from the start, but also nets additional bushels at the end of the season.
"If you continually apply glyphosate, you are more likely to develop resistant weeds, says Mark Loux, professor of weed science at The Ohio State University. "But the real story is that if you are trying to control weeds with just glyphosate, you may be losing yield for other reasons."
Missing an early application window of glyphosate can mean larger weeds, which are already reducing yield. After reaching 4 in. in height, some weeds can grow at a rate of 1 in./day. That same field may be clean at the end of the year, but the damage has already been done. Waiting to apply glyphosate when weeds are 9 in. — rather than 6 in. — can cost 2 to 5 bu./acre in soybean yield.
"And an $8 to $12 application of a residual herbicide can control those early weeds, reduce competition for nutrients and water, and ultimately mean more yield," Loux says.
"Pay close attention to preemptive management of weeds," says Chuck Foresman, manager of weed-resistance strategies for Syngenta. "Glyphosate is a great product, but it may need help in some weed-control programs."
To get the most effective weed control, that means alternating modes of action, using a preemergence herbicide. "We have lots of ammo to battle some of the weeds that are giving us problems," Foresman says. "It is naive to think glyphosate will take care of weeds every year. Mixing up your weed-control program is the best way to control weeds and to reduce the chances of developing glyphosate-resistant weeds."
Even if glyphosate-resistant weeds aren't present in your fields, it's an important issue to be aware of and to manage so it doesn't become a problem. "With lower glyphosate prices, it may entice some producers to simply put one more application of glyphosate down, and that's only perpetuating the problem if it's not a problem already," says Mark Woodruff, product manager for corn herbicides at Dow AgroSciences. "Weed pressure can easily rob 7% out of corn yield. If you are producing 200-bu. corn, the money lost in potential yield more than makes up for the $10 spent on residuals."
Basic steps
The message of reducing the chances of glyphosate resistance as well as keeping fields clean of early season weed competition is important for everyone. "Many growers may not realize they have an issue with glyphosate-resistant weeds," says Susan Macy, product manager for DuPont. "Glyphosate is a key tool that growers don't want to lose. It still has a lot of utility, but will lose its effectiveness if additional residual chemistries aren't used, incorporating preemergence followed by postemergence treatments."
And the message is simple:
Know the weeds in your field, and the weed pressure;
Rotate your crops and even cultural practices;
Start with a clean field;
Rotate modes of action, and consider rotating herbicide-tolerant systems;
Include residual herbicides in preplant herbicide applications;
Apply herbicides correctly, at the full rate and at the optimum timing;
Control escapes;
Clean equipment.
"We have had nearly a generation of growers who have relied on glyphosate as a very large tool to control weeds," Foresman says. "Today's weed control will require folks to become familiar again with some older herbicides that remain effective and may provide lifesavers for controlling problem weeds."
However, economic pressures come into play, and producers already stretched thin will continue to look at ways to save money. "That's one problem with the message of proactive management," Loux says. "It's difficult to look out 10 to 15 years to prevent something that might occur when a producer is so focused on next year." That can be especially true when it comes to rented cropland.
Glyphosate continues to work well, and it remains effective. But for how long, and for which producers, will remain to be seen.
"The bottom line is that investing a little now on a comprehensive weed-control program will pay later," Loux says. "Losing glyphosate will mean additional costs down the road, whether it is additional tankmixes or newer herbicide-tolerant traits."


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Recent Comments
|01/20/2013 - 9:41pm
|But rememeber! Two years ago
But rememeber! Two years ago right now (Jan 20th), we had just been blown out by Indiana and Northwestern, and were hoping for a generous NIT spot. After that magical trip to the Breslin center, things have certainly changed.
|01/18/2013 - 2:18am
|I can't wait one whole week
I can't wait one whole week to get my Michigan basketball fix! I am concerned about the murder's row we have looming: @Indiana, OSU, @Wis (a team on a very hot streak), and @Sparty. If we somehow get three victories there, the conference championship is ours for the taking.
|01/03/2013 - 4:05pm
|"Let the games begin!"--Nick
"Let the games begin!"--Nick Sa-Bane
|01/02/2013 - 10:23pm
|Patrick Omameh sighting on
Patrick Omameh sighting on the Good Works Team!
|12/31/2012 - 3:44pm
|The hurricane is also named
The hurricane is also named Stauskas.
|12/26/2012 - 11:09pm
|For those of you keeping
For those of you keeping track at home, things covered so far here include: Jamie Foxx's views on gun violence, terrible pick-up advice, a ranking of the best James Bond actors, reasons for why young people hate Michigan, and how to balance fandom between multiple schools.
I'm not even mad, I'm impressed.
|12/21/2012 - 11:54pm
|Merlot, and grading term
Merlot, and grading term papers. Looking forward to Xmas in Michigan soon!
|12/21/2012 - 10:38am
|Awesome job, Roy!
The UM MSW program is one of the top 5 in the country! Congrats!
|12/11/2012 - 5:07pm
|One of my favorite events on
One of my favorite events on campus! I was an unsuccessful participant in 2010. Mike Martin was a judge, IIRC.
|11/20/2012 - 3:42am
|RoboHenne has become
RoboHenne has become self-aware.
|11/20/2012 - 3:29am
|Beat Ohio?
Beat Ohio?
|11/20/2012 - 3:24am
|08/03/2012 - 9:32pm
|I'd try around 20-30%,
I'd try around 20-30%, especially if they have to travel in a crappy car in 90+ degree weather.
|08/03/2012 - 9:19pm
|Post-dinner coffee. It's
Post-dinner coffee. It's great to be back in Michigan for the weekend!
|07/22/2012 - 12:35am
|Have you looked into the
Have you looked into the North Campus/Plymouth area? It's not as exciting as living by Downtown or campus, but the nature up there is absolutely beautiful and the AATA buses are pretty convinent . I spent a year in Willowtree, which was dirt cheap. I also had many friends in the Highlands.
|07/22/2012 - 12:29am
|Got back from the lab late,
Got back from the lab late, now I'm enjoying some cheap red wine.
|07/15/2012 - 2:22am
|Stella artois after a 7 mile
Stella artois after a 7 mile run!
|06/28/2012 - 2:31pm
|Study in the reading room!
Study in the reading room! You'll get a great view of state street, and it's rather quiet compared to other study spots on Central (e.g., the Ugli).


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Valley Entrepreneur Network EventName: Valley Entrepreneur Network EventDate: October 3, 2019Time: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM MDTRegistration: Register NowEvent Description:Please see below on an event that will take place this Thursday! Some background on this event; those that are aware of the Taos Entrepreneur Network-TEN, this event is almost a mirror to what they do! VEN ("Come" in Spanish) is Rio Arriba's version of TEN; Valley Entrepreneur Network is brought together by the Greater Espanola Valley Community Development Corporation and the Espanola Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The purpose of this event is simple! Its an opportunity for all of us to get together and Help One Another, anyone from the Entrepreneur wishing to start a business, an existing business that is needing to grow or sustain their business; the Non Profits and to anyone that is wanting to do great things for our Valley, but just need a resource! Every month we will have special guest speakers that will share what resources they bring to the table to help, and don't forget, we too may need or be a resource for someone else.
Help me make this event and the ones to follow a success, our success will be measured on how many times we can help someone, and the way to accomplish this is to attend and share your knowledge, all to benefit the Valley!!!!
Thank you,
Kelly Duran


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The Equatorial Monument: Icon of Pontianak
Among all countries in the world, only twelve straddle the Equator. While among the countless cities within those twelve countries, only one sits right on this invisible line that separates the earth's southern from the northern hemisphere. Pontianak, capital of the province of West Kalimantan – formerly known as West Borneo – has the distinction of being the only city in the world that sits right on the Equator, a fact that needs no international approval nor agreement. This is the very reason why the Equatorial monument was built here, although Pontianak's founder, Syarif Abdurrahman Alkadrie was not in the slightest aware of this fact.
Using simple tools and methods, an unnamed Dutch geographer and explorer spearheaded a mission to find a city on the Equator. Eventually, in 1928, he found this city by the longest river in the Indonesian archipelago that was the sole urban setting right on the line of the Equator. He immediately marked the spot on the river bank of Kapuas Kecil (small Kapuas) with a simple pole and an arrow. Only 70 years later, when the monument had passed many renovations and reconstructions, that Indonesia's Agency for Applied Technology made precise studies, made corrections to the exact spot of the Equator using geographic positioning system. Although the difference proved to be quite considerable, yet admiration to the original team of explorers remains and will never be forgotten.
The Equatorial monument was initially built from four ironwood pillars. The ironwood was locally obtained and constructed to keep up an arrow as symbol of orientation or reference. The Dutch word: 'EVENAAR' is clearly written on the arrow, meaning 'equator', or 'Khatulistiwa' in Bahasa Indonesia. It was later recorded that a globe was affixed to it in 1930, and a Dutch officer, by the name of Herman Neijenhuis was assigned to guard the monument from 1936 to 1940. Twice a year, the shadowless sunlight occurs here, as the sun reaches its zenith on the Vernal Equinox (March 21st – 23rd), and the Autumnal Equinox (September 21st – 23rd). These bi-annual events are comemorated here as visitors and locals enjoy a five-minute shadowless moment in the best 'hot spot' of Borneo.
The word Borneo is believed to originate from a remark made by Pigafetta and the explorer Magellan's companions in 1521, giving the name 'Burne' to the entire island , described as being an extremely large island, for it took the sailors three months to circumnavigate it. Today, Borneo is a land found to be rich in coal, oil, and gas deposits, and remains one of the largest remaining tropical rainforest reserves in Indonesia.
While the town of Pontianak with its Equatorial Monument distinguishes as the only city in the world that sits right on that imaginary line called the Equator, separating the earth's northern from the southern hemisphere.
Take a taxi, angkot, or a private or rented car to the west bank of Pontianak. You will reach a district called Siantan. The first thing to notice is a bridge crossing the Landak River which means that you have crossed the Kapuas river and are on the other side of the city. The monument is only 5 kilometers on the north end of the city. Due to heavy traffic along the way, the trip to the monument may take you between 30 to 40 minutes
Find out about the history of the monument's developments and renovations inside the dome. It is interesting how such a small museum can deliver "huge" facts about the site and astronomical data.
Take a picture of yourself right under the monument and take note whether you are on the northern or southern hemisphere. Also buy a souvenir from the museum. A certificate is printed out for you as you enter the museum.
Check the corrected spot of the zero degree and make a scientific experiment or two to prove the natural phenomenon as you stand on the 'neutral zone". They say that, you will tend to be more 'balanced' when you stand on one foot on the exact spot that is identified as being at zero degree.
You can take a river cruise to see the monument from the boat. It gives a more spectacular perspective as you watch the living culture of the people living on the 'edge'.
Source: The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Republic Indonesia


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Im writing this tutorial with help from Java Second solutions by John Lewis and William Loftus, most of it is from me but a few of the definitions are from the book.
What an array does: An array is a way of indexing an holding a large sum of information that can be called, used and sorted.
Declaring and Initializing an array: for an array to work you need to initialize it to a certain constant for example int[] height = new int[11]; . This will create a 1 dimensional array that holds 11 spots for integers. Integer arrays can only hold numbers, string arrays can hold numbers and letters and words but you cant do addition with the string arrays.
1D array: A 1 dimensional array is an array thats just one column and this is usually used for sorting simple information like sorting.
2D array: A 2 dimensional array is like an excel table you have x amount of columns and x amount of rows that can be pulled by going down the rows and the columns and putting information in those slots. for example int[] 2dheight = new int[5][11]; this will hold 55 spots that can be dedicated to integers. With the 5 rows and 11 columns. This is the most common array especially for passwords.
3D array: A 3 dimensional array can be thought of as a cube. With the first digit being a specific part like if you made a 3 d string array that holds world info like if you made an array string[] country = new string[10][5][11]; would allow you to go thru any part of the first like the 10 would be countries and then from there you could go to 5 regional provinces and like 11 cities.
ND array: Any array with N dimensions should be thought of a bunch of lesser arrays, like visualize a 4 d array just as a bunch of limited 3 dimensional arrays, if it helps visualize the arrays in space like a bunch of interconnected 3d arrays (or cubes if you will) connected by some common thread.
Sorting made easy: Sort an array by descending or assending order with integers you should use a comparision statement like(dont mind the syntax errors or the lack of variable declarations)while (x < arraycounter){ arraycounter = 0; int x = 0; if {(array[1][x] > array[1][x + 1]); temp = array [1][x];array[1][x] = array[1][x + 1]; array[1][x + 1] = temp;} x++;}
searching an array: use a comparison statement with this too. Cout << enter search variable; Cin >> variable while (h > arraycounter2){ while (x < arraycounter) { if (array [1][x] == variable){ cout >> array[1][x];}


text:
February 5, 2007
By JOHN FLOWERS, CYRUS LEVESQUE AND MEGAN JAMES
MIDDLEBURY — Several Addison County schools will be asking local voters on Town Meeting Day to borrow up to $25,000 for federally mandated water system improvements.
At issue are provisions of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act that require public schools to have water disinfection systems wipe out any impurities that might be found during regular water tests.
"The goal is to oversee safe delivery of water from the source to the end-user tap," said Tim Raymond, water systems operations manager for the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Water Supply Division.
By CYRUS LEVESQUE
BRISTOL — On Town Meeting Day, Bristol residents will weigh in on a proposed 2007-2008 town budget that would increase spending by 3.85 percent from the current year to $1,783,146. The budget, approved by Bristol selectmen last week, includes $1,436,546 to be raised by taxes, an increase of 4.27 percent over the current fiscal year.
If approved, the spending plan would increase the Bristol municipal tax rate to about 55.5 cents per $100 of property value, an increase of about 2.25 cents.
Voted appropriations made up the second-smallest section of the budget, at $351,925, but the largest percentage increase in expenditures, with an 8.56 percent increase over the current fiscal year. All the money for these appropriations, which include things like $15,000 for Howden Hall restoration, would be raised from taxes.
By ANDY KIRKALDY
MIDDLEBURY — Starting this week visitors to Middlebury's Mary Hogan Elementary School will have to buzz into the front office to gain entry to the building.
What Mary Hogan Principal Bonnie Bourne called a "low-level" security concern last week prompted school officials to add a buzzer and video camera to the school's handicap-accessible front door and to lock that door and the two doors next to it.
Assuming the equipment arrives and is installed in a timely manner on Monday, visitors will buzz in and be identified by front office workers before they are allowed to enter.
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The Central Connecticut swimming and diving team competed against Vermont and Merrimack on Saturday in New Britain, CT. The Blue Devils fell to Vermont by a score of 215-84 but topped Merrimack 48-9. Senior Kristina Gulia earned two wins for the Blue Devils.
The Blue Devils posted two victories, both from Gulia, as well as 10 additional top-three performances. Gulia raced to victory in the 100 yard breaststroke in which she swam a 1:08.78 for a new season-best time. Gulia also claimed the win in the 200 breaststroke, touching the wall in 2:28.60, also a season best.
Gulia also helped the CCSU 400 medley relay team to a silver. The squad touched the wall in 4:02.06 and consisted of senior Kellen Power as well as freshmen Christine Rasile and Stephanie Czulewicz.
Sophomore Selene Chilton had a solid day, earning two second-place finishes while also helping the 400 freestyle relay squad to another. Chilton swam a 10:53.64 in her first appearance in the 1000 yard freestyle this season. She followed that performance with another silver in the 200 butterfly in which she raced a season-best 2:14.37.
Chilton was joined on the relay squad by junior Karen Novak, senior Kasey Chilton and Czulewicz. The foursome finished in 3:53.69.
Novak also placed third in the 1000 freestyle with her time of 10:58.33.
Sabree Thomas earned a second-place finish in the 100 yard butterfly with her time of 1:00.40. The freshman also placed third in the 200 yard butterfly clocking a 2:15.09.
Senior Kathryn Kiely claimed second in the 500 yard freestyle in a season-best 5:17.37. She also grabbed fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:58.72).
The final top-three swimming performance belongs to sophomore Alaina Papiro who claimed third in the 100 breaststroke with a season-best time of 1:10.09.
From the diving board, sophomore Kaitlyn Beaver led the Blue Devils with a second-place 1-meter finish. She tallied 214.80 points. She was followed by junior Kaitlyn Dwyer in fifth (196.30) and freshman Rayanne Muzzo in sixth (163.85).
Beaver also led CCSU from the 3-meter board, registering 206.70 points, good for fourth. Dwyer and Muzzo rounded out the six-diver field with scores of 205.15 and 177.40, respectively.
The Blue Devils will return to action at the Bucknell University Invitational next weekend. The meet is scheduled to begin Friday, Nov. 22, and continue through Sunday, Nov. 24.


text:
Reference : AD1BRE16See complete description
Reference : AD1BRE16See complete description
Reference : 111831
Slovenian brand ELAN presents a new freeride range this year featuring different skis in identical constructions, but each with a different waist. All these skis have been designed with lightness in mind, in order to create a 2-in-1product that can be used for freeriding or free touring.
Within this range, the RIPSTICK 94 W is a product for women with a 94 mm waist which makes it a very versatile product.
Incorporating TNTtechnology, these skis combine a Tubelite wood core providing torsional stability and a powerful rebound while reducing the weight, but without compromising on performance. The core is finished off with VaporTip inserts in the tip and tail to reduce weight and vibration, thereby considerably improving the stability.
These skis also have Amphibio®technology, which means that the left and right skis have been designed separately. The Amphibio® profile adds the benefits of both the camber and the rocker. The camber ensures better grip, while the rocker guarantees faster, and more direct, turning.
This model is therefore a real 50/50 which will allow you to carve on hard snow as well as enjoy yourself on the powder or in freestyle touring when the weather allows.
- Amphibio construction: improved to suit BC skiers and offering the benefits of a camber-rocker profile. The secret: a right-foot ski and a left-foot ski with an inside edge in camber for hold on the tracks and an outside edge in rocker to facilitate the initiation of the turn and a better flotation on the powder.
- TNT technology: Elan TNT technology is a unique and innovative combination of a Tubelite wood core – highlighting carbon tubes from the tip to the tail – VaporTip inserts and advanced composites integrated into the tip of the wood core of the ski.
- SST sidewall: The sidewalls are constructed from an ABS material which is placed vertically above the edges along the full length of the ski. They offer a direct transmission of power from the foot of the skier to the edges for control and stability at high speed and an acceleration upon leaving the turns.
- Tubelite Woodcore: two super lightweight carbon tubes are inserted into the laminated wood core. These 5 mm in diameter tubes with a hollow structure run across the length of the ski, following the arch of the sidewall. The Tubelite technology improves performance while decreasing weight by enhancing torsion stability and increasing the transmission of power to the edge of the ski.
- VaporTip inserts: perfectly positioned, they reduce the weight and vibrations in the tip and tail of the ski by considerably improving the stability, ensuring balance and providing an extra - fluid glide, in even the most challenging conditions.
- Fiberglass: located above and below the core, the fibreglass strengthening ensures optimal flex and improves the rigidity and torsion.
|Tip (mm)
|Waist (mm)
|Tail (mm)
|Radius (m)
|Weight (g)
Elan is a Slovenian firm specialized in the manufacture of sports articles. Elan owes its fame mainly to its skis and snowboards. In the 1970s, the Swedish skier Ingemar Stenmark won three consecutive times the World Cup of alpine skiing on Elan skis. Its headquarters is located in Begunje in Slovenia while the corporations are spread in Europe, in Slovenia for the skis, Austria for the snowboards. The group distributed its products through a network of independent distributors in 46 countries around the world. It manages itself its exports in North America, Japan, Germany and Switzerland.


text:
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text:
- Firestone woman, supporters remember unborn baby lost in Longmont crash
- Denver medical examiner confirms identity of Longmont DUI suspect found dead Tuesday
- Man pleads guilty in Longmont crash that claimed life of unborn baby
- Longmont's Skyline Kiwanis help DUI crash victim
- Accused DUI driver out on bond
- DUI driver has long history of alcohol, traffic problems
- Memorial for unborn baby lost in DUI wreck set for Monday
- Many want punishment, but state law says killing unborn not murder
- Suspect in Longmont DUI wreck has cancer, months to live, father says
- Longmont police release part of crash call
- Identities, conditions of DUI suspect's accident victims disclosed
- Judge increases bond for Longmont man, 52, accused of DUI wreck that left woman critical, fetus dead
- Longmont Police: Multiple DUI offender arrested in wreck that left unborn child dead, mother critical
BOULDER -- Boulder County prosecutors on Tuesday filed vehicular assault and other charges against a 52-year-old man suspected of driving with a .292 blood alcohol content and causing a wreck that caused a 27-year-old pregnant woman to lose her baby.
Gary Sheats appeared briefly in Boulder County Court on Tuesday afternoon, and public defender Megan Ring waived reading of the charges, which included two counts of vehicular assault, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of driving under the influence, one count of DUI on a third or subsequent offense and one count of careless driving.
According to police, Sheats has five previous DUI counts on his record.
Police believe Sheats was driving a Dodge Durango west on 17th Avenue on Thursday afternoon and turned left onto Pace Street in front of Heather Surovik's white Pontiac Grand Prix. Surovik, 27, was badly injured and she lost her near-term baby boy. Passenger Terry Koester, 48, Surovik's mother, was seriously injured. Surovik's 5-year-old son was uninjured and is reportedly doing well. A third vehicle driven by Martha Rudd, 68, also was struck. She was uninjured.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Tri-Town Baptist Church pastor Don Veazey -- speaking on behalf of Surovik's family -- said the family is frustrated regarding the charges that have been filed so far, because nothing has been charged specifically in regard to the baby. "He was a little boy, ready to come into the world. ... This was a son. This was a grandson. And he was ready to be born and enjoy life."
Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett said on Tuesday that Sheats wasn't charged with vehicular homicide because under Colorado law a baby is considered a fetus and part of the mother until born. Garnett said if the Boulder County coroner concludes the baby was born and then died of injuries suffered in the crash, then a vehicular homicide charge could be filed at a later date.
Speaking outside Longmont United Hospital, where Surovik is recovering, Veazey said the family is frustrated that Sheats was driving at all, given his history.
"The family does not hate this man. They are being gracious with that, but they do want to see justice. ... There is nothing that anybody could ever do to replace what this family has lost."
Garnett said that multiple-DUI offenders are dangerous and that the Legislature should consider a law to create a felony-level offense for multiple offenders that will allow for prison time.
"The idea that a family can't drive across town in the middle of the day running errands is really a concern," Garnett said, adding that Surovik was returning from her final well-baby check at the hospital before the baby was due to be born. In a statement released to a Denver news station, the family noted that the child's name was Brady Paul and that he weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces.
Garnett noted that another multiple-DUI offender, Lisa Norton, caused a wreck that killed 33-year-old Gabe Nielsen and badly injured his sister and 2-year-old daughter. Prosecutors filed a first-degree murder charge in her case, but she accepted a plea deal short of the murder charge and was sentenced to 33 years in prison. She was just two days into probation on another DUI conviction at the time of the wreck.
Garnett said he wants more options to make sure DUI offenders are curbed in Colorado, which is one of only five states without a felony DUI law. He said he has already reviewed his office's policies about DUI plea agreements and feels they are sound. He added that he believes that drug and alcohol treatment courts should periodically review their methods to ensure they are not enabling those struggling with addictions.
"The district attorney has to be the voice of common sense, especially in public safety," he said.
He said the felony DUI law hasn't gotten off the ground in previous legislative sessions because incarcerating DUI cases can cost the state, but he said he believes it should be considered because of the dangers of drunken drivers.
"I think we have to be very thoughtful about who we put in prison, and one of the reasons to put a person in prison is because it is not safe to have them out and about," Garnett said.
Veazey said the family is very thankful for the care they've received at LUH and the outpouring from the community. "Heather is OK," he said. "The prognosis is ultimately good."
A fund has been set up through Howe Mortuary, called the Brady Fund. Donations can be made via the Howe Mortuary website.
"There will be a lot of help needed," Veazey said.
Sheats' father, Billy Sheats, said on Friday that he was unaware of his son's record of DUIs and that his family loves him very much. Billy Sheats did not comment after court Tuesday.
According to police, Sheats was driving without a license at the time of crash. "He does not have a right to drive in Colorado," Longmont Police Cmdr. Jeff Satur said. "He violated that. "
Sheats is being held at the Boulder County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
Pierrette J. Shields can be reached at 303-684-5273 or email@example.com.


text:
The architecture and Art team Snarkitecture have been in the art news lately for their installation at the entrance of the Design Miami Pavilion 2012. Dig is an earlier installation from the team featured here. Often mixing elements of architecture design, art, and performance, Dig was at once an installation and a performance.
The team filled the Storefront for Art and Architecture with solid architectural foam. The artists then excavated a network of tunnels through the foam and inhabited them for the following month. The performance was an artful investigation of contemporary architecture based on excavating rather than building, as well as building for necessity.


text:
from operator import itemgetter
from collections import defaultdict
class BayesClassifier:
def __init__(self):
self.total_count = 0 # Observations of individual attributes
self.class_count = defaultdict(int) # Observations of cls
self.attrs_count = defaultdict(int) # Observations of (cls, attrs)
self.correction = 0.0001 # Prevent multiplication by 0.0
def train(self, cls, attrs):
''' Add observation of 'attrs' as being an instance of 'cls' '''
self.class_count[cls] += 1
for attr in attrs:
self.attrs_count[(cls, attr)] += 1
self.total_count += 1
def rate(self, cls, attrs):
''' Return probability rating of 'attrs' being an instance of 'cls' '''
result = float(self.class_count[cls]) / self.total_count
for attr in attrs:
result *= self.attrs_count.get((cls, attr), self.correction)
return result / pow(self.total_count, len(attrs))
def classify(self, attrs):
''' Return most likely class that 'attrs' belongs to '''
rated_classes = [(self.rate(cls, attrs), cls) for cls in self.class_count]
rated_classes.sort(key=itemgetter(0), reverse=True)
return rated_classes[0][1]
Playing around with it I used various spam/not-spam training sets and various categorical training sets. Attributes can be labeled by the user instead of just "bag of words" lists by tagging the values in the attrs list, such as
['weekday:wed', 'weather:sunny', 'humidity:high']. Likewise, positional attributes can easily be tagged with their index
['0:this', '1:works', '2:well']. Its trivial to write a function that turns lists, objects, dicts, data models into such tagged attribute lists.
But playing with the algorithm in its "bag of words" form, I thought it would be neat to see how it does with authorship detection. Using an approach similar to spam/not-spam I trained it to classify quotes by author based on word and punctuation probabilities. In this example it parses brainyquote.com to train from the first pages of quotes by a given author, then tests the classifier with known quotes that weren't included on the first page. In a real world scenario, you'd want to train it with a much larger corpus, but in this case it works fairly well.
Here is it learning to classify between Richard Dawkins, George W Bush, and Charles Dickens :) (yes, I chose them for word contrast)
from urllib import urlopen
from BeautifulSoup import BeautifulSoup
def getwords(text):
''' Split text into words and useful punctuation tokens '''
import string
text = text.replace("'", '')
# Remove useless punctuation
for c in string.punctuation:
if c not in '.,;?!':
text = text.replace(c, ' ')
# Keep useful punctuation
for c in '.,;?!':
text = text.replace(c, ' puncuation:%s ' % c)
text = text.lower()
return [str(word) for word in text.split() if len(word) > 3]
def getquotes(author):
''' Return list of quotes by author from brainyquote.com '''
base_url = 'http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/%s/%s.html'
soup = BeautifulSoup(urlopen(base_url % (author[0], author)).read())
td = soup.find('td', {'align': 'left', 'valign': 'top', 'width': 440})
quotes = []
for quote in td.findAll('span', {'class': 'body'}):
return quotes
bayes = BayesClassifier()
# Train bayes with quotes by author
for author in ['richard_dawkins', 'george_w_bush', 'charles_dickens']:
for quote in getquotes(author):
bayes.train(author, getwords(quote))
test_data = [
"Government does not create wealth. The major role for the government is to create an environment where people take risks to expand the job rate in the United States."],
"There may be fairies at the bottom of the garden. There is no evidence for it, but you can't prove that there aren't any, so shouldn't we be agnostic with respect to fairies?"],
"I have known a vast quantity of nonsense talked about bad men not looking you in the face. Don't trust that conventional idea. Dishonesty will stare honesty out of countenance any day in the week, if there is anything to be got by it."],
# Test bayes with untrained quotes
for author, quote in test_data:
guess = bayes.classify(getwords(quote))
print 'Classified as %s, should be %s' % (guess, author)


text:
: Regional News
Packers hold two youth camps in Northwoods
Submitted: 05/17/2013
- The Packers made it a great day for two elementary schools in the Northwoods.On Thursday in Wabeno, the Packers were holding a kids football camp. It's called the Youth Football Outreach camp. About 120 kids from Wabeno Elementary took part. Another 70 from Robinson Elementary in Laona held a camp in the afternoon.Kids were diving, catching passes, running - simply having a great time. "I think it's great we get to get out of school on a nice day and do this," said Wabeno sixth grader Bob Brauer. "Like my caoch said, 'You can hit somebody and your mom can't yell at you.'" Melissa Peters, a teacher in the Wabeno school district explains how she helped bring the Packers to Wabeno two years ago. "Laona (School) and I got together two years ago," says Peters. "Got to do it. Then had the chance to do it again. It's awesome."It was part of the NFL's Play 60 program. It's meant to fight against childhood obesity.The camp is expected to return in Wabeno and Laona in two years.
Written By: Joe Dufek
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