text: OXO Good Grips 4-Piece Mini Measuring Beaker Set For Alton Brown types who see the kitchen as their personal chem lab, these nested measuring cups are designed to pour very, very small amounts of liquid—like 0.75 ounces of food coloring—that you really don't want to spill. $10 | OXO Good Grips 4-Piece Mini Measuring Beaker SetWorx SD SemiAutomatic Driver In its quest to keep your most-used bits easily accessible, this lithium-ion-powered driver seems to have borrowed its design from Smith & Wesson: It features a six-shooter-like chamber that makes swapping tips as simple as a round of Russian roulette. $50 | Worx SD SemiAutomatic DriverVitamix Professional Series 750 Since the late 1930s, Vitamix has been producing culinary contraptions that hold up to everyday punishment. This professional model should last long enough for my grandkids (or their robotic cooks) to use it for whippin', choppin', and purèein'. You're welcome, descendants. $689 | Vitamix Professional Series 750Obsessive-Chef Cutting Board For those with an inner German design director, this 9 x 12-inch board's grid shows you where to bring down the blade for a medium or small dice, a julienne, and even a fine julienne (for the truly OCD chef). Wash it as many times as you want—we won't tell. $25 | Obsessive-Chef Cutting BoardCirca50: Standard Litter Hideaway Clara Belle's sleek feline frame goes well with our mid-century furniture, but her litter box? Not so much. Enter the Modernist Cat Circa50, which solves this feng shui challenge with style. Belle's toilette tucks neatly behind the walnut-veneered doors, and a side portal allows her easy access to her private powder room. $599 | Modernist Cat Circa50: Standard Litter HideawayAmScope 40x - 2000x Biological Compound Microscope I am obsessed with most things that end in "scope." Dreams of finding a miniaturized Raquel Welch swimming in a teardrop aside, I've wanted a microscope since I was eight. This one, which can take photos of what you're examining, is like me—geeky and artistic. Now my archive of household fungi can be captured in all its fractal glory! $554 | AmScope 40x - 2000x Biological Compound MicroscopeCraftsman Bottle Opener Celebrate the completion of your latest project by cracking a cold one using a utensil with a classic tool handle. $8 | Craftsman Bottle OpeneriRobot Looj Robots dare to go where you don't want to—bomb sites, outer space, the roof. Drop the Looj into a gutter, switch it on with the remote, and it'll eject leaves and other gunk with an auger spinning at 500 rpm. Add an automated toilet plunger and home maintenance will start to feel downright Jetsonian. $300 | iRobot LoojFlat Life Light The meta gift of the year: a picture of a lamp that actually lights up. Designer Finn Magee's trompe l'oeil is printed on plastic, embedded with electronics, and equipped with a cord and switch. Magee's Flat Life series also includes a digital clock and an audio speaker. $150 | Flat Life LightCraftsman Figure Eight Wrench Because this hydra-headed wrench can handle fasteners in eight sizes, you can jump between jobs without making a toolbox pit stop. $25 | Craftsman Figure Eight WrenchOXO Good Grips No-Spill Ice Cube Tray It stands on its side. No kidding. Fill it with water, lay the silicone lid flat to remove excess liquid, then slide it in vertically between the Ben & Jerry's and frozen peas in your overstuffed, apocalypse-ready icebox. Bonus: no more cubes that smell like last week's leftovers. $10 | OXO Good Grips No-Spill Ice Cube TrayHaptic Lab's Great Lakes Quilt This may be the softest use of OpenStreetMap's GIS data on record. Even those who have no connection to the Midwest will appreciate its hand-stitched artistry. Hang it on your wall or wait out the winter snuggled under it. Haptic's all-white take on New York City is cool too. $219 | Haptic Lab's Great Lakes Quilt


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Last year's tracklist featured Kompakt mainstays like Axel Wilner and Superpitcher; this time the old guard is represented by Jörg Burger under his Triola alias and Copenhagen's Mikkel Metal. Burger appears again later with Matias Aguayo as Terrapin (their new studio collaboration) to cover Pink Floyd's "Cirrus Minor," with Aguayo delivering Dave Gilmour's lyrics in a suitably pastoral fashion. Lifted from the recent Mantasy LP, Michael Mayer's "Sully" is converted into a wash of ethereal drone by Kompakt co-founder Wolfgang Voigt, who (unsurprisingly) appears again near the end of the collection with the seventh segment of his ongoing Rueckverzauberung project. Elsewhere, the Buenos Aires-based Leandro Fresco returns to the series after an 11-year hiatus with two typically otherworldly compositions.
Despite ambient music undergoing a vibrant boom over the past few years, Kompakt has held resolutely firm at the more classic end of the genre's spectrum. Perhaps owing to this increased competition and a few comparatively flatter volumes in recent years, Pop Ambient has seen something of a drop in profile. As for this latest collection, it may not offer anything unique as far as style goes, but in terms of substance it feels like the strongest addition to the series since 2007.
Published /
Tue / 22 Jan 2013
Words /
James Lawrence
Tracklist /
01. Leandro Fresco - Cuando El Sol Grita La Manaña
02. Michael Mayer - Sully (Wolfgang Voigt Mix)
03. Jens-Uwe Beyer - Deutz Air 2
04. Triola - Jean Vigo
05. Marsen Jules - Point of No Return
06. Mikkel Metal - Recombination
07. Anton Kubikov - Ambianopolis
08. Wolfgang Voigt - Rückverzauberung 7
09. Leandro Fresco - El Cruce Imposible
10. Terrapin - Cirrus Minor

subset: commoncrawl


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Italy was a country situated on a peninsula in the Mediterranean region of southern Europe on Earth, home of the Italian people. Italy's national flag was three vertical bands of green, white, and red. (TNG: "The Last Outpost", ENT: "First Flight")
Geography Edit
Cities Edit
- Florence (VOY: "Concerning Flight")
- Genoa (VOY: "Concerning Flight")
- Mantua (VOY: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy")
- Milan (TNG: "Time's Arrow, Part II")
- Pisa (DIS: "Brother")
- Rome (ENT: "Babel One"; TOS: "Bread and Circuses"; TNG: "Justice"; DS9: "Let He Who Is Without Sin...", "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges")
- Siena (VOY: "Scientific Method")
- Venice (DS9: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"; VOY: "Prime Factors")
Hydrography Edit
Oceans and seas : Mediterranean Sea, ...
Lakes : Lake Como, ...
Other Edit
- Alps, a great mountain system (DS9: "Past Tense, Part I")
- Sicily, the larger island in the Mediterranean Sea (VOY: "Concerning Flight")
- Tuscany, an Italian region (VOY: "Scientific Method")
- Vulcan, a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea (VOY: "Concerning Flight")
History Edit
Italy's largest city, Rome was the birthplace and dominant capital city of the Roman Empire in early Earth history. (TOS: "Bread and Circuses")
During the Renaissance, Italy was home to many of Earth's greatest thinkers and artists, including Galileo Galilei and Leonardo da Vinci.
In 2143, the Ariane 1 assignment patch, which was on display in the 602 Club, bore the flag of ESA member Italy. (ENT: "First Flight")
In 2143, while orbiting Earth in the NX-Alpha, waiting for a glitch in the propulsion system to be cleared up at Starfleet Mission Control, A.G. Robinson noted that he saw Italy pass, several times. (ENT: "First Flight")
Geordi La Forge and Leah Brahms shared a passion for Italian food. Doctor Brahms was well known for her fungilli. (TNG: "Booby Trap")
During the 2370s, Captain Kathryn Janeway often worked in holodeck programs set in Italy, usually working with a representation of Leonardo da Vinci. (VOY: "Concerning Flight")


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Get DVD Talk Feeds
The kings of the '50s Western were Anthony Mann and Budd Boetticher. Mann's productions got bigger until he graduated to the epic (El Cid); Boetticher stayed with small stories. Sneaking in among them was Delmer Daves, who had started as a Warners' contractee in the '40s, writing and directing wartime tearjerkers (The Very Thought of You) and action films (Destination Tokyo). In the early 50's he turned to color Westerns like the interesting Drum Beat and The Last Wagon, and eventually struck gold (or fizzled out) doing glossy Peyton Place imitations like A Summer Place, Parrish
and the popular but horrendous Spencer's Mountain. Before the big fizzle he gave us this efficient piece followed by his best Western, The Hanging Tree. The critics never showed much interest in Daves; Andrew Sarris had little to say about him except that his frequent crane shots were 'debasing.'
You know you're in a '50s Western when you hear Frankie Laine, and 3:10 to Yuma has a title song that may make you smile with thoughts of Blazing Saddles. But from then on the show becomes a tense thriller that just happens to take place in a Western setting. It's a battle of wills between prisoner Glenn Ford, who's determined to escape, and Van Heflin, who's equally committed to making sure he delivers his man to prison.
There's nothing grand in 3:10 to Yuma, no celebration of genre values. Halstead Welles' script, from a story by crime favorite Elmore Leonard (Get Shorty) is down to earth; everyone in the picture has a job and a particularized point of view, even the outlaws. Dan Evans is just a farmer with problems. He does the prisoner escort job mostly out of stubborness, as opposed to any conscious adherance to a greater truth. His wife (nicely played by Leora Dana of Some Came Running and Tora! Tora! Tora!), purposely made up to be plain-looking, is no whiner like Grace Kelly in High Noon. They're just trying to hold on to their hardscrabble farm in a drought, which makes Dan highly susceptible to Ben's offer of a bribe to let him go. One nice twist of genre conventions is Stage Line owner Mr. Butterfield, a businessman both
principled and honorable. He's played by stock baddie Robert Emhardt against type, as is the town drunk played by the familiar Henry Jones, who also specialized in craven characters. 3:10 to Yuma doesn't isolate its hero by surrounding him with worthless help, or saddle him with a sanctimonious code to uphold.
Of special mention is Felicia Farr (Kiss Me Stupid, Charley Varrick), who has a
quiet one-reel romance with Ford that's excellently conveyed. Delmer Dave's films are known for a lot of authorly dialogue, but much of this winner is carried by looks and attitudes and moments of silence. The understated sparks between the two inform Ford's character, and help motivate his later actions in a satisfying way.
With its finely-judged B&W photography, 3:10 to Yuma has excellent atmosphere. It never seems like a small picture, and the Arizona Western town setting familiar from Howard Hawks and Budd Boetticher pictures never looked better. There's a constant feeling of confrontation and far less gunplay than the countless boring oaters that were being made at the time; this one stands out.
Sony presents genre favorite 3:10 to Yuma in both flat and 16:9 widescreen versions, with an anamorphic picture that looks as good as Columbia's studio print. The modest production is far handsomer
than classics like John Ford's mostly ugly The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. The audio, with that melancholy Frankie Laine tune, is as clear as a bell. There's no 3:10 trailer included, but instead one for Mackenna's Gold and a promo for Silverado.
On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor,
3:10 to Yuma rates:
Movie: Excellent
Video: Excellent
Sound: Excellent
Supplements: none
Packaging: Amaray case
Reviewed: March 24, 2002


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I finally got sound to work reliably. Here is what did NOT work:
- "touch .asoundrc" in the home directory
- remove and reinstall non-free flash and the installer
- ensuring the PCM channel was unmuted and not turned down
I did have to make sure that the correct sound card was selected (I have two). This made a difference for system-wide purposes, but as far as flash went, sites like YouTube were mute.
I finally found a site that gave instructions to install a pulse audio management tool – padevchooser. I don't remember which site, because I must have trolled dozens, but this solution worked every time (I had to do this once for each user, as each user).
Opening a terminal and running padevchooser opened up the app in the system tray. Left clicking it brought up the context menu. Selecting Volume Control, and the Output Devices tab, I was able to ensure that the correct card was the default. On the Playback tab, I was able to move the stream to the correct card. For some reason, they all seemed to default on the other unused card, which is integrated into the motherboard.
Once I did these things, Flash audio was just fine.
Filed under: Desktops, Hardware, KDE, Kubuntu, Tips… | Tagged: 64-bit, Adobe, Flash, non-free, padevchooser, plugin, Pulse, restri, restricted, sound, YouTube |


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JMU earns more praise for green efforts
JMU's commitment to environmental stewardship continues to earn nationwide recognition. The university recently received two accolades for its efforts to make the campus more environmentally conscious.
JMU is included in "The Princeton Review's Guide to 332 Green Colleges: 2014 Edition." The comprehensive guidebook is a resource for college applicants and focuses solely on acknowledging colleges that have demonstrated a strong commitment to the environment and sustainability.
The guide lists schools based on "Green Rating" scores, which are calculated using data from a survey given annually to hundreds of school administrators concerning their school's environmental and sustainability-related policies, practices and academic offerings. JMU was recognized for its sustainability-themed bachelor's degree in engineering, multiple environmental minors, the farmer's market on campus and the transformation of the campus transportation system, among numerous other factors.
JMU also received a silver level Governor's Environmental Excellence Award on April 8 at the 2014 Environment Virginia Symposium for the East Campus Hillside Naturalization Project. The awards recognize the significant contributions of environmental and conservation leaders in two categories: sustainability and land conservation.
Formerly a manicured lawn, the East Campus hillside is now an span of natural vegetation that has reduced maintenance costs and the use of chemicals that can seep into groundwater. Faculty, students and community members designed the hillside and it serves as an educational landscape that models both naturalized and environmental beauty.
JMU has been included in three past Princeton Review green guides and has previously received three governor's awards – one gold, one bronze and one honorable mention.
# # #
May 1, 2014


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Our extensive program of free, live webinars let you participate from the comfort of your home or office.
Can't attend a live webinar? All of our webinars are available as recordings for your convenience.
The Mechanics of a Short Sale is a tutorial that is designed to show you the inner workings of how a Short Sale works.
Running Time: 2 mins
The Technical Analysis Tour explains the important role of the chart analyst and how technical and fundamental analyses differ. In this introductory tour, you will learn how to identify areas of support and resistance on a chart, the role of different time frames, and how to interpret basic trend formation.
Running Time: 24 mins
The Mechanics of an Overseas Stock Transaction Tour describes the choices facing investors wishing to invest in stocks denominated in currencies other than their base domestic currency. This tour attempts to explain these alternative approaches and also shows the impact of exchange rate risk on transactions that can be made overseas.
Running Time: 17 mins
The Options Pricing 101 course is designed to familiarize traders with the variables in options pricing models.
Running Time: 9 mins
I have read the User Agreement and wish to watch the tutorial.
The Options Greeks 102 course is designed to familiarize traders with a set of Greek risk factors used to monitor a portfolio's profile.
Running Time: 6 mins
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The Options Strategies 103 course is designed to show how options work as a tool for hedging positions and how they can be used for speculative purposes.
Running Time: 13 mins
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The Forex Markets 101 Tour is designed to help investors recognize the nature and needs of participants in the currency market along with how various foreign currency instruments have been developed to create the largest traded market around the globe.
Running Time: 14 mins
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A high-level overview of the Trader Workstation (TWS) feature set, focusing primarily on the Mosaic workspace.
Running Time: 13 mins
Introduces you to the basics of IBKR margin accounts. Learn when and how IBKR calculates margin and how to use the Real-Time Monitoring features in Trader Workstation to manage your trading risk.
Running Time: 24 mins
Tax Optimizer allows customers to match specific lots on a daily basis, but it doesn't stop there. It also provides seven lot matching methodologies and lets customers run real-time "what if" scenarios to see the impact of each method on capital gains and losses.
Running Time: 23 mins
Have the complete schedule of trading holidays and expiration dates for all asset types on all exchanges around the globe at your fingertips - with IBKR's 2015 International Trading Calendar. Elect to view holidays and expiration dates in Monthly view or List view. Tap a date in Monthly view to see that day's complete listing of holidays and expirations. See only what interests you in the List view, which comprises a comprehensive catalog of expandable/collapsible list items that make it easy to find just what you need.
The Options Pricing Calculator is a free App that allows users to price options using a "what-if" type analysis. The calculator allows users to input the underlying price of a security, the striking price of an options, the number of days to expiration and other necessary inputs. The output displays not only the theoretical price for both calls and puts using those assumptions, but also the array of associated Greek values for each side of the equation. Use the calculator to make changes to any of the input fields to learn the impact on the price of an option.
The Options Strategies Widget allows investors to view the profit-and-loss profiles of an array of option combinations that might help in their understanding of option and stock trading. The Widget is a free downloadable tool and can be used by investors wishing to understand better how to use options and options combinations to speculate on an underlying security or to hedge against an adverse movement in a security they currently own. The user can select from a series of drop down menus to isolate bullish or bearish movements in the price of an underlying security or could select a strategy that would perhaps benefit under a period of either rising or falling market or security specific volatility.
The Probability LabSM offers a practical way to think about options without the complicated mathematics. Use the Probability Lab to analyze the market's probability distribution, which shows what the market believes are the chances that certain outcomes will occur. Adjust based on your own forecast.
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text:
About Us
The Disasters Roundtable (DR), a unit of the Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS), facilitates and enhances the exchange of ideas among scientists, practitioners, and policy makers concerned with urgent and important issues related to natural, technological, and other disasters. Roundtable workshops are held three times a year in Washington, D.C. focused on a specific topic or issue selected by the Disasters Roundtable Steering Committee.
At the workshops, experts in the hazard and disaster field offer insight through presentations and discussion. The presentations and the dialogue that occur between invited speakers and attendees are documented in a written summary. Past workshops have furthered additional discussion on hazard science policy topics and provided insight on the nation's future research and applications needs.


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No products
Prices are tax included
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The small Mixed Forest is perfect in combination with our building blocks. Perfect to combine with: Mushrooms 10585/10586, Houses 10175/10176, Geo-Blocks 10100, Small Bobbins 10316, 7 Friends 10580. 7 pieces in shades of green. Materials: maple wood, non-toxic water based color stain. Size: H = 7-11cm, Durchmesser = 3-4,5cm.
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Grimms Mixed Forest
The small Mixed Forest is perfect in combination with our building blocks. Perfect to combine with: Mushrooms 10585/10586, Houses 10175/10176, Geo-Blocks 10100, Small Bobbins 10316, 7 Friends 10580. 7 pieces in shades of green. Materials: maple wood, non-toxic water based color stain. Size: H = 7-11cm, Durchmesser = 3-4,5cm.
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Information on natural woodDownload (259.1k)
|Age Suitability
|12 months +
We love wood because it is a natural material so it always has various markings that show up in our products, making each one unique.
Grimm's toys are always one a kind, carrying unique marks made by nature. Wood grain has changing structures and colours which serve as proof of its
natural origins. The unique variations are proof of quality, not defects. Discover the markings that make your Grimm's toy Simply Unique!
The Special Charisma
Wood is expressive, refined through the signs of time: it is so robust that it accompanies us a long time.
Wood is aesthetically beautiful: it tells the story of nature and life.
When its journey through the generations comes to an end, it is able to be recycled back into nature.
The Sound
Wood has a warm and vivid sound. Instruments made of wood showcase its full sound spectrum.
The Smell
Through the smell of wood, we feel its originality, clarity and sincerity.
The Taste
Do you remember how wood tastes?
We do not need additives for wood, therefore it is ideal for teething rings, rattles and grasping toys for our small children. Its surface binds humidity because it is open and rough. On this dry surface bacteria cannot grow – they die. In addition, some types of wood have special properties which have germicidal effects.
The Feel
Wood feels good in our hands with its warmth and distinct surface.
To enhance the vibrant expression of wood, we only varnish our wood with color and oil.
Grimm's FAQ:
What is the finish or coating on the blocks? An outstanding and unique characteristic of all our building blocks is the velvety surface which arises because we use colour glaze that penetrates into the wood, leaving a matte finish rather than a glossy one. The individual pieces are dipped by hand into the stain and we intentionally do not put a final protective coating on it to preserve the positive characteristics of the wood. Our way of making blocks guarantees that they stack more easily with greater play possibilities. Children feel and experience the wood fibres and structure while playing.
1. It may sporadically happen with new products that initially some excess colour pigments will get released which results in colour transfer. We recommend wiping the transferred surface with a wet, lint-free cloth to remove colour pigments.
2. Our colours are non-toxic, water based stains that are absolutely harmless and tested in-depth for colour fastness in contact with saliva. This test uses a liquid comparable to standard human saliva. However, some people's saliva do vary from the "standard", so some colour may transfer under those conditions, but the stains are harmless.
Please know that you are holding a natural product in your hands which was enriched with loving care in manual work and colour technique. To enjoy playing with the blocks for a long time to come, please review our care label.
Should I be concerned when my child is mouthing one of your products?
All colours and oils we use are certified in accordance with the EN 71 and CPSIA/ASTM 963 standards.
They are therefore recommended for use on children's toys and harmless to the health of your child or baby.
Why does my new product have a strong smell?
We oil our nature wood products with a mix of different nature oils. The stronger smell is typical for natural linseed oil which is completely harmless, and it will decrease over time. For care simply use soapy water with a damp cloth for cleaning. Dry immediately. Please do not submerge in water and do not use disinfectant or hot water.
How can I wash the dolls?
Please clean by hand washing only. Please be gentle and careful when washing the face. The colours of the face are water-resistant, but they can fade.


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An international team of astronomers has discovered that one of the closest and most Sun-like stars may host five planets, including one in the star"s habitable zone.
At a distance of 12 light years from Earth and visible to the naked eye in the evening sky, Tau Ceti is the closest single star that has the same spectral classification as the sun. Its five planets are estimated to have masses between two and six times the mass of the Earth, making it the lowest-mass planetary system yet detected, researchers announced Wednesday.
One of the planets lies in the habitable zone of the star and has a mass around five times that of Earth, making it the smallest planet found to be orbiting in the habitable zone of any Sun-like star.
The astronomers combined more than 6,000 observations from three different instruments and intensively modeled the data. Using new techniques, the team has found a method to detect signals half the size previously thought possible.
The team presented its findings in a paper for Astronomy & Astrophysics.
"This discovery is in keeping with our emerging view that virtually every star has planets, and that the galaxy must have many such potentially habitable Earth-sized planets," said co-author Steve Vogt, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz. "We are now beginning to understand that nature seems to overwhelmingly prefer systems that have multiple planets with orbits of less than 100 days. This is quite unlike our own solar system, where there is nothing with an orbit inside that of Mercury.
"So our solar system is, in some sense, a bit of a freak and not the most typical kind of system that Nature cooks up."


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Downing of military plane raises tensions in Ukraine
NOVOHANNIVKA, Ukraine — Pro-Russia separatists shot down a Ukrainian military transport plane Saturday, killing all 49 crew and troops aboard in a bloody escalation of the conflict in the country's restive east.
It was a bitter setback for the Ukrainian forces — the deadliest single incident yet in their battle against an armed insurgency that the government, backed by the U.S., says is supported by Russia. It also came only a week after the new president, billionaire candy magnate Petro Poroshenko, spoke about a peace plan in his inaugural address.
Poroshenko called an emergency meeting of Ukraine's national security council and declared Sunday a day of national mourning.
Afterward, the president scolded the head of the country's SBU security service, referring to "omissions" in measures to protect military aircraft from attack. He called for "a detailed analysis of the reasons" and hinted that personnel changes were imminent.
In the southern port of Mariupol, five border guards were killed and seven wounded Saturday when their column of vehicles was ambushed, the guards service said.
The U.S. government reiterated its support for Poroshenko's government and rejected Russia's statements that it was not arming the rebels. The U.S. said Russia had sent tanks and rocket launchers to the rebels, making sure the unmarked tanks were of a type not currently being used by Russian forces.
"We condemn the shooting down of the Ukrainian military plane and continue to be deeply concerned about the situation in eastern Ukraine, including by the fact that militant and separatist groups have received heavy weapons from Russia, including tanks, which is a significant escalation," said White House spokeswoman Laura Lucas Magnuson.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande called Russian President Vladimir Putin to express their "dismay" over the downing of the plane and said the incident makes clear how urgent a cease-fire is, German government spokesman Georg Streiter said in a statement.
Merkel stressed that, for a cease-fire to last, Russia must effectively control its border with Ukraine to stem the flow of weapons and fighters, and the Russian government must also exert its influence on pro-Russia rebels.
Analysts said the downing of the plane could bring a renewed emphasis on increasing sanctions against Russia.
The incident "will refocus attention on the fact that Russia does not seem to be doing very much to moderate the insurgency (or) the cross-border resupply of separatists," said Timothy Ash, an analyst at Standard Bank PLC. "Comments from U.S. officials are now quite specific, and I would expect the focus to return to sanctions next week."
Nine crew and 40 troops were aboard the Il-76 troop transport when it went down early Saturday as it approached the airport at Luhansk, the Ukrainian prosecutor general's office said. Defence Ministry spokesman Bohdan Senyk said the rebels used anti-aircraft guns and a heavy machine-gun to down the plane, while the prosecutor general's office said rebels used an anti-aircraft missile.
Luhansk, a city near the border with Russia, is one of two eastern areas where separatists have seized government buildings and declared independence.
Ukrainian forces still control the Luhansk airport.
The plane's tail section lay with other pieces of scorched wreckage in a field near the village of Novohannivka, 20 kilometres south of Luhansk. An AP reporter saw a dozen or more armed separatists inspecting the crash site.
The death toll Saturday exceeded the 46 who died after a fire and shootings in Odesa on May 2. At least 40 people also died in fighting at Donetsk airport in late May and a rebel spokesman said the toll on his side that day may have been as high as 100.
The Kyiv government has accused Russia of permitting three tanks to cross the border this week into eastern Ukraine, where they were used by rebels. Russia denies supplying the separatists and says Russians fighting in Ukraine are volunteers.
Moscow did not respond to the tank reports but instead accused the Ukrainian military of violating the border several times, including when a Ukrainian armoured vehicle ventured about 150 metres Friday into Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry warned Saturday if the incursions continued it would "take all necessary measures to suppress them."
NATO, meanwhile, released images Saturday that it said showed recent Russian tank movements near the border. It said the tanks seen in eastern Ukraine "do not bear markings or camouflage paint like those used by the Ukrainian military." It said those tactics were used by the Russians who had seized Crimea in March.
Tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalated in February after pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych was driven from office by protesters who wanted closer ties with the European Union and an end to the country's endemic corruption. Russia then seized and annexed Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.
The U.S. and Europe rejected the annexation and responded with financial sanctions targeting individuals. They have threatened to further extend the sanctions to the Russian economy.
The European Union, meanwhile, reported that senior officials from Ukraine and Russia, including Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, were holding talks late Saturday in Kyiv on their natural gas dispute.
Russia says Ukraine owes billions in unpaid gas debts and has set a deadline of Monday before it will demand upfront payments for gas supplies. Ukraine disputes the debt amount and, with its economy in dire straits after the departure of Yanukovych, has little ability to repay.
Also in Kyiv, about a hundred protesters hurled eggs Saturday at the Russian Embassy and overturned several parked cars with diplomatic plates, holding a sign saying "Russia is a killer."


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For me, the true impact came at 40, right before my mother died at 82. She had been stricken with dementia and Parkinson's disease and was admitted to a nursing home. "You're her granddaughter, right?" the nurse asked. "Will her daughter be here to sign her in?"
Mom looked up. "This is my baby," she whispered, voice thin as air.
My parents were almost 42 and 44 when I was born in 1961. "You were a change-of-life baby," my mother told me, "a great big surprise."
These days, many "change-of-life" babies are meticulously planned and pined for. The conscientious, scrupulously prepared moms boast about their readiness to parent. They've got college funds invested and Baby Einstein tapes already feeding through their well-monitored bellies.From the moms' perspective, all is well.
"The baby will keep me young," they say.
My mother said that. Maybe I did. But from my point of view, I wasn't doing a great job.
All kids fear death, but one born to older parents intuitively understands their folks will die sooner and that younger parents have more energy, stamina and, all things being equal, time left on the planet.
There will be moms who have babies at 47 and then live to be 90 and healthy, but many won't -- a combination of genes, illness and fate. Plastic surgery, dermal fillers and Botox can make older moms look like older sisters, but even if parents partake, they should address the fears my folks never would.
Back at the nursing home, there were apologies. I signed the document. "You're too young to have a mother this old," the nurse whispered.
"I've heard that all my life," I reassured her. That day alone, I'd heard it from the ambulance driver, the physician, the discharge planner and a 45-year-old friend, pregnant with her first child.
Only my friend had the look of fear in her eyes. That's because there was something, in all her planning, she wasn't facing -- the fact that her child could someday be in the same situation. First, a child of older parents, then a caregiver of older parents, then the adult child of parents who have passed away. She'll deal with it when she's ready, but I suggest she talk to the little one early, in ways he can understand. Let him know that she'll teach him all she can about herself, so that the part of her that wishes she could be with him for the duration of his life will, in fact, live on inside him.
She will, however, have to trade it for the illusion that her baby will keep her young. I hope she doesn't wait too long.
Meredith Resnick lives in Irvine. Her work has appeared in Newsweek, Bride's and "The Complete Book of Aunts."


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Scorpions – Blackout (1982, Mercury/Polygram)
- Blackout
- Can't Live Without You
- No One Like You
- You Give Me All I Need
- Now!
- Dynamite
- Arizona
- China White
- When The Smoke Is Going Down
Band Lineup:
Klaus Meine – Vocals
Rudolf Schenker – Guitars
Matthias Jabs – Guitars
Francis Buchholz – Bass
Herman Rarebell – Drums
Producer: Dieter Dierks
Total Time – 36:44
Back in 1982, I remember watching MTV and this video came on that was set in Alcatraz Prison and had a crazy guy with forks on his eyes…..'No One Like You' was my first introduction to the Scorpions and I was hooked. Add the original album art in and the 10 year old I was bought it right away!
The album starts off with the high powered title track that is catchy and heavy at the same time. This is song is a perfect example of the potent twin guitar attack the Scorpions do so well, Schenker and Jabs maintaining the main riff and weaving in potent licks and solos. 'Blackout' is a driving song that retains it's melody and remains heavy.
'Can't Live Without You' follows the title track and continues the melodic heaviness with a sing-a-long chorus that is a concert staple to this day. Again, the main riff is so solid and chugs right along allowing another guitar layer over the top. Best solos on the album featured here.
'No One Like You' was the band's breakthrough in the U.S. and sent many of us young MTV generation addicts straight to the record store. Combining a Pop sensibility and melodic hooks, this song was clearly the big hit it was to become. Very simple lyrically but it is delivered with an intensity by Klaus Meine that makes the song sound bigger.
'You Give Me All I Need' slows down to a mid-pace, almost ballad like, tempo until the main riff from the intro kicks into the chorus. I look at this song as the bridge between the 1970s Scorpions ballads and the ones to follow from 1984 on. It comes off as hard, catchy Pop but still retains a grit from the band's early years before Matthias Jabs took over guitar duties in 1979. The chorus is extremely basic, just repeating the title over and over, but Klaus' performance is solid as he shows he can go to a slow pace and kick it into high power right away. Hard to believe he had surgery on his vocal chords prior to this album's recording.
To this day I've never liked 'Now!'. It's a very fast song with some blistering solos but it just sounds too busy, too frantic. I think it's heavy and fast just to be heavy and fast, not much melody as on the first four tracks. Can anyone tell what Klaus is singing on the first listen? I sure couldn't then and I still have a hard time today, the pace and the accent make it a jumble. Thank goodness for lyrics in the liner notes!
The heaviness continues with 'Dynamite', one of the most underrated songs on the record. Solid guitars and a pounding drum sound drive this song with speed and precision. The frenetic pace is equalled by Mr. Meine but he is clearer in delivery than previously on 'Now!'. Another concert favorite.
The Scorpions hail from Germany but 'Arizona' retains a NWOBHM meets L.A. Glam sound. It's slower than the previous two tracks but not mid-paced, it's more of a Hard Rock groove a la the mid-'80s. It's similar to the future hit smash, 'Rock You Like A Hurricane' (from LOVE AT FIRST STING), as far as pace and structure but 'Arizona' seems to be less aggressive and more akin to '70s flavored Hard Rock. Another gem of a song that gets overlooked because the big guns are the first three songs on the album.
Slow and brooding, 'China White' sounds like a heavy riff machine until the guitars cut out for Meine to sing some lines and then they kick back in. There's a dark aura to this track, a little doom-ish and rooted in '70s proto-Metal and Progressive. Sounds like the band circa the mid-'70s with Uli Jon Roth. The solos are slowed down but filled with power and attitude.
Ballad time! Combine early Scorpions with a preview of ballads to come and you get 'When The Smoke Is Going Down'. This song didn't really do it for me back in '82, especially at the end of the album. You have heavy tunes all over this platter and you end it with a ballad? I would have put it somewhere in the middle. It's not a bad tune but the future would prove that the Scorpions would master the ballad and leave this in the dust.
Bottom Line:
A classic album that I reach for more than any other Scorpions offering. Four of the nine songs still make it into the live set today and they are also the strongest on the record: 'Blackout', 'Can't Live Without You', 'No One Like You' and 'Dynamite'…..these are also my favorite tunes. The last great Scorpions album BEFORE they became radio/MTV darlings and the master of the power ballad. A true Metal classic!


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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -Pizza is at the top of the Super Bowl party list for a non-profit organization sending a slice of home to deployed soldiers. Thousands of pies were delivered to Kandahar, Afghanistan, Jan. 21, thanks to Air Force Master Sgt. (retired) Mark Evans who started 'Pizza 4 Patriots' in July 2008.
With the help of the 3rd Sustainment Brigade, the deep dishes will touchdown at forward operating bases throughout Southern Afghanistan in time for the NFL's biggest game.
"We have been coordinating with the organization for about three months now to make sure that everything runs smoothly and the Troops get the pizzas for the Super Bowl," said Chief Warrant Officer (3) Luis Pineo, a Fitchburg, Mass., native, and the Class I (food) supply officer for the 3rd Sustainment Brigade.
Pineo, who has been deployed with the 'Providers' since December 2012, said he's teamed up with international shipper, DHL-Express and DynCorp International, a global government services provider, to ensure Pizza 4 Patriots' continued success.
"As a former Marine, it means a lot to me that I can bring this to them," said Vince Crook, the commercial manager for DHL Express-Afghanistan, and native of Seattle, Wash. "I remember when it was just little things like this that made all the difference in the world while deployed."
Jaclyn Lockette, the manager for the Class I yard at Kandahar Airfield, said that DynCorp is also happy to assist with the program that sends a growing number of pizzas to deployed soldiers twice a year.
"We're here to support the war-fighter," said Lockette. "There is not a lot we can do, but I do know when those soldiers get off from their missions one of the first things they want is a hot meal. Delivering supplies to the soldiers is the least we can do. The Pizza 4 Patriots is a great morale booster for the soldiers. It can't get much better than eating pizza while watching the Super Bowl over here."
Pizza 4 Patriots has delivered over 50,000 pizzas, which has fed more than 200,000 deployed service members. There are more than 30,000 pizzas on order to Afghanistan to help Soldiers kick off the championship game.


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Break up your week and zen out with Hatha Yoga, led by our very own Cari Merriam!
Quiet your mind, connect with your body and explore your breath in this Hatha full practice including yoga asanas and pranayama.
All levels are welcome, and please bring along your own mat.
//This is a community only event.
Save the date in your Google Calendar
October 15, 2018
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Factory Görlitzer Park, Lexis, Aufgang 3
Member Event


text: Ooh, a colander hat, how fancy! A tea kettle on your head — lovely! A funnel that looks like a cross between a dunce cap, Devo, and something a magical elf would wear — how, um, becoming! In all seriousness, I'm all for wacky fashion options, but something about this just reminds me of putting pots and pans on my head as a child and running around my parents kitchen. So let's just deem this look "Vintage Preschool Chic." And ignore the "women belong in the kitchen" message. And move on.


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1 — Brief history
In 1501, a year after Álvares Cabral discovered Brazil, the navigator Gaspar de Lemos and Amerigo Vespucci arrived at Baía de Todos os Santos, christening the place thus because they arrived on the celebrated date of 1st November.
This bay — the second biggest in the world — was inhabited by Tupinabas Indians. Around 1509, Diogo Alves Correia, who survived the sinking of a French ship, was the first European to marry a native Indian. The village (Velha) where he settled was a strategic port for passing ships.
On the orders of King D. João III a system of hereditary captaincies was implemented, although they were not as successful as initially expected. The Portuguese monarch then made Thomé de Souza Governor of Brazil. He landed in Porto da Barra in March 1549 and ordered the construction of the fortress city, São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos. For two centuries (until 1763) Salvador was the capital of Brazil and Catholic America.
It's impossible to talk about this region without mentioning the transatlantic slave trade, which began in the 16th century with Portuguese expansion on the African coast. The first mention of Africans in Salvador dates back to 1550, most coming from the coast of West Africa. They were transported to Brazil to work on the plantations of Bahia de Todos os Santos and in the gold mines.
The Africans lent joy and musicality to Brazilian culture, or, as mentioned by Gilberto Freyre, "a musical and sweet way of talking. They also spiced up Bahian cuisine. "Slavery was abolished in 1888. Today, Salvador is the blackest city in the world outside Africa.
2 — What Bahians have…


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On July 22nd the bookstore chain Borders started the process of closing its 399 remaining locations. This move was long predicted by industry watchers as the once-mighty chain wobbled in the face of Amazon.com's rise (a company it once outsourced to) and costly missteps in non-book merchandise. The last few weeks of media coverage has featured a mixture of fond reminiscences, 20/20 hindsight analysis, and predictions for the future of the book-selling industry. Many of the predictions haven't been too cheery, for example, the investment site The Motley Fool predicts that Barnes & Noble will ultimately suffer the same fate, noting that "just because B&N will be the last one standing doesn't mean that it will be standing for long." Even if the Borders closure is the last domino to topple as the retail book market restructures itself for a post-ebook and post-Amazon world, that development alone could have far-reaching and possibly disastrous consequences for businesses that cater to modern Pagans.
The Borders Closure and Pagan Publishers
One of the most obvious ramifications of the Borders closure is the elimination of bricks-and-mortar booksellers willing to carry Pagan, occult, and metaphysical titles. At the beginning of 2010 Borders operated 508 superstores in the United States, plus several more "Borders Express" and Waldenbooks outlets in malls and airports. As more than one reporter has pointed out, in some areas Borders was the only significant bookstore within driving distance. Or as a recent NPR report put it, "an entire arm of book sales has been amputated." No matter how healthy or solvent a publishing business is, that much reduction in retail space is going to hurt. Worse still, at the time of the Borders bankruptcy filing they owed nearly 300 million to its creditors. One of those creditors was Llewellyn Worldwide, the largest publisher of Pagan and metaphysical books. In its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing Borders revealed that it owes Llewellyn over half a million dollars.
As large as Llewellyn may be to the Pagan community, it's still relatively tiny compared to the larger publishing houses, and losing that much money has to hit hard. I contacted Llewellyn for comment, but there has been no official response. However, I was able to speak with author Donald Michael Kraig, who has worked extensively with Llewellyn, and speaking solely as an individual, offered his take on what some of the ramification of the Borders closure may be.
"As an author, I don't get paid until my publishers are paid. I probably won't directly see the loss in "take backs," although my royalties will undoubtedly be smaller. Those who self-publish may have a different experience and to them (and small publishers) I hope your losses, at best, are small. My guess, however, is that this will hurt the "bottom line" of some publishers and may have a worse effect on a few very small publishers. This is what happens in business."
The second-largest Pagan and metaphysical publisher, Red Wheel / Weiser, is also owed money by Borders. Though less than Llewellyn, it is still over $200,000. Again, not insignificant for a company their size.
Jan Johnson, Publisher at Red Wheel / Weiser, responding to my questions via email, says that little should change at their company due to the closing of Borders.
"We'll, of course, miss the stores and the sales from the books they've been carrying. Borders supported many of our titles. We don't expect it to have a direct affect on the number of titles or authors we sign. Borders closure is another indication of the changing way people find and buy books. In order to succeed as publishers, we need to communicate even more with our reader communities."
A third Pagan publishing company, BBI Media, which produces the popular magazines Witches & Pagans, SageWoman, and Crone, has also been hard-hit by the Borders liquidation. Publisher and editor Anne Newkirk Niven bluntly explained to me how hundreds of outlets disappearing directly impacts the company's bottom line.
"The cataclysmic news of the final bankruptcy and liquidation of the Borders bookstore chain (resulting in an immediate and pressing gap in our cashflow) rocked me back on my heels just as I was setting down to write the editorial for the 25th anniversary issue of SageWoman. In an additional irony, just as Borders was announcing its liquidation, copies of the current issue of Witches&Pagans were rolling off the presses — thousands of which are now sitting on the dock at our printer, with nowhere to go.
The immediate loss — due to the six-to-ninth month gap between distribution and payment of newsstand copies — caused by the Borders collapse is likely to come in between $18,000 and $30,000. Like many other independent titles, this is a clear and immediate threat to our continued existence. Our plan — identical to the one we rolled out in 1997 when magazine distributor Fine Print went bankrupt owing us a similar amount — is to go directly to our readers, and ask them to donate enough to get us over the hump. In 1997, our readers generously donated to keep SageWoman going, and we hope that when we roll out a full-scale fundraising effort in September, our readers will respond again."
Niven called this event a "body blow" but seemed optimistic that readers and supporters would rally to help save periodicals like SageWoman, which have become an institution to many in the Pagan community. The company also sounded a hopeful note in their recent initiative to branch out into digital editions of their magazines. The Wild Hunt will be following up on BBI Media's fundraising initiative, checking back in with Anne Newkirk Niven once it launches.
Assuming that the two largest publishers of Pagan-oriented books, and the largest publisher of Pagan periodicals, are able to weather this storm and come out largely unscathed, there are some troubling forecasts ahead. Science fiction and horror author K.W. Jeter recently pointed out that the prevailing lesson some are taking from the Borders closure may be that it carried too many books, and spent too much time catering to the "long tail" that the Internet thrives in accommodating. This is echoed by another genre writer, J. A. Konrath, who predicts that the "midlist is going the way of the dodo." For those not up on the publishing-world lingo, "midlist" books are titles that are not bestsellers but are strong enough to economically justify their publication. Should Barnes & Noble decide to cut back on its midlist in a post-Borders book market, that could mean metaphysical/New Age sections that are dominated by titles like "The Secret" and Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth," and little else. For many Barnes & Noble stores, this is already nearly the case.
Can Independent Stores Bridge the Gap?
While some are mournfully singing eulogies for Borders, others point out that it wasn't too long ago that the chain was seen as a villain that many wished doom upon. During their ascent in the 1990s book superstores like Borders and Barnes & Noble put many small independent bookstores out of business, and many more nearly so, by offering convenience, big selections, and oftentimes deep discounts the smaller (often niche) stores couldn't match (illustrator/cartoonist Alison Bechdel famously fictionalized this process in her comic strip "Dykes to Watch Out For"). Now that Borders is closing, many are wondering if independent booksellers will benefit, or even grow, in this environment. Jan Johnson at Weiser, when asked about the future of the esoteric bookselling market, said that "we love it that there are still independent shops who specialize in selling esoteric books, and we'll continue to support them. We also really like getting feedback and ideas from them." Will we see independent Pagan and esoteric bookstores rise to fill the gap(s)?
I asked David Wiegleb, current owner of Fields Book Store in San Francisco, an esoteric bookstore that's been a fixture in the Bay Area since 1932, for his perspective on how the Borders closure will affect business.
"In the short term, we're seeing some new customers as well as customers returning who we may not have seen in a while. In San Francisco, not only are the Borders stores now closed, but there are no longer any Barnes and Noble stores. This recent uptick for us is certainly welcome, but because of the larger economic and cultural effects our business is still down from prior years. Our challenges are by no means past. There is an opportunity for us to market ourselves to the larger neighborhood as a place people can special order books in any subject and get them usually in only two days. We already carry the Bay Area Bestsellers, and a fair number of customers use us as their "special order" store now. In the medium term, I'm concerned about the ripple effects on publishers and distributors. I'm sure the losses they have incurred with the Borders closing will hit many of them hard, some perhaps fatally, and will impact past and future title availability, as well as pricing. Amazon has already driven list prices up with their demands for deep discounts. This will certainly impact what we can offer."
Wiegleb also expressed concern that the "next generation will lose the basic cultural experience of browsing in a brick and mortar bookstore," noting that "more than 1200 Borders and Waldenbooks" have been closing since 2003. Wiegleb's experience of a recent increase in customers isn't isolated, other news reports have noted this experience from independent bookshops across the United States. Linda Bubon, an owner at Women and Children First in Chicago, admitted to having "a little happy bookseller who's jumping up and down" now that "we have this behemoth off our backs." However, the concerns brought up by Wiegleb are also present. A recent Sacramento Bee report zeroed onto the challenges of growing independent bookstores as more and more people turn to Amazon.com and ebooks, quoting Mike Barnard, board president of the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association, who pointed out that "stores that are still left are stressed," and that "the down economy affects everybody." Indeed, many reports on metaphysical bookshops I've read in recent years have focused on shops trying to stay afloat in a tough economy, in addition to the challenges of the modern bookseller.
One additional issue for those looking to independent Pagan-friendly shops picking up the slack in a post-Borders world is that there aren't that many robust Pagan/occult/metaphysical bookshops around. The vast majority of Pagan-owned shops carry only a small selection of books, often bought directly from Llewellyn, fewer still carry Pagan magazines. Books are a high-overhead item, and don't turn the profit that statues, jewelry, stones, herbs, or consignment items often do. I've witnessed first-hand how even a single bookshelf full of books can become a fiscal liability for a shop that is barely making ends meet. High-quality esoteric bookshops like Fields Book Store in San Francisco, or independent booksellers like Powell's in Oregon that are large enough to have a metaphysical/Pagan section, aren't as common as anyone would like. Creating a new network of esoteric and occult bookstores, along with bigger independents willing to cater to our communities, will take work and commitment from booksellers, publishers, and consumers.
The Bottom Line
The best case scenario here is that some of our largest Pagan-oriented businesses are able to withstand this massive shift, hold out, and recover; that the larger publishing/book-selling world largely stabilizes, and independent booksellers thrive in a post-Borders world, ultimately creating a more diverse and unique marketplace. A worst case scenario would mean that many of the institutions that have helped define us and support us would cease to be, or exist as a ghost of their former selves. A situation like this would ripple out, hurting many other interconnected Pagan businesses. Economies, especially those that cater to smaller targeted audiences, are like webs. Pull the wrong strands, and the whole thing could collapse. I'm hoping that isn't the case, and that something approaching the best case scenario wins out. For that to happen, a renewed and concerted effort to invest our time and money in Pagan-owned and Pagan-friendly business should be a top priority.
In the coming weeks and months I'll be returning to this story, for it's an issue that's far larger than I can encapsulate here. I want to touch on ebooks, and epublishers, strategies that Pagan businesses are pursuing to survive and thrive, and how these changes might affect other sectors of the Pagan economy.
Because I was not able to fully quote the statements of everyone I talked to for this piece, I'm attaching them here as PDF downloads so you can read them for yourself in their original contexts. Statement by Anne Newkirk Niven. Statement by Jan Johnson. Statement by David Wiegleb. Statement by Donald Michael Kraig.


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Insurance Information
USA Cycling's Directors and Officers Liability insurance broker, Fairly Group (800-530-4809 x 3659), offers a group Directors and Officers Liability Insurance program for USA Cycling member clubs and local associations. The premium rates are significantly less than each club could negotiate independently.
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance provides for "Wrongful Acts," "Errors" and "Omissions" alleged to have been committed by a club's Board of Directors, employees, volunteers and officers while executing their duties in service to the club. Directors' and Officers' services to the club are generally considered to be rendered in a fiduciary capacity. A trustee is held responsible and accountable for his or her actions; so, too, are the directors and officers who owe their club a duty to exercise their powers in good faith and with prudent judgment.
While federal and state statutes provide much guidance in establishing standards of conduct, common-law principles are still the basis of determining when wrongdoing has been committed where there is no statutory law. Common law, unlike statutory law, does not impose absolute and inflexible rules; rather, it is subject to the changing interpretations of the courts and is based on principles of equity and public policy.
This program offers a limit of liability of $1 million with higher limits as an option to those interested clubs. It offers coverage for Non-Pecuniary Defense, which provides defense coverage for those allegations not requesting monetary awards. For more information and an application to purchase this coverage, please contact:
Cathy Sechrist
Fairly Group
PO Box 1149
Amarillo, TX 79105-1149
Phone: (800)-530-4809 x 3659


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This is essentially a ramped-up version of the Ardumoto motor driver shield. Instead of an L298 H-bridge, the Monster Moto Shield has a pair of VNH2SP30 full-bridge motor drivers. It also has beefier support circuitry, so this board is capable of driving a pair of high-current motors. The VIN and Motor Out are pitched for 5mm screw terminals, making it easy to connect larger-gauge wires than the Ardumoto can accept.
Screw terminals and Arduino headers are not included. You will have to install headers before you can plug this board into your Arduino. Be sure to pick up three of the screw terminal blocks two for your motors and one for the power input.
Note: When using this board in extreme high-demand applications, it may be necessary to improve thermal performance with a heat-sink or fan and to solder the wires directly to the board instead of using a screw terminal (in addition to other complications of a high-current system). However, when using the board at currents at or below 6A, the chips will only just become noticeably warm.


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In an election year filled with ironies, a little known fact may be the most important of all. Most of the candidates seeking the California's top jobs herald from the least populated area of the state. More than 60 percent of the Californians live south of the Tehachapies, the small mountain range that symbolically separates the "north" from the "south." Yet, the gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidates--arguably the most coveted of all elected positions this year--disproportionately have Northern California roots.
With respect to the governorship, Republicans Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman are rooted in Silicon Valley, while presumptive Democratic nominee Jerry Brown calls Oakland home. It's not much different in the U.S. Senate race, where Republican candidates Carly Fiorina and Tom Campbell live in northern California; only termed-out Assemblyman Chuck DeVore hails from southern California. Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer was a member of the House of Representatives prior to her first senatorial victory in 1992. Even Dianne Feinstein, California's other U.S. Senator, was mayor of San Francisco prior to her ascendance to the nation's highest legislative chamber.
Whether the geographic roots of the current crop of candidates represent a trend or anomaly is almost beside the point. The crucial question is how they brand themselves in the region that has the most votes yet where they are least known. The obvious answer is to flood the southern California media market with television ads. After all, even in the Internet era, television ads account for about 85 percent of all campaign expenditures. But not all candidates have well-funded campaigns or deep pockets, so a few have resorted to other strategies.
Since January 2009, Tom Campbell, a poor second in funding next to the substantially self-funded Carly Fiorina, has been a visiting professor at Chapman University which, coincidentally, lies in the heart of Republican-rich Orange County. Incumbent Barbara Boxer because a southern California transplant in 2006, when she moved to Rancho Mirage.
The others have resorted to more common practices such as spending the preponderance of their financial resources in the southern California media market. If nothing else, their residences help these candidates spending more time on the ground and less in the air. The others have been forced to forced to spend inordinate amounts of time and campaign resources moving back and forth between north and south. Television ads may be important, but personal appearances bring in the dough. Realizing that relatively few Republicans and even fewer conservatives reside north of the Tehachapies, the northern California-based Republican gubernatorial and senatorial candidates have all but camped in the south, doing all they can to ingratiate themselves with the locals.
Meanwhile, the southern California emphasis of these Republican candidates has left northern Californians largely in the dark. Relatively few ads have hit northern California televisions, leaving many to wonder what's going on.
Still, with close races projected for both the Republican elections, there may be enough votes in the north to swing the outcomes one way or another, which gives pause to whether the candidates can ignore the region without consequences. Before all is said and done, the northern California tail may yet waive the southern California dog, an irony befitting this election year.
Follow us on Twitter @PropZero. Join the conversation about the future of California's cash, kids and jobs.
To sign up, click here, then choose 'Prop Zero.'


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Build a Gingerbread Lighthouse
Create a gingerbread house with a nautical twist. Here's the recipe and directions from our friends in coastal Maine.
In helping with her mother's Christmas tea party in Kittery Point, Maine, Sarah Gibbons Drummond and friends gave the typical gingerbread house a regional look. This meticulously crafted lighthouse, complete with gummy lobsters and Lifesaver windows, is a tasty replica of nearby Whale Back Light, which stands at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor.
Sarah's mother, Marcia Gibbons, has welcomed local mothers and daughters to her waterside home for 13 years. And Sarah's gingerbread creation was an instant hit, especially with the younger girls, who anticipate dismantling the lighthouse and tasting it at the party's end.Here's how you can make your own version, using Sarah Drummond and her friend Susan Remillard's decorative touches and their friend Sarah Mitchell's gingerbread recipe. You'll need some design and construction materials, but nothing too fancy. To make a base for your lighthouse, a 16- by 18-inch or equivalent sheet of plywood or stiff, thick cardboard works well. You'll also need parchment paper, zip-top bags, and a hammer (for crushing those Lifesavers).
All candy for Whaleback Light from Yummies on Coastal Rt. 1, Kittery Point, Maine, yummies.com or 877/498-6643.


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Table of Contents
This website is dedicated to compiling resources and links related to the Hero System.
- Updated Creepy Hotel to have everything in that thread (which was apparently last used in 2010 — Peter Cobcroft 2011/08/30 00:31
- Hero Icon Charactersheet Schema - a pictographic method of showing character sheets — Peter Cobcroft 2010/05/06 18:37
- Jack Butler's The Grimoire Project for 6e Hero added — Peter Cobcroft 2009/08/31 21:40
- I'll be running the To Be Announced campaign on the wiki here — Peter Cobcroft 2009/08/20 18:43
Editing Rules
- All entries must be related to the Hero System
- Any spam links or emails will be deleted, pages are edited or viewed by Registered Users Only
- I have a fair bit of space left, so feel free to post large documents. I'll warn everyone if I start running out, and then we'll have to only compile links.
- Every page can be created or edited by any Registered User EXCEPT this page. If you want to change this page, let me know (Peter Cobcroft = Curufea = firstname.lastname@example.com)
- Registration is a two part process - after you receive your password (sent to your valid email address) let me know (via email) and I will change your status from "potential spammer" to "user" and you will be able to edit pages. All new users start as "potential spammers" at the moment.
About the Wiki
- Frequently Asked Question - You can ask questions and discuss the Wiki here.
- Release Notes for this version of the Wiki.
Hero System Resources
Alternate Rules
Conversions by Genre
These pages mainly contain links to non-Wiki pages held elsewhere. Often on the Hero System Official Bulletin Board as the resources have not yet been placed in this Wiki, and they do not have websites.
- Links for Champions (Super)Hero Resources Conversions ".. to Champions"
- Fantasy HERO Conversions & Adaptations" Conversions ".. to Fantasy Hero"
- Conversions to Star Hero Conversions ".. to Star Hero"
- Conversions to the Hero System Other conversions
Resources by Setting
These pages are mainly full articles and resources for particular settings, and are hosted on this Wiki.
- The Fan Project WIP
- Resources for the Hero System Other Resources
Gaming Links
Links to Non-Gaming Resources
Useful links to online resources
Word Cloud


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This recipe for Pork Rillettes is from Benjamin Meyer, who also teaches culinary classes at the Portland Meat Collective classes.
Pork Braised in Milk Recipe
This pork braised in milk recipe courtesy of Chris Israel, chef and owner of Gruner in Portland, Oregon.
An Easy Pancetta Recipe
This pancetta Recipe courtesy of Camas Davis, Portland Meat Collective: this recipe was given to me by Levi Cole, who teaches a lot of the PMC's classes.


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Greeting fellow members!
My name is Stjepan from Croatia.
I'm big fan of ps2 and online gaming.
Looking forward to have good cooperation with all of you!
P.S. My favourite game to play online is cod2 and cod3
New to the site? Post here to introduce yourself.
Post Reply
1 post • Page 1 of 1
- Level 1: Deer Hunter
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2016 5:02 pm
- Xlink Kai Setup?: no
Post Reply
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Master Electrician of the Year
1st Call Electrical is extremely proud to be the winner of the Victorian Master Electricians Excellence Awards for the 2nd year in a row. This is testament to the great work we do for our many customers.
74 Reviews
Whether you need a domestic electrician or a commercial electrician in Darling South 1st Call is here to help.
1st Call Electrical Services should be your "First Call" whenever you need an Electrician in Darling South.BOOK NOW
Based only 4.3Km's from Darling South 1st Call's friendly and experienced fault finding and service electricians are ready to react promptly and effectively to minimise the cost to your business that electrical faults can cause.
1st Call offers early morning appointments in Darling South so that you can still make it to school drop off or work on time while we get on with providing great electrical solutions tailored just for you.
No worries. 1st Call can help you change a lamp, change a broken plug top or rewire your whole house. Whatever size the job is we'd love to help you.
If you're fed up with changing halogen downlight globes, lights working intermittently or just concerned with the amount of heat low voltage down lights put out why not convert to LED equivalents? 1st Call can provide you with a domestic electrician who can install LED equivalents that now outperform halogen downlights with the additional benefits of low running cost, no lamp changing and drastically reduced fire risk.
It's Friday afternoon and all the power in your house just went out. Let's face it the electricians based in Pakenham, Morrrabin or Point Cook have already gone home to beat the traffic on the freeway. That's why it's great idea to establish a relationship with your local electrician. 1st Call always has staff a stone's throw from Darling South.
If would like to discuss your needs in more detail please call us now on 1300 360 215 and speak to the electrician Darling South can rely on.
Did you know: We also do Air Conditioning in Darling South
1st Call Electrical Services should be your "First Call" whenever you need an Electrician in Darling South. Find out why.
1st Call Electrical is extremely proud to be the winner of the Victorian Master Electricians Excellence Awards for the 2nd year in a row. This is testament to the great work we do for our many customers.
1st Call Electrical is the Darling South electrician that goes the extra mile to give you results you want. Our expert staff of warm and friendly electricians are ready to visit your home and business right now.BOOK ELECTRICIAN NOW
Getting an electrician in and around the city can be a real problem. Based too far away and wary of evil parking inspectors many electricians just won't go to the CBD. Fortunately, at 1st Call Electrical Services, we are only a stone's throw from your office or apartment and can provide help with data cabling, power, lighting and more.
Regardless the size of your project, your custom is important to us. We will treat you and your property with equal respect and care whether we are changing light bulbs or completing a large-scale commercial project for you.
Nobody likes waiting, including us! 1st Call electricians appoint a time for each client and endeavour to be on time all the time.
Our electricians in Darling South have over 15 years of experience to help solve your electrical problems. We provide emergency repair services and have the experience, skills, professionalism and the organisation to fix your electrical problems in a timely manner.
A survey of 350 recent customers found that 98% were happy, very happy or extremely happy with the work 1st Call completed at their premises.
We offer a full money back guarantee on our workmanship, whether we supply a commercial electrician or a domestic electrician.
Our Blog is aimed at providing useful information as well as important electrical updates, such as recalls, and legislation changes.
While the reports that a restaurant air conditioning (/air-conditioning-melbourne) system could have created one of the hot spots in the spread of the coronavirus in the earlier stages of the outb ..Read More
With many people now working from home due to COVID-19, the internet connection in your home is likely taking a harder hit than normal during business hours. And, with the current state of things ..Read More
Mitsubishi Electric air conditioning is getting ready to kick off their 2019 Winter Gift Card Campaign. This amazing deal entitles customers who purchase an eligible Mitsubishi Electric air condit ..Read More


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Hero MotoCorp Vijayawada Customer Care Number, Regional Office Address – email id, contact support number, helpline number and contact information is listed here with the zonal, nodal and mailing office address. Here, we are also sharing Hero MotoCorp Vijayawada customer toll free helpline number and customer service phone number of Hero MotoCorp Vijayawada with the useful information like best deals, latest reviews and ratings, company profile, history, products and services.
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Whittier, CAHome Menu
Community Policing Area 2
Sergeant Jason Zuhlke
Area 2
Welcome to the Community Policing Area 2 contact and information page.
My name is Sergeant Jason Zuhlke and I manage a team of officers that patrol your area throughout the year.
In addition to patrolling Area 2, our team regularly identifies long-term and repeat problem locations. We work with residents, police and other resources to resolve such problems and maintain a safe and enjoyable quality of life for residents, the business community and visitors.
If you have identified an on-going problem in Area 2 and would like our team to address it, please email me at email@example.com or call (562) 567-9255.


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Issue after issue, Out enriches your gay experience with thoughtful writing, stunning visuals, and authoritative coverage of fashion and design. Out showcases today's hottest creative talents from the worlds of music, theater and the arts. Plus you'll receive our celebrated annual "OUT 100" issue, and our collectible Spring and Fall Fashion specials.
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If you are available for lunch today don't forget to sign in and watch Thomas LeBlanc talk about Historical DMV information. To attend the meeting use this URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/usergroups/join?id=F7DRFD&role=attend. Also, if you would like to receive notifications about upcoming SQL Lunches register here: http://www.tsqlscripts.com/SQLLunch.aspx.
See you at Lunch
Patrick LeBlanc, Founder TSQLScripts.com and SQL Lunch
SQL Down South


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Chicken, pork, beef, veggies – you name it, I probably put this seasoning salt on it!
This mix of savory spices and dried herbs is my absolute favorite, but not until recently did I decide to mix up a big batch and store it in a container for easy grabbing. I use this blend about twice a week, and with basic ingredients like salt, pepper, parsley, and chili powder, to name a few, it's so simple to make and keeps weekday dinners quick and simple when I don't want to make a big fuss.
This mix works well as a rub on big, juicy steaks, a marinade for grilled chicken (mix 1 tbsp. with 3 tbsp. olive oil for two chicken breasts), and as a seasoning for most Mexican and Italian dishes. It also gives great flavor to roasted potatoes and sauteed vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, squash, and carrots. With spices like chili powder and cayenne in the mix, you may think this is a five-alarm kind of seasoning, but fear not, I can't take lots of spice myself, so the zest is very mild.
I used to make this mix every time I needed a basic meat marinade or spice to kick up some vegetables, but having this seasoning handy in my cabinet has saved me loads of time and the chore of having remember just what goes into it.
I know this simple salt blend will prove incredibly useful for you, too, especially on nights when you want an easy but deliciously flavorful dinner!
Craving more? Keep in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for new post updates and more. You can also check out my FAQ page, or contact me with any questions or inquiries!
Seasoning Salt
Yield: Makes 3-1/2 cups
Mix all spices in a medium bowl until well combined, or pulse a few times in an electric food processor.
Pour into an airtight jar, label with ingredients and store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.
Stored properly, this spice will keep for up to three months and can be used in a variety of meat and vegetable dishes (steak, ground beef, chicken, pork, fish, potatoes, sauteed seasonal vegetables, etc.).
For a quick chicken/meat marinade, add 1 tbsp. seasoning salt to 3 tbsp. olive oil, stir and turn meat to coat evenly. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 day.


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Thursday, September 06, 2007
Well That's Never Happened Before!
I ran for the nearest hiding place and she said, "No, it's not like that, she wants to thank you."
"Thank me?" Huh? "Is this a joke?"
So I went out to meet this woman and she didn't ring a bell. She had a big smile on her face and said to me, "Doctor, I bet that not many people come back to thank you so here I am."
I didn't recognize her because the first time I saw her her face was mashed-in and she was cut in a lot of places and she was quite a pitiful sight. She had been assaulted in her home by an unknown intruder. I CT scanned and Xrayed and numbed and washed and stitched and comforted and three hours later she left looking better but like Fankenstein with big nasty suture lines all over her face.
She looked amazing. She told me that the follow up surgeons had complimented my work and that she was very grateful and thankful for me and best of all, she wasn't scared or crying, she had that air of confidence about her that let me know that if a 'next time' occured that she would end up calling the police to collect the body of the intruder.
Wow. It made my day and I told her so and then went back to work.
10 comments:
It almost make wading through the bullshit for 10-12 hours worth it....almost.
Did she bring you cookies? I always thank my doctors/my kids doctors, and it warms my heart to know it means something to you as well. What a wonderful day for you! You deserved it after how you were feeling a few posts ago!ReplyDelete
Every now and then, someone comes along to restore your faith in humans. And sometimes, someone comes along to restore our faith in ourselves.ReplyDelete
Very cool of that person to come amd thank you. And you are very good at what you do.ReplyDelete
Well done, doctor.
That's wonderful that she took the time to do that. I don't think enough people take the time to day thank you and it can make such a difference to people.ReplyDelete
It must be the best feeling to see the difference you make in another person's life.
Sounds like a job well done. :)
- Anonymous12:17 PM, September 07, 2007
Did you do her?ReplyDelete
Just wondering.
if by 'doing her' you mean did i spend lots of money on diagnsostic radiological procedures and about an hour doing my best imitation of a plastic surgeon, then yes, i did 'do her'. and, i might add, it was good for both of us.
Talk about putting the spring back into your step. Way cool.ReplyDelete
Sure, we're just doing our jobs. But it is so nice when someone recognizes that you did a GOOD job instead of a fast one.ReplyDelete
I got stopped leaving the hospital last week. The lady approached me and said "Do you remember me?" I was honest and replied that I did not as my eyes darted back and forth looking for the nearest cover in case she had a gun.
She identified herself and reminded me that I had seen her a few weeks ago with abdominal pain. I treated her pain and worked her up and she had a rather unusual presentation of a diverticular abscess.
She was admitted, and treated with CT drainage and IV antibiotics and did well.
She was looking for me just to thank me for doing my job. It was such a pleasant change from the norm.
I don't look for (nor do I expect) "thank you" cards from the patients I treat. I just try and avoid complaint letters since the hospital is seemingly only interested in complaints!
I have decided that there are two basic types of complaint letters.
The first type are the ones which are written by a family member (usually someone with some minor degree of medical training) and who often wasn't even there at the patient encounter. They are convinced that based on their 6 months of medical terminology training, I should have managed their loved one's case differently.
The second type is the patient with incredibly unrealistic expectations regarding what an Emergency Department IS and what it is NOT. ("The doctor seemed very uncaring as I told him about the pain in my back that has been there for 3 years and moves into my left big toe, then shoots out of my foot and goes to my right big toe and up my other leg and then throbs behind my spleen"). This person is invaribly "allergic" to ultram, toradol, nsaids, compazine, benadryl, thorazine, lithium, all steroids, latex, and IV dye, and has seen by specialists in 3 states having had every medical procedure known except a culdocentesis!
- Anonymous8:18 AM, February 02, 2009
Well, I made it a point to thank my Radiation Therapist for saving my life and for everything else she did for me and it literally brought tears to her eyes as she told me that she bonded with her patients for eight weeks and then when they were done they would just disapear. I say she saved my life because as I was waiting to go in for my first treatment I was ready to get out of there and take my chances with alternative treatments. But just as I was about to get up she showed up in the doorway where you would usually see someone with a chart in their hand and kinda look your way and say Mr. ***** we're ready for you...no she didn't do that...she leaned against the door jam with a smile on her face that just screamed that she was happy to see me and said "You ready?" and before I could offer my protest she just tilted her head toward the treatment room and said "Come on, lets go." Well, I would have walked through the gates of hell with her right then....in 5 seconds she suddenly cleared out my 'cancer fog' you cancer patients know what that is I'm sure...for you others it is a kind of zombie state of mind where you just kinda go through your life in a fog going through treatments, surgeries, etc. until they finally give you THE NEWS hopefully the news is good but you always know it could be really bad...it was weeks after I completed the treatments that I realized how she did it....by breaking cardnial rule #1 she allows her heart to play a part in what she does...for that she does pay a price...I felt that everyone that left there and didn't make it a point to come back they took a piece of her heart with them .... so all you folks out there that encountered someone like her PLEASE do what I did ...go out and get a thank you card and write on it all of the things that you can remember that they did for you...no matter how small...then take it to them personally and give them a big hug (you might want to bring tissues cause unless I'm wrong you both will probably need them)...thanks for the opportunity to speak outReplyDelete


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He loves living in Manhattan, but he hates paying rent, so Jimmy Tarangelo has set up camp in a van by the river – a la that "Saturday Night Live" Chris Farley skit of so many years ago.
Tarangelo hasn't always been the man in van. He used to live in a house in Staten Island with his wife, to whom he was married for 14 years. Then they got divorced, and when Tarangelo tried to buy her out it ended up costing more than he could afford.
So he bounced. And moved all of his earthly possessions to a beige van by the river, where he's lived happily for the last eight years, Tarangelo told videographer Sean Dunne, who spent a few hours with him. Watch the interview, you won't be sorry.
U.S. & World
What's life like for the man in van? He wakes up in the morning, walks his four dogs and then has breakfast. He usually gets tea and a muffin, but for a special treat on the weekends he heads over to Dunkin' Donuts for an egg sandwich. Then it's off to the park to chat with friends – and sometimes he gets a free dinner at a nearby gentleman's club.
"I long for nothing," Tarangelo told Dunne. "Money's important but it depends what you gotta do for it."
There's just one teensy little amenity that would come in handy: A bathroom. Tarangelo doesn't have one.
"If it's the middle of the night and you happen to have eaten the wrong food, then you have a problem," he said. "But that doesn't happen too often."
The former odd-job worker calls himself an optimist and says he looks forward to better days ahead. Maybe he'll take his dogs rafting down the Delaware River. Maybe he'll buy a mobile home in Pennsylvania.
But what he won't do, for sure, is pick up and leave his bizarre lifestyle just because someone says he should.
"When you're forced to do something, then you don't want to do it," Tarangelo told Dunn. If it's of your own accord, then it's different."


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Only five years ago, the world's supply of oil appeared to be peaking, and as conventional gas production declined in the United States, it seemed that the country would become dependent on costly natural gas imports. But in the years since, those predictions have proved spectacularly wrong. Global energy production has begun to shift away from traditional suppliers in Eurasia and the Middle East, as producers tap unconventional gas and oil resources around the world, from the waters of Australia, Brazil, Africa, and the Mediterranean to the oil sands of Alberta. The greatest revolution, however, has taken place in the United States, where producers have taken advantage of two newly viable technologies to unlock resources once deemed commercially infeasible: horizontal drilling, which allows wells to penetrate bands of shale deep underground, and hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which uses the injection of high-pressure fluid to release gas and oil from rock formations.
The resulting uptick in energy production has been dramatic. Between 2007 and 2012, U.S. shale gas production rose by over 50 percent each year, and its share of total U.S. gas production jumped from five percent to 39 percent. Terminals once intended to bring foreign liquefied natural gas (LNG) to U.S. consumers are being reconfigured to export U.S. LNG abroad. Between 2007 and 2012, fracking also generated an 18-fold increase in U.S. production of what is known as light tight oil, high-quality petroleum found in shale or sandstone that can be released by fracking. This boom has succeeded in reversing the long decline in U.S. crude oil production, which grew by 50 percent between 2008 and 2013. Thanks to these developments, the United States is now poised to become an energy superpower. Last year, it surpassed Russia as the world's leading energy producer, and by next year, according to projections by the International Energy Agency, it will overtake Saudi Arabia as the top producer of crude oil.
This article was originally published by Foreign Affairs. You can read the rest of the article here.
You can read exclusive content from Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations, here.
Copyright © 2014 by the Council on Foreign Relations, Inc.


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Moroso Vacuum Pump Test
On high-rpm race engines, enough positive pressure can build up in the crankcase during the piston's downward travel to adversely affect cylinder wall ring sealing. Overcoming positive crankcase pressure also wastes horsepower and blows oil out of every crack and crevice of the engine.
Solving that problem is what crankcase evacuation systems do by creating a negative pressure in the crankcase when the engine is running. Besides improving ring seal while reducing parasitic power losses on conventional engines, a well-engineered evacuation system also permits the use of low-tension oil rings and low-drag compression rings for even greater frictional loss reductions. Negative pressure is also said to better control windage and raise crankshaft oil seal effectiveness.
The original evacuation systems used hoses that connected the valve covers to the header collectors. At high rpm, the high-speed exhaust gases rushing through the collector induce vacuum (suction) in the hose, in turn reducing crankcase pressures.
On the theory that "if a little is good, more must be better," some racers began using mechanically driven AIR (smog) pumps hooked up "backward" to mechanically suck air out of the crankcase. However, some racers reported durability problems because these pumps aren't designed for high-rpm usage. Enter Moroso, introducing a heavy-duty vacuum pump (PN 22641) specifically engineered for crankcase evacuation duty.
Moroso Vacuum Pump
Recently, we had a chance to try out the Moroso vacuum pump on a 14.5:1 509ci GM Rat motor. It was a serious unit with equipment such as '88 vintage Pontiac Pro Stock large-port heads, a JET-built 1,150-cfm Holley carb atop a Hogan's sheetmetal intake, an MSD-6AL ignition system, a big Comp Cams mechanical roller cam, a Hamburger oil pan, a Crower crank, BRC aluminum rods, and gas-ported Ross pistons with low-tension oil rings. We may have revealed that the '88 vintage assembly was not specifically optimized for an evacuation system.
We tested the engine on Westech Performance's SuperFlow dyno using 116-octane VP C-16 race gas and 42 degrees total timing advance. Westech ran the engine with no evacuation system, with a traditional exhaust collector evacuation system, and then with a Moroso vacuum pump. For the vacuum pump test, Moroso's recommended default pulleys-a 2.5-inch-od V-belt crank pulley (PN 23520) and a 5-inch-od AIR pulley (PN 64895)-were installed to drive the pump at 50 percent of engine speed.
Peak power numbers for the Moroso vacuum pump evacuation system were 673 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm and 897.2 hp at 7,900 rpm, compared to 658.6 lb-ft at 6,000 and 887.8 hp at 8,000 rpm with no exac system. Peak to peak, the pump in its as-run configuration on this engine was worth about 14 lb-ft of torque and 10 hp over the no-system configuration. It was also up about 17 lb-ft and 6 hp compared to the exhaust evacuation setup.
However, overall power gains proved inconclusive. When you look at each rpm test increment, the numbers bounce around-sometimes they're up, sometimes they're down. Between 6,100 and 8,100 rpm (where we have good data for all three test regimes), there's little difference in overall average numbers.
There are several explanations for this inconsistent performance: The engine had been in storage for several years; some gaskets may have dried out, leading to air inclusion under suction pressure (special attention should be paid to ensure all sealing surfaces are as flat as possible, and dipsticks should not be used). Plus, it did not have the new lip seals specifically designed for evacuation system use that better resist positive outside air pressure. We also may have needed to turn the pump faster. Pro engines using evacuation systems typically tach over 8,200 rpm; according to Moroso's catalog, lower-speed engines like our test example should run the pump at 66 percent of engine speed, which requires a different pulley that unfortunately did not arrive in time for the test. Although the pump pulled more than 6 inches Hg of vacuum through 8,200 rpm once all the leaks were plugged, ideally you need 10-17 inches of vacuum for the system to really work.
Based on these preliminary results, we'd say you need a fresh engine with a superior gasket seal combined with low-friction components to make this system work at its full potential. In such conditions, we've heard from NMCA EZ Street racers that the Moroso pump can be worth as much as 40 hp at peak on small-block nitrous engines. In theory, the vacuum pump should have an even greater affect on large-bore big-blocks since they have more area on the underside of the pistons. That makes our particular test even more of a curiosity compared to the talk in the pits. Another benefit of the evac system is eliminating smoking under heavy nitrous loads. Despite our dyno test, it's an interesting technology that demands a closer look.