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This is a story about the new NBA Jam for the Nintendo Wii. It is also a story about the 1990s, the NBA's waning cultural cachet, Bryant "Big Country" Reeves, Asian-Jewish relations, Roenick in NHL '94, nostalgia, and God.
Why Did They Do This To Us?
What or where, exactly, is the NBA in 2010? Teams recycle their worst jerseys for nationally televised games. Everyone's shoe is a re-issue. Kobe and Rondo do the Dream Shake while the rest of the league warms up to a modern version of a Doug E. Fresh song. In Milwaukee, Brandon Jennings has usurped the high-top-fade revival started by Brandon Rush. Half the league has worn No. 23 at some point in their careers.
When any cultural institution hits this sort of self-referential skid, it almost always means that the form has died. As David Berman of the Silver Jews said, "Punk rock died when the first kid said, 'Punk's not dead. Punk's not dead." Hip-hop died when Nas turned it into Schrödinger's cat. The NBA has been blessed with several lives, but I don't think it's a stretch to say that the league's lack of any current identity — the endless self-referencing, the cannibalization of its greatest star since Jordan — might signal the beginning of the game's final chapter as a relevant American sport.
Consider the two basketball video games for the 2010-2011 season. For the first time in its history, the 2K Sports series released a game with a retired player on the cover. Instead of hyping up the changes to the game play, which are significant and welcome, the game's designers chose instead to create something called the Jordan Challenge, in which the player can try to recreate MJ's greatest moments. That same day, EA Sports released its much-hyped remake of NBA Jam. A cultural touchstone for at least two generations of gamers, the format of the original arcade version—two-on-two superhuman basketball—has been filtered out through succeeding generations of shitty "urban" games. In many ways, the decline of the league from the Jordan Era can be explained by what happened when NBA Jam became NBA Ballers—while the former was about turning NBA players into superheroes on the court, the latter was geared toward accumulating wealth, buying rims for cars, and flat-screen TVs. Even though there were only two players per side, the concept of the team was paramount in NBA Jam and the players in those games were inextricably tied to their partners. Brad Lohaus and Blue Edwards will always be linked together in my mind, as will Charles Barkley and Thunder Dan Majerle, and Wayman Tisdale and Spud Webb. NBA Ballers, on the other hand, was about grinding up levels as an individual, accumulating different "moves," which can then be used to purchase luxury items. It's too depressing and bad and misguided and offensive to even really discuss, but it's where we find ourselves in 2010, and we have no choice but to embrace the return of the old superhuman basketball — even if it's inherently problematic for the NBA.
The video game industry, which is almost always a few years ahead of the curve, understands that the league, as a product, is kinda broken, at least here in America. The only workable option is to recycle and rebrand until the public runs out of nostalgia. What does it say about the modern NBA, after all, that the two biggest video-game releases are expressly designed to transport you to the 1990s?
It says: The NBA's not dead, man. The NBA's not dead.
Free Big Country
On Tuesday, Oct. 5, I borrowed my friend's Wii and bought the new NBA Jam. At 6:42 p.m. on Oct. 12, I put down my Wii remote, having led Bird and McHale to their 37th straight win in Campaign Mode. When one decides to play a video game for a week straight, mostly by oneself, it is important to set goals and keep a greater, preferably spiritual purpose in mind.
We'll get to mine in a moment. But first, let's talk about stiffs. One of the many appeals of the original was the barbershop-style discussion it would invariably inspire. It helped that the game was played in an arcade, where guys could stand around and yell at one another about who sucks and who doesn't, and what Gary Payton makes, and why the game is cheating for the white guy, and why Tim Hardaway isn't ever given his proper respect. In such a context, stiffs were vitally important as comic relief. The designers of the new version knew they had to evoke the same smirking disbelief that we registered years ago when we watched, say, Rony Seikaly helicoptering and somersaulting above the basket. They knew we needed stiffs.
Which brings us to Bryant "Big Country" Reeves.
Luckily for me, Kotaku published a list of unlockable players before the game's release, and it took only one quick scan for me to find what I needed. Buried deep down on the list, in the Grizzlies section, was the following note. "Unlock Bryant Big Country Reeves: Win 100 games."
My mission was clear. I would win 100 games. I would explore this world of familiar-but-new dunking simulacra. I would make a pilgrimage to Big Country.
How We Question God, And Other Fun Aspects Of NBA Jam
LOOK AND FEEL: It's hard to find any fault with what EA did with the game's presentation, especially given the exhausting need to pander to the nostalgics and the Wii's limitations. The graphics are updated, but still have funny nods to the old game. The music is still repetitive and awful. The intro screen and team select page are prettier, sure, but they are still easy to navigate. It's clear each detail was discussed, argued, improved upon, and then subsequently shaved back whenever it jibed too much with the feel of the original game.
The best decision the designers made, though, was to keep the old game's extreme depth perception problem, which turns the simple act of grabbing a rebound into a game of binocular soccer. Games like NBA Jam work best, I think, when they inspire debates between players about who most deserves the grace of God. The best way to achieve this effect is to make part of the game absolutely arbitrary and frustrating. In the Madden franchise, that used to mean lots of fumbling and false start. In NBA Jam, it's binocular-soccer rebounding.
Here's a transcript of a conversation I had with one of my fellow travelers. He is a Jew. I am an Asian. Please forgive the language.
"What the fuck, dude. How did you get that rebound? The ball was on the other side of the fucking court."
"Clearly, it wasn't."
"Clearly, it wasn't? Why do you sound like such an asshole?"
"Quit your bitching."
"Rick Sanchez was right,. What is this Jew control over video games? Stop making it cheat for you."
"I feel the need to point out the irony of an Asian man discussing Jewish conspiracies to control a video game company based in Japan. They put in Yi Jianlian, but not Casspi! I mean, Jason Thompson is on the Kings squad. They couldn't throw us a bone and replace him with Casspi?"
"I knew this Jewish girl in high school who had the last name Love. Do you think Kevin Love is part Jewish?"
"You are too dumb for words."
Sports video games are not complete without these sorts of exchanges. How else do we question God?
Wii CONTROL: Again, the game's designers did a wonderful job incorporating the feel of the old game with some fun, but not overly complicated Wii remote motions.
To shoot, you lift the Wii remote up to jump and then snap it back down to release the ball. It takes a couple of runs to get the hang of it (the tutorial is worthless), but after only a few tries, it begins to feel natural and you stop thinking, "Oh shit, how do I shoot again?" The rest of the game is controlled by buttons, but the placement and the responsiveness of the shooting motion make for a faster-paced, more fluid game.
CROSSOVERS AND SPINS: Along with the fun-to-use shooting motion, there is now a crossover button and a spin-move button. Of all the new features in the game itself, these are by far the most welcome and evolutionary. In the old version, small guys could always get stopped by a big posting up around the free throw line. If the small shot a three, the big could jump and block it. If the small ran into the lane, the big would just swat any lame dunk attempt. The crossover button now allows guys like Rondo, Chris Paul, and Deron Williams to get by bigger defenders. On particularly nasty crossovers, the defender will actually fall down.
NEW GAME MODES: There are several new game modes, all of which are tedious and pointless. 21 was an interesting idea, I guess, but it plays like the old Doctor J Versus Bird game I had on my Apple IIe. Smash, a fighting style game in which each team has to break the other team's backboard, is as much fun as playing Mortal Kombat on a controller with only one working button.
All these game modes are played on a glowing black court. Apparently, the game designers did not learn the lesson from midnight disco bowling: just turning down the lights, painting shit neon, and playing ABBA will not magically turn bowling into something better. Only beer and tranquilizers can do that.
HEADBANDS: Finally!
What We Talk About When We Talk About Shawn Kemp
As was true in the first game, each player's attributes are mostly worthless, as the designers have emphasized team parity at the expense of individual accuracy. In the new NBA Jam, Stephen Jackson and John Wall have the same speed rating. Kevin McHale is stronger than Dwight Howard. The inaccuracies abound, but they are mostly immaterial— nobody who plays NBA Jam ever looks at those little numbers, and the choices we make are never guided by the actual video game strength of a particular player.
Instead, our choices of players and teams are informed entirely by our own perceptions and projections of the NBA itself. For example, let's say Allen Iverson was completely useless in some hypothetical version NBA Jam and was flanked by Tyrone Hill or Eric Snow, and let's say that Deron Williams had 10s across the board and was paired with a dead-eye Kyle Korver. Would you ever choose Williams/Korver over Iverson/T.Hill? I suppose that question is directed at people who have souls and don't live in Utah.
So, what do we actually care about? What makes one NBA Jam character better than the next guy? Why do we still wax nostalgic over Shawn Kemp and Grandmama?
After hours of breaking down film, we came up with the following four categories.
Unlike its predecessors, which clunkily tried to approximate the game of basketball, the creators of the original NBA Jam understood that our fascination with basketball does not come from the game itself, but from how its best practitioners could occasionally transcend the limits of the human body. We can hem and haw about fundamentals and bounce passes all we want, but the engine of the game runs on dunks, no-look passes, and unbelievable shooting accuracy. The simple genius of NBA Jam was that it took those skills and supercharged them. Guys who could dunk from the free throw line could now dunk from half court. Guys who could hit five threes in a row could now hit 20. Every pass was now no-look, every block was emphatic.
In a superhero movie, there is always a scene in which the hero tests out the limits of his new powers. NBA Jam, really, is nothing more than the cage-match version of that scene. So, when picking your superhero, the most important thing you must identify is that he has at least one supreme superpower. Otherwise, you're stuck with Punisher, or, someone even lamer, like Jubilee or Jean fucking Grey.
In the original version, was there a better feeling than catching fire with Reggie Miller and watching the grim, silent faces of your opponents as they tried desperately to stem the tide? THREE BOMBING, like FORCE OF NATURE, has very little to do with the reality of the game (almost any non-center can go on a three-point tear). Rather, we gravitate toward certain players because of the fear they strike in the hearts of our competitors — the crushing feeling of watching Chris Mullin lob up three after three after three, knowing that there isn't a goddamn thing anyone can do about it.
Without a doubt, the most important determining factor, but also one that is vague, eternally open to interpretation and shrouded in weird, arbitrary, and perhaps even eugenic reasoning. For example, in the Tournament Edition of the first game, the gulliest teams were the Sonics (Kemp and Payton) and the Hornets ('Zo and Grandmama). Not surprisingly, those were the two teams everyone used. It's true that these were also two very good teams, but certainly not comparable to the Rockets (Hakeem and Mad Max), which nobody ever picked, or the Barkley Suns, which were ruined by Kevin Johnson's devotion to God.
Gulliness, though, should not be equated to "keeping it street." Although the two have several parallels, gulliness in NBA Jam is something earned on the court, a toughness and a FTW swagger that transcends our easy associations with race, hip-hop culture, and the lives of basketball stars. Again, it is mostly ineffable, but it is something we all can intuit. Shawn Kemp is gully as fuck in the first NBA Jam, but Harold Miner is about as ungully as they come. Why? Who can explain? But we all just know it's true.
On a related note, this Rae track is as gully as it gets.
Some players are white. Others are black. Two are Asian. The Beastie Boys are in the game. As is Charlie Villanueva.
We abstained from ranking every player according to the above criteria — abbreviated in this section as FON (force of nature), FIRE (three-bombing ability), GULLY (gulliness), and RACE (race) — but here are the highlights, including the unlockables. We've also included a few players who are not in the game (denoted by an *), but really really really should be. The number in parens in their total score. Note: You can find the full rosters on Kotaku; a list of unlockable players is here.
FON: 10/ FIRE: 9/ GULLY: 10/ RACE: Black
If A.I. had been in the arcade version, there would have been fights over who got to play with the Sixers. A clear winner, even if only by a half-point margin. Who wouldn't pick A.I. every time?
FON: 9/ FIRE: 8/ GULLY: 10/ RACE: Black
So effing gully. Only weakness is that he sometimes can't make it to the game, due to complications with the Urquelle conversion machine. (see Tamir Goodman below)
FON: 8/ FIRE: 10/ GULLY: 8.5/ RACE: White
A bit of a surprise, but the potential of Bird catching fire and bombing threes on everyone is just too appealing. His gulliness only raises eyebrows because of his race. Again, the criteria system is colorblind.
FON: 7.5/ FIRE: 9/ GULLY: 10/ RACE: Black
FON: 8/ FIRE: 7/ GULLY: 9/ RACE: Black
Move along, PLZ. No surprises here.
FON: 8/ FIRE: 10/ GULLY: 6/ RACE: Black
Of all the players ranked above a 23, Durant's gulliness was the most in question. Our resident hater said that Durant's gulliness was merely an approximation of gulliness. Others argued that Durant was just Bird without rings. Either way, the FON and FIRE elements will probably not change much.
FON: 5.5/ FIRE: 8/ GULLY: 10/ RACE: I abstain from this one.
I remember hearing the Chuckster and Kenny talk about how Petrovic was not only the toughest, most competitive Euro to ever play in the NBA, but that he was probably one of the toughest, competitive guys in the history of the game, regardless of continent of origin. Kenny said, "He kept coming at you, kept coming at you, he didn't give a crap what you would do to try and stop him." That's about as close as you can come to describing gully.
I won't comment on how the recent ESPN documentary changes this rating, because I'm still not done crying.
FON: 7/ FIRE: 8/ GULLY: 8.5/ RACE: Black
Gulliness mostly earned in the Jeremiah Wright speech.
FON: 8.5/ FIRE: 6.5/ GULLY: 8.5/ RACE: Black
LeBRON JAMES (23)
FON: 10/ FIRE: 9/ GULLY: 4/ RACE: Black
The gloves come off! Before The Decision and the ridiculum of his Twitter feed, before quitting against Boston, LeBron was around a 7 in gulliness. After that 2007 Detroit playoff game, he was sitting at a solid 9. Now, it's tough to see him ever cracking a 5. This is entirely his Twitter account's fault. It's awful.
From a pure gameplay perspective, LeBron is the most dominant player to ever step on the NBA Jam court. He dunks everything; he shoves with ease; he blocks shots and runs from baseline to baseline with Hardaway speed. But his dominance brings up the following existential question: When playing against another human, can you choose the Heat and still claim to have a soul?
Here's a list of other teams in other video games. If you choose them, it means you are headed straight to some nether realm where your body just floats in vast, empty nothingness.
5. The American Dreams, Baseball Stars
4. Miami Heat, new NBA Jam
3. Los Angeles, Blades of Steel
2. Oakland Raiders, Tecmo Bowl
1. Chicago Blackhawks, NHL '94
This list, in turn, brings up its own subcategory, related to LeBron. Which is: If you played with the Blackhawks in NHL '94 and became a Jeremy Roenick fan as a result, should you be chemically castrated? It is similar to the Michael Owen in FIFA 2001 question, which, of course, is the same as the LeBron in the new NBA Jam question. Another list!
You deserve to be chemically castrated if you used the following players in a video game and became a fan as a result of the experience:
5. Wayne Gretzky, NHL '93
4. Bo Jackson, Tecmo Bowl
3. Michael Vick, Madden 2004
2. LeBron James, new NBA Jam
1. Jeremy Roenick, NHL ''94
FON: 8.5/ FIRE: 7/ GULLY: 7.5/ RACE: Black
FON: 8/ FIRE: 6/ GULLY: 9/ RACE: Black
FON: 9.5/ FIRE: 5/ GULLY: 7/ RACE: Black
FON: 9/ FIRE: 3/ GULLY: 8.5 / RACE: Black
Rondo was the most weirdly engineered player in the game. He can't shoot, he can't dunk, but he should obviously somehow be a dominant force on the court. What the designers did was make him a 10 in steals and a 100 percent ankle breaker. Still, he's kinda useless.
FON: 8.5/ FIRE: 5/ GULLY: 8/ RACE: Black
FON: 8/ FIRE: 4/ GULLY: 9/ RACE: White
This is why God created comments sections. Sarah Barracuda, straight to the rim! And how gully was that first RNC speech?
FON: 9/ FIRE: 6/ GULLY: 6/ RACE: Black
FON: 5/ FIRE: 7.5/ GULLY: 8/ RACE: Black
He and Gerald Wallace are the only twosome in the new game who could possibly challenge Payton and Kemp on the gully scale. I mean, it's close, right?
FON: 5.5/ FIRE: 5/ GULLY: 8/ RACE: Black
FON: 8/ FIRE: 6/ GULLY: 4/ RACE: Asian
FON: 4/ FIRE: 3/ GULLY: 9/ RACE: White
More on him in a bit.
FON: 5/ FIRE: 5.5/ GULLY: 5/ RACE: Black
In Big Head mode, Beasley looks like he is posing for the cover of High Times. I don't understand how the designers made him look so goddamn stoned, but I suppose it might have something to do with what I said earlier about how we just project our NBA fantasies and assumptions onto the little people running around the screen.
FON: 8/ FIRE: 4/ GULLY: 2/ RACE: Black
FON: 4/ FIRE: 6/ GULLY: 2/ RELIGION: Jewish
This was argued for two hours, and a lot of mean things were said on both sides, so let's set the record straight here: refusing to play on Saturdays is pretty gully, but not being good enough to make the team is way un-gully. If Tamir had shown up to Cole Field House, dropped 22 a game, and if Maryland had lost every Saturday game because he hadn't played, he would crack an 8. Sadly, none of this happened.
FON: 9.5/ FIRE: 1/ GULLY: 1/ RACE: Black
Whatever. He's a fraud. Holden Caulfield would have hated him.
FON: 1/ FIRE: 3/ GULLY: 0/ RACE: White
Go get your shinebox. And your box of nickels. It tickles, to see you try to be like Mr. Pickles.
Lost In Big Country: Conclusions
Greatest remake of an arcade game ever. The fact that all these cross-generational comparisons can be made is a testament to EA's faithfulness to the original. But just as important, the gameplay was updated and improved so that two grown-ass men, without the assistance of banned substances, could make it through 100 games without throwing the Wii remote through the television. The upcoming releases on Xbox and PS3 should bring slight changes, as they have the benefit of much more power, but they will most likely lack the fun, if somewhat shallow, appeal of the Wii. Meaning, like all Wii releases, NBA Jam is more of a group activity than an actual game, better suited for parties where a bunch of polite people have collectively decided not to fuck one another. But we all go to those parties sometimes, right?
One final note: For those of us over the age of, let's say, 28, the nostalgia we feel over this new NBA Jam is a little misdirected. There is just no way to re-create that sweaty, nasty atmosphere of NBA Jam in the arcade—the shit-talking, the yelling, the smell of raw male ass. The set-up of the game — if everyone put in enough quarters to play a full game, the winning team stayed on for free — was the closest some of us got to holding down a court. That weird double-fantasy, wherein you are winning both in the game and in the arcade itself cannot be replicated on any console. Certainly, this is not the fault of the game's designers, but no discussion of nostalgia over this game can be complete without pointing out the fact that the game grew to its prominence as a game played by a bunch of men who like to yell at one another in a darkened public space.
As for Big Country? Our mission ended in failure. We never did see his beatific mug on the player select page of the game. But not because we didn't try. We did win 100 games, most of them with the Celtics. But in a rather chilling development, it turns out that the game has something that is now known as the Big Country glitch. Every unlockable player is, in fact, unlockable, with the exception of the great Big Country himself. There is massive speculation on the internet now over whether or not this was some cruel joke promulgated by EA. I prefer to think that the game's designers — and perhaps the NBA, too — were trying to teach all of us a valuable lesson about impermanence and the importance of living in the moment. The Big Country era is gone, they're telling us. We now have Harangody, Scal, and the ghost of Paul Shirley, Forget the past and future. Live in the now. A memory quest is the worst sort of samsara — on the borderlands of every Big Country, there will always be another Big Country.
Jay Caspian Kang lives in San Francisco. His recent work has appeared in The Morning News, Free Darko, TheAtlantic.com, and the Awl. Follow his work on his Twitter and on his Tumblr. Thanks to Adam Kaplan and Team Free Darko for their help on this piece, and thanks to Owen Good for the videos and screengrabs. For more about NBA Jam, check out Kotaku's coverage.


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Research grant awards for scientific investigations on hair disorders.Since 2003, NAHRS has awarded, on a competitive basis, small grants as "seed" money to investigators studying hair biology, hair growth and hair disorders.
The NAHRS members share a vision to fund much needed research in hair biology and hair disorders. Our goal is to establish a secure financial base to continue and increase the level of funding for scientific research awards.Towards this goal, we have initiated a grant program for research in the areas of:
Current Ongoing Projects:Additional goals of the NAHRS include sponsorship and awareness of work needed in areas such as:

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By Sandra Rodriguez Nieto, aging program coordinator for CFCA's Bogota project in Colombia
Working with the sponsored elderly in Bogota has been a very interesting process. We meet many people who have histories filled with pain and loneliness.
However, it is inspirational to see how they have overcome these situations.
They are always ready to move forward. That's why, through CFCA's Hope for a Family program, we seek to improve the quality of life for elderly people, empowering them and offering dignity.
Our programming includes working with aging friends to make crafts and establish exercise routines to strengthen their mobility. These tools enable them to learn new things while reaching within the skills and talents they already have.
Every two weeks, aging friends meet at each CFCA office in their local area. Rain or shine, they always show up on time, though most of them live in the peripheral neighborhoods of Bogota.
They always come with a smile and sometimes bring small presents such as biscuits, crackers or fruit to share.
Each meeting is divided into four parts. We begin with roll call. We then try to strengthen the CFCA identity by teaching the Hope for a Family model.
Teaching the model can be complex. Because of age, many of them quickly forget topics discussed in previous meetings.
However, it's a great opportunity to attend because many of them express feelings of loneliness. These meetings help them feel that they are part of the CFCA family, which for some is the only form of family they may have.
In the second part of the meeting, we focus on praying. A different sponsored aging friend conducts the prayer in each meeting, promoting the participation of all members.
In the third part of the meeting, they exercise. These exercises are run by a sponsored elderly woman who is a leader in the community. Some who have mobility problems still participate in the exercise while remaining seated.
The fourth part of the meeting is designated craft time. Sometimes we color or work with clay, wool, sticks or other recyclable material.
It is a magical moment when the sponsored friends make the crafts step by step. I can see them smiling and talking with one another.
I see that they are happy and filled with life. They are excited about sharing, and they proudly carry the crafts they have made back to their homes with them.
In these ways, the project in Bogota brings hope to each family of sponsored aging friends.


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Housing material
FSDR .. K housings are made of grey cast iron.
Paint, corrosion protection
FSDR .. K housings are painted black (RAL 9005) using a solvent based acryl paint. The paint protects the housing in accordance with ISO 12944-2:1998, corrosivity category C2 (i.e. exterior atmospheres with low level of pollution, interior atmospheres where condensation may occur). The paint is not affected by most lubricating or engine oils, cutting fluids or alkalescent washing chemicals. Housings can be repainted with most water or solvent based 1- or 2-component paints.
Unpainted surfaces are protected with a solventless rust inhibitor.


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If you are in Penang and haven't checked out Shanghai Ding (上海鼎), do pay it a visit. (You can read my previous review here.) If you have tried it and haven't been there lately, they have expanded their menu with new dishes such as the Shanghainese specialities Dongbo Rou (braised pork stomach/东波肉), vinegar pork ribs, etc…
Shanghai Ding /上海鼎
Blk H, 4G, Persiaran Bayan Indah (at the right hand corner before Queensbay Mall)
Bayan Bay, 11900 Penang
Tel: 04-644-1644
(Dine-in, private catering, group tours are welcomed)


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News from the Norwegian-U.S. Scientific Traverse of East Antarctica
Traverse completed
February 21 at 4 pm, 1600 UTC, the Norwegian-American Scientific Traverse of East Antarctica 2007-2009 rolled in to Troll Station. The field part of this large IPY project has been successfully completed.
First science on return trip
The traverse departed Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and commenced its 2300 km return journey back to Troll Station on December 23, 2008. After a week in the field everything is going fine, and the first science stop has now been completed.
Traverse arrives at South Pole
Thursday, December 11, the Norwegian-American Scientific Traverse of East Antarctica pulled into Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. The arrival is a milestone for the project itself, and also for Norwegian exploration and science in Antarctica: The traverse is the first Norwegian government-supported expedition to reach the South Pole since Roald Amundsen's in 1911.
Season two begins
The first group gathers in Christchurch, New Zealand for the start of Season Two
New book tells the story of season one
Jan-Gunnar Winther, our expedition leader during season one and the director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, has published his account of the journey in an exquisite and richly illustrated volume.
Planning for Season 2
The entire traverse team met in Tromsø March 31 to April 2 to work through the plans for the second traverse season, including the science goals, timeline, resources and logistics.
South Pole!
All expedition members are now happily gathered at South Pole. It took 1,5 days and 5 Basler flights between "Camp Winter", where our logistical equipment is wintering, and the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station to get out all our samples, instruments and equipment.
NOR-USA Traverse celebrates New Year's Day at Pole of Inaccessibility
The Norwegian-US Traverse team celebrated New Year's Day at the most remote location on the Antarctic continent, the Pole of Inaccessibility!
Podcasts from the traverse
Polar Palooza, the US filmmaker following the traverse, has recently published four podcasts from the initial section of the trip.
Plateau Station
The Norwegian-US Traverse team arrived at historic Plateau Station on 22 Dec 2007, which is just a little more than halfway on their journey to the South Pole.
The fourth IPCC report highlights the importance of ice sheet studies
There are several major responses in the climate system that are not accounted for in the projections made in IPCC's last assessment report. One of these is how the ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica respond to future warming.
Norwegian-American IPY Traverse
Norwegian and American scientists are joining efforts in a 2-season traverse across some of the least known parts of East Antarctica, to expand our knowledge about the effects of climate change in the Cold Continent.


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This is the story of Jemma and Sam.
I want to thank you all for reading and for your feedback! Your comments inspire and motivate me to continue with this story!
Thank you!
- I downloaded the lovely mansion from thesimsresource.com. I modified the interior/exterior and added a barn. The link for the original can be found here: http://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/1090093
- I downloaded Sam from the exchange, all I did was change his clothes. The original can be found here: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=4790800
- I made Jemma myself and she is available on the exchange here: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=4974148
- The whole Helmsley clan is available for download on my page on the exchange, however, I suggest downloading them individually as when I tried re-downloading them, Sam and Aldous both had problems/bugs
Thanks everyone! Hope you enjoy!
<3 Lauren
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Once, any mediocre wrench could turn a boxed kit and VW Beetle into a dune buggy. One can still do that, or take a worn 1991 Eagle Talon and let pure garage talents determine the outcome.
That's the subject of Project Widowmaker, a strip-out-the-heavy-stuff build thread on the Locost US board, whose noble charter involves sharing knowledge on how to build Lotus Seven replicas. Obviously, this one isn't a Se7en, but it does share the same sentiment — low weight, stiff chassis and fun über alles.
The build watchers at Build Threads note the donor car included a brand new 2.3-liter DSM twin-cam stroker, which should be just fine for power once the front-engined, all-wheel-drive buggy reaches its fruition. And by fruition, we hope that means 1g+ on the skid pad, sans dunes.


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Main Deck - A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - Y - Z - All (A to Z)
Job Definitions beginning with Y:
To be updated
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Remember last week when the Twins screamed a lot? And it was hot? It happens again this week on "The Amazing Race," only without the Superfans sadly trailing behind.
Team Rock On won the Fast Forward last week, so they start first. James's father (not specified whether he is Abba's father as well) had some cancer tests, and James learns via video chat with his wife that his father has no chance of remission. Not good news for him, but the family tells him to race on and make his dad proud. So they're off to find an eggplant vendor.
One cup of eggplant has about 30 calories and almost 10 percent of your daily fiber. Sadly, the teams are not required to eat any eggplant, just to grab a clue and move on.
This recap will now be presented to you with a series of questions.
Is it racist?
The Twins and Abbie and Her Boyfriend leave at the same time and have a taxi race to the eggplants. The Twins tell their driver to "beat the goras." They tell us that goras means white people in Hindi, but it's not racist, it's just a color. You make the call!
What life skill best helps you to build a Bangladeshi scale?
The Roadblock challenge is to build a scale using three bamboo poles, some rope, and some sticks, like a tripod. Then they affix some platforms and weigh a bundle of sticks against some rocks.
Rock On James takes the challenge so that Abba can rest his knees. James points out that 40 years ago he was a Boy Scout and learned how to lash things together, but he's since forgotten the process. "I can assure you, though, that throughout the '80s I was no Boy Scout," he says with a wink. Oh James, quit being so self-aware.
Chippendale James also builds the scale. He reports that his dad is a carpenter, and he seems to finish the task with no problem. Well, except he told the crowd, "Y'all can cheer if you want," and he only got one man to halfheartedly applaud. He probably should have taken off his shirt.
Goat Farmer Brent does the Roadblock, saying he builds things all the time on the farm. He was a physician before he because a goat farmer, and used to treat people for dehydration, but he's never experienced it himself before now. Did I mention it's really hot? And humid? Brent's scale has one stick out of position, and his melted brain has a difficult time seeing it. He finishes the task in last place.
Which team is more obnoxious?
Team Dominate is at the Roadblock at the same time as the Twins. Remember last week, when Twin 1 kept yelling "Come on, Twinnie," and Phil made a drinking game out of it, and Abbie and Her Boyfriend were really annoyed? Remember also that the Twins seem to hate Abbie and Ryan? It's like that again.
Abbie is building the scale, one Twin is cheering on the other Twin. Ryan asks, "Are you gonna yell the whole time?" Then he starts mockingly shouting "Twinnie!" Twin enlists small children to yell "Go Twinnie!" with her.
When Ryan tells Abbie that she is dominating, Twin disagrees and says that Other Twin is, in fact, dominating. Ryan clarifies that Abbie is dominating her own scale, and that Abbie's domination in no way diminishes Other Twin's domination of anything.
In an interview, the Twins say that Ryan is rude and obnoxious. They just don't get his nerdy charm at all.
How many locals get whacked in the head with bamboo?
The Detour: Straw Dogs or Bamboo Jungle. In Straw Dogs, they whip unprocessed jute on a bed of nails to untangle 20 coils, then transport it to machines that manufacture it into jute bags. Jute has been used for centuries for sacks, ropes, carpet, and fabric.
In Bamboo Jungle, teams collect 40 poles of bamboo in three different lengths (manageable, long, and dangerously long). Then they lash it onto a rickshaw and deliver it to a construction site. Bamboo produces about 30 percent more oxygen than trees, did you know that?
Abbie and Her Boyfriend are the only ones to choose the jute. Ryan points out that the factory is about 110 degrees inside, and it takes "pure jute force" to whip the jute. There's my nerdy boyfriend. The task seems quicker than bamboo, because they finish it before the Twins finish the bamboo.
Speaking of bamboo, that stuff is long, yo. And heavy. They have to carry it through racks of bamboo, and it does not corner well. The Twins manage to knock their camera guy. I wonder if it's the same camera guy they crashed into at the Double U-Turn station?
We don't see a montage, but I'll make one up for you. Imagine a rickshaw with, I don't know, 30 feet of bamboo hanging off the end. Watch that poor fruit vendor protect his stand from being knocked over again and again. Watch that young child duck behind a drain pipe to keep from being poked. Watch dozens of locals duck out of the way so they don't lose any eyeballs. They are really putting up with a lot from these crazy Americans!
It's second place, Boyfriend Ryan, why aren't you happy?
As I said above, Team Dominate finishes with the jute reasonably quickly. And without injuring any locals or cameramen, I might add.
Before the leg began, Ryan interviewed that he wanted to be the strongest, winningest team, and beat Army Dave's record of eight legs won. Well, they land at the Pit Stop in second place because Team Rock On kept their Fast-Forward lead and took first place.
Ryan almost looks mad, and poor Abbie, who has pushed herself in the heat all day long, asks if he'll just smile. Then she cries because, seriously, he's not happy! Ryan acknowledges that it's a lot of pressure on Abbie to try to beat that record. But he doesn't say if he'll back off. I think he's too nice to push her, though. Stay tuned!
How is your life like a monster truck?
Phil tweets that Monster Trucker Rob can literally make a monster truck analogy for pretty much anything in life. He's loud like them, too.
This week, Rob points out that monster truck tires are 750 pounds each, and he mounts them by hand, so, you know, he's strong. He carries a lot of bamboo. They get to the Pit Stop in fourth place, after the Twins.
Last week, Rob's auto detailing helped him fix up a bus, and this week the tire lifting helped him carry bamboo. I can't wait to find out how monster trucks help him next week! He could teach a life skills course just by using monster trucks.
Quote of the week
As Team Chippendale selects the bamboo Detour option, Jaymes says enthusiastically, "We been waitin' to lift heavy things!"
Can you not pass out and die, please?
It's hot, remember? The Chipps are excited to lift things, so they start running with bamboo. They also point out that they've been saving money by not eating much, so they've lost weight. Do you think heat plus malnourishment plus dehydration is a good idea?
They do eventually stop to drink water. But not enough to clear those brain cells, because they leave three bamboo poles behind when they transport to the construction site. Oh, it doesn't look good. They both lay down in the sand, drenched in water and sweat, and try to catch their breath.
Chippendales never say die, of course, so they suck it up and finish the task correctly. This time the locals cheer for them. The get to the Pit Stop in sixth place, after Team Texi.
Are you still fabulous?
The Goat Farmers have been in last place because of the Road Block. They choose Bamboo because Josh (Aquadisiac) thinks he can do most of the lifting and give Brent a chance to recover. And by golly, he seems to do just that.
They know they're in last place, but while they count out bamboo, Brent asks Josh (Aquadisiac) "Are you still fabulous?" He is. They get a crowd of children to cheer them on as they transport bamboo across town.
At the Pit Stop, Phil tells them that they are the last team to arrive. However, it's the first non-elimination leg of the season! Brent and Josh (Aquadisiac) are too exhausted to respond much, causing Phil to say, "Maybe you're not so pleased!" Then they muster up some energy. Let it be known that next week they plan to make a fabulous comeback!


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Bond International Software is a global provider of staffing and recruitment software and a rapidly-growing provider of outsourced HR and Payroll software and services. Bond is headquartered in the UK, with offices in the USA, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, China, Canada, South Africa and Peru - a global team of nearly 500.
Bond Adapt, specialist portfolio of recruitment software applications has earned a reputation for increasing business growth and profitability throughout the global staffing market. 100% configurable and fully scalable, Adapt manages the entire placement cycle and is chosen by leading recruitment organisations including Hays, Adecco and Michael Page. Used by over 140,000 recruiters in over 40 countries, Adapt delivers a highly flexible, platform and database independent, web-based and multilingual system. Bond's continuous investment in their cutting edge technology delivers reliable, scalable and innovative solutions. Businesses working with Bond can focus on future growth with absolute confidence.
Pioneering features include:
Adapt OnDemand - SaaS/Cloud delivery that's naturally fast, then accelerated. Simply login and use Adapt wherever you have internet access. Your valuable data is backed-up on multiple, secure environments, to ISO accredited security standards.
Adapt Studio – Everything you need, all in one place. Traditional recruitment 'whiteboards' in one simple view. Create unique Studios with customised dashboards specific to your workflows and view key information in real time.
Adapt InSight - The next generation of superior search. True contextual search functionality far superior to traditional free text and structured searching. InSight reads and 'understands' full passages of text contained within CVs and job descriptions, identifies matches and scores their relevance.
Adapt InTouch- Take the office with you wherever you go! Quickly access data, run workflows and effectively recruit on the move.


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There's no debate that the following movie villains are some of the most iconic characters in cinema history, but what have they been up to since their days of inspiring fear and terror on-screen have long since passed? Does Star Wars' Darth Vader spend his lonely nights lamenting his poor life decisions? Will A Nightmare on Elm Street's Freddy Krueger ever hold a heartfelt conversation with someone who is actually conscious (and did he ever have to move off Elm St)? And whatever happened to The Shining's Grady twins? Photographer Federico Chiesa and effects artist Carolina Trotta decided to explore the answers to these questions in a series of photos depicting our favorite villains in their twilight years. I've got to say, Friday the 13th's Jason Vorhees is one of my all-time favorites and apparently he has really fallen on hard times. Hit the jump to see what cinema's classic ne'er-do-wells have been up to.
The Laughing Squid (via BuzzFeed) brought the following series of photographs to our attention. While they're all a bit melodramatic and sad (especially poor Jason), I'd say these villains have landed themselves a pretty sweet twilight era considering the amount of murders they committed in their youth.


text: A priest and scribe in Jerusalem after the Return from Exile. An account of Ezra appears in the books of Ezra (7–10) and Nehemiah (8–9), and it appears that the activities of these two leaders overlapped. One suggestion is that Nehemiah preceded Ezra, whose activity would then be placed in the time of Artaxerxes II (404–358 BCE). But the usual understanding is that Ezra led the community in restoring the Temple and maintaining the racial purity of the nation (Ezra 9–10) in the reign of Artaxerxes I (465–424 BCE). There was a legend that he dictated from memory ninety‐four holy books that had been lost in Exile.


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Figure A: Thickened Slab Detail
A typical concrete slab for a garage has thickened edges to support the weight of the structure.
Note: Figure A can be downloaded and printed from Additional Information below.
You might also like: TBD
How to make concrete forms and pouring a concrete slab foundation can be intimidating. Your heart races because you know that any mistake, even a little one, can quickly turn your slab into a big mess, a mistake literally cast in stone.
In this article, we'll walk you through the slab-pouring process so you get it right the first time. We'll pay particular attention to the tough parts where you're most likely to goof, like how to make concrete.
Still, pouring a large concrete slab foundation isn't a job for a beginner. If you haven't worked with concrete, start with a small sidewalk or garden shed floor before attempting a garage-size slab foundation like this. Even if you've got a few small jobs under your belt, it's a good idea to find an experienced helper. In addition to standard carpentry tools, you'll need a number of special tools to finish large concrete forms or a slab (see the Tool List below).
The bulk of the work for a new DIY concrete slab is in the excavation and form building. If you have to level a sloped site or bring in a lot of fill, hire an excavator for a day to help prepare the site. Then figure on spending a day building the forms and another pouring the slab.
So how much does it cost to pour a concrete slab? In our area, hiring a concrete contractor to pour a 16 x 20-ft. slab like this one would cost $3,000 to $4,000. The amount of money you'll save on a concrete slab cost by doing the work yourself depends mostly on whether you have to hire an excavator. In most cases, you'll save 30 to 50 percent on concrete slab cost by doing your own work.
Before you get started, contact your local building department to see whether a permit is required and how close to the lot lines you can build. In most cases, you'll measure from the lot line to position the slab parallel to it. Then drive four stakes to roughly indicate the corners of the new slab. With the approximate size and location marked, use a line level and string or builder's level to see how much the ground slopes. Flattening a sloped site means moving tons of soil. You can build up the low side as we did, or dig the high side into the slope and add a low retaining wall to hold back the soil.
Your concrete slab will last longer, with less cracking and movement, if it's built on solid, well-drained soil. If you have sandy soil, you're in luck. Just scrape off the sod and topsoil and add gravel fill if needed. If you have clay or loam soil, you should remove enough to allow a 6- to 8-in. layer of compacted gravel under the new concrete.
If you have to remove more than a few inches of dirt, consider renting a skid loader or hiring an excavator. An excavator can also help you get rid of excess soil.
Note: Before you do any digging, call 811 or visit call811.com to arrange to have your local utilities locate and mark buried pipes and wires.
A typical concrete slab for a garage has thickened edges to support the weight of the structure.
Note: Figure A can be downloaded and printed from Additional Information below.
Cut a 2×12 to length (or splice it with a cleat) for one side of the concrete forms and nail it to a corner stake. Level the 2×12 and nail it to the second corner stake.
Stretch a mason's line just above the top edge of the 2×12. Align the 2×12 with the string and brace it with pairs of 2x4s spaced every 2 ft. To absorb the shock and make nailing easier, hold a sledgehammer behind stakes and form boards as you nail.
Start by choosing straight form boards. For a 5-in.-thick slab with thickened edges, which is perfect for most garages and sheds, 2×12 boards work best. For a driveway or other slab without thickened edges, use 2x6s. If you can't get long enough boards, splice them together by nailing a 4-ft. 2×12 cleat over the joint. Sight down the boards to make sure they're aligned and straight before nailing on the cleat. Cut the two side form boards 3 in. longer than the length of the slab. Then cut the end boards to the exact width of the slab. You'll nail the end boards between the side boards to create the correct size form. Use 16d duplex (double-headed) nails to connect the form boards and attach the bracing. Nail through the stakes into the forms.
Photos 1 – 3 show how to build the forms. Measure from the lot line to position the first side and level it at the desired height. For speed and accuracy, use a builder's level (Photo 1), a transit or a laser level to set the height of the forms.
Brace the forms to ensure straight sides Freshly poured concrete can push form boards outward, leaving your slab with a curved edge that's almost impossible to fix. The best way to avoid this is with extra strong bracing. Place 2×4 stakes and 2×4 kickers every 2 ft. along the form boards for support (Photo 2). Kickers slant down into the ground and keep the top of the stakes from bending outward.
Stretch a strong string (mason's line) along the top edge of the form board. As you set the braces, make sure the form board lines up with the string. Adjust the braces to keep the form board straight. Cut stakes long enough so that when they're driven at least 8 in. into the ground (4 in. more in loose, sandy soil), the tops will be slightly below the top of the forms. Cut points on the kickers and drive them into the ground at an angle. Then nail the top of the kickers to the stakes. If your soil is sandy or loose, cut both ends of the kickers square and drive a small stake to hold the lower end of the kicker in place.
Photo 3 shows measuring diagonally to set the second form board perfectly square with the first. Use the 3-4-5 method. Measure and mark a multiple of 3 ft. on one side. (In our case, this is 15 ft.) Then mark a multiple of 4 ft. on the adjacent side (20 ft. for our slab). Remember to measure from the same point where the two sides meet. Finally, adjust the position of the unbraced form board until the diagonal measurement is a multiple of 5 (25 ft. in this case).
Squaring the second form board is easiest if you prop it level on a stack of 2x4s (Photo 3) and slide it back and forth until the diagonal measurement is correct. Then drive a stake behind the end of the form board and nail through the stake into the form. Complete the second side by leveling and bracing the form board.
Set the third form board parallel to the first one. Leave the fourth side off until you've hauled in and tamped the fill.
Tip: Leveling the forms is easier if you leave one end of the form board slightly high when you nail it to the stake. Then adjust the height by tapping the stake on the high end with a maul until the board is perfectly level.
Spread and tamp 3-in. layers of granular fill to within 5 in. of the top of the forms. This will help concrete forming. Measure down from a string stretched across the forms. Slope the fill down along the edges to create a thickened edge of concrete.
The key to crack-resistant concrete is a firm base that drains well. Unless you have sandy soil, this means adding a layer of gravel. With the forms in place, you can estimate how much fill you need. To calculate the amount of fill needed, stretch a string across the top of the forms and measure down to the ground. Do this in three or four spots and average the results. Subtract the thickness of your slab. Then use this depth to calculate the cubic yards of fill needed. Look for a supplier under "Sand and Gravel" in the yellow pages. Ask what your supplier recommends for fill under slabs. We used crushed concrete, which compacts and drains well.
Spread the fill in layers no more than 3 in. thick and tamp each layer with a rented plate compactor (Photo 4A). Leave a 12-in.-deep by 12-in.-wide trench around the perimeter for the thickened edge. If you're building a heated structure on the slab, cover the ground inside the concrete forms with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. Otherwise you can leave it uncovered.
Cover the fill with a layer of 6-mil plastic sheeting. Tie two bands of 1/2-in. steel reinforcing rods (rebar) to stakes set about 4 in. from the perimeter of the forms (Figure A).
Concrete needs reinforcement for added strength and crack resistance. It's well worth the small additional cost and labor to install 1/2-in. rebar (steel reinforcing bar). You'll find rebar at home centers and at suppliers of concrete and masonry products (in 20-ft. lengths).You'll also need a bundle of tie wires and a tie-wire twisting tool to connect the rebar (Photo 5).
Use a metal-cutting blade or disc in a reciprocating saw, circular saw or grinder to cut the rebar. Cut and bend pieces of rebar to form the perimeter reinforcing. Splice the pieces together by overlapping them at least 6 in. and wrapping tie wire around the overlap. Wire the perimeter rebar to rebar stakes for support. Then cut and lay out pieces in a 4-ft.-on-center grid pattern. Wire the intersections together. You'll pull the grid up into the center of the concrete as you pour the slab.
If you've never poured a large slab or if the weather is hot and dry, which makes concrete harden quickly, divide this slab down the middle and fill the halves on different days to reduce the amount of concrete you'll have to finish at one time (Photo 6). Remove the divider before pouring the second half.
Mark the position of the door openings on the concrete forms. Then mark the location of the 1/2-inch anchor bolts on the forms. Place marks for anchor bolts 6 in. from each side of doors, 12 in. from corners and 6 ft. apart around the perimeter (Photo 10).
Pouring concrete is fast-paced work. To reduce stress and avoid mistakes, make sure everything is ready before the truck arrives.
Triple-check your concrete forms to make sure they're square, level, straight and well braced. Have at least two contractor-grade wheelbarrows on hand and three or four strong helpers. Plan the route the truck will take. For large slabs, it's best if the truck can back up to the concrete forms. Avoid hot, windy days if possible. This kind of weather accelerates the hardening process—a slab can turn hard before you have time to trowel a nice smooth finish. If the forecast calls for rain, reschedule the concrete delivery to a dry day. Rain will ruin the surface.
To figure the volume of concrete needed, multiply the length by the width by the depth (in feet) to arrive at the number of cubic feet. Don't forget to account for the trenched perimeter. Divide the total by 27 and add 5 percent to calculate the number of yards of concrete you'll need. Our slab required 7 yards. Call the ready mix company at least a day in advance and explain your project. Most dispatchers are quite helpful and can recommend the best mix. For a large slab like ours that may have occasional vehicle traffic, we ordered a 3,500-lb. mix with 5 percent air entrainment. The air entrainment traps microscopic bubbles that help concrete withstand freezing temperatures.
Drag a straight 2×4 (screed board) across the top of the concrete forms to level the concrete. Make multiple passes if needed to create a flat, evenly filled area. Have a helper add or remove concrete in front of the screed as you pull it.
Push a bull float across the screeded concrete, keeping the leading edge slightly elevated. When you reach the far side, lift the handle enough to slightly elevate the edge closest to you and pull back to the starting point. Move over and repeat, overlapping the previously floated surface by about one-third.
Be prepared to hustle when the truck arrives. Start by placing concrete in the concrete forms farthest from the truck. Use wheelbarrows where necessary.
Concrete is too heavy to shovel or push more than a few feet. Place the concrete close to its final spot and roughly level it with a rake. Try to leave it just slightly over the top of the forms. Lift the rebar to position it in the middle of the slab as you go. As soon as the concrete is placed in the concrete forms, start striking it off even with the top of the form boards with a straight, smooth 2×4 screed board (Photo 7). Tip the top of the screed board back slightly as you drag it toward you in a back-and-forth sawing motion.
The trick to easy screeding is to have a helper with a rake moving the concrete in front of the screed board. You want enough concrete to fill all voids, but not so much that it's difficult to pull the board. About 1/2 to 1 in. deep in front of the screed board is about right. It's better to make several passes with the screed board, moving a little concrete each time, than to try to pull a lot of concrete at once.
Start bull-floating the concrete as soon as possible after screeding (Photo 8). The goal is to remove marks left by screeding and fill in low spots to create a flat, level surface. Bull-floating also forces larger aggregate below the surface. Keep the leading edge of the float just slightly above the surface by raising or lowering the float handle. If the float angle is too steep, you'll plow the wet concrete and create low spots. Three or four passes with the bull float is usually sufficient. Too much floating can weaken the surface by drawing up too much water and cement.
Round the edges of the slab with an edging tool after any surface water disappears. Work the edger until the edge is solid and smooth
Press 1/2-in. anchor bolts into the concrete before it hardens. Place bolts 1 ft. from corners and every 6 ft. Place bolts 6 in. from the sides of door openings. Leave about 2-1/2 in. of the bolts exposed.
Form control joints to minimize random cracks by running a groover along the edge of a straight 2×4. Work the groover forward and back while making a progressively deeper cut.
After you smooth the slab with the bull float, water will "bleed" out of the concrete and sit on the surface. Wait for the water to disappear and for the slab to harden slightly before you resume finishing. When the slab is firm enough to resist an imprint from your thumb, start hand-floating. On cool days, you may have to wait an hour or two to start floating and troweling. On hot, dry days, you have to hustle.
You can edge the slab before it gets firm since you don't have to kneel on the slab (Photo 9). If the edger sinks in and leaves a track that's more than 1/8 in. deep, wait for the slab to harden slightly before proceeding.
You'll have to wait until the concrete can support your weight to start grooving the slab. Cut 2-ft. squares of 1-1/2-in.-thick foam insulation for use as kneeling boards. The kneeling board distributes your weight, allowing you to get an earlier start.
Grooving creates a weakened spot in the concrete that allows the inevitable shrinkage cracking to take place at the groove rather than at some random spot. Cut grooves about every 10 ft. in large slabs.
When you're done grooving, smooth the concrete (Photo 12) with a magnesium float. Hand floating removes imperfections and pushes pebbles below the surface. Use the float to remove the marks left by edging and smooth out humps and dips left by the bull float. You may have to bear down on the float if the concrete is starting to harden. The goal is to bring a slurry of cement to the surface to aid in troweling.
For a smoother, denser finish, follow the magnesium float with a steel trowel. Troweling is one of the trickier steps in concrete finishing. You'll have to practice to develop a feel for it. For a really smooth finish, repeat the troweling step two or three times, letting the concrete harden a bit between each pass. At first, hold the trowel almost flat, elevating the leading edge just enough to avoid gouging the surface. On each successive pass, lift the leading edge of the trowel a little more. If you want a rougher, nonslip surface, you can skip the steel trowel altogether. Instead, drag a push broom over the surface to create a "broom finish."
Keep concrete moist after it's poured so it cures slowly and develops maximum strength. The easiest way to ensure proper curing is to spray the finished concrete with curing compound. Curing compound is available at home centers. Follow the instructions on the label. Use a regular garden sprayer to apply the compound. You can lay plastic over the concrete instead, although this can lead to discoloration of the surface.
Let the finished slab harden overnight before you carefully remove the form boards. Pull the duplex nails from the corners and kickers and pry up on the stakes with a shovel to loosen and remove the forms. Since the concrete surface will be soft and easy to chip or scratch, wait for a day or two before building on the slab.
Wet concrete on skin can cause everything from mild redness to third-degree, permanently disfiguring chemical burns. You and your helpers should take these steps:
If your clothes get saturated with wet cement, remove them, thoroughly rinse your skin and change into clean clothes before going back to work.
Have the necessary tools for this concrete forms and concrete pouring DIY project lined up before you start—you'll save time and frustration.
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time for concrete forms and pouring. Here's a list.


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Give up Jobs, they've got your software guys beaten! Yet again.
Seems like all the hard work that Apples software monkeys do can't beat these reverse engineering specialists.
The lesson they should take from this is that almost whatever Apple, or other companies, do the determination of talented people will break the software open. Far better that Apple applied their engineering talent to solving the defects that are still unresolved in Lemon 4.


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Baxter Of California Herbal Mint Toner (300ml)
Where reviews refer to foods or cosmetic products, results may vary from person to person. Customer reviews are independent and do not represent the views of The Hut Group.
Struggling to understand what the product actually does. I know what it is supposed to do but it certainly hasn't worked any wonders for me. If anything it has caused a spot breakout. Only positive so far is that it smells nice.Report this review
This Herbal Mint Toner is a very effective and refreshing toner. I had tried a few but will be sticking with this now. Well worth a buy.Report this review
Good product. Smells ok, skin feels fresh after and reasonably priced. I use this once daily and it does what's expected, removes surface dirt & grease.Report this review
I have historically been a Zirh brand user and have sampled other brands including the brands in the overly expensive price range and I have to say the BoC brand is simply the best I have ever used by far! Regarding the Herbal Mint Toner, 300ml, on first impressions it was apparent the toner does exactly what you would expect from a toner, it is VERY good at removing oily / greasy residue from the skin, and not only that, keeps your skin oil / grease free for about 4 hours - which is far longer than any other toner I have used in the past. I find it is also good at firming up the skin, giving it a nice healthy look, blasts spots, serves well for cooling after shaving and is very refreshing. The bottle, being 300ml, last for ages and is very reasonably priced considering you can pay the same for a 100-150ml which in terms of quality are miles behind this product! If youre looking for a toner that does exactly what you expect it to then I can highly recommend the BoC Herbal Mint Toner. Best applied with a cotton wool ball.Report this review
Excellent product. Really leaves your face feeling refreshed plus it smells great too! I washed my face with a well known pricey face wash before, and then used this product and the amount of dirt that came off was quite astonishing! Give it a go!!Report this review
I have used many different toners over the years, and this is my favourite. No matter how thoroughly you wash your face, you will be amazed how much grime is on the cotton wool pad when you use this stuff. It leaves your skin refreshed, without feeling dry or tacky. Try It.Report this review
I'm not convinced by the smell (has a bit of an antiseptic/eucalyptus scent) it works a treat - IMO, probably more effective than the Anthony toner.Report this review
I really like the Baxters range and moved to it from Clinique. The Toner is especially nice. It works well and smells really good.Report this review
I did what most of us do, read the reviews then make my choice. This toner is the best here, I have tried several and this one is my logged 'favourite'.Report this review
This toner leaves your face feeling so fresh and "alive". Great when you use it with the Baxter Moisturiser with SPF 15. Best toner I have used in a long while.Report this review


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New Service Available for Students to Check Their Financial Aid Progress
A new service offered through the Go KCTCS! Student Service Center web portal, the Financial Aid Tracker, went live Saturday (2/1). The Financial Aid (FA) Tracker is a visual representation of where a student is in the Financial Aid process and identifies any barriers preventing the student from advancing through the process.
The Financial Aid process is broken down into five distinct phases in which students can fall into: Apply for Financial Aid , Complete To Do List items, Eligibility and Award Review, Review and Act on Your Award, and Disbursement. Within each of these phases there are multiple cases in which students can also fall into. The FA Tracker is able to determine which phase and case the student falls into based on the data being sent from the institution.
Students will be able to access the FA tracker through an icon on SCC's service center web portal, at http://help.somerset.kctcs.edu,or by calling (855)66GO-SCC.


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A fun night out sometimes has an evil morning twin: a throbbing head, a sour stomach, loss of appetite, fatigue, dehydration, vomiting and the impulse to become an aspirin-popping, daytime TV-watching recluse for a good 24 hours — and a mean recluse at that. Yep, we're talking about the phenomenon known as the hangover.
While we certainly don't promote alcohol abuse, we do realize that many light and moderate drinkers tend to overdo it for one reason or another. It happens. Maybe your despotic mother-in-law decided to extend her visit by another two nights. Perhaps you required the liquid courage to conquer the karaoke machine at your office party. Or maybe you just really like the taste of prosecco.
Also, hangovers do tend to feel worse the older we get. Dr. Lara Ray, a professor at University of California who studies alcoholism, believes the change in our body's fat and muscle composition and drinking less frequently as we age contributes to our nasty headaches. "If you haven't gone to a party for two to three weeks, it might be less about being 40 and more about your drinking history," Ray told The New York Times. Ray also noted that the more fat a person has, the more intoxicated they will feel compared to someone with more muscle — typically a younger person.
Whatever the case or age, waking up with the symptoms of a hangover is a yucky reality any time of year. And while we all have our own tried-and-true hangover cures — ranging from greasy pizza with an Alka-Seltzer chaser to "the hair of the dog" in Bloody Mary form to sleep (and lots of it) — there are also numerous natural remedies. We've listed five of the best that will help get hangover sufferers back in tip-top shape in no time, without referring to the medicine cabinet. And speaking of time, allowing yourself to recover is the best way to beat the too-much-Beaujolais blues.
1. Bananas
Bananas are a perfect hangover cure. (Photo: jster91 [CC BY 2.0]/Flickr)
When it comes to home hangover remedies, reaching for a humble banana or two is one of the most effective ways to combat a case of the post-Champagne nasties. Excessive alcohol intake can eliminate your body's supply of potassium. Bananas fill you back up with this essential mineral quickly, safely and cheaply. If you anticipate that the morning after is going to be a rough one, place a couple of bananas on your bedside table.
2. Water
Keep two carafes of tap water by your bed if you plan on drinking. (Photo: science photo/Shutterstock.com)
Even though you're filling your body with liquids, boozin' is a surefire way to become uncomfortably dehydrated. We recommend following the "two carafe rule": If you plan on imbibing, keep two carafes of tap water by your bed (alongside those bananas). Drink one before you go to sleep, and drink the other when you wake up the next morning. Many folks drink water only when taking aspirin, ibuprofen or other pain-relieving medicines. We say skip 'em when treating a hangover, since they can only complicate things and make you feel worse if there's still alcohol in your system. Opt to take B-vitamins instead.
3. Fruit juice
Fresh-squeezed juices help replace vitamins you lost while drinking. (Photo: Sofiaworld/Shutterstock.com)
Guzzling fructose- and glucose-heavy fruit juices, particularly freshly squeezed varieties, raises blood-sugar levels and replenishes your body with the essential vitamins depleted during drinking. But if a sour stomach accompanies your raging hangover, it's best to avoid highly acidic beverages. Drink stomach-soothing ginger ale instead. Whatever you do, avoid coffee and other caffeinated beverages. They may make you feel a bit less groggy, but they aren't helpful in conquering hangovers since they're diuretics, which will dehydrate you even more.
4. Honey
Try honey by itself or spread it on some toast or a cracker. (Photo: Vladimir Kovalchuk/Shutterstock.com)
This potassium- and antioxidant-rich pantry staple boasts numerous hangover-helping qualities. Ingest it by itself or, better yet, spread it over a piece of dry toast or a cracker, since you do need to eat something during a hangover (even if your appetite tells you otherwise). In fact, the Royal Society of Chemistry believes eating a breakfast of honey on toast is one of the best ways to beat a hangover.
5. Soup
Soup is rehydrating and nutritious when battling a hangover. (Photo: Matthew Ennis/Shutterstock.com)
Does the sight of bacon and eggs — edibles that you'd normally scramble toward — make you feel even more nauseated while hungover? If honey on toast and bananas aren't cutting it but you'd rather stay away from grease, opt for soup. Filled with vitamins and nutrients and that familiar "feel-good" taste that warms the senses, eating rehydrating soup is beneficial when battling hangovers. Something as basic as chicken soup can do the trick, but if you're feeling ambitious, try experimenting with traditional "hangover soups" from around the globe, such as pho (Vietnam), haejangguk (Korea), pancita (Mexico) or borscht (Ukraine). It also helps to add a bit of spice to your hangover soup of choice, since sweating eliminate toxins from the body.
Editor's note: This article has been updated since it was originally published in December 2010.


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The first generation Lexus IS SportCross was one of my favorite versions of the car. A good looking wagon — I'm not certain what SportCross means — with rear-wheel drive and super awesome Altezza lights was just what the doctor ordered. It was the first Lexus I actively wanted.
But then it was discontinued without a trace. Will it return for 2014? Lexus is hinting that it might and this is what it could possibly look like.
Lexus dropped the hint on Facebook that we might not have seen all there is from the 2014 IS yet.
Do you remember the '02 IS 300 Sport Cross with its style, utility and performance? Will we bring it back? Watch the 2014 IS premiere on Facebook in 6 days to find out!
Are they pulling the leg of wagon fans everywhere? Hopefully not. Reader Shane saw this post and wanted to see what a 2014 Lexus IS wagon would look like. He took the 2014 IS, added the rear of the CT200h, and badda bing badda boom we have an IS wagon.
Gotta say, it looks pretty good to me. If a new SportCross is a surprise unveil at the Detroit Auto Show next week, I'll be pretty excited. I'll even forgive them for calling it a SportCross.
(Hat Tip to Shane!)


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North Conway NH shopping is listed as one of the most often chosen activities on a trip to Mt. Washington Valley, NH. It's no wonder why when you consider the hundreds of shopping options here from name brand outlets at Settlers Green, to North Conway Village shopping at boutiques and specialty shops, and quaint Jackson Village for more. Shopping is an adventure in Mt. Washington Valley, NH with art and antiques, ski, bike and outdoor recreational clothing and equipment, accessories, books and music, motorized vehicles and camping/RV, clothing and footwear, flower, home and garden, gifts, golf, food and drink, jewelry, pharmacy and wellness, technology, sporting goods, pools, pet gifts and supplies, yarn and sewing, and more.


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And the Zuckerberg-Bashing Begins…
As inevitable as air, Silicon Valley likes to build them up and then tear them down.
Thus, the bell now tolls for Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg.
We at BoomTown have been consistent and persistent in voicing our various worries about the young entrepreneur, from one of our very first posts, questioning (we think fairly) the unproven business underpinnings of the hot social network, the juvenile nature of its much vaunted third-party widgets, the insanity of its $15 billion valuation, its inane legal fights and the problems with its worrisome ad efforts.
We've also taken (we think probably unfairly) shots at those flip-flops he wears. And we did call him a toddler CEO, also a low blow, we have to admit.
But now, it seems, a mob is forming, sparked by the issues around Facebook's controversial Beacon ad program, which can track your purchases on some external sites and send the information back to your Facebook profile's news feed.
While it made some changes in Beacon last week, Facebook has not given users a global opt-out of the controversial marketing system in which the social network is seeking to link behavior and advertising more tightly for supposedly bigger payoffs.
The mainstream media and blogosphere, which recently were feting him, have now turned and ire has been growing over Beacon, which seems to be focusing everyone on the inexperience of Zuckerberg and the challenges facing Facebook.
That was clear in a very cogent piece by Josh Quittner on his Techland blog for Fortune today, which was titled "RIP Facebook?"
He writes:
A lot of people say that Facebook has jumped the shark. That's flat out wrong. In fact, Facebook is now being devoured by the shark. There's so much blood in the water, it's attracting other sharks. And if Facebook's not careful, one of them is bound to come along and finish it off. I've never seen anything like it in the annals of fast-rising tech companies that fail."
As Zuckerberg might say: That bites.
And here is a photo that was put on the Fake Steve Jobs blog, which was using the PhotoCrank service, where users can add captions:
Oh my.
As Quittner writes correctly, right now it is the press that has turned on Zuckerberg, which is sure to be followed by much more important advertisers, who shy away from controversy.
We'll see how it plays out, but it is surely a flash point moment for Facebook.
Or in the immortal words of actress Joan Crawford: "Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell."
Feel the love, Mark.


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When Israel Stood Up to WashingtonNews Abroad
As U.S.-Israel tensions climb to unfamiliar heights, they recall a prior round of tensions nearly thirty years ago, when Menachem Begin and Ronald Reagan were in charge. In contrast to Binyamin Netanyahu's repeated apologies, Begin adopted a quite different approach.
The sequence of events started with a statement from Syrian dictator Hafiz al-Asad that he would not make peace with Israel "even in a hundred years," Begin responded by making the Golan Heights part of Israel, terminating the military administration that had been governing that territory from the time Israeli forces seized it from Syria in 1967. Legislation to this effect easily passed Israel's parliament on Dec. 14, 1981.
Menachem Begin with Samuel Lewis on a friendlier occasion in May 1977.
This move came, however, just two weeks after the signing of a U.S.-Israel Strategic Cooperation Agreement, prompting much irritation in Washington. At the initiative of Secretary of State Alexander Haig, the U.S. government suspended that just-signed agreement. One day later, on Dec. 20, Begin summoned Samuel Lewis, the U.S. ambassador in Tel Aviv, for a dressing-down.
Yehuda Avner, a former aide to Begin, provides atmospherics and commentary on this episode at "When Washington bridled and Begin fumed." As he retells it, "The prime minister invited Lewis to take a seat, stiffened, sat up, reached for the stack of papers on the table by his side, put them on his lap and [adopted] a face like stone and a voice like steel." Begin began with "a thunderous recitation of the perfidies perpetrated by Syria over the decades." He ended with what he called "a very personal and urgent message" to President Reagan (available at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website).
"Three times during the past six months, the U.S. Government has 'punished' Israel," Begin began. He enumerated those three occasions: the destruction of the Iraqi nuclear reactor, the bombing of the PLO headquarters in Beirut, and now the Golan Heights law. Throughout this exposition, according to Avner, Lewis interjected but without success: "Not punishing you, Mr. Prime Minister, merely suspending ...," "Excuse me, Mr. Prime Minister, it was not ...," "Mr. Prime Minister, I must correct you ...," and "This is not a punishment, Mr. Prime Minister, it's merely a suspension until ..."
Fully to vent his anger, Begin drew on a century of Zionism:
What kind of expression is this – "punishing Israel"? Are we a vassal state of yours? Are we a banana republic? Are we youths of fourteen who, if they don't behave properly, are slapped across the fingers? Let me tell you who this government is composed of. It is composed of people whose lives were spent in resistance, in fighting and in suffering. You will not frighten us with "punishments." He who threatens us will find us deaf to his threats. We are only prepared to listen to rational arguments. You have no right to "punish" Israel – and I protest at the very use of this term.
In his most stinging attack on the United States, Begin challenged American moralizing about civilian casualties during the Israeli attack on Beirut:
You have no moral right to preach to us about civilian casualties. We have read the history of World War II and we know what happened to civilians when you took action against an enemy. We have also read the history of the Vietnam war and your phrase "body-count."
Referring to the U.S. decision to suspend the recently signed agreement, Begin announced that "The people of Israel has [sic] lived 3,700 years without a memorandum of understanding with America – and it will continue to live for another 3,700." On a more mundane level, he cited Haig having stated on Reagan's behalf that the U.S. government would purchase $200 million worth of Israeli arms and other equipment. "Now you say it will not be so. This is therefore a violation of the President's word. Is it customary? Is it proper?"
Recalling the recent fight in the U.S. Senate over the decision to sell AWACS planes to Saudi Arabia, Begin noted that it "was accompanied by an ugly campaign of anti-Semitism." By way of illustration, he mentioned three specifics: the slogans "Begin or Reagan?" and "We should not let the Jews determine the foreign policy of the United States," plus aspersions that senators like Henry Jackson, Edward Kennedy, Robert Packwood, and Rudy Boschwitz "are not loyal citizens."
Responding to demands that the Golan Heights law be rescinded, Begin sourced the very concept of rescission to "the days of the Inquisition" and reminded Lewis that
Our forefathers went to the stake rather than "rescind" their faith. We are not going to the stake. Thank God. We have enough strength to defend our independence and to defend our rights. … please be kind enough to inform the secretary of state that the Golan Heights Law will remain valid. There is no force on earth that can bring about its rescission.
Menachem Begin consulting with Yehuda Avner.
The session ended without Lewis responding. As Avner recounts, "Faced with this unyielding barrage, which to the ambassador seemed somewhat hyperbolic and, in part, even paranoid, he saw no point in carrying on, so he took his leave."
Comments: (1) Late 1981 marked the nadir of U.S.-Israel relations during the Reagan administration. In particular, strategic cooperation made headway in subsequent years.
(2) The ministry website calls Begin's blast "an unprecedented move"; to which I add, it was not just unprecedented but also unrepeated.
(3) Begin's sense of destiny, combined with his oratorical grandeur impelled him to respond to current policy differences by invoking 3,700 years of Jewish history, the Inquisition, the Vietnam War, and American antisemitism. In the process, he changed the terms of the argument.
(4) Notwithstanding intense American aggravation with Begin, his blistering attack improved Israeli pride and standing.
(5) Politicians in other countries quite frequently attack the United States. Indeed, Hamid Karzai, the president of Afghanistan, did so last week. But his purpose – to convince his countrymen that he is not, in fact, a kept politician – differed fundamentally from Begin's of asserting Israel's dignity.
(6) It is difficult to imagine any other Israeli politician, Binyamin Netanyahu included, who would dare to pull off Begin's verbal assault.
(7) Yet that might be just what Israel needs.
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Arnold Shcherban - 4/18/2010
Obama is one-term stand, Omar; don't doubt it for a second.
Elliott Aron Green - 4/18/2010
RRH is basically correct. However, top Inquisition officials, such as Torquemada, as I recall, pressured the Catholic Kings, Ferdinand and Isabella [los reyes catolicos], to drive the Jews out of Spain except those willing to convert.
Elliott Aron Green - 4/18/2010
Mr Kovachev makes astute observations about the resemblance of current Obama administration demands on Israel to medieval and pre-modern treatment of Jews, to the treatment of Jews in countries considered backward.
For instance, he points to the Pale of Settlement in the Russian Empire which was in fact instituted early in the 19th century, if I am not mistaken. The Pale was a large zone in the empire where Jews were allowed to live, although most of the empire was off limits to Jews, and there were some forbidden zones even with the general area of the Pale. This sounds much like Obama-Clinton's demands to stop Jews from living in formerly Jordanian-occupied Jerusalem and formerly Jordanian-occupied Judea-Samaria.
This Obama policy could be a proof for those who hold a view of history as cyclical and recurrent.
Peter Kovachev - 4/13/2010
You are technicsally correct, Mr Hamilton. The confusion, I think, stems from the fact that massacres and forced conversions of Jews by various secular authorities and mobs were occuring in many locations at the same time when the Inquisition was all fired-up. The "foot soldiers" were the friars, chiefly Dominicans, who were "over-lapping" their activities by working for the Office of the Holy Inquisition, while "moonlighting" for local authorities and organizing "extra-legal" popular attacks against Jews.
Because the Papacy had lost control over the Inquisition, especially in places far from Rome, and because judicial standards then were, well, not as strict as today, it was not unusual for Jews to be charged with being converts or descendants of converts on fabricated evidence. As an aside, two fascinating books: *The Friars and the Jews* by (I think) Norman Cohn, and Emanuel Le Roy Ladurie's *Montaillou,* on the Fournier records of the Inquisition work against the Cathars in the Languedoc region.
Of course, the fine points of jurisdiction and mandates were lost on the Jewish victims, who cared little which hat their persecutors wore at the time. Not meaning to be contentious, it can also be said though that far more Catholics died in persecutions by Protestants than Jews as well. The crucial difference, to Jews, was that unlike the warring Christians, they were defenseless and had no reliable authorities, governments or locations to turn to...until 1948. The bottom line is that statelessness can be dangerous, as many formerly pacifist Protestants discovered and went onto securing nation states with the capacity to bite back.
I would go as far as speculating that Israel's roots go back to the dynamics of Protestant revolts and nation-building. While the Jewish-Protestant relationship was far from rosy, there was more of an affinity, based on scriptural puritanism and cultural values between Protestants and Jews than any others. This may in part explain the special relationship between Jews and the U.S. It is weird to think that the establishment of the City of God in Geneva may have had more to do with the rebirth of the modern Jewish state than Theodore Herzl's *Altneuland* !
R.R. Hamilton - 4/12/2010
I've noticed that a lot of Jews think that "Jews who refused to convert" were killed by the Inquisition.
This. is. not. true.
The Inquisition was established to fight heretics, not infidels. Therefore, the only Jews under its jurisdiction were those who had already professed to have converted. When these Jews were found to have "lapsed" or even "falsely professed their Christian conversions", ONLY THEN were they subject to the Inquisition.
Btw, I'm Protestant, and far more Protestants than Jews were killed by the Inquisitors. (Protestants, like relapsed Jews, were considered Christian heretics.) So, I am not saying this out of any pro-Inquisition or anti-Jewish bias, but simply that it is the truth.
Peter Kovachev - 4/11/2010
Good points. In the hope of shaking their heads, Bibi might even remind the Obamistas that their unprecedented demands (for the U.S.) are eerily similar to medieval European and Czarist statutes and decrees against Jewish building and communal expansion in the old ghettos and Pales of Settlement.
On the other hand, they might think it a swell idea to emulate and apply such gems of jurisprudence.
Also, what would be the point in Bibi's trying to get through to this administration, especially before it gets clipped in the mid-terms over its overall record of failures and incompetencies? If my country, Canada, serves as a model, the best thing to do for now is to carry on with things discreetly (e.g., defunding antisemitic NGOs and UNRWA), to smile and nod in public, and never to look the lunatics in the eye ... at least until your electorate puts them in a straightjacket in November and hopefully (please!) back out on the street in 2012.
The bottom line is that Obama is no Reagan, and engaging extremists and ideologues on points of logic or justice is both futile and dangerous. Until then, let us all pray to be spared of your administration's "historic moments" and "smart" diplomacy.
omar ibrahim baker - 4/11/2010
Not that I disagree with your contribution Arnold BUT my main point was to stress Israel's domination of USA Middle East policies and to point out that should President Obama persevere, which I doubt with, as always, a second term in mind, it would be an American/American tussle!
Arnold Shcherban - 4/9/2010
Come on, Omar, don't be so naive: the occasional "disharmonies" happening between USA and Israel is just a traditional game, played by the US to save a face of legitimacy in the eyes of the wide international community; those disharmonies have never produced and will never produce any discerning results in respect of practical steps taken by Israeli government,... until
they stop to be a game.
Don't expect, however, the latter to occur in the nearest future, if ever.
You, perhaps, as many others I know and heard about, are willing to give too much credit and expect extra something from B. Obama in the Palestinian-Israeli regard, as well as on other hot international issues. I sorry to blow you bubble, good fella, but read my leaps: no radical changes in the US foreign policy and strategy are going to happen over Obama's presidency. Otherwise, call me on this pessimistic prognosis.
omar ibrahim baker - 4/9/2010
It is good of Pipes to recollect and remind all of us here of earlier Israeli/US cases of "disharmony".
The message is clear enough: Netanyahu stand up to the USA and the USA will be the first to blink and climb down.
Ironically this is what the USA brought on itself: Israelis and pro Israelis emboldened into openly defying, and publicly insulting, the USA via its VP.
How is it that Israel & Co, and the USA! came to this?
The answer that imposes itself is: through total, unconditional, unlimited political, economic and military USA AID to Israel.
And it is NOT only aid and support BUT, since 1967, a USA acquiescence to an Israeli takeover of USA policies in the Middle East that has already embroiled it in one war, the Iraqi conquest, and threatens to embroil it in another much more costly with Iran.
The syndrome of a vigorous and dynamic junior partner taking over from an enfeebled, senility tending, senior partner is a classical case of all nefarious partnerships in which, with their divergent outlooks and conflicting ambitions, they are bound to fall out sooner or later.
I contend that this Israeli/US "confrontation" is much more significant and relevant to the USA than to the region for it would be settled INSIDE the USA by internal forces/factors and its output will either proclaim American independence or confirm Israeli predominance in the realm, for now, of USA policies in the Middle East!
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The new double-sided 90 degree shoulder milling system from WNT maximises productivity by having eight useable cutting edges per insert. The cutter body and insert design also ensures a precise 90 degree cutting profile can be machined. Added to this is the combination of WNT's Dragonskin coating technology and the use of a unique durable nickel-plated cutter body, which delivers increased productivity, remarkable process security and an attractive price per cutting edge, making make the WNT's 4910 milling system an absolute must-have for all shoulder milling applications.
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