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All-new solid mid-size sedan at a great price.
Midsize Cars
Editor: Tom Lankard
$16,355 Base Price MSRP
$22,695 As Tested MSRP
Model Lineup: Kia Optima LX 5M ($16,355); LX 5A ($17,650); LX V6 ($19,345); EX ($19,395); EX V6 ($20,400)
Standard Engine: 2.4-liter dual overhead cam 16-valve inline-4
Engine Options: 162-hp 2.4-liter inline-4; 185-hp 2.7-liter V6
Standard Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Transmission Options: 5-speed manual; 5-speed automatic
Basic Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
Assembled In: Hwasung, South Korea
Model Tested MSRP: Kia Optima EX ($19,395)
Standard Equipment: automatic climate control with cabin air filter, Infinity AM/FM/cassette stereo with 6-disc changer; power windows, central locking with remote, auto-dimming interior mirror and heated outside mirrors; cruise control; 8-way power driver seat; leather-wrapped shift knob, leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescope steering wheel with redundant audio controls, universal garage door opener, 16-inch alloy wheels
Options As Tested: Leather Package ($1300) includes leather seats, heated front seats, 4-way power front-passenger seat, power-adjustable pedals, manual rear window sunshade; power sunroof with tilt ($800); Electronic Stability Package ($600) with electronic stability control, traction control and anti-lock brakes (ABS) with brake assist ($600)
Standard Safety Equipment: front-impact airbags, front occupant side-impact airbags, full-cabin side-curtain airbags, tire pressure monitor
Optional Safety Equipment: Electronic Stability Package with electronic stability control, traction control and anti-lock brakes (ABS) with brake assistDestination Charge: $600
The 2007 Kia Optima is for all intents and purposes an all-new car, thoroughly revised from the tires up (though an arcane federal regulation required that a handful were sold as 2006.5 models). It's one of the best Korean-designed automobiles yet. Like most cars in the ultra-competitive field of mid-size sedans, the Optima offers a choice of four-cylinder or V6 power in a front-wheel drive chassis.
The base 2.4-liter four-cylinder is strong, particularly with the manual transmission. Both the four-cylinder and upgrade 2.7-liter V6 are more efficient than the engines in pre-2007 models, and a new five-speed automatic improves fuel economy, acceleration and overall smoothness. EPA mileage ratings have improved roughly 10 percent compared to the 2006 Optima.
Inside, solid design, more attractive materials and improved fit and finish make the Optima a pleasant place to spend time. The standard six-speaker audio system is not bad at all; the upgrade in the Optima EX is tuned by Infinity, with a standard six-CD changer. A longer body and taller roof create more room inside. As importantly, a new, more rigid chassis delivers an overall tightness and smoothness Korean brands lacked just a few years ago.
Add a slightly longer wheelbase, improved suspension and larger standard wheels and tires, and the 2007 Optima is also quite pleasant to drive in nearly all circumstances.
Optima is priced aggressively, beating just about everything in the class without stripping conveniences. Standard passive safety features, including curtain-style head protection airbags for all outboard seats, match the class benchmark.
Kia's quality has steadily and significantly improved, according to customer satisfaction surveys, and the Optima's warranty is one of the best available.
All things considered, the Optima still falls short of the best-selling mid-sized sedans in certain, mostly subtle ways. But those shortcomings are fewer than ever before, and many are so subtle that budget-minded buyers may not notice or care. Bottom line, the Optima is a good car at a compelling price.
The five-passenger 2007 Kia Optima comes in two trim levels: well-equipped and really well equipped. Standard features are one of its strong points.
The base Optima LX ($16,355) has a 162-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission. The Optima LX 5A ($17,650) upgrades to a five-speed automatic. The LX V6 ($19,345) upgrades to a 185-hp 2.7-liter V6.
LX models feature such niceties as a cabin air filter, power windows and locks, heated mirrors, tilt steering, and a 60/40 split, folding rear seat. The standard, steel wheels measure 16 inches in diameter. The LX automatic adds cruise control, keyless remote, floor mats and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio controls. The LX V6 adds 16-inch alloy wheels. LX options are limited to a rear spoiler ($200) and an Appearance Package ($1000) that includes alloy wheels, blacked-out headlight backing and grille, aluminum interior trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel, trip computer, automatic headlights and fog lamps. The V6 Appearance Package ($800) adds 17-inch alloy wheels.
The Optima EX comes with either the four-cylinder ($19,395) or the V6 ($20,400), both with the five-speed automatic. Feature upgrades include automatic climate control, eight-way power driver seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, universal garage-door transmitter, an auto-dimming inside mirror and an Infinity stereo with external amplifier, subwoofer, MP3 and cassette functions and an in-dash, six-CD changer. EX options include an Appearance Package ($1500) that adds leather seats and a black interior trim. The Leather Package ($1300) includes the leather seats plus heated front seats, four-way power front passenger seat, power adjustable pedals and manual rear window shade. A power slide-and-tilt sunroof ($800) is available.
Safety features include dual front airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags for front occupants, curtain-style head protection airbags for all outboard seats and a tire pressure monitor. Electronic stability control, which can help the driver control the car in emergency maneuvers and bad weather, and antilock brakes, are optional.
Walk Around
The 2007 Kia Optima doesn't stretch any styling envelope or add to the automotive design vocabulary. It does slip smoothly and unobtrusively into the mainstream of mid-size, mid-price sedans.
The Optima's face to the world could be that of any number of Asian-branded cars. A cleanly separated, geometrically proportioned grille fills the space between nicely sized headlights tucked into the upper corners of the fenders. A deeply shadowed air intake, with space at each end for the optional fog lamps, runs the width of the car beneath the bumper, which is smoothly molded into a one-piece fascia. Creases defining a gentle hood bulge draw the eye from the grille to the pillars at the sides of the windshield. The Optima's stance looks solid, with tires pushed to the corners to yield a track (distance between the tires side to side) equal to or better than the primary competitors, save the 2007 Camry, which it trails by a mere half-inch.
In side view, save for a hint of Audi in the hindmost quarter, the Optima could pass for, well, pick a middle-of-the-road, midsize car. A tape measure produces the same conclusion. Optima's wheelbase essentially splits the differences between the Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord and Ford Fusion, although it's shorter by more than two inches compared to the Camry. In overall length (bumper to bumper), however, the Optima leans toward the tauter end of the scale, giving up from three to five inches to the others. A comparatively deep rear side door tends to mask this brevity.
Oddly enough, in terms of taillight shapes and overall perspective, the Optima's rear end strongly reminds us of a larger iteration of a Toyota Corolla built a decade or so ago. It's a balanced look, with clean and reasonably tight gaps and a fully integrated, molded-in bumper. Dual exhaust tips give of touch of visual pizzazz to the V6 Optimas.
If price were not the paramount consideration, we'd choose the optional 17-inch wheels. They fill the wheel wells more tightly and enhance the Optima's aggressively wide stance.
While there's nothing especially striking about the Kia Optima's exterior, the inside shows the occasional, if muted, spark. This sedan is loaded with thoughtful features, most executed in effective style. It's functional, roomy and in most respects, pleasing to the senses.
Instruments are basic but well presented, mixing a large, round speedometer and matching tachometer with bar-graph LED fuel and coolant temperature monitors. The Appearance Package adds a blue-tinted, faux electroluminescent speedo and tach that, while not quite Lexus grade, are nevertheless eye-pleasing upgrades.
Hard plastic trim sweeps smoothly across from door handle to door handle, with good-sized vents at each end of the dash and bracketing the center control panel. The climate controls are a paragon of finger- and glove-friendly knobs and buttons and an easy-to-read digital display. The stereo head is up top, where it belongs, but other than the volume and tuning knobs, the buttons and rocker switches fall short of the ease-of-use standard set by the climate panel below. Station presets, for example, are ganged, two to a rocker, requiring extra care to press the proper half for the desired station. An almost retro but welcome feature on the EX audio system is a cassette tape player, popular for books on tape. The uplevel aluminum trim should prove better at resisting the scratches common on coated plastic panels. There aren't a lot of pieces to the dash, either, and the seams mostly run horizontally. This should suppress tendencies for the pieces to loosen over time, which bodes well for keeping buzzes, squeaks and rattles minimized.
The driver's seat is more supportive than the front passenger seat, with a deeper seat bottom, although both are comfortable, with good upper side bolsters and modestly cupped bottom cushions. The rear seat is contoured more than many in the segment, which is fine for the two sitting closest to the doors, but not so fine for the occasional third person buckled into the center position. The Cloth upholstery feels durable, the not-quite-glove-soft leather equally so. Lights for the vanity mirrors are recessed in the headliner, instead of looking you straight in the eye from the visor.
Space? Rear seat legroom is up by fully an inch and a half over the 2006 Optima. It's better by an inch or so than the Accord and Fusion, but shy of the Malibu and Camry by a half-inch or more. In headroom, front and rear, the Optima tops all but the Accord, and loses here by only half an inch. In rear seat hiproom, the Optima reigns supreme, by at least an inch. Finally, while the 2007 Optima offers 1.2 cubic feet more trunk space than its predecessor, total volume of 14.8 cubic feet ranks near the bottom of the class. It betters only the Accord's 14 cubic feet, giving up a fraction of a cubic foot to the Malibu and Camry and a full cubic foot to the Fusion. On the positive side, articulated, gas-strut hinges leave the trunk opening clear and free of package-crushing goosenecks.
Other storage is respectable, with a glove box easily large enough to accommodate gloves plus the owner's manual, a cell phone and a radar detector; magazine pouches on the back sides of the front seatbacks; two cupholders in front and two in the fold-down rear center armrest, all with spring-loaded clips to brace a variety of sizes and shapes; a covered slot in the center stack good for garage door remotes and such; a smallish bin forward of the shift lever that'll likely collect as much dust as any truly necessary tidbits; fixed, hard-plastic map pockets in the front doors; and a deep center console with auxiliary power point and a groove to accommodate a cord with the top latched. On the EX, this console bin is capped with a bi-level lid, thoughtfully fitted with a pass-through between levels for power cords. One feature that looks promising but falls short is the little fold-out clip on the front passenger's
Driving Impressions
With a few reservations and qualifications, a day behind the wheel of the 2007 Kia Optima is a pleasant way to cover some miles. In typical, day-to-day driving situations, there's very little that betrays the Optima's price advantage over key competitors.
The LX with the 161-horsepower, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine and manual transmission can actually be fun to drive, if not necessarily exhilarating. The engine is surprisingly peppy, thanks to the best-in-class torque. Brake pedal feel on the car we drove at the press introduction was solid and firm, with equally comforting response from the four-wheel discs. The clutch and gearbox were more family-sedan grade than sporty. The steering felt a little light, almost too responsive, which tended to give the car a top-heavy feel; once recognized, though, it was easily managed. Engine and exhaust sounds were throatier, more robust, and in our view more pleasant, than we're used to from four-cylinder powerplants in mid-size sedans.
The EX with the 185-horsepower, 2.7-liter V6 and automatic is the cruiser of the Optima line. Although its power trails other V6s in the segment (as does its size, so no real surprise here), it does a decent job of getting the car started and keeping it moving. The Optima's modest curb weight, a hundred pounds or so below the segment average, helps somewhat, but we still wouldn't race for pinks with any comparably equipped competitor. Only against the Accord would we wager our gas bills. But for getting from here to there, be it to work or to the lake for the weekend, calmly and comfortably, this is the one.
The package Kia expects to sell most is the EX with four cylinder and automatic, so this is the model in which we spent the most time and on which we racked up several hundred miles of typical, everyday driving. It doesn't seem as quick in terms of acceleration as the manual, but gear ratios are matched to make the most of the engine's power. Left alone, the automatic's shifts are smooth, if not invisible, and while downshifts for quick passes could be more prompt, we never scared ourselves, or our passengers. The Sportmatic feature allowed more control over gear selection and timing of shifts, but with the dedicated, sequential slot on the passenger side of the shift gate, using it wasn't as intuitive as it should be.
Ride quality varied between the cars we drove. The LX, wearing Kumho tires on 16-inch wheels, was less compliant, although by no means rough or bumpy. This surprised us, as generally the taller a tire's sidewall, the more give and the better the ride. On the Optima, the optional 17-inch wheels wear lower-profile Michelin tires with shorter sidewalls. On the other hand, and probably because of the sidewall height, the EX delivered the crisper, more responsive handling. This isn't to imply the EX is a sports sedan, given its forward-weight bias and comfort-oriented suspension settings, but merely that it's the more enjoyable of the two models.
Overall, against a comparably outfitted and priced Malibu, Fusion, Accord or Camry, the newest Optima is competitive in terms of ride, handling and comfort. Accord and Camry models at the higher end of those lines surpass the Optima in suppressing and filtering wind and road noise, but only barely.
The original Optima made a statement: Kia wants to be a contender. The second-generation 2007 Optima delivers. Its engines are not the most powerful in the competitive mid-size class, but in other important ways, the Optima is every bit as good as any equally equipped, direct competitor. It's as solid, comfortable, quiet, as well built, and as economical. And feature for feature, it costs substantially less than all of them. It's a deal.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Tom Lankard filed this report from Yountville, California.
Top Cars


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling (30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936 / Bombay)
» Click to list general statistics » OR, select a date :
In Error
They burnt a corpse upon the sand--
The light shone out afar;
It guided home the plunging dhows
That beat from Zanzibar.
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Housing bore requirements
To reduce the risk of seal damage during installation, the housing bore should have a 15 to 30° lead-in chamfer. The chamfer should be free of burrs and the transition radius r between the seal seat and shoulder should be in accordance with the recommendations in the table.
The depth of a metric housing bore B for metal-cased or metal-inserted seals should be at least 0,3 mm (0.012 in.) larger than the nominal seal width b (fig 1). The corresponding values for an inch housing bore B are 0.016 in. (0,4 mm).
Seals without metal reinforcement are manufactured oversized relative to the housing bore diameter and depth to enable proper compression and stability. The actual seal width is approximately 0,4 to 0,8 mm (0.016 to 0.032 in.) wider than the bore depth B. For all-rubber HS seals, the bore depth tolerance should be ±0,13 mm (0.005 in.) and ±0,10 mm (0.004 in.) for fabric-reinforced HSF seals.
In order to facilitate seal removal, holes in the housing shoulder (A) can be incorporated during the design stage (fig 2).


text:
This product is to be used for ordering installation or design services that are not individually listed on Scripts-R-Us..
Before you order this product, you MUST obtain a quotation from Scripts-R-Us staff. They will instruct you on how many copies of this product to order. This service is billed in $5 increments, so, for example, if you are quoted $15 for a job, order 3 copies of this service.
NOTE: Minimum order for this product is $5, but you will need to get a quote from Scripts-R-Us staff first anyway.
All Sales Final. Refunds will not be issued.
Copyright © 2003-


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Ring in the Summer Singing Campfire Songs with The Tall Pines Tonight!
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We are proud to announce the digital release of The Tall Pines' sophomore album, Campfire Songs (MMAM)! Come out and celebrate tonight, 8 PM at the National Underground, with The Tall Pines (Connie Lynn Petruk and Christmas Davis) playing their odes to Nashville twang and Memphis soul. Joining them are special guests Laura Cantrell, and Joe McGinty's Keyboard Karaoke!
Enjoy a free MP3, "Beach House" in celebration of their new album out TODAY
"The Tall Pines are a coed rock & roll duo with a penchant for Southern '70s sounds, both bar-rocky and soulful. The band's new album, Campfire Songs, sounds confident and full-bodied." - Time Out New York
Citing Bobbie Gentry, Gram Parsons, and Emmylou Harris as influences, The Tall Pines would make the legends of the past proud with their authentic mix of twang and soul that harkens back to the hey-day of the Nashville and Memphis music scenes while remaining uniquely current in their sound. Their self-titled debut was named one of the Top Ten Best Records of 2007 by National Public Radio (NPR), and continues to receive praise, as singer Connie Lynn Petruk and songwriter/guitarist Christmas Davis gear up for their sophomore release, Camp Fire Songs out on June 23rd.
After recording and performing live with such musical juggernauts as David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Perry Farrell, Moby, and Ronnie Spector, The Tall Pines brings Petruk's silky alto to the forefront. Described by NPR as sounding like "the lost sister of Dusty Springfield" with a voice that has the ability "to melt the frost off your windshield," Petruk's singing perfectly compliments Davis' clever songwriting and the band's skillful backing. Campfire Songs moves seamlessly between raucous, foot stomping jams on songs like "Good Woman" and "Seniorita" to such crooning country ballads as the aptly titled, "No One Sings Like You." Those longing for the nostalgia of country music's past eras along with those who have an appreciation for such modern day acts as Jenny Lewis or She & Him can easily find something to love in The Tall Pines timeless sound.
The album also features stand out performances by Jeremy Chatzky (Bruce Springsteen's Seeger Sessions Band), Joe McGinty (Ryan Adams, Devendra Banhart), and Jon Graboff (Ryan Adams, Willie Nelson). This past Fall The Tall Pines supported Country Music Legend Charlie Louvin at New York City's prestigious CMJ Music Festival.
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Show All Answers
You are eligible to vote in elections held in your voting precinct more than 30 consecutive days after you are duly registered to vote in this state; however, you may request an absentee ballot during that period.
You may download a Voter Registration Application. You may also contact the Lucas County Board of Election or the Ohio Secretary of State to mail a registration form to you. You may also call our office at (419) 213-4001. Beginning January 1st, 2017 you may register online through the Ohio Secretary of State's website You may obtain a registration application in person, or register in person, at any of the following locations: The office of the Ohio Secretary of State; The office of the Lucas County Board of Elections; The office of the Registrar or any Deputy Registrar of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles; Public Libraries; Public and Parochial High Schools, or Vocational Schools; County Treasurer's Office; or Offices of designated agencies including: The Department of Job and Family Services; The Department of Health (including the Women, Infants and Children program; The Department of Mental Health; The Department of Developmental Disabilities; The Rehabilitation Services Commission; Any state-assisted college or university that provides assistance to disabled students. When you have completed your voter registration application, please review it carefully for completeness and accuracy. You may either personally deliver, or send by U.S. Mail, your voter registration application to the county board of elections or the Secretary of State's office. You, or another person acting on your behalf, also may deliver your application to one of the offices listed above, but you should ensure your application reaches the office of a board of elections or the Secretary of State within 10 days and no later than the voter registration deadline for the election at which you want to vote.
Please note: Extra postage will be needed when mailing completed absentee ballots. If you are unsure of the postage cost, please check with your local office of the U.S. Postal Service.
For information on voting rights of U.S. citizens living outside the U.S., see Uniformed and Overseas Citizens.
If you are a regular absentee voter, you may use the absentee voter application prescribed by the Secretary of State (Form 11-A) to apply for your absentee ballot. If you choose not to use the prescribed form, your written application need not be in any particular format, but it must contain all of the following information:1. Your name;2. Your legal signature;3. The address at which you are registered to vote;4. Your date of birth;5. One of the following items showing proof of your identification: • Your Ohio driver's license number; or • The last four digits of your Social Security number; or• A copy of your current and valid photo identification, military identification, or a current (within the last 12 months) utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government (including from a public college or university) document that shows your name and current address.(Note: You cannot use a voter registration acknowledgement notice that the board of elections mailed to you as proof of identification.); 6. A statement identifying the election for which you are requesting an absentee voter's ballot;7. A statement that you are a qualified elector;8. If the request is for a partisan primary election ballot, your political party affiliation; and9. If you want the ballot to be mailed to a different address, the address to which you want it mailed.
For Early In-Person and Absentee Voting:
• A copy of a current and valid photo identification, (i.e. Ohio driver's license, state ID card, government ID). Photo identification must show name and address; or • A copy of a current utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the voter's name and current address (including from a public college or university); or• The last four digits of voter's Social Security number; or driver's license number.
For Election Day Voting (Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
• A current and valid photo identification (i.e. Ohio driver's license, state ID card, government ID). Photo identification must show name and address (does not need to be current address for driver's license or state id card); or• A military identification. (Does not need to show name or address); or• A copy of a current utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows the voter's name and current address (including from a public college or university).
Ohio law states that you can use as ID, a document from the Board of Elections EXCEPT for a voter registration acknowledgement notice or a notification of an election.
Voters who do not provide one of these documents will still be able to vote by provisional ballot.
Under Ohio Law, your party affiliation is determined by the ballot you vote in an even numbered year Primary Election. The next opportunity to change your party affiliation will be the March 10, 2020 Presidential Primary Election.


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Dr. Sean Bush reviews medical content for Healthwise, a
nonprofit organization with a mission to help people make better health
decisions. He has authored more than 80 publications on
the treatment of bites and stings and has presented over 140 lectures on the
local, national, and international level. Dr. Bush has been featured in 55 television
documentary productions including "Venom ER" on Animal Planet. He is an
internationally renowned speaker and educator on envenomation medicine. Dr. Bush is a Professor of Emergency Medicine and Envenomation
Specialist at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in Loma Linda,
MD: Texas A&M College of Medicine,
College Station, TX, 1992
Residency in Emergency Medicine: Loma Linda
University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA, 1992–1995
American Board of Emergency Medicine
Professor, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda, CA
Research grant support and
compensation for consulting received from:
Healthwise Staff
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


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While it is not hard to find Testosterone in Germany in the illegal steroid market, that doesn't mean that it's a good decision to purchase it.
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Mass Gains
Table of Contents
One of the most common Testosterone brands in Germany is Rotexmedixa, which is commonly sold in the Enanthate form.
What are the other types?
There are many different kinds of Test steroids, each differing in terms of the ester attached to them.
For example, there are forms with Propionate esters and Cypionate esters.
Along with Enanthate forms, these forms of Test are the most commonly found online.
Prospective buyers will also find a form called Sustanon 250, which is a combination of four Test types (propionate, decanoate, phenylpropionate, isocaproate).
But since we're just focusing on the three most common in German markets, here are the brands a performance user will come across most (outside of Rotexmedixa):
When it comes to underground brands, the most common brands are:
When it comes to price ranges, there's quite a bit of variation.
When purchasing Test-Propionate, prices range anywhere from $35 to $65 for 10 mL of a 100 mg/mL vial.
Enanthate forms are sold for $50 to $100 per 10 mL of a 250 mg/mL vial.
And Cypionate forms of Test go for $50 to $100 per 10 mL of a 250 mg/mL vial.
But even when purchasing the most reliable brands, the buyer can never be sure that they're getting the real thing. And in a country like Germany with strict steroids laws, you also have the legal risks to worry about.
At the end of the 1960s, Germany experienced a surge in the abuse of narcotic drugs. In response, their government enacted tougher drug policies—ones that defined the country's approach to drugs in the present time period.
Each of their policies are built upon the foundation of a schedule list. Used to create distinctions between different kinds of chemicals, it makes it easier to determine adequate punishments for various drug-related crimes.
Here's what their class list looks like:
And the evolution of German drug laws doesn't stop there:
After 2007, it became illegal to possess certain amounts of drugs (prior to 2007 possession was legal). For example, the possession of more than 150 mg of Dianabol or 632 mg or Testosterone can lead to charges.
And now, as of February 2013, German athletes caught using performance enhancers can face prison time.
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Getting quality products that will bolster your gym performance is possible, but the risks of getting dirty or expired product instead are significant.
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Safety measures like avoiding suppliers that offer PayPal as a form of payment or don't offer encryption for your information are recommended.
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So how do these natural components lead to gains in the gym? According to CrazyBulk, the answer lies in the sugar-bound steroidal saponins that lie within tribulus terrestris.
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Other advantages cited by fans of this product are that it is legal, safe, and without side effects.
CrazyBulk also claims that it does not affect the heart, unlike anabolic steroids which can weaken the heart.
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"Increase in strength and stamina right away, lost fat really quickly," said Luis.
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In addition to the great customer feedback, CrazyBulk offers a guarantee of results within just 30 days. Try finding this from online steroid suppliers, and you'll be looking forever.
Testosterone from Germany might be tempting due to tits cheap price and potentially impressive results, but the risks that come with it are just too high.
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Sheriff's deputy dies in single-car crash
Cpl. Charles Licato died at scene
The Harford County Sheriff's Office said one of its deputies was killed in a single-car crash in Darlington early Thursday morning.
The Sheriff's Office confirmed for 11 News that the officer was at the end of his shift when his car crashed on U.S. Route 1 in Darlington around 2:30 a.m. The deputy, identified as Cpl. Charles Licato, 34, of Cecil County, died at the scene.
Investigators said they are unsure why his agency-issued car left the road, crossed two lanes of traffic, went down an embankment and crashed into two trees with so much force authorities believe he died instantly.
A motorist spotted the crash and stopped to help.
"(The motorist) used the deputy's radio, from what I understand, to call for assistance," Harford County Sheriff Jesse Bane said.
Route 1 was shut down in both directions between Shuresville and Castleton roads through the morning commute for the investigation.
Bane worked with several deputies on the crash and coordinated family notification and the investigation.
Accident investigators who knew Licato worked at the scene even as he was being extracted from the vehicle. Other emergency personnel and deputies stayed with the Licato until his body was delivered to the medical examiner. They said they wanted their colleague to know throughout the whole process they never left his side.
"I think that was an act of courage on their part to do that. That's a very difficult thing to do, but I think it is very indicative of the close bonds and ties we have in law enforcement," Bane said.
Harford County Executive David Craig released the following statement: "I am deeply saddened by the sudden and untimely loss of Cpl. Charles Licato of the Harford County Sheriff's Office. Cpl. Licato served the citizens of Harford County and the state of Maryland with pride, integrity and distinction for 13 years as a proud member of the Harford County Sheriff's Office.
"My wife, Melinda, and I extend our condolences to Cpl. Licato's family, friends and co-workers. Harford County lost one of our finest today and we share in mourning the loss of Cpl. Licato with our law enforcement, first responders and public safety community. Cpl. Licato will be sorely missed."
Licato was a 14-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office. His law enforcement career began at the Harford County Detention Center, and he became a patrolman in 2008. He knew his area well and often handed out Sheriff's Office lapel pins to kids.
Licato aspired to join and became a member of the Warrant Apprehension Task Force, which often goes after violent offenders. Banes said the transfer to a more dangerous position speaks to his dedication and his character. The sheriff called him fearless.
"He was a very caring, concerned person, but when he went to work, he was all business, and he was one of our better deputies, and he is going to be sorely missed," Bane said.
Licato's father is a former homicide detective in Baltimore City and recently retired from the Aberdeen police force. Licato is also survived by his mother, a grandmother and a brother who is a Harford County sheriff's deputy.
Craig has ordered all county flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of the funeral.


text: I posted these in the general 3 series E46 section before I saw the dedicated M section. So I thoguht I'd start this section off as well. Here's my 02 M3, individual exterior color Tourmaline Violet Metallic, OEM CSL boot lid, Eibach springs, Borla exhaust and midpipe, ZCP wheels, and other misc tidbits:


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James D'Arcy is petrified of ageing after starring in 'Cloud Atlas'.
The 'Hitchcock' actor has gone on a health kick since playing Rufus Sixsmith - one of his many alter egos in the Wachowski siblings and Tom Tykwer's multi-layered film - because he didn't like the way he looked as an old man thanks to the advanced prosthetics and make-up.
Speaking at the gala screening of 'Cloud Atlas' at the Curzon Mayfair Cinema in London on Monday night (02.18.13), he joked to BANG Showbiz: "Playing the old man was really horrendous because I could see that I might end up looking like that. I immediately went out and bought a juicer and started taking yoga lessons because I was desperately trying to stave off the ravages of time."
The British star revealed the extreme makeovers were so convincing he couldn't even recognize his A-list co-stars - who include Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant and Jim Broadbent - when they were sitting right next to him.
James laughed: "You did sometimes sit down in make-up and if the person next to you didn't speak, it could be five minutes before you were like, 'Oh my God, that's Hugh Grant!' That did happen a lot actually."
Nevertheless, the actor relished the challenge of taking on different kind of roles - which also included a female nurse - and found working under a heavy prosthetics mask much more enjoyable than he had anticipated.
He said: "It was a new challenge that I hadn't encountered before. I'd done little bits, but not for an extended sequence. They don't move like normal faces do and they're better in the afternoon because they're warmer and they're sort of peeling off at the edges.
"The filmmakers don't like it, but from an actor's perspective it's a bit easier, so it's a really interesting new discipline to try and learn."
Hugh Grant, Jim Sturgess and Ben Whishaw joined James on the red carpet for the film's UK premiere.


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200.000km on a Roadster
200.000km on a Roadster
See this thread: http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/8449-Who-s-driven-200-000-...(125-000-miles)
But bear in mind that the Roadster was a hand-built car, not an assembly line produced car, so the main commonalities are the programming, motor, and drivetrain, which can be expected to be better in the Model S and X.
If you know German, you may want to read this article:
Anybody know how much his range dropped?
Range left 70% (just to be clear that "30%" doesn't mean that).
Keithz - anybody know how much is range dropped?
Brian H - 30%
Timo - Range left 70% (just to be clear that "30%" doesn't mean that).
It lost 30% of it's range, it still has 70%.
Teo & ggr;
Timo is, he believes, "scary smart", so the simple is incomprehensible.
Actually, when I put up that 'simple' response, I wondered if anyone would quibble!
Apparently "simple" response is never quite as simple as it feels to one that writes it. I thought I was making it clearer but apparently I caused more confusion than clarity.
One more try: 70% of the initial battery capacity is still there after 200k miles. 100-70=30 so 30% of the initial capacity is gone.
It has take me 103 months to put on 220,000km. However, I expect that the Model S will rack up more miles because it will cost $0.016/km vs. $0.036/km ($0.026/mi vs. $0.058/mi).
.058¢/mi? What are you driving, and where? If you get 50mpg that means you're getting gas (diesel?) at $2.90/gal. If you get 25 mpg then you're paying $1.45/gal.
Correction, that should be "5.8¢/mi", of course.
Oh -- are you talking about your current Roadster?
I'm driving a 2004 Prius. My commute is in the Dallas area, but about 25% of my miles are vacation miles to various places.
Don't have current Roadster :-( but I do have a Model S reservation.
When I only get 50 mpg, I check the tires for nails.
2004 Prius MPG from the logbook. (Complete years only):
2003-2004 -- 50.8 mpg 17,628 miles
2005 -- 52.6 mpg 14,688 miles
2006 -- 56.3 mpg 16,174 miles
2007 -- 57.3 mpg 18,384 miles
2008 -- 59.9 mpg 21,755 miles
2009 -- 61.4 mpg 16,177 miles
2010 -- 65.2 mpg 12,134 miles
2011 -- 66.9 mpg 11,272 miles
01/07/12____128603____481____56.6 (4.2)
-- 13 F here
01/12/12____129042____438____52.7 (4.5)
01/15/12____129420____378____50.3 (4.7)
01/20/12____129094____481____56.2 (4.2)
--- Trip to NE ends here
01/31/12____130503____600____69.8 (3.4)
02/23/12____131050____546____69.4 (3.4)
03/07/12____131679____629____72.2 (3.3)
03/23/12____132319____638____71.3 (3.3)
04/12/12____132987____668____74.0 (3.2)
05/02/12____133647____659____74.3 (3.2)
05/18/12____134272____624____73.4 (3.2)
--- flat tire here
jerry - Just a comment on your Prius mileage: Wow! Are you sure you don't have a calculation error somewhere? I'm amazed that your mileage has shown a continuous improvement every year. Granted, you probably get better at driving the Prius each year, but your steady improvement from 52.6 mpg in 2005 to 66.9 mpg in 2011 is nothing short of phenomenal! (And then it gets even better in 2012, all the way up to 73 mpg!) How do you do that?!?
I, too, keep extensive vehicle log books (occupational hazard of being an engineer, I'm afraid). I've got an '06 Prius and an '07 Prius (both of which I bought new), each of which now has about 85,000 miles on it. They've gotten very similar fuel efficiency, about 48 mpg. When we're very careful, we can nurse them up to about 50, maybe even 51 mpg, but I've hardly gotten anything better on either vehicle under normal city/freeway driving conditions. I have seen a definite effect of tire pressure, consequently I keep them pretty close to factory spec. Over 5-6 years now, I haven't seen a seasonal fluctuation in the Prius economy, but there's been a very slight degradation in fuel economy since they were new - probably only on the order of 1 mpg, and there's too much statistical noise in the data to state that with much confidence.
Interestingly, we've noticed that the '06 does much better in city driving than on the freeway, whereas the '07 doesn't do as well in city driving (as compared to the '06) but better on the freeway - net difference is nil, but that means we choose the '07 for long trips, and the '06 for non-work-related in-town running around.
On the other hand, I've got a friend who bought a '05 Prius new, and he's never gotten better than about 35-40 mpg, and he's very careful in how he drives it. (I can't get that poor mileage if I try!) He's had it back to the dealer a number of times complaining about it not "measuring up." Every time, they test everything out and say "Sorry, everything's within nominal limits." So my impression is some Prius's work really great, and some not so much. Maybe you're one of the really lucky ones, I'm just in the middle of the pack, and he got a lemon.
PS I've had a Tesla Roadster 2.5 (#1014) for 19 months now, and I just hit 20,000 miles. I've seen maybe a 4% reduction in available range to date. It's a barely distinguishable signal amidst the statistical noise, but I think it's real. (Occasional firmware updates that affect its range reporting, and possible seasonal fluctuation, also obfuscate the matter somewhat.) On the other hand, living in the greater Phoenix area I've observed a huge seasonal fluctuation in kW/mile. Last summer I ran about 550 Wh/mile (charge to wheel), whereas both winters I've had the Roadster it ran as efficiently as 340 Wh/mile. I'm happy to say, however, that with a 5 kW solar array on my house, I've generated about 2x the daily energy I need to power the Roadster during the summer, whereas in the winters (between the shorter days but better Roadster efficiency), the panels' production and vehicle's usage run about neck-and-neck. (Gross energy production from my panels since the Roadster was new now stands at 12,460 kWh, and the Roadster has sucked only 7,870 kWh from the wall. So I'm getting farther ahead all the time!)
BTW, if you do the math (and I'm comparing against my lousy 48 mpg Prius's), that means my summer Roadster mileage is like paying $1.74/gal, and my winter Roadster mileage is like paying only $1.08/gal. Our gas prices haven't been quite that good. :-)
1. Are you sure you don't have a calculation error somewhere
I have a spreadsheet that has a lot more detail than I've posted. I also keep a manual logbook that I use to transfer the numbers to Numbers. I have several checks (for example there is a column for the "incremental miles" and another column for the odometer reading. Right now there is 172 miles difference between the two columns because the incremental column is in "whole miles". 172/134272 = 0.00128 about 1/10th of a percent. There are other checks and balances as well.
2. How do you do that
The first year can probably be put down to "break-in". After that, better tires (I'm kind of picky about tires), and better driving. In December 2011 the office changed locations so the commute is five miles longer one way (25 miles vs 20 miles). Before that the commute didn't change for the entire time I have had the Prius so I've had a lot of practice driving the same route. In addition in 9/2007 I started using the Scangauge to supplement the built in instrumentation.
3. Interestingly, we've noticed that the '06 does much better in city driving than on the freeway, whereas the '07 doesn't do as well in city driving (as compared to the '06) but better on the freeway
That seems really odd considering the lack of difference between the two cars. My guess here is that the alignment is less than idea. No, don't take it back to the dealer. They aren't good on alignments (had one that took half the tread off a set of tires in about four weeks that the dealer said was perfect. Take it to a reliable frame shop and get a spot-on alignment. Here are the specs (as far as I know 2004-2009 all have the same specs:
*: Unloaded Vehicle Condition
Note that a good alignment should cost around $250. A $89 dollar alignment is like a $20 tune-up--if you're lucky they didn't do any damage.
4. On the other hand, I've got a friend who bought a '05 Prius new, and he's never gotten better than about 35-40 mpg
If you are getting that kind of mpg the reasons are likely:
1. Short trips. The Prius never gets a chance to warm up.
2. Over 90 mph (actually that should be about 45 mpg).
3. Low tire pressure or wrong tires. Some tires have very high rolling resistance. It's possible to get a 10 mpg difference between tires.
4. Zero or lower temperatures. The Prius doesn't produce a lot of excess heat and the engine and cat cool of very quickly. There are ways to mitigate this.
5. Not understanding how the Prius works. (You can give a person a Stradivarius but that won't make them a virtuoso). Most people, before they get educated, think that if you use EV mode a lot you'll maximize mpg. That's a mistake. The Prius, even the PiP, is primarily a gas car. It gets it's good mpg because the engine is sized for steady state driving rather than for acceleration. The motor/generators and battery are there to provide acceleration and to allow the engine to shut down when there is very low power demand. Using EV mode just makes the gas engine run more. I've written more about this in a thread in the Model S category. I'll look it up and post the link in a follow up post.
Here's the follow up link.
Yes, I see that since the Prius isn't a PEV, the key is managing the gas-engine-generator. Interesting!
Even the PiP isn't really a PEV (in my opinion). The extra batteries are there primarily so you can use them when you know using the engine would be inefficient (those short trips to the store for example)
Painful nonsense.


text:
Allied Brass Mambo 22 Inch Glass Vanity Shelf with Beveled Edges (product:MA-1/22, option:MA-1/22-UNL): Unlacquered Brass
Lead time for this product is 3-30 business days
Add space and organization to your bathroom with this simple, contemporary style glass shelf. Featuring tempered, beveled-edged glass and solid brass hardware this shelf is crafted for durability, strength and style. One of the many coordinating accessories in the Allied Brass Mambo Collection, this subtle glass shelf is the perfect complement to your bathroom decor.
Finish: Unlacquered Brass
Collection: Mambo
- Made with 3/8" thick tempered glass for safety and strength
- Solid Brass Fixtures with mounting hardware included for easy installation
- Glass Dimension 22 Inches x 5 Inches
- Assembled in the USA
Finish: Unlacquered Brass
Collection: Mambo
Shipping specs
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This product is shipped from our warehouse in Louisa, VA , US
Our guarantee
This product is brand new and includes the manufacturer's warranty, so you can buy with confidence.
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Translation Award Deadline Extended
The Academy of American Poets has extended the deadline for its Raiziss/de Palchi Book Award, a five-thousand-dollar award given for an English translation of a book of Italian poetry. Publishers may now submit books through January 30.
The judges for this year's prize are Jennifer Scappettone, a poet and professor of English at University of Chicago; Paolo Valesio, professor of Italian literature at Columbia University; and Lawrence Venuti, a professor of English who works in literary translation at Temple University.
The book prize alternates with a fellowship given to a translator of Italian poetry embarking on a specific project. Past winners of the awards (no winner was selected for the fellowship in 2009) are:
2008 Book Award
Patrick Barron
The Selected Poetry and Prose of Andrea Zanzotto
2007 Fellowship
Adria Bernardi
Small Talk by Rafaello Baldini
2006 Book Prize
John DuVal
Tales of Trilussa by Carlo Alberto Salustri
2005 Fellowship
Ann Snodgrass
Selected Poems of Vittorio Sereni
Andrew Frisardi
The Selected Poems of Giuseppe Ungaretti
2003 Fellowship
Michael Palma
Selected Poems of Giovanni Raboni
2002 Book Prize
Stephen Sartarelli
Songbook: The Selected Poems of Umberto Saba
2001 Fellowship
Emanuel di Pasquale
Sharing a Trip: Selected Poems by Silvio Ramat
2000 Book Prize
John P. Welle and Ruth Feldman
Peasants Wake for Fellini's Casanova by Andrea Zanzotto
1999 Fellowship
Geoffrey Brock
Disaffections: Complete Poems 1930–1950 by Cesare Pavese
1998 Book Prize
Michael Palma
The Man I Pretend to Be: The Colloquies and Selected Poems of Guido Gozzano
1997 Fellowship
Anthony Molino
Esercizi di tiptologia by Valerio Magrelli
1996 Book Prize
W. S. Di Piero
This Strange Joy: Selected Poems of Sandro Penna
This month, the Academy is also open to submissions to the Harold Morton Landon Translation Award for English translations, published in 2009, of books of poetry originally written in any language. The deadline is December 31.
PEN American Center and the French-American Foundation are also accepting entries to their respective translation book prizes. Publishers, agents, or translators may submit books published this year by December 14 for the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation, given for a poetry collection, and the PEN Translation Prize, given for a book of poetry or prose. The French-American Foundation awards two translation prizes for a book of fiction and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) originally in French; the deadline for translations published in 2009 is December 31.
For writers currently working on a translation project, the National Endowment for the Arts is open to applications for its translation fellowships of up to twenty five thousand dollars until January 7. Buona fortuna!


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Statistics: CAUSEWeb
- Audience: Statistics educators
CAUSEWeb is a website with educator resources from the Consortium for the Advancement of Undergraduate Statistics Education. Resources include lesson modules, student activities, assignments, datasets, and videos. The site also offers links to research and professional development opportunities. This site is part of the National Science Digital Library (NSDL), which is supported by the National Science Foundation.
Database Provider: National Science Digital Library (NSDL)
Express Link (bookmark): http://www.galileo.usg.edu/express?link=cawe


text:
6 cups water
6 sweet apple tea bags
1-1/3 cups vanilla simple syrup, recipe follows
1 small apple, thinly sliced
1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil over high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the tea bags. Allow the liquid to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Remove the tea bags and discard. Add the Vanilla Simple Syrup and stir. Pour the mixture into a glass pitcher. Add the apple and lemon slices and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Pour the tea into ice-filled glasses and serve.
Vanilla Simple Syrup
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 vanilla bean, cut in 1/2 lengthwise and seeds removed
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, water, vanilla bean, and vanilla bean seeds. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool, about 20 minutes. Strain before using.
Yield: 1 1/3cups


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Although it's not listed in the Description of Cumulative Update 3 for Exchange Server 2013, one of the important things that Exchange 2013 CU3 fixes is OWA redirection for OWA 2010. I discussed this in my article, OWA 2013 CU1 Redirection is Broken for Legacy Mailboxes.
Unfortunately, one important fix did not make it into CU3: Upgrading Exchange 2013 blanks out the ActiveSyncVirtualDirectory ExternalUrl property. This only affects Exchange 2013 upgrades from RTM through CU2 - it does not affect new installations of Exchange 2013.
|Exchange 2013 ActiveSyncVirtualDirectory URL values before CU3
|Exchange 2013 ActiveSyncVirtualDirectory URL values after CU3
This problem was actually introduced back in the Exchange 2010 timeframe and has been present since Exchange 2013 CU1. If you perform a RecoverServer operation in 2010, the operation should reconfigure the recovered server with the existing values stored in Active Directory. At some point code was introduced that reset the URL values and security configuration of the OWA, ECP and ActiveSync to their default values (InternalURL uses the FQDN of the server and ExternalURL is blank). Since Exchange 2013 servicing is a build-to-build upgrade it behaves pretty much like a RecoverServer operation and the problem becomes apparent.
On an important side note, I'd like to point out that it was the Microsoft Certified Masters on the Exchange TAP program who discovered this issue and brought it to Microsoft's attention.
The Exchange Team was able to address this behavior for the OWA and ECP virtual directories, but unfortunately did not address it for ActiveSync (it's still being tracked). Fixing the issue for OWA and ECP virtual directories was high priority since this affects users' ability to access ECP and options from Outlook.
ActiveSync, however, only uses the external URL value once when a mobile device is first configured for email. EAS devices do not periodically check Autodiscover and reconfigure themselves like Outlook does, so if the value is blank devices configured prior to the CU3 upgrade will still work.
This does affect new devices, however. If the ExternalURL value for the ActiveSync is blank when a user tries to configure a new EAS mail client, the device has no idea how to connect to Exchange. EAS will then prompt the user for the server name, which they may or may not know.
The fix is simple: After upgrading Exchange Server 2013 to CU3 reconfigure the ActiveSync virtual directory ExternalURL property using the following cmdlet:
Set-ActiveSyncVirtualDirectory -Server <servername> -ExternalUrl https://<external fqdn>/Microsoft-Server-ActiveSyncYou may also need to reconfigure security settings for the ActiveSync virtual directory (i.e., if you use user certificates for authentication). I recommend making note of your ActiveSync virtual directory URLs and security settings prior to the upgrade. Unfortunately, none of this made it into the release notes.
Hopefully, this will be completely addressed in Exchange 2013 SP1 due early 2014.


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Projects Abroad Human Rights Office – Cape Town, South Africa – Monthly Reports
Projects Abroad Human Rights Office - Cape town - Monthly reports - February 2012
Social Justice
This month one of the focuses at Bonnytoun has been the topic of 'drugs' and how taking them can affect the people around you and your future. Many of the boys have had first hand experience with drugs and so rather than go in and preach to the boys about how drugs are bad and their side effects, volunteers wanted to come in with a different angle. Most of the boys responded well and some talked of their experiences with drugs. Although some of the boys said that they would still continue to take drugs, there were boys to who the message got across to and they stated that they knew drugs were dangerous and they would not touch them. In such an environment as Bonnytoun where there are so many boys with so many issues, it will never be possible to change the perspective of all of them, but just helping one to make better life decisions is a start.
Ruyterwacht Mock Trial
The mock trial which was so successful last year is now up and running again. Volunteers are currently just visiting the project and trying to drum up some more children to get involved and do some workshops to get the children interested before they start on the mock trial workshops.
St Anne's
This month volunteers were able to take the women for a day out on Valentines Day. They took them to Kirstenbosch Gardens and the women were able to enjoy some time away from their children and the shelter. Kirstenbosch Gardens was somewhere that the women had never been to before and volunteers provided a picnic for the ladies and a lot of discussions were had regarding the ladies past Valentines days and the women opened up quite a bit to the volunteers. This month has also seen the introduction of an extra workshop each week in which volunteers are teaching the women computer skills. This is something of great value to the ladies as being computer literate makes them much more employable.
Legal Services
Lavender Hill Legal Clinic
We are still continuing with our legal clinic in Lavender Hill. We have welcomed a number of new clients this month and continue to open cases for them and give them the advice and assistance that they need. This month volunteers have also held a couple of workshops with some of the community there regarding money management and debt. We were finding that with many of the cases that were coming to us people had many issues which had resulted from their poor money management and also their failure to keep track of their finances and keep a record of everything that they do. Volunteers gave them advice on budgeting and on what records and receipts they must keep so that they are protected. The workshops were well received and were a great initiative from the volunteers.
Manenberg Legal Clinic
This is a new clinic which we started up this month. Our Legal Services Coordinator Sanjay took volunteers to meet with clients in the Manenberg area and many new cases were opened. Some of the cases were extremely interesting with volunteers working hard back at the office on researching their client's matters and following up on their issues. This clinic boosted the number of cases at the office and extended the work load of our volunteers; especially towards the end of the month as volunteer numbers started to dwindle.
Case file's within the office
We are still maintaining a high number of clients who call in to the office daily. We have taken on some new walk in clients this month as well as continued to assist those who have had cases with us for a while now. There have been more and more visits to court also this month as we begin to represent more of our clients with their cases in court.


text:
Welcome Back
Today a brief introduction to hybrid crafting. The term 'Hybrid Crafting' is used when cards or other paper projects are made where some of the design has been created on the computer. There are many different ways of doing this, you can use a Photo Editing Package such as Photshop Elements and create the entire piece on the computer and print out the result, or what I have done is used a computer to print out the elements for the card and then assemble them as you would if you had bought the paper in a store. Or print out from a pre made CD Rom on a chosen theme. The second option will give you less control over what is printed but is useful if you are less confident on a computer and just want to print and play.
The CD I used in this case is called My Craft Studio; Everything Oriental, this was purchased from Create and Craft. It will be simple to use if you have not done much in the way of picture editing on a computer before. You simply select the images you wish to use, re-size, change the colour, layer to your hearts content and then print. You could design the whole card and just print it as a finished flat piece or as I have done print the elements I like (background paper, main image, image mat) seperatly on a single A4 sheet and then cut and assemble them afterwards. Te advantage of this is that it adds dimension to your card/project.
It is a quick and simple way to create cards if you are in a hurry. You can reprint favorite sheets as often as you like, no more rush trips to the craft store only to find that your favourite paper is out of stock.
I did find the CD a little limiting but that is ONLY because I am used to working with Photoshop Elements, which took MONTHS to learn how to use and I am still learning. Photoshop is far more versatile but the learning curve if you are not computer savy is HUGE. I can live with the limitations for a quick n simple version.
This card was for my mother in laws 'BIG' birthday, not saying how old she was, that would be rude! I am pleased with how it turned out as it was my first card that I have made entirely from elements from the computer. I have made layouts using the computer for digital scrap booking and in honesty it is the only way I would scrapbook. The computer has an UNDO button that just isn't available in real life scrap booking. I use Photoshop for digi-scrapping and although it takes a while to get used to, it is worth it for the versatility.
The best place to learn to digiscrap that I found is http://www.hp.com/
The free on line classes link is, http://h30240.www3.hp.com/?jumpid=re_R602_mktg/hpcom/split/oc
This takes you to the current list of classes running, and every so often they run a digital crafting class. It is possible to download trials of several leading brands of photo editing packages which will last long enough to get you through the class. If you can't see a class you like at them moment check back with them in a few weeks they rotate the classes on offer.
UPDATE, Urgent heads up for free online class
Getting Started with Digital Scrapbooking class from Hewlet Packard now available October 3rd to November 6th. Class ends November 14th 2008.
Learn how to do techniques like these with your own images! In the class you learn how to make your own background papers, elements and so much more. It is an online class so as long as you complete the class before the end, the exact days and times you 'attend' your class are up to you. This is an excellent class I would recommend to anyone interested in finding out more about using their computer for crafting. Without spending a fortune on CDs. I would highly recommend downloading your lessons and also printing some of them out, there is a printer friendly version available. That way you can have the instructions next to you as you work rather than have to keep switching screens.
DO check out the Activity Centre
There are plenty of useful projects in the Activity Centre, which give full instructions and some pages to print out. Everything from Christmas decorations, party invites to business cards.
Best wishes and thanks for reading
Billie 🙂


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"A mobile phone-based health program designed to improve access to sexual health information and boost safe sex in rural central Uganda had the opposite effect, according to the findings of a ... study published in May," IRIN reports, noting the study was "a partnership between Yale University, NGO Innovations for Poverty Action, Google, the Grameen Foundation and the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology." The service, "provided free of charge by mobile phone firm MTN, allowed users in 60 central Ugandan villages to text questions on sexual and reproductive health to a server and receive pre-prepared responses from a database," the news service notes (6/17). "Similar projects in wealthier countries have used text messages to help people quit smoking and manage their asthma and diabetes. The researchers hypothesized that with better information, Ugandans too could take charge of their health and avoid risky sexual behavior," the Yale Alumni Magazine writes (Bass, 6/7).
However, the researchers write, "We find no increase in health knowledge regarding HIV transmission or contraception methods and no change in attitudes. Rather than seeing reductions in risky sexual behavior, we actually find higher incidence of risky sexual behavior and more infidelity, although more abstinence as well," according to IRIN (6/17). Bloomberg examines the study's results, as well as other mobile health technology programs, writing, "Results from various programs show phone technology is better suited for some initiatives than others," such as maternal health (Kitamura, 6/5).
This information was reprinted from kff.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report, search the archives, and sign up for email delivery. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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Bochner's Theorem for LCA groups applied to the case of $G = U(1)$ and $G^{\vee} = \mathbb{Z}$ tells us that through the Fourier transform, probability measures on the circle are in bijection with infinite positive semidefinite matrices with $1$s along the main diagonal. In the case of finite $N \times N$ matrices, we know from convex analysis that these are correlation matrices. Indeed, this corresponds to the case $G = \mathbb{Z} / N \mathbb{Z} \hookrightarrow U(1)$ of $N$th roots of unity with its dual group $\mathbb{Z} \twoheadrightarrow \mathbb{Z} / N \mathbb{Z} = G^{\vee}$.
Concretely, every principal minor of a positive semidefinite matrix has non-negative determinant. If a matrix satisfies the stronger condition that every minor has non-negative determinant, we call it a totally positive matrix.
- Is there some nice condition on a positive semidefinite matrix which guarantees it is totally positive?
- Which probability measures on the circle correspond to infinite totally positive matrices with $1$s on the main diagonal?


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Mustang MonthlyProject Vehicles
Electric Life Power Window Conversion - Install Power Windows - Project Reclaim
Electric Life offers modern convenience for classic Mustangs
Project Reclaim from Mustangs Plus and The Restomod Shop is closer to completion and a Fall/Winter debut in Mustang Monthly. Hard economic times over the past couple of years have slowed Reclaim's progress, but not stopped it by any means. Now we have a mostly completed '65 Mustang fastback that was once a stripped-out, rust-bucket parts car in the Mustangs Plus storage yard. This month, Reclaim is getting Electric Life power windows, along with new Dynacorn doors fitted with tinted reproduction window glass, wing window assemblies, door latches and mechanicals, and AutoLoc window switches.
Along with assembling the doors with power windows, we're also putting in the latch mechanicals and adjusting the doors to the body. This is not an easy process with original Ford parts, let alone reproduction pieces. Door installation, adjustment, and assembly require patience and tenacity.
We have the good fortune of working with The Restomod Shop's Mark Vasquez, who has a lot of restoration experience, particularly with body panel and door adjustment. He's going to show us how both window installation and door adjustment are done.


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GL&V Doctoring Technologies offer a complete line of Blade Holders and Doctors for use from the breast roll to the reel drum of the Paper Machine.
Blade Holders: Multiple types are available for non-critical to critical doctoring positions.
Doctors: Doctors are important for both cleaning and sheet removal or dewatering applications.


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Access Industries Inc., the conglomerate controlled by investor Len Blavatnik, was the leading bidder late Wednesday for Warner Music Group Corp., according to people familiar with the matter, putting the Russian-born billionaire close to a deal for the world's third-largest recorded-music company.
The tentative deal, which would value Warner at around $3.3 billion including assumption of debt, wasn't finalized, these people cautioned, and could be beaten by a higher last-minute bid.
Spokesmen for Warner Music and Access Industries declined to comment.


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The Board of Directors of the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (NASAA) has authorized the release, for both public and internal comment, of a proposed Multi‐Unit Commentary related to state franchise disclosure laws.
The proposal defines certain multi‐unit franchising arrangements that have become common in franchising and provides guidance for disclosing those arrangements in franchise disclosure documents.
The proposal addresses specific disclosure questions raised by franchise attorneys and state franchise examiners about multi‐unit franchising.
The comment period begins on 10/15/13 and will remain open for 30 days. All comments should be submitted on or before 11/15/13 .
Download: Proposed Multi‐Unit Commentary
Comments should be directed by e‐mail or in writing to:
Franchise and Business Opportunity Project Group
Dale E. Cantone, Chair
Office of the Attorney General, Securities Division
200 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21202‐2020
[email protected]
NASAA, Legal Department
Rick Fleming, Deputy General Counsel
750 First Street, Suite 1140
Washington, DC 20002
[email protected]


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I want to thank the voters of Shirley and Ayer for the trust they've shown in us. The voters have given us a solemn charge, and we will do our best to carry it out. We understand that the people have spoken for education, and for the children, and we won't let them down.
I also want to thank the members of the Building and School Committees, who dedicated their time and effort to bring forward a clean and comprehensive plan, a project strongly supported by the state, that should be completed in a timely and efficient manner.
And I want to express my gratitude to the citizens who were involved in Building the Future of Shirley and Ayer. Without their tireless energy, enthusiasm, and dedication this project might not have succeeded.
That yes vote can represent a real turning point for the towns. It wasn't just about the building, it was about moving forward as a community, and saying yes to the future.
Ayer-Shirley Regional School Committee


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Enrollment Services
Enrollment Services consists of the following:
Office of Admissions
Communicates with prospective and new applicants to SDSU, serves as the point of contact for campus tours, conducts presentations and visits to high schools and community colleges, and hosts events for prospective students. Offers information for freshman, transfer, graduate, out-of-state, international, and veteran students, as well as parents and counselors. Continue to the Office of Admissions website.
Office of Advising and Evaluations
Advises undergraduate students regarding General Education, graduation requirements, choices of majors, and official degree and graduation evaluations. Continue to the Office of Advising and Evaluations website.
Office of the Registrar
Serves current students, faculty, alumni and community members concerning academic records, grades, transcripts and registration. Continue to the Office of the Registrar website.
The Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center
Serves as the hub for all student veteran support services on campus, including all aspects of the veteran benefit programs for SDSU's undergraduate and graduate veterans, active duty military, reservists and dependents. Continue to The Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center website.
Class Schedule
Allows students to search by course titles, section and schedule numbers, units, days and times, locations, instructors and the numbers of open seats. Continue to the Class Schedule website.
Develops SDSU's curricula for liberal arts and sciences, applied arts and sciences, professional studies, and preprofessional and nondegree studies. Continue to the Curriculum website.
Enrollment Services Information Technology (ESIT) and Web Systems Group
Provides technical services for Enrollment Services and their extended operations. Services include technical consulting, project management, third-party software development, domain network (ESAD) operation, server administration, database management, SDSU WebPortal operation, and desktop support.
Enrollment Services Communications
Coordinates print and digital publications for all Enrollment Services offices. Sends all email messages to current and prospective students. Submit a student email or SDSU WebPortal message request using the student message request form. Request web site updates by sending an email to Enrollment Services Communications.


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Should the city of San Antonio add "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" to its policy protecting categories of people from discrimination?
The city council will take up the question next month. Here is a story I did earlier about a group of evangelical leaders raising questions and objections to the draft city ordinance currently under review to add these two classes to the current policy.
The evangelical group say free speech and religious liberty would suffer because many citizens favoring traditional marriage would potentially be in situations where they had to violate their conscience, such as having to rent an apartment to gay couples or allow transgender people to use rest rooms at a place of business.
The draft ordinance's author, city councilman Diego Bernal, questions why any faith group would not want further help for people to avoid bias and abuse in society. And he points out "religion" remains a protected class in the current and proposed policy.
The matter, of course, is not isolated to San Antonio and reflects the growing attention and progress of national and state policies supporting such protections.
But I also recently came across this story in the Associated Baptist Press laying out a similar, current scenario in Frankfort, Ky. Phoenix and many cities in Idaho are among the municipalities to approve such policies.
And here's a story from the Wichita Eagle from last year in which one city in Kansas reversed an ordinances seeking to add this controversial language and another defeated a similar measure.
It seems probable that more and more cities will take up this issue and have the same debate that San Antonio is having.


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{110} Chesapeake-Camp Corporation Pulp Plant, Franklin, Virginia
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Glendale Community CollegeHome Menu
Diversity Statements
Armine Hacopian, Ed.D
President of Board of Trustees
Glendale Community College is one of the most diverse institutions of higher education in California. All areas of the world are represented here. Therefore, as a Glendale College Board Member, it is my role to focus on policies and practices that reflect the values of cultural diversity. In an environment where various types of diversities are valued, individuals feel safe and welcome.
Brain research (Tomlinson/Kalbfleisch) suggests that in order for optimum learning to take place, learning environments must feel emotionally safe. Students with all types of ability need to feel challenged. The student needs to make sense of meaning of ideas they are exposed to and develop their own special skills. Glendale Community College is an institution that provides emotional safety. We do this by developing diversity programs that a student can participate in. We provide appropriate diverse methods of instruction in order to challenge students with different abilities. We believe that by creating a family-type setting where everyone can find similarities and discover the world around them.
David Arakelyan
Student Trustee and
ASGCC President
On behalf of the Associated Students, welcome to a new academic year. Glendale College is known for its diversity. We hope that Glendale College will continue to be a melting pot of cultures, enticing students from diverse social, cultural and economic background to pursue higher education. I wish the best of luck to those students who are pursuing academic success!
J.C. Moore
Sociology Professor and
Cultural Diversity Program
People are divided over, social class, religion, sexual orientation, gender, special treatment for the disabled, and whatever else you can think of.
One of my mail goals as a coordinator of the Cultural Diversity program is to promote tolerance and sensitivity. To reach this end, The Glendale Community College Cultural Diversity Program (GCC CDP) offers a distinguished speakers' lecture series, a film festival on all socio-cultural topics, book exhibitions, hands-on cultural workshops, free music concerts, poetry readings, dance performances, and a very popular ethnic food luncheon.
Sid Kolpas, Ph.D
Professor of Physics and
Senate President
Cultural diversity is the harmonious blend of a variety of human cultures and their achievements. Cultural diversity celebrates the inter-connectivity of all people through their ethnicity, language, histories, and traditions. It encourages creativity through a pluralism of ideas, access and participation, and freedom of expression and choice. In an increasingly global world, with concomitant global problems, we must face those issues together, not alone. Cultural diversity is an important human resource that fuels innovation, progress, and most importantly, understanding and tolerance. Our diversity helps us understand who we are. The knowledge and appreciation of our differences makes us a stronger, united society.
The Academic Senate of Glendale College embraces cultural diversity. We have an ethnically diverse student body, and strive to have a faculty that is equally diverse. To that end, the Glendale College Academic Senate has a task force that seeks ways to make our faculty more sensitive to our campus's cultural diversity. Moreover, the task force is also investigating methods of recruiting and retaining a culturally diverse faculty.


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Washington D.C., Aug 30, 2013 / 05:12 pm MT ().- Top U.S. officials say they are still considering a "narrow" military response to the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria, as a representative of the U.S. bishops urges negotiations aimed at peace.
"We will continue talking to the Congress, talking to our allies and, most importantly, talking to the American people," said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in an Aug. 30 address.
While the option of a "limited and tailored" military response is still on the table, Kerry said that the ultimate goal "is to have a diplomatic process that can resolve this through negotiation, because we know there is no ultimate military solution."
The need for negotiation was also highlighted by Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, who heads the U.S. bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace.
In an Aug. 29 letter, he reinforced to Kerry that the U.S. bishops' conference has long held "that the Syrian people urgently need a political solution that ends the fighting and creates a future for all Syrians, one that respects human rights and religious freedom."
The country of Syria has been embattled in violent conflict since spring of 2011, when government forces were deployed to put down uprisings protesting against Syrian President Bashar Assad, launching a conflict that has escalated into a civil war.
The United Nations has estimated that more than 100,000 people have died in the conflict, with more than three million being displaced within the country or becoming refugees in nearby nations.
Last winter, several nations including the U.S. recognized a Syrian opposition coalition as the legitimate voice of the Syrian people. Other nations – notably Russia, China and Iran – have supported the Assad regime.
A U.N. report last year found that both sides in the conflict had committed war crimes, although the rebel forces – comprised of different groups with various religious and political ideologies – had done so on a smaller scale.
Last week, reports indicated that chemical weapons had been used in an attack outside Damascus. The Syrian government denied responsibility, attributing the attack to opposition forces.
However, Kerry said that the U.S. intelligence community "has high confidence" based on the evidence they have obtained that the attacks were carried out by the Assad regime on "his own people."
"The United States government now knows that at least 1,429 Syrians were killed in this attack, including at least 426 children," he said.
The Secretary of State emphasized that numerous other countries have condemned the chemical attacks. However, action by the United Nations Security Council is unlikely, as Russia has already blocked a resolution authorizing military force in Syria.
Meanwhile, an ongoing U.N. inspection has been mandated only to confirm the use of chemical weapons, not identify the responsible parties, he continued. Nonetheless, a lack of unified global action does not remove the "responsibility" of the United States to the international community and human rights.
Simply speaking out against the use of chemical weapons is not enough to dissuade other countries from similarly challenging these international norms, Kerry said, underscoring the need for the perpetrators to be held accountable. "It matters if the world speaks out in condemnation and then nothing happens."
Later in the day, President Barack Obama said that a decision has not yet been made on what course of action the United States will take. He emphasized that he is considering a "limited, narrow" military response rather than an "open-ended commitment" or "boots-on-the-ground approach."
Numerous Church leaders – including local bishops, Vatican officials and Pope Francis – have called for dialogue rather than military action in Syria.
In his letter, Bishop Pates called on Kerry to be cautious in using military force in Syria. While acknowledging the chemical attack as abhorrent, he echoed Pope Francis' emphasis on dialogue and negotiation to bring peace.
The bishop encouraged the U.S. to "work with other governments to obtain a ceasefire, initiate serious negotiations, provide impartial and neutral humanitarian assistance, and encourage building an inclusive society in Syria that protects the rights of all its citizens, including Christians and other minorities."
Tags: Syria, Peace, War, Dialogue
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DiS heads to Utrecht for the two-day Le Guess Who festival, celebrating and promoting Canadian music, held at the city's Tivoli venue. Check its website here for further information.
Are you wondering where the indie scene is in the Netherlands? Well, I can tell you now it's not in Amsterdam. If you take a hop, skip and a jump down the train tracks, heading south, you'll stumble upon the long forgotten helm of independent music in a moderate sized university town by the name of Utrecht. The venue? That goes by the name of the Tivoli, located just a few bounds down the Oudergracht, the oldest canal in the city.
As my lady and I walk into the Tivoli, the crowd – mostly millennium-age hipster teenagers in '80s second wave Reeboks and Converse – are standing slack-jawed, staring at the band on stage: Young Galaxy. Founded by ex-Stars touring guitarist Stephen Ramsay and Catherine McCandless, they are just one of the many young and amazingly gifted talents to come out of the ever-expanding Arts and Crafts label since its inception in 2002. Often compared to British shoegazers Slowdive, their sound is full of experimental melodies, expanding on their space-rock sound, pushing into what my lovely girlfriend dubs "psychedelic no-wave". Their live show just adds to their wall of sound, and does not come lightly.
Looking around the tattered inner walls of the Tivoli, I notice old television monitors blinking promos for this two-day festival, and as the lights dim and the young ladies in the crowd start to scream their faces off, I can only think of one thing: "They misspelled Ottawa". The research-savvy organisers dubbed it Ottowa!
On their last show of a six-month tour, Victoria-based five-piece synth-punk fan favourites Hot Hot Heat take stage, amid a classic Moterhead-esque riff, their black silhouettes against a piercing blue light. I can see that they are fully prepared to wow the crowd with their not-so-uniquely selected sound, and as they break into their first track, 'Fashion Fight Pause', from 2002's Release Scenes One Through Thirteen, the band's perfected stage show takes hold.
With jerry curl primed and leather vest shining, lead singer Steve Bays stands poised, striking a dastardly pose behind his instruments of choice: the keyboards. Their stage show down pat, the beats are timed perfectly to the lighting display, and the band curls through their 75-minute long set, rolling through their favourites with scientific ease.
But something bugs me about them. Yes, they're masters of a catchy chorus, that much can be said. The kids in the audience lap it all up, but is there any substance? Their music seems so ineffectual that I am distracted by the dry ice that billows out of places unknown. And it seems as though I am not the only one – looking around, sections of the crowd seem unaffected by the band's catchy tunes, which are so obviously void of any creativity. But HHH put on a good rock show nonetheless. If you aren't a geezer, and as cynical about the music scene as I am, they just might be a decent enough intro into the rock/electronic amalgamation that is so prevalent these days.
With the second day of Le Guess Who underway, I know that Saturday is the day to be here. With convoluted scheduling and a tired mind, my beautiful partner and I skip the late bands on Friday evening (unfortunately missing out on electronic geniuses MSTRKRFT) as we know the likes of Julie Doiron , Caribou , Miracle Fortress and Black Mountain are sure to impress. This will be the day when all those Nederlanders, who may well have been unimpressed on Friday night, will no doubt be wowed by all that is Canadian.
Julie Doiron, once guitarist-turned-bassist for Eric's Trip, is the first act of the evening. Set up with her lone drummer on the side of the stage, she takes a more subdued approach to the festival with her lyrically driven songs, singing sweet melodies about her children and love gone wrong. "We're trying something new tonight," Doiron states, as they step into a French-language tune which may or may not be off of her 2001 effort Désormais.
With a mop of hair strewn across her eyes, her strong, powerful voice has almost a commanding presence, with the crowd, at a limited number this time, stand open-mouthed, transfixed by her fuzzy guitars, ever-so-quiet vocals and sparse, melancholic songwriting. An altogether different detail I note is her drummer's unique set up: with a jumper laid across the snare, and a lack of a stool, he stands up while he plays. It's when Doiron whispers back, "Are you alright, Fred, without the kick drum?", that I notice it's not just the stool he's missing, but the bass drum altogether. It may be her meekness that makes Doiron so charming. She is the quintessential Canadian musician: very humble and so grateful for the opportunity to play for those unCanadian.
The next band carries on a similarly subdued sound and comparable minimalism. Lightning Dust, side project of Black Mountain duo Amber Webber and Joshua Wells, have been playing together for many years as part of Black Mountain, but with so many ideas to spare, they have created a defining sound of sorrowful ballads backed by Webber's subdued vocals.
But it's Daniel V. Snaith who takes us for a most wonderful ride. The ex-Manitoba man has assumed the role of both percussionist and keyboardist (whilst occasionally popping in on the guitar) while fronting this, his latest creation: Caribou. His melodic progressions are comprised of rhythms that are light of touch, and so instrumentally smart that it's no wonder he has been quoted as saying, "I'm not the type of person who takes physical things apart and plays around with them, but I like taking mental things apart and playing around with them." (Linkage.)
As mathematically smart as he is technically accomplished (Snaith studied mathematics at the University of Toronto), the band has set themselves up mirroring each other: Snaith is across from the drummer at the front of the stage, facing the kit and its minder, while both guitarists stand behind them, facing the crowd. It's a very strange set up, I find, for a truly original musical outing. Going by way of the post-rock avenue, long and seemingly never-ending choruses lapse from one to the next, reverberating so loudly that, even sitting on one of the many couches at the rear of the room, our eardrums still cower and shake in fear of complete decimation.
Taking stage next is Montreal-based indie rock band Miracle Fortress. Graham Van Pelt's experimental recording project is just that: experimental. The skinny, wide-eyed, big-eared and big-mouthed front man awoos and awes with the best of them, reminding me of Hidden Cameras frontman Joel Gibb. Van Pelt and friends change and switch instruments like some strange version of musical chairs. Two percussionists provide off-timed rhythms and the band members move in sync with each other, like they've been playing together for years; keyboardist Adam Waito (of Telefauna fame, and sporting a fine pair of construction boots) stabs away on his keys while randomly fiddling with a series of pedals atop his instrument, producing a wide array of sounds unknown to the common man.
With pennywhistles, guitars, keys, all kinds of percussion from the standard drum kit to maracas, tambourines, reindeer bells, jingly bracelets, a standard bass and a whole lot of love, witnessing Miracle Fortress's first foray outside Canada leaves onlookers utterly gob-smacked. Combining echoing vocals, ambient drones, Zombies-influenced arrangements, post-rock repetition and Brian Wilson-inflected penmanship seems to craft a complete wall of sound that somehow makes this project of Van Pelt's one of the sweetest sounds I've ever heard.
And now the headliners take centre stage. Black Mountain is merely the front band for a much bigger collective of musicians, artists and friends out of Vancouver that go by the title 'BLACK MOUNTAIN ARMY'. Four of the members also work for Insite, an organisation helping the unfortunates of Vancouver's east side (be they poor, addicts, or mentally ill) to meet the basic living requirements.
Incorporating Lightning Dust duo Wells and Webber (on drums and vocals respectively), the band is a five-piece, comprising Vancouver singer/songwriter Stephen McBean (regarded as the brains behind the operation) and fellow local musicians Matthew Camirand and Jeremy Schmidt. As one can tell from the onset, this lot are not just latching onto "another (Canadian) pop explosion". They're occasionally reminiscent of Tennessee quartet Kings of Leon, but exhibit modern influences like Queens of the Stone Age, with standout offerings recalling the influences of Zeppelin, Cream, The Rolling Stones and even a bit of Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground.
Black Mountain's psychedelic set combines an innovative style of slow rock, stoner rock, or whatever you want to call it, and inwardly inspired tracks' swoon about vocal lendings and ever so complicated instrumental collaborations. Their collectivist backgrounds shine through whole-heartedly, weaving through their different influences; their set seems more like an elongated jam session than a series of actual songs. But don't get me wrong: they have a structured sound that lends to McBean's songwriting genius, and the band's varied experiences. Despite the altogether different sound that is presented on their self-titled album, if you're into a bit of '60s- and '70s-influenced rock, they're definitely a band worth checking out.
There's one reason and one reason alone that makes these mini-festivals so popular: diversity. There's something for everyone. From Hot Hot Heat's poppy, synth-driven electro-rock,and Doiron's melodic, swooping, vocally-driven harmonics to Daniel Snaith's electronic, synthy grievances and Black Mountain's slowly wailing repertoire, there really is something for all in attendance, whatever their tastes. We take the train back to Amsterdam chock-full of musical goodness. As the train lurches forth toward the city of winding canals and blatant gratuitousness, we let it all soak in, band by harmonious band.
Caribou photograph: Marijn Scholtus