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Putting a different body on an automotive chassis is a time-honored technique, dating back to the first cars ever produced. These early vehicles had wooden coaches, followed by sheetmetal bodies bolted to wooden frames. Henry Ford even experimented with a plastic body made from soybeans. Of course, the Corvette was the first production car to have a fiberglass outer skin. As composite technology advanced, so did the lamination quality, with sheet molding compound (SMC) replacing the old-school resin-and-glass layup starting with the C4 model in 1984. Later, high-tech materials such as carbon-fiber were introduced.
What's the point of this brief history of car bodies? Well, Corvette owners with a creative bent have never been reluctant to customize the shape of their cars, with the 'glass body material simplifying the process. Initially, these changes consisted of grafting on wider fender flares to make room for bigger racing tires, along with various aero pieces for more downforce. This trend quickly evolved into more personal and extensive expressions, albeit not always in the best of taste (Corvette Summer, anyone?).
One of the most famous Corvette body conversions of all time was the black '72 Daytona Spyder that appeared on the Miami Vice TV series. Created by Tom McBurnie to fit on a 1980 Chevy Corvette C3, it prompted lawsuits from Enzo Ferrari, who sought to protect his design from replication. Actor Don Johnson's ride was ultimately blown to pieces in the premiere episode of Season Three, after which Ferrari donated a couple of '86 Testarossas as replacements.
But we digress. All this background basically illustrates the versatility of the Corvette for various enhancements and embellishments. To that end, we've gathered a bevy of bodies beautiful-some intended as tributes to legendary Corvette racers, others as individual expressions of creativity. Many of the companies also offer various upgrades that take performance to a whole new level. In other cases, you can have a high-performance, specialty-constructed vehicle that uses Corvette components on a custom frame. Whatever your taste or inclination, there's something for you here (but no soybeans, sadly).
Projex Motors PC-3
Projecting an entirely different persona
Even though a number of vehicles have served as platforms for various body-conversion projects, the one that offers the most promise is America's sports car. After all, the Corvette's performance is undisputed, and prices of certain models have been dropping like a stone in recent years. These fundamental features make the new Projex PC-3 an appealing new entry, as it represents an attractive and high-quality body conversion on the capable C4 chassis.
What made Projex pursue this particular platform? The firm's founders, Richard Graham and Evan Greenberg, have a long history of producing fiberglass sculptures and other objets d'art for Las Vegas casinos, but it was more than just their facility with fiberglass that led them to this project.
The principals of Projex favored a gentleman's touring machine that would convey a certain "quiet style, like a good wine-bold, but not arrogant." An Italian flavor came to mind, but this would not be a slavish copy that would invite the wrath of trade-dress attorneys (as did Tom McBurnie's faux Daytona). Instead, Projex insisted on creating something unique, incorporating multiple design styles.
Once the specifics of the PC-3 were finalized, Projex decided on two packages. The Basic Panel Kit ($9,995) consists of 11 major components, including the nose, hood, doors, rockers, vents, and rear clip. For an extra $2,000, the Enhanced Car Kit adds headlight bezels and covers, along with a front grille, a windshield-frame cover, and interior console trim. These components are designed to fit C4s from '84 to '92, but not the later '93 to '96 models. Turnkey models are available, and a roadster version is in the works.
Although some panels use factory mounting points and standard body-shop techniques, keep in mind that this isn't a weekend bolt-on project. Aligning the panels can be a challenge, depending on the condition of the Corvette chassis used as the foundation. Given that caution, the basic build process is otherwise fairly straightforward, working from front to back.
Once all the body components and seams are flowing together in smooth fashion, the panels are then prepped and painted in a conventional manner. In addition to a custom hue, some aftermarket wheels and dress-up items for the cockpit can further disguise the car's origins. It's not that there's anything wrong with driving a Corvette, but the whole point of a body conversion is to create a fresh new look on an old favorite.
Projex Motors
(661) 268-1883
Mongoose Motorsports Grand Sport And Imsa GTP
A tribute to racing Vettes past and present
What Vette enthusiast worth his salt hasn't wondered what it would be like to drive one of Duntov's ultra-rare Grand Sport racers? For those not familiar with the first Grand Sports, these experimental Sting Ray racers pounced on some unsuspecting Cobras at Nassau, Bahamas, in 1963 and 1964, and the Shelby team went home dragging its tail both times. Sadly, GM execs pulled the plug on the program, rather than building the 125 cars required by GT class regs.
Fortunately, replica firms have no such constraints, as demonstrated by Mongoose Motorsports' coupe, roadster, and new spec-racer Grand Sport models. Mongoose employs C4 suspension components with adjustable coilover shocks fitted to a stout 4-inch, round-tube frame made by Altair Engineering. Lest you feel challenged in building your own car, the company's product offerings are available in several levels of completion, including formidable turnkeys in both street and track trim.
Speaking of track duty, the spec racer features an SCCA-legal rollcage (made of 1 5/8-inch diameter, 0.120-wall tubing), along with a Lexan windshield. The 515hp LS3 crate motor is carbureted with a 770 Holley, but it does use an LSX Ignition Controller to run a coil-on-plug system with a 58X Reluctor Wheel.
Backing up this mill is a Lakewood blow-proof housing and a Tremec five-speed fitted with a Centerforce road-race clutch and a Fidanza aluminum flywheel. Included in the driveline are a pair of protective hoops (along with other competition safety gear), along with a 3.54-geared Dana 44 rearend. Overlaying the whole deal is a super-light fiberglass body (150 pounds total) with removable front and rear clips for easier pit-stop access. Race-ready rubber (Kumho V710 R compound) wraps over 18x10 CCW Classic rims (front 315/30R18s and rear 335/30R18s). The Mongoose spec racer, with both driver and fuel, tips the scales 2,550 pounds, putting it in the same weight class as a certain snake-skinned opponent.
Given these modernized tributes to the legendary Corvette comp cars, what other racers would make sense to emulate? The Mongoose wranglers looked back not quite so far, to 1986, for inspiration to put their own spin on the IMSA Corvette GTP (Grand Touring Prototype). The seven original GTP cars attained enough racing success to elevate them to lofty collector heights.
The GTP body came originally from Hendrick Motorsports, but several teams campaigned cars in the IMSA ranks, so there were likely several sets of molds for the car, if for no other reason than to make spare Kevlar body parts.
The shape of the car is aggressively styled for the track, but Mongoose wisely decided that it needed some street amenities as well to appeal to a broader market. That's not to suggest that the car is just a looker, as the 505hp LS7 in this particular example is more than capable of backing up the car's racy looks with track-ready performance.
Mongoose describes its GTP chassis as a semi-monocoque utilizing composite and chrome-moly steel-tube materials. The first chassis featured an aluminum boxed front-end section and a tubular rear, but subsequent cars have featured a carbon fiber front end. A full rollcage is also incorporated.
The chassis employs C5 suspension components with Bilstein shocks modified in-house to a coilover setup. Mongoose uses a Flaming River manual rack-and-pinion steering system (or an electric power system) and C5 disc brakes at all four corners. This prototype was outfitted with 18-inch CCW billet aluminum wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot rubber (295/30 fronts on 10-inch-wide rims and 335/30 rears on 12-inchers).
The LS7 engine is, of course, the same 427ci mill used in the Corvette Z06. The all-aluminum engine develops 470 lb-ft of torque-more than enough output for the 2,500-pound GTP, which is 600 to 700 pounds lighter than the production Z.
Mongoose built its own custom stainless headers for the small-block and routed them through turbo spiral mufflers before exiting through the back of the bodywork. About the only modification to the crate engine was to the cooling system, where a pair of Griffin aluminum radiators keep things cool. They're mounted inside the deep sidescoops, ahead of the rear wheels, and both are fitted with electric fans. The prototype also benefits from an aftermarket Vintage Air A/C system, with the condenser mounted on the rear bracket of the big carbon-fiber wing.
Mongoose called on RPM Transmission to develop a massaged 4L60E automatic coupled to a C5 transaxle, but minus the torque tube used in the Corvette. The engine is directly coupled to the transaxle assembly with a Camaro bellhousing sandwiched in between. Controlling the trans is a B&M ratchet-shifter cable system. Mongoose even provides the transaxle setup with the component version of the GTP (or offers a credit if some other system is to be used).
Though the GTP is essentially a race car, Mongoose had added some concessions to comfort in the cockpit, including the aforementioned A/C system, carpeting, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a pair of upholstered bucket seats. The company also offers a carbon-fiber dash and glass windows instead of acrylic. And since the original Corvette GTP didn't have a rear window, Mongoose added one, so you can see all the competition you've left in the dust.
Mongoose Motorsports
(330) 920-1466
Ruth Engineering & Racing Cheetah
One ferocious feline
While Duntov's Grand Sport is generally thought of as the Cobra killer, there was another: the Cheetah. Developed by Corvette racer Bill Thomas and designed by Don Edmunds in the early '60s, it featured a modified Corvette 327 (377 ci) in a chassis that weighed less than 1,700 pounds. But it was handful on a road course, due to this extreme power-to-weight ratio, a lack of frame triangulation, and short wheelbase. So short, in fact, that the transmission output was bolted directly to the Corvette IRS with only a U-joint in between, and no driveshaft. Once the Cheetah settled into a straight, though, nothing could touch it.
Though plagued with a hot cockpit, due to the proximity of the exhaust, and covered with flimsy fiberglass bodywork (except for a couple aluminum bodies early on), the Cheetah broke all sorts of track records, and by the end of the 1964 season, it had won 11 races in C-Sport/Modified. Only 11 Cheetahs were built before a shop fire in September 1965 stopped production, and only eight survive today.
Since that time many replicas of the Cheetah have been built, with varying degrees of quality and accuracy. Corvette restorer Ruth Engineering & Racing drew on its extensive background to improve on the original design without "throwing the baby out with the bathwater."
The company wisely started with the '89-'96 C4 Corvette suspension, but with coilovers instead of transverse leaf springs. The frame jig follows the correct wheelbase and track, and is fitted with modified version of a Fiberglass Trends Cheetah body, using an A-pillar to house the DOT-laminated windshield. (The company gets a lot of orders for this particular item, since it's hard to find.) The round-tube frame is braced with shear panels along the cockpit, and front door pillars were added for greater stability, along with flares over the front wheels. The foot boxes are positioned behind the headers to minimize the heat issues of the original configuration.
The hand-laid dash is provided blank, allowing builders to craft a custom gauge layout, but the transmission tunnel is already cut out for a Tremec five-speed shifter. A bar located behind the driver for securing a racing harness is optional but highly recommended.
As on the authentic item, the hood tilts forward and features side skirts molded in behind the grille to channel all airflow through the radiator. An electric fan provides additional cooling, and the engine compartment can accommodate a range of Corvette engines.
The base frame-and-body package starts at $18,000, and for street use, the fiberglass body comes with a recessed area for the license plate, plus midyear taillights. That's just as well, since the latter item is the only thing most other drivers will ever see of this ferocious feline.
Ruth Engineering & Racing, Inc.
(440) 365-0061


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So, you practice yoga. Do you think of yoga as comprised of traditional practices intended to help you achieve enlightenment? Perhaps you conceive of anything being yoga, as long as it is fun and feels good? Or do you think you're already enlightened (or divine), and all of life can be a form of yoga if intentionally executed? A recent blog highlights this debate by questioning the intention of music in yoga classes. In this 2-part series, we discuss some of the philosophical presumptions and limitations of each of these perspectives, using music as a metaphor for how external stimuli can enhance our practice.
Philip Urso claims that non-kirtan "music can hinder teaching Vinyasa yoga" for a host of reasons, including being able to hear the class as a teacher, and experiencing the class free of distractions as a student. Chief, however is Urso's contention that yoga is intended to be an internal process free of distractions.
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To support his point, Urso notes that many yoga instructors justify their usage of music in class because "yoga is everything." His main beef is that actually, "yoga is not everything"; according to Patanjali's yoga sutras, the only path to awakening is through the map of the eight limbs. He continues: "The Sutras do not say, do everything you want and you will awaken. And nowhere does it say to play music."
Urso's appraisal of Patanjalean yoga, as we'll call it, is correct. Fundamental to Patanjali's metaphysical position is our problematic attachment to the illusory physical world, including mind and body, held to generate unnecessary suffering. Liberation is thus achieved by renouncing the world and identification with body and mind by employing the eight-limbed path.
Yet Patanjali, while widely credited as yoga's chief pioneer, represents but one of yoga's many philosophic lineages. For example, the tantric tradition of Kashmir Shaivism (KS) contends that we are already divine, body and mind; we need only attune to this. The Rajanaka (Shakta Tantra), an offshoot of Kashmir Shaivism, takes this a step further and posits all aspects of reality, internal and external, light and dark, to represent the multiplicity of the divine. These tantric lineages build on Patanjali's classical dualism, but make a radical departure in suggesting the experience of embodiment evidences our divinity, as does the entirety of the macrocosm, or external environment.
Thus, Ursa's comment that entities outside yourself, "such as in music, wine, pleasure" are neither good nor bad but fail to sustain one in a state of yoga, clarity, union, and happiness, is both true and false. As human beings, we tend to seek fulfillment externally, which alone may fail to sustain. Yet to the fully awakened being, KS or Rajanaka would argue, these externalities, just like our selves, are aspects of the divine. Thus the pleasure derived from a glass of wine or soulful piece of music can serve as a poignant reminder of the infinite in us all. However in the absence of awareness or default modes of functioning, these same indulgences may reinforce samskara (habits or patterns), and engender suffering.
In Part 2, we'll discuss the differences between a) using "yoga as everything" as an excuse to cop out, and b) holding yourself accountable, as well as how the intentional use of music can enhance your yoga practice.
What is your philosophy of yoga?

subset: commoncrawl


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Logan's Roadhouse
5105 E. 42nd St. Send to Phone
432-368-5519 | Make Restaurant Reservations | Menu
OpenLunch & Dinner daily
- Dress code: Casual
- Full bar
- Kid-friendly
- Take-out available
* Click here for rating key
: Offering a sanitized, family-friendly version of the roadhouse, Logan's features a menu heavy on all-American favorites like mesquite-grilled steaks, baby back ribs and hamburgers. Start with a bottomless bucket of peanuts and a long neck beer before sidling up to a platter of sliders topped with barbecue sauce and crispy onions. For dessert, try their chewy hot fudge brownie or the New York style cheesecake. As the gluten-free options constantly change, ask the staff for the current offerings. Other locations.
Get the recipes for GAYOT's Easy Summer Cocktails


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Comment VMware has announced it is making its virtual machine file format freely available, with no license or royalties.
Despite the company's claim that "it is committed to supporting any other open virtual machine disk formats broadly adopted by customers and working toward converging on open standards in this area", this announcement is clearly motivated by the desire to ensure that VMware's virtualisation technologies are at the hub of a healthy ecosystem of third parties offering a range of value-added capabilities, such as backup/recovery, provisioning, performance optimistation, and so forth.
To emphasise the point, VMware had Akimbi Systems, Altiris, BMC Software, PlateSpin, rPath, Surgient, Symantec and Trend Micro on hand to explain how they intend to use the file format. VMware first made its intentions clear in this regard with the announcement of the VMware Virtual Infrastructure SDK in June 2004.
VMware is not alone. At the Microsoft Management Summit in April last year, Steve Ballmer announced royalty-free licensing of Microsoft's equivalent Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) format. At the time of writing, Microsoft has signed up 45 licensees, including XenSource, which is leading the open source community behind the Xen hypervisor technology, as well as offering a range of value-added solutions based on Xen.
Yesterday, Microsoft also announced that Virtual Server 2005 R2 is now available as a no-charge download. This announcement, like VMware's release of the free VMware Player (in December 2005) and VMware Server (in February this year), is indicative that the core virtualisation engine is becoming a commodity - as, of course, is Microsoft's intention to include a hypervisor in the Windows operating system.
It is this commoditisation that is at the heart of these moves by VMware and Microsoft. The virtualisation battle is not going to be won on the basis of who is armed with the best engine, particularly in the face of open source alternatives such as Xen, which the likes of RedHat and Novell are building into their Linux distributions. The spoils will go to the vendor whose engine can be harnessed most effectively. VMware clearly recognises this and is investing heavily in technologies such as VirtualCenter. It's not lost on Microsoft either, but it still has some way to go to catch up.
But both vendors clearly recognise, as the opening up of their respective file formats indicates, that they can't do it alone. In particular, they need to ensure that the leading management players - BMC, CA, HP and IBM - are on board, since that's who many of their target customers will be turning to for a lead. VMware has done an excellent job of cultivating partnerships with these players but none of them can afford to ignore Microsoft.
These moves are good news for enterprises. Not only does it increase competition and, as a result, choice: it also drives innovation in the management areas required to maximise the potential benefits of virtualisation technology. In the absence of industry-wide open standards, enterprises will rely on these management solutions to abstract the underlying virtualisation engine.
Copyright © 2006 Macehiter Ward-Dutton
This article was originally published at IT-Analysis.com.


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Check out this random, unabashed Matt Hasselbeck-worship post. I don't get it. Hasselbeck was good a few years back but he's bordering on awful now. (I must say – this is hard for me to write because I like Hasselbeck as a person..but he's just not good anymore.) Don't believe me? Check out his awful stats for the past 3 seasons:
- was injured for 13 of 50 games
- had an average QB rating of 68.7
- had an average pass completion percentage of of 57%
- threw 34 TDs to 44 INTs
Sorry Mike Freeman – if Tenn gets to the playoffs it will be because Chris Johnson has 4000 yards, not because of Hasselbeck. If I were Tenn I would have gone after Kyle Orton or even McNabb.


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We hear over and over again how important labels are in influencing the consumers purchasing decision.
Richmond, CA (PRWEB) July 25, 2012
Monvera Glass Décor, a leading provider of etched wine bottles and screen printed bottle labels has reorganized and revamped their design service offerings provided by the Monvera Art and Design Department. Wineries and other clients now have several service levels that they can choose from depending on their design needs and budget. This in-house service makes it easy for customers to combine label design and label printing together.
Clients can bring their current paper label design to Monvera and have a screen printed version developed that still retains the existing brand identity. In addition, a version can be developed for bottle etching too. This approach is suitable for wineries that would like to revamp their existing labels without going through the expense of an entire rebranding program. The customer can opt to revamp their entire line or just use it for specific categories of wine to differentiate them from the rest e.g. reserves, wine club wines, late harvest wines, limited and special releases. The transition from a paper label to a screen printed label elevates the look of the existing label and completes the upgraded look of the package. Design offerings include designing a label for printing on wine bottles using existing logo and art elements.
"Often, the customer has a vision for what they want the label to look like and we take those components and repackage them into a beautiful screen printed label or a label for wine bottle etching." says Caitriona Anderson, Monvera's VP of Sales & Marketing. "During the process we are able to incorporate many design techniques that lend themselves to the screen printing process such as full wraps, side label etc. We hear over and over again how important labels are in influencing the consumers purchasing decision. Packaging plays a critical role in making that first sale to a new consumer. Our customers need a resource to support them in the crucial decisions that have to be made about their package. We are happy to be able to provide a full service to our clients between the label design and optimization followed by the actual decoration of the bottle. This streamlined effort saves time and money."
About Monvera Glass Décor:
Monvera provides industry leading glass decoration services such as screen printing, bottle etching and decals to the wine & spirits, beer, cosmetics, specialty food and beverage industries. Monvera's team of dedicated professionals is committed to providing the best quality and customer service available. We are located in a 42,000-square foot facility in Richmond, CA. With multiple ovens and printing machines, Monvera can accommodate any order size, from 100 cases to thousands. Clients include Boisset Family Estates, Frank-Lin Distillers, Garrett Markenson Coiffure and Veronica Foods. To learn more about Monvera visit http://www.monvera.com/.


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CLOSED Blairsville Social Center 60+
Monday, September 30, 2019
26 Heybert Drive, Blairsville, PA
8:30 am 7 pm Monday
8:30 am 2:30 pm Tuesday through Friday
Mondayeveningsthis center offers a home-cooked meal, along with activities for those who might not be able to attend during daytime hours. Dinner is served at5:30 pm, and a reservation in advance is needed so we may know how many to prepare for.
Some of the other services offered are Fitness Class, Wii Games, Crafts, Bingo, Cards, Trips, Billiards, Open Painting Club, Parties, Musical Entertainment, Blood Pressure Screenings, Internet Ready Computers, Open Acoustic Jam Sessions, and various Volunteer opportunities.
Transportation is availableto and from each center through Indigo (724-465-2140). We offer scheduled shopping trips and provide transportation to medical/therapy appointments.
For more information about this event, please contact:
Aging Services


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Former NASA Space Center director Jefferson "Beak" Howell wraps up GTC West with his rules for leadership.
Government Technology's annual GTC West conference in Sacramento, Calif., concluded Wednesday, Aug. 21. The event featured sessions addressing pressing public-sector IT issues, including mobility, workforce development, citizen engagement and cybersecurity.
Keynote speaker Jefferson "Beak" Howell, a Marine figher pilot who ultimately became director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, talked about his experiences in leading people -- particularly during tough times. Howell was the space center director during the Columbia space shuttle disaster in 2003, an event he described as a "nightmare."
Speaking to a packed house, Howell recounted events ranging from aerial dogfights in the skies over Vietnam to arranging a memorial service, attended by President George W. Bush, for the Columbia crew members. Out of those and other events, Howell developed eight leadership rules, which give straightforward advice like, "People normally live up to your expectations of them" and "Things are never as good or bad as first reported."


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Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Wikipedia.
Related to heparin: Heparin induced thrombocytopenia
heparin(hĕp`ərĭn), anticoagulantanticoagulant
, any of several substances that inhibit blood clot formation (see blood clotting). Some anticoagulants, such as the coumarin derivatives bishydroxycoumarin (Dicumarol) and warfarin (Coumadin) inhibit synthesis of prothrombin, a clot-forming substance, and other
..... Click the link for more information. produced by cells in many animals. A polysaccharide, heparin is found in the human body and occurs in greatest concentration in the tissues surrounding the capillaries of the lungs and the liver. The substance, extracted from animal tissues, is used clinically to delay blood clottingblood clotting,
process by which the blood coagulates to form solid masses, or clots. In minor injuries, small oval bodies called platelets, or thrombocytes, tend to collect and form plugs in blood vessel openings.
..... Click the link for more information. .
An acid mucopolysaccharide acting as an antithrombin, antithromboplastin, and antiplatelet factor to prolong the clotting time of whole blood; occurs in a variety of tissues, most abundantly in liver.


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Are you in the United States?
Visit our U.S.A. & International site for relevant pricing, distribution and product availability information.Go to StarTech.com
1U Fixed 19" Adjustable Depth Universal Server Rack Rails
Mount 19" Servers or Networking Hardware in any Standard Rack
Product ID: UNIRAILS1U
- Easily rack-mount your non-rackmount gear
- Mount equipment without sacrificing an additional 1U of rack space, unlike traditional rack shelves
- Keep your devices running cool with an open frame design that doesn't impede airflow
- Universal support for EIA-310 19" server racks
- Maximum durability with cold-rolled steel construction
- TAA compliant for GSA Schedule purchases
- Removable rear cable management panel
- Weight capacity up to 25 kg (55 lb)
- Adjustable depth from 420 mm (16.5" ) - 1054 mm(41.5")
- Multiple mounting hole patterns for securing your equipment
These 1U server-rack rails let you mount non-rackmount equipment such as desktop servers, networking equipment or KVM switches, into your 19" server rack without sacrificing 1U of rack space, like you would with a traditional shelf. The rack rails are also a great solution for mounting equipment with damaged rails or discontinued OEM equipment such as Dell™, IBM®, HP® or Apple servers that no longer have rack rails available.
This TAA compliant product adheres to the requirements of the US Federal Trade Agreements Act (TAA), allowing government GSA Schedule purchases.
Turn non-rackmount equipment into 1U rackmount hardware
These rack rails add rackmount functionality to your non-rackmount gear, by cradling your equipment in an open frame supported by three sturdy crossbars. You can mount your non-rackmount equipment by mounting the rails to your server rack and placing your equipment on the undercarriage. For equipment that already features mounting holes, the rails also feature multiple mounting patterns to secure your equipment, for an added level of security.
Universal design mounts to almost any 19" server rack
Adhering to the EIA-310 standard for 19" rackmount equipment, these mounting rails are universally compatible with 19" server racks. The depth is adjustable for a variety of rack sizes and configurations. Plus, there is a rear cable management panel that's removable for additional customization.
Maximum durability
To ensure your equipment is secure, these mounting rails feature cold-rolled steel construction. The durable design can support a weight load of up to 55 lb (25 kg).
The UNIRAILS1U is backed by a lifetime StarTech.com warranty with free technical support.
- Mount rackmount equipment that's missing its original rails
- Use to rackmount OEM equipment such as Dell, IBM, HP or Apple servers that no longer have rack rails available for purchase
- Securely mount non-rackmount equipment into any 19" EIA-310 server rack
The StarTech.com Advantage
- Universal design mounts to almost any 19" server, or other equipment for maximum mounting versatility
- Three-piece rail construction allows for a wide range, adjustable depth configuration to accommodate almost any size of rack
- Cross bars allow for mounting of equipment that can't span the 19" rack expanse
Product Numbers
Ingram Micro Belgium
UPC Code
Technical Specifications
|Warranty Information
|Cable Management
|Frame Type
|U Height
|Weight Capacity (Stationary)
|25 kg [55.3 lb]
|Physical Characteristics
|Maximum Mounting Depth
|1054 mm [41.5 in]
|Minimum Mounting Depth
|420 mm [16.5 in]
|Weight of Product
|2.6 kg [5.8 lb]
|Packaging Information
|Package Height
|75 mm [3 in]
|Package Length
|49 cm [19.3 in]
|Package Width
|10.7 cm [4.2 in]
|Shipping (Package) Weight
|2.9 kg [6.3 lb]
|What's in the Box
|Included in Package
|1 - Set Universal Rack Rails
|8 - M5 Panel Screws
|8 - M5 Cage Nuts
|1 - M5 Wrench
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3U Fixed 19" Adjustable Depth Universal Server Rack Rails
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2U Adjustable Mounting Depth Vented Sliding Rack Mount Shelf – 50lbs / 22.7kg
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1U Adjustable Mounting Depth Vented Rack Mount Shelf - 175lbs / 80kg
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22in Black Deep Sliding Server Rack Cabinet Shelf
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50 Pkg M5 Mounting Screws and Cage Nuts for Server Rack Cabinet
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100 Pkg M5 Mounting Screws and Cage Nuts for Server Rack Cabinet
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Product Support
Data Sheets
Frequently Asked Questions
Before You Buy
There's a wide variety of accessories for server racks and today the various options will be explored. Here are the accessories that will be discussed.
- Shelves
- Rack rails and DIN rails
- Casters and leveling feet
- Cable management
- Rack blank panels
- Power Distribution Units (PDUs)
Server rack shelves come in a variety of sizes and styles. We will be covering six different types of server rack shelves.
Server rack shelves have both a U size and depth. The U size describes the height of the shelf in rack units, and one U is equal to 1.74 inches. Shelves might also list a maximum suggested weight and some shelves are available in a vented design for greater airflow.
Fixed shelves have a fixed depth. If you use a server rack with fixed shelves, make sure your rack equipment fits within the mounting depth of the shelf you are purchasing.
Unlike fixed shelves, you can adjust the depth of adjustable shelves. The minimum and maximum mounting depths for adjustable shelves are listed on the product page, under the Technical Specifications tab.
Sliding shelves can be slid in or out of a server rack. These shelves have a lock feature that locks the shelf and prevents it from accidentally falling out or sliding back into the server rack. The minimum and maximum mounting depths for sliding shelves are listed on the product page, under the Technical Specifications tab.
Similar to sliding shelves, drawer shelves feature a sliding storage drawer that is perfect for storing tools, small hardware or other accessories.
Cantilever shelves do not attach to the server rack on all 4 corners; instead, they only attach on one side of the server rack. These shelves generally have lower weight thresholds.
Heavy duty shelves are designed to hold more weight. They are a more durable solution for storing large pieces of equipment that can't be mounted in a server rack.
Startech.com offers both rack rails and DIN rail kits.
Rack Rails are available in several different U sizes and are often adjustable, allowing you to customize the depth of your server equipment.
DIN Rails are an industry standard for server rack equipment, and StarTech.com offers a DIN Rail kit which fits all standard 19" racks. This kit features adjustable depth and the entire kit occupies 2 U's of rack space. As with other server rack accessories, check on the product page under the Technical Specifications tab to make sure your equipment will fit within the product's measurements.
Casters and levelling feet are two of the commonly used methods of mounting a rack on the floor. To determine whether your rack includes casters or levelling feet, on the product page, check the Technical Specifications tab, under the heading What's in the Box.
Cable management accessories include cable management hooks, panels, and conduits or ducts. More information will be shared on them below.
Cable management hooks are designed to hold cabling to avoid cable knotting or crimping. They are also sometimes referred to as D-Ring hooks and can be found in a variety of sizes.
Cable management ducts or conduits are used to route cables through a covered cable duct. These ducts feature a removable top cover so that you can easily add or remove cables.
A cable management panel consists of several cable management hooks and/or ducts, combining these products for an all-in-one cabling solution.
Rack blanking panels are sometimes called filler panels as they are designed to fill the openings in server racks that are not in use. This provides security as well as physical protection for the equipment in the server rack. Rack blanking panels can be vented or solid and come with or without hinges.
Power distribution units or PDU's add additional power outlets to your server rack. They are available in U based sizes, such as 1U and some of the more advanced units include power switching, which you can use to power on and off the connected devices over an IP network.
Confirm the number of outlets and the U size you need in your server rack PDU before you make a purchase.
There are a few ways you can find information about server rack accessories on www.StarTech.com.
- To view the different families of server rack accessories, go to the StarTech.com website. Under Server Management, click Server Rack Accessories. This opens a page with each family of server rack accessories.
- On individual product pages, you can view an image gallery which includes detailed pictures of the product.
- The Technical Specifications tab includes the product's dimensions, and what comes with the product.
- The Accessories tab lists other products that are confirmed to work with the product you are viewing.
If you have questions about any StarTech.com server rack accessories, contact our technical support team for further assistance.
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When you install your rack equipment, it's important to put the heaviest equipment on the bottom of the rack, first. This provides a strong base and is especially important if you are installing a lot of equipment on a tall rack. This also prevents the server rack from becoming top heavy and falling over.
If your equipment is long, heavy, unbalanced or otherwise difficult to handle, ask someone to help you install the equipment so you don't injure yourself or damage the equipment.
Finally, when you tighten down your screws make sure you don't strip or damage the screws. This is especially important to be aware of when using electric tools which can generate more torque.
The patch panel will be mounted using cage nuts, so the first step is to install them.
Once installed, the cage nuts can be used to mount our patch panel.
To install your server rack equipment, fasten the mounting screws into the cage nuts. After you tighten your screws, check to make sure your rack equipment is securely installed.
If you have questions about installing equipment into a server rack, contact our technical support team for further assistance.
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Compliance and Safety
Compliance Letters
Safety Measures
- If product has an exposed circuit board, do not touch the product under power.
- If Class 1 Laser Product. Laser radiation is present when the system is open.
- Wiring terminations should not be made with the product and/or electric lines under power.
- Product installation and/or mounting should be completed by a certified professional as per the local safety and building code guidelines.
- Cables (including power and charging cables) should be placed and routed to avoid creating electric, tripping or safety hazards.
* Product appearance and specifications are subject to change without notice.


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Kinston Public Services to amp up enforcement of storm order ordinance
Kinston Public Services are stepping up enforcement of the storm order ordinance, in the form of fines, to help curb grass clippings and other debris from entering the storm order system.
According to Public Services Director Rhonda Barwick, many people assume rain water collected in storm drains goes to a treatment plant and is cleansed upon arrival. However, this is not the case and the water flows directly from the storm drains into the Neuse River.
In addition to flooding, the waste also decreases the quality of the drinking water coming from the river, Barwick said.
Fines, which range from $50-500, are focused on repeat offenders and are designed to act as a deterrent.
In order to enforce the ordinance, a member of the department has to see a citizen in the act of violation. However, officials will take calls from observers and contact the violator.
�Our intention is not to fine people but to change behavior,� Barwick said.
Suggestions to keep the clippings from entering the system include using them as fertilizer or bagging them up and putting them out by the curb to be taken away later.
Starting in 2001, the department developed various programs to educate the public about the storm order system in the form of public meetings and workshops.
Steve Miller, assistant director at Kinston Public Services, was heavily involved in the beginnings of the education program when he was water resource manager. The first part was directed at developers and then the focused on the general public, he said.
As late as 2007, a survey conducted by the department indicated the majority of people still thought the water went to a treatment plant and was not aware of its destination.
While the department is still committed to spreading awareness, according to Barwick, the time for primarily using education has passed and the department will now shift its attention to enforcing with fines.
Miller hopes the fines will get the attention of the public. All revenue collected from fines goes directly to maintaining the storm order system.
Customers with questions or who want to report a violation may contact the department at 252-939-3282.


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"We'll show you what happens when you mess with our rights."
That's pretty much what hackers were saying after they broke into a BART website and published personal information about thousands of transit agency subscribers on Sunday.
On one level, the hack attack seemed poetic justice. There's something almost-righteous when you see that kind of response -- sort of like when David hurled the rock at Goliath.
But beyond the "tit for tat," something much more fundamental to American society happened over the weekend.
Laws and rules are among the cornerstones that separate civil society from anarchy. The hackers were angry that BART denied them their "rights" by cutting off cell phone service last week to prevent disruptive protest activity over a previous confrontation that resulted in a death.
They claim BART had been irresponsible.
Maybe they were, maybe they weren't. It's the kind of thing that gets sorted out by the legal system, or at least should be. But the wheels of justice rarely travel quickly, even for a fast-paced transit system.
Instead of waiting for the judicial process to determine the responsible parties, the hackers decided to act on their own.
Ironically, by taking matters into their own hands, they broke the law and hurt thousands of innocent people along the way -- people who had nothing to do with their spat with BART. In the process, they pushed our culture one step closer to anarchy and one step further away from civil society.
American democracy provides a lot of room for civil disobedience as a way of expressing anger and frustration. That's what marches and rallies do. Even sit-ins. But when civil disobedience harms innocent people, such activity should not be tolerated.
Yesterday's hackers may be amused by the attention they brought to their cause. But beyond that, they revealed a contempt for the political process. The more these kinds of activities take place and are tolerated by the rest of us, the more endangered our democracy becomes.


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The Rio Alto /RIO.to) (RIOM) /Sulliden (SUE.to) deal: What's "New Rio" worth?
That's exactly and precisely the question we'll be tackling in The IKN Weekly, edition number 266, out this weekend.
Though one thing's for sure: Even at current gold prices it's worth a whole bunch more than CAD$2.20.
The Rio Alto (RIO.to) (RIOM) relief rally continues
It's now 25% up since....errr...last Wednesday's news.
More to come, too.
Chart of the day is...
...Peru's monthly trade balance, 2010 to date:
You know, what with the downturn in metals prices and its ever increasing imports, you might even think that the country is starting to....oh forget it.
Guernica Das Ruas, by Alex Frechette
One more thing to say about the Brazil 2014 World Cup before it starts, then IKN will leave you in peace to enjoy the wonderful football and the 90% finished stadiums. This re-working of Picasso's famous canvas by Rio artist Alex Frechette is the best protest against the FIFA bunfest so far.
Wonderful. Learn more here.
The World Cup post
There's way too much out there already and there's going to be far more to come, so even though a post or two are by no means forbidden this humble corner of cyberspace will mostly refrain from commentary on Brazil 2014 (its owner will be too busy watching every single match, for one thing) and leave it to umpteen other places to provide you with reading material. Therefore and for the record, here are the house calls:
Want to win: Argentina
Think will win: Brazil
Other strong candidates (in order): Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland
Outsider to cheer for: Chile
Rank outsider to steal your heart: Honduras
That's all.
Iwnattos in strong form today
The last
four or five seven or eight* posts (today and yesterday evening) over at My Own Market Narrative are all good stuff. You have gold commentary, you have market commentary, you have Iwnattos ripping it out of Business Insider and Casey Research. Recommended brainfood and entertaining to boot. Right here.
*more good stuff added
*more good stuff added
Probe Mines (PRB.v): Mike Hocking of Scotia doubles down on his sell call
John Kaiser will give it another infantile mouthfroth session for sure (in love with your stock much, John?) but you have to admire the refresh sell call from Mike Hocking of Scotia today on Probe Mines (PRB.v), if only for the balls. He initiated coverage on PRB.v a few weeks ago with a Sell reco and a $1.30 target, when all around him are calling it a buy. Today he's dropped that target to just 50c. Here's a chart:
By the way, I've read his report today and it's a good argument in my personal opinion. However, I have no position either side of PRB.v, purely sidelines watching and will stay that way.
I'm sorry, did I say 12%?
I meant 18%.
How silly of me.
Disclosure: Yeah I'm pumping a big long holding of mine. So what? Bite me.
Congratulations Andrew Swarthout...
....on your hard work this week. The way in which you dedicated your time and efforts into to exercising 200,000 options of Sandstorm Gold (SSL.to) (SAND) and then managed to sell them all into the market, quietly and piecemeal and all that. IKN can't be bothered to work out the exact net profit* but around $650,000 looks close. That right?
Anyway, beats doing anything about Santa Ana and we're sure glad that there are still people out there who are making a fat profit in this crappy market. An example to us all, Andrew.
*Before taxes, of course. Mr. Swarthout will pay his taxes. Oh yes.
Chart of the day is...
...three years of the gold/copper ratio:
I'm spending more time thinking about copper than just about anything else. Gold's a sideshow right now, a noise in the background. Copper's where there's real money to be made this year.
Rio Alto (RIOM) (RIO.to): Did something happen last Wednesday that changed the market's attitude to its takeover of Sulliden Gold (SUE.to)?
Hey, do you think that maybe it was this? The Flash update sent to IKN Weekly subscribers on Wednesday June 4th:
Good Wednesday morning, this should get out just before the open, though the internet connection here is poor today so let's see how things go when i hit the send button.
By way of a very quick resume, on Monday i spent two hours with the RIO.to CEO and COO in Lima. Then unbeknown to them and anyone else, got on a plane and a couple of buses for an uninvited site trip to Cajabamba, in the Cajamarca region of Peru, to check out the Sulliden project for myself as well as discuss the project with politicos in town. I'm still in Cajabamba this morning and one meeting left in town this morning before heading out, but it's very unlikely indeed to change today's call.
I've met the people i wanted to meet in Cajabmaba and i've seen 98% of the things to see at Shahuindo without being invited on site (a near-arrest stopped me from seeing the last 2%, i'll tell you about that Sunday, all good fun though). You'll get a full report and photoshow in Sunday's edition of the Weekly, but the bottom line is that Shahuindo is in a much better political and community risk position than i'd previously assumed. I was wrong about this project and it's taken the takeover situation for me to shake down my assumptions, but now that i have and i've seen and heard the situation here, this project is one that's going to happen. A little humility is positive for the soul....and in this case the stock call too.
As a consequence, RIO.to is reinstated as a Top Pick stock however, those of you looking for a quick flip gain have to be clear that the offer situation between RIO.to and SUE.to means that the stock is likely to flatline until the deal is closed. We may get fluctuations as a function of gold price etc in the meantime, but anyone looking to buy "New RIO" has a couple of months of time to position themselves, i'd say.
Personally I'm not adding any more at this time, as i have a lot already.
Best, O
By the way, that report and photoshow happened in IKN265, out last Sunday. By the looks of the mail feedback received from subscribers, they liked it. That's good, too.
UPDATE post bell: I'm sorry, did I say 8%?
I meant 12%. Lord knows why the thing decided to rally today, really don't have a clue as to.....ohhh, forget it.
UPDATE post bell: I'm sorry, did I say 8%?
I meant 12%. Lord knows why the thing decided to rally today, really don't have a clue as to.....ohhh, forget it.
The Bitcoin/Gold ratio: New world winning, old relic getting whupped
We use the daily marked prices from this site for Bitcoin (seems to cover a range of exchanges accurately and allows a decent daily average reading)
We use the close for the gold ETF (GLD) to follow the price of gold bullion (it's a very accurate proxy for ratio purposes and it's easy).
This is the resulting chart:
As of yesterday, the ratio has moved up to 5.43X, that's up from the low of 3.18X two months ago. That's a pretty decent move.
Chart of the day is...
...gold, monthlies (with important notes):
Yup, it's another day in which we pretend to care about utterly insignificant movements in the price of gold.
Pollution, by Rick of The Young Ones
It's a sad day for a funny world
All around
Sometimes up
And sometimes down
But always around.
Pollution, are you coming to my town?
Or am I coming to yours?
We're on different buses, pollution
But we're both using petrol
Start your Monday the right way: With a Penis Wall
Here's the site and here's the top blurb:
The Penis WallAnd here's the gif:
This kinetic sculpture consists of 81 erectable penises that respond to either a viewer's movements or to realtime movements in the stock market.
h/t drunkeynesian
The IKN Weekly, out now
IKN265 has just been sent to subscribers. It main feature is a report on a site visit with a difference. Your author visited the Shahuindo Gold (SUE.to) project in Cajamarca province to see what there was to see, but the small detail was that he wasn't invited. So right up to the point where he was kicked off and nearly arrested things went well...and after that, they got even better.
PS: And this is Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot singing Bonnie and Clyde, a song created in a way so far ahead of its time it's frightening.
PS: And this is Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot singing Bonnie and Clyde, a song created in a way so far ahead of its time it's frightening.
Labels: otto, the IKN weekly
Ram Dass, junior mining company management, me
I read Ram Dass's words and works for many reasons. One of the minor ones is that his insights help enormously when dealing with people in the junior mining world. Here's an example:
"When you get frustrated because something isn't the way you thought, examine your thinking, not just the thing that frustrates you. And you will see that a lot of your suffering is created by your models about how the Universe ought to be. And your inability to allow it to be. If I meet somebody that is a liar and a cheat, they are like an elm tree. They are the essence of lying and cheating. If I have a model people shouldn't lie and cheat, then I am immediately in opposition to that person. I don't have to play games with them. I may say "In the future, you and I can't play together, because you are a liar and a cheat and I can't play with you" but I at least appreciate and allow them their lyingness and cheatingness. That's their problem, not mine. My problem was my expectations. If you have a model that everybody is good and then somebody isn't, then you end up hating the world and being all upset about the world because it isn't the way you expected it to be. It's like you come here and it's a beautiful day, so you expect the next day is going to be beautiful. Then it rains, and you are disappointed. Isn't it funny that when it rains, you should be disappointed? To take nature and allow nature, when it's in its natural state, to make you miserable. It says something about you. It's like decaying and dying. If you are upset about decaying and dying, you've got a problem. You really do."
AP on Antamina: The Video
On this link is a two and a half minute video report that's a follow-up to yesterday's note on the conflict between locals and Peruvian mega-mines, with Antamina as the focal point. Check out the dust cloud that rises from the mine, really rams home the problem.
The video can't be embedded. so go over and watch it on the link.
The video can't be embedded. so go over and watch it on the link.
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Here's a look at the hot new emoji coming to your iPhone
If there's one thing Apple is good at, it's making people want to keep their phones up to date.
The best way to do that is with new emojis.
Hundreds of new emoji, including more expressive smiley faces, gender-neutral characters, clothing options, food types, animals, mythical creatures and more, are coming to your Apple devices with iOS 11.1.
The new emoji are designed to reveal every detail and adapted from approved characters in Unicode 10. iOS 11.1 will also include characters announced on World Emoji Day like Woman with Headscarf, Bearded Person, Breastfeeding, Zombie, Person in Lotus Position and new food items such as Sandwich and Coconut.
Also included in the update is the Love-You Gesture, designed after the "I love you" hand sign in American Sign Language.
The new emoji will debut in next week's developer and public beta previews of iOS 11.1, and will be available in upcoming software updates for iPhones, Macs and Apple Watches.
These new emoji, according to emojipedia are part of the Emoji 5.0 list which was finalised earlier in the year.
This update includes 56 new emojis from Unicode 10.0, as well as 183 emoji sequences used for gender and skin-tone variants and subdivision flags.
With this new update, is your most-requested emoji finally available?


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I Want One of Those: Quieter Paper Towel Dispenser
If the buzz of electronic paper towel dispensers annoys you as much as it irks students in dorms, you'll want this muffling system, which reduces noise from 74.2 to 64.5 decibels.
Inventors Phillip Coletti, Zack Cutler, Madeleine Parker, Alison Polton-Simon, and Ian Schneider—all class of 2014—won the Phillip R. Jackson Prize for outstanding performance in ENGS 21: "Introduction to Engineering." Their teaching assistant was Wiley Dunlap-Shohl '12.
Categories: The Great Hall, I Want One of Thosecomments powered by Disqus


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Black White Stripes Weaving Style Strap Sony Nikon Canon Handmade Leather Camera Strap 8298
Handmade with top layer cow leather and denim. It can fit almost every DSLR, SLR and some larger digital cameras.
Colors may vary from screen to screen
Max Length(Adjustable):164cm; Width:38mm; Thickness: 2.0mm
Color: Photo Color
Accept Custom Order: MOQ of 10pcs per model
Orders will be processed and shipped within five (5) business days of the order date, excluding weekends and holidays. If we anticipate any potential delays in processing, we will notify you within 48 hours of your order. And it will take about 15 days to be delivered to worldwide countries, maybe some more days for some remote places. If you need expedited shipping, please contact us.
Please make sure to leave me your contact phone number when you place the order!
If this is a Gift,please tell me your telephone number and time .so we can quick processing order .
Order over $300 Free Shipping
Order Processing : 3-5 Business Days.
Standard Shipping: 7-15 Days. US $10 - 35.
Express Shipping : 2-5 Days. US $15-45.
We ship to worldwide .
You does not need to pay VAT , If you need to pay the custom VAT , We will help you pay the Customs Tariff.
Refunds and Exchanges:
Return within 30 days from the delivered date
1. Items received within 30 days from the delivered date.
2. Items received unused, undamaged and in original package.
3. Return shipping fee is paid by buyer.


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Here's what's not going to happen this year: the earth won't end on Dec. 12; it won't be swallowed by a black hole, consumed by the sun or get taken out by a collision with the imaginary planet Nibiru. Here's what will happen: as of today, more people than ever will believe that those calamities will occur on precisely the day they're predicted to. The reason: a new discovery just reported in the journal Science of the earliest known Mayan astronomical calendar, featuring elaborate and detailed work by one of the most impressive civilizations that ever lived.
It was earlier interpretations of other Mayan calendars that gave rise to the Internet-fueled doomsday scenarios of the past few years mostly because one calendar cycle the Mayans computed ends Dec. 12 (though no one paid much attention to the fact that another one was supposed to begin immediately after that). If people can stay focused on the science this time though, they'll find a lot to be impressed by in the new findings.
The site described in the Science paper seems modest at first: a small painted room unearthed in 2011 in the Mayan ruins in Xultun, Guatemala. The overall Xultun site was first described by archaeologists in 1915 and has been explored and, sadly, plundered intermittently ever since. But the 2011 find was something new. As described in the paper by a team led by archaeologist William Saturno of Boston University, the room was built in the early 9th century and appears to have been originally used to depict historical figures and events in Mayan history. The west, north and east walls of the room, as well as the ceiling, were covered with murals, and some of the text associated with the paintings pegs the events as having occurred in the year 814.
But the room did not remain a solemn and commemorative place for long. Soon it was repurposed for much more prosaic uses, with the east and west walls getting plastered over and pressed into service as a kind of 9th century blackboard, onto which astronomical and calendrical calculations could be etched. Multiple layers of plaster were applied, with multiple new columns of numbers and glyphs then getting inscribed on them the equivalent of erasing your notes and starting over.
That constant reworking was clearly worth the effort, yielding a precise and detailed system of marking time and reading the skies. Most of the east wall appears to have been given over to tracking lunar cycles and using them to frame relatively short periods in the Mayan calendar. The north wall involved planetary observations, which helped establish what the archaeologists call Long Count dates. "These [longer] spans are usually 3,000 to 4,000 years," the authors write.
The numbers used in the calculations are not numerals as we know them, of course, but arrangements of dots and bars, with each dot representing a 1 and each bar representing a 5. With the help of that simple coding, it's possible to understand some of the Mayan units of time, such as the 360-day tun unit, the 20-day winal unit and the single-day k'in. The monthly cycles of the moon are also assembled into 178-day lunar semesters.
"Visible atop at least five of the columns are individual moon glyphs combined with facial profiles," Saturno and his colleagues write. "Enough detail is visible on two of these glyphs to see that they are deities."
The smallest timescales on the longer-range north wall are 117-day cycles, which coincide with the synodic period of Mercury or the amount of time it takes for Earth and Mercury, when they are in a given position relative to each other, to return to that precise position as they move through their orbits. Other larger and more complex calculations suggest that the Mayans were trying to develop formulas to synchronize cycles of the moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars. These would then be assigned relevance in the Mayans' spiritual practices.
"One goal of the Maya calendar keepers," the investigators write, "was to seek harmony between sky events and sacred rituals."
The calculations in the Xultun room were precursors to what's known as the Dresden Codex, a much more sophisticated series of Mayan formulas recorded on bark-paper books in the 15th century. But the 9th century Mayans working in the Xultun room were not reluctant to publish their own, more preliminary work something that seems evident from the unusually tidy nature of the inscribed notes. "These repeatedly replastered sections may have been used as a kind of reference for the preparation of other more permanent or public monuments," the researchers write.
The Mayans no doubt would have preferred that those permanent monuments were preserved, rather than just the astronomical faculty lounge in which they did their background work. But archaeology is capricious and which clues survive the centuries or are lost to them is impossible to predict. Either way, the Mayans left us plenty to ponder. None of it points to the end of our world all of it, however, can help enrich it.


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Yelena: Holga Style
I took photos of my friend Yelena quite awhile ago, but I recently uncovered these Holga photos from the same shoot. We went to Arana Gulch in Santa Cruz for a nice open field to take portraits in. I like how long it takes me to finish and develop rolls of film, because every roll ends up being a surprise! Check out the original photoshoot here.
Yelena is a super talented designer, so check out her graphic design and illustration work.
The "you don't say…" look:
SFMOMA: Holga Style
Last August I went and saw a great Cindy Sherman exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art with a few friends and brought my Holga along. These were taken inside and outside of the museum.
My favorite is looking up towards the SFMOMA's unique ceiling/roof.
Año Nuevo: Holga Style
Last March my family and I went and saw the elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park for the first time. Of course I have a million pictures from that trip with my "real" camera that I never edited or shared. It's practically a year later and it took a random roll of Holga film to remind me of those forgotten photos. Someday they will make an appearance as well, but for now here's Holga's take on the trip. Since my Holga has such a point of view, I suddenly think that it needs a name…you know, like people name their cars (my car=Roxy). I'll have to give it some thought…
This sequence of photos is exactly how they appear on the roll of film. All the overlap actually worked out nicely:
I love how the elephant seals just flop about. Pick a spot, flop down, and sleeeeeeeeeep.
Greyhound Rock: Holga Style…again.
It's difficult NOT to photograph Greyhound Rock (my favorite beach off highway 1) whenever I go. I've captured the beach with my Holga before and had more shots on my recent rolls of film.
Here's the rock in all of its glory with a flash of blue (blue filter covering flash).
Lake Geneva: Holga Style
I had 2 rolls from my Holga developed recently! I'm still working on perfecting the scanning process-it's so tedious!
This time around I used a different brand of 120mm film, which must only be compatible with 12 exposures, because when I did 16 they all overlapped. I like the imperfections from using a Holga, so I really don't mind the unexpected effect. The owner at the camera shop actually tried to give me advice on how to win
d the camera, thinking that I didn't wind far enough each time.
These 2 photos are from last November when I visited my grandparents' cottage on Lake Geneva in Delavan, Wisconsin. I think they truly embody the mood of that lazy Fall afternoon.
Return of my Mighty Holga!
In the past I've had my Holga 120mm film rolls developed and scanned at the same time from Bay Photo Lab in Santa Cruz. Early this year they stopped processing film altogether, so I had my film developed at Foto Express in downtown San Jose, but opted out paying for digital scans. I decided to invest in a film negative scanner so I can do my own film scans and hopefully scan old slides my family has as well.
The fun thing about my Holga is I don't take photos with it often, so 1 roll can contain photos from a whole range of events. This first batch of scans are from the same roll but contain images from my first NFL game (Raiders vs. The Bears), a trip to Seattle last February, a local beach outing, and my coworker/friend Ari and I at First Friday in Santa Cruz.
Can you spy the double exposure? ^
From this same roll I also have images from Christmas (2011) and New Years Eve that I'll be posting in the future!


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No one wants to feel cold in their own homes. That's why when it starts to get chilly, we do something about it. Most modern houses have some great solutions in place, but they aren't all energy efficient, or cost effective. Space heaters seem to be a simple solution to the temperature problems inside the home,?an effective one at that.
So what?is the best space heater to choose for your requirements? There are several?types of heating products for different sized rooms and purposes ranging from a small bedroom, to a large room, a gym, or a home office. All of these areas in the household I will cover below and discuss how to effectively warm up each.
Top 10
|Our rating
|DeLonghi HMP1500 Mica
|Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX
|Stiebel Eltron CK 15E
|ClassicFlame 28II300GRA
|Lasko 6405 Designer Oscillating
|Dyna Glo RA18LPDG
|Lasko 755320
|Dr. Heater DR966
|Pleasant Hearth Cabinet Style
|Pleasant Hearth LWS-130291
Best space heater reviews – top rated
With an exceptional amount of choice in the industry, picking out one single unit over another can often prove a time consuming task that's full of risk. We believe our buying guides, and room heating reviews removes many?of these consumer worries by giving our readers a set of guidelines to follow, including what to look out for. Hopefully this will make the shopping process a whole lot simpler for those who are confused.
Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater with Digital Display
The level of quality found in many?Lasko heaters highlight their experience in manufacturing popular room warming products the industry. You don't have to look far to find positive reviews from consumers at various online shops and stores in your research. And the Lasko 755320 is no exception with a fantastic spec list.
With a decent level of power at 1500 watts, this could potentially be the ideal solution for a smaller room. And with the thermostat being?fully programmable, along with the simplicity of operation, it's quite understandable why this has become the chosen unit for many.
Many people cite the amount of room a unit takes up can be a deciding factor in their choice. Well, the good news is it's compact measuring at just?8.5?inches by?7.25?inches by?23?inches?tall.
And with a very affordable price tag, that's understandable. Those of you looking for something temporary, or small, without worrying about spending too much cash may want to add this to your list of possibilities.
Dyna Glo RA18LPDG propane cabinet heater
Running and operating on a self contained propane system, the Dyna Glo RA18LPDG has plenty of positives that will improve the temperature, and make life a little easier with simple controls that alter the heat settings. You choose how warm the air given off is.
It's important to not that the propane tank does not come with this propane heater, but it does take a?20-1b size propane tank for reference purposes.
Highly mobile with handy casters attached to the bottom. Simply roll it into and out of storage when not is use. If you've ever run into problems with appliances having wheels in the past, erase those thoughts now, as these casters are lockable,?achieving?a safe, sturdy base.
To give you an idea of the sort of heat production to expect, the manufacturer says it will?achieve between 6 thousand and 18 thousand BTU. The exact amount, of course, will depend on the temperature settings you choose. Overall, a decent output though, a decent product that will ultimately do what's asked of it.
Pleasant Hearth Cabinet Style Pellet Stove
Those of you with a larger budget may want to look into getting a pellet style stove. The best pellet stoves?come with some great options and a long lasting burn to keep the home warm for many hours at a time.
This is a more manual approach, and will require you to stock up on some form of pellet fuel to burn, but it's generally highly effective and produces higher levels of BTU than some smaller, portable options in the industry.
This cabinet style unit has an automatic ignition system in place which makes light work of an otherwise arduous task. Additionally, users will be spoiled for choice with five differing heat settings to choose from.
The major downside here is the pricing. If you're looking for something temporary, a pellet stove won't be ideal as the cost outweighs the?amount of time it'll be used for. However, if you're wanting something heavy duty, with a excellent heat output, this could be exactly what you require.
Lasko 6405 Designer Oscillating Heater
Another excellent product from the Lasko brand. This is an Oscillating heater that has, i'm sure you will notice, a unique, but stylish design about it. We like the fact that they have moved away from boring, bland, designs in favor of something more modern. If only there was more choice in the?room heating market like this.
Users get full control over the temperature it operates at with an adjustable thermostat. A 1500 watts power level distributed among low, medium, and higher warmth levels will enable users to choose a setting dependent on the weather and climate.
Another great feature of this space heater is its compact nature. When taken out of its packaging and assembled, the dimensions are?7.2?inches by?7.2?inches by?16.18?inches tall. Not only will this save space, but also reduces the chance of it being a hazard in the household.
A low price, affordable price tag is perhaps one of the main reasons, along with the reputation of the brand that it's managed to sell so well in many online stores.
For those of you bored with the block style designs of many portable heating appliances on the market, this may become a breath of fresh air, and certainly something work considering.
Dr. Heater DR966 garage heater
Those of you looking for?a decent unit to heat a garage or perhaps a workshop, may want to look at our best garage heater guide. This machine has plenty or excellent options included within the design.
One thing in particular is the amount of heating power it produces, which is understandable, as most garages don't typically have the same levels of insulation installed. The thermostat allows the user to choose between both high and low settings. Depending on the environment you work or live in, this can be an important choice.
Secondly, it includes louvers attached to the front which allow consumers to point the heated air in the direction where it will become most effective.
And despite being a model which could be used in a commercial setting, perhaps even an industrial unit, this is still reasonably priced. Just take note that if you do decide to purchase it, the power cord does not come with it.
ClassicFlame 28II300GRA Infrared SpectraFire Plus Insert
This is an infrared?fireplace insert?with?some terrific specs. With 5200 BTU's it's more than capable of warming up smaller spaces in your home.
Then when you factor into the equation product aesthetics and how modern the design looks, you can see why this?insert seems to be a popular choice.
Includes a digital thermostat to control the output easily, and even in the summer months, when you don't necessarily need a fireplace insert, you can still turn on the digital flames and enjoy the nice glow they give off.
However, with the nice visual technology included, there is a downside. You will find it's higher priced than some types of space heaters, so naturally, if you're working with a lower budget, there could be better options available to you that work better with the resources you do have.
Stiebel Eltron CK 15E wall mounted electric fan heater
Now, if you're living quarters doesn't have a particularly large amount of space to work with, and you're looking for a good space heater to effectively save room by just being out of the way, why not look into getting a wall mounted electric fan heater.
These are not the most powerful room heaters on the market, but for your average sized rooms, such as a bathroom it will suffice. This model in particular – the Stiebel Eltron CK 15E is one of our top?picks for a number of reasons.
The first being that the noise levels are marketed as being quiet. This is not always the case and some machines can give off rather loud, irritating noises such as the rush of hot air flow.
Secondly, because it can be used as a quick warming device, you can put it in strategic areas of the home where warmth escapes regularly, such as near front and back doors.
Not quite low budget in our view, but still provides good value for money.
Mr heater portable buddy portable radiant heater
With a respectable BTU's output of between four thousand and nine thousand BTU, this radiant heater from the Mr heater brand holds its own among the vast amount of cheap?space heaters on the market. Looks can be deceiving. It may be compact and small, but the manufacturer states that it can warm up areas of up to two hundred square feet.
The great thing about this heating machine is that many people can use it indoors inside the house, or even outside in the evening on the patio, should you wish to. That could be a great option for those who enjoy having a glass of wine outside, or barbecues.
There are also several safety features that we found in the specification list. Among those is its ability to automatically shut off if it falls on its face. In doing so, it greatly reduces the risk of something catching light. The same applies when it detects lower than usual oxygen levels which is something that could protect individual health more than anything. Then of course, you have the wire guard covering the hottest parts at the front to prevent injuries from occurring.
It's a propane heater, so naturally, it will require fuel to run. From what we cam across in our research, users should have a bare minimum one pound tank. To give you an idea of the amount of time that will allow it to last, the manufacturer says three to six hours, which is excellent.
Pleasant Hearth LWS-130291 wood stove
The LWS-130291 wood stove shares some similarities with the pellet stove mentioned above. And that is the amount of heating power it will distribute. With a 77 thousand BTU rating, it's the type of space heater you need if you're looking to run off the grid, and away from electricity.
The firebox has enough to fit plenty of log fuel in to enable consumers to achieve a good burn for up to ten?hours. What's more, this is EPA certified and runs at a high efficiency level of eighty five percent.
The area at which it can warm up is quite impressive too with 2,200 square feet mentioned by Pleasant Hearth. This is above and beyond the majority of small portable heaters?for sale and certainly a good reason to give it some consideration. However, with a higher quality comes a higher price unfortunately. So any of you working with a small budget may wish to look elsewhere.
Additionally, take some safety measures to safeguard people who're vulnerable in the household by getting a fireplace screen.
DeLonghi HMP1500 Mica Panel Heater
Those wanting for something easy to work with, that's lightweight and effective for small to medium room sizes, may want to keep tabs on the DeLonghi HMP1500 Mica. This is a panel heater that will make light work of warming up smaller spaces.
The design is smart, it's thin and will not get in the way too much and can be mounted on the wall should you wish. This is another reason that it's suitable for a more compact room.
You don't get much choice in how hot it runs at, with two main settings. One higher at 1500 watts, the second runs on lower wattage at 750 watts.
Should you wish to move it around, it has a handy carrier handle as well as castors attached to the stabilizers, and in the event that you drop it or push it over onto its face, the automatic shut off switch will remove the danger.
And the icing on the cake here may come as a surprise to some. It looks great. We believe it will fit right in with many types of home decor, especially those found in modern bedrooms.
Types of space heater
Putting all other methods of warming up rooms aside,?The difficulties people run into when taking time to research into portable heaters is the amount of varying features and types available to them. When your stuck looking at a vast amount?of products that could all do a fantastic job in heating a household, but you need to choose a top?space heater, this is where the challenge can begin.
There are several different types of space heaters, including but not limited to: Infrared, kerosene,?gas, oil, electric, and propane. Each has its benefits over the next, but the thing that can confuse people the most is that these can all come with different heating technology built in. That's right, not only do you have to pick a suitable model, you also need to understand the technology used inside, and how it effects the room temperatures. Listed below, we go through several examples of these to remove any questions.
Halogen heaters
Unlike some heating devices, this type differentiates itself by removing the coils and other elements used such as propane as a source of heat, and instead focusing on doing so with halogen elements. These are typically plugged into an electrical outlet and are great for providing warmth in smaller spaces.
Parabolic Heaters
This unit shares some similarities with a satellite dish. It focuses energy using a parabolic reflector to provide a source of heat. These are great options for those of you who are looking the?most energy efficient space heaters. This is because they produce far more heat than 1500 watt products, but consume less energy, which is quite impressive and environmentally friendly.
Convection Heaters
Quite simple in its operation, air convection currents flow through the units main heating element ensuring the same air is warmed up and output. Oil based, water based radiators, and baseboard heaters are a great example of this type in action. They are fantastic options for distributing heat evenly and circulating if effectively around the room.
Radiant heaters
Unlike convection units, radiant units won't warm the air in the room by pushing the cold air down and circulating it. They will simply radiate the heat?that the unit generates itself, be it through electricity, or other means. They are popular, portable options that will heat small spaces effectively.
When looking at?the best space heater reviews around the web, you will need to understand how all the different types work, and what each of their purposes are. We hope that this in depth buying guide will help you on your way to finding a good fit for your home and your requirements.


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It's obvious why "nostalgia" is so often preceded by the word "crippling": There's nothing sadder or more futile than trying to grab hold of fleeting time—like a grandmother with a broken hip, helpless as an upended tortoise, struggling toward a telephone and the fast-moving world beyond. Or actually, maybe even that's not as sad as the career trajectory of your average pop star: Today you're among the most recognizable faces on the planet; tomorrow you're dutifully plopping out your handful of memorable hits on a strength-in-numbers package tour, your life reduced to these few three-minute ditties that were just dumb, harmless trifles when you were younger, but whose naïve frivolity now seems cold and mocking as your life's hour grows increasingly somber. But when these two meet, locking in a Venn diagram of wasted talents dutifully applied for yearning, backward-looking souls… oh man, forget about it. There are few things sadder than the "oldies" concert. Here the mutually damned circle each other in a whirling dervish dance around inevitable death, humming familiar tunes and hoping they're loud enough to distract themselves from the increasingly fervent banging from the other side of death's door. Here they cling desperately to the buoy of nostalgia, lest the oceans of time take them under, softly singing "Sea Of Love" while they lose all feeling in their extremities.
And to extend that nautically themed metaphor to its logical conclusion, there may be nothing sadder than the Malt Shop Memories Cruise, a just-announced venture from Time Life, Carnival Cruise Lines, and marketing company Sixthman (engineer of other musically themed, artistic-nadirs-on-a-boat featuring bands like Barenaked Ladies and Sister Hazel) that sets sail in 2010. According to the press release that landed in our inbox today:
On board, guests will enjoy live performances from the era's top artists in an intimate and personal setting. Those appearing include Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Lesley Gore, The Original Drifters, The Platters, and Lou Christie.
Hey look, it's all of the vaguely defined "era's" top artists! Such as: Frankie Avalon, a guy who had several radio hits written by his record company president from 1958 to 1962 (spanning two decades!), and who has by now spent more time gently mocking that early success than he did actually enjoying it. Bobby Rydell, whose return to the touring circuit obviously signifies a burning desire to reconnect with fans—and if it offsets fines incurred from drunkenly plowing his car into a yoga studio last month, hey, all the better. And because early rock 'n' roll wasn't just about Brylcreemed white boys making the black man's rhythm and blues palatable, they've also invited Little Anthony And The Imperials, plus whatever ragtag versions of The Platters and The Drifters are currently legally allowed to use those names without infringing on any trademarks. All this plus Lesley Gore, who's been singing about her make-believe Sweet 16 party for nearly 47 years now, and that's not tragic in the slightest. Oh, and Lou Christie, because Frankie Valli wanted too much money. What could have inspired such a thrilling, once-in-a-Branson-revue lineup, Time Life?
The Malt Shop Memories Cruise was inspired by Time Life's Malt Shop Memories collection- a box set containing 150 songs epitomizing the birth of rock n' roll. "We have sold millions of the Malt Shop Memories CDs, so this cruise is a natural extension of this beloved brand," says Patricia K. Boos, Senior Vice President for Time Life.
"The Carnival vacation experience evokes the very same fun and carefree spirit instilled in the tunes of the '50s and '60s," says Cherie Weinstein, vice-president of group business development for Carnival Cruise Lines.
Naturally. Because much as a greatest-hits box set winnows an entire epochal musical era to only the safe and familiar, a cruise ship provides the illusion of an exotic sea voyage without ever having to worry where your next Denver omelet is coming from. Also, they're both loved by old people. And of course, nothing says "rock 'n' roll" or embodies the wild, status-quo challenging upheavals of the '50s and '60s like several thousand fannypack-sporting senior citizens puttering around a lido deck, sipping virgin daiquiris, playing shuffleboard, and buying souvenir sweatshirts to wear to that night's concert, where they'll do creaky versions of the Twist, the Monkey, and other painful, whimsically named reminders of a time when their inflamed joints weren't waging revolutions of their own. No wonder there's so much "enthusiasm" about it, which totally exists because it says so in the very same press release.
Boos attributes the enthusiasm surrounding the cruise to the dedication of those involved in bringing this era back to life. "People love this era, love this music and love these artists. Seeing them perform live on this cruise is a unique and exciting vacation experience."
Yes, the tireless "dedication" that must have gone into contacting these artists and convincing them to step away from the supper club/regional holiday parade/state fair circuit, and revive the same songs they've already been milking for nearly half a century now for a guaranteed/trapped audience, all in exchange for five days of cruise ship comps and enjoying the dramatic increase in celebrity that always comes with ridiculously close quarters. By the way, does anyone else find it ironic that a person named "Boos" is in charge of an entertainment company? No? Moving on, then.
In addition to non-stop music and artist interactions, guests will enjoy other activities reminiscent of the era, including sock-hops, beach parties, dance contests, bingo and more. "We are so excited for Malt Shop Memories to come to life," says Andy Levine, owner of Sixthman. "This music is the soundtrack for generations of peoples' lives, and we're excited for the opportunity to bring them together."
Ah yes, people bonding over a shared experience, and reliving those increasingly opaque recollections of fading youth (hey, "Malt Shop Memories"—I get it!) via nightly, rote run-throughs of love songs that are sung by musicians who haven't felt anything romantic for another living person since long before their second divorce, and written by cynical, long-dead music executives who rightfully believed that those stupid kids would buy anything if it came drifting out of a set of pearly whites and a nice head of hair. Hooray, let's all go through the motions of a simpler time that will never come around again—and probably didn't even exist in the first place, outside of movies created by the music executives' even more opportunistic Hollywood counterparts—by playing a little "Beach Blanket Bingo"! Oh, if only this moment could last forever, a never-ending dream of a beautiful lie agreed upon, like a Johnny Rockets in the lounge of Purgatory. Or, you know, maybe we could just follow Frankie Avalon's concert by setting this whole fucking ship on fire and ending the suffering right here and now—a Viking funeral for rock 'n' roll, the 1950s, and an entire, regressed generation whose sad thirst for nostalgic comforts is so immoderate and indiscriminate, it's practically nursing itself off of history's tit. Hey, just like sucking down a milkshake! Very clever, Time Life. Very clever indeed.


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Though police and municipal actions have busted up some Occupy encampments, and others have folded temporarily due to weather, the movement is alive and thriving in both the popular imagination and on the Internet. Occupy-related communiques are more than holding their own on social media sites, in blogs, and in spawning a huge outpouring of creativity in art, essays, memes, ideas and actions.
The first wave of Occupy is clearly established, and the second wave is beginning. But, like the ancient marital art of T'ai Chi, #Occupy may gain more through apparent retreat; to breathe in and to marinate for a while in order to allow for a second flowering in the spring, or whenever turns out to be most appropriate.
In the meantime, activists and sympathizers can treat the winter as a time of intentional hibernation, stepping away in order to strengthen a sense of purpose, and deepen commitment to the cause. What follows are ten ways that you can #OccupyWinter by gathering the calm force needed to work more deeply in your #Occutivities.
10. Renew yourself.
Activism is hard, whether as a foot soldier on the front lines, or as a writer, artist, or administrator supporting the cause. Take time to step away from it all, holding your intention to go back to your efforts, but only after nurturing other aspects of yourself first. In the Transition Town world this is called "heart and soul" work, and is often aided by folks who volunteer to help by offering eco-psychology in the form of massage, talking opportunities, a meal, dealing with the process of change or other renewing, enlivening, supportive activities that nurture activists. If someone is offering you this support, receive it gratefully, releasing into the loving intention offered. If you need to simply nourish yourself by temporarily (but wholly) turning off your sense of duty, do it. Devotion to a cause is noble; but having the energy to follow through is about pacing yourself. Renew, and then get back to work. Your work will be better for it.
9. Volunteer to help someone.
#Occupy is famous for having welcomed the mentally ill, the homeless, and others on the so-called "fringe." This work has had a very selfless and even Christ-like aspect to many observers. Keep up that devotion by putting in volunteer hours at local shelters, food kitchens, libraries, clinics and other areas of need. Writers, bloggers, and artists can use this time to get out there for some front line work, or just make it a point to create works that point to the deeper aspects of our human connection as the #Occupiers seek to shift the paradigm.
8. Read a book.
Don't make any false moves. Put your mouse down, get your hands in the air, and step away from your computer. Make it a point to read essays, books, or magazine articles from some of the vibrant thinkers today and throughout history whose works inspire contemplation about what it means to be human and to dwell in a society. Some of our contemporary faves are Naomi Wolf, Wendell Berry, Ralph Nader, Yes! Magazine, and Starhawk's The Empowerment Manual. You may find great insights reading anyone from Plato to Jefferson to Goethe to Jung to Joel Salatin. Just read, trusting that whatever you're drawn to is right for you.
7. Talk to an elder.
Those who have come before you have skills, insights, wisdom and experience that are the lifeblood of a culture. Sadly, too many of these folks are sidelined, warehoused, or culturally dismissed as irrelevant. Bridge that divide. Talk to your grandparents. Your aunts and uncles. Mom and dad. Your elderly neighbor. Ask what they did, how they made things, what life was like when it was less consumer driven, less frenetic, less entertainment-heavy. Listen to their thoughts, their memories. They've seen ten times the change in this lifetime than most of us have. Things are hard on them, too. Find out what they miss, what they'd bring back, what they know. Hear their views on society, government, culture. Listen. Don't talk, don't argue, just listen. And if you're the elder, either do the sharing or flip the tables, and seek out young people to hear what they want. Bridge the divide.
6. Keep a consumer journal.
The #Occupy movement has done a lot of things right, but it hasn't openly wedded itself to the need for sustainability as fully as it could. Too often when I saw pictures of occupiers, they had single-serving plastic-bottled sodas in hand, exactly the kind of product and packaging that keeps the whole nonsense paradigm going forward unabated. For true change to occur, those committed to Occupy in either the streets or their homes will have to take a much more conscious approach to their own consumerism. Writing down what you observe about your own habits — how many throw away cups, bottles, and utensils you use; how many gratuitous trips in your car you take; how many things you buy because they're just there and they're cute and why not — will help you see your own habits more objectively, which is the first step to transforming them.
5. Familiarize yourself with your local politics.
The federal government is increasingly proving itself both beyond dysfunctional and highly impotent. Irrelevant even. Utterly incapable of doing the people's business, Congress has abdicated its responsibility to the citizenry. While this is alarming and tragic on so many levels, and we need to pay attention to the candidates, who's funding them, and their positions in election year 2012, we should also be engaged with what's happening in our own neck of the woods, where we have a more realistic chance of affecting elections, policy, and practical action. At your city council or board of supervisors press for sustainability issues, community gardens in municipal spaces, energy plans and walkability. Promote schoolyard gardens, walking to school, local economy and local jobs. Get involved and make a difference where you can. If all politics is local, it's time to really, really Go Local!
4. Give up five key things.
Protests, demonstrations, and activist research are all important. But to get to the plutocratic rulers of America, money talks. Giving up the following five things will help you help the environment, our energy supply, your own bottom line, and the balance of power in our country by asserting economic solidarity. It's not for nothing that Adbusters was denied the ability to run unfomercials on NOT BUYING things over the Thanksgiving weekend. TV stations said that buying less is against the economic policy of the country. The big corporate media can prevent you from seeing Adbusters' no-doubt unforgettable spoof ads, but the media can't stop you from taking action anyway. To truly send a message to big consumer marketers, you should give up:
- All processed packaged foods. Go for bulk, produce, butcher cuts, and local dairy instead. Cook more, waste less.
- All single serving drinks in their own containers. Get a reusable bottle and a mess kit. Don't waste.
- All disposable paper except toilet paper. No tissues, napkins, paper towel, diapers, wipes, paper plates, or plastic utensils. Use cloth and reusables instead.
- Any optional car trips. Save up errands to do in one run. Use public transportation, a bike, walking, or carpooling for non-essential trips.
- Any new clothes, shoes, toys, gadgets, books, electronics, and other consumer goods. Borrow, download, surf, or shop at thrift stores instead. Reject the "must have it" mentality.
3. Occupy Wall Street from your kitchen.
If you're wondering how to eat without buying processed foods you'll have to remember that throughout human history until the last century people have done just that. The fossil fuel age is the anomaly, not the norm. Start.with making Revolutionary Soup each night (or once a week, with plenty of leftovers.) Then have oatmeal for breakfast, and salad, soup, a sandwich, or a casserole for lunch. You can do it. Purchasing and eating "first source" food will really stick it to the man!
2. Hold conversation circles.
Invite folks over, or use public spaces, to promote the lost art of dialogue. Use tools such as only allowing the person to speak who is holding a certain object, or letting someone hold the floor for the duration of an egg timer. Draw topics from the hat, and affirm that all views are valid. Mix it up by role playing, game playing, or other challenges. Learn to both share, and to actively listen. Take on serious topics, challenging topics, and simply fun or frivolous topics. Mix it up. Just talk already!
1. Plan.
Whether you're strategizing for activist actions come springtime, or simply looking for constructive ways to change your own life so you can "walk the talk," use this time to figure out what's next and give yourself enough time to execute it. Set your sites on something, a worthy goal of some kind. Stay informed about what others are doing and avoid reinventing the wheel by borrowing the best ideas and adapting them to where you are, whether on the streets or on the Internet and social media sites. Build your energy and then…strike!
A season of quiet occupation
During the winter and the holidays there are ample opportunities to shift our minds, deepen our actions, reach out to others. Follow the ideas above, come up with ideas and actions of your own and be prepared for the next go round where citizen awakenings meet entrenched predicaments. Consider the benefits of working both within and outside of "the system."
I hope you'll share your ideas for how to #OccupyWinter in the comment field below. And if you have bigger thoughts, by all means, submit an essay to us at Transition Voice.
Stay warm, stay sharp, stay tuned in and remember, we are the 99% and we are #OccupyingTheNewParadigm. The game has changed. And the ball's in our court.
–Lindsay Curren, Transition Voice