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By By Andrew Drwiega, Military Editor | December 6, 2011
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It has always been surprising that American, British and other International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) nations operating in Afghanistan have not come under greater surface-to-air (SAM) missile attacks. As improvised explosive devices (IEDs) became successful in Iraq then became the major threat to the movement of ground troops in Afghanistan, ISAF coalition forces took to the air for troop movement and re-supply wherever possible.
Direct fire support from the air has become relied upon and is provided by attack helicopters and fast-jets. But the engagement of coalition aircraft by man portable air defense systems (MANPADS) has, at least publicly, been a rarity.
This is almost a taboo subject in open discussion: senior commanders and those flying the missions in-country don't talk about it much and virtually all the reports of aircraft downed by insurgents are the result of rocket propelled grenade (RPG) hits or small arms fire.
There is an understanding that government agencies have been working very hard behind the scenes to ensure that this kind of weapon does not make it into the hands of the Taliban or al Qaeda. There have been a variety of 'sting' operations to take these weapons out of the hands of arms dealers. The old stock of SAMs, especially Stingers, that were given to the Mujahideen to fight the Russians during their occupation of Afghanistan, were largely thought to have degraded in their capability.
However, the ability to control the dissemination of MANPADS to terrorist groups and counter-insurgents seems to have been blown open by recent events in Libya where potentially thousands of MANPADS have been stolen and potentially shipped out of the country.
According to recent media reports, Libya had an estimated 20,000 surface-to-air missiles before the February uprising began, one of the largest national stocks internationally. An untold number have reportedly already been stolen from unguarded warehouses during and immediately after the struggle for independence from Col. Gaddafi.
In recent articles Con Coughlin, a writer in the British Sunday Telegraph newspaper, suggested that an Iranian Quds Force team (a paramilitary wing of Iran's Revolutionary Guards) "… traveled to Libya following the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime and smuggled hundreds of surface-to-air weapons out of the country." He cites military intelligence officers in Libya who have indicated that the stolen arms could "include sophisticated Russian-made SA-24 missiles that were sold to Libya in 2004. The missile can shoot down aircraft flying at 11,000 feet, and is regarded as the Russian equivalent of the American 'stinger' missiles."
While the primary threat is thought to be terrorist acts against western civilian aircraft, there is also the question of how widespread the proliferation of these weapons could be.
As Iran is an ally of Sudan (where it is presumed many of the stolen weapons are being kept in the short term), and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards are suspected of training Islamic terrorist groups there, the prospect of weapons getting into the hands of terrorists is very real.
Likewise, security professionals believe that al Qaeda may also have been able to organize a similar kind of theft. "I think the probability of al-Qaeda being able to smuggle some of these stinger-like missiles out of Libya is probably pretty high," said Richard Clarke, former White House National Security Advisor, in a September 2011 interview with ABC News.
If that turns out to be the case, and with turmoil blighting countries such as Egypt to monitor al Qaeda sympathizers there, the case of smuggling the weapons into Afghanistan can be made.
If MANPADS do find their way into Afghanistan then it would rapidly change the whole operational balance and military strategy. It already looks likely that, as in Iraq, when the U.S., British and ISAF ground forces pull out of Afghanistan around the end of 2014/15, many elements of air support will have to stay behind to assist the national Afghan forces, who have none of the elements in place to be self supporting in air power.
If the threat of ground-to-air missiles increases significantly, and with a corresponding reduction in the numbers of trained troops that can react to that threat, a very dangerous scenario could quickly develop where high-threat/no-fly zones begin appearing over Afghanistan. That could give al-Qaeda and the Taliban just the opportunity to strengthen and reorganize once again in the Provinces, with dire consequences for the Karzai government.


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Mushroom & spinach risotto
Nutrition and extra info
- Vegetarian
- kcal574
- fat22g
- saturates10g
- carbs70g
- sugars0g
- fibre5g
- protein17g
- salt1.93g
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Olive oilol-iv oyl
Probably the most widely-used oil in cooking, olive oil is pressed from fresh olives. It's…
- 25g butter
Butter is a dairy product made from separating whole milk or cream into fat and…
- 1 onion, chopped
Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 140g chestnut mushrooms, sliced
- 1 fat garlic clove, crushed
- 140g arborio rice
Arborio riceahh-bore-e-o rice
The high-starch kernels of this northern Italian-grown grain are shorter and plumper than any…
- 150ml dry white wine
- 4 sundried tomatoes, chopped
- 500ml hot vegetable stock
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
One of the most ubiquitous herbs in British cookery, parsley is also popular in European and…
- 25g parmesan or vegetarian alternative, freshly grated
Parmesan is a straw-coloured hard cheese with a natural yellow rind and rich, fruity flavour. It…
- 100g fresh young leaf spinach, washed if necessary
- warm ciabatta and green salad, to serve
Heat the oil and butter in a large deep frying pan. Add the onion and cook gently for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the mushrooms and garlic and cook gently for 2-3 minutes.
Stir in the rice to coat with the onion and mushroom mixture. Pour in the wine and cook over a moderate heat for about 3 minutes, stirring from time to time, until the wine is absorbed.
Reduce to a gentle heat. Add the tomatoes and 125ml/ 4fl oz of the stock and cook for about 5 minutes until the liquid is absorbed. Pour in a further 125ml/4fl oz stock and continue cooking until absorbed. Repeat with the remaining stock, until it is all absorbed and the rice is creamy and tender.
Stir in the parsley and half the parmesan. Season to taste. Scatter the spinach over the risotto. Cover and cook gently for 4-5 minutes until the spinach has just wilted. Serve immediately sprinkled with the remaining parmesan.

subset: commoncrawl


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Has anyone else seen water in bird baths/small ponds turn a red colour? I'm guessing this isn't good and I plan to clean and refresh mine.
Perhaps someone can explain why this has happened and what it is? I've never seen this until recently. There appears to be a red sediment too. I'm sure there are others interested in this too. I know I won't be the only one with this problem.
One bird bath is on a pedestal and made of stone. The other is a large plastic plant saucer with a few stones in it and sited on the ground with planting around it. Chatting to a friend with a small pond today I've discovered she has this just now too and her pond has only been recently filled with fresh water.
I guess my next questions are how do you stop this happening again after cleaning and refreshing the water and can this harm the birds that bathe and drink from it. Could the birds even have brought this in?
Finally, for everyone looking forward to the return of BBC2's Springwatch tonight I hope you enjoy it. I'm looking forward to it myself especially as my garden has been short on nests to watch this year. Oh yes… and I'm very interested to hear about the Beavers 🙂
This post was written by Shirley for https://www.shirlsgardenwatch.co.uk/


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Celine Dion super-fan Richard Dunn has met his idol. Dunn became an internet sensation several weeks ago when he posted a video of himself singing Dion's hit "All by Myself" while stuck at McCarran Airport.
"What do you do when you're stuck at the Las Vegas Airport overnight?" reads a message at the beginning of the video. "Shoot a music video on your iPhone. That's what." Dunn then lip-synchs the entire ballad while roaming throughout the completely empty airport.
U.S. & World
Dunn's video even caught the attention of Miss Dion herself. The 46-year-old singer reached out to Dunn in a YouTube video last month.
"Hi, Richard! I have to say that the video was hilarious and very touching. I loved it," she says in the clip. "Next time, you know, you're stuck all by yourself at Las Vegas airport for hours and hours, please be my guest at my show. By the way, Richard, you're more than welcome to use my bathroom. So I hope to see you soon!"
Dunn and his family attended Dion's Fourth of July show in Vegas and got to pose with her during a special backstage meet and greet.
After the get-together, Dunn told the Las Vegas Sun, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime memory I never thought would happen but will last forever."


text:
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text:
This was published 7 years ago
Gonski reform won't kill off private school funding: Garrett
Federal Education Minister Peter Garrett has rebuffed claims private schools stand to lose up to $5000 per student in government funding under the Gonski school funding model.
Independent Schools Council of Australia has threatened to start informing more than 300 schools that they stand to lose money if the federal government doesn't detail its new funding model in the next two weeks.
The model forms the centrepiece of Labor's re-election strategy.
Under the proposed scheme, schools would be given base funding per student, with extra loadings for regional and remote schools, as well as those that enrol Indigenous students, students with disabilities or those with poor English skills.
The federal government has proposed a six-year transition to the new funding arrangement, starting in 2014.
But the ISCA, as well as state education ministers, has expressed frustration that funding details for the plan have not been made clear.
At a parliamentary inquiry into the Australian Education Bill in Brisbane on Tuesday, the ISCA said more than 30 per cent of the 1100 independent schools across the nation would lose money under the Gonski school funding model.
However, Mr Garrett rejected the claim.
"No school will lose a single dollar per student as a result of a new funding model that is yet to be agreed with both state and non-government school systems," he told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday.
"No school will have its funding frozen."
He also argued the federal government had communicated openly with the independent sector, and would reveal the details of the scheme in due course.
"We provided the certainty that non-government schools sought by way of extending their funding up until the end of 2013," he said.
"And we've said that any new funding model will be negotiated in time for funding arrangements to be clear by 2014.
"There are some minor final details that need to be put into that model. It's on that basis and that basis alone that we will bring forward a model for consideration by non-government school sectors, and whether it's in one and a half weeks or two and half weeks, let's see."
Mr Garrett said under the existing system the lack of full indexation was already hurting private schools.
The ISCA represents private schools that are not part of the Catholic school system.
In 2012, independent schools taught more than 500,000 students, or 14.3 per cent of the school population nationally.
Catholic schools educated 20.6 per cent of students in 2012 while public schools educated 65.4 per cent.
Marissa Calligeros is a journalist at The Age


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If you love patterns this multi color beading pattern on the bodice is perfect for you. A sweetheart neckline, sheer illusion body, and a soft chiffon bottom will do the trick.
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*A style on our web site listed as in-stock can usually be shipped today or next day for immediate delivery or quick delivery. An item listed as "Ships Today" can be sent the same business day as long as the order is placed before the cutoff time.


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MIAMI – On June 12th, a proposal to turn Miami-Dade Animal Services -- one of the highest kill shelters in the country -- into a No Kill shelter, was passed unanimously by a Miami-Dade County committee led by Commissioner Pepe Diaz, a longtime advocate for the animals.
The committee now has six months to present recommendations for its implementation, including financial support, before it is voted on by the full County Commission.
In theory, it sounds like a great idea.
But taking No Kill from theory to reality is going to take a lot more than a unanimous decision by the county commission.
How will the county provide for the 35,000 animals that arrive at the shelter yearly if they take killing them out of the equation?
In order to answer that question we have to put aside the belief that a No Kill policy means that every animal that comes into the shelter, regardless of its condition, will be saved.
According to No Kill Nation, a leading national advocacy organization dedicated to ending the killing of healthy and treatable animals in our nation's shelters, No Kill means that no savable animals -- roughly 95 percent of all intakes -- are put to death.
In other words, sick animals who cannot be treated will be humanely euthanized to prevent them further suffering.
All other animals will be sent to shelters in other states, foster care, or to rescue groups who will work to find them permanent homes.
According to No Kill Nation, there are plenty of No Kill animal control shelters to prove it can happen. In Miami-Dade County, of the 35,000 animals that arrive at the shelter, roughly 21,000 are put to death.
But while there is precedent, there's still the question of who will pay for it.
For that answer, I'll revisit a column I wrote at the beginning of this year, introducing The Pets' Trust, the brainchild of Michael Rosenberg, a Miami-Dade citizen who vowed to make a positive outcome of a heartbreaking situation after Wren, the kitten he adopted from Miami-Dade Animal Services, died from a deadly virus that spread through the shelter a few days after he brought her home.
The Pets' Trust would help provide funding for programs and resources that would cut down, and hopefully eliminate, many of the problems that plague Miami-Dade Animal Services.
To fund the Pets' Trust, Miami-Dade homeowners would be assessed approximately $20 each year on their property tax. It offers the solution the county needs to fund the No Kill proposal.
For the past several months, Rosenberg has worked to gather support for The Pets' Trust from politicians, rescue groups, and animal activists, including Ron Magill, Donna Shalala, Cesar Milan, all of whom have endorsed it.
The commission's vote to support No Kill may be just what he needed to win support for the Pets' Trust amendment. And it couldn't have come at a better time.
On July 17th, commissioners will vote on whether or not to put the The Pets' Trust amendment on the November ballot.
Rosenberg has kept the promise he made after his kitten died. Now it's up to the leaders and the citizens of Miami-Dade County to do the rest.
I applaud Miami-Dade County for taking the first step to turn Miami-Dade Animal Services into a No Kill shelter.
I encourage the commission to continue it support of the No Kill policy and to recognize that The Pets' Trust is the financial solution they are seeking to fund the program. And I urge voters to support The Pets' Trust at the polls and help make No Kill a reality in Miami-Dade County.


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>>=. What
>>= (which is pronounced: "bind") does is to give the value the monad contains to the function that then uses it. More formally defined (specific to sigfpe's trivial monad example):
W a >>= f ≡ f a
An example of the syntax (again, following sigfpe's post) is as follows:
W 5 >>= f
f was defined in sigfpe's post as an increment function for his trivial monad:
f x = W (x + 1)). The above example would result in the (monadic) value
W 6. So, now you see
>>= (trivially) in action, and sigfpe asks us to put it into use for the following exercises.
The first exercise that we'll continue on in this entry is exercise 3, which is to prove the three monad laws:
Left Identity:
return a >>= f ≡ f a
or, a monadized value bound to a function is the same as applying a function to the plain value.
Right Identity:
m >>= return ≡ m
or, a monad bound to return is just that monad, again (or, the identity function for monads is
bind return), and finally:
(m >>= f) >>= g == m >>= ((λ x . f x) >>= g)
which is similar in spirit to associativity for addition, i.e.:
(a + b) + c ≡ a + (b + c).
Just a side note here, some people become discouraged when they are told "to prove" something, whereas if they are asked "to solve" a problem, they turn right to it. Fogel and Michalewicz rightly point out that proving and solving are basically the same process!
My cara spoza asked me, as I was attempting to (re-)prove
liftM2 (+)for exercise 2, "Is proving difficult?" The question gave me pause: "Well, sometimes the simplest proof can elude me for days, and sometimes something that appears much more difficult comes in a flash."
So, let's prove each of these laws in turn, using the definitions of
>>= and return as axioms.
First up, Left Identity:
return a >>= f
f a
return a >>= f
W a >>= f
|return definition
f a
>>= definition
Next, Right Identity:
m >>= return
m >>= return
W a >>= return
|monad identity
return a
>>= definition
W a
|return definition
|monad identity
And, finally, let's prove associativity. We'll start out by reducing the left hand side ("lhs") to something simpler:
(m >>= f) >>= g
(m >>= f) >>= g
(W a >>= f) >>= g
|monad identity
f a >>= g
>>= definition
... but it was here that I became stymied, for I didn't see how to transform
f a >>= g into something resembling the right hand side (rhs), which is
m >>= (λ x . f x >>= g). Do you? Give it a try!
The thing to do, when one becomes stuck solving or proving something, is to acknowledge that fact, and then to try something entirely different. One way to try something different is to rework the simplification of the lhs so it assumes a form much closer to what the rhs is. I didn't see this approach to be fruitful, however: I reduced the lhs to be something pretty simple, so a rework would make the lhs more complicated -- clutter often obscures correlation. Another approach is to leave the lhs be and work on simplifying the rhs -- maybe a simplification there would yield an useful correspondence. Let's do that:
m >>= (λ x . f x >>= g)
m >>= (λ x . f x >>= g)
(W a >>= (λ x . f x >>= g)
|monad identity
(λ x . f x >>= g) a
>>= definition
f a >>= g
Ha! Now we see that the simplification of the lhs is identical to the simplification of the rhs. That was easier than expected.
To summarize this exercise, proving something or solving something is really a rather simple task: using the tools you have to match the solution to the problem. The fun part comes in when you discover new ways to use the given tools, or, finding out the given tools aren't sufficient, which means finding new tools to solve the problem. Once you have your tools, along with the problem statement and desired outcome, it is often the case that there is a simple walk from the problem to the solution, the solution to the problem, or both meet somewhere in the middle. Odds are, you are not the first one solving a problem, if you need help, there's a whole big world out there -- someone probably has already left the solution out there for you to find.
Exercise 4: Monads cannot be unwrapped completed back to the plain value they carry, but if a monad is layered, that is a monad contains a monad, it is possible to remove one or more layers.
join is such a function that does this "unlayering". Given a layered monad
mm = W (W x),
join mm will return the value
W x. The declaration for
join is:
join :: W (W a) → W a
Define it.
Solution 4: Well, the declaration for
join looks suspiciously like an application of
>>= (you are pronouncing that operator "bind", right?), as it hands the value carried by the monad for function application.
join mm = mm >>= ?f?
The question then becomes "what function to apply the carried value to?" The problem is that
>>= has already given us the answer,
W x, so we just wish to have
join return that value unaltered. Fortunately for us, there is such a function from combinatory logic called the identity combinator,
I, which has the form
λ x . x, and Haskell already has that definition (it is named
join mm = mm >>= id
In conclusion, I hope these entries have helped you to see that monads are actually a rather simply concept that are easy to use. This is just the tip of the iceberg, however: monads are used pervasively in Haskell, tackling a great many tasks. May I suggest the excellent and practical tutorial on Monad Transformers? Please do not be put off by the imposing front page to the paper, as this tutorial shows how monads and their transformers shine, giving a step-by-step introduction of new functionality of monads into a plain-vanilla system.


text: i hope you all are having an awesome summer. i spent the weekend in the cape w/ a friend and it was delightful. lots of seafood, sun and bad tv. i couldn't ask for more, now could i? anyway, i just wanted to post and say that the blog is gonna be on a break until august. i recently got a second job and i am completely overloaded. burning the wick at both ends as it were. in short, i'm exhausted. so i am going to take some time and get a little organized w/ the bloggy. also, my birthday is coming up w/in a week...and i don't know, i always try and get a little reflective around this time. please be safe, i hope the summer is treating you as well as it has been treating me. i appreciate all your comments, emails and readership...it really means the world to me. so until august 1st or around about there, i bid you a sweet farewell. love, meighan.


text:
The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod Thrill Rides
All rides are at the top of the Stratosphere Tower, over 900 feet high. The four extreme thrill rides are The SkyJump, the Big Shot, the X Scream, and Insanity. The X Scream, "is an eight seat ride that dramatically thrusts its open roller coaster car along a 69-foot ramp at 30 miles per hour until suddenly stopping 29 feet over the edge of the tower and 866 feet from the ground below. The panoramic view from the top and the temporary sensation of free fall add to the ride's exhilaration. Currently, the X Scream takes three separate plunges, but the frequency can be raised or lowered. In addition, the computer that operates the system can be programmed to operate 100 different patterns of falls, each producing varying degrees of intense sensations for riders."


text:
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text:
Yellow Rat Bassterd vs Soul Khan Rap Battle [Grind Time N.Y.]
Drect reports "Battle from November 18th in Battery Park, NY. Both of these dudes are going to be a problem in the future! "
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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The World of the Married Episode 11 Engsub Korean drama Live. The World of the Married Episode 11 Korean English Subtitles Online Free. The World of the Married Episode 11 KDrama HD Video . The World of the Married Live English Ep 11 engsub.
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text: In the near future advances in engineering made interstellar travel possible, bringing forth the era of space exploration. Along many planets the mankind has discovered was a world very similar to Earth circa Jurassic period. The planet had a lot of islands populated with huge and wild animals, which supposedly looked just like Earth's long extinct dinosaurs. Soon enough exploration of the planet has begun. «DinoHunt, Inc» was established and the company started to provide hunting trips for everyone wealthy and bold enough to take on mighty creatures inhabiting the planet. You are one of those hunters. The game brings you to an ancient environment and lets you hunt for the most dangerous and the strongest creatures in the universe. Buy a hunting license, pack up your gear, choose an island to hunt and embark on the adventure of a lifetime!


text:
Stoke-on-Trent City Council Leader Mohammed Pervez has asked for a task and finish group to be set up which will tasked with carrying out what is being call a comprehensive review of the city centre's night-time economy.
The task and finish group will be made up of a number of city councillors who will work with businesses, visitors and licensees. They will collect information on the current night time economy of the city centre and make recommendations for future improvement. Continue reading


text:
Hi Everyone!
I am so glad you have found our new genealogy blog at the Schaumburg Township District Library. I am going through a learning process to really get to know how to do blogging so bear with me in my early posts as I make this blog a very good tool to share genealogy information that is applicable to our library.
I have many great ideas that I plan on putting into effect through this blog. Some of the more ambitious items will be:
- Be able to post PDF versions of the monthly Schaumburg Township District Library Genealogy Newsletter on this site archived over time. You will be able to view the newsletter here and print it if you like, read it online directly, or even download the PDF onto your own system. Our newsletter is lengthy usually consisting of at least 30-35 pages monthly. It is full of great genealogy information in general and will often include information on genealogical journals we have in our collection, new genealogy books added to our collections, other local genealogy programs and meetings local to our area, some humorous items and blog items that have been posted by Dick Eastman from his own blog site on genealogy. These PDF files will allow me to eliminate the printing of the newsletter and the mailing of the printed copy to participants at our monthly genealogy program.
- I hope to produce a monthly "handouts" writeup that will be an electronic substitute for the "handouts" that occur at our monthly genealogy program. Today I make paper copies for handouts of key items of note for genealogy e.g. program dates for other societies, interesting links to new genealogy web sites etc. Rather than printing these up I will create some verbiage describing these points of interest and include links to the web sites I want to share. Once again I hope to eliminate paper and the associated mailing costs. These will also be archived over time.
- I plan on publishing our upcoming programs through our blog so you can always be aware of who is coming to give a program and what the topic of the program will be.
So you can see I have some great plans to make this blog informational and useful to those that connect to it.
Be patient as I learn all about blogging. Come back and visit often to see what new things have been posted on the site.
Thanks for your interest.
Tony Kierna Genealogy Coordinator Schaumburg Township District Library


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text:
I started drinking tea in February 2011, so I'd say I'm still pretty new to all this. What with all the flavors and health qualities of tea, I've fallen in love with the hobby!
My favorite teas are blacks from China's Yunnan Province, but as I try more and more oolongs I notice that I've got a big taste for Wuyis and Dan Congs.
Columbia, MO


text:
Who Replaces Tim Armstrong at Google? The David Rosenblatt Fan Club Pipes Up.
Tim Armstrong was considered a star inside and outside of Google, and his former company worked hard to keep the sales executive on the reservation.
But now that's he's bolted for Time Warner (TWX), who will replace him?
Google CEO Eric Schmidt has already promised to name a successor "in the coming weeks," and he's narrowed the field by declaring it will be an internal candidate.
Who might that be? According to a (very informal) flash poll of Googlers, ex-Googlers and Google competitors I conducted last night, the answer should be obvious: David Rosenblatt (pictured), the former Doubleclick CEO, who now runs Google's display business.
A sampling of the responses: "The only choice," "I would assume they will work hard on Rosenblatt, who may not do it," "Shoe-in," etc.
The flip side of the conventional wisdom is that Rosenblatt, who came aboard a year ago when Google (GOOG) completed its $3.1 billion purchase of DoubleClick, may be leaving, and will leave if he doesn't get Armstrong's job.
For more Rosenblatt testimonials, consult this Silicon Alley Insider article, where the blog's readers anointed the executive as the best choice to run Yahoo (YHOO).
But what if Schmidt, like Yahoo's board, decides to ignore the Rosenblatt fan club?
My respondents have plenty of other suggestions. And unlike Rosenblatt, most of these other would-be candidates were brought on by Armstrong, which may or may not count for something. In no particular order:
Jeff Levick, VP, industry development & marketing, the Americas. Googler since 2001.
Tom Phillips, director of search and analytics; former head of Doubleclick integration; former head of Google print ads. Googler since 2006.
Eileen Naughton, director, media platforms; former head of East Coast sales. Googler since 2007.
Penry Price, VP, North American ad sales. Googler since 2004.
David Fischer, VP, global online sales. Googler since 2002.
Nikesh Arora, president, European, Middle East and African markets. Googler since 2004.
Joan Braddi, VP search services. Googler since 2000.
All right, readers–your turn to weigh in. Who do you want filling Armstrong's large shoes? And who do you think Google will actually pick?
If you feel strongly enough to register using your real name, please leave a comment below. If you want to do this sotto voce, you can reach me directly at firstname.lastname@example.com.
And if you want to be completely anonymous, which is understandable but less useful to me (I won't have any way of reaching you for follow-up), you can use the blind tip box here. I'll update this post or craft a new one as I gather more string.


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New Years Eve: Pre-Drop Open ThreadPosted: December 31, 2012 Filed under: open thread | Tags: Happy New Year 2013 54 Comments
Hey, y'all!
Tonight we watch the ball descend, the peach fall, the possum drop…oh wait, that celebration had the kibosh put on it, however…there very well may be a roadkill drop.
Anyway, tonight we watch all sorts of things dropping, signifying the end of year 2012, and the beginning of 2013.
Where to ring in 2013 – CBS News
Personally, I think the most significant thing that should be dropping is the American Public's drawers…as in pants, because to ring in this new year we all need to get ready for the screw job that is coming.
So, as we wait for 2013 to make its grand entrance, I bring you some links to pass the time. Of course, most of these links are list…go figure.
Gregory Linton: The Best of Los Angeles Street Art 2012 (PHOTOS)
Street artist Chod paints over a dollar bill. Notice the little features, such as how the middle monkey's nostrils double as George Washington's masked eyes. This modified dollar bill was found glued to a red street curb in Hollywood.
More cool ass street art here: 10 Photos of Incredible Street Art –
Here are a couple of my favorites.
The webs are crocheted in a colorful spiderweb pattern around what would usually be a very ordinary tree. The purpose of yarn bombing is to brighten up the world by crocheting patterns onto things like statues, pipes and even tanks. It certainly fulfilled its purpose here.
Lovely? Well take a look at this one:
"No brushes or stencils, just spray"
This amazing picture is by David Walker, and as the title suggests, he did not use any brushes or stencils. This is very unusual for a street artist to do, mostly because it is so difficult. The girl is made up of vibrant colors, while still remaining amazingly realistic – making the overall effect quite incredible.
More artwork from David Walker can by found here: artofdavidwalker
For Boston Boomer and Beata…and any other "Hoosiers" out there: Photos: Hoops Hysteria, Indiana Style
Earlier this year, photographer Elijah Hurwitz set out to capture Indiana basketball in places "where it offers a way out of boredom or a way out of town. Where it offers a way to build bonds and rivalries. And often, where it's simply a way to pass the time when there's nothing else to do." In his rich, intimate shots of driveway pickup, prison ball, and the state's intensely loyal fanbase, Hurwitz illustrates the state's hoops passion, which he first experienced as an undergraduate at Indiana University. As it happens, this year's Hoosiers have returned to their place among the nation's top programs, reaching No. 1 for the first time in 20 years—and giving a new generation of Indianans a team to emulate and obsess over for years to come.
On to more list associated with the year 2012:
In 2012, 11 billion-dollar weather disasters in US | Earth | EarthSky
Shelf cloud, Chicago, June 29, 2012 via Samuel Shea
Two most expensive 2012 U.S. weather disasters have been ongoing drought ($40 billion in damages so far) and Superstorm Sandy ($62 billion so far).
These next two links are opposites of each other:
The 24 Best Moments For Women In 2012: including epic accomplishments in politics, sports, business and culture and advances in marriage equality.
2012's War on Women :This year featured attacks on everything from contraception to the definition of rape.
For the book readers: Sean Carman: Yet Another Year-End List
David Gutowski, the writer and editor of Largehearted Boy, annually compiles a list of all of the lists of the best books of the year. As of this writing, Gutowski's list of lists includes 60 lists starting with the letter "A." Assuming the same number of lists start with each of the other letters, excluding V, W, X, Y, and Z, there are 1200 lists on Gutowski's list of best book lists.
The mother of all best books lists begs this question: Do we really need one more?
Hell, best book list are fun…at least for me, but here are more list for you to enjoy.
For those with a literary bent, how about a list of Dear John letters from famous authors: h/t the Dish… 'This Was Like Dating a Priest': For literary geniuses, there's no such thing as a simple "It's not you, it's me." Famous Authors' Breakup Letters – Emily Temple – The Atlantic
And let us not forget a list for lexicographers: Goodbye 'chillaxing,' hello 'omnishambles': the phrases that fell in and out of fashion this year | The Raw Story
For those who are more numbers oriented: By the Numbers: Comparing Spending by Gun Rights and Gun Control Interest Groups – ProPublica
Let's see, we've taken care of list for artist, writers, readers, Hoosier's, and numbers freaks…now just a few links that aren't list of things, they are simply easy-going fun articles and drawings to share.
(Okay, actually this first one is not "fun" but I thought it was damn good. Perhaps it should be placed under the War on Women list?)
Since all this talk of going off the fiscal cliff, lots of folks are using imagery of a very important film for me, and I am guessing for lots of women who are survivors of rape. Leave Thelma & Louise Alone – Garance Franke-Ruta – The Atlantic
All you people trying to yoke the 1991 feminist movie to the fiscal cliff negotiations seem to have forgotten that it's a vigilante fantasy about rape culture which ends badly.
How's this for cultural amnesia: Politico's Jonathan Allen wrote this morning of fiscal cliff negotiations: "If they go over the cliff, they'll do it together. But it won't be some happy Thelma-and-Louise-style climax."
Has anyone actually watched Thelma & Louise lately?
No, I am guessing they haven't.
Fun with art: EATEN BY DUCKS
Just go look at that one…trust me!
Alright, check this out…very cool indeed h/t Susie at C&L:
Chemistry of snowflakes, to neuroscience legacies:
Levi-Montalcini, A Giant of Neuroscience Leaves a Living Legacy | Talking back, Scientific American Blog Network
What may have been Rita Levi-Montalcini's last paper was published almost a year ago in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. By no means a retrospective of a career that produced a Nobel Prize, the paper ("Nerve growth factor regulates axial rotation during early stages of chick embryo development") added still one more bit of knowledge about the protein involved with the growth and survival of nerve cells, a molecule that was Levi-Montalcini's passion for 60 years.
Until her death on Sunday in Rome at 103, Levi-Montalcini had been the oldest living Nobelist and a woman who had never let anything stop her from pursuing a destiny as a scientist. The barriers were sometimes formidable. First there was her father, who discouraged her from becoming a physician but later provided support. Later the Nazis threatened—she set up a makeshift lab in her wartime hideout—and then finally came the confrontation with the inexorability of aging. The New York Times obit included this 2009 quotation: "At 100, I have a mind that is superior — thanks to experience — than when I was 20."
Isn't it wonderful that she was sharp up to the end?
Alright, I wanted to have a little something for everyone in this post, and I think I've succeeded.
Have a wonderful and safe New Years Eve!
This is an open thread.
54 Comments on "New Years Eve: Pre-Drop Open Thread"
"I think the most significant thing that should be dropping is the American Public's drawers…as in pants, because to ring in this new year we all need to get ready for the screw job that is coming."
ROTFL….You got it Sister!!!!
I think when you polish a turd it is still a turd!
And the "circus" continues into another year where the only thing Obama hasn't "bargained" away are the keys to Air Force One.
For those of us who believed (even half heartedly) that he for once "got it" and would begin to show some balls, this is nothing more than a validation of the weakness so apparent in this man.
He has given the miserable Right another opportunity to wipe the floor with him once again and it's sickening to say the least.
Upping the tax rate for those making 400 annually puts the burden on the backs of those who have little.
Way to go, Obama! He has let us down again and he still has 4 more years to do even better in that arena. What a sorry excuse for "leadership".
I'm disgusted and sad but not surprised. Obama is not a strong negotiator.
Happy New Year's……………..tick tock…..another 50 minutes.


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As we end our series on conversion, I want to reinforce that a low conversion rate will cripple everything else you do online. You can't afford to bid in PPC, your efforts in SEO will yield small results and affiliates won't promote you.
In today's increasingly competitive online space you need to focus attention on boosting your conversion rate.
The good news is, there are systematic processes for boosting your conversion. Today, we'll take some of these processes and look at two case studies looking at sites submitted by Market Samurai users.
A quick recap on our conversion maximisation series
Hopefully you got some good ideas from our four part series on conversion. If you missed some of it, here's a summary:
Part 1 – Why testing is critical to maximising your income online, the benefits you'll get by becoming an active tester and our free conversion checklist for maximising the profit from your website.
Part 2 – How and where to test as well as the "Big" reason why folks don't test.
Part 3 – Seven techniques you can apply immediately to boost sales and conversions.
Part 4 – Overcoming logistical problems & how to be your own highly paid conversion consultant.
Don't forget our free conversion checklist.
So back to the case studies…
An Expert Blogger Without an Income stream – Case Study #1
Market: Teaching children with learning disabilities
Site: TeachingTheFuture.net
Our first case study was submitted by Rachel, an expert in teaching children with learning disabilities. Clearly passionate about her topic, the content quality on her site is first class. However, the site has a weak call to action and isn't yet being monetized at all, so we take a look at:
- Beefing up your call to action response rates – we look at how Rachel can raise opt-in rates, and get more leverage from the brilliant free report she offers. We suggest she'll do this by changing visual layouts, 'benfitizing' the call to action (hmm – that's not a real word…) and 'objectifying' it, e.g. making it appear tangible.We also make reference to a great post by James Dyson showing some brilliant opt-in layouts).
- Orientating visitors to reduce bounce rates – this is a content rich site, written by a passionate author, but it fails to quickly orientate and connect with its target audience. The outcome is we expect Rachel's site will likely suffer from a high bounce rate.We discuss some simple structural changes that she could use to address this.
- Quick and easy ways to boost reader engagement by making her content "Sell" – Eugene insightfully walks through two simple techniques that Rachel can use to better engage visitors.
- Firstly, he tells us how rearrange headlines and and bullet points by moving away from 'feature' lists and instead 'leading with benefits'. The trick is that we can greatly increase the impact of our copy when we engage the right hand side of the brain first with a juicy benefit and then justify it (for the left side of our brain) with a solid feature to back it up.
- Secondly, he looks at the way users often skim read rather than read in full, and how to arrange our content to maximise response from visitors who do this.
- Techniques for testing profitability before creating your product – Rachel is an active and expert blogger, but yet to publish her own paid information product, Eugene gives a number of techniques she can use to test the commercial viability of her market (and likely make a few dollars) before she writes her own product.
So check out the review with this video:
An SEO Consultant "Doing Most Things Right" but Crippled by a "Message to Market" Mismatch – Case Study #2
Market: SEO Consulting
Site review done on salesmaximus.com
(Adarsh, the owner has now moved his site to ConversionChamp.com)
Our second case study was submitted by a Adarsh, an SEO consultant. Adarsh gives us a great opportunity to work down our conversion checklist [link2] as his site contains a commercial call to action (he's giving out free SEO consultations as a lead generation activity).
At first glance, Ardash's site seems to tick all the boxes. It's got a clear call to action and some solid design elements. However, if we are correct, and Ardash's major income stream is through SEO consulting and SEO services, then a number of key issues exist:
- Boosting response by matching your message to your market – Adarsh gives away a guide to 'starting your online business'. Typically this kind of offer might appeal to non-business owners looking to start an online business out of hours.However, as an SEO consultant, it's been my experience that the money is in targeting people who already run successful businesses (either offline or with a hybrid online / offline model).So the free offer may be poorly matched to the target market, and an offer around boosting business through SEO might make more sense.
- Stand out in a tough market with strong niche focus – Selling SEO services online is a very competitive space. Your offer must stand out to cut through the clutter and so we look at ways Adarsh could specialise or select a niche market to improve his offer.
- Increase conversion by testing soft vs hard offers – He can try offering a free report, a non-threatening 'soft' offer which is great for building lists; or doing 'two step' marketing where you ask for money later. But if we're correct then Adarsh will make money when prospects book in a free consultation (what I call a 'hard' offer, because folks know they'll get a phone call). If so, then Ardash may want to look at more aggressively selling the free consults both by increasing the profile of the free consult offer (it's currently buried and obscure) and by highlighting the benefits (tell people what they'll learn).
- Boost sales by creating service widgets – Clearly Adarsh offers a range of SEO services, but these would be overwhelming to most prospects. By grouping the service offerings into bundles Ardash could remove confusion and boost sales.
Finally, I should say, Adarsh is very clever. He's an SEO consultant and managed to get himself a site review on this website – a high traffic site with lots of visitors looking for help with SEO! Hope you win a few jobs Adarsh
So check out the review by video:
Would you like to see more site reviews?
Do you like the site review format? Is this something you'd like us to do more of? I'm thinking of occasionally taking users' websites (with their permission of course) and reviewing the SEO and link building that's being applied and pointing out growth opportunities. Is this something you'd find interesting?
Are there other topics you'd like us to focus on? We'd love your suggestions in the comments below.
All the best with boosting your website conversion!
Ben (& Euge!)


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Friday, May 20
Sergio Garcia to Run for Office?
DONALD TRUMP MIGHT NOT BE running for president, but apparently Spanish golf star Sergio Garcia is running for mayor. He must be judging from the above banner. Would you vote for him?
OK, so Garcia is not really running for mayor. The signage was instead a friendly way for his Fort Worth fan base to say howdy and welcome to Colonial Country Club and the Crowne Plaza Invitational. The banner greeted him just outside of the club's gates.
Maybe it pepped up Garcia's game. On Thursday he opened with a dandy 4-under 66. Friday wasn't as good. Sergio carded five bogeys against two birdies for a 3-over 73.
Politics can't be that much harder than golf, can it?
−The Armchair Golfer
(Visor tip to Alan Bastable)
(Photo: Courtesy of @CrownePlazaInv)
1 comment:
- Salt and Sand Media said...
I think Golf is actually much harder than politics because you have to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Create Now North America Tour: September 19—December 2013
This fall, Adobe is hosting free Create Now events for you to learn what's new in Adobe Creative Cloud. I'll be traveling to San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and other cities throughout the US and Canada along with Rufus Deuchler, Jason Levine, Terry White, and other Adobe experts. Join us to see the very latest in technology, tips and techniques. It's more than just showing off new ways to bring your creative ideas to life. It's about showing how you can work more efficiently with quicker results that get the job done, which will ultimately give you more time to focus on the work that matters.
It doesn't really matter the work you do because we'll be covering it all. Everything from digital imaging, photography, graphic design, motion graphics, web design, or app creation just for a start. The Tour kicks off September 19 at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.
Some highlights will include:
- How to sync/store/share your content with a few select friends, your client or a worldwide creative community.
- See the latest features in Adobe Photoshop CC including the new Generator feature, plus Illustrator CC, Dreamweaver CC, After Effects CC, Premiere Pro CC and much more.
- How to create a fully editable, customizable website with Adobe Muse CC or use InDesign CC to create apps for iPad.
- How to create responsive web content using the latest in web standards.
- Discover how to edit video more efficiently using Premiere Pro, use 3D in After Effects as well as how to track motion and other tips the pros use.
Aside from seeing the latest in technology and getting tips from the pros, it's about answering your questions. So come ask us in person. And remember, it's free!
Not enough incentive? We'll also give you a chance to win a one-year membership to Creative Cloud!


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1962 Chevrolet C-10 - Classic Cruisers
Gregory Hamilton bought this '62 Chevy C-10 in 2003 from an old man in Jessup, Georgia, who was the original owner. From then on until 2005 it was Gregory's daily driver.
The C-10 didn't look that good back then, but it drove great for the short commute to Fort Stewart every day. Soon Gregory worked on it and in short order he had it painted red, added new seats from an S-10, and had the wood bed totally redone. A year later he moved to Germany with the U.S. Army and packed up the truck and shipped it over! While in Germany Gregory rebuilt the original 235 straight-six, added power disc brakes, and lowered it 21/2 inches in the front and 3 inches in the rear. Now that Gregory and the truck are back in the U.S. he has more time to work on it, since like many old trucks it's a work in progress.
If you have a Classic Cruiser and want to see it here, email at least six high-resolution photos and background info to firstname.lastname@example.com, or mail prints to: Classic Trucks, Attn: Jim Rizzo, 1733 Alton Pkwy. Ste. 100, Irvine, CA 92606.


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Simply put, Transitions lenses adapt.
They adjust from clear indoors to dark outdoors. But it's not just about light or dark; it's about everything in between.
No matter where you are, or what situation you're in, Transitions lenses adapt to the perfect shade so you see with just the right amount of light.
And Transitions lenses have more benefits than you might realize.
Transitions lenses are designed to be worn all day long, outdoors and indoors. And you can get them in virtually every frame, style, size and prescription. They're even great for children.
They don't just make everything look great, they also reduce eye fatigue and strain. And even block 100% of UVA/UVB light.
Transitions lenses change effortlessly, but the technology behind them is anything but simple. A complex formula of photochromic molecules make light, dark and every shade in between possible.
Harmful Blue Light is found everywhere. Transitions adaptive lenses are engineered to help protect your eyes from over-exposure to Harmful Blue Light both indoors and outdoors.


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When your city's civic leaders issue a big report called "A Time for Truth," it's natural to wonder what took them so long.
The city of Los Angeles — where examples of the weakness of civic life are outnumbered only by examples of elite hand-wringing over the weakness of civic life — recently saw the release of just such a report, by a committee of 12 worthies from the political, business, labor and philanthropic worlds. Its central point: L.A. is too apathetic about planning for the future.
Such reports aren't new in California. But what's interesting about "A Time for Truth" is that it says more (sometimes unintentionally) about L.A. and the state than previous exercises. Its most trenchant observations involve the failure of Los Angeles-area governments to collaborate effectively. The neighboring ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach could work together but instead compete against each other. The cities of L.A., Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica maintain separate efforts to attract international tourists even though "it would take a discerning tourist from China to spot the difference in sand while walking the sidewalk between Santa Monica and Venice."
But beyond such nuggets, "A Time for Truth" speaks loudest because of what is authors have left out. Indeed, the report's own history is as telling as anything in it. In the heat of last year's mayoral election, L.A.'s wise men declared the city's problems needed longer-term consideration. So L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson asked former U.S. Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor to put together a commission to take a long-term look. The commission issued its report months after the elections were safely over. In L.A., an election is never a "Time for Truth."
The resulting document treats L.A. as if its destiny were likely to be determined by city government and budgeting, a weird stance in a city that has prospered throughout its history more in spite of than because of thoughtful local governance.
The obsession of "A Time for Truth" with the city budget is hard to understand given that the $8 billion annual budget is just 1 percent of the Los Angeles metropolitan area annual GDP of $800 billion.
The report also omits crucial context: City government in Los Angeles is destined to be dysfunctional because Los Angeles has the bad fortune to be located in California, where our famously centralized governing system limits the ability of local officials to raise revenues and make long-term decisions.
"A Time for Truth" was supposed to "define the problem" for L.A. (A follow-up report will offer solutions.) But "A Time for Truth" misses real problems. The biggest is that L.A. — because of an aging population and declines in immigration and birth rate — is losing the diversity advantage it once had over other major cities. Yet the report states, mistakenly, that our ethnic diversity is "unmatched." In fact, census figures show Houston and New York City are more diverse.
The most grating thing about the report is that it portrays Angelenos — a struggling, scrambling bunch — as contentedly waiting around to be saved from our decline.
"A Time for Truth" sticks in the knife with a literary reference: "Like the hapless Mr. Micawber in Dickens' David Copperfield, our wishful response to continued economic decline and impending fiscal crisis has become a habitual: 'Something, my dear Copperfield, will turn up.'"
Such a reading of Charles Dickens is terribly unfair to Micawber — and Angelenos. Micawber was not hapless. He struggled to cope with the injustices visited upon him by London's elite, including being sent to debtors' prison. But he persevered and later immigrated to Australia. There he became a successful businessman and respected city official.
The truth is, we could use more characters like him in Los Angeles.
Joe Mathews wrote this column for Zocalo Public Square.


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Will for Samuel Griffin, my 6th great-grandfather.
In the name of God Amen I Samuel Griffin Essex in the County of Chittenden in the state of Vermont being weak in body but of sound and of perfect mind and memory do make and publish with this my last will and Testament in manner and form following That is to say I give to my Beloved wife Mercy Griffin all my Household furniture during her life with other possessions hereafter mentioned -- I give to my son John my farm on which I now live together with my Cattle Sheep and Swine also my tyme peace and loom on the following conditions viz He is to support my wife during her life and provide and furnish her with all things necessary for her Comfort and Convenience he is to pay all my debts that I shall owe at my decease he is to pay sixty Dollars to my three Daughters viz Twenty to Lois Kelsey to Polly Dowd and Twenty to Azube Davis My son John is to pay the aforesaid sum to my Daughters in one year after my wife's Decease and he is to have my Farming utensils -- my Carpenters and Joiners are to be equally divided between my five sons, viz Joel, Asahel, Samuel John and Dan after my wifes Decease her wearing apparel is to be given to my daughter Mercy Pelton and the remainder of my Houses hold furniture is to be divided as follows. Samuel and Dan are to have Each of them a bed and bedding The remainder is to [be] equally divided between my five sons above Mentioned excepting my son John lastly as to all the rest residue and remainder of my estate whether real or personal of what name or nature I give to my beloved wife Mercy Griffin whom I do appoint sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament Thereby revoking all other Wills by me made In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 16th of May in the year of our Lord 1808.
Signed sealed published and }
declared by the above named
Samuel Griffin to be his last
will and Testament in presence
of us who here unto subscribed
our names as witnesses in the }
presence to the Testator
Ezra Slater?
Zuriel Tyler
Saml Griffin
An Inventory of the real and personal Estate of Samuel Griffin Late of Essex Deceased
Copies received from Joan Kaysen in July 2006 and Bradley Griffin in October 2009. Both are distant cousins, and it's taken me this long to discover I had two copies, and this long to transcribe it.
Amanuensis Monday was begun by John Newmark of the TransylvanianDutch blog. The term means, "a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." Many bloggers enjoy doing this because it allows them to freely copy something that has been written.


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UnNews:U.N. calls for Bono-brokered ceasefire
This article is part of UnNews, your source for up-to-the-microsecond misinformation.
19 July 2006
JERUSALEM -- As violence between Israeli troops and Hezbollah guerrillas entered its eighth day Wednesday, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan urged both sides to begin negotiations with U2 frontman Bono.
"We again ask the leaders to stop this horrendous bloodshed, and the terrible loss of innocent lives," Annan said. "When the two sides sit down with this soulful songman, peace will be at hand."
Bono, speaking to reporters with a relaxed but focused air, said the region had clearly descended into a crisis.
"The Israelis and the Hezbollahs have to put their guns down, let the smoke clear, and look into each others' eyes," Bono said. "Then the real talking can begin."
Bono's previous diplomatic successes include convincing Sen. Jesse Helms to free funding for AIDS research; forcing the United Kingdom to write off thousands of dollars in debt for third-world countries and showing Adam Clayton that Achtung Baby would have to break from U2's traditional sound.
"With Bono in charge, the warring sides will realize how foolish this conflict has become," Annan said. "When they hear the ambiguous yet passionate lyrics of 'One,' they will see that all they have is hurt."
U.S. President George W. Bush echoed Annan's call for a Bono-brokered ceasefire.
"Look, we're asking them to sit down with Bono," Bush said. "Bono from U2. Everyone loves U2. And U2 loves everyone. U2 is respectful of our Muslim brothers. It's not like we're asking Kylie Minogue to go in and shake her tits at a Shiite."
Reaction from the warring sides has been positive but noncommittal.
"We welcome Bono and expect him to see the grave security threat to our state," Israeli prime minister Ehud Ohlmert said. "This government will not stand for any violations of its territory or performances from Pop. I can't believe I ever thought that album was good."
In a video released to al-Jazeera, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned that they would follow any Israeli troops who walked away, and said that "Bono and the world see our determination to fight for the Palestinian people."
Nasrallah ended the tape with an off-key rendition of "With or Without You."
|This article features first-hand journalism by an UnNews correspondent.


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Motivated Fan Remaking Jurassic Park: Trespasser With CryEngine 2
The fan-created project, titled Trespassing, is a remake/re-telling of Jurassic Park: Trespasser, and it's been in progress since 2007.
You can see some early work that has been done on the remake by checking out the comparison screens of the same area above and below.
Along with updated visuals, the remake will also merge all the levels into to one gigantic open area, allow backtracking, and improve the gameplay. You can find out more about the project by checking out the game's blog. You can also see more images from the remake by heading here.
Jurassic Park: Trespasser may have been a bizarre, hilarious, nearly unplayable mess, but you can't deny that it had some poorly executed innovative ideas. I like the idea of seeing the game remade with modern standards. We recently played the game in an episode of Replay, which you can check out below.
Thanks to Stew Davis for the news tip!
[Source: Trespassing, via: Reddit]


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- UK Sales 01737 783 101
We offer FREE UK Mainland delivery for orders over £50 (ex VAT exclusions apply)
Clarke CRD2 - 2" Diesel Driven Water Pump
Product ID: clarke_7130020
Please use this reference number at any time when dealing with us so that we can identify the product you are looking at as quickly as possible.
(Please note this reference number will not be of any use to any other party except us.)
Manufacturer: Clarke
Warranty: Click here for info
Price: £1,074.60 (£1,289.52 inc VAT)
CRD2 - 2" Diesel Driven Water Pump
- Maximum Output 530 L/min
- Maximum head (lift height) 32M
- Highly reliable 5Hp Robin diesel engine
- Self priming alloy pump body and robust tubular steel carry frame
- Lightweight and compact design
- Supplied with hose connections and intake strainer
- Dimensions (LWH): 540x390x460mm
Model No: CRD2
Part No: 7130020
Brand: Clarke
Identifier: clarke_7130020
Item Details
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Comes with a full manufacturer warranty (not including consumable products).
Please make use of any product reviews or youtube clips we have available to learn more about the item.
This item is usually delivered within 3 working day(s).
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Please return the item/s if not suitable for a full refund (within 7 working days of receipt).
We guarantee security of all your personal details, we do not pass on any customer information.
Accept all payment methods including all major Credit Cards, Paypal and Amazon Payments.
Order online now using our Secure SSL Certified Secure website.
Add this product to your basket and come back at any time to complete the order.
Order by phone on 01737783101.
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Piston seals with rigid split slide rings
These SKF piston seals have a rigid split slide ring made of glass fibre reinforced polyamide and a nitrile rubber (NBR) energizer. The rigid slide ring has high resistance to wear and gap extrusion. The slide ring also provides low friction, even at high pressures. The split slide ring design facilitates the installation process into a closed housing.
CUT profiles
CUT profiles (fig. 1) have a step cut slide ring and a rectangular energizer. They are suitable for pressures up to 500 bar (7 250 psi) in heavy duty applications. CUT profiles are available in metric sizes (→ Size list [pdf]) and some fit seal housings in accordance with ISO 7425-1:1988. For additional information, refer to CUT profile data.
They also can be used for short pressure pulses and shock loads with proper system design. For additional information, contact SKF.
SCP profiles
fig. 2) have a step cut slide ring and an oval energizer. They are suitable for pressures up to 690 bar (10 000 psi) in heavy duty applications and are available in inch sizes (→ Size list [pdf]). For additional information, refer to SCP profile data.


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|4th October 2006, 12:59 PM
Hero Forero
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,421
Teaching English in Spain
Here is a list of tips I posted on the blog a while ago:
One. Do you need a diploma? The short answer is no. If you are heading for the big cities like Madrid or Barcelona you will find work by simply fitting the description of English speaker. It helps if you are smartly dressed and well spoken, but hell, even those that arent get work in Madrid.
Two. Ignore point One and get a diploma. The CELTA (previously TEFL) certificate is the one to go for, though I hear the TESOL course is fine too. You can even do courses here in Spain at prestigious academies like International House. The month intensive course is hell, the hardest work Ive ever done, but well worth it. You are much much more employable with a course/diploma under your belt, and youll get better (pay, conditions) jobs than those without.
Three. Do I have to be British? No, any native or bi-lingual English speaker will get a job out here, even if you are not from the European Union. Read this post about working in Spain if you are from outside the EU.
Four. Can I get work anywhere in Spain? Yes, but you will often have more luck in Madrid and Barcelona. Even in larger towns like Seville you may have trouble if you turn up during the academic year. An ideal time to find work in any city/town, no matter the size, is in September, as the schools and academies start back at the beginning of October. Do try your luck in the smaller places though, just expect to have more trouble filling your timetable if you arent lucky enough to get a full-time contract straight off.
Four and a half. Do I need to speak Spanish? No, though it helps. Courses such as the CELTA teach you how to teach with no second language skills. They also teach you the basics of English grammar, which really helps!
Five. How do I find an academy job? Take a CV to all the Languages Academies in your chosen destination. Call them back. Be persistent if necessary. Find these in the Yellow Pages, via Google, in local English language papers (loads of jobs in the small ads in these too).
Six. How do I fill my time table? A typical academy timetable is 24 contact hours (teaching) - youll need more to prepare your classes too. If an academy only gives you half this amount, its common to supplement your income with private classes
Seven. How does this privates thing work? Private classes tend to be one-to-ones with businessmen, children, bored adults, etc. Usually you go to their office/house, if youre really lucky theyll come to yours. Ive given private classes in cafés, a friend of mine even managed to swing classes with two bikini clad Spanish ladies at a city pool in summer! Privates pay much better than academy classes (see below for rates) and dont usually involve any kind of contract. Some pay on the day, some in advance. Try hard to arrange that if they dont show up, or cancel with less than 24 hours notice, they pay anyway. The only downside is that they can involve a lot more travel. Find privates via word of mouth from other teachers, students, advertise in local papers, etc.
Eight. What about Company Classes? Typically arranged by language schools/academies, these involve going to a company and teaching one or a group of suited business types. If you can get into a company directly and arrange and charge for all the classes yourself, then you can make a fortune (30 Euros per hour? More?)
Nine. Kids classes? Only for the brave! Either arranged (or forced upon you) by language academies, or in posh bilingual private schools. The British Council also has a programme for placing teachers in Spanish Secondary/High Schools.
Ten. Will I earn enough to survive? First jobs in language academies do pay badly. I have heard of people earning as little as 700 Euros a month in the first year, and thats hard in Madrid. With luck you may earn nearer, or over 1,000 in the first year. As time goes by you start finding the better jobs, with better money and better timetables. Company classes may pay around 18 Euros an hour or more. Multiply that by 24 per week and do the maths. Privates do supplement income nicely, and are widely taken on by most teachers sooner or later. These can pay anything from 20 to 40 euros an hour. Finally, the Holy Grail is the University language teaching job, that can earn you up to 50 Euros an hour. For work in Companies and Universities, you may need to become Autonomo, self-employed - a bureaucratic nightmare but worth it for the better pay.
Bonus! Will I be an English teacher forever? That is down to you. With persistance you can do anything here that you wanted to do where you came from. Good Spanish often helps. Good luck!
|4th October 2006, 01:00 PM
Hero Forero
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,421
For further discussion of this topic, head over to this post (which is two previous posts merged as one).
Last edited by Ben; 4th October 2006 at 01:05 PM.
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Thursday, August 11, 2011
Coral Reef Sketching
After debating for quite a while, I also tied it to their allowance, in that completing the list of chores earns each child one dollar in her hand, and one dollar put away to save for Walt Disney World (do not even get me started about this, please). It's not an ideal solution to the allowance situation, but 1) I wanted the girls to perform work in exchange for their money (mean Momma, I know), 2) they don't care enough about money to do extra work to earn it, and 3) I want them to have money regularly, so that they can experience saving and spending it (and so I can have a good reason to tell them to stop griping for stuff in stores), so I needed to tie it to work that they were already expected to do, basically. If they ever get motivated enough to complete their entire responsibilities list every single day I may have to rework the system, because that's more cash than I'm willing to put out, but for now it works well.
Each child can complete her list at her leisure, coming to me when she wants to do a project that requires an adult's help, but if she takes longer than one day to finish all her responsibilities (and she does), then on the second day and thereafter she can no longer have access to her media entertainment--no computer, no TV choice, no music or audiobooks. She can still play pretend ponies for four hours at a time, for example, but no Usborne Quicklinks.
The girls can still choose to add their own things that they want to do to the list, of course, but we're on a tight budget, so they can't add something like getting ice cream or going out to eat, for example, but the Wonderlab, the public library, and playing Quirkle are all fair game.
The last change that I've made is that although I still assign projects for Syd to do with me or ask her for suggestions or give her choices, Will is now responsible enough to choose her own schoolwork subjects each day, and think of a project that she can do on that subject, and complete it with or without my help, as necessary. So when she added "coral reef sketching" to her list, she helped me clear the living room table to use as a workspace, got out the crayons while I got out the drawing paper (mental note: need more drawing paper), did a Google Image search with my supervision, chose the coral reef images that she wanted to copy, and got down to work:
Syd, of course, is not to be left out of any activity. She sat down and chose to sketch her toy cat:
A masterful representation, don't you agree?
Will created at least a dozen different sketches of different coral reef scenes that she found via Google Images. I was surprised, however, to see how impressionistic each one is. This, for example, is a reef scene that includes a starfish:
This one included a large brain coral and a school of colorful fish:
Each image that she drew from was teeming with color and life, and so it's fascinating to me to see how she distills each one:
Although I recorded this activity under Science and Art in Will's records (the requirement for record-keeping isn't clearly laid out in Indiana law, but I do know of one couple who went through a lot of very upsetting hassle because of their lack of records, so I keep them), it's one of those projects that is so clearly her own that I really don't know what she got out of it, exactly. It would be easy to look at these drawings and think that she'd just put in the bare minimum of effort, but I saw her carefully select each image to copy, study it thoroughly, concentrate on every line in her drawing, and most importantly, I saw how proud she was of every finished sketch--clearly they are masterpieces in her eyes, and therefore they're clearly masterpieces in my eyes, as well.
It's one of those projects that helps remind me how important it is for my children to own their own educations. If Will hadn't completely owned this entire coral reef sketching project, from start to finish, how would it have ever come to be?
5 comments:
- Kimberly said...
Ok, you KNEW *I'D* be the one to ask...What's up with Disney World? You know I'm a pimp for the mouse!
- August 11, 2011 at 11:50 AM
- julie said...
You ARE a pimp for the mouse! I want to go sometime, so basically this month I'm planning the whole damn thing so that I can price it out so that I can figure out if it would even be possible to save up to go in, say, 14 months or so. If not, then maybe spring of 2013. How would you rate the dining plan, by the way? Did you do all sit-down meals? It would be cheaper to stay off-park, but convenience + wanting to do a couple of character meals is making me seriously consider the resort + dining plan option.
- August 11, 2011 at 12:02 PM
- Kimberly said...
We did the deluxe dining plan. It was 3 sit-down meals that includes an appetizer, entree, and dessert for every meal. For us, it was NOT worth it. Lex doesn't eat pretty much EVER, and I could never dream of eating that much ever for 3-5 solid days so that was a waste of money. We've always stayed on resort as a matter of convenience. Parking at the parks is outrageous (like $20 a car or some such nonsense), and the buses from resort to park are free and plentiful. I would HIGHLY recommend the value resorts. We LOVED all-star movies, and we were kind of meh about pop century. The character meals are so pricey that I really couldn't imagine NOT having at least the standard dining plan to pay for those. Our favorite character meal is a dinner at the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom. It's a buffet, and it's $60 a plate. I'm not kidding. The standard plan is 1 sit down meal, 1 quick service, and 1 snack. That's the one we plan on doing the next time.
If you have any other questions, let me know. Between us going a couple of times in the last year, and the fact that I have a friend that works for the Mouse I'm pretty knowledgeable ;-)
- August 13, 2011 at 6:37 PM
- julie said...
I am thinking standard dining plan, and probably a value resort, although we're getting a little big for the two double bed business. It would be nice to be able to upgrade to a moderate resort with a trundle under one of the beds, but I'm not willing to pay a ton more for it--I'll bring sleeping bags for the girls first!
If we get the Standard plan, we're definitely going to do a character meal for every sit-down--I don't think it would be worth it for me otherwise, because I'm a huge cheapskate. Did you feel like you spent all your time in the park eating, or were the sit-downs a nice break from the chaos?
Since we'll be going next October, I'm considering springing for tickets to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Maybe a five-day ticket with no park hopper option, but I'm still not sure. I've tentatively decided that our budget for just the Disney stuff will be about $2,000, with extra for travel there and back and a few days at a cheap hotel on the beach afterward, so I may just need to see what all I can get for that amount when I'm ready to book.
- August 13, 2011 at 8:48 PM
- Kimberly said...
Nah, I didn't feel like we spent that much time eating in the park. Having reservations helps although they can get behind and you still have to wait sometimes. It's not a huge deal, and your kids are older. It probably will be less of an issue for you guys that it is for us. Dining can be just as exhausting as dealing with the crowds in the park sometimes though if you have to wait.
It is kind of a pain to have the reservations, though, too. Because sometimes you want to do something and you know you don't have time to do it because you have reservations in an hour and the line to do whatever is 45 minutes long. That's kind of a pain, but all in all it's really worth it for the character meals.
Dennis is the one that plans ours, and he said if you hit it just right, you could probably do the 2k. Right now, they're offering free standard dining plans, and that's why we're even considering going again. So, just watch for specials!
- August 14, 2011 at 11:38 AM


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U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney's Office
Middle District of Pennsylvania
|William J. Nealon Federal Building
Suite 311
235 N. Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 309
Scranton, PA 18503-0309
Phone: (570) 348-2800
Fax : (570) 348-2037/348-2830 or (570) 348-2830
|Ronald Reagan Federal Building
228 Walnut Street
P.O. Box 11754, Suite 220
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1754
Phone: (717) 221-4482
Fax: (717) 221-2246 or (717) 221-4493
|Herman T. Schneebeli Federal Building
240 West Third Street
Suite 316
Williamsport, PA 17701-6465
Phone: (570) 326-1935
Fax: (570) 326-7916
October 15, 2009
|Dennis C. Pfannenschmidt
U.S. Attorney
(717) 221-4482
Dennis C. Pfannenschmidt, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; Janice Fedaryck, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; Don Fort, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division; and, Mary Mitchelson, Acting Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General jointly announced today that an Information was filed today charging Richard Emanski, 65, of Harvey's Lake, Pennsylvania, with corrupt payment of a reward for official action, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, section 666(a)(2). The Information alleges that Emanski provided and installed free carpeting of a value of more than $1,000 but less than $5,000 in the residence of a member of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District Board of Education as a reward for support provided by the Board Member for a contract that benefitted Emanski's business.
Emanski faces a maximum of ten years' imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.
According to U.S. Attorney Pfannenschmidt, Emanski is the seventeenth person charged with criminal conduct since late January of this year in an on-going investigation targeting public corruption in Luzerne County.
In January 2009, Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan, the former President Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County, were charged with engaging in honest services fraud and tax conspiracy. Ciavarella and Conahan were indicted by a federal grand jury on racketeering and other charges on September 9, 2009.
William Sharkey, the former Court Administrator of Luzerne County, has pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges and is awaiting sentencing.
Sandra Brulo, the former Deputy Director of Forensic Programs for the Luzerne County Probation Office, has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and is awaiting sentencing.
In addition, On April 20, 2009, Brian Dunn, age 45, a member of the school board for the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, was charged in a criminal complaint with allegedly accepting cash in connection with the hiring of teachers and the awarding of contracts by the Wilkes-Barre Area School District.
On May 18, James Height, age 53, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, who earlier had resigned as President of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District Board of Education, was charged in a criminal information with allegedly accepting $2,000 in cash in connection with support he provided to a contractor in connection with an attempt by the contractor to obtain a contract with the Wilkes-Barre Area School District. Mr. Height has pleaded guilty to the charge and is awaiting sentencing.
On May 20, 2009 Dr. Ross Scarantino, age 63, of Duryea, who tendered his resignation as Pittston Area School District Superintendent, was charged in a criminal information with allegedly accepting $5,000 in cash in connection with support he provided to a contractor in connection with the contractor obtaining a contract with the Pittston Area School District. Dr. Scarantino was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison on October 8, 2009.
On June 9, 2009, Attorney Robert Powell was charged in a two-count information with misprision of a felony and being an accessory after the fact. Powell has pleaded guilty to the charges and is awaiting sentencing.On August 4, 2009, Karen Holly, age 51, of West Pittston, Pennsylvania, was charged in an information with theft of more than $5,000 from the Wyoming Valley Sanitation Authority, an agency receiving federal funds. Ms. Holly has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
On August 10, 2009, Joseph Oliveri, a former member of the school board for the Pittston Area School District, was charged in an information with the corrupt receipt of a reward for his official action concerning the awarding of a contract by the Pittston Area School District. Mr. Oliveri has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
On August 13, 2009, Robert K. Mericle was charged with misprision of a felony. Mr. Mericle has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Gerald Bonner, a member of the Luzerne County Housing Authority, was indicted on September 1, 2009, on a charge of corrupt receipt of a reward/bribe.
On September 11, 2009, William Maguire, another member of the Luzerne County Housing Authority, was also charged with corrupt receipt of a reward.On September 15, 2009, current Wilkes-Barre Area School District Board of Education member Frank Pizzella was charged in an indictment with conspiracy to corruptly give $5,000 in cash to a member of the Board of Education in connection with the hiring of a teacher in 2004.
On October 1, 2009, Luzerne County resident Barton Weidlich was charged with attempted obstruction of justice.
On October 15, 2009, Howard Allen Bellas, who was recently suspended as director of the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority, was charged in an Information with corrupt receipt of a reward.
Also as a result of the investigation, former Luzerne County Prothonotary Jill Moran resigned from her office and voluntarily agreed to the entry of a court order directing her to cooperate with the on-going federal public corruption probe looking into allegations of misconduct at the Luzerne County Courthouse.
On April 8, 2009, the FBI issued a statement requesting the public's assistance in this on-going investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the public corruption task force toll free at 1-866-996-4320.
This case is part of an on-going investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Department of Education and is being prosecuted by a team of federal prosecutors led by Senior Litigation Counsel Gordon Zubrod and includes Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Houser, Michael Consiglio, Amy Phillips and Criminal Division Chief Christian Fisanick. Pfannenschmidt praised this team of investigators and prosecutors for their tireless efforts on behalf of the people of Luzerne County.