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Dear All,
I hope you have had a great summer. Here at Washington University in St. Louis, we are gearing up for another lively academic year. I have a wonderful piece of news for those of you who have enjoyed these windows, shared them with friends, or taken them to your classroom, during the past two years. My stellar student Matthew Miller has started blogging the windows. He has devoted a considerable amount of time, thought, and taste to the project. Check it out for yourself: https://windowsoniran.wordpress.com/. In not so distant a future, all of the Windows on Iran will be available on line. Thank you Matt! You have done a super job.
Tehran is a World Class City
* Thanks to my friend Brian Appleton, who has just returned form a trip to Iran, I can open this window with a wonderfully detailed pictorial essay called "Five Days in Tehran." In this essay, Brian captures what some reporters allow to get buried under layers of political conflict. That is, he brings out the vibrancy and the complexity of Iranian urban life. The subtitle to his piece reads: It is important to understand that Tehran is a world class city. Not only does he speak about events, people, and buildings but he remembers other important details: "Since the revolution, 30,000 trees have been planted in Tehran and it is one of the greenest cities you will ever see anywhere on the planet." Before I give you that address to Brian's great piece, I would like to add that of course not every corner of Iran is Tehran. Neither would Brian Appleton claim that. Urban life is more affluent and complex everywhere. Here is a rare opportunity for you to read about the beauty and complexity (and of course traffic jams, etc.) of city life in Iran. Thank you Brian! http://www.iranian.com/main/2008/five-days-tehran.
The Israeli/Iranian Embrace
* It is generally believed that sports and art are the best way to bring people together. During the current Olympic games, there were such rare moments when Israeli and Iranian athletes transcended the political conflicts and exhibited kindness and support for each other. The first attachment to this window is a Kodak moment during which an Iranian 7-foot-2 basketball player, Hamed Ehadadi and the Israeli coach of the Russian team David Blatt have posed for the camera. Earlier, another Iranian player and Blatt embraced. This simple gesture of friendship should not be so rare as to make it to the headlines. However, with the current political tensions, it is good to see any such exchanges. Thank you Omid Jan for forwarding this message.
The Israelis Against an Attack on Iran
* While we are on the subject of Iran and Israel, I should bring a very important declaration to your attention. I have, in the past, quoted Israeli politicians who have called for a military attack on Iran. It is only fair that the voices of Peace Seeking Israelis be included in these windows as well. Earlier this month, a group of Israeli academics and peace activists who call themselves "Ad Hoc Group Against Israeli Attack on Iran" issued a very important press release to publicize their declaration. Its main message: "There is no military, political or moral justification to initiate war with Iran." This is a courageous move that will be appreciated by all peace-loving readers of these windows, most especially the Iranian segment. However, the group made no secret of the fact that the Israeli well-being is of great concern to them. "After serious consideration," the press release went on to say "we reiterate our position that all the arguments for such an attack are without any security, political or moral justification. Israel might get caught up in an act of adventurism that could endanger our very existence, and this without any serious effort to exhaust the political and diplomatic alternatives to armed conflict." To read the entire declaration, please visit: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0808/S00077.htm.
Open Letter to Senator Obama
* Here in the U.S.. many are concerned with the same issue. Here is an open letter sent to Senator Obama on August 14 concerning the dangers of U.S./Iran confrontation: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/21735.
Iranian "Star Students" in Newsweek
* I have often talked about the negative light in which the Iranian culture is presented to the American public. This, unfortunately, has impacted the general language used to speak about Iran. The result is that even positive matters are often articulated in a pessimistic manner that counters its positive nature. Let me give you an example.
* There is a piece in the August 18-25 '08 issue of the Newsweek describing the success of the Iranian students which is a very interesting piece to analyze with the above point in mind. The core news is that, in the field of science, some of the best undergraduates in the world are being trained in Iranian universities. This should be cause for celebration. Not quite. First, we are given the feeling that all of that is on the brink of disappearing. I have no problems with pointing to economic (and other) problems that Iran faces. I am not even talking about exaggerations like "University professors barely make ends meet—the pay is so bad some must even take second jobs as taxi drivers or petty traders." Yes, Iranian economy is not doing particularly well, but relatively speaking, Iranian professors are good wage earners.
My real problem with the piece is that it views the Iranian students' success as an anomaly which requires an extraordinary explanation. And here it is: "When you live in Iran and you see all the frustrations of daily life, you dream of leaving the country, and your books and studies become a ticket to a better life," says one who asked not to be identified. "It becomes more than just studying," he says. "It becomes an obsession, where you wake up at 4 a.m. just to get in a few more hours before class." In other words, when other cultures make educational success, they are bright. When Iranians do that, they are frustrated and obsessive.
And finally the piece adds: "Iran's success, in other words, is also the country's tragedy: students want nothing more than to get away the moment they graduate."
I don't want to discourage you from reading the piece. In fact here is the link: http://www.newsweek.com/id/151684. But it is truly amazing, how the American media has developed a talent for casting the most positive matters related to Iran in a negative light.
The Smallest School in the World
* Now that you know about the star students in Iran, I would like you to see why I think the cynicism in the Newsweek article is unwarranted. In other words, Iranians are not promoting learning in their communities so that good students can leave the country. Like many other people in the world, they care deeply about education. In a small and remote village in the southern province of Boushehr, a young man has established a school for 4 students to make sure they get their primary education properly (see the pictures above and below). And please bear in mind, this is not a propaganda tool of the Islamic Republic. The resourceful young teacher Abdolmohammad Sha'rani who runs the school has a personal blog in which he writes about the village, the people, and of course the school. Remember I told you a while back Iranians are number four bloggers in the world. Do visit Sha'rani's blog, even if you don't read Persian and enjoy the pictures he has taken of this tiny fishing village on the Persian Gulf: http://www.dayyertashbad.blogfa.com/ Thank you Bahar for forwarding this information.
Iranian Zahra Karimi Wins Gold in Wushu
* An Iranian woman by the name of Zahra Karimi has won the women's gold medal at the 2008 Wushu World Championships, held in Beijing along side the Olympic Games: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=67454§ionid=3510211.
The Photographer Capturing Rural Life in Iran
* In these windows, I have usually brought you images from urban life in Iran. This is mostly because I have always found the complexity of Iranian urban life to be the aspect which is not as well known as it should be. However, today, courtesy of my cousin Abe Massoudi, I have the opportunity to introduce to you the great work of a contemporary Iranian photographer who has dedicated almost his entire career to taking photographs of Iranians living in rural parts of the country. Nasrullah Kasraian, who has had many exhibits and published over 30 collections of his photographs, is a national figure in Iran. Please click on the link to view some of his stunning images. Enjoy! http://www.jadidonline.com/images/stories/flash_multimedia/Kasraiian_test/kasraiian_eng_high.html.
Water Show in the National Park
* I opened this window with a look at the city of Tehran. Here is a visual delight from the same city to close Window 53, a great Water and Light show from Tehran's Parke Mellat courtesy of my friend Farimah. Please click here: Water and Light Show in Tehran's Parke Mellat.
Till next Window, have a great end of the summer.
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor and Chair
Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures
Washington University in St. Louis
Honorary Co-Chair, Iranians For Peace
Tel: (314) 935-5156
Fax: (314) 935-4399


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subset: commoncrawl


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Rose Wine
If you enjoy the taste and feel of red wine but would like a lighter flavor profile, it's time to delve into the wonderful world of rose wines.
How Rose Wines Are Made
Rose wine is found all over the world and is made from many types of red wine grapes. It comes in a wide range of flavors from light and sweet to rich and bold. Rose gets its salmon-pink color from the skins of red grapes. Instead of leaving the skins to ferment for days or weeks, as is the process for most reds, the skins are immersed for a short amount of time and then removed, imbuing the wine with a hint of red or a light pink glow. The skins of grapes have tannins that are responsible for the bitter and dry notes in red wine. With red wines, the lighter the color, the sweeter and lighter the flavor.
Varieties of Rose Wine
The most popular traditional sweet rose wines include white zinfandel, white merlot and blushes. They are light and crisp with a barely discernible hint of dryness. Mediterranean varieties offer a bold floral, fruity profile with delicious hints of citrus and spice. Provence roses have a very dry feel and are incredibly versatile in pairings.
Rose wine's delicate, nuanced nature makes it an exciting variety to try with a range of foods or as alone as an aperitif. Try pairing a different varietal with each course to experience the full range of flavors that rose holds.
Rose Wine
Beringer White Zinfandel$6.99
Frey Natural Rose 750ml$9.99
Voga Rosa 750ml$10.99
Love Noir Rose 750ml$11.99
Minimal Price: $1.99


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Death-dealing vampire Selene and her tight, tight pants are back, in what is surely the most violent addition to the Underworld franchise. With original series director Len Wiseman stepping out of the director's chair, will this supernatural "underworld" finally get a color pallette beyond the ubiquitous teal? Of course not. But at least this film gives us silver whips, and an Über Lycan.
The good news: This is by far the bloodiest of all Kate Beckinsale's S&M fantasy movies. And you know that's exactly why you're buying a ticket. Spoilers ahead...
The fourth addition, Underworld: Awakenings finally acknowledges that you can't have a giant winged elder flying through the world, killing vampires and battleships of supernaturals parading around this world, without people noticing. The movie catches up with Selene and a very poorly rendered CG face of her hybrid lover Michael (was Scott Speedman busy?). Humans have discovered that werewolves and vampires are a very real thing, and decide to wipe them off the face of the planet in "the great purge."
One nice thing about Len Wiseman stepping out of the director's chair is we no longer have to humor his ridiculous story lines following Selene's past, Viktor's past with Marcus and Kraven, Lucian's past, the Corvinus family tree, and so on. It's not that that stuff was hard to follow, it was just exhausting. Thank goodness, new directors Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein brush the heavy world-building of Underworld aside, and replace it with buckets of gore. So much gore! One character actually get his face ripped off, and they show ALL OF IT! It's pretty intense. If I can't have Bill Nighy (Viktor) making vampire cat hiss noises, then at least give me gore.
Moving on, Selene and Not Michael try to escape but are blown up and then frozen by the humans. Fast forward to 12 years later — Selene wakes up and is PISSED. You'd think that by setting it 12 years in the future, that would give it the cheesy movie license to Back To The Future this series up a bit. But alas, Pizza Hut hydrators costs money, and forethought. I guess when you have a built-in audience of werewolf vs. vampire enthusiasts, there's no need to pussyfoot around with anything that isn't a Beckinsale pleather ass shot.
Perhaps the most telling example of Underworld: Awakening's "look we're just here to show shots of Beckinsale's pleather ass smacking CG werewolves in the face" attitude is when the frozen vampire awakens from her cryo-slumber. Her body still recovering from the 12-year sleep, the naked starlet flaps around on the ground perfectly covered in what we can only assume is dry ice fog (which I would like to point out is totally B.S., because what's the point of having an R-rated movie if you're going to cover Beckinsale's tiny alabaster hiney with Halloween party punch smoke?). After a few minutes of sexy fully covered fish-out-of-water body-worming, Beck's realizes that her iconic Goth vampire outfit has all been nicely preserved in the glass case next to her cryo chamber. You know, for science.
Once escaped, Selene sets about trying to pick up what's left of her life. Which is easy, as she was given the this new power of being able to seeing through (what she believes are Michael's) eyes. But there's a twist, it's not Michael! Now the being that Selene is tracking through the streets of the supernaturally purged future is none other than her own hybrid baby, Subject Number 1! The two link up and Selene is protective but exceptionally cold — classic Selene, in other words. They pick up a small remaining coven of vampires, and immediately begin fighting werewolves.
You see, instead of joining together and fighting off the attacking humans, both Lycans and Vampires still hate each other and continue to fight to the death. Which is good for the audience, because that is what we all came here to see.
Underworld: Awakening is much more intent on Beck's clothes than building up the relationships. No, seriously — there is an actual scene where the detective of the film says "fuck it" and grabs guns and starts shooting up Lycans. Because why would we ask for something more from this film?
Through the fighting a secret twist is slowly revealed about the government's real motives, we get to watch Selene fight the biggest Lycan we've ever seen, and the new vampire with pretty eyes slashes a few faceless werewolves with a silver whip. And guns. So many guns. The entire thing climaxes with an epically bloody showdown in the very government building Selene woke up in. We won't tell you why — that would ruin the only surprise in this feature you may not see coming! But if you like CG guts and blood squirts and watching a girl in tight pants kick so much ass, go see it. It's not good, by any means — but if you've got a few pints in you, it's fairly enjoyable.


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2011 was another fantastic year of weddings for us! We had terrific clients, venues, locations and vendors to work with, all amounting to endless opportunities to capture some of my best ever, documentary wedding moments! The following slideshow is a celebration of each of the weddings I photographed this past year, as well as a big, huge "THANK YOU" to each and every one of my bride and grooms for inviting me into their world for the biggest day of their lives! Enjoy!
My Favorite Ten Documentary Wedding Photos of 2011!
The end of the year is a great time for me to look back on the body of work I was blessed to photograph from the past wedding season and really reflect on the great weddings and clients I was honored to photograph. 2011 was the twentieth year of my wedding photography career, and the tenth year since I made a transition in my shooting style. I fell in love with "wedding photojournalism" in 2001, a documentary or photo essay approach to capturing the wedding day, and have pursued it with my entire being ever since! Every year, I push myself in a certain direction to improve as a documentary wedding photographer and fine tune my skills. This year, I challenged myself to find interesting and out of the ordinary moments, juxtapositions, unexpected reactions, and finding heart-felt expressions that reveal the soul.
The following are my favorite documentary captures of 2011! They are listed in David Letterman style, going from number ten to number one, so that you can see which photo is my top pick. There is also a paragraph about each to share with you my thoughts about the image. Please share your thoughts with me at the bottom of the post in the comments section. Which is your favorite? Did I succeed in acheiving my goal this year? One other note: thank you, thank you, thank you to every one of my bride and grooms this year for inviting me into your world and trusting me to photograph the most import day of your lives!
Number TEN:
This was captured during the mother and groom dance. What I love about this photo is the absolute adoration this mother has for her son as she dances with him for the first time as a married man. The light off the wall sconce above her head adds a heavenly glow, like the old paintings of the mother of Jesus. The groom's expression is priceless as well and you sense the connection of love that he shares with his mother. I also love that the bride and other guests are doing there own thing, accentuating that there exists a special bond of love known only between mother and son.
Number NINE:
This is the second mother and groom dance photo. Emotionally, I love it for a lot of the same reasons as the above photo. The special love between mother and son is especially accentuated here by the moon like spotlight, contrasted by the dark shadows. With the two framed with so much dark space around them, it gives the appearance that the two are dancing on the moon. I love the bigger-than-life shadow on the dance floor which leads your eye toward the mother and son. The shadow also accentuates the connection between them. I also love the posture of the mother holding her arm out as if she is balancing her self, and her, now, grown son holding her with his one strong arm. For one dance in this newly married man's life, his mother is the center of his attention!
Number EIGHT:
This photo was captured looking over the shoulder of the Maid of Honor giving a toast to the bride. I love the bride's expression and hands on her cheeks as she is listening to her Maid of Honor sharing a story with the guests. The connection between the two friends is obvious because only people who have a shared history would know enough about the other to poke fun, or share a memory of some past mischief, or an embarrassing moment. The groom's smile and his hand on her knee lets his bride know of his loving approval. I love how the lines work in this photo as well. The Maid of Honor's right arm is parallel to the arm of the groom, which is reaching down toward the bride's dress These lines direct your eye toward the contrasted angle of the bride's arms leading you toward her wonderful expression on her face.
Number SEVEN:
There is something about this photo that goes beyond the typical happy bride and groom capture. I can assure you, they are an awesomely happy couple. But what draws me to this image as one of my favorites of the year is the feeling it gives me. First, I love the textures in the image: the rain on the window and the ruffles in the bride's dress and her hair piece. I love the soft light and soft expressions on their faces. The couple seem so peaceful and content, despite the less than perfect weather. The groom is calmly clasping his hands together and does not seem to be bothered by the sight. His bride, with bouquet at her side, is quietly adjusting her hair piece. The black limo interior wrapping them together in this scene adds to the image a sense that all that matters in the world at this very moment is that the two of them are now husband and wife.
Number SIX:
What is not to love about this photo? It's a guy photo for sure. It reminds me of my youth when nothing mattered other than winning or losing. Boys will be boys and winning the prize whether it be a trophy, a football or a wedding garter means risking broken bones, a bloody nose, or torn clothes! I love that it was captured the instant the boy on his knees has the garter clasped in his hands. I also love the triangular shape of mayhem formed by the sprawling bodies above the winner. The guy to the left with his elbow on the winner's back, nose down, tie forward makes this photo great. If you put jerseys and pads on these guys you would see the same scene in a football game going after a fumble!
Number FIVE:
I never met a bride as happy and giddy as this one. She was a joy to be around and she provided me with unlimited opportunities to photograph. This one image sums up in my mind how excited she was that day! She literally danced down the steps leaving her parents' home on her way to the church. With her toes pointed, she looks like a ballerina stepping down to the Broadway stage!
Number FOUR:
This was a hilarious couple from Australia. The wedding took place at the Wynn in Las Vegas in the hotel chapel. The bride is making her vows to her groom and the list is beyond any list of vows you would hear on the alter! Typically you might hear the standard: "I vow to respect you in your successes and in your failures, care for you in sickness and in health, etc, etc." I can't remember what exactly she said, but the bride here is promising to share with her groom, something like her treasured barbie doll collection, occasionally relieve him of his duty to take out the trash, and on and on! The expression on the minister's face says it all! He makes this photo go from ordinary to out-the-ordinary. The capture is the precise moment that the bride begins going off the standard script!
Number THREE:
This is a very meaningful photo to me. I had photographed the sister of the bride a few years before and was familiar with the closeness shared between three sisters and their mother. This photo was captured at the end of the night, the bride (on the right) is the last of the girls to be married and this was a very touching moment between this loving family. I love that their faces are all buried beneath their beautiful hair, and that their embraced arms tie each other tightly together. No expressions needed here one bit to convey a very special union.
Number TWO:
This image was captured at the entry of the church, just prior to the father and bride walking down the aisle. You can see how nervous the bride is by her eyes and that she is taking in a deep breath. What I love about this photo is not only her expression, but her father's as well! You can see that he, too, is taking in a deep breath and he is doing it in-sync with his beloved daughter. What love this is! Dad is coaching his about-to-be married daughter with breathing techniques to help her relax! This, indeed, is a priceless moment! It reminds me that even though my own daughters will become the wives of other men, they will always be my daughters!
Number ONE:
Here it is: my favorite moment of the year! This photo was captured inside the hotel room where the groom was getting ready. I walked in the room, set down my equipment bag, and turned around to see this very moment. There was a full size mirror on the wall on the right. I simply leaned against it until the double image was split down the middle of the photo. I love this image because it is simple and yet complex. The groom's clasped hands are the focus, but with his head slumped down, a tattoo on his shoulder, wearing a tank top and tennis shoes side by side on the floor, we are left with very little to determine who this man is. Is he praying? Is he nervous or having doubts? The double image of him only adds to this mystery.


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Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert have just kicked off their Locked & Reloaded tour, and they're already having fun making use of some futuristic technology.
"This is something you're not going to see anywhere else," jokes Bentley, holding up a rectangular piece of wood with a few cups on it. "The three 'Red Solo Cup' holder."
Bentley and Lambert will shoot through Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey this weekend, but soon enough they'll have lots of company on the road. For example, Tim McGraw plans to start his Two Lanes of Freedom tour with Brantley Gilbert and Love and Theft in May, while Blake Shelton , Jana Kramer and Easton Corbin load up for the Ten Times Crazier tour in July.


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Okay, so Scott Kelby didn't single me out and teach me this technique. I saw him discuss it on one of his Photoshop based shows. Probably on Photoshop User TV. His demonstration involved using Curves to sculpt a model's face. I watched, tucked in away in the back of my mind and thought I might be able to use it for other "stuff".
Today's image is an example of an "other stuff" application. Scott showed that by using Curves to increase the depth of the shadows and increase the heights of the highlights you could use the tones inherent in the image to add drama. I took it and applied it to the folds and creases of the batter's shirt and pants.
It's really quite simple (and pretty foolproof). Set up two Curves Adjustments Layers. Tag one as Shadows and the other Highlights. In the Shadows Curve bring the upper right end of the linear Curve (straight line) to the left until you just touch the edge of wherever the tone Curve ends. Eyeball a point on the Curve about three quarters of the way "up" the straight line. Drag it up so the Curve is now steep and almost to the top of the box. Invert the Mask that goes with the Adjustment Layer. The Mask should now be black.
Do just the opposite to the curve tagged as Highlights. Bring the right side of the linear Curve to the tip of wherever the tone Curve ends. About one quarter in from the left side of the Curve, drag the Curve down to brighten the image. Invert that Mask to black.
Make the Foreground color White. Select the Brush Tool (B). Make it hard, at least 95% hard. Make it small. Depending on the resolution of the image, somewhere around 3 to 6.
Click on the Mask named Shadows. Everywhere you see a shadow line, paint a line all the way down the shadow. Click on the Mask named Highlights. Everywhere you see a highlight, paint a line all the way down the highlight. As a hint, where's a highlight next to every shadow. You'll see that, even though you painted the shadow with a white paint brush, every shadow becomes darker. Not only does it become darker, but it gets darker by different amounts. In the areas with lighter shadows you'll see "less dark" lines. In the areas of darker shadows you'll see "darker" lines. Same (just the opposite) goes for the highlights. (One hint, highlights and shadows never cross. They should be parallel to each other.)
Now you'll have all these lines all over your image. In Adobe Photoshop CS6 you have a Properties dialog box that goes along with each Adjustment Layer. Open it. Move the Feather Slider to the right. Keep an eye on your Shadow (or Highlights) and watch them spread out and become soft. You can go as far as you feel is necessary. At some point it will become too soft and you won't see the effect.
The idea is to emphasize the differences by putting a highlight next to a shadow. It becomes rather Rockwellesque (Norman Rockwell like) and makes the details jump out of the frame.


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Posted 8 years ago
(611 items)
As a collector of Harrach glass, it just doesn't get better than finds like this (found on eBay). Jan Nepomuk Graf von Harrach (11/2/1828-12/12/1909) was the great-great-great grandson of Aloys Thomas Raimund Graf von Harrach, who established the original glassworks in 1712. In addition to owning the glassworks, Jan Harrach was a politician who began his career in the Imperial Parliament in 1870. Like his father, Franz Anton von Harrach , he was a member of the conservative, patriotic Czech aristocracy. Since the mid-19th Century, he took active part in political and cultural life in Bohemia. He was chairman of the association to build the National Theatre in Prague and continued to support the Czech opera. He sponsored an opera competition in the 1860s that drew the attention of contestants such as Bedrich Smetena. He was also on the Board of Trustees of the Matice Ceská, a corporation that dealt with the scientific and enlightening activities in the field of art and literary history. He was the president of the Modern Gallery of the Kingdom of Bohemia, a foundation set up in 1902 by the Emperor Franz Joseph himself. He wrote books and worked for several years as CEO of Slavie bank. His nephew, Franz Maria Alfred was the bodyguard for Archduke Franz Ferdinand and was standing on the running board of the car when the Archduke and his wife were assassinated by Bosnian Serb Gavrilo Princip, the event that triggered the first World War.
In February of 1909, the aging gentleman, in poor health and with some trepidation, sat down to write a letter to the office of his Majesty to announce his decision to resign his post as president of the Modern Gallery. This was the letter I acquired from a German seller on eBay. I have spent the last week translating the German script with moderate success. Fortunately, Count Harrach had impeccable handwriting. I had to take some liberties with the grammar, as I don't speak the language myself - this is the translation I came up with:
Your Excellency!
I have long delayed a response to the esteemed letter by Your Excellency, as with moderate confidence I turn to Your Excellency and unfortunately must impart: that my suffering for 1 year has not subsided, and the dreadful climate conditions locally have only made things worse, so I'm finally forced to declare: that my age and the distance to Prague make it no longer possible to satisfactorily fulfill the honorable task as president of the Modern Gallery of the Kingdom of Bohemia, and therefore must ask that you kindly initiate a new occupation of the Executive Board. Finally, I must say that I have spoken out against anyone mentioned in the statement by your Excellency, and with regret must renounce the position granted to me in trust by his Majesty. With the expression of the highest consideration,
Your Excellency,
most devoted
J. Harrach Grf
Abbazia, on 28 February, 1909
Janhrabe Nepomuk Graf von Harrach died on December 12, 1909 - less than ten months after this letter was written.
Photos: (L to R) Jan Harrach, Emperor Franz Joseph on a postcard designed by Kolo Moser (I have one of these also), a full scan of both pages of the letter, a closeup of the signature, and lastly the Harrach family crest, embossed on the stationery that the letter was written on.


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Next month, the largest airline in the world will be American. Literally, the merger between the parent companies of American Airlines and US Airways to create 'the new American' will consolidate two major international travel networks. Instead of four big legacy carriers in the United States, there will be three. Justice Department regulators announced Tuesday that they are okay with that, as long as the companies comply with a settlement they hammered out over several months.
Everyone seems to be happy, for conflicting reasons.
'This agreement has the potential to shift the landscape of the airline industry,' Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. declared Tuesday.
The settlement 'doesn't change the competitive dynamic,' a company executive shot back.
The merger represents the final phase in an industry consolidation. Delta and Northwest merged, then United and Continental. When American and US Airways arrived late to the consolidation gate, the government balked. That arguably wasn't fair to the companies, which wanted a web of connections that can match those of the now-huge Delta and United, instead of having to surrender potential profits to those behemoths. They also wanted to streamline their combined operations, which would save money.
Yet, the government argued in August, US Airways has been a plucky competitor, disrupting the pricing schemes of the larger legacy carriers. Merged with American, it wouldn't play the same role. The combined firm would also have a near-lock on the takeoff and landing slots at Reagan National Airport. Passengers might pay too high a price if the consolidation continued.
The key to the settlement was bringing JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit and other lower-cost carriers into the equation. Requiring the merged American to surrender to these airlines coveted slots at seven major airports, such as New York LaGuardia, Los Angeles International and Chicago O'Hare, will introduce a measure of competition on high-demand routes, offsetting - or more than offsetting, in regulators' view - the anti-competitive effects of having fewer big players in an already concentrated industry. The limited availability of slots at high-traffic airports is a major barrier to smaller competitors attempting to break into big markets. The agreement announced Tuesday requires the new American to give up 52 slots at Reagan National, which would leave the carrier controlling a little more than half of the airport's flights.
Some fares still are likely to rise as the industry completes this phase in its quest for stability. But some could also be suppressed. At least passengers will have a few more names to choose from in some of the nation's largest airports. That could well be a better result than taking the matter to trial would have yielded.


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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- It looks like Rosie O'Donnell is willing to let bygones be bygones.
The 51-year-old actress and television personality, who currently has a recurring role on ABC Family's The Fosters, will return to The View as a guest on Feb. 7.
O'Donnell left the daytime talk show abruptly back in 2007, after less than one season as panel moderator. Her tenure was marked by an antagonistic on-air relationship with her conservative counterpart Elisabeth Hasselbeck. There were also reports of a supposed feud with host and executive producer Barbara Walters.
O'Donnell left the show just weeks before her contract ended.
"I can say this: I never tried harder to be friends with someone than I did with her, but I don't think we ever got there," O'Donnell wrote of Hasselbeck on her blog in 2007.
"I have great affection for Rosie and we have remained in contact through the years," Walters said in a statement. "I am happy to welcome her back to the program. She is always a lively and engaging guest and a part of the show's successful history."
[The Wrap, Us Weekly]


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TheKit Now Available for All X-FAB Technology Platforms; Increases Productivity for Analog/Mixed-Signal Designs
ERFURT, Germany — (BUSINESS WIRE) — September 22, 2009 — X-FAB Silicon Foundries, the world's leading foundry for the production of analog/mixed-signal integrated circuits, today announced the availability of comprehensive process design kits (PDK), branded as TheKit, based on the Cadence® Design Systems Virtuoso® IC 6.1 custom design platform and SKILL programming language. TheKit, with best-in-class SKILL PDK, is available for all of X-FAB's process technologies from 1.0 um down to 0.18 um, and offers a smooth and easy migration from existing projects developed with Virtuoso IC 5.1 to Virtuoso IC 6.1. Its automatic project setup including libraries and default tool settings ensures a seamless design flow that saves setup time. Using TheKit, X-FAB's customers can benefit from productivity gains, faster time to market and lower risk.
X-FAB developed TheKit for the latest release of the Cadence Virtuoso custom design platform, IC 6.1, to help its customers reduce design time, and to ensure manufacturing-robust designs. With the help of the SKILL language, TheKit supports advanced interactive and automated technologies, such as Cadence Virtuoso Analog Design Environment XL/GXL, for a fast and accurate verification and yield optimization. X-FAB uses the Virtuoso AMS Designer as a simulation hub to link advanced analog and digital simulation engines into a seamless mixed-signal verification environment. For a full automated routing of custom ICs at any level of the design hierarchy, X-FAB supports Virtuoso routing technologies. To ensure a successful production tape-out and to make use of a solution that offers competitive single-processor and distributed processor performance during physical verification, X-FAB relies on the Cadence Physical Verification System.
Thomas P. Beckley, Corporate Vice President - Custom IC Engineering at Cadence Design Systems said: "With X-FAB supporting the latest Virtuoso custom design platform, their customers will benefit from the next level of design automation for analog/mixed-signal design. Besides time-to-market, high quality of silicon is everyone's concern. By using SKILL as part of the PDK, they enable our GXL technologies including our DFM tools so our mutual customers can optimize their yield."
X-FAB offers several digital libraries in the Cadence environment optimized for low power, low noise, high density and timing to allow customers to select the most appropriate devices for their specific applications. A large portfolio of analog libraries (e.g., DAC, ADC, OpAmps, Bandgaps, Oscillators), embedded non-volatile memory (NVM) IP such as eFlash, EEPROM and NV latches is available for X-FAB's technology platforms. Two important design aspects are electrostatic discharge (ESD) robustness and Safe Operating Area (SOA) check. To address the first aspect, X-FAB provides a special tool called ESD-Design-Checker to identify possible ESD weaknesses on schematic level and to estimate the ESD robustness that can be expected for the design. For SOA checks, X-FAB provides additional SPICE models to check whether all primitive devices are operating within permitted ranges.
Dr. Jens Kosch, chief technology officer at X-FAB, said: "Time-to-market is the most critical success factor for our customers. A seamless design flow supporting the latest design methodologies, combined with our state-of-the-art process design kit, perfectly aligns with our customers' requirements."
X-FAB also leverages the new Incremental Technology Database (ITDB), based on Open Access, which is a technology library enabling CAD group/users to add or modify technology parameters without violating the original foundry design rules. It simplifies the data management and requires less disk space, especially for processes that have many derivatives. The main foundry technology library is referenced and individual constraints can be overridden if they do not violate the basic minimum rules in the ITDB.
Both X-FAB and Cadence are participating in the SAME Forum & Conference in Sophia-Antipolis, France, Sept. 22-23, 2009. Please visit X-FAB at Booth #14 to discuss its latest process design kits.
About X-FAB
X-FAB is the leading analog/mixed-signal foundry group manufacturing silicon wafers for analog-digital integrated circuits (mixed-signal ICs). X-FAB maintains wafer production facilities in Erfurt and Dresden (Germany), Plymouth (UK), Lubbock, Texas (US) and Kuching, Sarawak (Malaysia), and employs approximately 2,600 people worldwide. Wafers are manufactured based on advanced modular CMOS and BiCMOS processes with technologies ranging from 1.0 to 0.18 micrometers, for applications primarily in the automotive, communications, consumer and industrial sectors. For more information, please visit www.xfab.com.
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Miami Heat star Chris Bosh reportedly threw a four-day bachelor party for himself and his closest friends in Las Vegas last weekend that landed him on the New York Post's Page Six.
According to the Post, Bosh's bachelor party was called "The Hangover 3," and the festivities included "guns, booze, red meat and magic."
That's not quite the Roofies, Asian gangsters, drug dealing monkeys and transgender strippers line up from the movie, but we would still like to get a peek at any digital photos from the event.
Noticeably missing from the Bosh's entourage were his Heat teammates, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Perhaps Bosh was worried James would disappear on Day Four of the party or that someone would kidnap Wade and toss him in the trunk of a car.
Regardless of whether he secretly married his fiance Adrienne Williams two months ago, Bosh and Williams will reportedly have a more traditional wedding ceremony in July.
The bachelor party "was everything these guys don't get to do during the season," a source told the Post. So we assume no rings were involved.
The party kicked off on Thursday with a trip to a shooting range followed by dinner at N9NE Steakhouse.
Bosh and his 12-man party took in a Criss Angel magic show on Friday, where Angel reportedly asked Bosh onstage and included him in part of his act.
A paintball game on Saturday was followed by what the Post called a "Rat Pack" casino night at Caesar's Palace on Sunday, finishing with a Mark Curry comedy show.
We had no idea Bosh liked the show Hangin' With Mr. Cooper as much as we do.


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Symposium explores trouble with 'Post-Blackness'
TIME, DATE, PLACE: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11, in the Hawkins-Carlson Room of Rush Rhees Library on the University of Rochester's River Campus. A full conference schedule can be found at https://www.rochester.edu/college/humanities/.
WHAT: The University of Rochester's Humanities Project presents a symposium in which 16 distinguished scholars will discuss what it means to be black in the 21st century. The conference focuses on "post-blackness" a term originally used to describe artists in the 1990s who were adamant about not being labeled "black" artists and used their craft to redefine the way their work was viewed by society.
Essays delivered and discussed at the symposium will be published by Columbia University Press in 2015.
ABOUT THE HUMANITIES PROJECT: Created in 2006 by University of Rochester President Joel Seligman, the Humanities Project supports collaborations by Rochester faculty in philosophy, the arts, languages, and other fields. Individual projects involve faculty members from at least two different departments, and often with institutions in the greater Rochester community, and scholars from around the world.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Email Tiffany Barber at email@example.com.
Category: Society & Culture


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Some thought-provoking articles on the need, or otherwise, of continued growth.
Intellectually, most people, if they stopped and thought about it, would not challenge the absurdity of the notion that a finite rock in space, Planet Earth, can handle an infinite increase in the demands and resources of that finite planetary body, our home in space!
Yet the reality is very different. For many complex reasons, way beyond the competencies of this writer to fully explain, we, as in the peoples of Planet Earth, continue to behave as though there are no limits to the resources of this beautiful planet that is home for all of us.
Here are some extracts from some recent items that have passed across my 'in-box'.
A piece from the CASSE website:
What If We Stopped Fighting for Preservation and Fought Economic Growth Instead?
by Tim Murray
Each time environmentalists rally to defend an endangered habitat, and finally win the battle to designate it as a park "forever," as Nature Conservancy puts it, the economic growth machine turns to surrounding lands and exploits them ever more intensively, causing more species loss than ever before, putting even more lands under threat. For each acre of land that comes under protection, two acres are developed, and 40% of all species lie outside of parks. Nature Conservancy Canada may indeed have "saved" – at least for now – two million acres, but many more millions have been ruined. And the ruin continues, until, once more, on a dozen other fronts, development comes knocking at the door of a forest, or a marsh or a valley that many hold sacred. Once again, environmentalists, fresh from an earlier conflict, drop everything to rally its defense, and once again, if they are lucky, yet another section of land is declared off-limits to logging, mining and exploration. They are like a fire brigade that never rests, running about, exhausted, trying to extinguish one brush fire after another, year after year, decade after decade, winning battles but losing the war.
Just read again the sentence, "For each acre of land that comes under protection, two acres are developed, and 40% of all species lie outside of parks." Powerful ideas.
Anyway, do read the article in full and see if it changes your attitude. Here's how it ends.
Sir Peter Scott once commented that the World Wildlife Fund would have saved more wildlife it they had dispensed free condoms rather invested in nature reserves. Biodiversity is primarily threatened by human expansion, which may be defined as the potent combination of a growing human population and its growing appetite for resources. Economic growth is the root cause of environmental degradation, and fighting its symptoms is the Labor of Sisyphus.
The next article is from The Christian Science Monitor writing about how scientists are getting a new idea about the rate of loss of polar ice.
The seasonal cooling effect of light-reflecting snow and ice in the Northern Hemisphere may be weakening at twice the rate predicted by climate models, a new study shows, accelerating the impact of global warming.
By Pete Spotts, Staff writer / January 18, 2011
A long-term retreat in snow and ice cover in the Northern Hemisphere is weakening the ability of these seasonal cloaks of white to reflect sunlight back into space and cool global climate, according to a study published this week.
Indeed, over the past 30 years, the cooling effect from this so-called cryosphere – essentially areas covered by snow and ice at least part of the year – appears to have weakened at more than twice the pace projected by global climate models, the research team conducting the work estimates.
This is a well-constructed article, easy to read with obvious conclusions. Towards the end, the author writes:
Snow appears to have its maximum cooling effect – reflecting the most sunlight back into space – in late spring, as the light strengthens but snow cover is still near its maximum extent for the year. Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has its biggest effect in June, before its annual summer melt-back accelerates, explains Don Perovich, a researcher at the US Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, N.H., and a member of the team reporting the results.
The final article that I want to include is one from the website Foreign Policy. I'm going to take the liberty of reproducing it in full because it strikes me as an extremely intelligent commentary on where mankind is in terms of our attitudes to growth.
Thomas Homer-Dixon
Humanity has made great strides over the past 2,000 years, and we often assume that our path, notwithstanding a few bumps along the way, goes ever upward. But we are wrong: Within this century, environmental and resource constraints will likely bring global economic growth to a halt.
Limits on available resources already restrict economic activity in many sectors, though their impact usually goes unacknowledged. Take rare-earth elements — minerals and oxides essential to the manufacture of many technologies. When China recently stopped exporting them, sudden shortages threatened to crimp a wide range of industries. Most commentators believed that the supply crunch would ease once new (or mothballed) rare-earth mines are opened. But such optimism overlooks a fundamental physical reality. As the best bodies of ore are exhausted, miners move on to less concentrated deposits in more difficult natural circumstances. These mines cause more pollution and require more energy. In other words, opening new rare-earth mines outside China will result in staggering environmental impact.
Or consider petroleum, which provides about 40 percent of the world's commercial energy and more than 95 percent of its transportation energy. Oil companies generally have to work harder to get each new barrel of oil. The amount of energy they receive for each unit of energy they invest in drilling has dropped from 100 to 1 in Texas in the 1930s to about 15 to 1 in the continental United States today. The oil sands in Alberta, Canada, yield a return of only 4 to 1.
Coal and natural gas still have high energy yields. So, as oil becomes harder to get in coming decades, these energy sources will become increasingly vital to the global economy. But they're fossil fuels, and burning them generates climate-changing carbon dioxide. If the World Bank's projected rates for global economic growth hold steady, global output will have risen almost tenfold by 2100, to more than $600 trillion in today's dollars. So even if countries make dramatic reductions in carbon emissions per dollar of GDP, global carbon dioxide emissions will triple from today's level to more than 90 billion metric tons a year. Scientists tell us that tripling carbon emissions would cause such extreme heat waves, droughts, and storms that farmers would likely find they couldn't produce the food needed for the world's projected population of 9 billion people. Indeed, the economic damage caused by such climate change would probably, by itself, halt growth.
Humankind is in a box. For the 2.7 billion people now living on less than $2 a day, economic growth is essential to satisfying the most basic requirements of human dignity. And in much wealthier societies, people need growth to pay off their debts, support liberty, and maintain civil peace. To produce and sustain this growth, they must expend vast amounts of energy. Yet our best energy source — fossil fuel — is the main thing contributing to climate change, and climate change, if unchecked, will halt growth.
We can't live with growth, and we can't live without it. This contradiction is humankind's biggest challenge this century, but as long as conventional wisdom holds that growth can continue forever, it's a challenge we can't possibly address.
Thomas Homer-Dixon is the CIGI chair of global systems at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo, Canada.
As Rob Dietz of CASSE wrote in a recent email to me, "I'm a big Thomas Homer-Dixon fan. His book, The Upside of Down, is outstanding."
"Economic growth may one day turn out to be a curse rather than a good, and under no conditions can it either lead into freedom or constitute a proof for its existence" Hannah Arendt (1906-1975).


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Twelve days ago, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and 49ers quarterback Alex Smith both stayed in games and continued to play after suffering concussions serious enough that neither of them has been cleared to play yet.
So does the fact that Cutler and Smith weren't immediately pulled indicate that the NFL's concussion protocols aren't working? Not according to Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, co-chair of the NFL's Head, Neck and Spine Committee. Ellenbogen told USA Today it's simply not realistic to think that every concussion every player suffers will be caught immediately. And he said the players themselves, in the heat of the action, often don't realize anything is wrong.
"Remember, the problem is that with all the adrenaline, the concussion was not immediately obvious to the players," Ellenbogen said. "Both became symptomatic as they played further. It certainly is not uncommon for concussions to evolve. . . . Smith's and Cutler's symptoms both evolved as they played, according to team doctors and athletic trainers who know them best."
Ellenbogen's comments suggest that there's nothing the league could ever do to make sure every player who suffers a concussion is immediately removed from a game. The bottom line from the doctor the NFL trusts to oversee its handling of concussions is that everything was done properly in the cases of Cutler and Smith — and they were still able to continue playing after suffering concussions.


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Package Includes:
- 1 x C-string
Note: Considering the health factors, we are very sorry that we can't accept such intimates changed,so, please consider it carefully before you buy if no other responsiblities on us.Meanwhile, please be reminded that due to lighting effects, monitor's brightness / contrast settings etc, there could be some slight differences in the color tone of the pictures and the actual item.


text:
Forgotten cookies
Nutrition and extra info
- Vegetarian
Nutrition: per cookie
- kcal66
- fat1g
- saturates0g
- carbs7g
- sugars7g
- fibre0g
- protein1g
- salt0.06g
- 2 large egg whites
- 120g golden caster sugar
- 120g pecan, roughly chopped
Related to the walnut, pecans are native to America, and grow enclosed in a glossy, browny-red…
- 150g dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids), roughly chopped
Chocolate ganachegan-ash
Chocolate ganache is a combination of chocolate and double cream. It's simple to…
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4/fan 160C. Line two baking sheets with foil to cover. In a large clean bowl, whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff and dry. Gradually whisk in the sugar a little at a time to make a thick and glossy meringue. Tip in the pecan nuts and chocolate, then the vanilla extract and gently fold into the meringue with a large metal spoon.
Spoon heaped teaspoonfuls of the meringue mixture, spaced apart, on to the lined baking sheets. Put the sheets in the oven, then turn it off and leave the cookies for at least 3 hours, overnight or until the oven is cold.
Carefully peel the cookies from the foil. Store in an airtight tin where they will keep for 3-4 days.
Recipe Tip
Choosing vanilla extractTry Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract, or an essence from Rayners, available from bumblebee.co.uk.
Recipe Tip
With walnutsYou could substitute walnuts for pecans if you prefer.


text:
Alan Chambers
Truth Wins Out Commends Former 'Ex-Gay' Leader Randy Thomas For Coming Out As Gay
Thomas, A Former Exodus International Official, Is The Latest In A Long Line Of Former 'Ex-Gay' Activists To Embrace The Truth, Says TWO's Besen CHICAGO
Alan Chambers Says 'Conversion Therapy' Should Never Be Used On Minors
Alan Chambers is right. So glad we're finally able to say that
Exodus' Randy Thomas Apologizes To The Gay Community
While Thomas's apology doesn't go as far as Alan Chambers', it's still notable
The Theology Behind the Exodus Rebranding
On his blog Anarchist Reverend, the Rev. Shay Kearns, a transman and priest with the Old Catholic Church of the Americas unpacks some of the
Video: Wayne Besen On MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews
Exodus International is closing down. Truth Wins Out discusses this issue today on Hardball with Chris Matthews
Wayne Besen Speech in Oklahoma City On 'The Rise and Fall of the Ex-Gay Myth'
On the day that Exodus collapsed and the Restored Hope Network launched, TWO's Wayne Besen addresses the future of the "ex-gay" myth in Oklahoma City
Alan Chambers' Televised Apology
Clips from last night's "Our America With Lisa Ling."
Porno Pete And Matt Barber Very Excited Exodus Is Shutting Down
They deserve an A for Effort as they try to put a positive spin on the negation of their lives' work
TWO's Wayne Besen To Give Major Speech On 'The Rise and Fall Of The Ex-Gay Myth' In Oklahoma City Tonight
OKC Talk Comes As Largest 'Ex-Gay' Group, Exodus International, Closes Its Doors; New 'Ex-Gay' Organization to Launch in OKC Today To Replace Exodus
Truth Wins Out Applauds Alan Chambers' Decision To Shut Down Exodus International
The Fight Against The Fraudulent "Ex-Gay" Industry, However, Is Far From Over, Says TWO's Wayne Besen


text:
This rank is formed by averaging the analyst opinions for each component from each broker, and then ranking the 500 components by those average opinion values.
Looking at the stock price movement year to date, Zimmer Biomet Holdings (NYSE:ZBH) is showing a gain of 31.8%.
For MarketNewsVideo.com, I'm Sayoko Murase.


text:
He had a cut off date for everything. I thought the sonc was this month but I guess it got moved up or somehintg, IDK. But there was a certain time he needed everything in by and I didn't wanna get it into him last minute.CodeZTM wrote:Wait... When's the con?BasharOfTheAges wrote:I still gotta say, I kinda find the super strong push to finish this 6 weeks before the con to be odd.
EDIT: I just checked the date. WTF TC, this con isn't until October!?! What was with the "Must have done by Sept 1" crap!? D:
I didn't mean to upset anyone.


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GM Performance Parts CT525 - Inside GM's New CT525
With 500-Plus Hp And 470-Plus Lb-Ft Of Torque For Less Than $10,000, What's Not To Like?
Racers who run the GM 602 and 604 sealed crate engines have enjoyed success at shorter "handling" style racetracks around the country for quite some time. And the sanctions they race in have enjoyed solid car counts with good competition. But when racers with those engines show up to a bigger faster racetrack, they are at a disadvantage-a big disadvantage to the beefier open motors that make up the majority of oval track racing.
Racers and promoters who embraced the 602 and 604 have been looking for something more and that something more was horsepower that could compete with an open Super Late Model-style car racing at a bigger track.
In response to this demand, GM engineers opened their bag of tricks and decided to take a modern production engine and turn it into a circle track race motor. Their goal was to come up with a reliable, cost-effective motor that would make power in the 500 horse range. Their platform was to come from the highly successful latest generation LS engine family.
After the engineers put their heads together through many closed door meetings they identified the 6.2-liter LS3 V-8 found under the hood of the Chevy Corvette. In stock trim the motor makes around 430 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque using an aluminum block with six-bolt main caps and high-flow LS3 rectangular-port cylinder heads. To get the power up to where promoters and racers wanted it, GM had to do a little bit of work.
"It has a specially designed circle track specific oil pan and a different cam," says GM's Bill Martens. But perhaps the biggest and most obviously difference between this motor and that one in the little red Corvette is the carburetor and intake manifold. "The carb makes it more familiar to a circle track racer," explains Martens.
The net result of those changes was 525 hp with 471 lb-ft of torque when topped with a 750cfm Holley 4150 carb. The simplicity of those changes point to the versatility of GM's LS engine platform. In fact, LS-based engines have been steadily making their way into the oval track realm thanks to crafty, forward thinking, independent engine builders, but that's a subject for another story.
GUTS Slapping a bigger cam and a carb intake on a Vette motor is just half the story of the new CT525. In a major departure from traditional oval track engines including their own 602 and 604 motors, GM engineers left the coil packs on the engine. That's right gang, just like the LS3, the CT525 has individual ignition coils per cylinder and will require an ignition control system and harness to function. While GM recommends its own controller (PN 19171130) for this application, you can bet there will be plenty of aftermarket versions available by the time you read this.
Choosing to bring an electronically controlled engine to the oval track racing market was a bold move but it was also a highly calculated move. "We will only introduce a product to the racing community if there is a performance and/or cost benefit. By using our current production Corvette LS3, we have the benefit of production savings and uninterrupted availability, with the benefit of a powerful foundation generated from new technology," says Martens. He's not kidding when he says powerful foundation either. LS3-based engines have been known to make upwards of 800 hp without breaking a sweat.
Big numbers from the aluminum block foundation aside, the LS platform is actually the perfect motor to have given the impending changes in the future of this sport. "In looking forward, we are hearing more favorable rumbles regarding the acceptance of EFI in stock car racing," says Martens. "Racers are very skeptical of change and especially of electronic voodoo that may be imposed on them by sanctioning bodies. If they ever have a chance to run an EFI system and change the tune-up on the fly because of varying conditions, they'll never look back. When was the last time you went out in the morning and said, "I wish had a carbureted car to drive to work today?" Seriously, it will take a long time for this to trickle down to the grassroots level, but by using the LS3 architecture, we're ready to convert when, and if, racer demand dictates."
Beyond the coil packs and ECU, the CT525 is largely a stock off-the-shelf-motor, even the bigger cam and camshaft system is borrowed from the '06 LS2 also found in the Corvette and features a three-bolt sprocket mounting and design. In addition to the cam design, the timing chain dampener is an older style part instead of the LS3-style chain tensioner.
One of the few aftermarket parts on this engine is the oil pan, a 6-quart unit specially designed for circle track racing. It features a righthand side kick-out with five integral trap doors and uses a 7/8-inch pickup tube. While we're on the subject of oil, the CT525 requires two additional items; a remote oil filter and a remote oil cooler. For the filter, GM located two -10 AN fittings on the left rear of the pan. The front fitting is the feed from the engine oil pump while the rear pan fitting feeds the engine. GM also recommends that you use a large capacity filter that has a minimum flow capacity of 10 gph flow capacity and 25 micron filtration rating.
As far as the oil cooler goes, you should look for one at least 7x14 inches with a minimum flow of 10 gpm and a -10 AN inlet size. GM recommends the cooler be mounted after the oil filter, making it the last part oil sees before entering the engine. This is contrary to the advice many engine builders give that being the oil filter should be the last part oil sees before entering the engine thereby ensuring there are no contaminents in the oil. The GM recommendation encouraged us to do a little research and we found that the legendary Smokey Yunick investigated both options.
"Smokey's argument was once the oil is filtered, reducing its temperature creates an opportunity to pull more heat out of the valvetrain while not at the expense of good lubrication," said CT's resident engine guru Jim McFarland who worked closely with Yunick for many years. "In my experience, valvesprings rely heavily on cooling from circulated oil. If memory serves, the two greatest contributors to oil temperature are the oil pump (shearing action of spur gears) and valvesprings. So, if the device used to reduce post-filter oil temperature doesn't introduce any possibilities for lubricant contamination, Smokey felt the approach had some merit." Where you mount your oil cooler, if you run one, on any engine is up to you but Smokey's theory certainly warrants consideration. Just be sure that cooler is contaminent free.
"Smokey's argument was once the oil is filtered, reducing its temperature creates an opportunity to pull more heat out of the valvetrain while not at the expense of good lubrication," said CT's resident engine guru Jim McFarland who worked closely with Yunick for many years. "In my experience, valvesprings rely heavily on cooling from circulated oil. If memory serves, the two greatest contributors to oil temperature are the oil pump (shearing action of spur gears) and valvesprings. So, if the device used to reduce post-filter oil temperature doesn't introduce any possibilities for lubricant contamination, Smokey felt the approach had some merit." Where you mount your oil cooler, if you run one, on any engine is up to you but Smokey's theory certainly warrants consideration. Just be sure that cooler is contaminent free.
Back to the 525, GM engineers added additional support to the crankshaft dampener by adding a 3/16-inch dowel pin to retain the dampener in position. However, the motor does not have a thermostat, instead two restrictor plugs are installed in the water-pump housing. One (3/16-inch hole) is installed in place of the thermostat, and the other (3/4-inch hole) is installed in the water-pump outlet fitting. You may need to alter these holes based on your chosen cooling system, which like most oval track applications will require a surge or expansion tank with an air bleed.
The left-side valve cover comes equipped with two -16 AN male fittings welded into the cover. The rear fitting utilizes the valve-cover baffle, while the front fitting is not baffled. It's critical to set up the ventilation tube routings and heights to allow for drain back in the front fitting. GM recommends a minimum of two breathers for adequate venting capacity.
Like the 602 and 604 engines, the CT525 circle track engine is a sealed motor with bolt covers on the intake manifold, front cover, and oil pan all designed to deter access to internal engine components. Unlike the 602 and 604 these seals are a gray composite material that has a bar code called the "GMPP fingerprint" molded into it. That fingerprint on each engine seal cap is unique to itself and is registered to each engine. Martens says that tech inspectors can determine if there has been any creative activity going on with a given engine in a matter of seconds with this new system.
"A simple $30 handheld digital camera takes a photo that is in turn decoded by proprietary software that can reside on a laptop computer," explains Martens. "Based on the results of this 'first-layer inspection', the inspector can determine if he has cause to go to the next step, which will likely result in some disassembly and component inspection."
Ron Varney owner of the ASA Late Model Series, where the CT525 is not only legal but already racing, can attest to that. When asked if the new seal bolts were easier to inspect than the old-style ones found on the 602 and 604 he said, "Absolutely, they are much more tech-friendly and tamper-resistant."
As this motor and its new inspection program gets accepted into more sanctions and tracks, we should see a drop in the cheated up sealed motors that plagued the early days of crate motor divisions.
What you'll need The CT525 comes with coil-near-plug ignition, a water pump, exhaust manifolds, and an SFI-certified balancer. Basically, the only other items that you'll need are a carburetor, starter, and an ignition controller. GM's LSX controller (PN 19171130) is the obvious choice but there are others out there. As the CT525 gains more sanction acceptance this is one area expected to be tightly controlled by the racing organizations.
GM left the choice of carb up to you, the racer, but it does recommend the Holley 4150 650 cfm. Keep in mind that the dyno numbers where achieved using a 750cfm Holley. Since this is a sealed engine, the carburetor is really the one major area where you have freedom to innovate to maximize your power output.
In addition to the carb, other areas you'll have to address include the flywheel, pilot bearing, starter, fuel pump, air cleaner, and accessory drive kit. While the CT525 comes with the OE flywheel used on the '09 Vette, you'll likely want a smaller flywheel for an actual oval track application. If you're going to use this motor with a manual transmission you must install a pilot bearing in the rear of the crankshaft. The pilot bearing aligns the transmission input shaft with the crankshaft centerline. A worn or misaligned pilot bearing can cause shifting problems and rapid wear on the clutch. There are two pilot bearings that will fit the LS series crankshaft. Part number 12557583 is used with a short input shaft transmission and PN 14061685 is used with a long input shaft transmission.
When picking your starter for this engine keep your application in mind. If you're racing a Dirt Late Model you will probably want to go with an aftermarket unit from a company like Quartermaster. Nothing against the OEM-recommended unit but the stock starters are not made for the rough and tumble world of racing, let alone something like Dirt Late Model racing.
The same concept goes for the fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator. Because this is an electronically controlled motor, the fuel system must be able to supply a minimum of 50 gph at a minimum of 6 psi at wide open throttle (WOT). GM's high volume in-line electric fuel pump flows 72 gph at 6-8 psi outlet pressure and overkill in this situation is not a bad thing. There are also aftermarket suppliers like KRC who can supply the pumps and regulators. Keep in mind that you'll need at least a 12-gauge wire running to the pump for the electrical supply in order to maintain pump performance due to electrical line loss.
The final piece of the puzzle is the accessory drive brackets and kit. While GM makes a kit to fit the engine, it's an OE kit that includes an item oval track racers don't need-an A/C compressor. Luckily, KRC's new complete front drive system includes everything an oval track racer needs (and only what we need) to finish off the front of the engine. A KRC aluminum power steering pump with bolt-on reservoir tank mounts in front of the driver-side cylinder head, and a Powermaster alternator sits above the water pump. This provides a compact system capable of fitting into most race cars. Also included is a fixed adjustable idler-tensioner, -4 AN water bypass hose and fittings, Goodyear Gatorback belt, alternator ground strap, and all brackets, pulleys, hardware, and spacers.
Proof is in the Pudding The CT525 actually debuted back at the 2007 Performance Racing Industry in Orlando. But it has taken until this year for the brawny sibling of the 7-year-old 602 and 604 crate engines to make it to competition.As of press time there are two major sanctions where the CT525 is legal to race; C.J. Rayburn's newly formed National All Stars Racing Association (NASRA) and the previously mentioned ASA Late Model Series belonging to Ron Varney. Varney's 6-year-old traveling series features Asphalt Late Model crate engine cars at tracks from Florida to Wisconsin and points in between.
Rayburn's series features Dirt Late Models in a come-one-come-all format with open-motor cars racing alongside crate-motored cars. In 2009 the series raced at tracks in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana with minimum weights and spoiler sizes leveling the playing field. In mid August at Moler Raceway Park, the engine and NASRA made their joint debut in the 3rd Annual Victor "Ike" Moler Memorial. While Scott James paced the field early in an open-motor car, it was fourth place starter Mike Marlar using the power in the CT525 to move his way toward the front, eventual lead, and subsequent win. Not a bad debut for the series or the motor.
The next test for the engine came at the 14th Annual Fun Fest at Lawrenceburg Speedway in October and Marlar would deliver again. Under track conditions more conducive to high-horsepower engines, the Tennessee racer piloted his GM CT525-powered Rayburn race car to the checkered flag with seeming ease.
While the deals with ASA and NASRA are a good start, Martens has been having aggressive negotiations with a whole host of other tracks and organizations about this new motor. "There are a half-dozen individual tracks, and at least one other sanctioning body, that are track testing the engine alongside current built motors. Early results are extremely encouraging, and I anticipate that several sanctioning bodies will approve the engine for use in 2010," says Martens.
You may also see a number of groups creating a CT525 only class. "That's the ideal situation for both the racer and the promoter alike. A CT525-specific class eliminates the trial-and-error of weight handicapping and puts the focus on car setup, which is where we think the effort should be spent," continues Martens.
The aceptence of the motor into ASA and NASRA points to the three primary traits of a CT525 that make it very attractive to racers and sanctions alike. The motor produces plenty of power while being very durable and it's affordable with an MSRP of just under $10,000.
Now the fun part Our friends over at GM Performance Parts hooked us up with a brand-new CT525 and they're turning us loose with it. That's right Jamie, Bill, and the gang gave us carte blanche to do with it as we please. We've lined up the LS engine specialists at Mast Motorsports down in Nacogdoches, TX to do some serious dyno testing for us. After our first round of dyno testing we're going to slide it into a car and take it to the track. We'll leave no stone unturned on this motor and as such we have a whole slate of testing stories outlined for you. Stay tuned to the coming issues of Circle Track. We're off to Texas with our Holley 4150 carb tucked under our arm and a laptop full of testing scenarios.
|6.2L Gen IV Small-Block V-8
|Bore x Stroke
|4.065-in x 3.62-in
|Cast aluminum, six bolt cross-bolted main caps
|Cylinder Head
|Cast aluminum rectangle port
|Valve Diameter (Intake/Exhaust)
|Chamber Volume
|Nodular iron, internally balanced
|Connecting Rods
|Powdered metal
|Hypereutectic aluminum
|Hydraulic roller tappet
|0.525-in intake, 0.525-in exhaust
|226-deg intake, 236-deg exhaust @ 0.050-in
|tappet lift
|110-deg LSA
|Rocker Arm Ratio
|Oil Capacity
|6 quarts without filter
|Oil Pressure (Minimum, with hot oil)
|6 psig @ 1,000 rpm
|18 psig @ 2,000 rpm
|24 psig @ 4,000 rpm
|Recommended Oil
|5w30 Mobil 1 motor oil or equivalent
|Premium unleaded - 92 (R+M/2)
|Maximum Engine Speed
|6,700 rpm
|Spark Plugs
|GM 12571164 or AC Delco # 41-985
|Spark Plug Gap
|Firing Order


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Tuning in 9:54 PM. Live blogging to begin momentarily.
Also see Mark Goodacre's and Bob Cargill's live blogging sessions.
So for background you'll want to search this blog for 'Jonah ossuary' and amphorae ossuary.
On 'strange markings' on the tomb facade, see Pfann's excellent discussion here: http://www.uhl.ac/blog/?p=105
On Mariamene see Pfann's expose on the actual translation: http://www.uhl.ac/MariameAndMartha/
All of this seeking and looking and 'research' is bunk. It's just entertainment. We know in 2007 Simcha found the tomb accidentally so (a) they know where it is and (b) they knew how to get in. See here:
Also keep in mind they were stating that going in the tomb was bad. That nobody is supposed to enter it physically. Just keep that in the back of your mind as the show progresses.
I like how they are already discussing the Christian angle, even before they supposedly get there.
On the symbols: note they are 4th Century (so 300 or so years after Jesus supposedly lived)
(a) Note the orientation of all fish and Jonah iconography!
(b) Robin Jensen, the art historian walking around with Simcha in the film, also disagrees with the interpretation of this documentary, See here: http://asorblog.org/?p=1698
They act as though this is all new but they did this before in 2007.
That isn't a skull, it's a pelvis.
This is all staged. They've seen these ossuaries before in 2007.
This rosette ossuary is the same filmed in the 2007 doc.
Again the inscription isn't Mariamene ho Mara! See link by Pfann above. Also Mara is a common name on ossuaries! See Rahmani! See also here: http://asorblog.org/?p=2030
10:30 Commercial Break.
Others have noted as I have that they keep talking about Joseph of Arimathea for which there is absolutely NO EVIDENCE! They are just pulling this whole conclusion out of thin air here.
10:34 and we're back!
Sad Simcha is Sad…
Oh good they fixed it! Also, remember, they've seen these ossuaries before in 2007.
A cross was not a first century CE Christian symbol. This is just a geometric symbol…two intersecting lines.
One of those "cross" symbols looks more like a man tied to an anchor, which we have examples of elsewhere.
10:39. Commercial Break
So far there have been lots of leaps in logic and conclusions. No evidence for any of these claims being made. Just a predisposition to find Christian symbols in a Jewish tomb. So anything remotely similar to a Christian symbol, even outside normal context and lacking any Christian evidence, will suffice for these film makers.
Also, Frozen Planet looks pretty cool.
10:42, and we're back…again!
Oh look….the non archaeologist, non academic thinks he found a Christian cross.
What is that? A vase, a vessel, an amphora. That is what that is. See here: https://tomverenna.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/some-considerations-about-the-iconography-on-the-ossuary/
OMG! Did they just TILT the orientation to make it look like a fish?! Wow, talk about forcing the data to fit a conclusion here. https://tomverenna.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/bob-cargill-shows-the-leaps-in-logic-of-the-fish-interpretation-on-the-jonah-ossuary/
It's not a fish, its a vessel. You have to manipulate the image to make it appear to be something other than a vase.
There are no fish in the margins. They are ovals that Simcha and others have manipulated in images to look like fish. See here: http://robertcargill.com/2012/03/13/sins-of-commission-and-omission
These aren't scales, they are geometric designs on a vessel, see here:
Those aren't find they are handles!
Not half a fish, but a full amphora! See here:
10:48 Commercial break
They keep using the CGI'd image, not actual photos.
10:52 and we're back.
Now we're at the inscription. For background see here: http://asorblog.org/?p=1989
Again, not surprising to see a resurrection language on an ossuary since an ossuary was a practice by Jews who believed in resurrections…has nothing to do with Christianity.
WHAT?! Early followers of Jesus YAHWEH?! Where?!
The implications are enormous…as enormous as the grandiose claims based on zero evidence.
Again the orientation is wrong! And they keep showing the CGI'd image sideways rather than the proper orientation!
On Tabor's silly and baseless interpretation of the inscription: Nowhere does the inscription imply that it is about Jesus. Resurrection belief was a Jewish belief even in the first Century prior to Christianity.
More on Joseph of Arimathea! Stop with that!
Whew…that was brutally painful to watch.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: The Resurrection Tomb |


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