text:
1965 Plymouth Belvedere - The Path Less Traveled
A Lightweight Small-Block That Packs A Heavyweight Punch
It's a generally accepted fact that no one region in the country has a monopoly on drag racing ingenuity. Colorado, though better known for its skiing and beautiful mountain scenery, has also produced some outstanding Mopar racers. Master machinist Don Hackenberg is among them. In his heyday, he was a major player in NHRA's Modified Production ranks. Now in his mid-sixties and semi-retired, Don's skills and competitive instincts are alive and well. so when a certain special Chrysler aluminum small-block came into his possession, the wheels began to turn.
Enter racer Mike Molgard. Don and Mike had collaborated on an earlier small-block Mopar engine project, and when Mike walked into the shop and saw the block, he began asking questions. The two of them put their heads together and decided they were looking at the basis for a perfect drag racing engine. The result is a hybrid that's part circle track, part drag racing, and all small-block Mopar. Arguably one of the more unusual Mopar drag race engines we've seen to date.
Don's home-based shop houses a lot more sophisticated machinery than one would expect and is a perfect match for the car for which the engine was destined. Mike's turquoise '65 Belvedere looks for all the world like a 14-second street/bracket car. It's all steel, sporting the full factory interior including the back seat, and the battery is still in the front. In that configuration, it ran a 10.54 quarter-mile e.t. with a 395-inch cast-iron small-block, eliciting lots of puzzled looks from spectators in the pits. For a while, Mike considered a big-block, but the decision was made to stay with a small-block. It would be a pioneering effort, but the result would be totally unique, offering a level of performance normally only available from a big-block.
The block casting is genuine Mopar (PN 4532711), but there most of the similarities end. For one thing, it's all aluminum and even the most basic accessories, such as the front timing cover and oil pan, had to be custom fabricated. Even some basic technical aspects of the oiling system had to be worked out, which proved to be more challenging than expected. At one point, Don cranked up his machines and built his own distributor from scratch out of a solid piece of billet aluminum. Try that sometime in your home workshop!
The history of the block is interesting in itself. Although fabricated of light weight aluminum alloy, it was judged too heavy by the World of Outlaws circle track racers for whom it was designed and was scrapped by Chrysler in favor of a lighter casting. The source of the heaviness can be attributed to the fact it was designed like a smaller version of a Top Fuel block, replete with all sorts of reinforcing ribs. Many insiders on the circle track circuit maintain it's a better block than the one they now use. Among other heavy-duty features, it is a windage block featuring a kick-out on the passenger side to divert oil from the crankshaft, thus reducing parasitic horsepower loss.
A high-rpm aluminum race engine requires durable components. Lightweight (440 gram) CP aluminum-alloy pistons were used because of excellent quality, and can tolerate a fairly tight .0045-inch piston-to-wall clearance. The rings used are .043-inch in the top and .043-inch in the second groove in conjunction with 3mm low-tension oil rings. "Drag-wise, it's like having no rings at all when there's no compression on the top ring," said Don. Pistons are gas-ported to provide maximum ring seal when it is most needed. The compression ratio, at about 13.8 to 1, is fairly conservative by today's race engine standards.
The stroker crankshaft is from Mopar performance (PN P5007252), and has had the journals machined down from 2.25 to 2.00 inch to match a common Chevy small-block size. Mike found an excellent deal on a set of GRP alloy rods with that dimension, and since that size offers so many bearing choices, they decided to go with it. At 6.46-inch in length, the rods are quite long. Even with the 4-inch stroker crank, the roomy crankcase eliminates the need for any grinding for clearance. ACL bearings with a calico coating were used throughout. Pro-Gram steel billet caps are used to help keep the high-winding engine together. The cylinders were bored over-sized and finish-honed to a final dimension of 4.125-inches, yielding a final 427ci displacement. The plateau wall finish is similar to a traditional mirror finish, with a residual super-fine crosshatch that knocks off microscopic high spots and ensures an excellent ring seal.
A parts connection in New Mexico turned up a mint set of W-8 aluminum cylinder heads left over from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series, complete with Manley titanium valves with 2.150-inch intake and 1.65-inch exhaust valves. The heads were privy to a full five-axis CNC porting by Chapman Porting Service in Salt Lake City. Also included was a complete Jesel valvetrain setup. Valve seat angles are, as Don puts it, "pretty much a full radius with a 45-degree angle in there somewhere."
A consultation with Chris Mays of Competition Cams yielded a promising profile, carrying PN CRS1844/4082 R108.0. It's a roller grind with .739-inch lift on the intakes and .704-inch lift on the exhaust lobes. The duration is 282 degrees on the intakes and 280 degrees on the exhaust at .050-inch. Lobe separation is 108 degrees, but the cam was installed at 104 degrees to help the bottom end. (This will probably be changed... more about that later). It's important to note this is not an extremely radical grind, but rather a practical bracket cam designed for consistent performance and repeatability.
There were no factory lifters available for the block, and nothing from the aftermarket was available with the exception of some high-end units that cost $125 apiece. They were top-notch, but just did not fit into the budget. After consultations with Dave Crower of Crower Cams, it was determined that a variation of their lifters for a NASCAR SB-2 small-block Chevy with a diameter of .904, as opposed to the NASCAR Chevy's .875, would work with a little adaptation. Namely, the tops of the lifter bore bosses had to be machined down about a quarter-inch, so the link bar between the lifters would clear the block. High-tech Comp Cams pushrods with through-the-center oiling are used.
Don machined a custom valley cover for the engine, as none was available either from the factory or in the aftermarket. The block has no provision for a water pump, so a Meziere pump was fitted to the lower radiator hose to handle the coolant pumping chores.
It was also up to Don to build his own oil pan. He dubbed it the "origami oil pan" after the Oriental art of folding paper because that's the way he designed it-with paper templates and a lot folding. It was fabricated from a single piece of aluminum to minimize the amount of seams that required welding. Once his cardboard oil pan fit properly, Don recreated it in aluminum. A beefy external oil pump by Peterson Fluid Systems ensures adequate lubrication flow for the high-winding small-block.
After much research, a potential problem was pinned down at the diameter of the holes that limit the amount of oil delivered to the lifter galley. The strength of the oil pump was such that it evacuated virtually all the oil from the bottom end at high rpm. This would leave insufficient lubrication for the crank, rods, and cylinders. Once the hole size was reduced to the correct diameter, the problem was averted. An ATI harmonic balancer was used, both for its rebuildable features, as well as its lighter weight.
Also on the list of parts that had to be custom made or adapted were valve covers. To fill the need, Don simply ordered an assortment of valve cover gaskets from the local parts store and tried them one by one in different orientations until something close was found. After many test-fittings, it was determined that FE Ford valve covers, mounted backwards, required only the relocation of two holes to make them fit the application. A set was located at a local swap meet, the Ford logo machined off, and the engine was one step closer to completion.
Topping off the engine is a Mopar Performance M-1 manifold with a DaVinci modified Holley carburetor rated at 1,000 cfm. Earlier testing with a 1,000-cfm vacuum-secondary Holley delivered inconsistent results, and a 950-cfm Holley double-pumper was substituted. The double-pumper could not match the vacuum-secondary's elapsed times, but consistently delivered 5 mph more in top end. The DaVinci-modified Holley seems to deliver the best of both. A heavy-duty Barry Grant fuel pump delivers the fuel from a custom baffled stock gas tank via a half-inch braided stainless steel line.
The job of exhausting the spent gases falls to a set of vintage Direct Connection 171/48-inch headers originally made for the W-2 heads. In order to work with the W-8's, adapter plates had to be fashioned. Rounding out the powertrain is a high-stall converter by Dynamic Converters, a Pro-Trans Torqueflite featuring lightweight aluminum internals, and a 5:13 Dana 60 rearend with 1011/42-inch-wide Hoosier radial slicks. Altogether, the combination weighs 3,585 pounds with Mike at the wheel.
As stated earlier, pioneering a totally new engine combination virtually guarantees some surprises. The wheelstanding starts and 8,000-rpm shifts are pretty much as predicted. What was not expected was the torque from the small-block would be sufficient to break the 1011/42-inch tires loose in high gear. At first, Mike thought that something was coming loose in the rearend, because simple logic said there's no way a small-block-any small-block-could do that. But when Don Hackenberg carefully scrutinized the next few runs, it became obvious the tires were indeed breaking loose, even across the finish line. This tendency toward rear-steering is disconcerting, not to mention dangerous.
So, although the original premise was to keep the car limited to a 1011/42-inch slick, it's obvious that a mini-tubbed rearend treatment and a bigger tire was an absolute must to keep the car going straight. In addition, the camshaft would be retarded somewhat from its present 104-degree setting, since it turns out the bottom end really didn't need the help after all.
Even with the intermittent traction problems, the new combination has produced 1.36-second 60 ft. times and a best quarter-mile e.t. of 10.26 at 131.86 mph. This was at a 2,200 feet elevation with windblown sand on the track surface.
Recently, the potent Belvedere ran a 6.24-second eighth-mile with a trap speed of 111 mph, which, if you're familiar with eighth-mile times, is really hauling for a small-block in a heavy car.
Just as it sits, its 8,000-rpm shift points and unexpected wheelstands make it a real crowd-pleaser; a testament to the ingenuity and high-quality effort that Mike and Don have put into their home-built masterpiece. Though their thinking-outside-the-box engine choice resulted in some difficulties along the way, the result is a refreshing change from the normal big-block approach to horsepower. As poet Robert Frost once put it, "I took the path less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."


text:
Federal grants down, nonprofits make do
Community agencies: Say they are grateful, but needs unmet
With federal grant funding at an all-time low, area nonprofit agencies serving low- and middle-income families in Greenwich are tightening their belts in face of heightened demand for services, while also looking to have private sources make up for lost dollars.
With requests outpacing available funds by almost $1 million, groups reliant on federal Community Development Block Grants in Greenwich say they are thankful for what they can get, but the unprecedented gap between supply and demand has left many concerned.
"On one level, we're very satisfied with what we received," said Jason Shaplen, CEO of Stamford-based Inspirica, which provides services to the homeless. "But on the other, the reality is that there is much less funding than we need. CDAC has a very difficult decision to make.
"To be fully satisfied, we'd be fully funded, but that's just not realistic anymore."
The town's Community Development Advisory Committee has sent First Selectman Peter Tesei its recommendations for allocating 2014 federal grants. Tesei is expected to sign off on them following an Aug. 5 public hearing.
For many area agencies, the results are less than ideal. Only three request were fully met, leaving organizations scrambling to cover the shortfalls.
As chronic homelessness is seen to be on the rise in the Stamford-Greenwich area, Jerome Roberts noted that the Shelter for the Homeless in Stamford was packed to emergency capacity during last week's heat wave, housing 110 people each night, almost 30 more than it can regularly sustain.
Roberts is associate director and director of facilities at the Pacific Street shelter serving men who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless from Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan and Darien.
But increased need hasn't translated into increased supply. The shelter's requests, one for support for food services and another for an addiction and HIV outreach program, went entirely unmet. The two requests for $75,000 combined stand in stark contrast to the total of $102,000 in federal block grants available for all Greenwich public service activities.
"These are essential services, and we are committed to the services we provide our clients," Roberts said. "We have to feed our people. So we'll have to piecemeal it."
A request for funding rehabilitation of the shelter was only about two-thirds met.
For most nonprofits, there is simply not enough federal money to go around.
"We are grateful for the recommendation to give some support to our Head Start and (Reaching Independence Through Employment) projects, but we still need more," said Bob Arnold, CEO of Family Centers.
The Greenwich-based organization helping children and families received two $5,000 grants for the two programs, the minimum allocation, despite requesting $25,000. Its $30,000 request for renovations to the playground at the Gateway School on Chapel Street in Greenwich was rejected; the school serves underprivileged children.
Arnold said a Family Centers representative would attend the Aug. 5 public hearing to appeal to the first selectman.
But dwindling funds are nothing new. The budget for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's block grants, distributed each year to some 1,209 municipalities and communities, has decreased by $1 billion since 2010, while the federal government sequester has further squeezed the program. And more cuts may be on the way, as the House Appropriation Committee pursues another $1 billion in cuts.
Greenwich itself has seen its total grant funding plummet in the last decade from nearly $1.2 million to $680,000.
"It's a very frightening situation," Shaplen said. "Demand is soaring for the services we provided, and the federal support's declining. You get a pretty dangerous gap."
Sympathy for CDAC's task in light of developments in Washington, D.C., ran high. But with federal support only expected to continue declining, nonprofits are preparing to shift from reliance on the CDAC and toward an emphasis on private donations and private or state grants.
"At some point, we can only absorb so much as far as spending cuts," Roberts said. "But if we're going to pull through it, it'll be because of Main Street. It's stepped in when we can't count on government funding.
"We've reached out to private citizens, the John and Jane Does of the world, and they're pretty responsive."
But despite the newfound support, the needs of both the nonprofits and the communities they serve are far from met as they soldier forward with their projects.
"We've had success with some private funders and grants," Arnold said, "but we have more needs than foundations right now."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Cours De La Garonne in France
Download site
The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Reported Area
2.67 km²
Data Provider
European Environment Agency (EEA)
Management Effectiveness Evaluations
No information available
Original Name Cours De La Garonne
English Designation Biotope Protection Order
IUCN Management Category IV
Status Designated
Type of Designation National
Status Year 1990
Governance Type Federal or national ministry or agency
Management Authority Préfets de département (local State ; will not be listed here as there are 100 of them). Also French Ministry in charge of the environment. In march 2012, name, acronym and address as follows : Ministère de l'Écologie, du Développement durable, des Tran*
Management Plan Not Reported
International Criteria Not Applicable


text:
Facebook Poised to Join the Nasdaq 100; Replaces Infosys
Rebounding social-networking giant Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) has been tapped to join the Nasdaq 100 next week, replacing outgoing IT services firm Infosys (NASDAQ:INFY).
Continue Reading Below
Shares of Mark Zuckerberg's tech company rallied nearly 2% in premarket action in response to the news.
Nasdaq OMX Group (NASDAQ:NDAQ) said late Tuesday that Facebook will be added to the Nasdaq 100 on December 12, joining an index that tracks the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq.
With a market cap just shy of $60 billion, Facebook had been the largest Nasdaq-listed company not already in the Nasdaq 100.
Facebook is replacing Infosys, India's No. 2 software services provider, which announced plans last week to jump ship to join NYSE Euronext's (NYSE:NYX) New York Stock Exchange. Infosys will keep the "INFY" symbol.
The move had been expected as Nasdaq recently cut its "seasoning" period for a new company to enter the Nasdaq 100 from about a year to three months, helping to persuade Facebook to list there rather than the Big Board, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Since plummeting to a record low of $17.55 in early September, Facebook's shares have soared 56% amid rising optimism about its ability to monetize its mobile offerings. Yet the stock remains down 39% since its all-time intraday high of $45.00 when it went public in May.


text:
Timeline of the Immortal War
This is a comprehensive summary of events during The Immortal War. For more detail, see Battles of the Immortal War and Envoys of the Immortal War.
8th Cycle
On the 8-9th days of the 8th cycle of R. 2,009, The Immortals invade the Gamma Corps world Fico. Warhead is beheaded by Gamma Corps hero Aegis, and his essence is splintered. Fico is conquered and eventually destroyed.
7th Cycle
Zombie (Zulu) Dawn. A zombie apocalypse on a Britannian world, orchestrated by Peaches, causes a major war between multiple factions; notably the Vol, the Assyrian Star Empire, the Time Travelling Super Jews, and members of the Immortal family. A tinfoil energy maelstrom leaves the planet devoid of life, except for Fleebnorks. A Computer Core holding extremely important data regarding the apocalypse is lost in the maelstrom.
Rumors of an "Immortal-killing" McGuffin abound. Despite their obvious falsehood, an entire planet gets banhammered from existence over them.
A Warhead splinter on Medivo gains contact with the Immortal Empire, and a few Immortals are sent to aid him and his Evuul allies.
8th Cycle
Akkadia develops Personal Teleporter technology, and is invaded by several neighbors. The Immortals come to their aid. The invaders are defeated.
12th Cycle
The Immortal battlecruiser Hyperion, having captured the lost Computer Core from Zombie (Zulu) Dawn, is raided by Briktopians and Rodrigo Palo's pirates. Zombie Lincoln appears, and is captured by the Immortals. Connections between The Immortal Empire and the Peaches are revealed.
1st Cycle
An Immortal guerilla force destroys a comms relay, creating a blind spot in the defence network of the Mauran world Prestell.
Vergilius Raskolnikov invades the FELC world Alighieri. The Immortal Empire officially declares war on the FELC for betrayal. Rodrigo Palo's pirates appear, and Alighieri is purged of all life through BrikThulhian magic.
2nd Cycle
The Nyphilian Empire is eradicated by a temporary alliance of the Silvarians, Tyronians, NSST, FELC, and the Immortals.
6th Cycle
Warhead hangs out with Pedonuker for a brief side quest
7th Cycle
Zupponn Mining Co mercenaries and their Immortal employers attack and destroy a Scythian mining outpost.
8th Cycle
Vergilius Raskolnikov fights the FELC and the Briktopians on Remarque. Rodrigo Palo is returned to the mortal world, Immortals appear to attack the FELC but are crushed themselves. The FELC eventually stand victorious, enlarging their empire with several nearby unclaimed worlds.


text:
The Sopranos: Top Ten Episodes
By way of summarizing the series, I'm going to go through my top ten Sopranos episodes. It's a lot tougher to do that with this show than with a lot of others, say Buffy or even Six Feet Under, since every episode is at such a consistently high level, and the show doesn't usually use the build to a big mythology/finale episode structure of a lot of series. Every episode is so good that it's only the weaker ones that stand out. But, there's still better and worse episodes, and I shall delve into them.
Notably, there are no season one episodes. A lot of people will tell you season one is the show's best season, and it is fantastic, but I don't think it's as layered and complex as the later years. Looking at that season now, none of the characters are as developed as they are in the later years. Adrianna is just a pretty girl, Chase didn't know at this point what she'd become, and the same is true of Paulie and Pussy. From a plot level, it's probably the tightest season, but it's also the most "TV" in the sense that it's got more obvious standalone stories and a clear arc throughout the season.
While the later seasons are messier, they feel more real and more character centered. It's the character hooks that make the series so wonderful, and that's the reason that season five is my favorite season of the entire series. There, they used less serial plotting than in the previous seasons, instead focusing in depth on one or two characters each episode. This meant that each episode gave us a ton of development and much to ponder and discuss.
Also, I watched the first four seasons on DVD, then watched the fifth and sixth as they aired. So, it's harder for me to separate those early seasons into individual episodes, they all sort of bleed together, while the latter are separated in my mind. I'd stand by these picks regardless, but it's possible if I'd watched those earlier seasons separately, they'd be more distinguished.
Anyway, on to the top ten, in chronological order…
D-Girl (2x07) – This episode is the culmination of Christopher's first flirtation with the film business, putting him and Pussy at a crossroads between serving Tony and pursing their own best interest. I loved Christopher's interest in film because it was a dream, a way out of the world. In him and Adrianna, I always saw hope, the chance to escape this world and not become like Tony. This episode plays that conflict, for a moment it seems that he can be successful and move on to something better, but, as with the Vito storyline, he finds out that it's tough to play by civilian rules, to actually have to work for what you want, not just get it. It's a prescient episode because it contains all the central themes of season six, the way that these people will give up what they really want for the easy life of the mafia.
We not only get this, we also get some of the most emotional scenes in the series, as Pussy is forced to restore AJ's faith in his father even as he's betraying him to the FBI. The best scene is Pussy upstairs in the bathroom, crying, aware that he will either have to leave this world or eventually die. On top of this, we get some really funny stuff with Jon Favreau, one of the few celebrity playing themselves cameos that doesn't feel self indulgent or too inside.
Funhouse (2x13) – There's a lot of good stuff in season two, the fantastic Robert Patrick arc, Christopher's acting class, but this episode's surreal journey to inevitability is the moment when the series established its rich dream mythology that would infuriate some fans and enrapture others, like myself. I love that they spend so much time with the weird dreams as a device to get Tony to face what he already knows, that Pussy is working for the feds. It's crazy, exciting stuff with some of the series best visual moments.
And then we get the sad resolution of Pussy's story as he's gunned down and dumped in the ocean. This is a major turning point for Tony, and the series as a whole. We'd seen Tony kill before, but to kill a friend? It's cast a shadow over the entire series, echoed in this season's "Remember When."
Pine Barrens (3x11) – If this episode wasn't so good, I'd be mad it even existed because it's led to five years of people asking when the Russian's coming back. To that, I can only say you're an idiot. People who consider the Russian a loose end completely miss the point, it's like saying Pulp Fiction sucked because we never found out what was in the briefcase. The entire point of the character was the uncertainty of whether he was dead or alive, a menace out in the forest. To resolve that would strip the episode of a lot of its power, and particularly three seasons later, it's not going to happen. Reading some online postings, you'd think it was satire, but people apparently really are furious he hasn't come back and even spinning elaborate theories that involve the Russian coming back for the final episodes. Let it go.
Anyway, that aside, this is a brilliant episode. It's the show's funniest, as we witness Chris and Paulie go through all kinds of indignities in the woods, eating ketchup packets and making shoes out of rubber. Visually, it's one of the show's best, with the gorgeous snowscapes and seemingly endless woods. If nothing else, this episode is testament to the fact that the show can be incredibly funny when it wants to be.
Amour Fou (3x12) – The resolution of the Gloria Trillo arc is fantastic stuff, tying the season back to Tony's now absent mother. While I'm obviously not happy that Nancy Marchand died, losing the character when they did worked in the show's favor. They had pretty much exhausted Livia herself by the end of the second season and she becomes more interesting as a specter hanging over everyone. In this episode, Tony finally realizes the similarities between Gloria and Livia and, in an incredible, intense scene, leaves her. Earlier in the episode, we also get the great scene where Gloria drives Carmela home from the car dealership. The show can do tension like no other, and this episode was full of it. While I like the mob stuff, it's really the personal drama that interests me, and where normally we'd get the season's death in the penultimate episode, here we get the death of a relationship.
Whitecaps (4x13) – The long simmering drama surrounding Tony and Carmela's marriage comes to a head here, as she finally rejects him and his philandering. The episode is full of incredible scenes between the two of them, moments that were building for four years and finally come spilling out here. Falco and Gandolfini have never been better. The episode is the series' longest, at 75 minutes, and that extra time helps give things an epic scope as they march towards the separation, taking the family's broken dreams in their wake, and setting up the brilliance of season five.
Irregular Around the Margins (5x05) – A brilliant episode at the time, and in retrospect, the critical turning point in Tony and Christopher's relationship. This is what inspires Cleaver and starts the rift that will eventually lead to Christopher's death. That accident is a replication of what happens here. Adrianna's arc over the last couple of seasons was some of the best stuff the show ever did and this episode takes it to emotional, excruciating places. One thing you won't see on another show, probably ever, is a character getting IBS, but they went there and it provided the impetus for Tony and Adrianna's flirtation. There's so much tension here, so much pettiness among the crew. I love the way their pettiness threatens to spill over into violence.
Long Term Parking (5x12) – Adrianna's murder was something the series could never come back from. Writing abut the first part of season six, I said that the show had lost something when she died, the hope that maybe someone could get out and live a better life. When she died, that possibility disappeared. But, that was the whole point. As we see in season six, her death has forced everyone to either commit to the life or die. Those are the only options.
What happens here destroys Tony and Christopher's relationship, largely because of Christopher's own weakness. In a devastating scene, he is all set to run away with Adrianna, or at least I think he is, until he sees a white trash family at a gas station. Faced with the possibility of living a normal life, he decides to turn Adrianna over to Tony and Silvio, who kill her in the woods. The tension of this episode comes from the juxtaposition of the inevitable ending and the glimmer of hope we cling on to. Even when she's in the car, I'm hoping that maybe they weren't lying, that she's off to a new life somewhere. But, she's not and by episode's end, she's dead
Join the Club (6x02) – I love the series' forays into metaphysical weirdness, and few were more satisfying than this trip to a parallel universe where Tony becomes Kevin Finnerty, businessman. The basic conceit of this episode, a man who switches briefcases and becomes someone else, is fascinating and could be a feature right there, but wrapped up in what we know about Tony, it becomes an exciting way to view the man he could have been. Few episode endings are as haunting as Tony sitting alone in his hotel room, looking out at the revolving lighthouse as Moby plays.
On top of that, we get the phenomenal hospital scenes, a showcase for Edie Falco. And, the episode's importance to the series as a whole was confirmed during Tony's peyote trip, at which point he realizes that there are other world than just this one. Did he remember the Kevin Finnerty experience in that moment? I think he did. The intensity and power of this episode wasn't matched until the next episode on the top ten list.
Walk Like a Man (6x17) – Before this episode, we'd been in something of a holding pattern for eight or nine episodes. There were great moments, but there wasn't any sense of urgency. I was thinking that the show would end in a leisurely manner, maybe some people would die, but things would go on as they always had. Then this episode happened and everything changed. As you've probably gathered, I'm a big Christopher fan and this is the episode that essentially seals his fate. He has struggled to be what Tony wants him to be, but he just can't do it. If he's with them and drinking, then he's a disgrace, if he's not, he's also letting Tony down. It's a conundrum and there really is no answer. There's so many brilliant scenes with him here, including the shocking death of JT. Chris is going off the rails and it's pretty clear he doesn't have long to live by the end.
At the same time, we get the first major focus on AJ, who will come to dominate the rest of the season. He's drawn into the world of the mob and for a moment it seems like he will follow his path. The happy family tableau at the end of the episode is all the more striking for the fact that after this, they can never be together in the same way again.
Kennedy and Heidi (6x18) – Any episode of this final run could easily be on this list, but I went with "Kennedy" for the ambition and sheer audacity of making an entire episode about Tony trying to make other people feel that Christopher's death was a good thing. The pageantry of mourning seems so hollow to him, and we're placed right there, disregarding common human decency, sadness at Chris's death, to instead share Tony's detached view. There's not much emotion at Christopher's death, that came in the previous episode, this is all about Tony and his struggle.
The peyote trip is the capper, as Tony tries to relive his Kevin Finnerty existence and winds up stumbling dazed through a casino, a virtual zombie. I love the way they depicted the trip, a strange emotional capper to a really surprising journey. It's a fantastic hour that shows the series is much more than just a mob story.
Again, "The Second Coming" and "The Blue Comet" could both easily have made it on the list, but I wanted to give some variety. Perhaps I'm just enchanted by the new, but those episodes seemed as good as anything the show has ever done. Either way, hopefully the series finale will find a place on the list and be as strong as the past few episodes have been.


text:
Let It Be... Naked - As Nature Intended
Let It Be… Naked Has Made Its Global Digital Debut On iTunes
When The Beatles first set out to make Let It Be in 1969, they intended to record an album that would be a return to live performance. No studio effects or overdubbing of voices or instruments would be allowed - just the bare necessities of the band.
Let It Be… Naked is the stripped-down, return-to-live-takes album that The Beatles originally aimed to create, free of vocal and instrumental overdubs or added effects.
Let It Be… Naked has now made its debut global digital release, exclusively on the iTunes Store. We have been celebrating the album in a few ways:
We've launched a series of five special podcasts featuring tracks from the album, original archive sound from the making of Let It Be, and interviews with Paul, George and Ringo reflecting on that period in The Beatles' career. The podcasts have been featured on the Let It Be… Naked site, Soundcloud, Facebook and Twitter. The complete version should be available for download on the iTunes podcast store shortly. It will be announced at thebeatles.com
We've uploaded the first one for you to this page. You can link through to the full set, here.
In Chapter One, we explore the process of making the original Let It Be album and film - why Let It Be… Naked has been released as an album distinct from the original Let It Be, and where The Beatles were at as a band at the time of recording.
For a fully immersive Let It Be... Naked experience, check out the flickbook - you can find the podcasts, animation, music previews, artwork and more.
There's also a video scavenger hunt - find our four separate clips on the web and put them together to see the whole film. Check out the The Beatles Facebook page to find clues.
In addition to the 11-track album, the iTunes LP features all of the original booklet art and liner notes, as well as bonus audio of studio banter captured during The Beatles' 1969 recording sessions for Let It Be.
Music videos for the "Naked" versions of "Get Back" and "Don't Let Me Down" are also exclusively available on iTunes for download purchase and free streaming.
If we'd had today's technology back then, it would sound like this because this is the noise we made in the studio. It's all exactly as it was in the room. You're right there now.
The music always surpassed any bullshit we were going through; once the count-in happened we turned back into those brothers and musicians.
It's just us playing, in our best voices, it's very honest.
The music always surpassed any bullshit we were going through; once the count-in happened we turned back into those brothers and musicians.


text:
Clients kick back with their honey and let stress and tension melt away
Customer Reviews
What You'll Get
- 60-Minute Couples Massage with Optional Sauna Therapy
Choose from the following locations:
- Riverside
- Wildomar
- Temecula
- Corona
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires 90 days after purchase. Amount paid never expires. 60-minute session includes 10 minutes for dress and undress. Appointment required. Limit 1 per person, may buy 1 additional as gift(s). Valid only for option purchased. Valid only at listed locations. Merchant's standard cancellation policy applies (any fees not to exceed voucher price). Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Massage Green Spa
Allie T. Mallad was driven by a simple goal when he opened the first Massage Green Spa in 2008—to bring the vast health benefits of massage and infrared therapy to the masses, and to offer the best value in the world with affordable wellness.
But beyond its "luxury at low cost" concept, perhaps the biggest reason clients flock to Massage Green Spa is the specialized and customized approach to therapeutic massage. Massage Green Spa's licensed massage therapists have figured out the four main reasons people need a massage in the first place: relaxation, stress management, pain management and increased mobility. Once they figure out which of those categories their client best fits into, they'll rope in techniques ranging from gliding Swedish strokes to focused deep-tissue kneads to create a treatment as personalized as an infomercial that addresses you by name.
Tailored massages are just one part of the overall picture here, though. Massage Green Spa also offers facials, infrared sauna sessions and float therapy. And staying true to its name, the spa only uses Mother Nature–approved products and subscribes to eco-friendly building practices.


text:
Scouting Mode
How to Add Validator/ invite People to collaborate and validate!
You can add People/Inventor/Investor/Mentor to your technology/startup/event Boards. Engage with them and manage your communication via your private board. You can work with your team and 3rd parties like mentors, investors, licensees and more.
Please Login/Register to see details!
What is waiting for you?
Full description, IP Status, Market data, Team, Validation, Investment requirements and more!


text:
General Conference Challenge, Day 14- Sept. 11: Preparing the World for the Second Coming
To watch or listen to this talk, please go to: http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/preparing-the-world-for-the-second-coming?lang=eng
Preparing the World for the Second Coming
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Your mission will be a sacred opportunity to bring others to Christ and help prepare for the Second Coming of the Savior.
I speak tonight especially to the 12- to 25-year-olds who hold the priesthood of God. We think about you a lot and we pray for you. I once told the story of our four-year-old grandson giving his little brother a strong push. After consoling the crying child, my wife, Kathy, turned to the four-year-old and thoughtfully asked, "Why would you push your little brother?" He looked at his grandmother and responded, "Mimi, I'm sorry. I lost my CTR ring, and I cannot choose the right." We know that you try hard to always choose the right. We love you very much.
Have you ever thought about why you were sent to earth at this specific time? You were not born during the time of Adam and Eve or while pharaohs ruled Egypt or during the Ming dynasty. You have come to earth at this time, 20 centuries after the first coming of Christ. The priesthood of God has been restored to the earth, and the Lord has set His hand to prepare the world for His glorious return. These are days of great opportunity and important responsibilities. These are your days.
With your baptism, you declared your faith in Jesus Christ. With your ordination to the priesthood, your talents and spiritual capacities have been increased. One of your important responsibilities is to help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Savior.
The Lord has appointed a prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, to direct the work of His priesthood. To you, President Monson has said: "The Lord needs missionaries." 1 "Every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a mission. Missionary service is a priesthood duty—an obligation the Lord expects of [you] who have been given so very much." 2
Missionary service requires sacrifice. There will always be something you leave behind when you respond to the prophet's call to serve.
Those who follow the game of rugby know that the New Zealand All Blacks, a name given because of the color of their uniform, is the most celebrated rugby team ever. 3 To be selected for the All Blacks in New Zealand would be comparable to playing for a football Super Bowl team or a World Cup soccer team.
In 1961, at age 18 and holding the Aaronic Priesthood, Sidney Going was becoming a star in New Zealand rugby. Because of his remarkable abilities, many thought he would be chosen the very next year for the national All Blacks rugby team.
At age 19, in this critical moment of his ascending rugby career, Sid declared that he would forgo rugby to serve a mission. Some called him crazy. Others called him foolish. 4 They protested that his opportunity in rugby might never come again.
For Sid it was not what he was leaving behind—it was the opportunity and responsibility ahead. He had a priesthood duty to offer two years of his life to declare the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. Nothing—not even a chance to play on the national team, with all the acclaim it would bring—would deter him from that duty. 5
He was called by a prophet of God to serve in the Western Canadian Mission. Forty-eight years ago this month, 19-year-old Elder Sidney Going left New Zealand to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Sid told me of an experience he had on his mission. It was evening, and he and his companion were just about to return to their apartment. They decided to visit one more family. The father let them in. Elder Going and his companion testified of the Savior. The family accepted a Book of Mormon. The father read all night. In the next week and a half he read the entire Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. A few weeks later the family was baptized. 6
A mission instead of a place on the New Zealand All Blacks team? Sid responded, "The blessing of [bringing others] into the gospel far outweighs anything [you] will ever sacrifice." 7
You're probably wondering what happened to Sid Going following his mission. Most important: an eternal marriage to his sweetheart, Colleen; five noble children; and a generation of grandchildren. He has lived his life trusting in his Father in Heaven, keeping the commandments, and serving others.
And rugby? After his mission Sid Going became one of the greatest halfbacks in All Blacks history, playing for 11 seasons and serving for many years as captain of the team. 8
How good was Sid Going? He was so good that training and game schedules were changed because he would not play on Sunday. 9 Sid was so good the Queen of England acknowledged his contribution to rugby. 10 He was so good a book was written about him titled Super Sid.
What if those honors had not come to Sid after his mission? One of the great miracles of missionary service in this Church is that Sid Going and thousands just like him have not asked, "What will I get from my mission?" but rather, "What can I give?"
Your mission will be a sacred opportunity to bring others to Christ and help prepare for the Second Coming of the Savior.
The Lord has long spoken of the necessary preparations for His Second Coming. To Enoch, He declared, "Righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, … and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth." 11 The prophet Daniel prophesied that in the latter days the gospel would roll forth unto the ends of the earth as a "stone [that is] cut out of [a] mountain without hands." 12 Nephi spoke of the latter-day Church as being few in number but spread upon all the face of the earth. 13 The Lord declared in this dispensation, "Ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect." 14 My young brethren, your mission is a great opportunity and responsibility, important to this promised gathering and linked to your eternal destiny.
From the early days of the Restoration, the Brethren have been very serious about their charge to declare the gospel. In 1837, only seven years after the organization of the Church, at a time of poverty and persecution, missionaries were sent to teach the gospel in England. Within the next few years, missionaries were preaching in such diverse places as Austria, French Polynesia, India, Jamaica, Chile, and China. 15
The Lord has blessed this work, and the Church is being established across the world. This meeting is being translated into 92 languages. We are grateful for the 52,225 full-time missionaries serving in more than 150 countries. 16 The sun never sets on righteous missionaries testifying of the Savior. Think of the spiritual power of 52,000 missionaries, endowed with the Spirit of the Lord, boldly declaring that there is "no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come … , only in and through the name of Christ." 17 We express appreciation to the tens of thousands of returned missionaries who have given and continue to give their very best. The world is being prepared for the Second Coming of the Savior in large measure because of the Lord's work through His missionaries.
Missionary service is a spiritual work. Worthiness and preparation are essential. President Monson has said: "Young men, I admonish you to prepare for service as a missionary. Keep yourselves clean and pure and worthy to represent the Lord." 18 In the years prior to your mission, please remember the sacred assignment ahead of you. Your actions before your mission will greatly influence the priesthood power you bring with you into the mission. Prepare yourself well.
President Monson spoke of "every worthy, able young man [preparing] to serve a mission." 19 On occasion, because of health or other reasons, one might not be able to serve. You will know your ability to serve as you speak with your parents and your bishop. Should this be your situation, please do not feel less important in the noble commission before you. The Lord is very generous to those who love Him, and He will open other doors for you.
Some may wonder if they are too old to serve. A friend of mine from China found the Church in Cambodia when he was in his mid-20s. He wondered if he should still consider a mission. After praying and speaking with his bishop, he was called and served nobly in New York City. Should your age concern you, pray and speak with your bishop. He will guide you.
Fifty percent of all missionaries serve in their own homeland. That is only right. The Lord has promised that "every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language." 20 You will be called by prophecy and serve where you are needed most.
I love meeting missionaries around the world. Recently while I was visiting the Australia Sydney Mission, do you know whom I found? Elder Sidney Going—the New Zealand rugby legend. Now age 67, he is once again a missionary, but this time with a companion of his own choosing: Sister Colleen Going. He told me of a family they were able to teach. The parents were members but had been less active in the Church for many, many years. Elder and Sister Going helped rekindle the family's faith. Elder Going told me of the power he felt while standing at the baptismal font next to the father of the family as the oldest son, now holding the priesthood, baptized his younger brother and sister. He expressed the joy of witnessing a united family pursuing eternal life together. 21
Speaking to you, the First Presidency has said:
"You are [a] choice [spirit] who [has] come forth in this day when the responsibilities and opportunities, as well as the temptations, are the greatest. …
"We pray for each of you … [that] you can do the great work that lies before you … that you will be worthy [and willing] to carry on the responsibilities of building the kingdom of God and preparing the world for the Second Coming of the Savior." 22
I love Harry Anderson's painting of the Second Coming of the Savior. It reminds me that He will come in majesty and power. Amazing events will unfold on the earth and in the skies. 23
Those awaiting the Savior's coming will "look for [Him]." And He has promised, "I will come"! The righteous will see Him "in the clouds of heaven [with all the holy angels], clothed with power and great glory." 24 "An angel shall sound his trump, and the saints … from the four quarters of the earth" 25 will "be caught up to meet him." 26 Those "that have slept," meaning those worthy Saints who have died, "shall [also] come forth to meet [Him]." 27
The scripture reads, "The Lord [will] set his foot upon [the] mount," 28 and "[He] shall utter his voice, and all the ends of the earth shall hear it." 29
My young brethren of the priesthood, I testify of the majesty, but most of all, of the certainty of this magnificent event. The Savior lives. He will return to the earth. And whether on this side of the veil or the other, you and I will rejoice in His coming and thank the Lord that He sent us to earth at this time to fulfill our sacred duty of helping prepare the world for His return. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Show References
1. Thomas S. Monson, "The Lord Needs Missionaries," Liahona and Ensign, Jan. 2011, 4.
2. Thomas S. Monson, "As We Meet Together Again," Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2010, 5–6.
4. See Bob Howitt, Super Sid: The Story of a Great All Black (1978), 27.
5. Phone conversation with President Maxwell Horsford, Kaikohe New Zealand Stake, Mar. 2011.
6. Phone conversation with Elder Sidney Going, Mar. 2011.
7. E-mail correspondence from Elder Sidney Going, Mar. 2011.
8. See stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=324.
9. Phone conversation with President Maxwell Horsford, Kaikohe New Zealand Stake, Mar. 2011.
10. Sid Going was awarded with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 1978 for his contributions to the sport of rugby (see Howitt, Super Sid, 265).
11. Moses 7:62.
12. Daniel 2:45.
13. See 1 Nephi 14:12–14.
14. Doctrine and Covenants 29:7.
15. See Deseret News 2011 Church Almanac (2011), 430, 458, 463, 487, 505, 512.
17. Mosiah 3:17.
18. Thomas S. Monson, Liahona and Ensign, Jan. 2011, 4.
19. Thomas S. Monson, Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2010, 5–6.
20. Doctrine and Covenants 90:11.
21. Phone conversation with Elder Sidney Going, Mar. 2011.
22. "Message from the First Presidency," For the Strength of Youth: Fulfilling Our Duty to God (booklet, 2001), 2–3.
23. See Doctrine and Covenants 43:18; 45:40.
24. Doctrine and Covenants 45:44.
25. Doctrine and Covenants 45:45, 46.
26. Doctrine and Covenants 88:96.
27. Doctrine and Covenants 45:45; see also Doctrine and Covenants 29:13; 88:96–97.
28. Doctrine and Covenants 45:48.
- Posted in: Second Coming


text:
After helping her with her apt (sorry, no pics) this client asked me to take a look at her showroom. While I loved just about everything she did, the front door lacked something. It wasn't bad, but you can see it from every angle of the space so I felt it needed a bit more punch. I suggested painting the door and framing it with pictures.
We settled on Farrow & Ball's Pink Ground, the perfect subtle pink. If you don't know Farrow & Ball they're a small company out of England who make superior paint and wall coverings. And since they only have 132 colors as opposed to the 10,000+ colors offered by other brands, it makes picking the perfect color easy.
We bought a ton of simple white frames and she picked some of her favorite images from books and magazines. My art installer and I pieced it all together, image by image... It took most of the afternoon but was worth it. . .


text:
Clarisonic Pedi Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head - US
- Filament blend for even coverage
- Exfoliates and buffs rough feet
- Use with Pedi and SMART Profile devices
This replacement brush head is a combination of short, rigid filament bristles and longer flexible bristles to thoroughly exfoliate and buff dry, cracked feet. The filament blend is designed to allow for optimal migration of the Pedi-Buff for more even coverage and thorough exfoliation. TIP: Try using the Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head dry for quick touch ups.
For use with the Pedi and SMART Profile Device ONLY – this brush head should not be used on our facial cleansing devices.
How to Use Your Clarisonic Pedi Sonic Foot Transformation System
Prior to the first use, charge the Clarisonic Pedi device for 24 hours.
- Review product directions on each of the Pedi formulations.
- Push the on/off button to turn on your Pedi device.
- Use the factory speed setting for optimal results.
- The Pedi device will automatically shut off after the cycle is complete.
NOTE: Keep the brush head/disc flush to the skin. Pressing too hard will impede the motion and reduce effectiveness.
- Do not operate Clarisonic facial brush heads on the Pedi Device.
- The Pedi System is to be used only on the feet and should not be used on the face or other areas of the body.
- Do not use the Pedi Device for any application other than its intended use on the feet.
Pedi Regimen
- Pedi-Buff treatment with Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head: Dispense a quarter-sized amount of Pedi-Buff to the soles of the feet, then use a moistened Pedi Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head to massage into skin for 2 minutes on each foot, concentrating on heels or other rough, dry areas.
- Pedi-Balm: Daily, apply a liberal amount to dry feet following Pedi-Buff or Pedi-Boost treatment.
- Smoothing Disc: On dry feet, use the Pedi Smoothing Disc on rough dry patches for 1 minute per area. Be sure to turn on device before applying disc to foot. Follow with the Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head.
- Pedi-Boost: Immediately following use of Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head, dispense a nickel-sized amount of the Pedi-Boost to each foot, gently smoothing over soles of the feet. Wait 3 to 5 minutes, then apply the Pedi-Balm.
NOTES: For optimal results, replace your Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head every 3 months and Smoothing Disc every 6 months. WET/DRY BUFFING BRUSH HEAD AND SMOOTHING DISC FOR USE WITH PEDI DEVICE ONLY. This brush head and disc should not be used on facial cleansing devices.
How to Replace Your Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head or Smoothing Disc
Once a week, remove the brush head or smoothing disc from the handle and rinse with warm soapy water to remove any residue. For best results, replace your brush head every 3 months and your smoothing disc every 6 months.
To remove the Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head or Smoothing Disc:
1) Grip the base of the brush head/disc firmly, then push and twist it counter-clockwise (like a medicine cap).
2) Pull the brush head/disc away from the handle.
To attach the Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head or Smoothing Disc:
- Push down and twist the head clockwise until it snaps into place.
Tip: Use the protective cap to easily remove and attach the Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head or Smoothing Disc with a simple twist. When not in use, protect and store your Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head or Smoothing Disc in its cap.
Note: These items will be shipped from UK office and will talke 30 days to be delivered.
|15 Inch
|Free Shipping
|Delivery in
|5 To 7 Working Days


text:
Science Invents a Way to Power Cars With Your Pee
Pages 1 2 3 NEXT
Science Invents a Way to Power Cars With Your Pee
A new cost-effective way to produce hydrogen from urine means that road-trip bathroom breaks and road-trip refueling could both someday be a thing of the past.
Imagine this: You're on a road trip with some buddies, when suddenly, it's time to answer nature's call - you have to go, bad, but there aren't any pit stops for miles. So you pull over to the side of the road, make sure there aren't any other cars coming, unzip and do your business - right in the gas tank. "Good timing," your friend says to you when you get back in the car, "The tank was starting to run low."
Is it kind of weird? Absolutely. Is it an impossibility? Far from it: In the ever-going race to find alternative energy sources, scientists at Ohio University have discovered a (relatively) easy way to produce hydrogen from plain ol' urine - the most abundant waste product on the planet.
The process revolves around a special catalyst, discovered by Ohio U's Gerardine Bottle, which uses electrolysis to break down the urea in urine into its composite parts. Unlike regular water, which has a mere two hydrogen atoms per molecule, urea has four - and they're less tightly bonded to the molecule than the two in water, making them easier to separate.
There's some science-y talk (as related on PhysOrg) about how it would be fairly cost-effective to get large-scale tests started, since the electrolysis involves the use of a new, inexpensive nickel-based electrode (no, not the Pokemon) - and similar electrolysers are already being used around the world for other purposes that don't involve turning pee into usable hydrogen. It goes a bit over my head, but hey, if it's a potentially inexpensive solution to the alternative energy problem, then that's a good thing, right?
It isn't like the human race isn't already busy producing millions of gallons of urine every day - might as well do something with it.
Wow...I am stunned...I love the idea of Hydrogen power and I will pee as many times as necessary for this to succeed.
((On a serious note...wow! Ohio U SMRT!))
Is this site about video games?
I think it would be great if one day when we find the aliens and exchanges of information take place they ask us, "This method of transportation you call a car; what does it run on?" our response will of course be "Oh those, they're piss powered. Watch I'll show you! *unzips pants*"
Ah science, isn't it a wonderful thing?
Yea, but techie talk is welcomed as well.
This leads me to ask, how does the power output of an H-cell compare to the electricity required to fill it?
This is a site about games, but more importantly it's about gamer culture. Which means, we on occasion write about things like comic books, movies, anime, scientific breakthroughs, etc - anything that gamers might find interesting or cool.
Writing our names in the snow or making lemon snow cones for our friends will no longer be time honoured traditions. I wonder how much beer you will need to drink to fill your tank?
Thanks, Escapist. You helped me finally win an argument against my dad.
Too bad hydrogen is rather shit when it comes to powering engines, compared to..You know..Gasoline?
I think it's safe to say that whoever came up with this is a real whiz.
Ba dump tish.
Are you trying to say there are people who don't find pee powered cars interesting?
How much do you get for $78?
An automotive device powered by liquid human waster product?
I swear I saw a comedy sketch about just such a thing recently...
Ah, but you're looking at it the wrong way. You won't run hydrogen through a fuel cell to produce electricity to harvest hydrogen from the urine. Even if it was somehow net effective in production, you wouldn't have a lot left over for running the motors. Or the through-put would exhaust both your tanks real quick, either or.
But, say you do what a lot of hybrids already do: run the motors as generators to supply braking force. Instead of charging a battery, get some hydrogen from the storage tank.
I do wonder how many miles could be added per fill-up with such a method. That, and what exactly you would do with all the ammonia and other contaminates in the urine.
EDIT: Also, while it is true that the power density of hydrogen is laughably low compared to gasoline (as is just about any power density...) there is research under way on methods to vastly increase storage capacity of hydrogen without using high-pressure tanks.
I'm rather interested in how many miles one would get for a gallon of piss, on an average car.
What is there to say but:
This is the most.... hopeful piece of news I've seen in awhile.
So.. the car has to break down the urea into it's components. Then uses the hydrogen to power the car, and has enough left over to break down more urea?
Here's the fun part.. hydrogen motors typically output water. We're getting dangerously close to a perpetual motion machine ala the Matrix.
I'm pretty sure the US has really cheap petrol prices... The UK is stupidly high, someone who drives will tell you ho much a litre.
(based on the ramblings of my Geography Teacher anyway)
Now there's something for all the Snipers in the world.
Teehee, see what I did thur?
Most likely, one processes the urine before goind right into the tank. Sorta like distilling ureum from raw sewage (or some service that collects urine?) and sending it to a processing plant and selling the hydrogen at gas stations, if we can find something the bloody stuff doesn't escape from.
I actually wasn't thinking of using the power from the cell to produce more fuel. My question was more, wouldn't it be more efficient to not produce the hydrogen, and just run the car electrically?
I had forgotten about recouping energy through regenerative braking, though.
Well, that kinda takes the piss.
Anyway it has good potential.
If only we could do something about the turds.
I'm not sure what to say here. It's clever, it re-uses human waste, and we probably won't have to smell it because of everything being self-contained.
However, my mind can't get over how this seems a bad idea on the grounds that it's YOUR PISS. The grease car, I understand. Peeing to make it go? I dunno...
A quick calculation gives a petrol price of US$9.21 a gallon here in the Netherlands at the moment. 1.70Euros a litre if someone want to check.
OT: "free" energy here we come, I'm pretty sure urea isn't about to run out any time soon.
That doesn't make much sense, what is $3.85? A gallon? Anyway, as a comparision, the tank of my car has 60 litres, that's about 15 gallons, we pay 1.55€/l atm, so that's 93€ = $130 resulting in $8.66 per gallon.
Well this news has to herald an all time low for gas station employees.
This is OLD AS HELL.
I saw this on tomorrows world like 8 years ago.
Well, sewer shit after passing through sewage station treatent can be used as manure (although, people prefer cow crap for some reason...) also it can produce methane.
Nowadays, almost only the science news are capable of producing hope in me. Keep them coming.
Considering he different shit that we eat and drink, I'm pretty sure pee is too inconsistent for this to be realistic. That, and the sheer quantity needed is far more than we produce... unless someone can prove me wrong with reliable statistics?
I've got a different question:
First off is, how will men fill this sucker up on those cold snowy frozen winter mornings?
Second, how are women going to fill this thing up in the first place? It's kind of a sexist car, isn't it?
Third, won't the exhaust smell? I don't want to ride around in a place that smells strongly of piss.
Fourth, what if you get a boner while your tallywhacker is in the pissing hole? Generally, that won't happen, but what if it becomes a common joke amongst women to find a fellow who's filling up and does something in front of him to get him hard?
yeah but we dont have an efficient method of creating more raw petroleum, so make do with what you have ya know? and we make piss tons of..... well piss daily, so im sure quantity can make up for quality until tech develops to allow hydrogen to be closer to gas's efficiency.
i think a stalin quote fits here nicely (no im not a communist, my european history teacher is, so i hear this shit). but back to the quote
I've been saying for years that we need to re-route the sewer systems and throw in a few catalysts then boom methane power for the city! yet my council rep never listens to me....
In all seriousness though why the hell not? this theory makes about as much sense as some others I've heard.
well, im sure the intake can be adjusted for these factors. and also, is the smell of burning gas that much better? not to mention the piss isnt directly used in the process, just its hydrogen, so im sure cars equipped for this would have a used piss collection tank, in addition to the gas tank. and ya just gotta dump it in a sewer or some shit when it fills
But dude... piss is free
|Pages 1 2 3 NEXT


text:
If you have a good competitive moveset for Gengar, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.
Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.
Gengar Pokédex and learnset for reference.
Gen V
Gengar (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
Will's Gengar is better, but this is also a useful set. Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb provide STAB. Thunderbolt and Giga Drain provide type coverage, while Giga Drain also heals. Gengar isn't the fastest thing around anymore, but it should outspeed the foe with Choice Scarf. Sweeper EVs.
GENGENGENGEN Gengar (M) @ Focus Sash
EVs: 128 HP / 128 Sp.Atk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
Put your opponent to sleep, trap them with mean look, give them nightmares, Confuse them/eat dat/attack dat, he mad yet?
Will's Gengar
Hypnosis-without this, its a waste
Dream Eater-Decent coverage. It provides healing also, makign Gengar bulkier than normal.
Giga Drain-coverage. It also provides healing.
Shadow Ball-STAB
Evs-252 SP ATT 252 Speed 4 HP
Item-Big Root
Gengar holding Choice Specs.
Timid Nature
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Sp.Atk / 252 Speed
Shadow Ball, Taking care of opposing Ghost and Psychic type Pokemon, Being STAB.
Focus Blast, If you didn't know, A Ghost move along with fighting provide at least neutral coverage on every Pokemon. Covers Steel, Rock, Dark, Ice and and Normal. The drawback is the shaky accuracy, Nevertheless, Better than Hidden Power Fighting.
Thunderbolt hitting super effective on Water types, Flying types.
Sludge Bomb is strong STAB. If you can manage to get Toxic Spikes support, Venoshock is even stronger.
Trick can ruin your opponent, A plus if Gengar gets something good.
Ability: Levitate
Item: Black Sludge
EV's: 252Sp.Atk/ 252Speed/ 4 Sp.def
Attacks: Shadow ball: STAB, deals with Psychic
Giga Drain: Just to get some life back
Sludge Bomb: STAB
Focus Blast: Coverage
Gengar (M) @ Wise Glasses
Role: Sweeper
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Okay, this is a basic Special Sweeper If I've Ever seen one.
HP Bug - Takes down Dark Types, Fighting is also reasonable.
Giga Drain - Gets Hp Back, and Takes out Rock Ground and Water, all basic Feared types to die agaisn't,
Shadow Ball is for STAB and With STAB it takes down 2 of his weaknesses
Thunderbolt - For coverage
Haunter @ Life Orb
Haunter (M) @ Eviolite
Role: Bulky Evoilite Sweeper
EVs: 200 Def / 56 SAtk / 200 SDef / 52 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
My Favorite Ghost type.
Hypnosis puts them to sleep, leaving you with a powered up Hex or a Dream Eater recovery. Sludge Wave is STAB. Nature and EVs make him slightly bulky. This guy is a beast in the NU Meta game.
Gengar (M) @ Life orb / Black Sludge / Wide Lens
Role: Rain Sweeper
EVs: 64 HP / 128 SAtk / 64 SDef / 252 Spd or 252 Sp Atk / 252 Spd / 4 Hp
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk) or Modest Nature (+SAtk, - Atk )
Well, here's a naturally beasty ghost, joining the rain squad.
While he has to compete with Jellicent, who has boosted STAB ( Much needed ) he gets Thunder instead of Thunderbolt and a new HP option, that packs a punch.
Hex is my choice of STAB, just because I love the move and it's general idea ( Thunder has a 30% chance to paralyze, so I can always take chances ) but Shadow Ball is a completely fair replacement if you don't like taking those kinds of chances.
HP Water is coverage, while you can sub this for something like Giga drain to break up Swamperts, Quagsires, and the devistating Gastrodon, murderer of all rain.
So that's always an option, it makes him a definite anti-water if you take onto that. You can also consider Black Sludge as an item if you pair him up with Giga Drain.
Focus Blast is your last move slot, Fighting + Ghost coverage is known for being pretty beastly, and that high powered coverage just gets me. I've experimented with Wide Lens with Thunder and Focus Blast, considering that some people can stop my weather, and that screws Gengar all up accuracy wise, but I preffer Life orb. Wide Lens still can work, if you aren't good @ weather wars :D While if you sub in Giga Drain for HP Water, HP Fighting can be fufilling.
Wow I can't believe no-one has done a set that involves the move trick.
Item: Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 Speed, 58 hp, 200 S.attack
Trick is an insanely annoying move in this case even if you dont get to use Trick it benefit Gengar,
but in this case Trick should only be used on Physical Pokemon obviously. Will-o-wisp can annoy Physical Pokemon even more by cutting their attack, while Hypnosis puts them to sleep and allows you to KO them easily. Shadow-ball is the STAB move. HP(Fighting) deals with Steel, Normal, and Dark types that would get in the way otherwise.
Sub Petaya Gengar
Sub Petaya Gengar is a new set I have been trying out, and it makes a great sweeper against slower teams, and even some faster ones. The idea is that Gengar already has great speed, so Substitute protects him from being revenge killed by things like Starmie and Priority moves, while also lowering his HP down to activate the Petaya Berry, raising his SAtk and making him extremely deadly.
@ Petaya Berry
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 12 HP / 244 Satk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]/Thunderbolt/Giga Drain/Pain Split
- Substitute*
Pretty straight forward, for the 3rd slot, Thunderbolt and Giga Drain would be for coverage, Giga Drain would be nice for getting you HP back but Thunderbolt hits a little harder, while Pain Split would be for the purpose of regaining HP and doubling as a Sub-Split Gengar.
Zatoichi Gengar
Nature: levitate
Item: Wide Lens
Pretty generic set. The wide lens boosts up the accuracy of thunder, focus blast, and hypnosis, making him a powerful, but still slightly risky sweeper. Then again, every sweeper is kind of risky.
Double/Triple battle
Gengar (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Icy Wind
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
Gengar is one of the most popular double/triple battle Pokemon due to it being a Ghost type with Levitate. It has taken a hit from the last generation with the weakening of Explosion though.
Icy Wind hits multiple foes and slows them down. Shadow ball is STAB. Thunderbolt and Focus Blast are coverage.
Gengar (M)
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EV: 4 HP/ 252 Sp. A/ 252 Speed
Sludge Wave
Shadow Ball
Confuse Ray
This is what I use. :D
Gengar - Black Sludge
EVs: 252 spatk, 252 spd, 4 HP
Nature: Timid
Ability: Levitate
Shadow Ball
Focus Blast
Destiny Bond
Shadow Ball is STAB, and Focus Blast is good coverage. Taunt stops foe's from setting up, and it stops most walls/stallers/clerics in their tracks. When you are certain you will be KO'd on the next move, and you can't KO the enemy first, you go down fighting with Destiny Bond. NOTE: This set is more of a suicide assassin, as you will likely be KO'd after taunting, which gives you a great oppurtunity to use Destiny Bond.
Two Gengars.
#1 Gengar @ Choice Specs
Role : Special Sweeper
Trait : Levitate
EVs : 252 SpAtk, 252 Spd, 4 SpDef
Modest Nature (+Atk,-SpAtk)
Shadow Ball (STAB)
Thunderbolt (Coverage)
Focus Blast (Strong move, Coverage)
Giga Drain (Restore HP)
#2 Gengar @ Focus Sash
Role : Annoyer
Trait : Levitate
EVs : 252 SpDef, 252 Def 4 SpAtk
Bold Nature (+Def,-Atk)
Hypnosis (Set up moves)
Mean Look (No Escape)
Perish Song (Ha you cant switch out)
Shadow Ball (for Taunt)
My Gengar is a put-that-Pokemon-to-sleep kind of Gengar, so I hope this helps for any of you who are looking for that:
Trained in: 255 speed and 255 special attack.
Ability: Levitate.
1. Hypnosis; A status move. Puts the Pokemon to sleep.
2. Nightmare; A special attack move. Inflicts a little damage every turn.
3. Dream Eater; A special attack move. Does damage, works well with Nightmare.
4. Shadow Ball; A special attack move. Why wouldn't Gengar have Shadow Ball, anyways?
I didn't choose an item for Gengar, mostly because I don't know what most items do. But I hope this helped out people! (Please keep in mind this is my first post.)
Lets try this:
Gengar (M) @ Razor Claw
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
IVs: 0 Def / 0 SpD
- Wonder Room
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
I think this set is really unique because of Wonder Room. First of all, its naive nature and 0 IVs in defense/ special defense gives Wonder Room the ability to make Chanseys, Clefables, Ferrothorns, or any other walls crumble while giving Gengar a lot of defense. Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb for STAB and Giga Drain for extra coverage. This moveset is probably best used against opponents with high defense/special defense, because if not, good luck with 0 IVs in defense/special defense.
Gengar @ Gengarite
Ability: Cursed Body (Good for disabling super effective attacks, until you Mega Evolve of course)
EVs: 6 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball (STAB and coverage for Ghost and Psychic Types)
- Sludge Bomb (STAB and coverage for Grass and Fairy)
- Psychic (Poison and Fighting coverage)
- Giga Drain (Ground, Rock, and Water coverage)
Gengar @ Focus Sash (to hit them twice or call back)
Trait: Levitate
Nature: Modest or Timid (+sp. attk or +speed -attk)
Evs: 252 speed 252 sp. attk 4sp. def.
-Shadow Ball (Stab)
-Will-o-wisp or Hypnosis (Take down or weaken their physical sweeper)
-Thunderbolt (coverage)
-Energy Ball (coverage)
Note: In a double battle Gengar rules. I use him with an explosive/earthquake lickilikki.


text:
How To Solve The Piracy Problem: Give Everyone A Basic Income For Doing Nothing
from the welcome-to-the-Star-Trek-economy dept
Here on Techdirt we often discuss economics in the absence of scarcity -- how the ability to make any number of digital copies for vanishingly small cost creates new business opportunities for creators. But could a kind of abundance exist in the physical world too? That's the question raised in a fascinating post on Salon about a vote that will take place in Switzerland:
By gathering over 100,000 signatures -- which they delivered last Friday along with 8 million 5-cent coins representing the country's population -- activists have secured a vote by Switzerland's parliament on an audacious proposal: providing a basic monthly income of about $2,800 U.S. dollars to each adult in the country.
As the article explains, that $2,800 is unconditional:
If you're rich you get it, if you're poor you get. If you're a good person you get it, if you're a bad person you get it. And it does not depend on you doing anything other than making whatever effort is involved to collect the money.
The rest of the post is a great discussion with John Schmitt, a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, who explores this idea from various angles. The whole thing is well-worth reading, but I think one section in particular will be of interest to Techdirt readers:
So if we were a very rich world, which I think we are to a certain degree, [universal basic income of the kind being discussed in Switzerland] would be a remarkable way to make sure that people could maximize their ability to express themselves but also maximize their ability to participate in the communities that they live in in a full way. Stay home and take care of kids if that's what you want to do. Take care of your parents when they're old and sick.
This feeds into discussions about how creators could live and thrive in a world where it was legal to share copies of their work. A society that provided them -- and everyone -- with a basic wage would not need to rehearse today's sterile arguments about piracy. Artists would have the option of living on the basic wage while they created, or of making more money by building on the fact that their work is freely available, as Techdirt has advocated. Some might dismiss this as a utopian dream, but as Schmitt points out, it's not:
People sometimes refer to this as a kind of "Star Trek" economy -- you just said, "Replicator, make me a ham sandwich." There wasn't any social conflict around production and consumption. And that, I think, is that kind of ideal in which this kind of a thing could play out. We are probably there in terms of the economics. We are very, very wealthy -- we could afford to do this. But we are not there in terms of the politics.
Follow me @glynmoody on Twitter or identi.ca, and on Google+
Filed Under: abundance, basic income, economics, switzerland


text:
American Society of Civil Engineers Report Confirms Long Overdue Need for Transportation Infrastructure Investment in Virginia
(Recieved from the office of Governor Bob McDonnell)
The American Society of Civil Engineers yesterday released its 2013 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, giving Virginia an overall rating of D+. The ASCE issues the Report Card every four years, evaluating among other things roads, bridges, ports and mass transit. The report found 47 percent of Virginia's roads to be of poor or mediocre quality, 1,250 of bridges structurally deficient, 2,421 bridges functionally obsolete and found that driving on roads in need of repair costs Virginia motorists $1.344 billion a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs. The report also praised Virginia's leading-edge I-81 in-place pavement recycling project, which cut the time of the pavement replacement project to seven months from the one to two years that traditional pavement construction would have taken, reducing the traffic disruption to motorists and saving millions of dollars.
Speaking about Virginia's transportation infrastructure needs, Governor Bob McDonnell said, "This report unfortunately confirms what motorists and commuters already know all too well. As a state government, we have not funded an adequate transportation infrastructure for our citizens. This study found that nearly half of our roads are of poor or mediocre quality, costing drivers an average of more than $250 per year in repairs, on top of the cost of congestion that in Northern Virginia is the worst in the nation. Virginians are already paying dearly for the three-decade failure of Richmond to sufficiently and properly fund transportation in the Commonwealth. Thankfully, the historic plan that passed this year in the General Assembly, with broad bipartisan support, directly addresses this pressing issue. It is the first major transportation funding bill to pass the General Assembly in 27 years and it will help rebuild our roads after decades of inaction. The bill will ensure Virginians can get where they need to go faster and safer. As Moody's recognized earlier this month in rating the plan 'credit positive,' it makes Virginia the first state to address stagnant gas tax collections resulting from higher fuel efficiency standards.
Over the past three years, we have cut spending, audited and reformed VDOT, authorized new bonds, used surpluses, issued new public-private partnerships for toll roads, created the Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Bank, and dedicated two-thirds of all undesignated surplus funds to transportation. We have used every tool provided by law to leverage scarce dollars. As this report recognizes, we have received national recognition for using pavement recycling methods that save significant time and construction costs. Yet those actions were not sufficient to meet the mobility, economic development, and quality of life needs of the people of Virginia. This plan puts us on track to build and maintain a modern, dynamic transportation infrastructure in Virginia for years to come. This report demonstrates that we literally could not afford to wait any longer to take long overdue action to fix roads and rail in the Commonwealth. This session we got results. I thank the Republican and Democratic legislators who came together to make this happen."
The additional transportation funding in the plan passed by the General Assembly will in the next six years fund the reconstruction or replacement of 74 deficient bridges, interstate reconstructive paving on I-64, I-264, I-95, I-295 and I-81, high-priority road improvement projects state-wide and unpaved road needs in 59 localities. The plan will also fund transit projects statewide, including Amtrak service to Roanoke, rail to Dulles and numerous other mass transit projects in Virginia's most congested regions.
A list of recommended highway, rail and transit projects included in the "Virginia's Road to the Future" plan is available at http://www.varoadtothefuture.virginia.gov/TheProjects.cfm
The 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers report card for Virginia is available at http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/a/#p/state-facts/virginia


text:
About Us
Shop by Brand
: All Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers
November 22, 2017
Toggle Navigation
Reach-in Refrigerators
Commercial Reach-in Freezers
Back Bar Refrigerators and Coolers
Refrigerated Sandwich and Pizza Prep Tables
Countertop Refrigerators
Refrigerated Deli Display Cases
Draft Beer Coolers
Refrigerated Merchandisers
Commercial Walk-in Coolers and Freezers from Fast Cooler
All Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers
Cooking Equipment
Gas Ranges
Pizza Ovens
Commercial Ovens
Combi Ovens
Commercial Restaurant Hotplates
Commercial Restaurant Griddles
Commercial Toasters
Restaurant Deep Fryers
Commercial Restaurant Charbroilers
Tilting Skillets and Kettles
Microwave Ovens
Salamander Broilers
Commercial Countertop Cooking Appliances
All Cooking Equipment
Food Prep
Slicers and Attachments
Commercial Food Processors
Bar and Food Blenders
Stick Immersion Blenders
Commercial Mixers
Professional Kitchen Prep Tables
Hand Held Food Prep
Dish Machines
Kitchen Sinks
Dish Tables, Carts and Shelves
Restaurant Underbar Sinks And Ice Bins
Used Equipment
Used Cooking Equipment
New Shipment Used Restaurant Equipment
Scratch and Dent Specials
Map to Our Store
Shop by Brand
All Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers
Reach-In Refrigerators
Reach-In Freezers
Counter Refrigerators
Counter Freezers
Split Door Refrigerators
Split Door Freezers
Sandwich Prep Tables
Pizza Prep Tables
Backbar Coolers
Draft Beer Coolers
Deli Display Cases
Walk-In Coolers
Great Deals - Today!
Star-Max Charbroiler (QUICKSHIP) 36" - 6136RCBF
Call for Pricing
Holman Miniveyor Conveyor Oven 36-3/8" - 214HXA
Call for Pricing
Star-Max Heavy Duty Griddle (QUICKSHIP) 36" - 636MF
Call for Pricing
Wells Charbroiler 24" wide - HDCB-2430G
Call for Pricing
Wells Fryer 14 lb. fat cap. - F-14
Call for Pricing
Toastmaster Griddle counter top natural gas 36" x 27-13/16" x 5/8" thick steel plates - #TMGM36
Call for Pricing


text:
Los Angeles Versus Houston PreviewWestern Conference Second Round
#1 L.A. Lakers (65-17) vs. #5 Houston (53-29)
Season series: L.A. Lakers, 4-0
Houston can win if…the defensive duo of Shane Battier/Ron Artest harass Kobe Bryant into sub.-.450 field goal shooting and Yao Ming and Luis Scola dominate Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum.
L.A. will win because…Bryant will accept the challenge of contending with Battier and Artest but he will do so within the context of his team's needs, scoring when he has the opportunity to do so but also creating plays for his teammates with his passing. Gasol will present a matchup problem for whoever guards him but it will be difficult for Houston to effectively double team Gasol when Bryant is on the court with him. Bynum was very ineffective in the first round but it is reasonable to expect that he will perform better versus Houston; it may sound strange to say this, but Bynum will probably be more comfortable playing against Yao than he was playing against the smaller, more mobile Utah frontcourt players, even though Yao is a better player than any of Utah's bigs.
Other things to consider: This series will be an interesting litmus test for the theory that Houston can use "advanced basketball statistics" to come up with an effective game plan to slow down Bryant; the evidence from this season emphatically suggests that this is not the case: the Lakers won all four games as Bryant averaged 28.3 ppg while shooting .530 from the field and .533 from three point range. Bryant scored 31 of his 37 points in the second half in a Lakers 102-96 win on March 11, completely abusing Ron Artest and openly laughing at Artest's attempts to trash talk him, at one point saying derisively, "You're a comedian" after Artest bragged that he could shut Bryant down. Winning in the postseason requires mental toughness and concentration; while Artest has the necessary physical tools to try to challenge Bryant, Artest's mental game is sporadic at best: he loses focus at both ends of the court, which is the main reason that his career playoff field goal percentage is a paltry .389 despite his obvious athletic gifts. This is just the second time in Artest's 10 year career that he has made it past the first round of the playoffs.
Odom played consistently well in the first round but that most likely means that he is due to have a five point, two rebound disappearing act soon. You will probably hear a lot about the Lakers' supposedly superior depth. Even if Bynum plays well--which I expect him to do but this is far from certain--the Lakers' current rotation is hardly deep: based on minutes played versus the Jazz, their sixth man is Shannon Brown. While Brown played well in that series, the Lakers got very little production out of players seven through 11--and Luke Walton may be out for the rest of the postseason. The Rockets used a solid eight man rotation in their first round series versus Portland, though Kyle Lowery did not shoot very well. The Lakers' advantage in this series is not depth but rather that they have Kobe Bryant (and home court advantage).
The Lakers should win this series in five games but because of their concentration lapses, lack of depth and sporadic attention to detail on defense it would not surprise me if the Rockets steal a game--perhaps coming back from a double digit deficit--and extend the series to six games.
Labels: Houston Rockets, Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Shane Battier, Yao Ming
posted by David Friedman @ 6:47 PM


text:
Check out what could be the most detailed map ever made of the lands in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. Covering about 25,000 square miles of Westeros and the lands to the East, this work has over 250 locations, lakes, rivers, towers — and of course The Wall. Behold the splendor!
This is the work of Etsy artist Ron Guyatt , and here's the run down on what you can find on this large GOT poster map.
Which is referenced from over 20 pre-existing maps. This map includes over 250+ locations
Labeled on the map are: Seas, Bay's, Islands, Regions, Lakes, Rivers, Ruins, Settlements, Cities, Mountains, Forests, Roads, Towers, The Wall ... etc.
To my knowledge this is the most complete map ever made from the series as most preexisting maps only have main points of interest or focused on a specific region. To my knowlege the map covers an area over 25,000 Square Miles
It's really quite impressive. Guyatt also has a gorgeous map of Jurassic Park's Isla Nubar which we included here, along with a few close up shots of the Westeros and Essos map.


text:
Children's Fiction Books
Jeremy Strong
The Hundred-Mile An-Hour Doghttps://www.theworks.co.uk/p/children-s-stories/the-hundred-mile-an-hour-dog/9780141322346
- RRP:£5.99 Save:£2.99
- £3.00
Looking for Children's Fiction online? There is no better place to shop for cheap children's fiction books than The Works. Browse our best children's fiction and find something to suit aany reading age!
Refine your search for children's fiction using the refine by filter, and browse by price and bestselling.
Animal Stories - You'll find a great range of animal books, including picture books and fiction books. Many of the books are ideal for reading to younger children as they offer large colourful pictures and activities.
Adventure Stories - Find great value fiction books packed with adventure stories that will keep children entertained for hours!