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My dear friends, it is I, the Duke of DVD, and as most of you probably already know, my love for Italian horror is only eclipsed by my love for poncy hats. No one, I'm sure you'll all agree, puts the "Italia" in Italian horror like the great Mario Bava, a cinematographer turned director whose first film is our subject of discussion today. Every single gothic horror movie made after 1960 owes its lifeblood to this cinematic epic, and to complete a viewing is to sit in stunned awe, basking in the glory that is one of horror's pillars.
I must provide a warning here, however: This movie contains lots of talk about burning witches, outfitting witch faces with spiked masks, and the ill treatment of witches in general. If you or one of your loved ones are currently in the employ of Satan, you might find this content objectionable. We at MMMMad Movies apologize in advance and wish to remind you that sometimes art has to be cruel to be kind.
With that out of the way, let us explore, shall we?
Black Sunday opens with a spectacular witch trial. I say "trial" but what I really mean is a good ol' fashioned witch burning. A group of hooded, torch-bearing folks listen to a local noble as he denounces a raven-haired beauty tied to a pole. Lets get this out of the way:Barbara Steele is stunning. STUNNING, I say! We soon find out that it is her own brother that is condemning her for Satanic practices, along with her cohort, who is already dead via "Mask of Satan"ing.
The witch is a princess, it turns out, named Asa Vajda. She spits a curse back at her brother, crying out: "You will never escape my hunger, nor that of Satan!" From my understanding, Satan prefers gluten-free products due to an allergy. He also likes his witches saucy, and Steele is muy caliente, to be sure.
Basically, the "Mask of Satan" is an iron mask wrought to resemble the Vicar's visage as he rolls out of bed in the mornings after a particularly epic bender. The inside of the mask is studded with 3-inch long spikes. Luckily for us, Bava pulls no punches and we get to see the Mask applied. First, it is fitted onto the struggling witch's face and then a large, shirtless executioner-type dude wielding a mallet the size of a tree trunk walks up and hammers it onto her face, causing instant death.
Just to be double sure, the princess is dragged over to a large pyre. As soon as torches are touched to the wood, though, a mysterious downpour occurs, causing the superstitious villagers to flee, the fools! Don't they realize what they are doing?! You can't leave a witch unburned! At any rate, they are at least wise enough to bury her in the family crypt inside a sarcophagus that has a window in the lid, where her masked corpse is forced to stare at a stone cross fashioned out of the top of the coffin lid. At least they get something right!
We then jump 200 years into the future. The stately Doctor Kruvajan (Andrea Checchi) and his assistant Doctor Andre (played by the dashingly handsome John Richardson) are traveling via horse-drawn coach to a lecture. Their alcoholic driver is highly nervous and is attempting to cross the foul land as fast as he can. Suddenly, they all pay for his haste when the carriage gets stuck on a fallen tree! The two doctors decide to investigate their surroundings while the driver works to free the vehicle.
Soon they hear a mournful howl, which appears to be coming from the ruins of an old church. Going to investigate, they discover that the howling is the work of some old pipe organ pipes. Knocking them down, the older Dr. Kruvajan shows he's not afraid of no ghost. They see an open door leading down into the sub-level of the ruins, so they investigate further. Naturally, it's the crypt of the witch!
The two of them gaze through the glass on the coffin, talking with each other about the customs of how this witch was treated, clucking their tongues at the barbarity of it all. Dr. Andre leaves his elder as he goes back to check on the driver's progress with the coach. As soon as he's gone, Dr. Kruvajan is assaulted by a bat the size of a bull mastiff! Beating it with his cane, he fends it off before finally shooting it. It falls on the sarcophagus, where a final blow from the Doctor's cane busts the stone cross on top of the lid. Oh dear...
Pieces of the cross fall and break the glass window, to boot. The doctor reaches inside the coffin to retrieve a painted triptych he sees inside, cutting himself on the glass in the process. Stupidly, the doctor also unmasks the corpse, his curiosity getting the best of him I guess. Something tells me this sequence of events is about to cause people problems. In fact, this might be best expressed with a Bava tribute haiku:
Busted cross breaks glass
Cut hand drips blood in eye-hole
Satan's bride rises!
The doctor, not realizing his grave error (ba-dump--The Vicar), leaves. Outside, the two doctors meet the local princess, the beautiful Katia (also played by Barbara Steele). She's out walking the dogs. The young doc Andre is smitten instantly, as are we all. After a brief conversation, the doctors are on their way, and young Andre leans out of the window to watch Katia fade into the distance. We then cut back into the interior of the stone sarcophagus and see that bubbling blood and maggots are swarming in the empty eye sockets of the now-unmasked witch!
Next we see Katia at home, playing the piano as her brother stands by polishing a hunting rifle. Nearby her father sits before a roaring fire. A suddenly howling in the distance frightens them all, and her father realizes that a painting of the Princess Asa has changed to incorporate more evil. It turns out these are direct descendants, naturally, of the burned witch and her partner, whose painting also hangs in the family room. I normally don't question people's decoration decisions, but whaaaaa?!
The father tells us all a story about how exactly one century to the day after Princess Asa was buried, a descendant of hers that resembled her died horribly. And now, one century after that, Katia (who also resembles her, natch) is in grave danger. This is a cause for concern by all, obviously.
We then cut to a rowdy tavern, where the good doc and his protege are enjoying the local vodka. A young girl is being ordered by her innkeeper mother to go milk the cow (in the dead of night, wtf?). Obviously the girl is reticent so her mother turns to the elder Dr. Kruvajan and asks for his opinion. Turns out the girl is afraid because the barn is next to a cemetery (!). The doctor reassures the girl, saying the line that will no doubt come back to haunt him: "We shouldn't be afraid of the dead."
While the girl is milking the cow, who is obviously cranky at being woken up for a midnight udder-tug, a deep fog rolls into the graveyard. We see the witch issue the command "RISE!" and up comes her masked Satanic partner, who rips off his mask with his graveyard-mud-soaked gloves and heads off into the woods, oddly enough not pausing to kill the milk maid.
Instead, he heads straight to the castle and tries to kill the king (at least I assume he's king), but fails when at the last second the king produces a cruciform, driving the ghostly Satan worshiper away with the power of JAYZUS. Knowing that the king is protected, the Satanic minion goes after Dr. Kruvajan instead, rumbling up out of nowhere in a badass black carriage.
He whisks the doctor away to the castle and leads him through a secret passage behind the fireplace which leads down into the crypt, which is underneath the church ruins nearby. The witch, still manipulating things from within her stone sarcophagus, finally begins to rise as the doctor tries to flee, in vain. The stone shatters, and the witch is free!
She immediately hypnotizes the good doctor, forcing him to walk over and give her a lingering kiss. I'm afraid I wouldn't have needed any hypnosis. Meanwhile, the king is sweaty with fever, writhing in bed. The good Katia and the prince try to care for him, all to no avail. Suddenly, the doctor comes in, walking like a zombie (no doubt still numb from making out with a 200 year old heretic), and asks the youngsters to leave so that he may care for the king. As soon as they are gone, he gives him the stare of death, literally.
Meanwhile, the Satanic assistant collaborates with his newly awakened mistress. The plan, as it were, is to bring the young Katia down to yon crypt so that the witch can suck the life from her. Elsewhere, Dr. Andre is waking up from too much vodka to find the professor is gone. He learns from the innkeeper that the good doc went to the castle to care for the ailing king. Andre sallies forth into the dawn!
As Andre is passing by on horse on his way to the castle, he sees the young milk maid washing clothes in a fetid river. After he goes on his merry way after receiving directions from her, she notices a pox-ridden body floating near the shore. It's Boris, the hapless coach driver! Poor Boris, done in by Satanic forces no doubt!
Andre arrives at the castle, only to run into the zombified Doc, who speaks cryptically until Andre pulls the triptych from his bag, causing the doctor to flee in a panic. Andre and the young brother scour the castle, eventually finding the secret passage behind the fireplace. Going down to investigate, they discover the witch, freed from her tomb, now apparently breathing and regaining life! Andre runs off to find the local priest, leaving the brother alone with the witch.
He's not alone for long, however, when suddenly the Satanic minion arrives and a rousing bout of fisticuffs ensues, culminating in the brother getting tossed into a handy trapdoor pit, complete with spikes at the bottom. Meanwhile, Andre with priest in tow head to the graveyard and find the opened grave, and the Mask of Satan that the minion tossed aside. Choice line from the priest: "Sometimes Satan, in his capacity for evil, plays tricks with the dead!"
In another nearby grave they find the body of the poor doctor Kruvajan and drive a spike into his eye-socket, presumably preventing any further reanimation. The two then race back to the castle as the Satanic minion drags Katia down to the crypt. The witch visibly drains her life, causing the witch's own face to look fantastic while ravaging the face of poor young Katia. Bava uses some killer camera work here, in one frame showing both people played by Steele at the same time. Amazingly groundbreaking stuff.
Andre arrives just in the nick of time, but the Satanic minion is having no interruptions. Fisticuffs ensue yet again, the two going at it like a couple of prize pugilists. The trapdoor pit once again comes into play, but before the minion can shove Andre into it, a not-so-dead brother comes flying up out of the pit, high enough to grab the minion and pull him down to his doom. The brother then expires in Andre's arms, the poor thing was just tuckered out.
Back in the village, a posse is roused, presumed by me to be heading to Broadway, but no! They instead head to the castle, torches in hand. The witch is once again dragged off toward a hastily-erected pyre. Andre, though, is in mourning. They were too late to save poor Katia, whom he is in lust with. As the flames begin to flicker around the witch, it seems all is not lost yet. Katia breathes!
In the end, dispatching the witch with the purifying fire of JAYZUS cured everyone's ills. Note to self: Applying a Mask of Satan is not enough; burn any and all witches. Andre and Katia kiss. Fin.
I would try to talk about Bava's opus here but I fear I would run out of superlatives. Suffice it to say that this movie, shot entirely in black & white, is beyond beautiful. It holds up just as well today as it did in 1960, and is simply stunning. Bava uses composition like no other, and his work in this film is still being felt today.
The acting is fantastic as well, and no person does it better than Barbara Steele. Playing two roles, each completely different from the other, she shines like a star. Every single scene she's in the eye just gravitates to her, and Bava's camera obviously loved her. The others as well, especially Andre, carry out their roles with enthusiasm and skill. The crew was definitely firing on all cylinders, that's for sure.
The special effects, also, were superb. From the opening application by mallet of the Mask of Satan to the nail being driven into Dr. Krujavan's eye socket, everything was wrought in disgusting detail, and the camera wouldn't let us flinch away. Bava basically holds your head in a vise-like grip, forcing you with his unyielding, grave-cold hands to watch what he wants you to watch. We love this, oh yes we do.
In the end, how can I give this film anything else than the highest of honors: 3+ Thumbs Up. Any reader of his blog who doesn't have this film in their collection is truly missing a gem.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Black Sunday (1960): Bava's Awesomeness, Let Me Show You It
Posted by The Duke of DVD at 9:39 AM
Labels: '60s, 3+ Thumbs, Barbara Steele, Burning Witches, Cursed from the Pyre, Mario Bava, Mask of Satan, Witchcraft
4 comments:
Hands down, one of the most beautifully shot films ever committed to celluloid. Excellent review.
- December 23, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Oh Duke, bless your most benevolent heart for this review. It's a wonder the poor organ hasn't exploded from your bosom with your munificence. Please consider a visit to the cardiologist poste-haste, for surely mortal flesh isn't suited for such grandiosity.
Mario Bava is the Mac Daddy of European horror directors, and I count this film as his greatest achievement. Every scene -- nearly every composition, every camera movement, every artful lighting effect -- is a delicious treat. What I so respect about the man, and what is so evidenced in all his works but I think especially here, is that he was a craftsman who'd mastered many of the filmmaking trades -- camera, lighting, effects, art direction, set design, editing, etc., etc. And man, he put it ALL together for this one. I count it equal to the greatest of horror films, "The Bride of Frankenstein", "The Wicker Man", "Night of the Living Dead", and others of that rare ilk.
It's one of those films you can slip in the DVD player once or twice a year, and not just gain an appreciation of some facet with each repeated viewing, but experience an appeal that doesn't diminish with familiarity. Even looking at your screen grabs here (and I'm sure I've seen the film a half-dozen times in the last 3 years) is a delight.
Then there's Ms. Steele...
Has any straight male ever watched the witch Asa awakening in her tomb -- her cold, refined beauty ravaged with the gore-holes from the spiked iron mask -- and not felt the most unsettling inner-churnings of simultaneous desire and revulsion? Take a poll -- every truthful guy out there would admit, "Yeah, I'd hit that anyway."
Thank you again for the review, dear Duke. A trifling suggestion, but your final line could be amended to say that, "Any reader of this blog who doesn't have this film in their collection is not at all MMMMad, but sincerely mad."
- December 23, 2009 at 6:52 PM
- prof. grewbeard said...
i can really tell you really like this movie, but i can really relate! a passionate review indeed...
- December 23, 2009 at 8:41 PM
- MarkusWelby1 said...
I agree that this is absolutely must own. Perhaps one of the greatest zombie rising from the grave scenes in all of cinema in my humble opinion. I try and recommend this to all who appreciate fine horror.
- June 20, 2011 at 1:18 PM


text: Should we have a separate category for ops with very supportive spouses who provide meals at planned breaks, answer all the phone calls, and do all the chores around the house on the contest weekend without time wasting tirades? Perhaps another sub-category for those with ham spouses who can perhaps troubleshoot a problem low band antenna during the day while the chief operator works the high bands? Or be in the shack to transmit and watch the SWR while the op is out at the antenna working on it, thus saving troubleshooting time? And another category for high noise urban QTH versus low noise rural locations? Where does it all stop? 73 John N5CQ -----Original Message----- From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of w5ov at w5ov.com Sent: Friday, June 01, 2012 11:23 PM To: Dick Green WC1M Cc: 'Dick Green WC1M'; 'Bob Naumann'; sawyered at earthlink.net; cq-contest at contesting.com Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Aniother rules/remote RX issue OK Spider - except this "fly" is not going to play that game. We were discussing SO2R - not Skimmers. Skimmer locates, decodes, and identifies callsigns. The operator does nothing in that process (aside from starting the skimmer running). Skimmer is already disallowed for single ops so it's not part of SO1R, or SO2R, or SO#R and it has no place in a definition of what a single operator is. It would have been redundant for me to include it in my listing of what a single op does not use or do. The term "assistance" is doing no one any favors here - and again, trying to focus on what comprises assistance is a complete waste of time. Please try to focus on what it means to be a single operator. One operator, no spotting networks, no information from elsewhere, no skimmers, no RBN. Just one operator, his equipment located at his station and he has at it. One operator, alone. Simple. This discussion is going to lead to a concise definition of single op eventually. W5OV/5 Oklahoma >> So what? It's still one operator doing everything. Whether he does it >> with 1, 2, or 20 radios, it's he alone without any assistance or >> outside information. > > "Come into my trap", said the spider to the fly. :-) > > You're absolutely correct, Bob. And by that same logic, a local CW > Skimmer is legal for Single Op. One operator is doing everything, and > he's alone without any assistance or outside information. Those are > your criteria for Single Op. > > If you're going object by saying that CW Skimmer provides > "assistance", you're going to have to disallow all computerized > "assistance", including logging, SCP, CW decoding, etc., all of which > have been legal and accepted for decades, as well as band scopes. You > might have to disallow SDR-based radios, too, because the computer in > the radio provides "assistance" like brick-wall DSP filtering. It > seems to me that one could make the argument that virtually any given > technological advance in the station is "assistance". I use a computer > logging program to switch between my two radios and I wrote a very > sophisticated computer program, AntennaMaster, to automatically switch > my antennas, turn my rotors, tune my SteppIRs and tune my Acom amp. > Those programs allow me to switch the configuration much more quickly > than if I had to do it the way it has traditionally been done, which > is by using manual switches. Is that "assistance"? Heck, are the > little CPU-based controllers that dynamically adjust the element > lengths of my SteppIRs giving me "assistance"? > > It's one thing to associate the term "assistance" with another human > being. > It's an entirely different matter, and a losing proposition in my > opinion, to try to associate that term with a type of technology. You > will either get hopelessly bogged down with trying to define what > technology constitutes assistance and what does not, or you will > completely stifle innovation. I don't accept your premise that if > Single Ops want to use new technology, they have to operate Single Op > Unlimited. It would be a sad day for Amateur Radio contesting if that > sentiment prevailed. > > The failure of your criteria to outlaw CW Skimmer for the Single Op > category is precisely why the CAC had to go beyond definitions of > "assistance" and look at the information provided to the operator. The > reason CW Skimmer is illegal for Single Op is because it provides > multi-channel "spotting information", which is defined as: > > "Information specifying the transmit or receive frequency and any > portion of the call sign, identity, exchange information, or location > of another station with which a contest QSO could be made." > > The information provided by CW Skimmer lets you instantly QSY to a > specified frequency, where you will find a station that you can work > for credit. It eliminates the need to tune the radio to find that > station yourself. It gives you the same competitive advantage as > packet, so it puts you in the Single Op Unlimited or Multi-Operator > category. > > Oh, and I should point out that the CAC recommended, and the PSC > accepted, that the term "Single Op Assisted" should be changed to > "Single Op Unlimited". That was because the term "assisted" could not > be adequately defined to differentiate between the two Single Op categories. > > 73, Dick WC1M > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Bob Naumann [mailto:W5OV at W5OV.COM] >> Sent: Friday, June 01, 2012 6:50 PM >> To: 'Dick Green WC1M'; sawyered at earthlink.net; >> cq-contest at contesting.com >> Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Aniother rules/remote RX issue >> >> Dick, >> >> I've got two minutes before the XYL gets here, so I wanted to address >> the SO2R issue. >> >> The important part of this is the "SO". The 2R is completely >> irrelevant to the discussion. Sure, one operator using two radios is an advantage. >> >> So what? It's still one operator doing everything. Whether he does it >> with 1, 2, or 20 radios, it's he alone without any assistance or >> outside information. >> >> She's here - gotta run!... >> >> -Bob >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com >> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Dick Green >> WC1M >> Sent: Friday, June 01, 2012 4:19 PM >> To: 'Bob Naumann'; 'Dick Green WC1M'; sawyered at earthlink.net; cq- >> contest at contesting.com >> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Aniother rules/remote RX issue >> >> Well, Bob, we're going to have to agree to disagree. Not surprising: >> this subject is unlikely to every result in unanimous agreement. >> >> I do want to correct one impression you got from my email. I should >> have said "This is exactly *the sort of thing* the CAC intended." No, >> we never considered using RBN or packet network spots for checking >> propagation. >> Obviously, we couldn't consider every possible variation of using >> Skimmer, which is why we needed the wording of the rules to embody >> the CAC's intentions. What I meant is that the CAC intended for the >> decision on whether a particular practice is legal or not to be based >> on the type of information obtained and its impact on the >> competition, not on vague definitions of "assistance", "outside >> assistance", "A boy and his radio", etc. You can disagree with that, >> but after months of deliberation the CAC voted overwhelmingly in >> favor of the recommended wording that embodies this approach. >> Ultimately, what I meant was that Single Op use of RBN to check >> propagation is consistent with the CAC's intention. >> >> I have a real problem with relying on the "fundamental non-assisted >> single op 'boy and his radio' definition". I'm afraid there would be >> a great deal of disagreement about the meaning of that phrase. For >> example, does a "boy and his radio" mean one radio or two? Many have >> vehemently argued that SO2R is not Single Op. Although I'm a big fan >> of SO2R, and wouldn't want to see it outlawed for Single Op, I think >> the argument against it is a lot stronger than the argument against >> using RBN to evaluate propagation. That's because SO2R confers a much >> greater tactical advantage and thus impacts the score and skills >> necessary for operating to a much greater degree than checking propagation on the RBN. >> >> There never has been wording in the rules that outlaws getting >> information from outside your station or from a source other than >> your HF radio. That is your interpretation of what Single Op means. >> The prohibition against packet is based in the fact that other >> operators supply the information, which makes you multi-op, not that >> the information comes from outside your radio station. This presented >> a real dilemma in determining whether CW Skimmer should be allowed in >> the Single Op category. Skimmer is not an operator, so it doesn't >> make you multi-op. And the information doesn't come from outside your >> radio station, either. All you're left with is saying that Skimmer >> provides "assistance", which is not allowed. But since Skimmer is >> simply sampling the IF of your radio and decoding the signals, how is >> that kind of assistance different from getting "assistance" from a >> second radio, a computerized logging program, SCP, single-channel CW >> decoders (which have always been allowed), etc. At what point do we >> draw the line and say that a particular technology constitutes >> assistance? And if we do that, are we stifling innovation and the fun of using new technology? >> >> Faced with that problem, the CAC chose to look beyond the >> hardware/software and look at the information and benefit provided to >> the operator. It was clear as day that CW Skimmer spots provide the >> same kind of benefit as packet spots: instead of tuning and listening >> for new stations to work, which is very time consuming and requires >> excellent copy skills, you can just point-and-click to work new >> stations. There's no doubt in my mind that this confers a substantial >> advantage. In fact, I operated using CW Skimmer in the 2008 IARU >> contest, where it was allowed in Single Op on a one-time basis, just >> to see how much advantage there would be. Even with a >> less-than-optimal Skimmer configuration, I broke my personal record >> for mults by a good margin. Operating with Skimmer was exactly like >> operating with packet, only Skimmer was more accurate and comprehensive than packet. >> Looking at it that way, there's no question that CW Skimmer should >> not be allowed in the Single Op category. >> >> While defining Single Op in terms of not getting any information from >> outside your station is esoterically pleasing, it doesn't capture the >> operating factors that truly affect the scoring and competitive >> landscape. >> It's almost laughable to say that getting three-hour old propagation >> reports from WWV is of any real benefit at all, or that propagation >> prediction programs are accurate enough to really impact the >> competition. A second radio with a band scope is much more useful, >> and there's nothing in your definition of a traditional Single Op >> that prohibits that. I'll admit that seeing if your signal is being >> heard at a particular target location is useful, but you can infer >> the same thing from the band scope and/or calling CQ a few times. >> It's just not that great an advantage, but it's fun to do. >> It certainly doesn't change the fundamental nature of what you must >> do in Single Op, which is to tune and listen, and it doesn't provide >> any kind of significant advantage to those who use it. >> >> It's fine to be a purist, but I think it's counter-productive if it >> disallows innovation and fun for no good reason. >> >> 73, Dick WC1M >> >> >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: Bob Naumann [mailto:W5OV at W5OV.COM] >> > Sent: Friday, June 01, 2012 8:20 AM >> > To: 'Dick Green WC1M'; sawyered at earthlink.net; >> > cq-contest at contesting.com >> > Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Aniother rules/remote RX issue >> > >> > Dick, >> > >> > Thanks for the explanation of what the CAC recommended contrasted >> > with what we ended up with in the ARRL rules. I truly appreciate >> > the efforts you put in, and know how thankless a job it is. >> > >> > That said, I am somewhat puzzled as to why the CAC "intended" to >> > allow all categories of entry to use remote systems to evaluate propagation? >> > >> > "If the CAC's wording for the rules had been used, the practice >> > would definitely be legal for all categories. This is exactly what >> > the CAC intended". >> > >> > Really? The CAC intended to allow all classes of entry to access >> > the RBN over the Internet to "check propagation" of their own signals? >> > >> > This goes so against what I believe to be the fundamental >> > non-assisted single op "boy and his radio" definition that quite >> > frankly, I cannot imagine what you guys were thinking. >> > >> > Why would you envision allowing this activity for someone who is >> > supposed to be doing everything without *any* outside assistance? >> > >> > Do we really need to alter what we all revere as traditional single >> op? >> > Is it necessary to let outside technology in? To what end? Why? >> > >> > We already have the Assisted or Unlimited categories that encompass >> > the use of all this extraneous stuff - why do we need to taint the >> > traditional single op category with this? >> > >> > Again, I strongly suggest that we not focus on what "assistance" >> > may or may not be, but instead focus on what "single operator" is >> > and always has been. >> > This definition is much easier to come up with, and is extremely >> > narrow in scope. >> > >> > Simply, a single operator should not receive ANY information >> > outside of his own radio "tuning and listening" activity that >> > occurs inside his head via his ears. >> > >> > You ask: "At the end of the day, does it really matter whether they >> > come from your HF radio or the Internet"? >> > >> > My answer is an S9 +60db: YES IT MATTERS! >> > >> > Why do we need to morph single op into being the same as single op >> > assisted / unlimited, when we already have such categories that >> > allow for all of that stuff? >> > >> > The following sounds good on a first read (talking about defining >> > single >> > op): >> > >> > "But with rapid evolution in technology, station architecture and >> > operating techniques, it has become increasingly difficult to >> > define exactly what that term means. >> > Again, it's better to focus on the information received and its >> > impact on the competition". >> > >> > I have to, once again, totally and vehemently disagree with this >> > approach to define single op. This is clearly the wrong approach. >> > Defining single operator is very easy. >> > >> > Why would a single operating be receiving any information at all, >> > from anywhere outside of his own direct actions, abilities and >> > operating skills? >> > >> > The underlying premise is completely flawed. A single operator >> > should not be "receiving" *ANY* information from anywhere outside >> > of his own direct actions, abilities and operating skills >> > regardless of the impact to the competition. How did we lose this perspective? >> > >> > Again, while I truly appreciate the work done by the CAC, I think >> > this initiative was flawed and completely misguided. >> > >> > Bottom line: leave single op alone. >> > >> > 73, >> > >> > Bob W5OV >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com >> > [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Dick Green >> > WC1M >> > Sent: Friday, June 01, 2012 2:33 AM >> > To: sawyered at earthlink.net; cq-contest at contesting.com >> > Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Aniother rules/remote RX issue >> > >> > I'm no longer on the ARRL Contest Advisory Committee, and certainly >> > don't speak for ARRL, but since I led the CAC's deliberations on >> > Remote Operating and CW Skimmer, maybe I can shed some light on the >> > questions asked by Pete and Igor. The ARRL rules are fairly clear >> > on the practices Pete and Igor describe, but it's a little more >> > complicated than you might think and there are some issues with the >> wording of the rules. >> > >> > By rule 3.7, use of a remote receiver to check for a clear >> > frequency, as described by Pete, is not allowed in the >> > Single-Operator category under any circumstances. For Single-Op >> > Unlimited and Multi-Operator, the "spotting network" exception in >> > rule 18.104.22.168 applies. You could setup a remote receiver and have it send Skimmer spots to the RBN. >> > Since those spots are available to everyone, this would be legal. >> > But by rule 2.2.1, you could not send audio or spots from the >> > remote receiver over a Private internet connection or phone link. >> > >> > Filtering RBN spots of your own call to evaluate propagation, as >> > described by Igor, is not allowed in the Single Operator category >> > because by rule >> > 2.1.1 the use of "spotting assistance and nets" is prohibited. >> > There's actually a significant issue with the wording of this rule, >> > which I'll address below, but going strictly by what's published, >> > Single-Ops can't do it. For the Single-Operator Unlimited and >> > Multi-Operator categories, the exception in rule 22.214.171.124 would >> > apply, and the practice would be legal as long as you get the >> > information via a publicly available spotting network. >> > >> > However, you can't do it with a remote receiver that you install >> > and/or control. That would be self-spotting, which is prohibited by >> rule 3.14. >> > Going back to Pete's question, remote receivers must filter out >> > your call to avoid running afoul of the rule against self-spotting. >> > >> > [Hmmm... are stations with dedicated *local* Skimmer radios that >> > send spots to the RBN filtering out their own calls?] >> > >> > Now for the problem with the wording of the ARRL rules: >> > >> > In 2009, the CAC studied CW Skimmer and developed clearly-worded >> > changes to the rules to address the technology. Those >> > recommendations were accepted, in their entirety, by the ARRL >> > Programs and Services Committee, a sub-committee of the ARRL Board >> > of Directors. However, the wording that subsequently appeared in >> > the official rules does not match the CAC's recommendations. I >> > didn't discover that until fairly recently, and I don't know why >> > the PSC-approved recommendations weren't used when the rules were revised. >> > Unfortunately, the official wording is unclear and does not >> > correctly express the intent of the recommendations the CAC labored >> > over for many months. Perhaps someone at ARRL can explain how and >> > why this >> happened. >> > >> > The problem is that the official rules do not define the terms >> > "spotting assistance" and "spotting nets". In contrast, the CAC >> > report uses the term "spotting information", defined as follows: >> > >> > "Spotting Information: Information specifying the transmit or >> > receive frequency and any portion of the call sign, identity, >> > exchange information, or location of another station with which a >> > contest QSO could be made." >> > >> > In Igor's scenario, when you receive a spot of your own call, you >> > are not getting information about "another station with which a >> > contest QSO could be made." Therefore, it's not spotting >> > information. If the CAC's wording for the rules had been used, the >> > practice would definitely be legal for all categories. >> > >> > This is exactly what the CAC intended. Unlike many of the arguments >> > about CW Skimmer that were taking place on the cq-contest reflector >> > at the time, and that have been resurrected for the current debate, >> > the CAC avoided interpretation or definition of the word >> > "assistance". As the public debate demonstrated so well, that's a >> > very slippery slope, especially when you have to evaluate whether a >> > particular technology is assistance or not. Instead, we thought it >> > was better to look at the issue from the point of view of what >> > information is being received and what impact that information has >> > on operating requirements and competitive factors. >> > >> > The essential point is this: tuning and listening is the heart and >> > soul of Single-Op. It requires a certain set of skills, strategy >> > and patience. If you're using information from any source outside >> > the frequency to which your radio is tuned to find, identify and >> > work stations, then you aren't tuning and listening. That >> > represents a fundamental difference in the operating techniques and >> > requirements associated with the Single-Op category, dramatically >> > changes the time it takes to find and work stations, and thus >> > changes the competitive landscape. What's more, the result looks >> > exactly like what a Single- Operator Unassisted does with packet >> > spots. Looks like packet, smells like packet, should be treated >> > like packet. This approach makes it very easy to decide whether or not CW Skimmer spots should be allowed. >> > >> > By focusing on the information and the benefit it provides, we >> > avoided difficult semantic arguments over the meaning of >> > "assistance", whether there's a difference if the source is man or >> > machine, and whether a particular technology, now or in the future, >> > might violate the spirit of the rules. >> > >> > So, if you look at it from that point of view, using RBN spots of >> > your own call to evaluate propagation doesn't fundamentally alter >> > the key differentiator of the Single-Op category: the requirement >> > that you tune and listen to make QSOs. Yes, the technology provides >> > some benefit, but it's along the same lines as using a band scope >> > to determine if a band is open. >> > It's helpful, but it doesn't drastically alter the playing field. >> > Yes, the information comes from outside your station, but so do WWV >> > reports, which are perfectly legal. Are the scientists involved in >> > those reports providing assistance? At the end of the day, does it >> > really matter whether they come from your HF radio or the Internet? >> > >> > I know the CAC's approach may not be appreciated by those who think >> > the rules for Single-Op should be based on the simple premise of "A >> > boy and his radio". But with rapid evolution in technology, station >> > architecture and operating techniques, it has become increasingly >> > difficult to define exactly what that term means. Again, it's >> > better to focus on the information received and its impact on the >> competition. >> > >> > For those interested in the CAC's deliberations on Remote Operating >> > and CW Skimmer, the reports are published on the ARRL web site: >> > >> > Remote Operating >> > >> > http://www.arrl.org/files/file/About%20ARRL/Committee%20Reports/200 >> > 8/J >> > ul >> > y/Do >> > c29.pdf >> > >> > CW Skimmer >> > >> > http://www.arrl.org/files/file/About%20ARRL/Committee%20Reports/Jan >> > uar >> > y/ >> > Doc% >> > 2029.doc >> > >> > Each of the above documents is a semi-annual report to the Program >> > and Services Committee on the CAC's activities, but at the end of >> > the main reports you will find individual reports on the CAC's >> > deliberations and recommendations on the two topics of interest here. >> > >> > 73, Dick WC1M >> > >> > >> > > -----Original Message----- >> > > From: Edward Sawyer [mailto:SawyerEd at earthlink.net] >> > > Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 5:33 PM >> > > To: cq-contest at contesting.com >> > > Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Aniother rules/remote RX issue >> > > >> > > The rules in CQ WW state as "call sign alerting assistance of any >> > kind" >> > > and "remote receivers" are not allowed. >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > The rules of ARRL DX state as "use of spotting assistance or >> > > automated, multi-channel decoders" are not allowed. >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > Specifically, in CQ WW, I believe you would have to consider the >> > > RBN a form of a remote receiver and since ANY use of a remote >> > > receiver would look to be not allowed, I would interpret as not allowed. >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > In ARRL DX, I believe the "multi-channel" decoder use (public or >> > > private) >> > > would be a local skimmer or public RBN. Again, for this reason, I >> > > would >> > > say, not allowed. >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > More interesting would be the use of looking up spots of >> > > yourself, especially in Phone contests. No use of remote >> > > receiver or decoder and no call sign alerting assistance (unless >> > > you consider your own call sign a call sign alert). That one >> > > seems to be squarely in the seams of the rules to me. >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > The contest organizers should really keep updating the rules to >> > > clarify such questions as technology is evolving. It would help >> > > all of us "play fair" >> > > and all play off of the same play book. >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > Ed N1UR >> > > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > CQ-Contest mailing list >> > CQ-Contest at contesting.com >> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> CQ-Contest mailing list >> CQ-Contest at contesting.com >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest > > > _______________________________________________ CQ-Contest mailing list CQ-Contest at contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest

subset: commoncrawl


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Greetings everybody! I hope everyone's having a good week and, if you're dealing with the heat wave covering a good portion of North America, you're staying cool and comfortable. For much of the USA, drought conditions are spreading and even include many northeastern states. For folks into citizen science, there's news regarding the mPING app. And, as usual, there's plenty of climate data to keep up with…so let's get started.
For your consideration, here are this week's links…
If you're using an older version of the mPING app, please update so your important weather reports will work with the updated database. If you're not familiar with mPING, it's a great way for citizen scientists to report weather events to the National Severe Storms Laboratory to help with their research. The mPING app is free, takes up very little space on your smart phone, and is available for both iOS and Android.
Twitter finally dealt a blow to one if it's most offensive users. Let's hope this isn't a one-time publicity stunt.
Twitter is also regrouping in an effort to attract new users in order to, "help people to understand that Twitter isn't really a Facebook-like social network where you connect with friends and family (thank goodness for that!) nor a place where you have to show up and tweet every day." For severe weather information, Twitter is "hands-down" the best social media platform to receive severe weather watch and warning information…so long as you follow official media and National Weather Service accounts.
Trolls are an ever-present irritant in the online world, but there are ways to soundly destroy them…and it's not that difficult.
An incredible technology and aeronautical achievement has just been completed. A solar-powered aircraft had circled the globe!
An excellent read on why we need to remember the Apollo moon landings.
The red spot storm on Jupiter has been observed for hundreds of years. The air in its thunderstorms boil at temperatures of of at least 2400°F (1300°C).
Now that the DSCOVR satellite has been orbiting the Earth for over a year, its EPIC camera has finally captured enough images for a year-long time-lapse video of our home.
Thanks to climate change, wildfires in the USA have burned over 2.6 million acres so far this year…and there's more to come.
California isn't the only state in the US that is currently ravaged by drought. The northeastern states are in the grips of dry conditions as well.
A novel idea that's worth looking into. If you've got an overabundance of CO2, get more giant trees.
For those who have the daunting task for forecasting flood events, climate change just changed the rules they must play by.
We all need weather forecasts available on our mobile devices. The National Weather Service has you covered for your summer vacation…and year round.
An excellent read by Dr. Marshall Shepherd. "Do You (Or Your Meteorologist) Understand What 40% Chance Of Rain Means?"
For the next three months (August, September, and October, 2016), NOAA's Climate Prediction Center's outlook is for above average temperatures for the contiguous forty-eight states and Alaska.
We're only in late July and, according to data from NOAA and NASA, 2016 is already shaping up to be another record-breaking year for global temperatures.
With 2016 shaping up to be another record-breaking year for global temperatures, here's an important look at many USA cities which are bound to set records of their own.
A new NASA-led study finds that almost one-fifth of the global warming that has occurred in the past 150 years has been missed by historical records due to quirks in how global temperatures were recorded.
A very informative read on how climate models are accurately predicting ocean and global warming.
Part health, part weather…a good read on keeping the human body cool during a heat wave. Your life could depend on it.
While on the topic of heat and the human body, here's a comprehensive list of seven misconceptions about heat and humidity. Chances are you believe in some of them.
An interesting map of the climate worries that are (most likely) in the USA's public mind…state-by-state.
An interesting read on one of the more enigmatic lightning related phenomenons in meteorology: ball lightning.
Yet another media-hype unscientific term has infiltrated itself into mass media and the colloquial dictionary. Welcome to the "heat dome."
Finally, a look at the best arguments that climate change denialists can devise. From the article, "These are the publishing climate scientists who argue that something other than humans is responsible for the majority of global warming, although their explanations are often contradictory and don't withstand scientific scrutiny." The flat-earth society is still alive and well.
That's a wrap for this post!
One last note; due to ongoing commitments to many other projects, this blog post will now be published on Friday. I'd also like to welcome my new followers in social media. I'm glad you're along for the fun! All of Tornado Quest's social media links can be found below.
Tornado Quest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tornadoquest
Tornado Quest on Instagram: https://instagram.com/tornadoquest
Tornado Quest on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tornadoquest
Tornado Quest on Tumblr: http://tornadoquest.tumblr.com/
Media inquiries: email@example.com


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Facebook's Company Town
Facebook Inc.'s sprawling campus in Menlo Park, Calif., is so full of cushy perks that some employees may never want to go home. Soon, they'll have that option. Reed Albergotti has details on Lunch Break. Photo: Facebook
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... the ... sprawling hecklers in Silicom Valley has so many secrets that some employees well ... they only events in many of them all out to the social media giant is building a ... housing community ... to stats from its office complete with a sports are resort inspired pull and ... even doggie daycare Wall Street Journal Facebook reporter Reed Albergotti ... joins is out there from in synthesis go well doggie daycare read ... investigative reporting as finance my friend ... that sounds pretty good doesn't it ... now ... that ... so you just to be clear ... this housing project that Facebook is is developing is actually open to anyone that skinny market rate housing other than fifteen units that will be ... subsidized for Facebook employees but ... you know realistically this is can be mostly filled ... with you know about four hundred of ... the three thousand people who work at the Menlo Park offices in it sounds ... like because she digs in ... its only a five minute ... you know very easy bike stroll to the campus so ... it is sort of ... ulema said the return of the company housing if you well ... the variety found pretty nice company housing a lot of factors at work ... I would imagine here read among them probably ... the fact the real state is just skyrocketed not the price of real state in San Francisco making people even ... afford to lead there when they have starting salaries of Facebook ... that's when the big problem synthesis go it he said any nosy prices it could ... have really gone up in the last of five years or so ... so Facebook employees are spread out all over the Bay area ... the commute by the shuttle bus a train by car but by ... on just to get to the campus so ... a lot of those employees actually apps Facebook ... deal is are there housing options closer to campus that I mean you can help the silence of this is one answer to that but I certainly can how's everybody who works for Facebook surprises market is a lottery system first come first served ... no it's really it's really just like in housing so you just rent out one of these apartments ... like you would any apartment ... aam but being so close to Facebook's can't this um you know it's probably Guinea be faced with the boys be don't know ... how much demand there is from from people there whether there's going to be certain bidding wars on ... onthe apartments and you will so ... you'll see a couple years opens I and it's in early twenty fifteen ... I know what the original company town's main part of the reason they built the was just employees stayed with some of these businesses for so long they offer healthcare ... postal services everything but in Silicom Valley people are jumping ship they're moving around alot so ... I you know a house that can work out with this ... yet Silicon Valley's Kennedy antithesis of the company town because ... you know there's ... the whole idea of it is that there's this ... he notes are melting pot of ideas people from different companies switching companies starting new companies ... so this is ... could be ... on certain effort by Facebook's it to pull some of those employees back in ... the ode to take advantage of that ... that does ideas die changing hands ... changing minds if you well on the keep that in turn also that Facebook itself ... up to come up with the new the new innovations are everywhere you just know that this emphasis the main you can live in your current Elisa bell sounds like a


text:
If there is an emergency requiring immediate medical attention, call 911 immediately.
Chemical Exposure
If you're exposed to pool chemicals, contact a physician immediately and follow the appropriate steps as listed below:
Chemical Disposal and Spillage
If you have an incident involving BAQUA Spa® Products call 1-800-654-6911. This is the Lonza Emergency Action Network (LEAN). The people who answer the phone are all trained to assist you in an emergency.


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great game but hard to make money at times
Log in to save your medals! Don't have an account? Create one for free!
great game but hard to make money at times
Seriously just write Long Horror Thrillers and Buy/Upgrade and in no time you should be millionaire
Its missing something....
Maybe some more in the way of graphics, or something else to do. Idk, just gets repetitive
Black Bars keep showing up in game?
Wish there was a lot more to do in this game. Better publishers than Wilkins, more stuff to buy, more in game events, etc.
Also, there is literally no point in making anything other than thriller mysteries in this game.


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Thursday, June 4
"Refried" Beans
17 comments:
- Cori said...
Beans beans, the musical fruit...
I love to make them this way with black beans and jalapeño - you don't even miss the oil! I have never, not once in my entire 27 years, made beans from scratch. You make it sound easy!
- June 4, 2009 at 11:10 AM
What a delicious bowl of beans! Yummy!
- June 4, 2009 at 3:05 PM
- unconfidentialcook said...
I love beans, too--and could that possibly be easier?No reason NOT to eat beans!
- June 4, 2009 at 3:50 PM
- Lo said...
Love beans -- and these look delicious. :)
So, these are UNfried beans, then??
- June 4, 2009 at 9:22 PM
- zoe said...
Lo- That's right! UNfried.
- June 4, 2009 at 10:22 PM
- zoe said...
Cori- Can I confess something? This was my first time too!
- June 4, 2009 at 10:22 PM
- FOOD IS LUV said...
i'll definitely have to try this! never thought of using the crockpot...that's great!
- June 5, 2009 at 2:26 AM
- FOOD IS LUV said...
i'll definitely have to try this! never thought of using a crockpot..great idea!
- June 5, 2009 at 2:27 AM
- girlichef said...
I'm a refried bean lover. Your recipe is so simple...I bet the flavors shine through so brightly! Yummy.
- June 5, 2009 at 7:51 AM
- wuxiapiank said...
I never buy refried beans anymore. I used to cook up my own beans, but I don't have a slow cooker at the moment so I usually buy canned beans and mash them. Sometimes I fry them, sometimes I don't. I neve use much oil either way.
- June 5, 2009 at 9:50 AM
- ♥peachkins♥ said...
perfect poached egg!!!What a great way to end your day...Thanks for visiting my blog today.
- June 5, 2009 at 10:42 AM
- fermata said...
Those beans look great! I will definitely have to try this sometime.
I did some poking around though, and I found out that 'refried' beans is actually a bit of a mistranslation. Apparently in Spanish, refritos means 'well-fried', not 'refried'. So your recipe might be quite traditional after all!
- June 5, 2009 at 11:39 AM
- Kristen said...
Yummy! (and I always wondered about the re-fried bit too)
- June 5, 2009 at 7:57 PM
- Michele said...
Your beans look delicious!
- June 6, 2009 at 2:27 AM
- Grace said...
i had no idea it was so easy to replicate refried beans at home! never again will i need to get a can of fatty, salty refried beans. :)
- June 6, 2009 at 2:22 PM
- Kevin said...
Creamy refried beans are always good!
- June 6, 2009 at 2:52 PM
- Hannah said...
Looks delicious, and so much better for you than anything pre-made in a can.
- June 6, 2009 at 3:25 PM


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Just in time for summer grilling and picnic season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is launching Mobile Ask Karen, a Web-based smartphone application, or app, that instantly answers food safety questions. The app is a mobile version of the existing Ask Karen site, a virtual food safety representative who offers advice about properly handling, storing, and preparing food to prevent illness.
"FSIS has a wealth of tips and useful information to help as you shop, prepare, and store food," said Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen. "People are using mobile devices more and more to get quick information, so we've adapted our tools, allowing more people to get food safety messages faster. Now, people can 'Ask Karen' right away when they need food safety information, without being tethered to a computer."
In mobile format, people can take "Karen" with them to the grocery store, barbecue grill, farmers market, and into the kitchen. Anywhere mobile devices can access the Internet, at any time of day, consumers can get immediate answers to questions such as, "Is food safe if left out overnight?" or, "Should I use a wooden cutting board or a plastic one?"
In a continuing effort to engage consumers and encourage new behaviors when buying food or cooking at home, the agency created Mobile Ask Karen to make food safety information more accessible. Just like using Ask Karen from a desktop or laptop computer, consumers can search for nearly 1,500 answers by topic or by product, chat with a live representative, or e-mail or call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline (1-888-MPHotline). The app currently is optimized for the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
President Obama's Food Safety Working Group (FSWG) developed three core principles to help guide food safety in the United States: prioritizing prevention, strengthening surveillance and enforcement, and improving response and recovery. In its overall mission as a 21st century public health agency focused on ensuring a safe food supply, FSIS developed the Mobile Ask Karen app to provide consumers fast, reliable food safety information.
In past two months, USDA announced two additional measures to safeguard the public from foodborne illnesses. In March, USDA announced implementation of revised and new performance standards aimed at reducing the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in young chickens and turkeys. USDA expects the new standards—which require establishments slaughtering chicken and turkey to make continued reductions in the occurrence of pathogens—to prevent as many as 25,000 foodborne illnesses. In April, USDA proposed a new requirement for the meat and poultry industry called "test and hold" that, once enacted, will significantly reduce the amount of unsafe food reaching consumers by allowing USDA to hold products from commerce until USDA test results for harmful substances are received.
To start using Mobile Ask Karen now, go to m.AskKaren.gov on your phone's browser,


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Rounding off our 'Flora' series is a movement focused collaboration between Anna Trevelyan and duo Meinke Klein. Referencing amateur handheld YouTube footage of roller coasters and watersides and Disney's vision of Alice falling down the rabbit hole in 'Alice in Wonderland', the GIFs explore the varying shapes and colours of flowers, all while challenging the conventions of moving imagery.
Left: Strapless dress by Christian Dior, trousers by Antonio Berardi. Right: Dress by Christopher Raeburn, shoes by Crisian and McCaffrey.
Left: Jacket and trousers by Erdem, shirt by Sibling. Right: Shirt by Moschino, denim jacket by Meadham Kirchhoff, trousers and shoes by Louis Vuitton.
Left: Mesh jacket and trousers by Moschino Cheap and Chic, shirt by Dries Van Noten, shoes by Casadei. Right: Collared dress by Simone Rocha, strapless dress by Maison Martin Margiela.


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A 64-year-old Sunnyvale woman was killed Monday night in a collision on Highway 85, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The woman, identified by the Santa Clara County Coroner's Office as Mai Nguyen, was driving a 1995 Honda Accord south on Highway 85 at 11:45 p.m. when she veered off the roadway and went up a steep embankment, according to the CHP. The Honda overturned and came to a rest on Highway 85 near the Cox Avenue overpass in Saratoga.
The Honda was then hit by a 2002 Ford Taurus.
The Sunnyvale woman died at the scene.
The driver of the Ford, a 27-year-old woman from Mountain View, tried to stop but could not avoid hitting the driver's side of the Accord, according to the CHP. The driver of the Ford was not arrested.
Contact Mark Gomez at 408-920-5869. Follow him on Twitter @MarkMgomez


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This week marks the launch of the new, World-Bank supported Ethiopia Climate Innovation Center (CIC). The center joins a global network of CICs and is designed to support local Ethiopian businesses that are responding to the challenges of climate change by providing mentorship, financing, access to markets, and policy support.
"Climate tech in Ethiopia?" A puzzled look with raised eyebrows is what I often receive from friends and colleagues who think more of Silicon Valley than the Great Rift Valley when they hear the terms 'climate tech' and 'clean tech.' I get a bit more understanding when I mention Ethiopia's 90 million plus consumers and tick off some of the country's abundant natural resources, such as fertile land, rivers that supply the Nile delta, and abundant sunshine. Double digit growth rates and an active diaspora community returning to Ethiopia to invest complete the picture. Usually, this is enough to elicit some interested head nods.
Finally, I get to talk about the emerging Ethiopian climate tech firms, such as African Bamboo that is planning to export sustainable wood flooring to the EU and elsewhere. Or dVentus Technologies that has developed smart meters and wind turbines across Ethiopia and is currently working on locally appropriate (i.e. inexpensive and dirt road friendly) electric vehicles. Or the holy grail of the fuel-efficient cookstoves - seemingly in development by every other entrepreneur in Ethiopia - that can make the perfect 'Injera' (a local sourdough-risen flatbread) without using wood or coal.
I also mention the 190 entrepreneurs that applied to the Ethiopia CIC's "proof of concept" competition. Twenty of these entrepreneurs have been accepted as clients of the Ethiopia CIC and will showcase their products and pitch their businesses to investors at the CIC launch on March 27. Then, finally, I get some enthusiasm from my skeptical audience.
The government of Ethiopia has reaffirmed its commitment to green growth through its Climate Resilient Green Economy strategy. The CIC supports the government's efforts to use green investments to grow the local economy.
In short, there is clearly a market for these businesses. And these businesses are critical as climate change forecasts call for major impacts on Ethiopia's agriculture production and overall economy. Solar-powered drip irrigation can go a long way towards helping farmers adapt when rainfall slows or temperature patterns change. Small hydro and water filtration technologies can help alleviate the vast energy access and clean water needs of the country.
Don't get me wrong. Ethiopia is still a very nascent ecosystem for entrepreneurs. The legacy of central planning is evident in the mindset of many business people. Investment laws are still being modernized; in fact, the Ethiopian Commercial Code is being revised as we speak. Financing for risky technology ventures is nearly non-existent.
These are some of the challenges that the Ethiopia CIC, a USD 15.9 Million project under infoDev's Climate Technology Program, will face as it gets established and undertakes its work with local entrepreneurs. Its business plan provides a more in-depth look at the market and highlights the services that the center will provide to the growing network of sustainable climate tech ventures. The business plan projects that the CIC will generate 12,000 jobs, mitigate almost 1 million tons of CO2, increase agricultural efficiency for 120,000 farmers, and provide access to energy to 265,000 people.
It is early days for the climate technology market in Ethiopia and for these innovative entrepreneurs. But supporting local climate technology solutions offers Ethiopia the opportunity to increase its climate resilience and boost its sustainable economy – the true aim of green growth. So don't overlook Ethiopian climate technology businesses. And give me a knowing head nod instead of a raised eyebrow if you ever hear me talking up Ethiopia climate tech in the hallways.
The Ethiopia development
The Ethiopia development philosophy is based on mutual benefit principles!!!! Even though the cost of green development is high Ethiopia chosen to be the model of clean development. The result of this strategy has already producing results.
This article seems to touch many issues around CRGE but it is too early to talk about enfodev results.
Ethiopian forest and
Ethiopian forest and vegetation cover is severely damaged by the growing population pressure and exacerbated by the double digit growth economy in general and in particular, the Ethiopian Somali Regional state forest in and around Jig-Jiga and refugee settled areas is severely damaged by deforestation and charcoal production which some drop out pastoralists daily produce thousands of tones of charcoal and land forest and vegetation cover is reduced. I hope this will provide alternative energy uses in Ethiopia in general will target the most affected areas of the country. I really appreciate this project and finally will thank the individuals innovated to be implemented this project in our country.
Happy to read. Well done and
Happy to read. Well done and congrats. This is way to go! Happy Ethiopia is on green road as well. Well done!
Ethiopia is at an early stage
Ethiopia is at an early stage of developing in all fronts of the sectors.The probability of the sectors like climate change ,clean tech or green energy to be overlooked or push behind is maximum although there is an apparent policy support from the GoE. So,It is my strong belief that such opportunities to Ethiopia in general and to Ethiopian climate change innovation ventures is paramount.Don't be surprised with the raised eyebrow as they are probably a result of unaware of the consequences of the other side.
I strongly appreciate the
I strongly appreciate the efforts made to establish Ethiopian Climate Innovation Center (CIC)and have a keen interest to practically support it ,as an environmentalist,and involve in any development activity related to it.
This is a very crucial time for our country where every body should cooperate and unite to support the climate adaptation mechanisms to bring about social, environmental and economic sustainability.
I would recommend every Ethiopian to support Climate Resilient Green Economy strategy which is a question of life and death for us and the coming generation. Thankyou and keep in touch,
Gulelat T from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
well written! the past is
well written! the past is past,our country's image is changed once and for all.this is time for Africa, Time for Ethiopia. we will make our environment greener. we thank you Michael.
its really nice to hear this
its really nice to hear this news. the effort of the government in formulating a green growth development strategy and taking appropriate actions for its implementation is commendable. sustainable development is not something that could be achieved leaving the environment a side. the world trend has tilted towards such reliable African countries as the oil of the middle east and some other countries will never be unlimited resource. the green growth strategy is a priceless strategy the could save the world from the problem that would come following the potential lack of fuel. so in this sphere the rest countries should take a lesson from Ethiopia.
I am an architect and I would
I am an architect and I would be happy if there is a way I could be part of it.
I am ready for any technical
I am ready for any technical assistance for this center.
This is great news! As the
This is great news! As the headquarters for African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Ethiopia should lead the way for Africa.
well done, go for it and save
well done, go for it and save our inviroment
We should be planting more
We should be planting more trees to conserve water and soil that would help restore/regulate weather conditions.
Climate Tech Ethiopia, is just a change of name....nothing new at all. Let us do the basics right....help only to get us up in our feet.
Climate change is a subject
Climate change is a subject that people perceive in different ways. Whatever the case or the debate going on to this regards, Africa is facing big challenges to cope with the changes in all aspects opposed to its growing demands to feed its ever increasing population. I suggest to stop arguing on theoretical aspects and work on practical aspects of the effects of the problem before it is too late.
You hit the nail right on its
You hit the nail right on its head. Thanks Gelalcha.
Practical actions and adequate investments are indeed much needed. However debates on green issues are not that bad too (for a change, of incessant .
Stay focused.
Well Done.
Well Done.
Climate change and environmental issues are now being given due attention and the development of Ethiopia is geared towards Green Development mechanisms. This is shown by the commitment from the Government side that a CRGE strategy is now being implemented. I strongly support and abide to your argument. Thanks
CRGE is a good strategy to
CRGE is a good strategy to cope with and act on the unpredictable climate situation. We should not also forget the comparative advantages and dis advantages of any program we bring in. Hence, I would suggest to work hard and see form all directions with all the short and long term impacts it will bring.
it interesting news
it's interesting news
Great and substantive article
Great and substantive article. Thank you Michael.
Green initiatives, public or market based, are getting better by the day here in Ethiopia. Wish more / adequate investments go towards alleviating poverty, especially energy poverty (primitive cookstoves and imported kerosene for lighting)in rural areas. Best wishes.
Very interesting news.
Very interesting news. Sustanaible development would be achive with the help of use renewable energies sources like solar photovoltaic energy.
Every person benefits from electricity directly from the sun


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Lunk needed a new web page design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 89 designs submitted by 23 freelance designers.
Jayaco Alderon Persada
I am the owner of this company, I come from Indonesia. The culture in our company is to serve our customers from the heart. We want to provide the best service in our industry, and we want our website to reflect that. We really care about our customers.
Our customers are contractors, architects, building owners, consultants, and building material retailers. Most of our customers are men in their 30's to 50's. Many are wealthy individuals since we occasionally handle big projects. They want to deal with a trustworthy company and wish to be served with utmost care.
We need a home page and a content page template. Our products consist of: Rooftop, Duma Polywood, Black Diamond, Paradise Ceramics, and Alderon Windows & Doors. The menus would be: About us, Products (you can also put all the product logos on the homepage), Contact us, We Care (our social activities).
On the content page we would put photos, illustrations, and videos. The products on our existing homepage would be rebranded: Alderon Deck into Rooftop, and Alderon Wood Polymer into Duma Polywood. You can use existing information and illustrations for the new website (or better if you can improve it).
We want the design to be clean, friendly, and show our goodwill. We want our customers to browse and shop in comfort, easily contacting us for further questions or purchase.
You can be creative on everything, we're looking forward to seeing the results.
Home page and Content page template. Anything goes as long as it looks amazing. Clean and crisp design with easy to read fonts. A feel of personalized service.
I like the clean feel of the website, but it is long due for a redesign. Needs a major update.
This is a proposed redesign for our website. Make us something way better than this if you can.
http://www.hlaska.com, looks nice and clean (but don't know if this design fits with my industry).
You don't need to follow any of the example websites, I'm open to any cool designs.


text: Dogs and cats are often the victims of internal and external parasites. Please bring a stool sample once a year to check for intestenal worms. Dog owners should have their pet blood tested once a year for heart worms and given preventive medicine if the test is negative. Any parasite infestation may require special treatments and products. We carry a full complement of these supplies.


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|Personal Liberty Bob Livingston provides you with a conservative, Christian view on life. Helping you live free in an unfree world. Delivering news on improving you health, boosting your wealth, and protecting your civil liberties."
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Chicago cops shut down two brothels
CHICAGO, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Chicago police say they shut down two brothels allegedly run by the Maniac Latin Disciples gang.
The gang has recently come under pressure of the city's police as one member, Antonio Bucio, 23, is accused of shooting and wounding two young girls, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday.
Bucio allegedly told authorities he was aiming for gang rivals who were "disrespecting his gang." He was being held without bail on aggravated battery with a firearm and weapons charges.
After the June 8 shooting of the girls, police Superintendent Garry McCarthy declares an "ongoing and relentless" war on the gang. From mid-June through mid-October, officers made 672 arrests of Maniac Latin Disciples members, Lt. Maureen Biggane said.
Last week, Bucio's brother, Michael Bucio, also a member of the gang, was arrested was arrested on felony charges of keeping a place of prostitution and promoting prostitution. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Michael Bucio allegedly rented two houses where women, ages 18 to 30, worked for him as prostitutes, said Sgt. Traci Walker of the vice section's Human Trafficking Task Force. Four other members of the gang were charged in the case.
Walker said it isn't unusual for gangs to try out illegal activities such as prostitution, even though they are primarily know for selling drugs.
"We just shut down a major funding source for them," Walker said.
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Back in January, I began looking into my food choices. Which I had always considered fairly good, but then I made the mistake of taking some jerk's advice and actually writing down what I was eating, and I discovered that my diet consisted of good food bookended by total crap. So it would go like this: HEALTHY BREAKFAST then cookies HEALTHY LUNCH maybe more cookies or chocolate or hell why not both HEALTHY SNACK which I should probably add chocolate to HEALTHY DINNER with some wine, duh, then dessert than maybe more dessert before going to bed because let's not deprive ourselves.
I began looking into said diet because I suspected I could feel better, and also I had one of those scary doctor's appointment moments, wherein they weigh you as an afterthought and you look at the scale and you're all WHAT THE NO THAT CANNOT BE PLEASE GOD HELP.
I was already thinking about the connection between food and emotional health, anyway, because I could certainly tell that eating too much sugar had a negative effect on my mood (and yet I couldn't stop, dear God no). I had read "The Mood Cure" some years back, and the author made a pretty interesting case about sugar being bad and fat not being as bad as everyone said it was, but there was all this talk about supplements and then I got sleepy or something shiny distracted me for a few years.
But anyway, there I was, feeling kind of gross from my post-Christmas cookie binge, not to mention my post-cookie-binge flu, so I began to do some research about diet and its effects on mood. By "some research" I mean a ridiculous amount of reading. I read books and then I read the studies cited in the bibliographies of those books and then I read more books that those scientists wrote and then and so on. (I highly recommend Gary Taubes' "Good Calories, Bad Calories" and "Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It" Oh! And Robb Wolff's "The Paleo Solution.")
I was convinced that I should try out the paleo/primal diet, which essentially recommends cutting out grains and sugars, and focusing on meat, fish, and vegetables. Oh, and not avoiding saturated fats because the whole idea that saturated fats are the devil is simply untrue. If you're interested in the full scoop, you can go here. (A strict Paleo diet, I should note, also eschews dairy, but I wasn't quite ready for that in the beginning.)
Now, if you've read this blog for any length of time, you know, because I keep telling you, that I'm a sugar addict. I like sugar. A lot. But I bought a shit-ton of vegetables and meats, I depleted our supply of Christmas cookies via my mouth, and I told myself that I would try this out for one week. Just one week! And then I could have a cheat day, and then I would tough it out for another week. And so on.
But a week passed, and I realized I didn't feel like cheating. So I continued for another week. And then a month. And then another month. I actually liked eating like this, it turned out. And I didn't see any reason to stop.
Now, I wasn't Super-Paleo, which means VERY LITTLE FRUIT and NO DAIRY, and for all I know ONLY ORGAN MEATS THAT HAVE BEEN FRESHLY TORN FROM THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY, GRAARGH. But I had definitely renounced all grains, and I realized that they held no real allure for me. I didn't even want pasta. And I used to eat pasta every other day. I liked pasta, my friends.
But I felt good. I noticed that my skin improved, and my energy levels were much higher. I also, incidentally, lost a few pounds. But while I was never tempted by grains (this was reinforced for me when I had a few bites of birthday cake at one point and felt like I was being punched in the gut for the next several hours), I had definitely cheated. With chocolate. And ice cream. And yogurt slathered in maple syrup. For instance.
Then I read about this Whole30 program, which was right in line with what I've been trying to do. And because I was already 80% of the way there, I thought, what the hell. 30 days isn't all that long. 30 days of absolutely no dairy (not even milk in coffee). No sugar at all. Not even artificial sugars. Not even sugar-free gum. Oh, and no alcohol. COULD I DO IT?
I am here to tell you that I COULD, and I DID. And I had no problem with it. I felt great. I lost more weight (about 15 pounds in all). And it was during this Whole 30 Program that I managed to get off of some of the meds I had been struggling with. It was kind of fantastic.
(My only problem was what happened when, once I was done with the 30 day program, I tried out some of the foods I had renounced. Because I never intended to shun them forever and ever, amen. I still wanted to live a little. (Except I'm done with grains. Especially wheat. I don't know whether I have an intolerance, or what, but my body has sent me a clear message that wheat is not my friend.) Anyway, here's what happened in my head, every time I tried one of the foods I had been pining for, however mildly, during those 30 days:
1. Well, this isn't as good as I remember it being.
2. I should eat it anyway. Because I CAN.
3. Aaaand now I feel horrific. I am a goddamn genius.
This has so far been my experience with frozen yogurt, regular yogurt (I really like(d) yogurt), several desserts, alcohol in all its myriad forms, and cheese in all its many wondrous incarnations, including -cake. Oh, cheese! I always loved cheese. It now is just disgusting to me. I'm not trying to be smug or self-righteous when I tell you this. I am mourning the loss of cheese. It's like seeing an old boyfriend you once were desperately in love with and now all you can think of is how he smells like something that's been in the fridge too long.)
So that's the deal, and I highly recommend checking it out, if you're at all interested. But I'm not saying you're an idiot if you don't, you understand. I hesitated to even bring up this topic, because I didn't want anyone to think I was judging their food choices. I realize this is intensely personal, what you put in your face-hole. I'm not saying that you should all eat like this. I'm only telling you what works for me. I like eating this way. I feel good. And who knows? Maybe it would work for you as well.


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Saunders hopes rough start isn't his last for Seattle
BOSTON -- Mariners lefty Joe Saunders doesn't know if he'll finish out the season with Seattle with the non-waiver Trade Deadline looming Wednesday, but he does know he doesn't want to end things with Tuesday's 8-2 loss to the Red Sox as his last hurrah.
Saunders had turned around his early-season road woes in recent weeks, but the Red Sox ended that roll with a runaway win at Fenway Park as they roughed him up for six runs (five earned) on nine hits in five innings.View Full Game Coverage
BOSTON -- Mariners lefty Joe Saunders doesn't know if he'll finish out the season with Seattle with the non-waiver Trade Deadline looming Wednesday, but he does know he doesn't want to end things with Tuesday's 8-2 loss to the Red Sox as his last hurrah.
Saunders had turned around his early-season road woes in recent weeks, but the Red Sox ended that roll with a runaway win at Fenway Park as they roughed him up for six runs (five earned) on nine hits in five innings.View Full Game Coverage
Saunders is one of a handful of Mariners veterans who could become free agents at the end of the season and thus are potential trade chips with Seattle sitting 50-56 and 8 1/2 games out of a Wild-Card berth with two months remaining.
General manager Jack Zduriencik has until Wednesday's 1 p.m. PT deadline to make any moves, but Saunders said that wasn't an issue in his performance against Boston.
"You just have to go out there and pitch," said Saunders, who was traded last year from the D-backs to the Orioles in midseason. "It's really out of your hands. You've got to go out there and do your job and whatever happens, happens. You can't control it.
"I preach that. Why are you going to worry about it?" he said. "Whatever happens, I'd like to be here. I love playing here. I think we've got a good thing going with these guys. These young guys are starting to come into their own and I'd like to be a part of it."
The 32-year-old southpaw fell to 9-10 with a 4.65 ERA. After starting 0-4 with an 11.25 ERA in his first five road games, he'd gone 4-1 with a 1.76 ERA over his last six away outings until Tuesday's encounter.
Saunders didn't get much help from his defense in the first inning when the Red Sox scored twice, as shortstop Brad Miller booted a grounder by Dustin Pedroia and catcher Henry Blanco allowed a run to score on a passed ball.
But the Red Sox did damage on their own in the second with a pair of home runs, a solo shot by Jacoby Ellsbury and a two-run pop by Pedroia that made it 5-1.
"I was throwing good pitches and wasn't getting much help. It was a tough night," said Saunders, who didn't get some calls on a few critical pitches down in the zone early. "I don't want to talk about it. I'll just get myself in trouble. It was just a tough night for us. We didn't get the breaks and they did. It was just one of those nights."
Acting manager Robby Thompson hinted at some of the same issue.
"You'd like to see him get a few of those pitches down in the zone," said Thompson. "Joe has to pitch down and it seemed like he wasn't getting some of those calls. He's not a guy that can pitch up in the zone, so he's got to stay down there. He fell behind the count more than he wanted."
Miller, the rookie shortstop making his first appearance at Fenway, was kicking himself for his one error as well as an infield single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia that he mishandled on a barehand attempt later in the first.
"I wish I'd been a little cleaner on those two and kind of kept the momentum in our favor," said Miller.
It could have been worse, but the Mariners threw out leadoff hitter Jose Iglesias in the second after he lined a ball hard off the Green Monster and then got into a 7-4-3-6 rundown trying to avoid a tag at second when attempting to stretch it to a double.
That took a man off base when Ellsbury hit his home run, and the Red Sox lost another runner in the fourth when Pedroia rounded first too far on an RBI single that gave Boston a 6-1 lead.
The Mariners scored in the first when Nick Franklin doubled and came home on a single up the middle by Kendrys Morales. But rookie right-hander Brandon Workman settled in from there, holding Seattle scoreless over the next five frames en route to his first career victory, allowing six hits with one walk and nine strikeouts in six innings.
Rookie Brandon Maurer replaced Saunders for his first relief appearance since being recalled Saturday and threw two perfect innings before giving up a two-run homer to Saltalamacchia in the eighth.
The Mariners mounted their best threat in the sixth, loading the bases with one out on three straight singles. But Workman struck out Michael Morse and Justin Smoak to preserve his 6-1 lead.
Morse, making his first start after five weeks on the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps muscle, went 0-for-4 with three of Seattle's 12 strikeouts.
Kyle Seager continued his outstanding July with a 2-for-4 night. The young third baseman has hit .389 (35-for-90) this month, raising his season average to a team-leading .295.
The Mariners (50-56) have still won 10 of their last 14 games and are 15-9 in July. They haven't won 16 in a month since June 2007, when they won 18.
The Red Sox are the only team to win a series against Seattle in its last seven series, having taken three of four games at Safeco Field earlier this month and winning the first game of this three-game set.
Greg Johns is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregJohnsMLB as well as his Mariners Musings blog.


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Arctic Comfort Hotel is a cozy and comfortable three-star hotel in Reykjavik.
The hotel offers large (24-27 m2) single, double and triple rooms, as well as studio rooms. All rooms are equipped with twin beds, refrigerator, telephone, color TV and private bathrooms with shower. The studio rooms are additionally furnished with a kitchenette, which include a small cooking-stove and a microwave oven. One or two extra beds can be added in each room. The breakfast room is located on the ground floor, as well as a lounge and a bar.
All rooms have wireless internet connections
Two computers connected to internet are available for the guests of the hotel in the bar area, free of charge. The shopping centre Kringlan is within walking distance from Arctic Comfort Hotel, as well as the city's main outdoor area, Laugardalur, with its Sports and Exhibition Centre, a large swimming-pool and hot pots, the Botanical Garden of Reykjavík, the Family Park, the Domestic Animal Zoo and the indoor ice-skating ring. Various shops and restaurants are also found nearby, and the city centre is ca. 2,5 Km away (25-35 minutes by foot or 5 minutes by bus/car). Arctic Comfort Hotel is the ideal choice for travelers and business people, who are looking for a restful and cozy place to come back to, while visiting Europe's most northern capital.


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- Do you know more? Email us, message us on Twitter @smh
Lodgers at the Lansdowne Hotel desperately tried to douse a fire that tore through the historic building in Chippendale amid fears that a number of people were trapped inside.
Firefighters were called to the hotel, on the corner of City Road and Broadway, at 7.45am when an automatic fire alarm was activated.
They arrived to find flames and thick black smoke billowing from the third-level balcony, and reports that a number of people were trapped on the upper levels of the four-level building.
Superintendent Tom Cooper, from Fire and Rescue NSW, said the fire was intense but about 12 people, including long-term lodgers and backpackers, were able to escape.
Sabrina Valise, who lives at the hotel, said she woke to find flames on the balcony outside her room. But in the minute it took her to get some water to try to put out the fire, the flames had taken off.
"By the time I got back it had spread across the balcony," she said. "I started running up and down the corridor banging on doors to wake everyone up."
Annie Reardon, who has lived at the hotel for 10 months, said she was woken by Ms Valise knocking on her door and ran outside.
''I don't know if I've lost anything, because we can't go back inside yet,'' she said.
''I didn't make it to work today.''
Another lodger, who asked not to be named, said firefighters were on the scene within minutes.
"They came immediately and everyone got out. That's the best thing, everyone is okay,'' she said.
Superintendent Collins said he could not confirm reports that a small piece of cardboard had been deliberately set alight on the balcony.
I started running up and down the corridor banging on doors to wake everyone up.
Fire officers searched every room in the building, but found no one.
''The fire is believed to have started in the balcony area on the third level and quickly smoke clogged the upper levels. There were reports that people were trapped,'' he said.
''[Firefighters] mounted an aggressive offensive attack, went up through the fire escape ... and quickly dealt with the fire.
''You can see from the building behind me that there has been a large amount of smoke here. This is what happens when soft furnishings, such as bedding, pillows and mattresses, catch alight. If you were on that floor when this fire broke out, it would have been very difficult to get your bearings.''
He said there was no suggestion that the blaze was sparked by a fault in the building.
''Building codes have very stringent rules for accommodation, particularly backpackers like this, after we had some terrible tragedies in the 1980s,'' he said.
Two of three southbound lanes on City Road were blocked by emergency services when the fire broke out, and motorists were asked to avoid the area. However, all lanes reopened just before 10am.
Fire investigators will examine the hotel on Friday to determine the cause of the blaze.
Megan Levy is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald, after previous stints at The Age in Melbourne and London's The Daily Telegraph. Email or tweet Megan with your news tips.


text:
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text:
Contact InformationPuretalk Holdings Llc
4113 Monticello Street
Covington, GA 30014
Other InformationEntity Status: Active
Type of Entity: Foreign Limited Liability Company
Entity Creation Date: May 06, 2011
Days in Business: 2844 days
Company Description
Puretalk Holdings Llc is located in Covington, Georgia and is listed as an active Foreign Limited Liability Company. Puretalk Holdings Llc was started on May 06, 2011 which was 2844 days ago.
EmployeesReginald Mcfarland: Member
Registered AgentCorporation Service Company
Ct, CT NONE
Edit ProfileEdited: 12/1/2011
To edit this profile, please click here. You will be able to add a custom description, social networks, website, phone number, and many more features to your ISHCC.org profile.
Reviews0 Reviews
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In this project, students construct shelters that have varying properties and place them in the same location, or place similar shelters in different locations and compare temperature data taken in each shelter. Students predict what will happen for... (View More) each of the different shelter designs or placements and perform the steps of student research. The resource includes a student worksheet. This learning resource is part of the Atmosphere chapter of the GLOBE Teacher's Guide, and is supported by the GLOBE atmosphere protocols. (View Less)
Keywords: Guided inquiry; Sampling site; Instrument design
Audience: Elementary school, Middle school, High school
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students


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It's a journey: musings on art, literature, life... and occasional notes on training.
Today I decided, after a rest day, to test myself to find out where I might be for my target event in December... and SCM 1500. Here's how the work-out went:
WARM-UP (1650 total):
300 (fr/br/bk)
10 x 50 on 1:00 (:41-:43)
100 br
100 bk
150 EZ free
MAIN SET (1650 total*):
500 fr
400 fr
300 fr
200 fr
100 fr
50 fr
100 fr
*mile pace (1:36/100), :10 rest after each step of the ladder (total time = 27:24; swim time = 26:24)
100 br
100 bk
150 EZ fr
50 br
I'm pretty pleased with this result... I know it's slow, but my fastest mile (1750 SCY) ever was a 27:40 time trial I think (I'll have to check); so I haven't lost that much fitness since this summer (though it feels like I've lost a lot sometimes). I think I'll use 27:20 as my seed-time for the meet because I honestly don't know how swimming SCM vs. SCY is going to affect my time. This will set an interesting benchmark for me. A year and a half ago I spent several months just trying to get my 1750 down below 30:00 and I dropped 5 minutes off of my mile; but I've struggled since then to take any time off at all. I don't think I've lost ground, but I'd love to break 25 minutes in the 1650 (and eventually the 1750). Just need to be consistent about my regimen to see that kind of improvement.


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Margarita28 needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 30 designs submitted by 9 freelance designers.
Triple 8 Corporation
We initially created this brand name just as a generic name for a corporation, under which we operated our first business, which was a restaurant. Several years later, we decided to switch gears and got into manufacturing of baby products. Because it's big pain & hassle to form a new corporate name, we just decided to use this name as our legal name. But we've since created 5 brands under this corporation. Our products can be seen on swaddlebees.com. We basically create modern & fashionable diapers for babies. We want the logo to evoke fun, cutting edge, modern, & happy. Our products center around environmentally conscious products without looking like hippies.
We target young moms, between 25-45 yrs old, stay at home moms, middle to upper income levels, very forward thinkers, eco-concious, college-degreed. They obviously love their babies to death.
While the brand name is Triple 8 Corporation, you don't have to include the 'corporation' part in the logo. We prefer a text logo with a simple graphic.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.