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subset: commoncrawl


text:
This is exactly what we don't want to happen.
Hundreds of Afghans railed against the United States and called for President Barack Obama's death at a rally in Kabul to denounce an extreme evangelical church's plans to burn the Islamic holy book on September 11. The Gainesville, Florida-based Dove World Outreach Center has been denied a permit to set a bonfire and has vowed to proceed with the Koran-burning.
The crowd in Kabul, numbering as many as 500, chanted "Long live Islam" and "Death to America" as they listened to fiery speeches from members of parliament, provincial council deputies, and Islamic clerics who criticized the U.S. and demanded the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country. Some threw rocks when a U.S. military convoy passed, but speakers shouted at them to stop and told police to arrest anyone who disobeyed. Protesters who had gathered in front of Kabul's Milad ul-Nabi mosque raised placards and flags emblazoned with slogans calling for the death of Obama, while police looked on. They burned American flags and a cardboard effigy of Dove World Outreach Center's pastor, Terry Jones, before dispersing peacefully.
The White House, State Department, NATO and neighboring nations in Southwest Asia and the Middle East have condemned Terry Jones for the proposed Koran-burning. The Wall Street Journal reports that Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, says the planned burning of Korans "could put the lives of American troops in danger and damage the war effort. Not just here [in Afghanistan], but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."
So much for "supporting the troops." Thanks a lot wingnut a-holes. Watch the video WHEN YOU JUMP ...
Continue reading "WATCH: Afghans Rally Against U.S. and Chant "Death to Obama"" »


text: Inspector Rik Seivwright and Sergeant Victoria Taylor After talking to local residents you've told us that your greatest concerns are drug dealing and associated abuse; housebreaking and acquisitive crime; anti-social behaviour and youths causing annoyance and speeding, inconsiderate and dangerous driving. In our plans below you can see how we are tackling these issues. Forfar and District Forfar and District is based within the Angus Area Command. Your Priorities We are acting on priorities to influence policing in your area. For more information see the Multi Member Ward Plan. Policing Team How to Contact Us Our 'Contact Us' emails are not monitored 24/7. Our Twitter and Facebook sites are not for reporting crime and they are not monitored 24/7. In an emergency always dial 999. For non-urgent crime, you can contact your local police office by telephoning 101. Please note that our Community Team email address is not for reporting crime or ongoing incidents. These should be reported by calling 101 (non-emergency) or 999 (emergency). Email accounts are also not monitored 24/7. Email: email@example.com Your Police Station Forfar Police Station 76 West High Street, Forfar, DD8 1BP


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819 SE Marshall St.
Boone, IA 50036
New 2020 Heartland Prowler 250BH
Heartland Prowler travel trailer 250BH highlights:
- Queen Bed
- Double Bed w/Twin Bunk Above
- Sofa
- Ample Storage
You will appreciate the home-away from home conveniences found throughout this travel trailer every time you take it out of storage. In the evening plan to visit with your family while relaxing on the sofa or booth dinette when you aren't outside by the campfire. You will find the kitchen area is functional to use and easy to whip up your favorite meals with a three-burner range and double sink. When it's bedtime, plan to get a good night's rest on a comfortable queen bed up front while the kids are sleeping on a rear double bed with twin bunk above conveniently located next to the full bathroom.
Stock# RV226
|29 ft 1 in
|Ext Width
|8 ft
|Ext Height
|11 ft
|Int Height
|6 ft 8 in
|Hitch Weight
|528 lbs
|Gross Weight
|6900 lbs
|Dry Weight
|4814 lbs
|Cargo Weight
|2054 lbs
|Fresh Water Capacity
|41 gals
|Grey Water Capacity
|40 gals
|Black Water Capacity
|40 gals
|Furnace BTU
|30000 btu
|Number Of Bunks
|Available Beds
|Refrigerator Type
|Double Door
|Refrigerator Size
|6 cu ft
|Cooktop Burners
|Number of Awnings
|Axle Weight
|3500 lbs
|LP Tank Capacity
|20 lbs
|Water Heater Capacity
|6 gal
|Water Heater Type
|DSI Gas/Electric Quick Recovery
|13500 btu
|Awning Info
|Axle Count
|Number of LP Tanks
|Shower Type
|Electrical Service
|30 amp
Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC, Elkhart, Ind., was founded in 2003 by a quintet of RV veterans. Their philosophy is lower numbers mean a better market and better dealers. That was one of the reasons why all of them left their previous companies to bring Heartland RV to the public.
The first product created by Heartland was a high-end fifth wheel. The LANDMARK which was aimed at extended-stay RVers who spend a lot of time in their coaches at one location was picked to create first on purpose because it was going to be the hardest to build and they wanted to prove that they could do it and do it right.
In 2006, Heartland broke ground on a new 110,000 sq. ft. production facility with a new corporate office structure attached. By the spring of 2006, Heartland had moved into the Top Ten 5th wheel manufacturers, and by the end of the year were solidly #8 with their eyes toward the #5 spot. Heartland was again poised for growth and launched the BIG COUNTRY 5th wheel and RAZOR toy hauler.


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Did You
- The cost of one bottle of water from a vending machine is equivalent to the cost of drinking 8 glasses of tap water every day for a year.
- A gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds.
- The Water Authority maintains almost 1500 miles of drinking water pipes. If you put them end-to-end, they would stretch from Roanoke to Colorado Springs, CO.
- At one drip per second, a faucet can leak 3,000 gallons of water per year.
- Water is the only substance naturally found on earth as a solid, liquid and gas.
- Over 713 gallons of water go into the production of one cotton T-shirt.
- The Authority's Water Pollution Control Plant is regarded as one of the best bird-watching areas in the mid-Atlantic region.
- The Water Authority maintains over 6,000 fire hydrants in our service area. Fire hydrants are connected to the public drinking water distribution lines, so water from a fire hydrant is drinking water.
- There are over 23,000 manholes in our service area.
- Carvins Cove Natural Reserve is the second largest municipal park in the United States.
- The Authority's Water Pollution Control Plant covers over 100 acres of land.
- More people in the world have a mobile phone than have a toilet.
- The Water Authority treats 19-million gallons of drinking water a day although we have the capacity to treat 56-million gallons per day.
- The Authority's Water Pollution Control Plant treats almost 37-million gallons of wastewater a day from all across the Roanoke Valley.
- There are 51 drinking water storage tanks in our service area. They each hold between 500,000 – 2-million gallons of water.
- Most of the treated drinking water used in a home is for toilet flushing.
COVID19 and the WVWA
Learn how we are protecting our community and see what you can do to help
Carvins Cove Boat Landing Information
Click to see current information about visiting Carvins Cove.
HomeServe Service Line Protection
Click to learn more about Service Line Protection Programs offered by HomeServe
Authority GIS
Design and Construction Standards
General Details
Water Details
Sewer Details
AutoCAD Construction Details
Definition of As-Builts for WVWA


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Newark, CAHome Menu
Volunteer Positions
Volunteers are a vital part of our City staff team. Whether at our Senior Center, Police Department, or other City facilities, volunteers assist City employees with a variety of challenging and important tasks. The City of Newark accepts volunteer applications on current openings only; see our current list of positions below.
Group Volunteering
Many people like to volunteer as a team. They may be employees from a particular company, members of a club or association, or even just a group of friends who would like to spend time together at a volunteer activity. Group volunteering is an excellent way to learn more about each other and build up a sense of team, but most importantly, it's a great way of making a valuable contribution to the community.
The City of Newark has group volunteering available in our maintenance and parks divisions. If you have a particular project that your group is interested in performing, or you're a team of individuals who want to get together and beautify the City, all you need to do is contact the Maintenance Division at (510) 578-4806. They will be more than happy to go over the scope of the project you have in mind and will discuss with you if it is possible. If you don't have a group project in mind but want to volunteer, we can use your assistance with park related clean-up efforts such as, trash pick-up, minor landscaping, painting, or graffiti removal.
Group volunteer work is available during park hours and in some cases, may be available during weekends. Be sure to contact the Maintenance Division at (510) 578-4806 if you are interested in becoming a group volunteer.
For basic information/FAQ's about group volunteering, please refer to the Group Volunteer Handbook (PDF).
Individual Volunteering
Volunteer applications are only accepted for positions that are currently available. Listed below are the positions open at this time. You may download the VOLUNTEER APPLICATION (PDF) and fax it to Assistant to the City Manager at (510) 578-4306 or mail it to;
Assistant to the City Manager
City of Newark
37101 Newark Blvd.
Newark, CA 94560
Once your application is submitted, please allow one week for a response. To discuss these or other volunteer opportunities, please e-mail email@example.com or call (510) 578-4392.
Current Positions
Reserve Police Officer
This volunteer position involves responsibility for assisting regular police officers in their duties and providing supplemental police protection service for citizens, corporations, or organizations, as assigned. The duties involve the protection of life and property, prevention and investigation of crimes, apprehension of criminals, and the enforcement of laws and ordinances. Information Sheet and Applicant Statement (PDF). Please use the volunteer application and the Applicant Statement, along with your POST certificate(s) to apply.
Graffiti Abatement
Who is removing all that graffiti? No, it's not just city employees. Residents of Newark have volunteered to get together and do the work. JOIN THE GRAFFITI ABATEMENT TEAM TODAY. For any questions email email@example.com.
For more volunteer opportunities in the community, please contact:
Alameda County Library Newark Branch, (510) 795-2627
Fremont Family Resource Center, (510) 574-2274
League of Volunteers (LOV Tri-Cities), (510) 793-5683
Tri-City Homeless Coalition / Adobe Services, (510) 252-0910
Viola Blythe Community Services, (510) 794-3437


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Mandisa, "Overcomer" (Official Music Video)
Mandisa released the music video for her new hit single "Overcomer."
This touching video features personal appearances from former U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, Captain Mark Kelly, Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton, and a Special Guest.
Mandisa says, "We chose each of them because when we thought of who has been an example of an overcomer in a very public battle, it is hard to imagine anyone more appropriate than the amazing people in my video. They have all fought, and continue to fight victoriously. I pray that sharing their inspirational stories throughout the video will leave people saying, 'If they can do it, so can I!'"


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Anime with genre: Horror
www.animeplus.tvwww.animeplus.tvStatus: Completed Released: 2003 Rating: 6.25/10 (12 Votes)
Another (Anime)Anime26 years ago, in a third-year classroom of a middle school, there was a student named Misaki. As an honors student who was also good at sports, the charming girl… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2012 Rating: 9.7/10 (525 Votes)
Aoi BungakuAnimeAn animated adaptation of six classical Japanese literature pieces, including No Longer Human (Ningen Shikaku) and Run, Melos (Hashire, Melos) by Osamu Dazai, Kokoro by Natsume Souseki, Hell Screen (Jigoku… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2009 Rating: 9.14/10 (22 Votes)
Ayakashi Japanese Classic HorrorAnimeA collection of three classic Japanese horror stories: "Yotsuya Kaidan," the story of a wife betrayed by her husband who seeks vengeance even in death, "Tenshu Monogatari," the story of… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2006 Rating: 8.7/10 (10 Votes)
Ayashi no CeresAnimeCeres was a tennyo (Celestial maiden) who came down from the heavens to bathe in a stream. She hung her hagoromo (robe) on a tree nearby, which was her key… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2000 Rating: 8.85/10 (91 Votes)
Ayatsuri SakonAnimeSakon is the grandson of the famous Bunraku master, Tachibana Zaemon. He is incredibly shy and lacks confidence in himself. However, when he is with his puppet, Ukon, he is… [More]Status: Completed Released: 1999 Rating: 9.42/10 (12 Votes)
Blue GenderAnimeYuji Kaido was diagnosed with a serious disease and cryogenically frozen. He wakes up more than 20 years later--and Earth is nothing like what he remembers. A race of alien… [More]Status: Completed Released: 1999 Rating: 8.55/10 (20 Votes)
Boogiepop PhantomAnimeA light in the sky, followed by a strange aura and grisly murders. Each character tells there own connection to the event and to a similar murder spree 5 years… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2000 Rating: 8.17/10 (6 Votes)
Boukyaku no SenritsuAnimeA great war occurred in the 20th century between humans and monsters. Since that time, the monsters rule the world in fear but keep relatively hidden from public view. A… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2004 Rating: 5.77/10 (13 Votes)
Deadman WonderlandAnimeGanta Igarashi has been convicted of a crime that he hasn't committed, and sent to a new, privately owned and operated prison, where the inmates are the main attraction in… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2011 Rating: 9.14/10 (115 Votes)
Demon Lord DanteAnimeA strange group of cultists have begun to gather a black mass in hopes of reviving an ancient devil lord known as Dante. Ry? Utsugi, a high school student, begins… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2002 Rating: 5.8/10 (10 Votes)
Descendants of DarknessAnimeEven after death, life is full of paperwork and criminals. Tsuzuki Asato is a 26 year old, happy-go-lucky, and dorky shinigami (god of death) whose job is to makes sure… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2000 Rating: 9.63/10 (24 Votes)
Devil Hunter Yohko OVAAnimeWho knew coming of age could be so tough? 16 year-old Yohko Mano is your typical high-schooler dealing with a not-so-typical upbringing. Her grandmother has been training her in the… [More]Status: Completed Released: 1990 Rating: 7.38/10 (8 Votes)
Divergence EveAnimeIn the future, interstellar travel takes place via "inflation gates" that pass through a parallel universe. Unfortunately, denizens of another universe, called "ghouls", want to invade our universe using the… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2003 Rating: 6.75/10 (8 Votes)
Elfen LiedAnimeThe Diclonius, a mutated homo sapien that is said to be selected by God and will eventually become the destruction of mankind, possesses two horns in their heads, and has… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2004 Rating: 9.77/10 (588 Votes)
Ghost HuntAnimeTelling ghost stories is a favorite past time of Mai Taniyama and her friends--that is, until she meets 17 year-old Kazuya Shibuya, the man sent by Shibuya Psychic Research Center… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2006 Rating: 9.66/10 (119 Votes)
Ghost StoriesAnimeKids and ghosts. When young Satsuki finds an old book of spells from her passed away mother, she gains the power to fight ghosts that are haunting her new school.… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2000 Rating: 8.83/10 (23 Votes)
Hakaba KitarouAnimeKitarou is a youkai boy born in a cemetery, and aside from his mostly-decayed father, the last living member of the Ghost tribe. He is missing his left eye, but… [More]Status: Completed Released: 2008 Rating: 5.78/10 (9 Votes)


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- Pedro hits vs Zach Duke at Pirate City
The day has finally arrived – Pedro Alvarez has been called up to the Pirates. He'll start at third base as I detailed in my previous post. I expect him to hit 5th between Jones and Doumit, but it wouldn't surprise me for Russell to put him lower in the lineup as JR like to "ease guys in." (Note to JR: Not everyone needs to be eased in. Some guys will do better it you just throw them in the deep end and see if they can swim.) No word yet on who'll be sent out to make room on the roster but the candidates include every player on the bench.
OTHER BITS: Lastings Milledge is getting squeezed for playing time since Jose Tabata was recalled last week. Not that I mind this, but its Ryan Church that he's getting squeezed for and neither of them have been hitting lately. I can't wait for Steve Pearce to get healthy and start playing first again so Garrett Jones can slide back to RF.
Tim at BUCCO FANS has a great redux on last year's trade with Seattle. Well worth the read. I mentioned last week on Twitter that it is amazing how Ronny Cedeno is the best player to come out of this deal. If any of the three pitchers the Pirates received reaches the majors then it will be an even better trade.
But we can worry about all of that another day. Happy #Pedropalooza everyone!
UPDATE: To make room on the roster for Pedro, Akinori Iwamura was Designated for Assignment. The club has said they hope to trade him in the next 10 days. Good luck with that.
Pedro is batting 6th and playing 3rd base.
Filed under: baseball, Pirates | Tagged: Akinori Iwamura, baseball, Garrett Jones, John Russell, Jose Tabata, Lastings Milledge, Mariners, Pedro Alvarez, Pirates, Ronny Cedeno, Ryan Church, Ryan Doumit, Steve Pearce |


text: May 16, 2011 - Most U.S. Voters Said 'no Way' To Trump, Quinnipiac University National Poll Found May 4 Word format In a May 4 Quinnipiac University national poll, 58 percent of American voters said they would never vote for Donald Trump for president. That 58 percent included 81 percent of Democrats, 32 percent of Republicans and 59 percent of independent voters, 55 percent of men and 61 percent of women. Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, is available to discuss this finding and other aspects of the 2012 presidential campaign. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.


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Want to feel God's loving involvement in your every day life?
Open a store.
That's right. One of the most spiritual things you can ever do with your life is to go into retail.
I went to school on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. In the late 60's and early 70's the Lower East Side was the Mecca of Jewish life in America. Hundreds of shops -- nearly all of them of the "bargain" variety -- hustled and bustled their wares to throngs of Jewish customers from anywhere and everywhere.
There was no Gap, no Circuit City, no Wal-Mart. If you needed a suit, you came to Rivington Street, a new transistor clock radio, you went to Canal Street or Delancey, a pickle for a nickel, Hester Street, a Hathaway shirt, Orchard Street. That was the place to go, to see, to 'hondle,' and to be seen. Every day, every shop, every interaction was a new and exciting adventure. It was incredible.
But my favorite location was actually a rather obscure street -- Allen Street. It was known for only one commodity -- neckties.
There must have been 20 shops on Allen Street, and all of them sold the same neckties.
Now I was no tie freak when I was a teenager. So what drew me to that unsung boulevard? It wasn't the ties at all.
I never actually counted, but there must have been 20 little shops on Allen Street, and all of them sold neckties. All of them! I kid you not. Not only that, they all sold the SAME neckties! Same colors, styles, fabrics, patterns -- and all for pretty much the same price.
I remember times when I would walk over to Allen Street from my high school and just stand on the sidewalk and watch, as people sauntered by the shops and occasionally entered and made a purchase. I would wonder to myself, "What made someone choose to walk into one store rather than another?"
There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for it, since they were all pretty much the same. When it dawned upon me that perhaps the 'x' factor was the service people received, I personally visited some of these establishments and found no perceivable difference from one store to another -- same grouchy and grumpy reception.
That's when I felt a Heavenly Presence. Who else could be guiding those tie-less customers into each store? Although we all possess free will and each customer did indeed choose the store he wanted to patronize, there seemed to be no compelling reason to select one store over another! To me, the only plausible explanation was that they were being personally herded by the Almighty's invisible hand.
So anytime I needed a spiritual lift, I just zipped up my parka, headed over to Allen Street, found a good spot, and waited. Invariably, I saw God quietly at work.
I am no longer in high school and life's incredible theater has certainly afforded me an orchestra seat in observing God in full Technicolor. The actors change, the sets may vary, but the Director always leaves His mark. What a thrill it is to sit back, munch on some chocolate covered raisins, and watch the performance we call Life. If you are really tuned in, the show just never seems to end.
Until recently, my family's vocational pursuits were exclusively rooted in the professional domain; psychotherapy, teaching, writing, and lecturing. Certainly, these and nearly every profession, afford the participant ample opportunity to see the hand of God at work. But, to my surprise and delight, we have discovered a new and potent path to the divine connection.
Five long weeks ago, my wife and I (mostly my wife) opened The Shell Station -- Brooklyn LLC. We sell women's and kid's tops. The business really belongs to my daughter and son-in-law. They started it two years ago in New Jersey and now they convinced us to make a few bucks and open a branch in Brooklyn.
Word is getting out and people are starting to come. With God's help... who knows? The store is open on Sunday plus two nights a week and my dear wife mans the controls (and the register). Me? Well, the customers are all women and I, kind of, don't really belong. So far, I cut open the boxes after hours, bring out the trash, and do the bank thing. But I do find other ways to be involved.
Some may think that there can be no pursuit more mundane than retail. I'm finding out how far from true that is.
Every once in a while, when life seems glum, when the mundane eclipses the ethereal pursuits, when the milk is spoiled and the kids dent the car, I zip up my parka and go for a walk. Two minutes later I'm on Avenue L, across the street from The Shell Station, in perfect view of the Heavenly stage. And I watch. They come and they go. Some pass the store and never look up. Others give a glance and a shrug and shuffle on to other theaters. And some turn the door knob and enter the play.
I close my eyes and I see Allen Street. I laugh. No, I'm not 16 any more. And there aren't 20 Shell Stations on Avenue L. But the picture is still very very clear. Yes. People still exercise free choice and decide where to shop, and whether and how much to buy. But there are so many shops to choose from, so many styles, colors, and fabrics to consider, and a wide price range to reckon with. How are all those consumer decisions really made? I can't help but believe that somewhere, in the great beyond, a Guiding Hand is involved.
Some may think (as I did) that there can be no pursuit more mundane than retail. I'm finding out how far from true that is. Every purchase, every advertisement, every decision -- placement, pricing, policy, labeling, location, lighting, ambience, and timing -- is saturated with the will of God. It is He who guides. It is He who provides.
The actors have changed and the sets, indeed, have varied. But the music is still stirring something deep within my soul.
The Director is always leaving His mark.


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Access USGS - San Francisco Bay and Delta
|The vast San Francisco Bay and Delta region of California is located at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. It is often referred to as the San Francisco Bay estuary. Since the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada foothills in 1848, this region has undergone rapid, large-scale, and permanent changes driven by population migration attracted to the region's natural setting and economic opportunities. The consequent land use changes, particularly urbanization, have resulted in the loss of wetlands, alteration of freshwater inflows, contamination of water, sediments and biota, and declines of fish and wildlife species.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has maintained a broad program of multi-disciplinary research studies, both fundamental and applied, in the San Francisco Bay estuary and its watershed. The studies help us understand the extent and impact of these changes, as they also help decision-makers use science to help mitigate adverse effects. USGS studies often are conducted in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local agencies, and have been designed to increase our understanding of important issues. These issues include waste disposal, water flow management, harbor/channel dredging, wetland restoration, food web processes, exotic species impacts, natural hazards mitigation, and maintaining quality of life.
"Access USGS--San Francisco Bay & Delta" was created to help disseminate this information via the World Wide Web. Here you will find examples of USGS publications, posters, maps, and other information on the San Francisco Bay & Delta region from many disciplines.


text:
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland men's basketball head coach Mark Turgeon announced today junior Jake Layman fractured a bone in his left hand during a voluntary team pickup basketball game. Layman is expected to miss four-to- six weeks and will not need surgery. He is expected to be fully recovered when the team begins practice in September.
Layman appeared in 32 games (28 starts), averaging 11.7 points and 5.0 rebounds while averaging a team-high 31.8 minutes per game. He led the Terps with 61 3-pointers made, shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc.


text:
Thursday, May 20, 2010
"Book 'em Danno"
Jason Mercier shows his age by referring to Hawaii Five-O in this piece on the debate over booking photos in the Sunshine Committee.
Posted by OG-Blog at 5/20/2010 05:59:00 AM
"Og-blog" stands for "open-government blog" and that's what we do: tell people about open-government issues of interest to regular citizens, media, trade associations, and government agencies. We find interesting stories and court cases from Washington State and other places about the Public Records Act, Open Public Meetings Act, access-to-court rulings, and media law.


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Don't you just want to pinch his cheek? Grandparents adore sweetheart satirist Mo Rocca and he adores them — so much so that he roams the country with his Cooking Channel series, My Grandmother's Ravioli, to revel in their AARP-tastic wisdom and uncover their culinary secrets. And he never leaves without the recipes!
TV Guide Magazine: The seniors on your show are remarkable, and remarkably real. What's the secret to keeping them that way on camera?
Mo Rocca: It's deflating to admit this, but people who don't desperately want to be on TV are actually much better on TV than we who make a living at it. These marvelous grandparents are not trying to make a splash and get their own reality show. They lead full, rich lives. They speak their minds and don't care what other people think. They're all so incredible! I'd be extremely proud if this becomes the show that makes you want to get old.
TV Guide Magazine: They also seem wonderfully unphased by nouvelle cuisine.
Rocca: We're talking Thai immigrants, Holocaust survivors, American Indians, Pennsylvania Dutch — you'll never see anything trendy on their dinner tables! No tall food, God forbid. No foam, which always reminds me of flotsam and jetsam, even though they use it in all the hip restaurants nowadays. The closest we get to anything nouvelle this season is with Suzanne, a wonderful hippie grandmother, who took me out foraging for nettles to make a nettle frittata. Weird...but delicious.
TV Guide Magazine: So this job is total bliss? No challenges at all?
Rocca: Here's the only hard part: Getting their recipes down on paper so we can share them on our website. None of these people measure! With them it's always, "I use a little bit of this and a little bit of that." And so many of them have never made these recipes with anyone else in the family. Most of the grandparents on our show are volunteered by their kids or grandkids, who want a family document and a memory they can treasure for decades to come. We're capturing personal history here.
TV Guide Magazine: You've been a judge on Iron Chef America. How would these grandparents fare in a kick-ass competition like that?
Rocca: Most would be right up there in terms of flavor and presentation, but they would demolish the competition when it comes to personality. These are the folks who built America — strong, decent, sturdy stock. They invite you into their homes and you never want to leave.
My Grandmother's Ravioli airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on Cooking Channel.


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CASE65430: Horary consultation concerning Mrs Warren (PERSON61178)
Question asked by Mr William Bouth (PERSON28280) on 25 February 1628 at 13:00
RN Mr Boaths mā came for the gentlewomā \Mres Warren/ sick of the mother feb 25. ♂ h. 1. p. m. 1628
[Astrological Chart]
Transcribed excerpt from MS Ashmole 410, f. 113v (bottom right part of page)
CASE11635: Horary consultation concerning Old Widow Frances Fisher (PERSON11782)
Question asked by the patient on 18 August 1598 at 10:00
RN Goody Fisher sent for me to come to her Aug 18 die ♀. h. 10. who hath bene sick ever sinc satterd last. & still keepeth her bed. 1598. sick of the mother
[Astrological Chart]
Transcribed excerpt from MS Ashmole 228, f. 16v (upper right part of page)
CASE11932: Horary consultation concerning Toucher (PERSON16500)
Question asked by the patient on 3 January 1599 at 12:09
RN Mr {sic} Charels Tutcher Charles at Stonystratford at the swan of 2 neckes. 45. sick this fortnight. sonewhat {sic} Costive shee doth bleede & is very mutch stuffed in her chest can scarce tak her winde. ready to sound a grosse & fat woman. sent a poer woman. Ian. 3. die ☿. h. 12. 9. mi. 1599. \at 1. p m /|twice & thrice a day bleedeth at ye nose. half a pint at a time \every othr daye/|
[Astrological Chart]
Charels Touchers wife hath not had her termes this 6 yeres her stomack hoven & her hed ill & backe her wombe & chest stuffed short winded. hart ill water good. yellowe but thin. taken a greefe for payment of monyes for her husb. brother for s{ur}tiship. 200li
[Astrological Chart]
Transcribed excerpt from MS Ashmole 228, f. 77r (upper left, and upper right parts of page)
Medical >Illness (general) (Sickness )
Medical >Symptoms (specified) (ConstipationBleeding)
Medical >Parts of the body >Torso (ChestStomachBackWomb, matrix, mother )
Medical >Symptoms (specified)>Respiratory problems (StuffedShort winded)
Medical >Symptoms (specified)>Dizzy and/or faint (Faintness)
Medical >Parts of the body >Head and neck (Nose)
Medical >Women's matters>Menstrual problems (No courses)
Medical >Symptoms (specified)>Bloating and swelling (Swelling)


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Reznor UDAP (select model for pricing)
Reznor® V3 series model UDAP gas-fired unit heaters are available in 14 sizes ranging from 30,000 to 400,000 BTUH gas input. Sizes 30-125 are approved for residential application. All sizes are approved for commercial/industrial installations. Model UDAP heaters are designed for 82-83% thermal efficiency and are approved for installation in the United States and Canada by the Canadian Standards Association(CSA).
Reznor® V3 Series unit heaters have a refreshing new appearance with a glossy white cabinet finish, unique REZNOR mitered corner and less visible hardware. Each size cabinet is easily suspended from either 2 or 4 suspension points, or an optional hanger kit for all sizes allows for ceiling mounting. The low voltage terminal strip on the outside of the cabinet makes connecting control wiring easy with no panels to remove. The addition of a "G" terminal to the strip, along with the new design of the circuit board, allows for fan only operation (without adding relays). All units have a factory installed gas line nipple to the exterior of the cabinet for easy gas service connection. The preeminent new internal feature is the T-CORE2 ® heat exchanger and single burner combustion system. Other standard features include a single-stage gas valve, multi-try direct spark ignition with 100% lockout, pressure switch to verify vent flow, resiliently isolated venter motor, venter wheel with improved housing, resiliently isolated axial fan and motor assembly and a high temperature limit control. Sizes 30-125 also include a flame rollout safety switch. Operation is controlled through an integrated circuit board. The circuit board monitors heater operation and has LED diagnostic indicator lights to identify abnormalities in control functions. The new V3 series unit heaters are designed to provide all the features you expect in a Reznor heater plus improved efficiency, easier installation and a new look - both inside and out.
Please Allow Approx. 3-4 Weeks For Delivery


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Established in 1981, East Coast Seafood Group has become a global force in the worldwide distribution of seafood, with our signature products North American lobster and North American scallops. Today the company operates worldwide with facilities throughout the USA and Canada, fulfilling customer requirements and providing a diversified line of top quality seafood products.
- Seatrade in New Bedford, MA (scallop and fin-fish processing)
- Seatrade in Lakeville, MA (Scallop Freezing)
- Maine Fair Trade Lobster in Gouldsboro ME (lobster processing and distribution)
- Garbo Lobster in Groton CT and Hancock ME (live lobster and distrbution)
- Worldwide Perishables in Chelsea, MA (freight forwarder logistics)
- Paturel International on Deer Island, NB (live lobster and processing)


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powered by WikiTravel
Tamil Nadu - the land of Tamils is a state in Southern India known for its temples and architecture, food, movies and classical Indian dance and Carnatic music. The languages spoken here are predominantly Tamil (also written as Thamizh) and English in the larger cities and metro capital Chennai. It is the historical home of the famous Chera, Chola, Pandya and Pallava kingdoms which thrived in ancient and medieval India.
Tamil language is one of the few still living classical languages, with two millennia of written tradition. Unlike northern Indian languages, it belongs to the Dravidian language family that includes the other major South Indian languages - Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Tamil Nadu was the site of violent anti-Hindi riots in 1965 when the union government tried to impose Hindi as the sole official language of India. English works in almost all the cities.
If you don't speak Tamil, most of the people speak English fluently or know some basic English, so you shouldn't have a problem getting by in the major cities.
Tamil Nadu has 4 international airports and 3 domestic airports. Chennai International Airport is a major international airport that is connected with 19 countries with more than 169 direct flights every week. This is the third largest airport in India after Mumbai and Delhi and has a passenger growth of 18%. Other international airports present in the state are Coimbatore International Airport, Madurai International Airport and Tiruchirapalli International Airport. Salem and Tuticorin Airports are domestic airports with convenient connections to the rest of the state and the country. Increased industrial activity has given rise to an increase in passenger traffic as well as freight movement which has been growing at over 18 per cent per year.
Tamil Nadu is served by Southern Railway and there are many trains from Chennai to almost every major city in India. Chennai serves as a gateway city for connections from other parts of Tamil Nadu.
One can easily get around the state from any one city to another using swift transportation available locally. However, it is advised that cabs should be pre-booked to avoid any kind of inconvenience.
Chennai is one point on the Golden Quadrilateral project, the construction of limited access divided highways that link circumnavigate the heart of India.
Chennai has one of Asia's largest bus stations, CMBT. Seven different state owned corporations fly buses to and from various destinations within South India. There are hourly buses for places like Tirupati, Pondicherry, Coimbatore. You will get the option of A/C or Non-A/C coaches for cities like Bangalore, Trivandrum, Hyderabad.
Several private players also operate buses between most southern destinations. During the weekends most buses are fully occupied and it's better to reserve a ticket in advance. All buses terminate near Koyambedu but there are different stands for state owned(CMBT), and private buses (Omni bus terminus). Both these terminuses are near each other, and it is better to tell your exact destination to the taxi/autorickshaw driver. Buses usually drop passengers at various points in the city before reaching the terminus. So feel free to ask the driver or fellow passengers the closest drop-off point to your destination.
Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses ply throughout the city. These are government-run and extremely cheap. You can buy bus tickets online at redbus or Ticketgoose or Via.com . Extreme caution is advised in using these buses as they are often out of shape, will begin moving before passengers are fully boarded, and are, like second class suburban trains, notorious for passengers having to hang off the edge or outside of the bus while in motion. But now state corporation introduces New Type Deluxe, A/C Buses for Chennai Passengers. Also introduced new 2500 buses for Chennai.
Coimbatore - Manchester of south India known for its textile industries and an engineering Hub, plesant climate,Kongu tamil language well known for hospitality.
Recently, there has been a great rise in the number of complaints about harassment of innocent tourists in various destinations around the country. The Ministry of Tourism has adopted a strategy of introducing Audio Guide Devices at various places of interest around the country such as the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, etc. to provide reliable and factual information to tourists. It is wise to hire such devices as you can avoid being ripped off or ambushed by desperate touts itching to make a buck. The Ministry of Tourism has also announced its partnership with AudioCompass, a company specializing in creating Audio Tours of all places of interest in the country including Chennai, Pondicherry, Mahabalipuram, etc in the form of Audio Devices available at the monuments and Smartphone apps that can be download from the App Store.
The first day, Bogi Pongal, is about getting the old things out of your household to make way for the new harvest. On this day, discarded household items (brooms, mats, etc.) are burnt before sunrise and delicacies are offered to the Gods.
The second day, Uzhavar Thirunaal (Farmer's day), is about thanking the sun god for his sun shine. On this day Ven Pongal, a mixture of rice and lentils, is cooked in earthen pots and offered to the Gods along with sarkarai pongal the sweeter version of the former.
The third day, Maatu Pongal (Maatu - Cow), is for paying respect to cattle. Cows/bulls are washed, their horns are painted and decorated, and they are taken to a nearby temple. Challikattu, Indian version of the Bull run, competitions are also held.
On the fourth day, kaanum Pongal, family and friends are visited and new clothes are given to maids and servants. This day is for thanking fellow humans for their support.
Tamil Nadu provides the visitor with a wide variety of delicious food both for the vegetarians as well as the non-vegetarians, though most food in Tamil Nadu consists of grains, lentils, rice and vegetables. Spices are added to give a distinctive taste.
Breakfast or tiffin includes idli or steamed rice dumplings, dosai is a crisp pancake made from a batter of rice and lentils, vada is a deep fried doughnut made from a batter of lentils, pongal is a mixture of rice and lentils cooked together and seasoned with ghee, cashew nuts, pepper and cumin seed), uppuma is semolina cooked, seasoned in oil with mustard, pepper, cumin seed and dry lentils.
Lunch usually consists of rice with Sambar, rasam, and yogurt along with a number of spicy side dishes. This is called meals. A decent meals costs less than a dollar.
There are 2 types of meals Limited and Unlimited.
There are several variations of the dishes mentioned above which are eaten with coconut chutney, sambar which is a seasoned lentil dish and mulaga podi which is a powdered mix of several roasted lentils and red chili blended with oil.
The famous filter coffee special to Tamil Nadu is carefully made from chosen coffee beans, and roasted to preserve the original aroma of the beans.
These roasted beans are powdered and the flavour of rich ground coffee powder is used to make filter coffee, enjoyed by every one. The water that you add has to be at boiling point so for the coffee powder to release its flavor. It is not possible to make coffee with tepid water.
Tamil Nadu has a wide range of accommodation to provide to its visitors, be it the class-conscious tourist or the budget-backpacker. Seeing the success of Homestay type accommodation promoted by the Kerala Ministry of Tourism, the Tamil Nadu counterpart introduced the "Bed and Breakfast" scheme.
Under this scheme accommodation is provided at nominal rates and at the same time with hygienic conditions. Anyways this "Bed and Breakfast" is a western concept neither developed by Kerala or Tamil Nadu. And as a bonus you can experience the local life style. "Bed and Breakfast" scheme was introduced by Tourism Department Tamil Nadu in 2001-2002. The scheme derives inspiration from a quote of Late Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, which goes like this "Receive a guest and send back a friend ". Under this scheme, a house owner can let out a few rooms to tourists. During the stay of the tourists in his house, the tourists will be provided with accommodation and food by the house owner. A detailed booklet containing the Names, addresses, Telephone Nos. etc. of the Bed and Breakfast scheme providers was published during 2001-2002 and this information was also put on the website of TTDC.
During the period 2001-02 to 2003-04 as many as 3,258 tourists had availed of this scheme. The Bed and Breakfast service providers are scattered throughout the length and breath of Tamil Nadu as stated below.
The house owners require the services of helpers to attend to the needs of the tourists. Hence, in 2004-2005 a project was established to train such helpers in the field of health and personal hygiene, cleanliness, basic service techniques, basic nutrition values etc.
Apart from this the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) has 36 Hotels in Tamil Nadu that are hygienic and suits the budget to middle category travellers. TTDC Corporation was incorporated during the year 1971. It made a modest beginning with Five Tourist Bungalows and with two coaches. It has made rapid strides since then, and today has earned the proud distinction of owning the largest chain of Hotels in South India numbering 36. The bed strength has increased from 253 in 1971 to 2504 in 1998. 24 fleet of coaches are in use at present. Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation has established the following Tourist's amenities in the State:-
Decent budget categories abound from Rs 300 ($7) to Rs 700 ($20). The former will get you a Non-Ac room with clean bed, TV and most probably a shared bathroom in most parts of Tamil Nadu. The latter will fetch you a Ac single room with basic amenities like TV, Bed, Room service and attached bathroom. If travelling as a couple expect to pay around Rs 500($10) to Rs 1100 ($23). Though you might be lucky to find a decent English speaking concierge at this range, you will find lots of people well-versed in Tanglish (a concoction of Tamil and English) which can be understood quite clearly if you listen hard and pay attention. Please take due precautions with your luggage and other essential documents and money. It is advisable to not leave any money in the room and to always carry your passport in person. Bring a good lock both for your luggage and the hotel door. If you are carrying laptops or digi-cams, keep them under lock and key when not taking them on person.
Medium category hotels can be had from Rs 1500 ($27) to Rs 4000 ($80). These will be your 2 to 4 Star rated Hotels. You will most probably be given a well furnished (by Indian standards) Air conditioned room with good lighting, bed, TV, attached bathroom with a bathtub and warm water during most of the day and hot water from 6AM–10AM and 6PM–10PM and a good concierge (who will serve you well provided you tip him the moment you see him rather than the last moment). Follow this advice when it comes to tipping. If you have reserved or kept in mind a certain amount for tipping, tip 20% of the amount at the beginning itself and the rest of the amount should be watered down subsequently on each tip with the final 20% as the last tip. Do not pay a flat rate tip all the time.
Safety in this category of hotels is more, though it is always advisable to be a little paranoid if you are carrying very expensive items. The safety issue is not a constant and will vary according to the city you are visiting and the hotel you are staying.
Most of the hotels in this category will have an in house restaurant and a bar. If you are lucky or choose well you might even get one with a Pub and a Discotheque around which the nightlife of the city is centered, though these kind of hotels are limited to the major cities which will serve you as a stop-gap in between visiting places of tourist interest. Expect a buffet breakfast to be thrown in as a compliment.
Individual cottages at beach resorts can be had within this budget.
Unlike Rajasthan, you will not find any Heritage Hotels (ancient Palaces that have been converted in to hotels) in Tamil Nadu. You will have to splurge on 5 star and 5 star deluxe hotels. They will cost you anywhere from Rs 5000 ($75) to Rs 20000 ($300). They are usually run by an international chain and so does not need description as checking into them here is akin to checking into them in San Francisco or Amsterdam.
These hotels are mostly limited to in and around the city of Chennai and a few in Madurai & Coimbatore. Generally speaking Tamil Nadu is a haven for the back-packers and the medium-budget travellers. As a result, in the more tourist oriented cities, good hotels with good food and service come cheap. You will be hard pressed to find a hotel where you can splurge these amounts. But of course what you save on your stay can be channelled into some good Kancheepuram silk saris for the beautiful ladies or into stone carvings of beautiful women for the Gentlemen.
Generally, Tamil Nadu is one among the safest places in India, but like any other tourist destination there are a few problems. Beware of pickpockets and thieves in buses and trains. If you travel via train, think twice before eating anything offered by co-passengers (sedative-laced drink/food followed by robbery have been reported).
Dress appropriately in public places. Anything below knee should be OK (better to avoid sleeveless shirts if going to temples). Also, when traveling with someone from the opposite gender, it would be advisable to avoid too much of physical intimacy, as it may invite unwanted attention and comments.
The Sri Lankan Civil War is a sensitive topic for people residing in Tamil Nadu. Some will even backlash on you if you call the Tamil Tigers a terrorist group or show some support of the Sri Lankan government. It is best to avoid this topic at all costs when in Tamil Nadu.
Here is the link to temple route map for the travellers visiting Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu.


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Monday, May 16, 2016
Forms of Energy
Posted by Rebecca May at 8:44 AM 0 comments
Labels: 4th grade, Forms of Energy, Science
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Fighting a Dragon with a Cannonball!
|About to release marble from 4 cm
|After the marble was released from 4cm
|About to release marble from 12cm
|Table of our results
|Graph of our results
Posted by Rebecca May at 9:22 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Lately we've been working with three types of force: gravity, friction, and magnetism. We started an investigation in which we made three pendulums of different lengths. We timed how long each pendulum took to make 10 swings, then looked at our pattern. For our pendulum with a string 10cm long, it took 5 seconds to swing 10 times. For our pendulum with a string of 20cm long, it took 6 seconds. Our pendulum with a string of 30cm long took 7 seconds to swing 10 times. We then predicted how long it would take a pendulum with strings of 40cm and 50cm to swing 10 times.
We discussed the forces involved in our experiment. We talked about the gravitational pull, which was responsible for making our pendulum fall. We also discussed the friction of the air rubbing against the string, which was responsible for slowing down the pendulum to an eventual stop. There is also friction found in the string rubbing against the pencil. This, too, helps slow our pendulum's swing.
Posted by Rebecca May at 8:19 AM 0 comments
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Here's a post-Thanksgiving addendum to that discussion of colonial dialects we had back in March. The Smithsonian and Plimouth Plantation gave some visitors the chance to eavesdrop on seventeenth-century New England.
"Waking the Ancestors: Recovering the Lost Sacred Sounds of Colonial America," was no ordinary living history program. Performed by educators from Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the program was developed as part of the Smithsonian's Religion in America initiative.
Just as calls to prayer and church bells are part of city life around the world, the religious lives of America's indigenous people and colonists had their own distinctive sounds. "Waking the Ancestors" explored just what those sounds might have been like. With the help of meticulous historical research, the team behind the program reconstructed how worship traditions sounded after the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620 in what is now Massachusetts.
That soundscape is anything but familiar to 21st-century listeners. The region was new to English colonists, but not to the Wampanoag, who once numbered over 100,000 in what is now Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The Pilgrims would have heard the traditional songs and dances of Wampanoag people when they arrived—and in turn, the Wampanoag would have heard Pilgrims worshiping in Anglican, Puritan and Separatist styles.
To demonstrate, the program featured worship music in all three styles, ranging from the choral harmonies of Anglicans to the unadorned chanting of Puritans and Separatists, which focused more on the text than music. "For [Separatists], music was just the handmaiden of worship," Richard Pickering, Plimoth Plantation's deputy director and the "Waking the Ancestors" program leader, tells Smithsonian.com. Attendees heard multiple versions of psalms sung in different styles and period accents—an attempt to illustrate the spiritual rifts and changes that occurred within what many think of as a homogenous group of colonists.
Here's the Twenty-Third Psalm as it sounded in New England four hundred years ago.
It's quite reminiscent of the Shakespearean pronunciation reconstructed by David Crystal, especially in the long "i"s and "a"s. But what about the dialect of the Pilgrims' Wampanoag neighbors?
In 1992, Jessie Little Doe Baird, who belongs to the Wampanoag Nation's Mashpee tribe, began having dreams in which her ancestors appeared to her speaking a language she could not understand. Compelled to bring back Wôpanâak, which had been little used since the 1830s, Baird and researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology used a rare book by missionary John Eliot to reconstruct the language. Eliot, who was given the nickname "the Apostle of the American Indian" due to his efforts to convert the area's indigenous people, translated his so-called "Indian Bible," a translation of the King James Bible, into the language of the local indigenous people in order to convert them, but his book has helped the Wampanoag connect even more deeply to their past traditions.
Though Wôpanâak is being taught to children and indigenous people today with the help of the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project, it is fiercely guarded by the Wampanoag people and is rarely spoken in public. Toodie Coombs, Darius' wife, spoke in the language in a moment that was not recorded out of respect for the language itself. "That was incredibly powerful," says Pickering. Coombs agrees. "A lot of people think that language is just an object. You can't [treat it] like that—it took us a century to get our language back."
I can see why it's a sensitive issue. Still, I can't help but wish somebody had recorded at least a snippet, so that those of us who weren't in attendance could get a fuller sense of the colonial New England soundscape.


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Armchair Travel
June 2017
"No one had taught us how to be free. We had only ever been taught how to die for freedom."
~ from Svetlana Alexievich's
Secondhand Time
Recent Releases
Good Friday on the Rez: A Pine Ridge Odyssey
David Hugh Bunnell
Though journalist David Hugh Bunnell died last year, his timely, magnificent memoir is a lasting tribute to the Native Americans he called friends, weaving together as it does his own life with that of recent Native American history (including the 1973 Siege at Wound Knee, which he witnessed)
. Using a
one-day, 280-mile round trip from his childhood hometown of Alliance, Nebraska to South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation as a framework, Bunnell explored the troubles Native Americans have faced as well as the beginning resurrection of their pride and culture
Walking to Listen: 4,000 Miles Across America, One Story at a Time
Andrew Forsthoefel
At a time when the United States feels pretty divided,
Walking to Listen
offers a bit of hope. A recent college grad in 2011, Andrew Forsthoefel set out with a full backpack, planning to walk
from Pennsylvania to Georgia and across the country to the Pacific Ocean. Wearing a "walking to listen" sign and pondering the words of poets Walt Whitman, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Kahlil Gibran, Forsthoefel found "teachers" of all types along the way and learned about trust, fear, kindness, loneliness, and more along his thought-provoking, inspiring journey.
Duck Season: Eating, Drinking, and other Misadventures in Gascony, France's...
David McAninch
Having visited Gascony and fallen in love with it, Chicago-based journalist David McAninch moved there with his wife and six-year-old daughter for an eight-month stay. In this rural, nearly tourist-free region of Southwest France, they slowed down their meals, lives, and responsibilities, and McAninch was able to harvest grapes, herd sheep, take cooking lessons, and learn about the local food and culture. If you like envy-inducing travelogues mixed with mouth-watering foodie memoirs (with recipes!), have a seat at the table with this atmospheric tale.
Bleaker House: Chasing My Novel to the End of the World
Nell Stevens
After finishing up her MFA, British writer Nell Stevens won a fellowship that allowed her to go anywhere to write for several months. Eschewing well-known spots, she picked Bleaker Island. Part of the Falkland Islands located off the Patagonian coast of South America, the
sparsely populated island
features inhospitable wind, lots of snow, and not many people. Stevens thought this would keep writing distractions at bay, but what she discovered is that three months of solitude provided its own challenges.
Focus on: Russia
With Russia making headlines, you might want to learn more about this intriguing country; the books below will help you do just that.
Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets
Svetlana Aleksievich; translated by Bela Shayevich
Though it's too late to travel to the Soviet Union, which broke up in 1991, you can still visit via this moving oral history collection that provides an eye-opening look at the (pre- and post-) Soviet soul. Sharing the stories of a wide variety of people from across the vast country -- ranging from before the end of communism to the beginnings of the new Russia and the rise of Putin --
2015 Nobel Prize winner Svetlana Aleksievich provides a thorough, fascinating look at war, freedom, family, and more, giving voice to those who've seen so much upheaval
. For further reading, pick up Anne Garrels'
Putin Country
Travels in Siberia
Ian Frazier
Did you know that Siberia doesn't officially exist? Or that there's a city that was once known as the "Paris of Siberia"? Or that...well, we could go on and on. And you'll be able to, too, if you read author and humorist Ian Frazier's
Travels in Siberia
. Frazier's taken five trips to the region, and he describes his various travels across the vast, remote area (including long road trips in both winter and summer) and discusses Siberian geography, people, culture, and history. This "energetic, illuminating account" (
Kirkus Reviews
) is sure to satisfy anyone who enjoys well-written travelogues or is curious about this sparsely populated area.
Molotov's Magic Lantern: Travels in Russian History
Rachel Polonsky
After moving into a Moscow apartment building,
British journalist Rachel Polonsky
discovered that Vyacheslav Molotov, Stalin's infamous henchman, once lived there...and that some of his belongings still did, including hundreds of books. Using Molotov's library to propel her
exploration of the country, British journalist Rachel Polonsky visited Siberia,
Rostov-on-Don, and more. For an intelligent, elegant look at Russia's past and present, pick up this combination literary travelogue, history, and biography.
Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia
Peter Pomerantsev
Though born in the Soviet Union, Peter Pomerantsev was raised in England by his political exile parents. In 2001, not long after graduating from university, he headed to Russia to learn more about the place he'd heard so much about. He spent around ten years there, many working as a television producer. From this unique viewpoint, he shares what modern Russia is like, introduces readers to intriguing people (oligarchs, biker gang members, supermodels, politicians, and more), and explores Russia's relationship with the West. If you're interested in a different take on Russia, this riveting read should please.
Contact your librarian for more great books!
McKinney Public Library
101 E. Hunt St.
McKinney, Texas 75069


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A Thrasher's Farm is a small family owned farm located in Southern Greenville County of Upstate SC. We grow homegrown vegetables, beef, pork, chicken, fish, and we also raise goats.
Address: 727 Garrison Rd., Pelzer, SC 29669
County: Greenville
Website: https://athrashersfarm.com
Contact Person: Tony Thrasher, Owner
Phone: (864) 201-3172
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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CELEBRATION – Like millions of Americans, Millagros Camacho had severe heartburn and acid reflux.
[WEB EXTRA: Foods to avoid]
The mother and grandmother had tried dieting and lifestyle changes but the condition persisted.
When she ended up hospitalized due to severe vomiting, she began asking her doctor for other options.
"She had tried everything, her lifestyle had changed and in fact she was seeking help from her doctor but couldn't quite turn the corner," said Dr. James Rosser, the surgeon at Celebration Health who ended up finding a solution.
Camacho became the first patient at the hospital to receive Linx, a surgical device that wraps around the esophagus to control acid reflux.
Linx is a ring-shaped device made up of small magnetic balls that form something almost like a bracelet.
"This thing can go around the door between your stomach and your food tube, and it can open and close just like your normal door does," said Rosser.
It works a lot like surgical procedures that reshape the stomach and tighten the esophageal passage but takes less time and is less invasive.
Rosser said the surgery is around 45 minutes as opposed to two to two and a half hours.
But before a patient can be evaluated for the procedure, they have to understand the symptoms of GERD, or gastrointestinal reflux disease.
"GERD recognition is more important today than at any other time in history. Esophageal cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the US and often the signs and symptoms are silent or are not taken seriously," said Rosser.
When the esophagus is constantly bathed with acid, a condition known as Barrett's esophagus can occur where the cell lining begins to change.
According to Rosser, if this is left untreated esophageal cancer can occur. Patients that unsuccessfully treat GERD and acid reflux with medication are at risk.
He said the best thing patients can do is take a heartburn self-evaluation test to see if they need to seek out other treatment options.
Using a scale of 0-5, Rosser said to evaluate the following symptoms by giving each it's own number: Hoarseness, cough, sensation of sticking in back of throat, heartburn, chest pain, acid in back of throat, excess mucous and post nasal drip.
"Of course 0 represents no symptoms at all and 5 means that symptoms very bad and impact negatively on lifestyle. Add all the scores up and a score greater than 10 indicates that you should seek medical attention for further work-up," he said.
As far as the Linx procedure goes, he said anyone who is experience at least a three or four on the severity scale for heartburn could be an ideal candidate.
Camacho said since she had the procedure her heartburn is gone and she is back to eating things she enjoys like pizza and spicy foods with no problem.
"I eat whatever I want, whenever and it's fine," she said.
You can read more about GERD and the Linx procedure at Celebration Health's website.


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How to improve my shaping
Over the past few years my bread has gotten better and better. I am so much more comfortable in all aspects of baking but I seem unable to improve my shaping techniques. Would a class be the best way to get better in this area or is there some other recommendation to help me with my shaping skills.


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I normally wrap my hair up in a scarf that I bought at a BSS that supposedly satin. But I just read a great tip on Hair By Kelli:
Use a silk scarf to wrap your hair. Try purchasing a ½ yard of fabric from a fabric store to ensure it is 100% silk. Satin is okay, however they have cotton threads which can cause dryness.
I hope Wal-Mart has some in their sewing department since that's the only fabric place in town.
Great hair tip!!


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The Yellow Pill
Ask anyone who has seen The Matrix if they want to take the red pill or the blue pill, and you will invariably get the answer the red pill. They see themselves as truth seekers who are willing to see what really is, even though it may be a bitter realization.
But what are the pills in The Matrix really offering? Do we really think and listen, or do we all just want to run along with the hero, Neo? We know that one single person in the movie chose a re-take, to take the blue pill. Cypher, the grand traitor who almost killed Neo. But did we really listen to his reasons when he told us why, or did we write them off because we already knew he was a villain? Honestly!
Cypher's reasoning was not bad at all, and in fact he was a far more profound philosopher than Morpheus, Neo and Trinity put together. But he was the villain, and his choice was followed up by an act of murder portrayed as if that act was a logical consequence of his choice. QED: it was thereby demonstrated that taking the blue pill was wrong. Absolutely, horribly, utterly wrong. But was it? Formulate to yourself why Cypher's reasons were bad - if you even remember them.
The Matrix casts doubt on whether the world we live in is real, or whether it is artificially produced and whether another, real world lurks behind it, unseen and unrevealed except to the few. This doubt is not new, but harks in that form at least back to Rene Descartes' doubt about whether the world of the senses is a real world. Only... The Matrix falls a few yards short of that ...
When Neo takes the Red Pill, he wakes up in another world. Suddenly his philosophical doubts have totally worn off! He no longer doubts if that world is real. Suddenly his previously oh so unreliable senses are 100% reliable. His doubts did not go deep ... one is tempted to say with Nietzsche that they were "not even shallow".
But what is really the difference between the blue-pill world and the red-pill world? In both worlds, its inhabitants are running mindlessly around pursuing some fixed agendas. The only difference between the red-pillers and the blue-pillers is in other words that the red-pillers are mindlessly pursuing a different agenda. Both worlds are equally bleak, in each their way, and whichever world they have chosen, they have chosen it without the wisdom to discover the third world which is there and has been there all along: the world of themselves.
The yellow pill
What is the opposite of a mindless pursuit? Another mindless pursuit, of course. But aside from that, might it not be to take issue with the mindlessness itself? Might not not the opposite of mindlessness be to be mindful of whatever you experience, regardless of which world you experience it in? A flower by any other colour ... both the red and the blue flowers have their beauty and their alluring scent, but none of them will be seen by the man who is on a mindless pursuit of some fixed agenda.
What such a man needs is neither a blue pill nor a red pill, but this hidden alternative which does not even need to be put into the shape of a pill: mindfulness. But let us still call it a pill, though - a pill hidden in plain sight by a false dichotomy of blue lies vs red bitterness. Let us call it the yellow pill.
Will you take it? It is closer than even your own nose.


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For the Washington metropolitan area, more than two weeks of a federal government shutdown has meant millions in lost tax revenue that localities say is eating a hole in their already fragile budgets.
"We made extreme sacrifices over last few years to place our financial house in order, and having done so at a time that at least in Montgomery County (Md.) we thought that we'd see a light at the end of tunnel," County Executive Ike Leggett said Wednesday, referring to Montgomery's 10 percent cut in its workforce and budget cuts. "[Instead], the light that we see is an oncoming train by way of the sequester, by way of the shutdown and by way of a huge debate about the debt limit. All of those things adversely affect our communities."
The blow has primarily been to the tourism and hospitality industries in Washington, D.C. and its surrounding counties. The shutdown has not only stalled spending by furloughed workers; potential visitors to the region have cancelled trips. In D.C., hotel bookings are down 8.3 percent compared with the first week of October 2012, a loss of about $2 million in potential revenue, according D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray. Restaurant receipts are also down by around 8 percent, largely due to declines in breakfast and lunchtime business. The city's burgeoning food truck industry has been especially hit hard.
More coverage of the shutdown's impact on state and local governments.
"In some instances they've seen their business drop to nothing because they serve areas where there are federal buildings … where there are virtually no workers," Gray said.
In Montgomery County, home to 70,000 federal workers, Leggett estimates the county is taking a $500,000-a-day hit in potential income tax receipts and notes hotel tax and sales tax revenue collections are expected to be down. In Prince George's County (Md.), Executive Rushern Baker said 16 percent of the county's workforce is made up of federal workers, many of whom are furloughed. Many of the county's small and minority businesses that directly serve the federal government are dealing with lost business. Those shops now have to start considering laying people off because they don't know when the uncertainty will end, Baker said.
That uncertainty has plagued the region this year as Congressional stalemates have repeatedly stalled business in the metropolitan area. Fairfax County (Va.), home to about 25,000 federal civilian workers, faces a $25 million shortfall in its 2015 budget, said Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova. Meanwhile the sequester has already skimmed revenues in the county (which has the region's largest concentration of defense contractors) and the shutdown could push a $20 million shortfall in sales and licensing tax receipts into this year's budget.
The leaders stressed that the losses they have seen in the last two weeks are unlikely to be made up before the end of the fiscal year.
"Lost revenue is lost revenue," Bulova said.
The officials addressed reporters after meeting Wednesday morning in D.C. City Hall to discuss how the shutdown has been affecting their bottom lines. One mile down Pennsylvania Avenue, Congress scrambled to take up a bill that would reopen the federal government and push the debt limit debate to next year and prevent (at least for now) the U.S. from defaulting on its debts. To local leaders, however, such a solution prolongs their problem.
"I think the best thing that all of us can do and have done today is to demonstrate the real impact of what's going on, what the impact is on local governments, what the impact is on real people who are living in the metropolitan area," said Bulova. "This is irresponsible and it needs to end not just in the short term but there needs to be a resolution in the long term as well."


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Hello Scribes friends,
PJ Sharon here. Some of you may not know this about me, but I can be a bit lazy. I know—you're thinking, "No way, PJ. Not you! You're so motivated and productive!" Um…not really. Looking at the big picture, I do seem to manage to keep a pretty steady schedule, meet my goals on a regular basis, and take care of my daily responsibilities while maintaining a fairly decent attitude, so I guess I'm not a total slacker. However, I've come to the conclusion that anything I do accomplish is because I know myself well enough to make my goals achievable and realistic, I accept my limitations as an imperfect human being, and I plan accordingly. Being a natural multi-tasker and somewhat disciplined helps too, but these days, I'm less rigid and a much nicer boss to work for.
With my writing, I try to push new limits, set appropriate deadlines, and stay challenged–since I know these are what motivate me to stay on task–but it would be foolish and self-defeating to expect more from myself than I want to give. You have to want success…and you have to want it bad! And you need to ask yourself, "What am I willing to give up to achieve it?"
Admittedly, I've given up a lot to get where I am. But certain things–like time with my granddaughter and at least one day off a week, are now higher on my priorities list. What I also won't compromise on is exercise. I commit myself to doing 30 minutes a day, five days a week because I know the payoff is totally worth it! When I'm strong, fit, and happy, I feel like I can handle anything that comes my way. If my schedule gets crazy, I let myself off the hook for a day or two, but then I'm back at it. The same applies to diet and nutrition. I'm not as rigid as I once was, but I try to eat high quality, nutrient dense foods that properly fuel my body. I like chocolate and pie as much as the next girl, but I believe in the 80/20 approach to everything. If I'm doing the right thing 80% of the time, I can slack off 20% of the time and I'll probably be okay. Yay…pie!
For me, first and foremost, my mental and physical well-being are my priorities, and stressing out about what I'm NOT accomplishing only serves to make me feel overwhelmed and down on myself. It has become clear to me that my to-do list will never be done and that if I want to keep my sanity, I have to focus on just a few daily tasks that keep me moving toward my overall goals. It might take me longer to get there, but it's not a race for me anymore. I'm in it for the long haul, so pacing myself is key to staying the course.
If goal setting isn't your strong suit, here's a great article to help you get on track and stay there.
Could I accomplish way more if I didn't watch twenty hours of television per week or spend time gazing out the window at the lilac buds sprouting? Maybe I could shave ten or fifteen minutes off my overly-lengthy shower time, or possibly I could sleep less. It seems changing even a few of these "recreational" behaviors would lead to a tremendous increase in my productivity. Then, maybe I could write five books in a year or spend another twenty hours a week promoting my butt off. After all, I do understand that the success of my business depends on me and how hard I'm willing to work. But how hard I'm willing to work today may be different from what it was two years ago, and will likely be different again a month from now. We each have to decide what's important to us.
It comes down to perspective and priorities. In my opinion, none of those "recreational" activities are a total waste of my time. One could even argue that I am more productive because I'm living a balanced lifestyle. A full night's sleep–when I can get it–is an essential tool for weight management, stress reduction, and overall health. I need at least 6-8 hours a night to remain productive and happy. Staying up late to write that blog that's due in the morning, or waking at the crack of dawn to sneak in some "quality" writing time may help me check off a few to-do's, but it's going to leave me cranky and tired, and increase my susceptibility to illness. That's not worth the trade for me at this point in life. Maybe some of you can live on five hours of sleep, but I'm betting it catches up with you eventually.
As for the apparent television addiction, I do try to limit my viewing to "must see" shows that give me the most enjoyment. I'm not a total hedonist! I TiVo my favorites and dole them out throughout the week as reward for accomplishing my tasks for the day. Getting lost in my favorite shows not only helps me decompress after a full day of massage work or long hours at the computer, it activates my creative brain. I'm constantly analyzing and deconstructing what I watch. I'm looking at story structure, dialogue, characterization, metaphor, etc. My mind is being entertained, but I'm also in my writer's brain and learning.
The long hot showers, which some may argue are a luxury and a waste of not only water and resources, but are a self-indulgence. I assure you, they are a necessity for me. There are many challenges in daily life, and few "inexpensive" luxuries for most of us. If spending a half hour in the shower (where I do a stretching routine to treat my arthritic neck and back) relaxes me and reduces my pain, then so be it. I'll take every little bit of relief I can get. Besides, my shower time is the most creative and productive time of my day as far as I'm concerned. It's like a cup of tea, a soothing massage, and an opportunity to let my thoughts flow freely without my internal editor alarms ringing, all rolled into one. My best ideas and snappiest lines of dialogue come to me while standing under a piping hot shower. I've also been known to belt out a few tunes while I'm there. Singing elevates my mood, clears my lungs, and centers me. It helps me shift from my right sided "business" brain to my left sided "creative" brain so I can get those 1,000 words on the page. The long hot shower is staying!
So, what about the inordinate amount of time I spend staring out the window, walking around my yard to see what's coming into bloom, or simply sitting on my front porch with a hot cup of tea, paying attention to my breathing for a few minutes and taking time to be grateful for the multitude of gifts I have in my life? Am I procrastinating?
Maybe, but these moments too, are priceless. When I'm not actually writing, I'm usually preparing to write. I'm processing my next scene or coming up with some brilliant twist to my plot. As a writer, my brain is always processing some bit of information that will ultimately lead me to where I need to be on the page.
What it comes down to for me is that I'm a human being first, and a writer second. I NEED to stay connected to my higher self–the part of me that knows how to live in the moment and appreciates the power of just being. That's the part of me that inspired me to write in the first place and continues to be the well from which I draw my best work. Whether it's called prayer or meditation…or just plain daydreaming, we all need it on some level.
I know that nothing can substitute for diligence, consistency in getting those daily word counts on the page, or putting in the overtime, but these quiet moments of stillness and reflection are essential to my sanity and well-being. I know this to be true about myself. Perhaps it's just an excuse to be lazy or to procrastinate, but I prefer to think of it as "preparing" the soil. The fertile ground of productivity is only as good as what you feed into it. So next time you start to feel guilty for daydreaming instead of writing, or taking a day off to hit the beach, don't look at it as "slacking". Consider it part of the process. Tomorrow is another day and there is always more work to be done. Today, take a moment to reconnect to what nurtures and feeds your soul. You may be slightly less productive on paper, but you'll be happier and more balanced in the long run.
What are your best "self-care" indulgences? What fuels your muse? What have you done for you lately?


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Cincinnati Bearcats
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BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Two bombs exploded southeast of Baghdad on Wednesday, authorities said, killing at least eight people in the latest wave of bloody attacks in Iraq this month.
A series of attacks in June have left nearly 180 people dead, according to CNN estimates.
The first bomb Wednesday exploded in a home in al-Wahda area, injuring three family members, according to police officials.
When neighbors rushed to help, another bomb detonated, killing eight people and wounding seven others.
Al-Wahda is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Baghdad.
In a separate incident in western Baghdad, a bomb exploded inside a house, killing three women and wounding two people, officials said.
The attacks this month included one that ranked as the deadliest day in the country since the United States withdrew its troops in December. On June 13, a bomb targeted pilgrims headed to Baghdad, killing at least 93 people.
An additional 312 people were injured in the attacks mostly aimed at Shiite pilgrims trekking and driving to a shrine in Baghdad.
In May, 132 people were killed in violence while the month prior had 126 fatalities, according to figures released by the interior ministry.
Overall, violence in Iraq has dropped since the peak of sectarian attacks between 2005 and 2007, but bombs and shootings are still commonplace
"The scale of the violence is disturbing. I urgently appeal to the government to address the root causes of the violence and terrorism that are causing so much suffering and pain to the Iraqi people," Martin Kobler, the U.N. special representative for Iraq, said after the deadly attacks this month.


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A little winter break
12 Comments
AnnaFebruary 2, 2013 at 10:58 pm
Those views are amazing! So pretty! Snow makes everything seem clean for the first couple of days!
CathyKFebruary 3, 2013 at 1:20 am
Wow!!! What beautiful scenery (even on the kitchen table 😉
TammyFebruary 3, 2013 at 8:18 am
What gorgeous photos.
Rebecca GraceFebruary 3, 2013 at 8:44 am
WOW, Amy — that's just breathtaking! We've got sickie kids and dreary weather at our house, too, but no snow in North Carolina. About an inch fell down a week ago, but it was gone by morning. My poor kids get so excited, running outside, trying to make snowballs out of freezing rain and slush. 🙁
Gari in ALFebruary 3, 2013 at 8:45 am
I love seeing pictures of snow. But pictures only. And you are right, taking a break, even from what you love, is always a good thing.
gillyFebruary 3, 2013 at 10:11 am
Wow, beautiful pics – glad you enjoyed your break. Keep warm,
xx
doloresFebruary 3, 2013 at 11:39 am
Good for you girlie! Just started snowing again here too but we only have an inch on the ground….nice dusting though!!:)
BTW….are you back in your sewing room or is that still the kitchen?!:)
Katy CameronFebruary 3, 2013 at 4:53 pm
Ooh, pretty scenes, love that door!
lifeinredshoesFebruary 3, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Great idea, Midway never disappoints.
vintage greyFebruary 3, 2013 at 10:26 pm
So pretty there!! Have a wonderful and crafty week! xo Heather
dianeFebruary 3, 2013 at 10:51 pm
That looks like a lovely getaway.
Question…what thread do you use in your Bernina? I have been using auriful, 50wt. but the 820 really doesn't like it.
Claire JainFebruary 6, 2013 at 1:22 pm
Yeah, January was kind of an under the weather month in my house. I definitely know what you mean by that hermit feeling. It looks like the trip to Midway was lovely, though 🙂


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GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. - Most trails in this colorful and iconic national park are tough up-and-down trails. You hike down into the canyon and then hike back up out of the canyon.
But the Widforss Trail on the North Rim is different: It's a plateau trail that stays above the rim. In fact, the trail is generally considered the best plateau trail in the oversized park in northern Arizona.
The trail's elevation changes only 600 feet over the 4.8-mile one-way length of the trail.
It is a half-day hike on a well-marked trail. The National Park Service even provides a 14-stop trail guide for the Widforss Trail.
Its big attraction is solitude, even in a park like Grand Canyon National Park. You won't see many people along the route.
It offers rim views and a Ponderosa pine forest that is mixed with aspens that turn golden in the fall. That's when the trail is at its colorful best. The forest offers a bit of shade to hikers, and the plateau temperatures are cooler than the oven-like conditions in the canyon.
The trail provides glimpses of Bright Angel Point, the biggest tourist spot on the North Rim. The rocky point sits at 8,148 feet between two side canyons and close to the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim.
The first 2 1 / 2miles of the Widforrs Trail skirt the canyon rim and Harvey Meadow. The meadow was once used as a tourist camp and a staging ground for cross-canyon mule trips. It is now grassy.
Nearby is a cave once used by U.S. Forest Service game warden "Uncle Jim" Owens, who killed 500 mountain lions in the area in the early 1900s.
The first 2 1 / 2miles are the most picturesque section of the trail. It offers views of the San Francisco Peaks that are 70 miles away to the south across the canyon.
A pair of rocky switchbacks lead to the edge of the Transept, a 4,000-foot-deep gorge. The trail takes you two miles along the head of the Transept, a tributary of Bright Angel Creek. It is a deep and sheer-walled ravine. It provides vistas to the south and east as the canyon deepens below.
Topographer Francois Matthes in the early 1900s declared that the Transept was grander than California's Yosemite Valley.
The trail bends in and out of seven draws.
It winds into forests of old-growth Ponderosa pines with its thick bark that protects trees from forest fires.
The trail goes past a giant Ponderosa pine that is nearly 13 feet in diameter. It is likely 300 to 500 years old. There are also scrubby oaks and maples. In moister and cooler areas, white fir, Engelmann and blue spruce and aspen thrive on the North Rim.
The trail emerges from the woods after five miles at narrow and wooded Widforss Point that sits above Haunted Canyon.
At the trail's end, Widforss Point offers stellar views of five rocky temples in the inner canyon. You will also be able to view Yaki and Mather points 10 miles away on the South Rim.
The point is at elevation 7,811 feet.
The biggest drawback is that the trail, at times, winds away from the canyon edge. It is also used by mule trains.
The trail is named after artist Gunnar Widforss, who painted watercolors of the Grand Canyon. He lived and painted in the canyon in the 1930s.
He is known as the painter of the national parks. The Grand Canyon was his favorite park. In his paintings, Widforrs captured the Grand Canyon environment as he saw it in the 1930s. He produced a large number of watercolors known for their geologic accuracy.
It is an easy to moderate hike.
The trailhead at 8,080 feet is off U.S. Route 67, the main park road that leads north from the park to Jacob Lake, Ariz. The turnoff is 2.7 miles north of the lodge. You follow a dirt road about a mile to the trailhead.
There is no water along the trail. Carry what you will need.
A backcountry permit is required if you want to camp along the trail.
You may see deer, bobcats, porcupines, mountain lions, wild turkey, coyotes, snakes and lizards. You might even get to see a large, dark-colored squirrel with tufted ears and a bushy white tail. It is the Kaibab squirrel, native only on the Kaibab Plateau on the north side of the Colorado River.
The Grand Canyon park covers 1,900 square miles and gets 4.6 million visitors a year.
It is big: 277 miles long and up to 10 miles wide. It can be 5,000 to 6,000 feet deep with 20 layers of rock. It is a giant canyon of smaller canyons. It is marked by steep slopes and cliffs. It is hot and dry.
The most striking thing about the Grand Canyon are the colors.
It's the rusty reds, the shades of brown and tan, the dusty pinks, the golds and yellows. The cliffs, rock walls and gorges give the canyon an ever-changing hue. The multicolored rocks are mixed with sagebrush and cedar trees.
Park visitors gaze into the canyon and then dash off to the next overlook. The views shift from place to place and as the light and weather change daily.
The North Rim is open from mid-May to mid-October. It gets lots of snow. It is more remote and less developed than the South Rim that is open year-round. The two rims may be 10 miles apart but it is a five-hour drive between them.
The North Rim is a thousand feet taller than the South Rim.
As a result, the North Rim gets twice the precipitation of the South Rim and feeds twice as much water into the Colorado River than the South Rim canyons. The tributary canyons on the North Rim carry more water. They tend to be more deeply cut into the plateau.
The intricate system of deeply cut side canyons sets the North Rim back farther from the river, giving the North Rim its characteristic look.
There are other North Rim hiking options. The North Kaibab Trail is the only North Rim Trail that leads to the Colorado River. It is a 14-mile trek to the Colorado River. It is another 7.1 miles to the South Rim.
The park itself covers 1.2 million acres, much of which is inaccessible even to hikers and backpackers.
The crowds are thicker on the South Rim, and more tourist facilities are on that side of the canyon.
The North Rim has a wild and remote feeling. It has fewer trails that drop into the canyon and fewer overlooks.
The North Rim has higher cliff faces and offers up-high views of rock formations within the canyon.
Its three major overlooks are Bright Angel, Cape Royal and Point Imperial.
The North Rim offers one spot to see the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon. That's at Cape Royal.
But the South Rim provides more opportunities to look into the heart of the canyon.
It offers better lighting and offers a wider, deeper canyon than the North Rim does.
The North Rim is also home to the historic lodge that was built in the 1920s by the Union Pacific Railroad. It sits on the rim and lodgers gather on its patio at sunset to watch the sun sink into the canyon.
Bright Angel Point Trail runs a half mile from the lodge to a narrow rock that extends into the canyon above Roaring Springs and the Transept.
The North Rim also offers two other very cool plateau trails: the Transept and Ken Patrick trails.
Be aware: About 250 people are rescued annually from the canyon, the park service reports.
The key to visiting Grand Canyon is to plan in advance. In-park lodging and activities book months in advance.
Mule rides, river raft trips, hikes, lodging and camping spots book far in advance.
Admission is $20 per vehicle and the pass is good for up to seven days.
For park information, write to National Park Service, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023, 928-638-7888, http://www.nps.gov/grca.
For lodging, contact Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim, operated by Forever Resorts LLC. 877-386-4383 (Outside the U.S.: 480-337-1320), http://www.GrandCanyonLodgeNorth.com
Bob Downing: email@example.com
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. - Most trails in this colorful and iconic national park are tough up-and-down trails. You hike down into the canyon and then hike back up out of the canyon.