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By: Victor Moreno Photo: Bohman Sjöstrand & Mikael Olsson
Creating the house of Absolut.
Every artist needs a studio, a place filled with the objects that light fires in their creativity. Atelier is the studio of Absolut. This doesn't mean that executives gather here to make important decisions, in fact, quite the opposite is true. Atelier is a buoyant celebration of the Absolut universe, expressed through all five senses. Absolut understands that the best way for people to get to know you is by inviting them to your home – so they created a home. Showcasing the brand not as a vodka, but as a person, you can experience aspects of that person's lifestyle and share equal beliefs. In the story below, we will uncover for you the creation of a remarkable place that embodies the soul of Absolut. Ladies and gentlemen, raconteurs and social scientists, welcome to the whimsical world of Atelier.
"Every artist needs a studio, a place filled with the objects that light fires in their creativity"
This majestic building from the early 1900's, which formerly housed a national bank, belongs to the patrimony of Sweden. It is an Art Nouveau construction by the Swedish architect Gustaf Wickman, who was involved in other representative architectural projects, including Berns Salongen in central Stockholm and Kiruna Church, in the northernmost city of Sweden.
Absolut has respected all the original details of the building such as the stuccos on the wall, the wooden embellishment and the skylight in the living room. The location is at the gates of the charming and atmospheric Old Town of Stockholm, in the doorway to Drottninggatan (Queen's Street).
On your way to seeing the full picture of what Absolut represents, the first thing you do after opening the door of Atelier is step into a dim bottle-shaped pathway, washing off the outside world. A subtle atmospheric sound effect washes over you as you walk on a soft floor into the environment, an immaculate transition from the franticness of the outside. This because Absolut is all about contrasts – just think of the bold typeface of the logo next to the swirling "Country of Sweden" underneath– you can feel that contrast the very moment you step into the building. You can feel that something very special awaits you.
Imagine integrating the grandeur of Tom Hanks' apartment in 'Big,' the coziness of Holly's place in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' and the eliteness of 'St. Elmo's fire,' all in one. Got it? Now forget those references, because this 800m 2 super apartment is in fact, not home to any particular aesthetic or direction, but an embodiment of the cultural life of the elegance-savvy. How the ideal place would look in their minds – a living Pinterest board. Digging into contemporary influences and transmitting without frills. Through the attention to detail, you feel the core of a living brand along with what you see, touch, smell, hear or taste. Once you step inside this building, it flirts with all your senses.
It is not the act of making a location through branding and corporate guidelines, but rather a logical materialization of what the brand stands for.
Several angles led to what Atelier is today. Nevertheless a logical discussion was aroused: the ways in which Absolut would be visible, avoiding competitors or aspects not coherent with the brand. So the challenge was to find a location where Absolut would be complete. The brief started simply: Could you come up with an idea based on the concept of a library? A library where a person could step into the actual graphical life of Absolut. This was the beginning, creating a universe where you can actually go in and touch things representing a life, instead of reading it on a paper or watching a presentation.
This is addressed through mood images, fabrics, smells or even sound, all the influences that inspire the brand's personality. It couldn't be in any other way, the shelves are fully fitted with magazines and a book collection of photography, design, interior design, art and fashion that any creative mind would crave for. Also there are some of the books that Absolut has published, drawing on a myriad of collaborations from the likes of Helmut Lang or Spike Jonze.
"The collaborative mindset of Absolut is present all throughout the space"
The collaborative mindset of Absolut is present all throughout the space. For instance, artist Nils Nova www.nilsnova.tv created different layers of reality using the walls of the reception – the main room you enter straight after the transition pathway described above. She created a wallpaper artwork photographing the walls of Atelier, so the image in the picture is the same room where you actually stand thus creating a feeling of visual delay, echoing your perception. The beautiful skylight in this living-room is also part of the heritage of the building so it was covered from the outside in order to create an evening environment. This living-room reception wants to make you feel like staying, whether lingering or hanging around, in the same spirit a hotel lobby does, but instead of the front desk you will find the bar, the heart of Absolut. Just like in a laboratory, this is the site for soulful mixology, the experimentation process of creating new cocktail combinations, new flavors. Please allow me to refer to the barman as the alchemist who stirs ingredients, measuring the quantities like in perfume making. Just a hint in one or another direction makes a completely different cocktail. You just need to see their tools and the unlabeled neat white neat bottles filled with handmade juices to grasp the feeling.
"Atelier is a buoyant celebration of the Absolut universe, expressed through all five senses"
The cellar is the heritage room, a contemporary vision to bring the spirit of the distillers and production facilities. This is a conceptual room of Åhus – the southern town of Sweden where Absolut is produced – with the information about the distillation process. An art installation conveys the winter wheat fields through a beautiful ceiling covered in jute strips hanging on. The coziness is in the smelling of this fiber together with the wooden floor and walls. Don't forget this was a bank originally, so the safe down there has become a creative vault within this creative house.
There are things in this world that are meant to be handled by an upper hand. During the transformational construction of the space, workers found a marble plaque with the legal name of the original company that owned Absolut. It seems they had their office there in the early 1920s. In addition, builders also found what seemed to be an unintentional time-capsule: an Absolut bottle from the beginning of the century, lodged between two walls.
As you must imagine, that bottle still stands proudly in the stash of Atelier. Not being afraid of the unknown leads to where it belongs. There is a piece of embroidery hanging in a wall that conveys the spirit of the place, the old adage reads as follows: "In the right light at the right time everything is extraordinary."
Text: Victor Moreno
Photo: Bohman Sjöstrand & Mikael Olsson
Can't decide what drink to make? Each week we'll teach you how to mix a new drink along with some bartending secrets to help you improve your skills on the way. Sign up now!
Keep an eye on your inbox for updates from Absolut.


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Homebuilders, real estate agents, interior decorators and others know the value of social media. Facebook is so committing. Twitter is not very visual. And MySpace is…. well.
So what do home busybodies want? Pictures. Pretty pictures. Thus, Pinterest!
What is Pinterest?
Pinterest is a wonderful tool. The site allows you to "pin" pictures you like from any website, and sort them onto boards that you can create. The purpose of Pinterest is to share beautiful photos. The pictures you pin go up on common boards as well, and can be "repinned." The most popular photos go viral, getting pinned thousands of times, maintaining the source link the entire time.
One of the most popular subjects of pins is homes. Be it photos of beautiful exteriors, decorating ideas or intricate built-ins, Pinterest has it all. This creates a pretty unique opportunity for people in the business of building and selling homes.
This holds a lot of potential for homebuilders, who as Lily Leung of U-T San Diego points out, are already flocking to Pinterest.
What Pinterest Can Do for You
Matt Kleinick, a marketing assistant at Sterling Custom Homes, got his company on Pinterest on Dec. 9. Since that time, 9% of the company's website traffic has come from Pinterest — beating out both Facebook and Twitter.
That's pretty impressive when you consider that Pinterest isn't really a custom homebuilder's target market. By and large, Pinterest is the 20-something crowd, interested in pretty things but probably not in the market to buy an expensive home.
"They may not be our target audience, but they have parents. Maybe those parents want to move to Austin, Texas, and build a custom home," he said. "We really feel like it will benefit us in the long run."
And it may benefit them in more than one way. In addition to attracting traffic, Kleinick said they use Pinterest to find new ideas to better their own business.
Using Pinterest
There are ways for homebuilders and real estate agents alike to harness the power of Pinterest.
For builders, sorting pictures into specific boards such as "beautiful porches," "great built-ins," "rustic homes," and "modern homes" will reach specific audiences who are more likely to follow a board that consistently pins things they love, rather than pins everything under the sun.
Builders can also offer do-it-yourself suggestions, and while that might seem counterintuitive, will get people on your site and get them coming back for continued instruction.
But, like every social media tool, there is a limit. And unfortunately, real estate agents and brokers are the ones most likely to hit it by overselling themselves and using Pinterest as pure self-promotion.
Kimberly Dotseth, broker and owner of Green Box Homes in San Diego, went so far as to encourage real estate agents not to get on Pinterest at all. She loves its beauty, and thinks it's not a place to sell.
In a blog on U-T San Diego she said, "So real estate agents, please do not clutter up Pinterest with your 'new' bright idea to sell houses at the site. Sheesh, keep that to yourselves! If you do bring that to Pinterest, I promise you won't find clients."
And I agree. Realtors who go about it that way won't find clients. But who says you have to use Pinterest like that?
Instead, why not make yourself a community expert? Don't just pin pictures of homes you are selling, pin great meals you had at restaurants in your city, pin a great picture of a running trail or a great nighttime photo of downtown. And when you describe the photo, don't say, "Great running trail right down the street from a home I'm selling in Cleveland!" say, "Cleveland's best running trail. I run here all the time."
Make yourself the person to follow in your town. So when follower pinners think of your town, they think of you. Build your brand by building your city instead of trying to build your brand through self-promotion.
The value of interest is yet untapped, but it holds potential for the housing industry. Just use it carefully.

subset: commoncrawl


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Free Angela and All Political Prisoners
Date: 1/13/2014; 36 minutes
Angela Davis visited UC Santa Barbara for a screening of "Free Angela and All Political Prisoners," a documentary by Shola Lynch that chronicles Davis's life as a young, outspoken UCLA professor. Angela Davis and producer Sidra Smith answer questions from the audience. Recorded on 10/10/2013. (#25917)
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Here is a new Coach Coupon for Sep that helps you to save 30% At Coach factory Stores.
Valid till 11th Sep only.
More coupons will be available soon.
Do subscribe to our mailing list if you want to receive latest coupons through email.
All the Coach handbags are stylish and have a trendy and royal look. They are most popular and loved bags by most of the people. These bags are of high quality and are made up of best leather.
The prices might be a little high but you needn't worry as they offer discount rates on these bags. If you are a customer of a retail store for a certain period of time, then you would be able to receive the bags at discount rates. Understand the policies of the retail stores and purchase bags at cheaper rates. One can save a lot of money by purchasing a bag at discount rate and can therefore purchase another accessory for that saved amount.
- It is always better to get bags that are out of season. This is because; seasoned bags would be expensive as they are in great demand. Usually spring bags are of bright colors and the bags of fall season are of dark colors. So, if you have planned to purchase a darker color handbag, get it during spring season. If you have planned to get a bright colored bag, purchase it during fall season. This will help you in saving a lot of money. Read the rest of this entry »


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Current Law Students / Re: How do I use hornbooks?« on: August 30, 2009, 05:04:57 PM »
How do you use hornbooks? You dont. Everything you need to learn the prof will teach you. You dont need anything else. If there is something particularly difficult to grasp, then you look at an old outline. Return the hornbooks. Dont waste your time/money.
I respectfully disagree. Return the casebooks if anything.
I was just asking. I do like the response though (Im actually a recent graduate though and obviously incredibly bored). Everyone has their own opinion, I just find that there is so much material that it is better to have a cursory knowledge of the majority of it rather than an in depth knowledge of any of it. To each his own though.


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Toni Morrison, Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and Oprah Winfrey, Chicago icon who through the power of media has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world, will appear in conversation at the annual Carl Sandburg Literary Aw
Toni Morrison, Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and Oprah Winfrey, Chicago icon who through the power of media has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world, will appear in conversation at the annual Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner on Oct. 20 sponsored by the Chicago Public Library and the Chicago Public Library Foundation. Held at The Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd., on UIC's campus, the event begins with 6 p.m. cocktails and then an elegant 7 p.m. dinner. The awards and conversation are sure to be one of the fall season's most highly anticipated events. Sponsorship for tables of 10 begin at $10,000 and single tickets –– now are you ready for this? –– are $1,000 or $2,500. Event co-chairs: Cheryl Mayberry McKissack, president and CEO, Nia Enterprises, and Chicago Public Library Foundation board member, and Jim Tyree, Mesirow Financial's chair. Morrison, author of nine novels and three children's books and one of the most provocative and respected novelists of our time, receives the Carl Sandburg Literary Award which is presented annually to an author whose significant body of work has enhanced the public's awareness of the written word. Her novel, Beloved, was awarded the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and in 2006 was named by the New York Times Review as the best novel of the previous 25 years. Winfrey produced and starred in the 1998 film based on the book. Morrison became a professor at Princeton Univ. in 1989 and in 1993 received the Nobel Prize in Literature, the first African American to be so honored. Past winners include Henry Louis Gates Jr., Kurt Vonnegut, Nikki Giovanni, Tom Wolfe, Salman Rushdie, David Mamet, John Updike, et al. CPL recently announced that Morrison's most recent novel, A Mercy, will be the 19th selection for Chicago's citywide book club, One Book, One Chicago. For more info and or to buy tickets, tables or sponsorships, visit chicagopubliclibraryfoundation.org or contact Rebecca Spence, event coordinator, (312) 201-0930 or rspencecplfoundation.org. Congrats – to a fave media brutha, Clarence Waldron, Jet mag's senior writer, who picks up the coveted 2010 Legacy Award from the National Association of Black Journalists at month's end at its annual national convention in San Diego. Waldron is being honored as "dean of Black reporters in entertainment and the arts" for his stellar writing and reporting for the past 28 years at Jet. NABJ is also recognizing him for developing key business relationships with a wide array of entertainers and newsmakers throughout the years as well as helping to launch the careers of various noteworthy stars. Through his reporting and writing, celebrities such as Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Steve Harvey, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Kirk Franklin and many others obtained their first cover story via Jet. Dream On! – Dr. Billie Wright Adams, revered pediatrician who's been practicing for some four decades, healing, educating and maintaining the health of young children as a partner in Pediatric Associates, is one of three honored as "A Dream Maker" Saturday noon by the Women's Board of Bronzeville Children's Museum. It all happens at the Annual Kwanzaa in July Dream Makers & Dreamers Awards Luncheon at the Oak Lawn Hilton. Other Dream Makers honorees: Bril Barrett, master tap dancer and creative director of MADD (Mad About Dance), which teaches the art of tap; and Amadeus Reams, of TAM Entertainment and Dream Makers Society, who works within the Chicago Public Schools with students as young as 10 years, instilling visions, dreams and expectations of careers in the field of entertainment. And being cited as "Dreamers," Khary York Armster, a sixth grade honor student at McDade Classical School, a pianist and orator; China Gray, a freshman at Chicago High School for the Performing Arts, a vocalist and pianist; and Kamari McElroy, another McDade honor student, a pianist. These youngsters have been trained by Patricia Pike, director of Pike's School of Music and a retired schoolteacher. Afternoon highlights: an Afrocentric Marketplace, at 11 a.m., a traditional libation ceremony, raffle give-aways and performances by the awardees. The mission of the Bronzeville Children's Museum, 9301 S. Stony Island, is to educate and expose children to the rich contributions, culture and heritage of African Americans, people of Africa and its Diaspora through activities, interactive exhibits and program, says Peggy Montes, museum founder. Call (773) 721-9301. Coming Up! – One of the most memorable cultural events of the season is just around the corner! Muntu Dance Theatre's 2010 Summer Concert & Gala, Cultural Bridges: The Pearl Primus Project, is Saturday, 7 p.m., at the Harris Theater for Music & Dance, 205 E. Randolph, followed by a lavish reception under a starry summer night on the Rooftop Terrace in Millennium Park. Gala chairs: a trio of our community's cultural icons, Amina Dickerson, Angela Pace-Moody and Sandra Rand. The dance concert will feature two company premieres, A Negro Speaks of Rivers and Hard Time Blues, both signature works by Dr. Pearl Primus. A Negro Speaks of Rivers was originally choreographed by Dr. Primus in 1944 and premiered by her company in 1945. Muntu Dance Theatre is the first African dance company to receive and perform Dr. Primus' works. Muntu has been awarded an American Masterpieces Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in support of this project. Primus focused on matters of oppression, racial prejudice and violence. Her efforts were also subsidized by the U.S. government who encouraged African American artistic endeavors. In 1944, she interpreted Langston Hughes' The Negro Speaks of Rivers and in 1945 created Strange Fruit, based on the Lewis Allan's poem about a lynching. Hard Time Blues is based on a song about sharecroppers by folksinger Josh White. A limited number of tickets are still available – single VIP tickets, $175; American Masterpieces tickets, $250; and concert only tickets, $25, $35 and $50. Call Muntu at (773) 241-6086. Curtain Call – What just likely will be Chicago's musical theatre event of the summer, Elton John and Tim Rice's amazing production of Aida, starring veteran Chicago actor Rashada Dawan, has opened at Bailiwick Chicago Theatre, 1909 W. Byron, and continues through Aug. 1 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. Aida is the story of a high-ranking Egyptian soldier, engaged to the Pharaoh's daughter and next in line for the throne, who falls in love with the Nubian slave Aida. When he discovers that she is the daughter of the King of Nubia, each is forced to choose between love for country and love for each other. With a driving pop-rock score, the story challenges audiences to consider the question: "What would you sacrifice for eternal love?" In its first Chicago production since the national tour, Bailiwick Chicago's production features stunning choreography by the modern dance company, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, a six-piece band and a cast of 20 talented actors, singers and dancers. It is directed by Bailiwick Chicago Collective member Scott Ferguson, with co-musical direction by Jimmy Morehead and Collective member Robert Ollis. Original choreography was created by Kevin Iega Jeff, artistic director of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, and Gary Abbott, associate artistic director. This is the first production of Aida to be produced in Chicago since the original that moved to Broadway starring Heather Headley in 1999. Headley won a Tony for her Broadway performance. Tickets ($25-$35, based on the date and time of the show) can be purchased online at www.bailiwickchicago.com or by calling (866) 811-4111. For group sales tickets of six or more, there is a 10 percent discount using the promotion code AIDAGROUP; ask for group sales when calling the box office. Happy B'day – to Michael House, Defender president; Mavis Staples, Jerome Butler, Gerri Patterson, Larry Mohn, Helen Sinclair, Onjalee Lashay, Cedric Gay, Santita Jackson, Anita Green, Ansel T. Johnson, Kimberly Carmen, Patricia Andrews-Keenan, Musette Henley and Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Bell (Mary L.), parents of the Defender's Exec. Director of Finance Carol Bell. Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender.
Photo: Courtesy


text: I'm on my way to the PASS Summit, but thought you might enjoy reading some of these cool articles. If you're going to the PASS Summit, drop me an email and perhaps we can meet in person! -Kevin ETL Performance: Unisys and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Speed Up the Process Unisys and Microsoft prove SQL Server 2005 supports 64-bit parallel processing and delivers high levels of Extraction, Transformation and Loading (ETL) performance on Unisys ES7000 servers. This white paper summarizes the results of collaborative testing between Microsoft and Unisys running ETL processes on Intel® Xeon® (32-bit) and Intel® Itanium® 2 (64-bit) based ES7000 servers. http://www.unisys.com/eprise/main/admin/corporate/doc/ELTSQL.pdf PREMIER Bankcard Inc: Credit Card Company Runs its Business with 10-Terabyte Mission Critical BI Solution PREMIER Bankcard, LLC (PREMIER) one of the largest VISA and MasterCard credit providers in the United States, needed to enhance scalability and performance for its business intelligence (BI) data warehouse and online transaction processing (OLTP) databases. "BI began as an area of research for us, but has become absolutely mission critical," says Dan Zerfas, Vice President of Software Development at PREMIER. The company enhanced its BI infrastructure by upgrading its 10-terabyte data warehouse to Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005 Enterprise Edition (64-bit), hosted on a server computer with 16 Intel® Itanium® 2 processors. PREMIER also upgraded its OLTP database to the 64-bit version of SQL Server 2005. The upgraded deployments provide a better view of the business, enterprise-grade scalability, maintenance without scheduled downtime, and easier database management. http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/casestudy.aspx?casestudyid=4000000475 Online Transaction Processing in SQL Server 2008 Microsoft SQL Server 2008 provides a database platform that is optimized for today's applications, and that can scale for any size of business. It drives cost-efficiencies by dramatically reducing downtime and enabling dynamic and proactive management that significantly reduces administrative overhead. Finally, SQL Server 2008 provides a highly secure platform that you can trust with your organization's sensitive, business-critical data. http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/whitepapers/sql_2008_oltp.mspx Business Intelligence in SQL Server 2008 Microsoft SQL Server 2008 makes business intelligence available to everyone through deep integration with Microsoft Office, providing the right tool, to the right user, at the right price. The result is that employees at all levels of an organization can see and help to influence the performance of the business by working with tools that are both easy to use and powerful. Integration with the 2007 Microsoft Office System enables users to view business performance in a way that they understand and which feels comfortable; and the introduction of PerformancePoint Server 2007, helps customers to gain actionable insight into the entire organization so they can monitor, analyze, and plan their businesses, as well as drive alignment, accountability, and actionable insight across the entire organization. http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/whitepapers/sql_2008_bi.mspx Server Consolidation with SQL Server 2008 Microsoft SQL Server 2008 supports multiple options for server consolidation, which provides organizations with the flexibility to choose the consolidation approach that best meets their requirements to centralize data services management and reduce hardware and maintenance costs. By providing centralized management, auditing, and monitoring capabilities, SQL Server 2008 makes it easy to manage multiple databases and data services, which significantly reduces administrative overheads in large enterprises. Finally, SQL Server 2008 provides the reassurance of industry-leading performance and scalability, and unprecedented control over server resource to maximize the performance of consolidated data services. http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/whitepapers/sql_srv_consol.msp


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As ever more TV and other media finds its way into the home from the internet and on to a PC, finding a means to display stored video files on your TV screen and other screens in the home is essential.
And that means streaming video (and music, and pictures) around a home network to be viewed on PCs and TVs alike.
For this you need a computer to download, store and stream the media, a data connection, and a device to extract the streamed files and display them on the TV using conventional AV connections - unless you are going to dedicate an extra PC in the living room next to the TV. That means a digital media adapter that actively gets the files to watch or listen to from the storage PC and displays them on the TV screen.
ZyXEL's DMA1000 digital media adapter (ZyXEL calls it a media streamer but it doesn't really do the streaming) is the size of a paperback book and it connects to a wired network using CAT5/RJ45 cables.
This gives the DMA1000 an advantage when it comes to playing high data rate files such as HDTV footage; a cable carries data at a faster rate and with greater reliability than any wireless connection.


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Operation Santa Claus
Dennis and Marie Green have played Santa and Mrs. Claus for 21 years. The couple from Greenwood, South Carolina began the holiday tradition at Dennis's annual Christmas party. His jolly beard and her twinkling smile reminded friends and co-workers of the holiday's most celebrated duo.
The Greens began visiting churches and family-friendly establishments each holiday season to listen to Christmas wishes from children throughout the community.
In October, Green had bypass surgery at Lexington Medical Center after experiencing severe angina, a type of chest pain that is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.
Lexington Cardiovascular Surgery and Lexington Medical Center's cardiology team made sure Santa was healthy in time for Christmas.
"I was very impressed with the level of care I received from Dr. Travis, Lexington Cardiovascular Surgery and the nurses at Lexington Medical Center," said Dennis Green, a.k.a. Santa Claus.
He was back to taking Christmas lists from children after just two weeks.
"I didn't have to shave my beard for surgery, which is very important this time of year," added Green.
Cardiac surgery is a powerful treatment that restores heart function and saves lives. It's one of the most critical components of the complete heart and vascular program at Lexington Medical Center.


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Home > Accessories / Attachments
Convert your side discharge tractor into an efficient collecting machine.
This is a three bin, large capacity collector, able to take 315 litres of grass clippings to leave your garden looking pristine after mowing.
The bins are removable for easy emptying of the grass clippings, and it has been designed to fit all 107 cm cut TS model machinery.
Brand: HUSQVARNAAccessory Type: Tractor / Ride-On
Why choose us?
Garden Machinery Direct is a family run business with over 40 years experience in selling and servicing garden equipment. We're one of the biggest garden machinery retailers in the UK. Based in the Midlands, we're well placed to deliver products across the UK - though we do deliver internationally. We are main agents for all the biggest garden machinery brands, and have fantastic working relationships with world leading manufacturers.
Our goal is to offer customers top of the range garden machinery at discount prices, delivered direct to your door. Our friendly and professional staff are available by telephone or email to give expert advice on the equipment most suited to your needs or to answer any queries you may have. We also operate an efficient spare parts service, utilising the latest computer link-ups direct to manufacturers stocks.
All of the garden machinery we sell carries a manufacturers guarantee, supported by a nationwide network of authorised service dealers.
At Garden Machinery Direct we offer our customers the best deals and even better service.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Be the first to Write a Review for this item!
View the Husqvarna brochure for more information.
HUSQVARNA 2 Bin Collector for 97cm Deck£229.00
This 2 bin collector can be used with 97 cm cutter deck machines, allowing you to convert your side discharge tractor into a collecting machine with a 210 litre capacity. The bins are removable for easy emptying.
STIHL DUROCUT 20-2 Mowing Head£38.00
The versatile DuroCut 20-2 mowing head can hold various line types and sizes. As well as the standard 2-line, it can also host an extra line creating a 4-line cutter.
STIHL HSA26 Telescopic Handle and Wheels Attachment£36.00
This telescopic shaft and wheel set for STIHL's HSA26 allows you to easily edge around smaller lawns and use the grass blade attachment while standing up.
A genuine STIHL AutoCut 2-2 head for STIHL FSA56 and FSE52 trimmers. The mowing line can be extended by tapping the head on the ground.


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Giving proof that big things can indeed come in small packages, the AIAIAI Pipe In-Ear Earphones have certainly proven this. With their cool, modern and extremely comfortable design, the AIAIAI Pipe In-Ear Earphones is a perfect solution for those who like to listen to music while on the go, whether you're going out for a casual run or waiting for your bus to arrive
The AIAIAI Pipe In-Ear Earphones come complete with advanced drivers and electrical designs that aids in the super power of the bass, whilst at the same time producing exceptional and crystal clear audio. The AIAIAI Pipe In-Ear Earphones are perfect for any lover of music and can be used with any mobile phone, MP3 player or iPod
These particular earphones come in a variety of different stylish colours including black, pink, blue and black/grey so you can be sure to find a suitable pair. Also included is an in-line microphone so you can maintain hands free conversations on your phone, which can be especially useful for when you are on the go
Some of the features and benefits of the AIAIAI Pipe In-Ear Earphones which may interest you in considering purchasing them include:
Complete with a built-in microphone for hands free calls
Extremely comfortable on the ears thanks to the soft ear cushions
Tangle free cord to prevent knots and tangles
Hands-free calling through iPod's, iPad's, iPhone's and smart phones
Advanced in-ear design which helps block out unwanted background noise
Complete with a 3.5mm jack connection plug for connecting to devices
So there you have just some of the key features and benefits of the AIAIAI Pipe In-Ear Earphones. These particular set of headphones are rather cheap as well so they can fit almost anyone's budget, no matter how big or small it is, so if you haven't considered the AIAIAI Pipe In-Ear Earphones yet, then it's definitely worth doing so. Unbelievable sound that is crystal clear on top of a stylish design can't be beaten! Their popularity has been booming worldwide due to the amazing sound quality and maximum comfort so it may be worth considering purchasing a pair for yourself if you haven't already
The AIAIAI Pipe In-Ear Earphones are able to withstand movement which means they won't budge or fall out of your ears while you are listening to your music. This is extremely useful for when you are on the go throughout most of the day
Additional Information
|Wearing Style
|3.5mm Jack
|Noise Cancelling
|In-Line Microphone
|In-Line Volume Control
|In-Line Remote
|Manufacturer's Warranty
|12 Months


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[*]cabal install –with-compiler=ghc-6.8.2 ghc-paths
Could not find module `Distribution.Simple.PackageIndex':
Important remaining corner cases include:
– It seems that TyCon needs to export a new function (tyConParent :: TyCon -> TyConParent), because there's no way to get that info presently!
– (isFunTyCon tc || isPrimTyCon tc) : how the heck am I supposed to represent these in a TyClDecl? 🙂
– When the HsDecls tree contains something of type HsDoc, do I just leave it empty? Will Haddock-code need to / already does fill that in? I guess I'll find that out once I test my code on more things…? or what?
– it looks like I neglected to implement class ATs yet.
Also, (parseName "Prelude.->") crashed GHC with "isDataOcc: check me ->", so I wasn't able to test it yet 🙂 … or is it one of those syntaxes that's so fixed that you're not even allowed to export or import it, perhaps?
Also I succeeded at integrating it into Haddock. Well, almost. For module List, I have the English documentation being displayed where it should be, and I have the signature displayed: all the signatures are "() -> ()", 😛 . I still need to finish threading the Ghc monad through Haddock.Interface.Create so that I can call lookupName at the right times.
– foible: I needed to convert InstalledInterface's (HsDoc DocName) to ExportDecl's (HsDoc Name), so I had to essentially write fmap for HsDoc, because it's lamely not an instance of class Functor. Where should that fmap-code be put? (can it be derived yet?)
– In Haddock.Interface.Create:
-* Under what circumstances is (Map.lookup (nameModule t) instIfaceMap) == Nothing? Is it if we haddock a package for which its dependencies are compiled, but not, themselves, haddocked?
-* I didn't figure out where to get ExportDecl's expItemInstances from (but I didn't really look around for it yet)
okay that's enough for the day! I need some sleep! And some feedback would be good. Besides that, I do have a plan: Integrate the two pieces I just did; Test on lots more examples than just haskell98-List; fix the things that I obviously neglected; Make the code a bit more presentable. Any big pieces I'm leaving out that we have to do before starting to integrate my code? (well, hoping that there aren't any more big unexpected things that break along the way, anyway)


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Soon after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Jan. 12, the United States began mobilizing its relief effort for the small, impoverished Caribbean nation. Two days later, responding to a nationwide call for aid to Haiti, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the deployment of urban search and rescue team New York Task Force 1 to help rescue victims. This New York City team, consisting of members of the police and fire departments, specializes in operations involving the collapse of heavy steel and concrete.
The team saved six lives including two children. Three victims were trapped beneath a collapsed grocery store, a middle-aged man was caught under the wreckage of a four-story building, and a young brother and sister were trapped under rubble for eight days. The children's father had been digging with a crowbar that whole time and passing water through a small opening to his children, miraculously keeping them alive. The eight-year-old boy, Kiki, and his ten-year-old sister, Sabrina, emerged extremely dehydrated but, "other than that, they looked like they were ready to play when they came out of the hole," Battalion Chief Joe Downey reported on the fire department's website.
As he was being pulled from the rubble, Kiki flashed a broad smile and raised his arms above his head in triumph as rescuers cheered. "It was the most incredible feeling," said Downey.
In situations such as this, speed is critical to saving as many lives as possible, and so this team mobilized shortly after the quake struck. But how are teams like New York Task Force 1 organized so rapidly, how do they carry out their operations, and who is responsible for their oversight and costs?
A National Network
New York Task Force One is managed by the city Office of Emergency Management. This team is one of 28 emergency response teams sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that are "strategically located throughout the United States" and "can be deployed within six hours of activation," according to the Office of Emergency Management website. In 1989, FEMA established the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System to assemble "local emergency services personnel into integrated disaster response task forces." This was expanded upon in 1991 in the Federal Response Plan, which sponsored the creation of such task forces around the country including New York's.
The federal government, not the city or the state, funds, trains and has the authority to activate these task forces in the event of disasters, natural or otherwise. "The team is funded by, coordinated and overseen by FEMA," said Seth Andrews, deputy press secretary for the Office of Emergency Management. But the city manages "communication between FEMA and the team" and "coordinating within the team itself." This, Andrews said, can include "everything from logistics for food [and] air transportation" to ensure that "team members can show up, pack up their things, load up their equipment and they can get to where they need to be."
The task force includes approximately 220 members from the police and fire departments that can be summoned for rescue operations. The state of New York has another task force, New York Task Force 2 based in the Albany area, but they were not activated for this crisis.
New York 1 can deploy either as a light task force of 34 people or a heavy task force of 80. Workers include emergency physicians, paramedics, structural engineers, hazardous materials technicians, heavy equipment operators, and specialists in canine units, as well as experts on communications, planning, and logistics.
"You do have some people that are there almost, in a sense, behind the scenes, that are helping to coordinate logistics, getting camp set up, things like that," said Andrews.
The Haiti Mission
For their mission in Haiti, the city's task force included 76 members of the police and fire departments and four canine units. They brought 20 tons of the latest technology and equipment including medical supplies and specialized rescue tools. The task force took microphones sensitive enough to detect human breathing, personal protection equipment, tents, power and ready-to-eat meals as well as listening devices, infrared cameras and motion detectors.
Four canines accompanied the team. "The canines that they traveled with are unique," Andrews said. "There are no other in the country of their kind. They are dual-trained meaning that these are regular patrol dogs so when they're out here in the city they're trained to apprehend criminals. But they're also cross-trained to be able to sniff out a human body that's still alive, they can detect a heartbeat."
New York Task Force 1 participates in exercises during the year as a unit and "within their respective agencies, they do extensive training on a day to day basis," according to Andrews. In November 2009, its members even participated in an exercise that tested the team's response to a simulated earthquake.
The last time that the task force deployed was in 2008 for assistance after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. Similar rescue teams have been utilized after catastrophes like the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 and the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Though most fire departments are capable of "performing rescues in light to medium-sized construction collapses," only the urban search and rescue task forces have all the equipment and techniques necessary to operate within the most dangerous conditions according to the Office of Emergency Management website.
Led by battalion Chief Joe Downey, New York's team flew into Haiti in C-17 cargo planes on Jan. 16, two days after they were activated and scheduled to depart. The delay was due to "bottlenecking in and around the Port-au-Prince airport," said Andrews. The airport there, he said, was "jam packed because they had only one air strip that was open at the time."
On the Ground
Upon landing, the task force divided into two groups with each working 12-hour shifts. They relied on local residents to direct them to where people were trapped. Team members usually have enough equipment to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours and can be re-supplied beyond that mark so that they are not a drain on important local resources but in Haiti, the team had enough supplies to sustain themselves for a week.
In Haiti, the U.S. rescue teams worked under the U.S. Agency for International Development, the State Department organization leading the relief effort. Similar FEMA-sponsored teams, including the Los Angeles County Urban Search and Rescue Task Force and the Virginia Task Force 2 Urban Search and Rescue team have helped in the ravaged Haitian Capital, Port-au-Prince. The country was divided into a grid so that the 46 teams from around the world were responsible for a designated area. These teams have rescued 132 individuals, with 47 saved by U.S. task forces, according to the mayor's office.
The New York team returned home Jan, 24 after spending a week helping victims of the earthquake. On Jan. 26, the members of New York Task Force 1 were awarded commendations at City Hall for all their rescue efforts and for saving the lives of six people buried under rubble in Port-au-Prince.
"We are glad to have the members of our Urban Search and Rescue Team, who worked on the front lines of the global rescue effort in Haiti, back home, safe and sound," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at the ceremony. "There's an awful lot of work ahead in Haiti, and an awful lot of mourning, but today, we thought it was important to recognize the members of Task Force One, who've made us proud once again."
Bloomberg honored not only the human members of NY-TF1 but also its canines with four specially made edible keys to the city for its German shepherds. "Six survivors out of thousands lost may not seem significant, but I think it's fair to say, to the six people and their loved ones it really means everything," the mayor said.
Task force member Lieutenant Bill Redding paraphrased a Winston Churchill quote when speaking to DNAinfo about the team's work in Haiti. "To every person comes a time in their life when they're tapped on the shoulder and asked to do something unique and specific to their talents. What a shame if that moment finds them unprepared for what would've been their finest hour," Redding said. "This team was tapped on the shoulder and, in my vision, it was their finest hour to date."


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I'm writing this blog on Day 5, just over halfway through our Learning Futures Festival Online 2010. I thought it might be a useful point to note down some initial observations.
Overall, for me, it's been a novel and fantastic experience. With my techie colleagues Terese, Richard and Emma, the physical Media Zoo has formed a suitable base of operations, with one desk used solely for vital equipment such as chocolate, Wagon Wheels and coffee.
The days have been long and the challenges diverse, but satisfying. For example, a wobbly wireless connection on the first day saw us move quickly into hard-wired mode for presentations. We've also been responding to a steady stream of help requests from delegates. Most of all, though, we've supported each other by shouting 'PRESS THE RECORD BUTTON!!' at the appropriate times.
Thus far, the online conference software provided by our sponsors Elluminate Live! has performed faultlessly, and the excellent suppport of our Elluminate liaison, Sophie, has been much appreciated. All proceedings thus far have been recorded and placed on the festival website (and will be made available to the public in due course).
The festival website, provided by our sponsors All Things in Moderation, has been excellent and under the control of Emma, who has done a great job keeping it fresh and updated. And I'm looking forward to the final day, when 10 ebook vouchers will be given away by our sponsors Routledge: Taylor and Francis (3 in Second Life!).
And, most important of all, the keynotes, papers and workshops have all been of the highest quality: engaged, intelligent, current, practical … I could go on. And our delegates have been fantastically enthused.
Considering our delegates and speakers are based all over the world, I'm very much a convert to this sort of conference. (Read Gilly's blog about the environmental benefits.)
As long as we don't suffer the trauma of the first day, when the supply of biscuits reached dangerously low levels, the final four days of the festival should be as good as if not better than the first four.
Simon Kear
Learning Technologist


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I thought it would be fun to do a brunch recipe..since that is what time of day it is for us here, and I am starving. I have made vegan quiche lots but never a vegan frittata. Its basically a quiche without the crust and filled with vegetables. I did mine in a casserole dish in the oven..but I am sure you could try and cook it in a non-stick skillet too. O yeah..its gluten free too!
Chickpea Frittata
1 block medium tofu
1 cup soy milk
1/2 cup nutrional yeast
2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup chickpea flour
1 potato peeled and small diced
1 large shallot-sliced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup chickpeas
1/2 tsp garlic powder
fresh ground pepper
sea salt to taste
fresh parsley (optional)
green onions (optional)
fresh tomato slices (optional)
Using a blender, mix up the first 6 ingriedents.
Over medium heat saute the potato until golden, add the rest of the veggies and season to taste.
In greased casserole dish combine the soy mixture with veggies. Bake at 375 for 50 minutes.


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Tonight sees two new show premieres, and they couldn't be more different. The Mindy Project premieres tonight on FOX after New Girl and has received a considerable amount of buzz as the "next" hot comedy. Vegas, on the other hand, hasn't enjoyed the same amount of pre-show notoriety but is the only scripted drama premiere of the night, and makes its debut after NCIS: Los Angeles.
So how will these two freshmen fare tonight? Take a guess and tell us about it in the comments!


text: Well, here we are again, another year, another two week flurry of posts and disappointed employers, spouses, and children. I know we have a few threads going already, but with the official thread at 40+ pages, three weeks before the start, maybe we can concentrate that one on all the pre-rally preparation and this one on the day to day rally results and news. Far be it from me to make the rules, but just a suggestion. I was asked to get this party started, so buckle your seatbelts. Daily Information: Official ASO Dakar Website Here Rally Pan Am Rally Pan Am on Facebook Rally Pan Am on Twitter Marathonrally Marie Hessel runs a great blog here RallyRaidReview <-Shameless plug for my own blog Where to listen: http://www.rallyraidio.net/ Competitors and rally followers, check with Packmule for call in numbers. Radio Maray (Spanish) Where to watch: Versus - Versus looks to only show schedules out a week on their site and I have been checking it for any news. Nothing yet, but I haven't heard that they are not covering it. Most likely, expect the same as previous years, a half hour coverage of the ASO feed with some "American" flair, and a day delayed behind the actual stage. OLN - I don't yet see a schedule out past next week, but OLN usually follows a similar schedule to Versus. Also of course, Eurosport.com 7:20 p.m. GMT 10 minutes live from the bivouac. 10:00 p.m. GMT 45 minutes daily coverage. Eurosport always puts on some great pre-race content to whet your appetite. Check out the Destination Dakar videos on the Eurosport site. SBS - Looks like coverage starts on the 2nd with daily updates at 13:30 local time. (I am not sure of the time zones. ) Who to watch: ADVrider inmates and friends: (Doesn't look like Dakar.com has the individual pages up yet. I'll update the name links once their page is updated. SHERCO: David Casteu #5 Laurent Lazard #31 (Listed on a KTM, but will be on a Sherco with Casteu and Tine Meier) Tine Meier #100 Team Yamaha GYTR/Team Rally Pan Am (someone correct me on the official team name) Jonah Street #7 on his stunning new WR450 Yamaha ADVriders (Website\Inmate\Name\Race Number) Berglund - Thomas Berglund #22 Go Thomas! Spanish Beamer - Jose Garcia #158 Go Jose! JMo (& piglet) - Jenifer Morgan #173 Go Jenny! (and Piglet) vbenedic - Vicente DeBenedictis Neto #87 Team Honda Europe Cody Quinn #15 Mirjam Pol #58 Honorable ADVrider's For the third year in a row, Kemal Merkit pulls in race #55 Annie Seel #56 Simon Pavey #51 Craig Bounds #86 John McKendrick #79 Australia's GHR Rally Team Jacob Smith #113 Mark Davidson #117 Warren Strange #121 Simon Harslett #181 follow their progress on the GHR blog here. Other riders to watch will be American Michael Stanfield (#166), Silvia Giannetti (#71), Laia Sanz (#44), and the usual suspects, Chaleco (#3), Helder (#4), Ullevalsetter (#6), Duclos (#14), Verhoeven (#16), and a plethora of others. Former Rally PanAm rider Pedro de Uriarte will be in a buggy this year. For the wierd and wonderful, we have a 125cc KTM 2 smoker riden by US resident and Argentine expat Luis Belaustegui (#150) and a 1978 Bultaco 370cc riden by the brave Ignacio Chivite (#169). Of course on a quad is Camelia Liparoti #259 The full list of entrants can be found here. Bike Count: KTM 62 Yamaha 43 Honda 33 Aprilia 13 BMW 9 Beta 8 Jincheng 3 Sherco 3 (I think this may be 4 though) Husaberg 3 Kawasaki 3 Husqvarna 1 Bultaco 1 Rieju 1 Again, a special mention to all who follow and support the riders. Those who go without sleep, clean clothes, or showers and endure the bumpy roads and non-roads helping to keep the riders riding for our enjoyment. Thanks to you! I'll also give special mentions for Carlton Kirby and Toby Moody. Carlton for, in my opinion, excellent Eurosport commentating and lack of fear to dive into the less know and sometimes obscure competitors and story lines and Toby for, well, being the voice of Dakar many have known for years. Both top notch in my book. The Route: Did I miss anyone? Dakar Training: A lot of good videos on YouTube. Also check out Facebook and Twitter for a lot of the riders' names, seems like many updates and behind the scenes stuff is showing up there first. Bianchi Prata <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9kKBprhRe60?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9kKBprhRe60?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object> Cyril Despres <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CgVlLx0smVI?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CgVlLx0smVI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>


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February 26, 2013, Ottawa (CIS) – The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds hope to enter the record books this week in Sherbrooke, Que., where they will attempt to become the third team in history to win the CIS women's volleyball championship for a sixth straight year.
The eight-team national tournament, presented by Asics, gets under way Thursday at Université de Sherbrooke and concludes on Saturday with the gold-medal final at 4 p.m. All 11 matches from the single-elimination competition will be webcast live on www.CIS-SIC.tv.
Joining top-seeded and Canada West champion UBC at the tourney will be the No. 2 Montreal Carabins (RSEQ champions), No. 3 Ottawa Gee-Gees (OUA champs), No. 4 Trinity Western Spartans (Canada West finalists), No. 5 Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champs), No. 6 and host Sherbrooke Vert & Or (RSEQ finalists), No. 7 Alberta Pandas (Canada West bronze medallists), and No. 8 Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ bronze medallists).
The T-Birds, who already hold the all-time record for most CIS banners overall (9), open their title defence Thursday at 3 p.m. against Laval. Other quarter-final match-ups include Dalhousie vs. Trinity Western at 1 p.m., Alberta vs. Montreal at 6 p.m. and Sherbrooke vs. Ottawa at 8 p.m.
In addition to UBC and Alberta (7), other contenders who have claimed the championship trophy in the past include Sherbrooke (2), Dalhousie (1) and Laval (1). Montreal, Ottawa and Trinity Western are still looking for their first title.
UBC, TWU and Alberta hope to resume the Canada West domination in the sport. Teams currently competing in the CWUAA (including schools from the now defunct Great Plains conference) have won 32 of the last 36 national titles. Laval (2006), Sherbrooke (2005, 2003) and Dalhousie (1982) are the only Eastern squads that have triumphed since 1977.
The Thunderbirds are enjoying yet another stellar campaign in 2012-13. They go into this week's championship sporting a sparkling 29-2 overall record versus CIS opponents, including a 21-1 regular schedule and a 2-0 mark at the Canada West Final Four. The 'Birds have won 22 straight matches since dropping their second conference game – against Trinity Western – back on October 27.
Despite losing national team member Kyla Richey – last year's CIS player of the year – to graduation following its 2012 title run, UBC still boasts a formidable lineup highlighted by Canada West all-stars Shanice Marcelle, a fifth-year outside hitter, setter Brina Derksen-Bergen, also a fifth-year senior, as well as junior outside hitter Lisa Barclay, the 2012 CIS championship MVP.
Marcelle is about to wrap up one of the most remarkable careers in CIS women's volleyball history. The four-time national champion was the CIS player of the year in 2010-11, is a two-time first-team all-Canadian and has been named to the all-tournament team following each of her first four CIS championship appearances, including in 2011, when she was voted tourney MVP. The Victoria native is once again the Canada West nominee for CIS-player-of-the-year honours this season.
With a sixth consecutive banner, the T-Birds would tie the all-time mark set by Winnipeg from 1983 to 1988 and equaled a decade later by Alberta (1995-2000). Interestingly enough, Sherbrooke is where the Wesmen originally established the record in 1988.
"I think there's more parity this season. For example, we're playing an experienced Laval team in the first round and they're seeded eighth," says head coach Doug Reimer, whose team scored a pair of 3-0 pre-season wins over the Rouge et Or in Quebec City. "I think there will be some very interesting first-round matches, let alone what that will produce after day one."
Seeded No. 2 for the competition, the Montreal Carabins claimed their fifth RSEQ crown in six years last weekend and appear ready to make another run at their first CIS trophy after defeating Top-10 rivals Laval and Sherbrooke in the Quebec playoffs.
The talented U of M roster includes a pair of national team members in outside hitter Marie-Sophie Nadeau and right side Vicky Savard, as well as two-time all-Canadian setter Alexandra Lojen, who is back on the court this season after her second reconstructive knee surgery in five years.
"I really think the top eight teams in the country qualified for nationals this year," says head coach Olivier Trudel. "Every game will be intense. Every team has a legitimate shot at the title and there could be a number of upsets."
Third-ranked Ottawa returns to the event for the first time since a sixth-place finish in 2007. In a battle of the top two teams in Ontario in the regular season, the Gee-Gees overcame a four-point deficit in the fifth set of the OUA final to edge York 15-13 and earn the conference's lone berth for the CIS tourney.
"We did some heavy lifting in the pre-season by winning matches against tough teams on the road. Those games and the experience we just had winning the OUA championship in a great atmosphere in another team's gym has us prepared and excited to play the host team at nationals," says 21-year sideline boss Lionel Woods, whose troops tallied six wins over Sherbrooke (3), Laval (2) and Montreal (1) in pre-season action. "This has been a three-year process with a core of players who have lost together, won together, been burned together and learned together – there is no doubt in my mind they will show up and leave it all on the floor from the first whistle on Thursday."
Fourth-seeded Trinity Western has become a regular at the CIS championship in recent campaigns and is about to make its sixth appearance in eight years. The Spartans are the only CIS team to beat UBC this year, once in the pre-season and once in league play, and again pushed the five-time champs in the Canada West final before falling in four sets.
TWU was also the only squad other than UBC to reach the top of the national rankings this season. The Spartans led six straight weekly polls in October and November.
Fifth-ranked Dalhousie is red-hot going into its first CIS tournament since 2005. The Tigers are riding a 16-game winning streak, including a 3-0 defeat of Saint Mary's in the AUS title match, and have not lost a single set in 11 straight contests dating back to November 24.
"We have been working hard over the past five years and making strong strides each year to reach the top," says head coach Rick Scott. "The team had an excellent season and played very well in the AUS championship. We are really looking forward to the opportunity to show what Dalhousie Tigers women's volleyball is all about."
The sixth-seeded Vert & Or hope to regroup this week in front of their raucous home crowd. Sherbrooke won a tight race for first place in Quebec during the regular season but was overwhelmed by Montreal in the best-of-three RSEQ final, losing 3-1 and 3-0. The CIS tournament hosts were a perfect 10-0 in their gym in league play.
"It will be a very special feeling to compete for a national championship at home. It's extremely motivating," says Sherbrooke mentor Denis Fontaine. "We have exceptional fans that provide us with tons of positive energy. Our team is on a mission and the atmosphere should be electric this week."
Despite a No. 7 seeding, Canada West bronze medallist Alberta can never be counted out once at the national championship. Making its 18th appearance in 21 seasons, the Edmonton powerhouse has claimed seven CIS banners over the years, tied with Winnipeg for second most all-time. The Pandas came oh-so-close to ending UBC's championship run a year ago, dropping a 3-2 gold-medal decision to the T-Birds after taking a two sets to one lead.
CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wvball/index
Laval is another program that has made a habit of competing for the national banner on an annual basis. The Rouge et Or, who missed last year's tourney after reaching the title match at home in 2011, is about to appear in its 32nd CIS championship in 35 years. The Quebec City team enjoyed another solid campaign but has struggled with consistency since the start of the new year, posting a sub-par 4-6 overall record in 2013.


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New Season - Shorts
Sun's out, pins out! Keep cool in the summer and let your legs see some daylight. Shorts are a vital part of any summer wardrobe, even if you live in the UK! Chino or denim, sweatshorts or boardies, we have all your bases covered when it comes to relaxing at the beach or ripping up the local park.


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Internet security firm Sophos is warning Facebook users about a new scam that asks for account verification.
Some users of the Menlo Park-based social-networking site reported being prompted with a message that read:
Warning : Announcement from Facebook Verification Team: All Profiles must be verified before 15th June 2012 to avoid Scams under SOPA and PIPA Act. The unverified accounts will be terminated. Verify your Account by steps below.
In fact Facebook is not requiring its more than 900 million users to verify their accounts by Friday, according to Sophos.
"Ask yourself, why would Facebook encourage you to share the advisory with your Facebook friends?" Graham Cluley of Sophos wrote on a blog post. "Surely it's within their power to send a message like this to all Facebook users without having to ask for your help!
"And if you click on the "Verify my Account now" link you are asked to approve a third-party app which will then have unfettered access to your Facebook profile, and be able to post messages in your name on your behalf."
Sophos says those who have fallen for the scam should delete any posts from their timeline and then go to their account settings and revoke account access for the application.
Facebook Users Warned of Authentication Scam
Internet security firm Sophos is warning Facebook users about a new scam that asks for account verification.