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In the early morning, Dale Launstein's new grain bin is so big it blocks the rising sun. This 240,000-bu. bin stands 86 ft. tall and is half the size of the local elevator.
"Just how much storage does this guy think he needs?" ask the locals at lunchtime at The Lonetree Inn in downtown Holland, IA.
Launstein thinks his family operation needs a lot — 553,000 bu. They expect to fill their storage bins with this fall's corn crop, which is hefty. Like many other farmers in the Midwest, the Launsteins planted more corn acres after prices shot up to $4/bu., an outcome credited to ethanol production's heavy demand for corn.
"The market was dictating that corn was going to be the best thing to grow in 2007, but we knew that it was not going to stay that way forever," Launstein says. "So the intent was to put up this bin and pay for it very quickly with a corn-on-corn rotation." He estimates the price of the bin and equipment to be a half-million dollars and expects to pay for it in three years.
Launstein is only one of many growers across the Midwest who have changed their buying plans to take advantage of the ethanol boom. And perhaps nowhere is this best characterized than in Grundy County, IA, where Launstein and his family are longtime residents. Here generations of farmers have grown bumper crops in the county's 6 ft. of rich topsoil. This county commands the second highest land values in the state. "The joke is you won't find no better dirt than in Grundy County," says a local resident.
Many of the Launsteins' neighbors have invested in buildings, equipment, new enterprises and more land throughout the county. New have bins shot up. Livestock buildings have appeared. New combines are rolling through the fields. Growers here hope to capture what profits they can while corn prices are high and before input costs catch up.
In a visit to Grundy County in late summer, we found plenty of optimism among the farmers and town residents. The trickle-down theory with strong grain prices is proven here: Everyone is benefiting. Even the local auto parts retailer says he can tell what crop prices are doing by the number of auto parts sold in a day.
But mixed with the optimism is a dose of caution, and maybe for good reason. At press time, the price of ethanol had dropped $0.50/gal. from two months earlier. News reports spread about the suspension of new ethanol plant construction. With ethanol prices so low and corn prices still high, ethanol plant profitability has to be in question.
During our visit to Grundy County, we talked with a number of different farmers and agricultural businesses to see how ethanol has changed the landscape and what might happen if the ethanol boom goes bust.
Machinery sales jump
Green is the dominant color of equipment in Grundy County. And the biggest John Deere dealer there is Phelps Implement Company headquartered in Grundy Center. Aftermarket manager Randy Phelps says sales have increased about 20% at the dealership ever since corn prices took a leap last fall.
"Last fall no one had an inkling that things were going to take off like they did," Phelps says. "There was a 40-day window that all of a sudden we went from having a decent year to a great year."
He recalls Deere & Company officials discussing the price fluctuation that took place in the October-November 2006 time frame at the company's annual dealer meeting last February. Corn prices jumped a dollar or better — from about $2.50 to $3.50.
"Our whole philosophy of thinking changed knowing there would be more money out there and that farmers were going to make more money," Phelps says. "And they need to make more money just to keep pace with the rising cost of inputs. Corn prices 30 or 40 years ago were about the same as they were two years ago. But the prices of gas, cars, equipment and seed are a lot higher now."
He estimates that as many as 50% of his customers have raised more corn this year than last year in response to the higher corn prices. He says when farmers make more money they spend more money with car dealerships, implement companies and other retailers in town.
"It all trickles down," he says. "In our business, if a farmer is able to make a good income, he is going to update his equipment. He is going to come to me and either spend more money fixing up what he has or trading it for new equipment to stay more current."
The trend is to buy bigger equipment that can take on the higher yields of corn and the extra stalks and debris it leaves behind. This includes larger planters, second combines, bigger grain carts, deeper tillage tools like disk rippers, 4-wd tractors, stalk choppers and batwing mowers.
Because of its higher sales volumes, the dealership is putting an addition on the back of its main store to have more parts on hand for customers. "We want to be farmers' one-stop shop where they can come in and know they can get what they want," Phelps says.
Loan volumes up
Ten miles south of Grundy Center is Conrad, IA, where a branch of the Grundy National Bank resides. Shane Tiernan, business development officer, occupies the front corner office and is busy assessing loan requests.
He says loan volumes among his farmer customers are up this year because the cost of production has risen in step with higher crop prices.
"At this point in time ethanol and the whole oil shortage have created an opportunity for us," Tiernan says. "We are loaning more money to the same producers because land values and farmers' annual production costs have gone up."
He says the higher loan volume is good for lenders, but it also presents some risks. If crop prices drop, farmers may not have the income they need to pay back the loans.
"What a lot of people haven't grasped yet is that while we have $3.50 corn, costs have gone from roughly $75/acre for inputs and $180/acre for cash rent up to $150 for inputs and over $200/acre for cash rent," he explains. "So while the margin is currently larger, that margin at the production level is going to shrink and will continue to shrink and that is the fear."
He uses Allan Greenspan's term "irrational exuberance" to describe the current land prices in the area, valued anywhere from $5,800 to $6,700/acre. He says values are close to double what they were five years ago. The higher values have pushed up average cash rents 25%.
"Cash rents need to be priced around $300/acre in order for investors to see a 5% return on their investment," he says. "I don't think $300 cash rents are sustainable."
As a result, the bank is taking a conservative approach to ag real estate financing, lending only to those borrowers who put up additional collateral that limits the bank's risk to around $2,000/acre.
To guard against a price drop, Tiernan advises all borrowers to rethink their costs of production, take advantage of marketing opportunities when they are available, and have a clear understanding of what is an acceptable profit margin.
More cattle
Arlyn Schipper and his son Brent have a new farm office in Conrad, IA. Brent joined his dad on their crop farm last year after earning a college degree in agricultural studies.
This father and son team hire professional advisors to fill the roles they consider "outside their expertise." The team consists of a banker, crop consultant, accountant and market advisor.
This year the Schippers planted 80% of their acres to corn instead of the typical corn-soybean rotation. And after doing the numbers, Arlyn decided to erect two 450-head cattle buildings on their farm that they can rent out. They will use dry distillers grain, a by-product of a nearby ethanol plant just across the county line, as a local feed source to make the operation more economical.
"Our whole economy is driven by freight costs," Arlyn says. "For every load of cattle it takes nine loads of corn to feed them out. We may just as well feed them where the grain is at and avoid those freight costs."
The Schippers will provide the feed along with cornstalks for bedding and will use the manure as fertilizer on their corn acres.
"Ethanol has made Iowa a cheaper place to feed cattle because we now have the feed supply here," Brent says. "There are a lot of people bringing cattle up into this area just to save on feed costs, especially with the higher price of corn. They need the feed to stay as cheap as they can."
While the Schippers believe ethanol is here to stay, they also say that farmers need to be cautious. "With all these higher prices in the last nine months, there is also a lot more money at risk," Arlyn says. "Yes, we are at a higher market, but margins could get tight if the cost of production keeps increasing."
Bigger bins
The Launsteins' new grain bin rises up from the flatlands of Holland, IA, like a giant monument to corn. Eighty-six feet tall and 78 feet around, the shiny sheets of stacked steel stand in the headlands of their farm.
This mammoth bin is just one more example of how ethanol's price hike on corn is changing the buying landscape of farming. It is the biggest grower bin in a county that is swamped with new bin building.
The Launsteins' operation was at full capacity with its previous 303,000 bu. of storage, and Dale and his family had no plans of slowing down crop production. Dale figured it would be cheaper to put in another new bin than to pay the elevator to store his extra corn.
"How are we going to pay for that?" was his dad's first question when Dale proposed adding the new bin. Dale farms with his dad Ray, mom Jan, wife Amy, and brother John and his wife Violet.
Dale calculates they can pay off the cost of the bin in three years with a corn-on-corn rotation that they have used for a few years. The Launsteins plant 80% of their 3,360 acres to corn, most of which is waxy corn. They haul the regular corn to ethanol plants and sell the waxy corn to Cargill, which pays a percentage premium over and above the market price of dent corn.
The storage allows them to store their crop and sell it when they want and not at harvest when prices are low. They avoid the hassles of delivering to an elevator known for long lines, shutting down at noon, and dumping corn on the ground.
"There have been some farmers hurt financially because they were forced to sell grain during the harvest low, hurt as much as $0.30 to $0.35/bu. If you take a $0.35/bu. loss three years in a row, you can come close to buying a grain bin in four years," Dale says.
The extra storage also allows them to rent additional land should it become available. "A neighbor and I both think ground is going to be in for a retracement," Dale says. "We're guessing it is going to go back down to $4,000 or less an acre."
The reason? "We think ethanol is going to fail," he says. "This is the worst thing that could ever happen out here. Fifteen to 25% of farmers will disappear."
He says if ethanol slows down for any reason, like lower-priced oil or availability of another alternative source of energy, it will change everything. "Ethanol has inflated costs greatly," he says. "Everything has gone up — land, cash rents, input costs, fertilizer, seed, machinery. Everybody is taking their price levels up to cash in on the ethanol boom."
He reasons that if corn prices drop and input costs remain high, corn farmers will suffer greatly.
Business of ethanol
Ron Saak is a Grundy County native who has spent the last four years developing agribusinesses in Iowa and the surrounding states. His cluttered office in downtown Grundy Center looks like he just moved in.
Saak and his business partners Steve Baker and Brad Petersburg call their business Rural Development Associates (RDA). They work with clients to identify, develop and commercialize new business.
"The last ethanol project we developed was a 110-million-gallon plant in Council Bluffs called Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy located by Mid-America Energy," Saak says. "We are pulling waste steam off of Mid-America Energy's coal-fired plant and circulating it through the ethanol plant."
Saak's focus for locating ethanol plants has been to find areas with strategic advantages like transportation or preexisting energy sources so a new plant is competitive. Recently his group announced it will develop a plant in Keokuk, IA, with construction starting in the spring of 2008. RDA America will be a 55-million-gallon pure ethanol plant that will locate next to an existing corn wet milling plant owned by Roquette America Inc.
"We will have a wet mill and a dry mill plant co-located whereby we can capitalize on a number of synergies between the two organizations," Saak explains.
Ironically, Saak hasn't worked to locate a plant in Grundy County. Why not? "The county does not have a rail line, and consequently all products have to be trucked in and trucked back out," he says.
However, lack of a plant within the immediate area does not diminish ethanol's effect on this county. Saak says ethanol plants are destination markets, and each plant built — regardless of where it is located — is good for the economy because it affects corn basis and the consumption of corn.
"Ethanol is obviously changing the whole landscape with the consumption of corn," he adds. "Not only has it run futures prices clear up to $4 but also has a direct impact on basis. That is why you are seeing the amount of corn storage that is going up at elevators and on the farm. I think spreads could be as wide as they have ever been this fall."
Another benefit of ethanol plants is that they create investment opportunities for farmers and others in the community. RDA reserves small blocks of shares that can be purchased by the local community. He says that when farmers invest in an ethanol plant they have pride of ownership and an incentive to sell their grain to that plant.
RDA also takes shares in the plants as part of its compensation plan. "This helps keep our interests aligned with the rest of the farmer shareholders so they know we are in this business for the long haul," Saak says.
Now RDA is looking for companion businesses and new processing methods to make ethanol production more efficient. Saak says breaking the corn into more pieces and parts and finding additional uses for the different parts of the kernel will make each plant more profitable.
When asked if ethanol production is a boom or bust, Saak says, "We'll know much more in five years. I do believe there is a strong conviction in trying to find alternative energy sources. And I think the government will continue to support research of alternative energy sources."
More seed corn acres
Another big change in the landscape is more seed corn acres. According to the SCS office in Grundy Center, production of seed corn in the county is up 15 to 20% from last year in response to the increased demand for corn seed nationwide.
Many seed corn companies depleted their inventories when 90 million acres of corn were planted this year. "I know that all the majors who grow seed corn here [Pioneer, Mycogen and Syngenta] have contracted a lot more acres than last year," Saak says.
He says the increase in seed corn is good for the local economy because it gives farmers an additional source of revenue that doesn't conflict with their normal production schedules. Plus it increases the demand for labor and results in sales of specialized equipment such as detasseling machines, seed corn pickers and wagons.
East of town is Oxbo International, a company that services and sells seed corn pickers. This year the company is adding five service bays to meet increased demand.
"The preharvest preparation is extremely intense this year with the increase in seed corn acres," says facility manager Mark Dutton. Every bay is occupied with pickers, just one week before harvest.
On the lot a customer is tinkering with a brand-new Oxbo EL30 picker. "This unit will give me more capacity," says custom harvester Bob Atkinson. Pioneer contracts with Atkinson to harvest seed corn for its Reinbeck plant in Grundy County. Atkinson also farms his own ground in nearby Butler County.
Atkinson is paid by the acre and expects this year's acres to be up 20%. "The reason I upgraded was because of the increase in acres," he says. "It helped to justify the new purchase. Since I was upgrading, I decided to go with a machine that had a larger capacity. The new machine will handle a 12-row head, whereas the old one was only for eight rows."
Input sales increase
The largest co-op in Grundy County is Heartland Co-op with 41 locations in 23 counties. Marc Melhus is vice president of operations and works out of the co-op's headquarters in West Des Moines, IA. He reports input sales are up this year compared to last year.
"Obviously with the additional demand for corn used in producing ethanol, more acres are being shifted from soybeans to corn," Melhus says. "So from a co-op perspective, there are sales to be gained in seed corn, fertilizer and crop protection products."
Overall, he sees a shift of 5 to 15% more corn acres planted in the state. As a result, he expects input sales at his co-op to increase by an equal percentage value, unless customers find ways to reduce their costs. For example, more farmers are looking at manure as an alternative source of fertilizer. "If they can cut corners at some level, they will," he adds.
In July, Heartland Co-op merged with Central Counties Co-op, expanding from 29 elevators to 41 under the Heartland Co-op name. Melhus says the merger was driven by the continuing consolidation of farms, which has been accelerated by ethanol production.
Farms are getting larger, and the operators are demanding more from their local co-op to support their growing number of acres. "They want high-value products at a low price and they want a lot of service typically," Melhus says. "So co-ops have to get bigger to be able to meet farmers' needs."
Controlled growth
Even as most residents of Grundy County benefit from the surge in ethanol production, they are bothered by one nagging worry: How long can the good times last?
Melhus says the recent downturn in profitability of ethanol plants is forcing investors to rationalize their investment, which he thinks is healthy for everyone in the industry.
"Uncontrolled growth was not good for anybody," he says. "So I think people are paying a lot more attention this year versus last year as far as prices, margins and what they pay.
"It's not, build it and they will come," like it was a year ago, he says. "It is more of a planned investment with a measured outcome."
He thinks the future of the plants is contingent on the price of oil. "If gasoline stays high, it is easier for buyers to justify ethanol because the ethanol price is typically higher," he says. "If gas gets real cheap, there is less of a need for ethanol."
But for now, he says, "ethanol has been awesome for farmers, because it has given them price opportunities in the marketplace that we haven't seen for a long, long time. And never for this extended period."
|Corn harvested for grain (acres)
|Corn harvested for grain (bu.)
|Corn yields (bu./acre)
|Soybeans harvested (acres)
|Soybeans harvested (bu.)
|Soybeans yields (bu./acre)
|2006 Census of Agriculture estimates


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That's very good news for our valuable viewers, that Gul Ahmed has launched it's newest fall-winter collection 2013. Gul Ahmed complete catalogue has out and their clothing collection will soon in store on 5th, October. They have designed lots of innovative and vibrant printed dresses. Gul Ahmed have producing excellent winter wear brands like Corduroy, Cashmere Digital, Embroidered Khaddar, Fancy Khaddar, Normal Khaddar, Pashmina Shawl, Pashmina Scarves, Single Khaddar, Single Viscose, Silk Velvet and Viscose - these are all perfect for coming season. In there each and every collection they introduced a brilliant designs which is make you always wonderful. Gul Ahmed previous seasonal collection's have get so much fame and popularity and for this collection, God willing, be a successful collection as ever. Be appreciate as much for their dresses, is less because they are famous for it's prime quality fabric stuff. There are formal shirts, casual shirts, Printed and Embroidered Shirts in mid and long length forms with trouser and pajama. Hope you will like Gul Ahmed's Exclusive Fall / Winter Collection 2013 for women. This collection is also launched for coming Eid-Ul-Adha festival.
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subset: commoncrawl


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My point was that the content defines "good enough". You are right that you can select the guild. However the selection goes for content and not for effort. Effort is defined by content.
This is true to a degree. But I think it's still a good idea to farm and exceed content requirements for several reasons:
1. Future Content
We are not just gearing for the current fight, we are gearing for future fights. Sure, if Patchwerk only requires 2.5K DPS, you're fine. But what do you do when the next fight requires 5K DPS? If you prepare beforehand, you're golden. Otherwise, you have to work on getting the required gear instead of trying the fight you really want to do.
The moment Ulduar comes out, we're going to drop Naxx like a hot potato and dive straight in.
2. More Options
If your gear exceeds requirements, it gives you more flexibility. You can do easy encounters or hard encounters as you choose. You can bring alts, because the mains can handle it. You can let a healer attempt to DPS Scions of Eternity for an Achievement, instead of needing her to heal 100% of the time.
It's like having a lot of gold. You don't need 50K gold. Personally, aside from buying my Epic flying, I've never exceeded 5K gold at any one time. But having more gold on hand makes life easier, because it gives you more options.
Additionally, it also gives you flexibility in recruiting. If a portion of your raid exceeds minimums, it allows you recruit good under-geared players and gear them up without having to go back and farm old content.
3. Greater Margin
Better gear reduces the probability of a catastrophic mistake. If you kill a boss in 5 minutes instead of 10, it's less likely that someone will make a mistake which causes a wipe.
As well, better gear allows you to be successful with less skill. Yes, Ensidia and the other top 10 guilds can probably blow through content with minimum gear requirements. But most of us are not Ensidia. If my time-on-target is 10% less than an Ensidia rogue--because she's better at movement--I'm going to need to hit 11% harder in order to do the same damage.
4. Raids are More Fun
Most of us raid because we enjoy raiding. But honestly, wiping on content we've already beaten is not fun at all. A high degree of effort leads to faster, cleaner raids which is more fun for everyone.
Wipes also increase the effort required. For example, my guild uses Food+Flask on all our Naxx runs, even though we probably don't need to. But wiping incurs repair costs and wastes time. The Food+Flask contributes to a faster run with a minimum of additional costs.
5. Expectation Management
If you expect more from people, they will respond to that, and rise to the challenge. If you expect the bare minimum, then the minimum is all they will give you.
Maybe Food+Flask is unnecessary. But it is a signal to the raid that you are willing to give 100% on this attempt. That you are willing to incur a cost, maybe even just a symbolic cost, to ensure success.
I think people respond to that, mirror the group they find themselves in. If you're in a raid where people slack off, often you will start to slack off as well. If you're in a raid which has high expectations, often you will rise to meet those expectations.
The most important part is to have the entire raid on the same page as to what "good enough" means. But there are significant advantages to having a higher standard of "good enough" than is strictly required for content.
However, it's also possible to take this too far, especially when looking at new content. By far the most important element in mastering new content is spending time on it, not gearing up for it. If Ulduar comes out, and you decide to spend a few weeks farming Kel'Thuzad instead of trying new bosses, you are making a mistake. But having a raid that chose to exceed the minimum requirements back in Naxx will help you greatly in Ulduar.


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I met with a landscaping company in Coffs Harbour last year who were suffering cash flow problems due to having difficulty ensuring that account customers were paying them in full and on time. I explained how the implementation of a comprehensive credit management solution would allow them to recover the money that they are owed in a timely manner.
The credit management solution included Terms & Conditions of Trade documents and Commercial & Domestic Building Contracts that gave the landscaping company the best possible chance to collect debts in full and on time.
The landscaping company was hesitant to use the new documents at first as they were concerned that customers would be frightened away by the paperwork. The company understood, however, that these documents are designed to comply with the law and protect both parties and they went ahead.
End result landscaping company's customers are very happy with the professionalism of the new documents and the landscaping company no longer has cash flow problems.


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Dear all, I would only like an opinion on this. I have expressed a protein in E-coli and it came out cleaved and aggregated. This same protein is studied excessively in neurite degeneration where it is cleaved and packed in the neuritic beads during degeneration. from this information is it possible to speculate that since the cleavage is almost in the same site in both cases (E-coli and in cultures) that this cleaved protein is aggregated in vivo and this aggragated form is actually what is causing beading or are the beads themselves? I just want an opinion on this: i mean can I deduce from what I see in E-coli to be also a case in neurites themselves? thank you a lot!
Submit your paper to J Biol Methods today!
Protein cleavage and neurodegeneration.
Started by Ekatherina Touma-Saghie, Oct 15 2010 09:29 PM
1 reply to this topic
Posted 15 October 2010 - 09:29 PM
Posted 17 October 2010 - 02:59 AM
what is the idea behind your question? Do you intend to study cleavage and aggregation of your protein in E. coli? Bacteria as a cell model for a neuron? Although there seem to be some parallel in the process of cleavage and aggregation between bacteria and neuron you can not be sure the mechanisms are the same. F.i. in bacteria you have much less posttranslational modifications but may be important in dneurodegeneration.
So, I recommend to look for a better cell model than E. coli
So, I recommend to look for a better cell model than E. coli
- Inmost sun likes this


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I have some beautiful old photographs.
They might be relatives of mine ...
I know that the couple are named Backmanand the card was taken in Chicago.
I would like to know more ...
And now I know..!
I want to update the information that I have received.I now know that the photograph of the couple who got married are Anders Gustaf Backman,
born Dec. 27 1855 Medelplana, Skaraborg and
Johanna Maria Hansdotter, born Jan. 13 1862 Ulricehamn, Älvsborg.
Anders Gustaf emigrated to USA in 1881 and Johanna Maria emigrated in 1886.
I also know more about this photo, below.
It is Edith Backman, sitting, she is born april 1895 in Chicago,
daughter of Anders Gustaf and Johanna Maria.
Is is her mother Maria who have sent the photo ( not a sister...)
I still do not know anything about the girl who are standing beside.
On this card we see a girl who is sitting, her name is Edit Backman.
Her sister Maria sent it to Sweden.
I do not know the name of the girl standing next to.
Could these be related to the couple ..?
Yes, I know now, this is Edith Marie Backman.
she recognized her grandparents! She had the same photo! She contacted me and we have shared and still hold on to exchange information.We also know that we are related, it's very nice!


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This is a resource that explains the rationale behind the multiple time zone divisions in the United States. Learners will work through a problem set to practice calculating the time in one time zone, given the time in another time zone. This is... (View More) activity 9 from the educator guide, Exploring Magnetism: Magnetic Mysteries of the Aurora. (View Less)
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This is a user's guide that contains background science and technology information for the Geomagnetic Event Observatory Network by Students program, or GEONS. Learners can review the role that terrestrial magnetism plays in shaping a number of... (View More) important Earth systems. The guide also explains the basic operating principles behind magnetometers, particularly the magnetometer system used in the GEONS program. (View Less)
This is an activity about magnetism. In this activity, polystyrene spheres and several strong neodymium magnets are used to represent the Sun and Earth and their distinct magnetic fields. Participants construct and use a field detector to predict... (View More) where the magnetic fields are on the Sun and Earth, and use field bits, which is the term used in the lesson plan, made from the closed staples to form loops and trace the invisible magnetic fields of the Sun and Earth. The activity is designed to be used in an informal public outreach setting, for example as a stand-alone station in a family science day event. It can also be modified for use as a simple classroom demonstration. There are background information sheets provided that can be printed to go along with the activity station. This activity requires two polystyrene spheres, 8 neodymium magnets, epoxy adhesive, wire clippers, needle nose pliers, and acrylic paints, along with other easily obtained materials. (View Less)
This is a lithograph about a scientific observation by the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager, or RHESSI, spacecraft. Learners will read about a chance observation of a gamma-ray burst in 2002 that has shed new light on the... (View More) mysterious source of these immense explosions. (View Less)
A caller on an automotive-themed radio program asked for help with a problem. It seems that when it rained her windshield wipers sometimes turned themselves on. How is this possible? This resource provides an explanation by exploring electrical... (View More) currents. This resource is from PUMAS - Practical Uses of Math and Science - a collection of brief examples created by scientists and engineers showing how math and science topics taught in K-12 classes have real world applications. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $10 - $20 per group of students
Students will test various materials to determine if any can shield their "magnetometer" (compass) from an external magnetic field using their own experimental design. If no suitable material is available, they will devise another method to protect... (View More) their instrument. Includes background science for the teacher, worksheets, adaptations and extensions. Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are also identified. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $10 - $20 per group of students
This book briefly outlines our current knowledge of how the Sun works and its effects on Earth and the solar system. Learners will read about space weather, solar variability, the heliosphere, Earth's magnetosphere and upper atmosphere, as well as... (View More) the solar mysteries that scientists are still studying. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
This is a collection of outreach resources about the Sun that are meant to be used in informal education settings. This toolkit was originally designed for NASA Night Sky Network member clubs and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific's Astronomy... (View More) from the Ground Up network of museum and science center educators. The toolkit includes background information about the Sun, magnetic fields of the Earth and Sun, and space weather, activity suggestions, and detailed activity scripts. The themes of this toolkit address both the constant nature of the Sun as a reliable source of energy and the dynamic nature of the Sun due to its changing magnetic fields. The activities and related materials in this collection include The Sun in a Different Light - Observing the Sun, Explore the Sun cards, Magnetic Connection, the Space Weather PowerPoint, Protection from Ultraviolet, and Where Does the Energy Come From cards. These activities can be done separately or as a group as part of an informal education event. Institutions that are not part of the Night Sky Network will need to acquire the various materials required for each activity. (View Less)


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Types of Hammers
Today, there are hammers of a dozen or more different designs manufactured for many kinds of tasks, which will be discussed below.
In general, hammers of the same kind are identified by their differing sizes, as a twenty-four-ounce hammer, for example, is larger (and heavier) than a sixteen-ounce hammer. The weight referred to is that of the hammer's head rather than the tool's overall weight.
No matter the size, every household needs at least one hammer. Whether it's for tacking a picture onto the wall or re-nailing a floorboard or piece of molding, the hammer should come quickly and easily to hand.
Claw Hammers
For most of us, this is the design we reach for when we need a hammer. Its head has a face that is used to drive nails; the peen opposite the face is a two-pronged claw that is used to pull nails out of wood. The claw hammer is one of the carpenter's basic tools.
The head on a claw hammer is made of steel, the handle of fiberglass, wood (commonly hickory, a tough, springy wood), or steel. Fiberglass and steel hammers typically have rubber, plastic, or vinyl handles for comfort and shock absorption.
Claw hammers can be purchased in many sizes, ranging from small tack hammers weighing only a few ounces to large framing hammers (designed for driving large nails) that have heads weighing up to twenty-eight ounces and handles reaching eighteen inches in length. The shape of the claw varies from one hammer to another. Larger hammers often have a flattened claw, and sometimes are referred to as wrecking or rip hammers because the claw can be used to pry apart wooden elements in demolition work. Smaller hammers usually have claws with sharper curves.
A moderate-sized hammer with a head of sixteen ounces and handle of sixteen inches will perform a wide variety of tasks, though for framing work a heavier hammer, perhaps of twenty ounces, will offer added power. (I'd suggest you leave the really big ones to those who frame buildings for a living; in the hands of the occasional user, they are unwieldy and a liability for most jobs around the house.)
When selecting a hammer, consider the face, too. A patterned face (also called a mill face) will help prevent glancing blows, because the serrations grip the head of the nail. This is especially handy when doing work that involves forceful hammering, like framing and toe-nailing. A smooth, slightly convex (belled) face is preferable for finish work. In claw hammers, flat faces are usually an indication of second-rate goods.
Pulling a nail puts tremendous wrenching stresses on a hammer. If you favor a wood-handled hammer (and many of us do), use it sparingly for pulling nails. Keep a pair of nail pullers or a wrecking bar handy in your tool bag for pulling all nails larger than eight pennies (two-and-a-half-inch-long nails).
Ball Peen Hammer
The claw hammer is designed for working with wood, the ball peen hammer for metalwork. Sometimes called an engineer's hammer, this tool is used to drive punches and cold chisels, set rivets, and shape metal. Its head is hardened and is less likely than a claw hammer's to chip when used to pound cold chisels. Rather than having a claw, the ball peen hammer has a flat striking surface on one face and a rounded one on the other.
Ball peens, like claw hammers, are sold in many sizes. Common head weights are four, eight, 12, and up to 32 ounces. The heads are steel, the handles usually made of hickory.
When driving a cold chisel or punch, a ball peen hammer with enough weight to drive the tool is required. On the other hand, though this may seem contradictory at first, when shaping metal it is important to use a hammer that doesn't weigh too much. A hammer that is too large will scar or distort the material (especially brass), while a smaller one will tend to shape it more efficiently.
The ball peen hammer is not essential for the woodworker's toolbox. But when it comes to driving cold chisels, the claw hammer isn't the right tool, so having a club hammer (see below) or a ball peen at hand is a good idea. The ball peen can also be used for driving heavy nails and other tasks where its weight and hardness is an asset.
Club Hammer
The club hammer is essentially a small sledgehammer. It is short handled (ten inches long is typical), and light enough that it can be managed comfortably with one hand. A club hammer with a two- and-a-half-pound head is a useful size, though three- and five-pound models are also common. As with most other hammers, wooden handles are typically made of hickory, though fiberglass-handled club hammers are available.
Most club hammers have two identical faces. Both faces can be used, though the primary reason for the second face is that the hammer would be awkward to use if the head were not evenly balanced.
The club hammer and its bigger brethren, the sledgehammers, are used to drive stakes or cold chisels and to demolish masonry. They are sometimes called hand-drilling hammers because they are often used to drive masonry drills.
In using this tool, let the weight of the club hammer's head do as much of the work as possible. For light blows, the weight alone will provide sufficient force; merely allow the head to drop on the object being hammered. For more force, swing the tool as you would other hammers, again with a firm but not rigid grip. This is especially important when using the club hammer for demolition, as the shock of striking a masonry wall, for example, will carry through to your arm if you hold the hammer too tightly, putting you at risk of wrist, elbow, or even shoulder soreness.
Always wear safety goggles when putting the club hammer to use: Stone, masonry, or other bits of debris can easily become airborne and present a grave danger to your eyes.


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Food & Drink
Lavish New Year's Eve experiences
By A. Pawlowski, CNN • Published 16th December 2011
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6 Pictures
Hey, big spender. New Year's Eve is coming up fast, but there's still time to think about an unforgettable getaway to usher in 2012.
Maybe this is the year for the trip of a lifetime or perhaps you're looking to be somewhere out of the ordinary when the clock strikes midnight.
If so, here are six luxurious itineraries that require deep pockets, but will set the tone for an amazing New Year.
Can't make it this time around? Use the list as inspiration for New Year's Eves to come.
Secluded Hawaii
Celebrate in your own (almost) private paradise, far away from any crowd. It takes a 45-minute ferry ride from Maui to get to tiny Lana'i, a former pineapple plantation that has earned the nickname "Hawaii's Most Enticing Island."
You might not be able to rent the whole place for yourself, like Microsoft founder Bill Gates did for his wedding, but you can sip champagne at midnight at the
Four Seasons Lana'i at Manele Bay
"It would be a very exclusive, quiet New Year's celebration," said Janice Hough, an agent with All Horizons Travel in Los Altos, California.
"The service is incredible. It's very much a get-away-from-it-all trip, although you're still in the U.S."
Rooms start at about $775 a night. The resort is offering a New Year's Eve prix fixe dinner for $125 per person and will treat guests to a special fireworks show over Hulopo`e Bay.
Luminous Santa Fe
This adobe wonderland at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico draws art lovers, foodies and outdoor enthusiasts all year round.
But Hough noted the destination is especially beautiful during the holidays with "farolitos" -- or lanterns -- placed along the Santa Fe Plaza and the city's art gallery district.
"It's very pretty and very easy to get to. ... You're also not that far from skiing," she said.
There are plenty of posh accommodations to ring in the New Year in style. Hough recommended staying at the
for a "resorty, out-of-town experience" or the
Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi
in the heart of the city near the Plaza.
Rates for both start at several hundred dollars a night around New Year's Eve.
Mega-yacht in St. Barts
Join celebrities and billionaires who spend New Year's Eve partying aboard yachts moored in St. Barts' famed Gustavia Harbor.
Stars like Demi Moore, Beyonce and Salma Hayek have been spotted celebrating on the Caribbean island in recent years, taking in the fireworks at midnight and staying to get a suntan on New Year's Day.
Don't have your own ship? No worries.
, which offers cruises on luxury "mega-yachts" that carry up to 112 passengers, is sending both of its ships to the picturesque harbor on the big night as part of itineraries that also take you to other parts of the Caribbean.
"You feel like you're on a yacht yourself rather than a big cruise ship," said Sue Bryant, a contributing editor for
, who has sailed on the SeaDream II. She praised the ship's "foodie" cuisine and attentive service.
"The first day we were sunbathing on deck, somebody tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'Ms. Bryant, may I polish your sun glasses?' I've never had anyone say that before."
The voyages start at about $5,000 per person.
Romantic Vienna
There is something magical about Vienna during the holidays, but the city on the Danube really goes all out for New Year's, with elegant galas and an imperial ball to mark the occasion.
For a classic experience, stay at the famous
Hotel Sacher
, located next to the Vienna State Opera. You can start your night there with a 6-course New Year's Eve gala dinner, which features dishes such as beef consommé with truffle-celery ravioli and turbot with lobster jelly.
For 364 euros per person (about $486), the hotel also offers a package that will take you from the festive meal right to the Kaiserball -- a grand ball in the Hofburg Palace, the former residence of Austria's monarchs.
On New Year's Day, music lovers who have been lucky enough to score a ticket can attend the elegant "
" -- the New Year's Concert at the Vienna Philharmonic, where Strauss waltzes rule the program.
African desert adventure
New Year's Eve celebrations usually involve crowds, but this getaway to Morocco will have you and a select group of adventurers marking the occasion in the Sahara, away from most signs of civilization.
The journey begins in Fez and continues to the oasis city of Erfoud, said Mary Ann Ramsey, president of Betty Maclean Travel in Naples, Florida, who arranges the trips through
Abercrombie & Kent
Traveling by four-wheel drive and by camel, you go out into the desert and the huge Erg Chebbi sand dunes. Guests spend the night in a luxury tented desert camp -- an experience Ramsey described as "incredible" and "spectacular."
"To me, that would be the coolest place to be for New Year's Eve," Ramsey said.
"I've had people go out there to propose. ... It is the most romantic and fabulous [experience] -- the stars are their own fireworks. There are so many stars because there's nothing nearby."
The full itinerary costs about $13,460 per person, an Abercrombie & Kent spokeswoman said.
Caribbean fantasy
Ready to be whisked off for an over-the-top experience? This "Fully Loaded" New Year's Eve package at the
Gansevoort Turks and Caicos
at $100,000.
That price includes private jet service to and from the island of Providenciales, accommodations in the oceanfront penthouse suite and your own on-call spa therapist for massages, yoga and other treatments.
On the big night, you take a luxury catamaran excursion to a secluded cove, where a personal chef prepares your meal, a personal conch diving instructor takes you out for an underwater adventure, and a personal videographer films your journey.
You'll usher in 2012 while "glamping" (that's camping with a glamorous twist) in a luxury tent.
The Gansevoort Turks and Caicos resort was among the winners of
TripAdvisor's 2011 Travelers' Choice
awards -- chosen by the site's members as one of the top 10 trendiest and most relaxing hotels and in the world.
A year of the world's
Best Beaches
There's a perfect beach for every week of the year. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all
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text:
Sarahmotte had een nieuw icon design ontwerp nodig en lanceerde daarom een wedstrijd op 99designs.
Een winnaar werd gekozen uit66 ontwerpen ingezonden door17 freelance designers.
Who are we?
IPad Application designed for Interactive Museum Exhibits
What do we do?
Have you ever wanted that beautiful interactive kiosk in your museum, yet can't afford the big price tag?
We have the solution. MuseumApp.
From personal experience as a museum curator, I have learned that visitors prefer interactive exhibits over reading text on a board. Having developed two museums myself in the small town of Perris, Ca and my big brother being the programming brains behind the project, we decided to get an app running specifically for small museums that are unable to afford those immovable gargantuam kiosks that are not so user friendly.
Our concept was simple...to make the app user friendly, interactive & universal so anyone can customize it to their specific museum exhibit needs.
Attached is an icon that we have started. We like how it's very sleek, yet professional. Our target market are museums. So we need something professional, sleek and fresh. We like the colors, and icon so far, but the logo is too small to print on an advertisement. So we need a large vector file as well.
We are also open to any other ideas, as long as it looks sleek, professional and IPad app looking that's what we want.
So please look at the attached photo icon first, and go from there.
Here is our facebook for more information regarding the app: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Museu…6861518076
I will bring in more feedback once I begin to see the designs.
Target Audience- Museums, museum goers, & museum curators, tech savvy museums.


text:
Monday, January 26, 2015
Starburst Superfruit Flavors
Wrigley's releases a new Starburst assortment every year. This year they're a little behind the marketing trends and present Starburst Superfruit Flavors.
I wasn't sure what a superfruit was, so I looked it up and apparently it's just a marketing term. The general idea is that a superfruit is a fruit that has nutritional or health benefits beyond a normal fruit. Blueberries, goji berries and acai are included in this non-standardized list for their high antioxidant and flavanoid content. Many of these foods are sold with ORAC ratings on the package, which are meant to codify the antioxidant capabilities of the food.
Of course a candy that's simply flavored for these "miraculous" foods is missing the point.
The new flavor assortment is: Raspberry Pomegranate, Strawberry Starfruit, Passionfruit Punch and Blueberry Acai. The ingredients are pretty much the same as the ingredients as all the other Starburst flavors, which are made from corn syrup, sugar, hydrogenated palm kernel oil and less than 2% apple juice concentrate. They add in a bit of vitamin C (20% of your RDA) and some artificial colors and flavors.
Strawberry Starfruit is much more tart than the usual Strawberry but with less of the floral and toasted sugar notes. The Starfruit might add that additional tangy zap, as the fruit is usually rather white grape-like with a note of green apple thrown in.
Raspberry Pomegranate is the darkest red of the batch and comes in a purple wrapper. The chew is actually very intensely pomegranate and berry, not too sweet, very floral and with an almost dry finish that you can get with pomegranates.
Passionfruit Punch comes in the magenta wrapper and does taste exactly like a fruit punch. It's quite tart, which is refreshing and gets my salivary glands going. I'm not usually fond of fruit punch flavors, but this one had a sort of dry finish to it which kept it all from getting too fake or metallic at the end.
I thought this was a stupid idea when I read about these for the reasons I introduced earlier. However, Starburst has succeeded in making each of the flavors distinct and intense. I don't care for the smoothies or the cream flavors for Starburst, I prefer the really dense fruit chew that Starburst usually delivers. So, on that front they're quite successful. I don't know if I would want this mix over the traditional fruits version which has the citrus flavors I love, but I have to say that I actually liked each and every flavor in this package and have no reason to even look at the wrapper before eating.
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Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Skittles Orchards
In the world of grouped things there are litters (kittens & puppies), packs (mules), troops (monkeys), prides (lions), passels (pigs), pods (whales & dolphins), scurries (squirrels), hives (bees) and orchards (fruit trees). So, Wrigley's new variety mix is simply called Skittles Orchards since it contains Orange, Red Apple, Lime, Peach and Cherry flavors.
Right off the bat, I knew this wouldn't have anything berry or pineapple ...
The package is a rich green color, so it was easy to spot on the shelf at the 7-11.
Red Apple is different from the new green apple that appears in the Original Fruits variety. It's not as sour and has a more juice and peel type flavor that you might get from cider instead of a Jolly Rancher candy. The Red Apple flavor is the lighter of the two red colors in this mix ...why they couldn't make it some other shade of red, I'm not certain because I kept getting it confused with the cherry at first glance.
Lime is, well, classic. It's a little tart but mostly has the sweet and zesty notes of lime peel. I missed it.
Orange is rather sedate. There are a lot of juice flavors but it lacks a more powerful zest note that the lime has. This was an opportunity for Wrigley's to put in something like Mandarin Orange or Tangerine ... instead they just threw in a flavor they already make.
Cherry is the darker red and I'm sure that lovers of the Starburst cherry are going to go nuts for this package of Skittles. I can't tell if it's actually different from the Wild Cherry that comes in the Wild Berry Skittles mix, but it is nice to see them putting Cherry into another mix.
Peach is disappointing, though I actually liked it. It's a little tangy and has an immediate sort of balsam note to it, but it lacks that peachness. There more like a vague tropical punch flavor, which isn't a bad thing.
As far as combining the flavors. Of course Orange and Lime went together, and Cherry and Lime went together. Peach and Orange were okay, but not stellar. And of course Red Apple was like the new Green Apple in the Fruits mix ... it just doesn't combine well with anything but itself.
There's nothing innovative about this packet of Skittles, but then again, that's not what folks want. If that's what they wanted, varieties like Chocolate Mix and Fizzl'd Fruits would have survived. Instead this mix delivers solid contenders for "I enjoy this flavor" though nothing that would scream, "I love this flavor." That's probably enough in the Skittles world where it's about the variety, it's all about the rainbow, it's never about one color. I don't think this version will survive long, Wrigley's will move on to another mix up of other tried and true flavors that it's done before within 18 months.
Just to clarify, there are at least 60 flavors that have been released in the US flavor mixes before. Here's the list that I have (in alphabetical order): Banana Berry, Berry Punch, Blood Orange, Blue Raspberry-Lemon, Blueberry Tart, Brownie Batter, Bubble Gum, Candy Apple, Caramel Ripple, Cherry Tropicolada, Cherry-Lemonade, Chocolate, Chocolate Caramel, Chocolate Pudding, Cool Mint, Cotton Candy, Dark Berry, Forbidden Fruit, Grape, Green Apple, Green Slushy, Key Lime Pie, Kiwi Lime, Lemon, Lemon Berry, Lime, Mango Lemonade Freeze, Mango Tangelo, Mango-Peach, Melon Berry Burst, Midnight Lime, Mixed Berry, Orange, Orange Creme, Orange Mango, Peach Pear, Peppermint , Pineapple Passionfruit, Pomegranate, Punch, Raspberry, Raspberry Sorbet, Red Licorice, S'More, Sour Grape, Sour Green Apple, Sour Lemon, Sour Orange, Sour Strawberry, Spearmint, Strawberry, Strawberry Banana, Strawberry Lime Burst, Strawberry Milkshake, Strawberry Starfruit, Strawberry-Watermelon, Sweet Mint, Vanilla, Vanilla Swirl, Watermelon, Watermelon Green Apple Freeze, Wild Cherry, Wintergreen.
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POSTED BY Cybele AT 2:50 pm Candy • Review • Skittles • Mars • Wrigley's • Chews • 6-Tempting • United States • 7-11 •
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Candy Tease - Sweets & Snacks Part 2
Name: Candy Blocks
Name: Dark Chocolate Almond Turtles
Name: Starburst FaveREDs Minis
Name: Skittles Orchards
Name: Skittles Mash-Ups
Name: York Minis
All images courtesy of the respective company
POSTED BY Cybele AT 5:29 am All Candy Expo • Candy • New Product Announcement • Demet's Candy Company • Hershey's • Wrigley's • Highlight • News •
Monday, March 10, 2014
Starburst Fruity Slushies
Another new year, another new variety of Starburst. This year it's Starburst Fruity Slushies featuring four new flavors inspired by ... actually, I'm not sure what prompted these flavors.
The orange package is easy to spot and features a bunch of images of tasty looking fruits and some odd blue raspberries on it. The new flavors are strawberry lemonade chill, citrus slush, cherry splash and blue raspberry rush.
The colors are great, if a little unnatural, but the palette is pleasant and easy to tell apart from the other Starburst varieties.
Strawberry Lemonade Chill is in a pink wrapper. It's a standard strawberry but a little more tart and less floral. I didn't like it as much as the regular Strawberry Starburst, which is surprising because the idea of strawberry with a touch of tart lemon and a hint of zest would be fantastic. This does not have those qualities.
Cherry Splash is in an easy to spot red wrapper. It tastes exactly like a Cherry Starburst. I don't know what the splash is, maybe there's a hint of lime in there, but it's basically the same wild cherry flavor that has been in the Starburst pack for decades.
Citrus Slush is in a sort of peachy orange wrapper. There weren't that many in my package, so I had to make my tastings count. Instead of a citrus blast, it's more like a fruit punch. It's tart and has some nice tangerine notes, but not as much variety as I would have hoped. Could be orange, so again, not much different from the regular Starburst pack so far ... cherry, strawberry and orange.
Blue Raspberry Rush is in a cerulean blue wrapper and the piece inside matches exceptionally well in its "this is not food" impossibility. The piece smells like raspberry jam, and there is a definite jammy quality to the boiled fruit flavor. It also has a slight effervescent note to it. Overall, a well rounded flavor that ends rather sweet.
The variety was not innovative. I feel like the new Starburst are stuck in this rut or retreading the same territory. While I enjoy the idea of there being an infinite exploration of flavors for Starburst and Skittles, I think we have the standard flavors for a reason, they work well in this medium.
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POSTED BY Cybele AT 2:31 pm Candy • Review • Mars • Wrigley's • Chews • Starburst • 7-Worth It • United States • Target •
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Skittles Desserts
It's a new year and time for a new variety of Skittles.
This year's flavor variation is called Skittles Desserts and features five different colors themed on dessert creations: Orange Creme (peach), Raspberry Sorbet (red), Strawberry Milkshake (creamy pink), Blueberry Tart (blue) and Key Lime Pie (bright green).
The pink package was pretty easy to find on the shelf. The current varieties of Skittles are the Original Fruits (now with green apple), Wild Berry, Sours, Tropical and Darkside. For Easter there's also a pastel version of the Original Fruits.
Orange Creme is kind of pointless. It's absolutely like an orange sherbet, which is to say, orange with all the great things taken out. The addition of the creme flavor component gives it a sort of Play-Doh flavor note that's a little too fake milk. There's no zest, though a light tartness.
Raspberry Sorbet has a strong floral note and only a light tartness. There's also a bitter aftertaste for me, perhaps the food coloring. Overall, it's a nice flavor that combines well with the others.
Strawberry Milkshake is comforting. It's just strawberry with a sort of yogurt note. It's not as floral or as tart, just sweet and slightly creamy.
Blueberry Tart is tough to say succeeds. It does have a lot of blueberry flavor in it, both the deep boiled jam note and the sort of tart and tannic tea flavors. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a dessert like a berry tart, it's closer to a fresh berry flavor though that's not a bad thing.
Key Lime Pie is absolutely disappointing. I've had a lot of key limes, both fresh, frozen and mock versions. Key limes are definitely different from the standard Persian limes in both the flavor profile and texture. This lime is more Persian than Key. It's tart, but not overly so, but misses that milky, sort of chalky note that key limes have.
This flavor assortment was lackluster. There were no stand out flavors, nothing new. It's just a series of small tweaks to flavors that we've all seen before from Skittles. I didn't think they combined particularly well, which is usually one of the features I like best about Skittles. Since the loss of the Lime Skittle in the Original Fruits variety, I'm left without a favorite Skittles package. I haven't bought them since I stopped finding the bags with the original variety in them. In last year's review of the Skittles Darkside, I listed a few ideas for new mixes (including Skittles Pies, kinda what they did here).
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POSTED BY Cybele AT 12:12 pm Candy • Review • Skittles • Mars • Wrigley's • Chews • 6-Tempting • United States • Ralph's •
Monday, September 9, 2013
Starburst Original Fruit Flavored Candy Corn
Candy Corn is brilliantly simple and captures the essential nature of corn itself very well. Corn (I mean dent corn, not the fresh-eating sweet corn) is ubiquitous and exceptionally versatile; it can be used to create oil, sweeteners, cereals, starches, feeds and even plastics.
Candy Corn reflects that versatility well, in that it looks like food, but it is much better at boosting the appeal of other foods as a decoration or merely a side dish to more appealing things. Like corn in our everyday lives as North Americans, it's everywhere at Halloween. Candy corn is a fondant, and fondant is basically a butterless, chocolateless fudge. It's just sugar and corn syrup, sometimes flavored with a bit of honey and sometimes held together with a bit of gelatin or egg white.It's kind of sad that candy corn has become some sort of punchline to jokes about reviled foods, but it must have lovers or at least likers, or else candy companies wouldn't make so much of it.
Wrigley's seems to have latched onto the seasonal quality of candy corn for their new Starburst Original Fruit Flavored Candy Corn but discarded most of the other qualities of candy corn. They're brightly colored, fruitly flavored unlike normal candy corn. The only thing that remains is the triangular shape and layering of colors.
Each candy is three tiers of one of the Original Starburst flavors: cherry, strawberry, orange and lemon. All have white tips, light centers and dark bases.What's particularly odd about them is that they're flavored the same on all levels. At the bottom of the bag was a bunch of the little white tips that had broken off and they were absolutely just as flavorful as the colored bottoms. The other thing is they're not a traditionally "flavored" mellocreme. The others that I've had are usually light - maple or cocoa flavored perhaps, or with mild fruit essences. The Starburst Candy Corn is going for true Starburst juicy flavor - sweet, fruity and tart.
Cherry was the darkest red. It tasted quite strongly of that artificial cherry that Life Savers and Starburst share. There's a sharpness towards the end and an overall pleasant tartness. The texture is good, it's soft and though it doesn't quite melt in your mouth, it's smooth. The flavor lingered, again, medicinal and artificial.
Strawberry was pink and had a similar sort of medicinal quality like the cherry. It wasn't floral or jammy, just artificial tasting.
Orange was like a creamsicle, sweet but tart enough that it had a sort of aspergum finish to it. This too had a lingering aftertaste, kind of like yogurt or soured milk.
Lemon was probably the most successful, but that's not saying much. The lemon had a hint of zest but mostly was like a lemon sherbet flavor.
On the whole, I found them a pleasant experience, but I was left wondering why I was eating them. I didn't like the flavor variety, the aftertaste was odd and the tartness distracted from what is usually a very mild and comforting candy. I think to celebrate the season, I'll just form my regular Starburst Chews into little triangles and enjoy them that way.
Starburst has really extended their fruit chew brand in a lot of ways. There are or have been jelly beans, lollipops, drinks, gummis and now mellocremes. I don't think I've ever seen a Starburst gum, red licorice type chew or chocolately Tootsie Roll styled product. Only time will tell.
The ingredients do not list any eggs or gelatin, which I found surprising. It does list confectioners glaze, which usually means shellac so it's not a vegan product.
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POSTED BY Cybele AT 12:24 pm Candy • Review • Halloween • Mars • Wrigley's • Fondant • 6-Tempting • United States • Rite Aid •
Monday, July 29, 2013
Life Savers Berry Bites Gummies
Wrigley's has released a new Life Savers Gummies variety. It's called Life Savers Berry Bites.
They come in three flavors: strawberry, red raspberry and cherry berry (which is not a real thing).
Their construction is different from the usual Life Savers Gummis. First, they're smaller, about same diameter as a hard candy Life Saver, but without the hole. They're thicker and have two layers. The top is the semi-transparent gummi layer and the bottom is called a white "light textured layer" which is a foamy gummi, a bit denser than a marshmallow.
Strawberry is the lightest color, a pale pink which sometimes looked a little orange. The flavor is well rounded, a good combination of tartness and sweetness. Strawberry is pretty easy to do well, as Life Savers have done here. The foamy layer is also a little tart and seems to be less berry, but not quite creamy.
Red Raspberry is the red and was the least successful of the set. It was tasty, but not jammy enough for me and didn't distinguish itself from the other two. It was sweet and has berry notes, but it was bland overall.
Cherry Berry is dark red. If it's supposed to be a mixed berry, that was lost on me, because this was a true Life Savers Cherry flavor. It's zingy and intense, except for the foamy layer which gives it a bit of air without diluting the flavor completely.
I appreciate that Life Savers didn't go out and make too many berry flavors to fit into this mix, just because they do five flavors in their rolls. Three is a good mix and all three of these were successful, though probably not a good match for my favorite flavor ranking. Now ... if they make a citrus mix, we'll have something to talk about.
Right now I think they only come in the large resealable package, but will probably be available in the king sized packages as some point. They're similar to the Wonka Whipped Wingers which I believe had natural colors in them.
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POSTED BY Cybele AT 3:01 pm Candy • Review • Mars • Wrigley's • Gummi Candy • 7-Worth It • United States •
Friday, June 21, 2013
Starburst Minis (Original)
Last month at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, Wrigley's showed off their new Starburst Minis. They were kind enough to send me some samples of the new version which should be hitting stores this month.
As you would expect from the name, they're mini versions of the regular Starburst chews. They're also unwrapped. (Some folks who make chains from the wrappers will not find this to be a selling point.) The flavors are the same as the Original packages: orange, lemon, cherry and strawberry.
A wrapped Starburst is .75 inches square and approximately .33 inches high. Each is approximately 5 grams. The new Minis are slightly more than .5 inches square, though the sides are not straight, they're pinched and are .25 inches high. So my calculations show that they're about one third the size.
What's more interesting is the ingredients list. Starburst contain gelatin. So, they're off limits to vegetarians and have never been Kosher/Halal to my knowledge.
Starburst Minis do not contain gelatin. They use pectin, which is derived from vegetable/fruit sources. In addition to the artificial colors, the other ingredient of concern to some folks would be the use of confectioners glaze, which has shellac in it. Shellac is derived from insects,so it is not a vegan product. It is gluten free. Also, oddly, this is made in Mexico. (I checked my other recent Starburst purchase of Starburst Very Berry but confirmed that they were made in the USA.)
Aside from the size and the enhanced ability to combine flavors, the other difference is texture. I found that the pieces were slightly aerated. They weren't as dense as a regular wrapped Starburst, and also not quite as intensely flavored. But they're softer and easier to chew. The chew had the same long-lasting flavor and lack of grain ... but a lighter dissolve on the tongue (I think because of the aeration).
They don't do well in humid climates. Humidity in Los Angeles, lately, has been around 40% and they've done well, but one damp morning and they were rather stuck together. I left them in the office overnight where it's air condition and they separated again. So if you're in a humid area, you might want to stick with the wrapped version or keep these sealed in a zipper bag when you're not busy consuming them.
The key feature to recommend the Starburst Minis is not their size, it's the fact that they're unwrapped. But I'm sure there are a lot of folks who will hone in on the fact that they don't have gelatin in them. I don't like the texture as much, but I can see the appeal of these, especially in circumstances where the wrappers are a hindrance, such as snacking on a plane or in a movie theater. But mostly I figure Skittles are mini Starburst - not quite the same flavor array, but a good approximation and they don't stick together.
UPDATE 9/3/2014: I picked up another package, because I've noticed some comments about the flavor and texture that were inconsistent with my initial review. Since that was a year ago and the candy has been in production for a while, I thought perhaps there were differences when the candy sits around on shelves for a few months or if they'd tweaked anything.
I found them to be quite firm, tough even. It's workable, but not a feature I find comforting. The flavor is also off, especially on the citrus flavors ... I definitely got a little note of something metallic with the lemon and orange. If this is the way everyone else is tasting them, I'd downgrade them to a 6 out of 10. I'm sticking with regular wrapped Starburst.
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 1:21 pm Candy • Morselization • Review • Mars • Wrigley's • Chews • Starburst • 7-Worth It • Mexico •
Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.


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NARR8 is a free iPad app with interactive stories, articles, & motion comics for readers, dreamers, and explorers.The Secret City: "Subterranean Inferno"
Read the final episode of The Secret City — "Subterranean Inferno"! The Secret City is on the verge of total destruction for the second time in the last few weeks. The Dark Lord and his plenipotentiary commissar Santiaga have barely any time left to save New York from annihilation. DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Secret City: "Clash of the Monsters"
Read the 35th episode of The Secret City — "Clash of the Monsters"! Gigantic monsters are destroying Manhattan. DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Secret City: "Battle in Times Square"
Read the 34th episode of The Secret City — "Battle in Times Square"! Manhattan's central streets have become the site of a savage battle between the Secret City's most powerful mages. DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Secret City: "A New Keeper"
Read the 33th episode of The Secret City — "A New Keeper"! Cortés's mercenaries fight the Moranas in Lady Cara's salon. Meanwhile, another dramatic magical battle erupts in the center of Manhattan. DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Secret City: "Lady of Chaos"
Read the 31th episode of The Secret City — "Lady of Chaos"! Lady Cara is conducting a hideous experiment to manufacture black Moranas. The life of her pupil Alice Harper is in grave danger. DISCUSS THE EPISODEGame Insight Releases Music Collections Containing Soundtracks from Its Best Games and NARR8 Graphic Novels
Do you like music? We must confess we simply love it! That's why we do all we can to introduce the best music into Game Insight products. Music is one of the main components of our games, and we are glad to provide you with the opportunity to listen to these wonderful compositions whenever the mood strikes. Now you can download the soundtracks from Game Insight products and NARR8 series using any music service convenient for you. Choose an album you like and enjoy your favorite compositions anytime, anywhere. We are happy to present, in cooperation with the RDS Records music label, the following albums:- Game Insight Games Music Volume 1;- Game Insight Games Music Volume 2;- Agency (Original Motion Comics Soundtrack);- Fear Hunters (Original Motion Comics Soundtrack);- Final Feat (Original Motion Comics Soundtrack);- Knights of the Void 1, 2;- MULTIVERSE etc. Soundtrack music from Game Insight products downloads on iTunes Soundtrack music from NARR8 series downloads on iTunes Soundtrack music from Game Insight products downloads on Google Play Soundtrack music from NARR8 series downloads on Google Play Listen on Spotify music from Game Insight products Listen on Spotify music from NARR8 seriesFear Hunters: "New Perspectives"
Read now the 36th episode of Fear Hunters — "New Perspectives"! The Dark World will soon invade our reality and turn humanity in a herd of slaves for the demonic beasts. The Fear Hunters are helpless to prevent this horror ... DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Secret City: "The Font of Transformation"
Read the 30th episode of The Secret City — "The Font of Transformation"! Lady Cara has prepared another malicious surprise for the Secret City. However, the Dark Navs are intending to counter her guile. DISCUSS THE EPISODEFear Hunters: "The Final Battle"
Read now the 35th episode of Fear Hunters — "The Final Battle"! The Lord of Dreams has nothing to lose, and he rains down all his last weapons on the Fear Hunters. Meanwhile, a genuine deadly threat is lying in wait for them from a completely different side ... DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Secret City: "Hackers"
Read the 29th episode of The Secret City — "Hackers"! The witch Alice Harper heads to the quarters of Lady Cara, who is also known to some as the Goddess Anneke. Little does she know that at the moment the Goddess is engaged in preparing a new ferocious strike on the Secret City ... DISCUSS THE EPISODEFear Hunters: "Dark Corridors"
Read now the 34th episode of Fear Hunters — "Dark Corridors"! The Fear Hunters are confined to cages of their own personal phobias. The Master steps out to fight one-on-one with the Hellish Clown, who is far stronger than him. Only a miracle can prevent the destruction of Project Oneiroid ... DISCUSS THE EPISODEKnights of the Void: "The Emperor Returns"
Read the 26th episode of Knights of the Void — "The Emperor Returns"! The people and the Ziura meet in a last battle for the right to hold sway over the galaxy. How will this conflict end? Is humanity in its last days? Or will this be the start of a new era? DISCUSS THE EPISODEProdigal Angel: "Unplugged"
Read now 33th episode of Prodigal Angel — "Unplugged"! With the Kingpin and Sphinx warring over his vulnerable, comatose body, Max is in more danger than ever. His powers won't be enough to save him this time — not without a little help from his friends. DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Secret City: "Lady Cara"
Read the 28th episode of The Secret City — "Lady Cara"! The hapless witch Alice Harper starts her training with the mysterious Lady Cara. Meanwhile, the Secret City's enemies are not sitting still.DISCUSS THE EPISODESubject 9: "Dawn"
We're happy to present you new episode of Subject 9 — "Dawn"! It wasn't so long ago that our heroes were prisoners who escaped into a world they didn't understand. Now it's the humans who are emerging into a new world — but our heroes have learned hard lessons since their escape from EXA, and together they can muster the courage to avoid the mistakes of their predecessors. DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Pandas & Boom: "Who is Taller?"
Here is new episode of The Pandas & Boom — "Who is Taller?"! The pandas and Boom argue about who is more important. And is looks like the winner will be the tallest. DISCUSS THE EPISODEFear Hunters: "Through the Nightmares"
Read now the 33th episode of Fear Hunters — "Through the Nightmares"! The Hellish Clown is gradually losing his battle with the Fear Hunters. But he still has plenty of devious tricks up his sleeve. His task will become far easier if he can split up his enemy's team by forcing each fighter to do battle with their own personal fear. DISCUSS THE EPISODENarr8 Introduces a New Windows Phone App!
NARR8 is coming to Windows Phone! A new app, delivering informative and entertaining content, is already available for all Windows Phone 8 smartphones. NARR8 is a unique channel that delivers easy access to different types of interactive entertaining and educational content: novels, fairytales, lifestyle series and popular science. Soon, NARR8 app will also offer motion comics and interactive series that thousands of NARR8 users already enjoy on other platforms. The developers also plan on further expanding communication channels on Windows Phone as well as on launching new interesting brands on a new platform. Today NARR8 application is available for iOS, Android, Windows 8, Facebook, and Amazon. The first NARR8 application for iOS was launched in November 2012.The Secret City: "A Fine Cigar"
Read the 27th episode of The Secret City — "A Fine Cigar"! Storm clouds are still gathering over the Secret City. Nur, the last Lord of Chaos, is striving to annihilate the Great Courts that once destroyed his own Court ... DISCUSS THE EPISODEProdigal Angel: "Unleashed"
Read now 32th episode of Prodigal Angel — "Unleashed"! Things are looking grim for Max Williams. It's bad enough that Sphinx wants to reclaim him for their nefarious experiments — now he's been captured by the Kingpin, who has a score to settle with him... DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Pandas & Boom: "Who's Hiding in the Cave?"
Here is new episode of The Pandas & Boom — "Who's Hiding in the Cave?"! Who is teasing the pandas and Boom from the darkness of a mysterious cave? DISCUSS THE EPISODEFear Hunters: "Waves of Death"
Read now the 32th episode of Fear Hunters — "Waves of Death"! After the fight in the mushroom kingdom, the Hellish Clown escapes to another nightmare. It is a world the Fear Hunters are all too familiar with. Which side will its creator take this time? DISCUSS THE EPISODESubject 9: "Midnight"
We're happy to present you new episode of Subject 9 — "Midnight"! It's now or never. Out of time and out of options, our heroes and their foes alike must fight their destiny or face their doom. After so many secrets, so many lies and so many betrayals, is there still any place for trust? When trust, it seems, is the world's only hope... DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Pandas & Boom: "Porridge"
Here is new episode of The Pandas & Boom — "Porridge"! Sophie and Hector decide to cook porridge, and they are sure that they will do it better than Boom. There's only one hitch — the pandas don't know how to cook... DISCUSS THE EPISODEProdigal Angel: "A Rock and a Hard Place"
Read now 31th episode of Prodigal Angel — "A Rock and a Hard Place"! Using his recovered memories, Max restores the chain of events that, ten years ago, led to his coma. He asks Dr. Cliff to help him, but the doctor's efforts come undone by Noire's malicious plotting... As if this wasn't enough, Martha makes an accidental slip which may well cost Max his life. DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Secret City: "The Mermaid's Kiss"
Read the 26th episode of The Secret City — "The Mermaid's Kiss"! Cortés's interrogation by the Secret City's supreme hierarchs leads to quite unexpected results. Meanwhile, the source of the manuscript of the Arcanum of Desires is hanging over Santiaga like the sword of Damocles: at some point in the past, this artifact was produced by the commissar of the Dark Court's own hand. DISCUSS THE EPISODEPrime blood: "The Prime is Born"
Read now the 14th episode of Prime blood — "The Prime is Born"! A fierce battle is raging in the vaults below the Capitol. The vampires' god has arisen and is on the cusp of tipping the world into an abyss of blood and chaos. The alternative — victory for the werewolves — is no less disastrous for humanity. Jane is dying, and Ronin is chained up: all hope is surely lost. DISCUSS THE EPISODEKnights of the Void: "Father and Son"
Read the 25th episode of Knights of the Void — "Father and Son"! The Knights of the Void join forces with the Imperial fleet to oppose the Ziura's invasion. Meanwhile, in Lilith's palace Alan raises a powerful ally out of suspended animation... DISCUSS THE EPISODEFear Hunters: "Mycelium"
Read now the 31th episode of Fear Hunters — "Mycelium"! Following their mighty battle, the Hellish Clown escaped from the Fear Hunters and the Master. Now the Project Oneiroid fighters must hunt him down in the most sinister and freakish worlds a diseased subconscious can generate. DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Pandas & Boom: "Gravity"
Here is new episode of The Pandas & Boom — "Gravity"! Gravity — a mysterious force — drops an apple onto Sophie's head. How can the little panda get her revenge? DISCUSS THE EPISODESubject 9: "Paragon of Animals"
We're happy to present you new episode of Subject 9 — "Paragon of Animals"! When Leonard orders his team to attack the mysterious underground dwellers, he may have written the last chapter in the history of Middletown... DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Secret City: "The Sukharev Tower"
Read the 25th episode of The Secret City — "The Sukharev Tower"! The Keeper of the Black Book has harbored a burning hatred for the magical races since the days of the Soviet Union. A new figure appears in the Goddess's grand scheme against the Secret City's highest-ranking figures. DISCUSS THE EPISODEProdigal Angel: "Half-Light"
Read now 30th episode of Prodigal Angel — "Half-Light"! A visit from the reclusive CEO of Sphinx Pharmaceuticals changes Max's perspective on his fate and his future, offering new insight and the first ray of hope he's had in a long time. But there are more discoveries waiting for him, lifting the veil on recent — and long-distant — mysteries. DISCUSS THE EPISODEFear Hunters: "The Fires of Hell"
Read now the 30th episode of Fear Hunters — "The Fires of Hell"! The Fear Hunters fight an army of demons, but killing those beasts is not enough to defeat them: there are still more adventures to come in the Dark World. DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Pandas & Boom: "The Stars"
Here is new episode of The Pandas & Boom — "The Stars"! The pandas and Boom enter into an argument about what stars really are. Who will help them find out the truth? DISCUSS THE EPISODEKnights of the Void: "The Fall of the Empire"
Read the 24th episode of Knights of the Void — "The Fall of the Empire"! The Imperial reserve fleet is preparing to bomb Quinan and Vivienne's residence, which Lord Cray has seized. Meanwhile, Alan discovers the truth about events that happened sixteen years ago. DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Secret City: "Deadly Catacombs"
Read the 24th episode of The Secret City — "Deadly Catacombs"! Mercenary Phil Crosby ends up in the Order of War's terrifying catacombs. Meanwhile, Santiaga, the commissar of the dark demons, finds himself in an extremely thorny situation ... DISCUSS THE EPISODESubject 9: "Descent"
We're happy to present you new episode of Subject 9 — "Descent"! The President gives the order: Operation Triple Cross commences. Leonard's team starts carrying out their part of the plan, but encounters an unforeseen surprise. Meanwhile, our heroes are trying to think of a way to breach the secret bunker's defenses. DISCUSS THE EPISODEFear Hunters: "A Team of Hunters"
Read now the 29th episode of Fear Hunters — "A Team of Hunters"! The entire team of Fear Hunters is ready to enter the sinister Dark World to meet the Master and engage in the battle against the Hellish Clown. Meanwhile, a deadly threat is hanging over Project Oneiroid—once again. DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Pandas & Boom: "The Vase"
Here is new episode of The Pandas & Boom — "The Vase"! The pandas break Laurie's favorite vase when they are at her house. Sophie suggests lying to the raccoon by saying that Boris the meowing moose did it. DISCUSS THE EPISODEProdigal Angel: "The Sphinx"
Read now 29th episode of Prodigal Angel — "The Sphinx"! Opposing forces have learned Max's secret and set their sights on him. Dr. Cliff receives a visit he couldn't have expected — and, through an innocent slip of the tongue, unwittingly aids a dark plot with Max as its target. DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Secret City: "Crescendo"
Read the 23th episode of The Secret City — "Crescendo"! The battle for Yankee Stadium has reached its peak; the Arcanum of Desires is almost complete, and the whole world is moments away from destruction ... DISCUSS THE EPISODEKnights of the Void: "Blood Brothers"
Read the 23th episode of Knights of the Void — "Blood Brothers"! Having found an ally in Alan, Lord Cray initiates an audacious attack on the Imperial Residence. But are his promises to be trusted? DISCUSS THE EPISODESPIN: "Hazard Pay"
Here is the new episode of SPIN — "Hazard Pay"! McGreedy has not had serious competitors for a long time, which has made him too self-confident. Firstly he ripped off his partner Lopez, then he misled Ginsburg, and finally he personally gave the order to eliminate Jane. And, of course, it is all for money. Huge sums of money. However, he is about to make a surprising discovery: not everyone values their life by the number of zeros in their bank account. They consider other things more important. Like honor. And love. DISCUSS THE EPISODEFear Hunters: "The Old Church"
Read now the 28th episode of Fear Hunters — "The Old Church"! The Fear Hunters do not stop trying to return their friend and colleague Sean McLaughlin to his body. He, in his new form as the Reaper, hears the Master's plan to eliminate the Hellish Clown. Meanwhile, Natasha Kazakova is facing a new threat ... DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Pandas & Boom: "Little Fish"
Here is new episode of The Pandas & Boom — "Little Fish"! The pandas and Boom make friends with a cheerful little fish that shows them a wonderful underwater world. DISCUSS THE EPISODEQumi-Qumi: "Love's Hurdles (part 2)"
Read now the 22th episode of Qumi-Qumi — "Love's Hurdles (part 2)"! A General from the Shumi-Qumi tribe falls in love with Jusi and kidnaps her so he can marry her. Naturally, Juga and Shumadan can't and won't stand for it! They procure some magical cakes to save Jusi, but the cakes have a number of unexpected side effects. DISCUSS THE EPISODEAgency: "The Verdict"
Read now the 12th episode of Agency — "The Verdict"! The Happiness Factory has closed, but a new client shows up who could turn everything around. Charlize is dreaming of an honest guy with a fat wallet, and for the Factory there's no such thing as an impossible assignment. However, Sabrina will have to sacrifice something for the sake of another person's happiness... DISCUSS THE EPISODEThe Secret City: "The Stadium"
Read the 22th episode of The Secret City — "The Stadium"! Vivisector is building the Arcanum of Desires, and the Great Courts are battling furiously for the right to break through to his Altar before their enemies. Meanwhile, some completely different players are the first to arrive at the Altar... DISCUSS THE EPISODESubject 9: "Terminus"
We're happy to present you new episode of Subject 9 — "Terminus"! As our heroes — and their enemies! — race toward the final destination, the Area Zero military base, the President moves the final pieces of the puzzle together. After tonight, nothing will be the same... DISCUSS THE EPISODEParadigm
The world is rife with amazing scientific phenomena, but actually explaining, and reading about, how stuff works can get way too technical. Paradigm introduces an entirely new and easy-to-use way to experience the wonders of the Earth. This series embraces different fields of research, technology, art, and life sciences and presents them as a captivating, and highly interactive, experience.Subject 9
Eight strangers have their fates entwined when they're captured and trapped in the mysterious EXA complex. Hunted by the authorities, cursed with incredible powers they barely understand, they must learn to overcome their frailties and rely on each other to survive. They will never be safe until they uncover the nature of the EXA labs and the experiments they were subjected to, the purpose to their powers, and the puppet-masters pulling the strings. But every step down the rabbit-hole draws them deeper into a deadly web of crime, corruption and insanity.Chronographics
Chronographics turns the past into the present — acting as a precise timepiece whose hands are moving backward, not forward, to carry you into the past. Experience history firsthand, from crusaders to conquistadors, from Huguenots to Catholics, from Mongols to Incas, from coffee and tobacco to the printing press and firearms. Watch history come to life at your touch.Multiverse
Mark Stone's life takes an unpredictable twist the day he encounters his dead girlfriend and a team of special agents who travel between universes trying to keep them safe. He never imagined that crazy stories about parallel universes could come true in such a way. How and why are these multiple universes different? Mark decides to join the Alpha II Agency—to help fix the Multiverse and find out what's really going on.Fear Hunters
People are being driven insane as they struggle in the throes of unending nightmares, their souls enslaved by monsters. But some are willing to risk their lives to fight these creatures of madness. Dr. Powell's team of Fear Hunters combine psychiatry and combat skills to enter an epic and deadly battle...Final Feat
The Gods of old no longer enforce justice in the world. Massive wars have ruined the land and devastated the human race, which has, in turn, abandoned its beliefs. Now, terrible monsters threaten to plunge the world into chaos. But the envoys of the Gods have returned to perform their Final Feat: restoring mankind's faith before it's too late.JAM
Back in the mists of time legendary heroes created Freeway — a place where they were finally able to live, not just survive. But the beasts of Flatlands would not leave them alone. They pilfered, they plundered, they kidnapped women whenever they liked. Then, with time, even this became just another honored tradition. Meet Buster, an average Freeway kid. The day comes when it's his turn to save his beloved from the monsters' clutches. Everything is as it should be: kidnap, goblins, jammers, robots. Hold up. What in Pixel Almighty are jammers?!Prodigal Angel
Max spent the last ten years in a coma. But one day, he discovers he can enter the minds of those around him and control their bodies. He was free to walk, eat ice cream, and watch movies. Life had meaning again! But with new power comes new responsibility...and new peril. The love of his life is in danger. To save her, Max and his friends must go toe-to-toe with the mafia.SPIN
People always have problems – that's a fact of life. Some can be fixed with a bit of glue or a trip to the clinic. But others require something... special. Rigging an election, for example. Or winning a corporate war. For this you need the best in the business, and they don't come any better than me. My name's Steve, and I can fix anything. Anything.Knights of the Void
The Knights of the Void is an Alliance that has waged war against the tyranny of the Empire. Kate, the Alliance admiral's daughter, is determined to prove to her father that she can be a pilot—even if it means breaking a rule or two in the process. She teams up with Jake, a friend and a partner in mischief; together they "borrow" a spaceship and go to outer space. All is fun till the adventure goes awry, and the spaceship crashes on a planet.The Secret City
Many centuries ago, humanity destroyed other intelligent races, who owned magic. The few who survived, had to set up the Secret City in New York to hide from prying eyes. Here, side by side witches and vampires, dark knights and fairies, werewolves and witches are living. However, the relentless struggle between hostile Great Houses is still alive. And some of the mortals will take part in it ...Holiday Special
Happy holidays from NARR8! Celebrate the season with a special-edition series that features all-new, holiday-themed episode content from every single series on NARR8! Enjoy thrilling adventure comics, chilling interactive novels, and informative nonfiction articles—all focusing on the most wonderful time of the year. Start reading all-inclusive holiday series now!FIVE
FIVE - an interactive series about the best of their kind. Download a new episode about the most prominent items, places, people and events. Dizzying heights, insane velocity, colossal sizes - all the wonders and achievements of planet Earth are displayed from an unusual perspective, with comparative scale graphics.Qumi-Qumi
Amazing creatures inhabit the wonderful world of Qumi-Qumi! Among them are wizards, scientists, and soldiers. Incidentally, Juga, Jusi, and Shumadan each belong to a different caste, but it doesn't get in the way of their friendship. Their affinity for adventure is immense and their penchant for mischief insatiable — even more so as both Juga and Shumadan are in love with the beautiful Jusi.Agency
Sabrina Sharpe is faced with a tricky task: she has just one year to create a successful business that brings people happiness. In an effort to win the inheritance, Sabrina opens a wedding agency and puts together an unorthodox team that is ready to do anything in order to find each client's perfect love match.The Pandas & Boom
Wonderwood is a forest where most amazing animals live. They talk and think and like to be friends with each other. Then, one day, two new creatures arrive in the forest. Who are they, from where do they come, and how will these mysterious newcomers get along with the rest of Wonderwood's inhabitants? what thrilling new adventures await them? The tale begins now. Come and see!Valentine's Specials
NARR8 has a holiday surprise for all you lovebirds out there! In honor of St. Valentine's Day, we have prepared special releases of your favorite series. Prepare to see the heroes of the motion comics & interactive novels represented in the most romantic and "furry" way. Don't miss out! Come discover these romantic worlds together with NARR8 and have a lovely Valentine's Day!Prime Blood
Jane is a young girl studying to be a doctor in Chicago. She has no idea about that hidden, other world where werewolves and vampires are engaged in a desperate, never-ending battle — until their paths cross one fateful night and the girl loses her nearest and dearest. But why have the lycanthropes and the undead taken an interest in her? Why do they need her so much? Is she to be sacrificed on a bloody altar? Or is there a different fate for her, a fate that, despite the night surrounding her, promises light and salvation?Biographics
What does a life need to become a biography? A good "ANDing". Case in point: Charles Darwin and the origin of species; Karl Marx and class struggle; Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis; Henry Ford and the conveyor belt; Martin Luther king and the struggle for equality. Biographics: Stories of those who succeed in the AND.Eureka!
Eureka tells us the story preceding the inventions that have shaped the world as we know it. Inventions are that which we ride in and that inside which we live and that which we take orally to combat an illness. Inventions can also be intangible: you can't patent literacy and government, but it doesn't take a patent to reshape the world.Alma mater
Attention: Your tablet is about to take you on an unprecedented journey, so buckle your seatbelt! Alma mater will take you to hear the whale song and watch distant stars up close. You will marvel at nature's mysteries — and at people who solved them. Alma mater is an enthralling story of human curiosity and ingenuity, so open it and enjoy the ride.Micro
Brevity equals clarity, and Micro is pure information boiled down to the point: concentrated and precise. The workings of Man and Nature: a knight's armor and oil wells; the origins of alphabet and the physiology of brain; common misconceptions and misconceived notions. Every episode of Micro is a brick laid in the foundation of amazing discovery.


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ANSYS CFD-Flo, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software package, addresses the fluid flow analysis needs of designers working on the front lines of their company's product development process. The tool provides the physics models most commonly required by companies seeking to create better products faster and is compatible with other tools available within the ANSYS Workbench environment. The focused feature set and competitive cost of ANSYS CFD-Flo make it an ideal choice for companies with design departments that require access to CFD technology to improve their products and processes.
ANSYS computational fluid dynamics software helped develop the overall streamlined shape of the external fairing to minimize the underwater drag on a winged submersible. Courtesy Hawkes Ocean Technologies
Fast and Accurate CFD Solver
ANSYS CFD-Flo contains the power of the ANSYS CFX computational fluid dynamics software package. For over 20 years, in a broad range of industries and applications, CFX has been trusted to deliver accurate results quickly. All the models work together and in parallel, leading to accurate and fast solutions. The ANSYS CFX solver includes leading-edge technology which provides the fast run times and the quick project turnaround required to efficiently integrate CFD into a design system.
Understand Your Designs
ANSYS CFD-Post provides a wealth of data that you simply cannot get from bench tests. Vector, streamline and contour plots give rapid insight into the three-dimensional nature of the flow. Easily-generated animated movies help to effectively communicate these results. Quantitative calculation capabilities provide the hard engineering numbers needed to evaluate and compare various design iterations so that the final product meets your requirements.
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With ANSYS CFX as the foundation, CFX-Flo provides access to a scalable suite of CFD products and features that ensure you will be able to include higher fidelity models, physics interactions and parallel processing as your demands on simulation increase. It is simple to add more functionality while continuing to seamlessly support and leverage the investment you have made in existing CAE assets.


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Description:IBM 300GB Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) 3.5-inch 3G 10K Hot-Plug Hard DrivePart Number(s)IBM Option Part# 40K1041IBM Option Part# 41Y8419IBM P/N# 26K5711IBM P/N# 26K5714IBM P/N# 26K5839IBM FRU# 39R7344IBM FRU# 39R7356 (Simple Swap)
Overview:HP SAS Enterprise and Midline Hard Drives deliver high performance solutions for hosting high transaction based applications. Available in HP hot plug carriers or non-hot plug. The HP SAS Enterprise and Midline Hard Drives come in both 2.5in (SFF) and 3.5in (LFF) industry standard form factors and are available in a variety of capacity points to meet a wide range of requirements. The SAS interface was designed and engineered for high availability, enterprise-class data storage where performance, reliability and data integrity are crucial.