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Funtoo Linux Installation on SPARC
Funtoo Linux supports any machine based on a SPARC v9 compliant processor, ranging from the UltraSPARC I to the latest UltraSPARC T2/T2+ and beyond. Older SPARC processors are not supported.
Note that OpenVZ is not supported on processors older than UltraSPARC T1 (and equivalent) processors.
This section assumes you are a bit familiar with SPARC machines and the SPARC architecture in general. Before diving a bit deeper, bear in mind that more than 95% of a Funtoo SPARC System behaves in exactly the same way as what you have on x86 system. Once installed, you should see a near-nothing difference between a Funtoo SPARC machine and a classic Funtoo x86/amd64 machine, same tools, same way to manage common tasks, etc.
Initial boot
Funtoo does not provide an official media kit or netboot images for the moment. We plan to in the future but not for the moment, so the best would be to use one a CD/DVD-ROM or a SPARC netboot image provided by another project (Debian, Gentoo...). In the case of the second option, you can build your own if you have a bit of patience, see our article "Netboot image creation for SPARC machines".
Aka The traditional way :-) TBC
Some OpenBoot revisions (notably 4.25) have problems with RARP/TFTP. Fortunately they support a more modern mechanism known as Wanboot. Wanboot enables a SPARC machine to retrieve a netboot image either via TFTP or via HTTP. To use wanboot, you must set feed the network-boot-arguments variable with the IP address/netmask/gateway of your SPARC machine (replace 'tftp' with 'http' if you use a web server):
network-boot-arguments host-ip=<<MY_IP>>,router-ip=<<MY_ROUTER>>,subnet=mask=<<MY_SUBNET>>,hostname=<<MY_HOSTNAME>>,file=tftp://<<REMOTE_SERVER_IP_ADDRESS>>/yournetbootimage
Typically it will be something like:
network-boot-arguments = host-ip=192.168.1.235,subnet-mask=255.255.255.0,file=tftp://192.168.1.1/mynetbootsparcimage.img
Differences in the SPARC world vs the PC world
Disk partitioning
SPARC machines use a set of data structures which describes the disk geometry and how is it is divided in partitions which is placed at the very first sector of an hard drive. This structure is known as a Sun disklabel and is not to confuse with the assignation of a label to partition with e2label or xfs_admin. Traditionally a disk can contain up to eight partitions referenced through letters from a to h (Linux will see those partitions in the same way as on PC machines, i.e. with a number) and some partitions deserve special purposes:
- 1st : Contains the boot files and designate the root partition (the Linux kernel is able to use another partition for the root of the VFS, so this partitions only contain the bootfiles, i.e. what will be visible under /boot).
- This partition MUST start at the start of the disk (block 0) if you intend to boot on it.
- It is highly recommended to keep this partition to a size below 1G to circumvent some OpenBoot limits.
- Altough ext2/ufs tools are smart enough to not overwrite the first sector of a partition, thus leaving alone the Sun disklabel untouched, LVM won't be so smart and as a consequence will overwrite the Sun disklabel if a LVM Partition is created starting at block 0. If you create a LVM partition, do not make it start at block 0.
- 2nd slice : traditionnally tagged as being a swap area
- 3rd : must be tagged as whole disk
- 4th to 8th : at your own usage
make.conf or make.defaults (unified path)
- On SPARC machines, use mcpu instead of march, the GCC manual page will describe what valid values are. If you use a non generic stage 3 (i.e. anything other than generic_sparcv9), CHOST is already set to the right value for mcpu.
- If you are the lucky owner of a Oracle/fujitsu SPARC T3 server, use niagara2 for the value of mcpu
- Anything else will work exactly like like the PC platform, and don't forget to put the right value for -j in MAKEOPTS
A few hints
- UltraSPARC III (not functionnal on UltraSPARC IIIi) supports CPUfreq. With the on-demand governor enabled by default, your SPARC CPU will run, when idle, at 37.5 Mhz instead of 750-1.2 Ghz or more.
- Machine and CPU fans are not drivable by the Linux kernel, at least to our knowledge
- When building, use the 64 bits kernel cross-compiler (sys-devel/kgcc64 which is included in the stage 3 archive) you can invoke it in two different ways:
- In the kernel configuration in itself, enter sparc64-unknown-linux-gnu- for Cross-compiler tool prefix in General setup
- From the command line do:
# make .... CROSS_COMPILE=sparc64-unknown-linux-gnu-
- To install the kernel, assuming you are in /usr/src/linux
# cp arch/sparc/boot/image /boot/afilenameofyourchoice && make modules_install
Network (on-board Ethernet NIC)
- Many Sun Workstations (e.g. Sun Blade 150, Sun Blade 2000) uses a Sun GEM chipset
- Some Sun machines (e.g. Sun Blade 2500 red workstation, Sun Fire T1000 server) uses a Tigeon 3 chipset (tg3).
Hard Drive Controller
- Sun Blade 150 are fully IDE machines. Their IDE controller is an Ali 5229 which support is enabled by ALi PATA Support in ATA BMDMA support (see Serial ATA and Parallel ATA drivers in Device Drivers). Note that this controller does not seems to support LBA48 addressing.
- Sun Blade 2000 and similar models like the Sun Fire V280R uses a QLogic 2200 Fibre Channel Arbitrary Loop (FC-AL). This not only requires to enable QLogic QLA2XXX Fibre Channel Support in SCSI low-level drivers but also to deploy a firmware (ql2200_fw.bin) in /usr/lib. Such a firmware is installed with the package sys-block/qla-fc-firmware and must be included in the kernel image or put in the initramfs image if you use one.
- Sun Blade 2500 (Red) uses a Symbios Logic 53c1010 SCSI controller, this one is supported with two drivers:
- SYM53C8XX Version 2 SCSI support (see SCSI low-level drivers) but at half-speed (i.e. Ultra160 instead of Ultra320)
- MPT Fusion at full-speed (i.e. Ultra320)
- Sun Blade 2500 (Red) also uses an IDE ALi chipset (enable ALi PATA Support in ATA BMDMA support (see Serial ATA and Parallel ATA drivers in Device Drivers) for its IDE Bus on which the DVD-ROM drive is connected.
- Sun Fire T1000 uses a LSI Logic / Symbios Logic SAS1064 PCI-X Fusion-MPT SAS Controller. The right driver to use is Fusion MPT ScsiHost drivers for SAS (see Fusion MPT device support in Device drivers).
Do not use LSI MPT Fusion SAS 2.0 Device Driver in SCSI low-level drivers, it won't see the machine SAS controller.
Sound cards
- Sun Blade 2xxx (2000/2500) uses a Sun CS4231 chipset (see Sparc sound devices in Advanced Linux Sound Architecture)
- Sun Blade 100/150 uses an ALi M5451 chipset (see PCI sound devices in Advanced Linux Sound Architecture)
SPARC Machine uses a special boot loader named SILO. Silo is deployed by the package sys-boot/silo and its latest revision (1.4.14_p20100228) now incorporates the necessary to work with sys-libs/e2fsprogs-libs 1.41.14. To install Silo just do:
# silo /etc/silo.conf appears to be valid #
Silo will check if /etc/silo.conf has a valid syntax and then, install the bootstrap code in the hard drive disklabel. Remmber to change the value given for partition to match the partition number where your kernel image is (typically this is 1, as the first partition of the bootable hard drive is dedicated to /boot). For the record here is a typical configuration:
# Example of how can be silo.conf set up partition = 1 root = /dev/sda4 timeout = 30 image = /vmlinux-2.6.38-rc5 label = linux image = /vmlinux-2.6.38-rc6 label = new image = /vmlinux-debian-2.6.32 label = debian initrd=/initramfs-debian-2.6.32
Day to day operation
Setup issues
Q: Why after having created an ext2 filesystem with BusyBox mkfs.ext2 applet on /dev/sd?1 my partitions are not seen anymore by fdisk?
A: This tool overwrites the first 1024 bytes (2 sectors) of your partition. If your partition is the very first of the disk and if it starts at block 0. the consequence is that your Sun disklabel is overwritten with zeroes. This behavior as been seen with BB up to revision 1.18.3 (later revision can be affected).
Q: I have killed my Sun disklabel, is my hard drive dead?
A: No, fdisk will create a brand new one for you (use option 's' ).
OpenBoot issues
Q: Is it possible to update OpenBoot from a Linux machine ?
A: Yes, absolutely. OBP updates are provided in a statically linked and standalone program and contrary to a urban legend you do not need to have Solaris installed. You have several choices :
- Use the flash device (kernel option to activate) from a live Linux system but unfortunately this procedure is not clearly documented on the Internet.
- Put the update image on the machine (boot disk /the-OBP-update-file) and boot on it. It is required that this image resides in the very first harddrive gigabyte and, of course, that the filesystem used is readable by OBP (UFS, EXT2...). How warrant the first condition ? Simply have a partition at the beginning of the hard drive which size is less than 1 GB. Is is also required to put the image directly in the root of the partition and not in a subdirectory.
- Put the update on a TFTP server and "netboot" it from there (boot net /the-OpenPROM-update-file)
Q: When netbooting the machine with a remote TFTP/RARP server, the machine grabs its IP address but then... nothing. It just says "TFTP transfert timeout".
A: This is a known issue with some OBP versions (most notably OBP 4.17.1). Network traffic sniffing shows that the TFTP session is initiated by the SPARC machine but OBP TFTP client seems to not listen anymore on its client, thus generating "Destination port unreachable" ICMP messages on the network. Solution, if your machine support it, try to wanboot it or try to netboot with DHCP requests instead of RARP (type : boot net:dhcp at the OpenBoot prompt).
Q: I do not see my on-board ethernet controller with lspci in Linux and OpenBoot shows that the net device has been disabled. Is there a way to enable it again ?
A: It could happen for some reason (like a buggy driver which leaves the Ethernet controller in a bogus state), OpenBoot consider the onboard Ethernet as defective and disable it. This is very easy to see : pay attention to what is displayed when the machine is powered-on.
.... Copyright 2005 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved. OpenBoot 4.17.1, 4096 MB memory installed, Serial ********* ERROR: The following devices are disabled: net
The answer lies in the ASR (Automatic System Recovery), so at the OpenBoot prompt type the following commands notice the dot in the first command, 'ok' is the OpenBoot prompt) :
ok .asr ok asr-clear ok reset-all
Q: Why OpenBoot report an invalid magic number?
A: The partitioning tool you have used to create the Sun disklabel wrote some invalid data in the disklabel and OpenBoot does not recognize your disk as a valid on to boot on. The trouble has been seen with BusyBox fdisk applet.
Q: If I do an update of the POST/OBP, why OpenBoot reports it can't see the firmware file?
A: The information is not very easy to find but OpenBoot seems to be able to access to the first gigabyte of the harddrive (this is the reason why you must size /dev/sda1 below 1G), your file is beyond this limit.
Q: Altough my TFTP server setup seems correct, I have a bunch of xinetd[xxxx]: START: tftp pid=x from=x.x.x.y immediately followed by xinetd[xxxx]: FAIL: tftp address from x.z.x.x and OpenBoot reports Timed out waiting for TFTP reply
A: /etc/xinetd.conf restricts services to localhost/127.0.0.1. That restriction comes from the line only_from = localhost in /etc/xinetd.conf which is not commented by default when installing sys-apps/xinetd. Just adjust (or comment) that line and ask xinetd to reload its settings via sending it a SIGHUP.
Q: Is true that OpenBoot is written in Forth?
A: Yes, absolutely! OpenBoot lives on a Forth virtual machine :-) For your information, Sun released OpenBoot under the BSD licence and you can get its source code at Source Forge
Various questions with regards to Funtoo SPARC
Q: Is Funtoo SPARC official ?
A: Yes, Funtoo SPARC has an official existence in the Funtoo project :-)
Q: How often a year do you update SPARC stages ?
A: It depends, Funtoo SPARC has limited available time and resources but we try to publish stage archive at least twice a month.
Q: Does the stages include multilib support?
A: Actually no. However some packages like grub2 seems to not be happy without it.
Q: Do you use the same package tree than x86/amd64 ?
A: Yes absolutely, Funtoo SPARC stages are build on the exact same portage tree as the other architectures with absolutely no modifications.
Quality Assurance (QA)
Q: What is your consideration for a QA process ?
A: Quality Assurance is very important for Funtoo SPARC and Funtoo in general because it engages what is at the core of many open source projects, either done by a commercial entity or by the community itself : credibility. We do our best to serve this goal but we rely for the moment on Gentoo, so quality reflect (partly) what they do on their side. In the case of a major issue would happen on the Gentoo side, we do our best to catch the issue and "shut it down" before catastrophic situations appear. Funtoo is like many thing in so imperfect world : imperfect. Don't expect Funtoo to be 100% troubles free, troubles exists but are rare. The same is true for other Linux projects as well.
Q: Is some QA (Quality Assurance) being done on the stages ?
A: We do QA but keep in mind that Funtoo relies on thousands of packages (more than 13,000 ebuilds as of January 2011). It is not possible to test everything in every configuration but we do QA on regular basis. Of course you are are a key point in the QA process. If something goes wrong, please report it in the forums.
Q: What kind of control do you perform ?
A: The very first control is to check if all stages build successfully and we do Funtoo installations from the scratch on regular basis to see if major issues appears. We emerge major packages on a regular basis to see if they build and run correctly.


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Eye protection may not be a top priority for people when they are going about their daily lives, but it should be. Protecting your sense of sight is extremely important and often overlooked. All individuals should protect their eyes so they can stay sharp whether they're on a snowy mountain-top, watching a football game, or simply driving to work.
Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Wearing a pair of comfortable sunglasses while you are staying active outdoors will not only prevent eye strains and squinting – which will help keep you looking younger, longer – but can actually help protect eyes from cataracts, keratitis and other eye ailments as well.
When selecting sunglasses, look for a pair that will be lightweight and durable, so it will be comfortable to wear, and hold up to your daily activities. Charmant Titanium Polarized Sunglasses for example, are made with pure titanium, a hypoallergenic metal that is 48 percent lighter than conventional metals and is perfect for all seasons. Titanium is used in everything from airplanes to surgical instruments, so you know it will last in a sunglass.
To protect the delicate eye area, look for a lens that has UVA and UVB protection as well as a polarized lens to reduce glare, which is much more harmful when it's reflected off of the snow. Make sure your lenses offer the best visibility possible so they don't interfere with your activities. Lenses with anti-smudge, anti-static, and water-repelling properties keep the lenses free of debris that can block your vision.
Invest in your sight. Your vision has an important role in maintaining your active lifestyle. Invest in your sight by ensuring you wear the best in corrective lenses and sunwear for you. Many people need their vision corrected through eye glasses or contact lenses. If you choose contact lenses, wearing sunglasses to prevent glare and protect your eyes from UV light is still very important. If you prefer to wear eye glasses, a pair of prescription sunglasses is ideal, to be worn whenever you are outside in daylight. These prescription sunglasses will provide the best possible coverage in sunlight while also correcting your vision. Either way, one should look for a quality pair of sunglasses that will provide consistent optical clarity throughout the lens, and a durable frame that will last.
Don't forget to protect the sensitive skin around your eyes as well with a sunscreen that has at least SPF 30. Even if the sun isn't shining bright the UV rays can still penetrate the cloud cover.
Make a broad sweep.
Sometimes one layer of protection just isn't enough. If you have fair skin, or light colored eyes, you may want to wear a hat in conjunction with sunglasses on a regular basis. These physical traits are more prone to skin cancer and sun-causing eye disease. Although sunglasses do wonders in protecting the eyes, UV rays can still reach the eyes and the surrounding skin through the sides and top of the sunglasses. Wearing a hat will help to reduce the sun exposure and prevent uncomfortable eye strain.
A wide brim hat offers sun protection to your skin as well as eyes, creating natural shade and reducing strain. Choose a hat with a dark, non-reflective underside of the brim. This will help reduce UV glare from reflective surfaces like water or snow.
Staying active is great for your overall health, but be sure that you are safely engaging in activities. Taking steps to strengthen and protect your vision will help ensure that your eyes will be safe and healthy for years to come.

subset: commoncrawl


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Southern Marmara
Southern Marmara (Turkish: Güney Marmara) is the southern part of Marmara Region, Turkey.
Other destinations[edit]
Bird Paradise National Park[edit]
Bird Paradise National Park (Kuş Cenneti Milli Parkı) is one of the earliest national parks of Turkey, surrounding Lake Kuş (Turkish: Kuş Gölü, lit. "bird lake"). It's an important stop-over and final destination for migratory birds, which migrate to warmer places south in winter. There are 239 species inhabiting the area during summer, totalling about 3,000,000 individual birds, although whole area is only 64 hectares, tiny in world standards. What makes the area so popular with the birds is its ecosystem: at the end of winter, with the level rise of the water of the lake (which is related to the rising streams, which in turn are related with the dissolving of snowcover up in the mountains), a small willow grove and reed beds at the northwest of the lake submerge underwater, making it a perfect area to nest, and for the youngs to hatch and grow.
Bird Paradise National Park has been awarded with Class A European Diploma by the European Council for four times since 1976, because of its effective and successful protection of the wildlife.
Detailed information about the birds, and the park in general, is provided in the museum and the administrative building inside the park. The best months for bird watching are between March and July, and September and October, roughly corresponding to the migration period of the birds. There is a watchtower that commands a wide area for viewing. Scientific research in the park requires permission from the park directorate.
There are no facilities for food or accommodation within the park. The nearest community to the park is the village of Sigirciatik. Bandirma is the nearest big-enough city.
Park lies 20km southwest of Bandirma, and around 50km north of Balikesir. It is easily accessible via Bandirma-Balikesir highway.
Southern Marmara occupies a long shoreline which is the southern coast of the Sea of Marmara, Marmara Islands off the coast, and some places more inland. It's bordered by Eastern Marmara to northeast and east, Central Anatolia to southeast, Northern Aegean to south, and Eastern Thrace to northwest and north, across the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles Strait. In addition to the Marmara coast, the region also has a shore on the Aegean Sea to the west.
In ancient times, eastern two-thirds of Southern Marmara, roughly between Bursa and Balıkesir was known as Mysia, while the western one-third, a peninsula today better known as Biga Yarımadası in Turkish, between Dardanelles, Aegean Sea, and the Gulf of Edremit, was known as Troad, i.e. "the plains behind Troy".
Mt. Uludağ, a national park and a wintersports resort, with its summit at about 2,500 mt above the sea level, is the highest mountain in all of northwestern Turkey, and is within this region.
Get in[edit]
Get around[edit]
The highway D200 (which is assigned the European route number E90), starting from Çanakkale and then passing by the regional centres of Bandırma and Bursa, and then leaving the region towards east is the backbone of transportation in the region.
See[edit][add listing]
Do[edit][add listing]
All of Southern Marmara, from Kestanbol near Troy in the west to Çekirge in Bursa in the east, is dotted with hot springs (kaplıca).
Eat[edit][add listing]
Drink[edit][add listing]
Stay safe[edit]
Get out[edit]


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Saturday, December 22, 2012
Pound-One of these days I'm gonna bring you the sun in a box
I like Swedish women, pancakes, meatballs, Smörgåsbord, Alfred Nobel, Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman, old Volvos and Great Danes. I also like Pound's brand of Swedish alternative rock on their new album release, One of these days I'm gonna bring you the sun in a box.
Pound, formed in the middle of Sweden in 2004, consists of Stefan Altzar (guitars & lead vocals), Christian Larsson (bass & vocals), Samuel Granath (drums), Janne Korpela (guitars) and Kalle Sandström (keyboards & vocals). One of these days I'm gonna bring you the sun in a box is Pound's fourth release, second full length (thirteen track) album and, by far, has the longest title of all of their releases. It is heavy, bright, symphonic, well written, steeped in rock hard harmonies, beat and keyboard driven and as majestic as the Skanderna and as sparse as Norrland.
The album starts with part one of its namesake, a classic string pinched orchestration of ominous foreboding - an allegro for the album. It sweeps directly into "Apocalyptic Smile", a galloping, swirling keyboard rocker with great vocal harmonies and a hook. It is the allegro con brio. A bass heavy and hard rock guitar blues driven sound blasts out "She's A Killer", with just as killer vocals. Then, the album gets more frantic with "My Friend, The Ghost", a great hard rock mood piece with added keyboard eery spookiness foreshadowing the spirits that explode in vocals and a wall of sound. The wall of sound surrounds the soaring vocals and harmonies in the rock love ballad, "Impossible To Kill", that follows.
Club dancers will instantly love "Last Show For Mary And Me", a disco bit of electronica with video game-like keyboards, bass, tight vocals and toe-tapping drum beats that seem made for the colored flashing lights of the dance floor. Pound redeems itself from what could have turned into disco hell with "City In The Sun", a hard rocking piece of late seventies inspired showmanship. Think Kansas on steroids. The song "Secret Friend" is a counterbalance. It is a sparse acoustic, story-telling voice and guitar piece that almost ends in a raga. It abruptly stops and gives way to "Diamonds In The Dust", a pounding fuzzed bass driver of a tune that breaks into an alternative rock anthem before going on to "Permanent Vacation".
Almost three quarters of the way through the album Pound goes pure sugar pop with the appropriately named track "Radio". It makes me think that the tune is really a tongue in cheek joke, especially since what follows, "Freedom (2.0)", should get kudos from a host of classic rock heavyweights for its orchestration, lyrics and execution. The album comes full circle with the final track "I'm Gonna Bring You The Sun In A Box (Part 2)." The classical clipped strings of part 1 return but now they are softer, less anxious and a bit airy. Over it all Stefan Altzar theatrically sings the story of bringing the sun in a box and then Pound marches in changing keys to a final triumphant and exhilarating crescendo and finale.
Do I like this band? Yes. Do I think you will like this album? I'll answer with another one of my favorite products from Sweden - Absolut!
- Old School
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Obama and Christie: How long can the love last?
This post originally appeared on Slate.
President Barack Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie toured the rebuilt New Jersey Shore Tuesday and stopped by an arcade booth called Touchdown Fever. The game offered a stuffed bear to anyone who could toss a football through a tire. President Obama tried five times and missed. Gov. Christie threw the football through the tire on his first try. Obama gave him a high five. Christie then gave Obama the bear he won.
This would make a very awkward Bruce Springsteen song, but the Obama and Christie relationship faces the same question at the heart of every one of the Boss' songs about boardwalk relationships buffeted by circumstance: Can it last? Christie is a Republican governor running in a heavily Democratic state (Obama won it by double digits) so for the moment, the answer is yes. Obama is on Team Christie. "America, bring your family and friends. Spend a little money on the Jersey Shore," the president said, boosting the state during his visit as much as he did the governor's re-election chances. But if Christie wants to one day court Republican primary voters who dislike the president, won't he have to put a little distance between himself and Obama? Remember how Florida Republicans punished their governor, Charlie Crist? Isn't the breakup inevitable?
If Christie decides to run for president, how he handles the Obama question will tell us something about the trajectory of his campaign: Will he try to smooth over the anger conservatives feel for his lapses from party dogma, of which the palling around with the president may sting most? Or will he run headlong at the party, using his relationship with Obama as proof of how effective pragmatic governing can be, drawing a contrast with the ideologues and debating-society candidates who can pass purity tests but haven't ever actually done anything?
Christie has modified his view of President Obama before. At a speech at the Reagan Library in 2011 when he was considering a presidential run, Christie painted Obama as an ongoing calamity in leadership, representing timidity and limited vision. Now he praises Obama for those very skills he once said he lacked.
Christie is still very popular and a powerful fundraising draw for the party, but he has work to do with conservatives. What angers them is not so much that Christie embraced the president when his state was in need, but that he did so at a crucial moment in the 2012 campaign. He helped burnished Obama's bipartisan credentials when he needed it most. At the very least, Christie provided material for an appealing tableau of the incumbent, which edged out opportunities for any talk about the challenger--whatever his name was.
That's the emotional energy fueling the distrust of the relationship, but the bromance also threatens to be a stand-in for larger doubts about Christie's ideological core. Specifically, conservatives distrust Christie's support for the Second Amendment and his embrace of Medicaid expansion as a part of President Obama's Affordable Care Act. There is also likely to be a general suspicion of a popular northern Republican. "If you're up by 30 points as a Republican in New Jersey, you're probably doing something parts of the Republican base won't like," says one veteran Republican operative.
So Christie might need a cleansing break. But moving away from Obama would be nearly impossible. It's not just that there are hours of footage of him with President Obama acting like chums. He can't distance himself from Obama because doing so will destroy his essential characteristics as a straight shooter who can get things done by working with the other side. Besides, the last GOP nominee spent his campaign trying to wiggle around the unappealing aspects of his career as a governor and it didn't work.
Instead, what Christie will do is make the case for compromise as he does so often on the campaign trail. His presidential candidacy will fall directly in the fault line of the current larger Republican debate over how you balance principles with pragmatism. Can you work within the system, making compromises and occasionally embracing the enemy, or should the next leader of the Republican Party be pure, representing a clear contrast to the opposition?
- Obama urges "good times" at the Jersey Shore
- Gov. Christie: Obama deserves "great credit" for storm response
The Obama-Christie relationship presents a number of ways to test what's durable and what's fleeting in politics. Bipartisanship only seems possible these days after a disaster. Once the plywood is off the windows and the chimney is back up, political players revert to form. Will that be true in this case? For Obama, the trip is supposed to turn the page after a few bad weeks. It allows him to talk about the economy, show government doing useful work, and remind people of his bipartisan tendencies. Some analysts are claiming it will help the president move on from the controversies that have befallen him. Christie should hope this punditry is true. If the White House controversies about which everyone has been so obsessed can be dispatched with such ease, Christie will have no problem moving past whatever baggage he may have from his relationship with the president. It'll be as easy as throwing a football through a tire.


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September 19, 2005
G150: Devil Rays 8, Red Sox 7
It's a wonder these brain-dead fuckers are still in first place. God, this team sucks right now. They are painful to watch. That the Red Sox can make so many mistakes on the field, at the plate, on the bases and on the mound and still have even a slim grip on first place says a lot about "good" the Yankees are.
We are in a team-wide hitting slump, except for David Ortiz, who is trying like hell to win the division single-handedly (and almost succeeding). Half our starters can't get their shit together enough to throw even three fucking innings in the heat of a mid-September pennant race. Our shortstop has become one of the bigger free-agent busts in recent memory -- and we are stuck with a manager who flat-out refuses to move him out of the top of the lineup ... because that might hurt his self-confidence ... as if he isn't already dreading every goddamn ground ball hit his way and every single at-bat with a man on base.
If Tito truly wants to win some games in these final weeks, Renteria must be dropped to #8 in the order and benched against right-handed pitchers. He finally made the move (sort of) with Millar, let's see if he has the guts to do the same with E6gar.
David Wells had nothing -- like Matt Clement before him -- giving up 10 hits and two walks in 2.2 innings -- though only four runs (Tampa left eight guys on base in the first three innings). The fat fucker failed to cover first base on a ball hit to Millar during the third inning. It's practically the first fucking thing pitchers practice in spring training, but Wells, as you may recall, said he knew his body so well, he didn't need much spring training. Well, fuck you, Orson.
Kevin Millar continues to steal the Red Sox's money. He hit into two double plays (erasing a leadoff runner both times) and (after a seven-pitch walk and the tying run on second in the seventh) hacked at the first pitch and popped to left, killing yet another rally. Fuck you, Cabin, go design another t-shirt.
Hollywood Damon has long hair and never fails to remind us that he's playing hurt, so he can't do anything wrong, yet he's dropping fly balls in center (though somehow not getting charged with any errors) seemingly every night. Fuck you, you Idiot.
If we could catch the ball, we would have won. If we could get a timely hit here or there, we would have won. If we could get a decent outing from our starter, we would have won. If we could excute simple fucking basic plays, we would have won.
Any one of those scenarios would have likely resulted in a victory. Yet, even if the Sox had somehow come back, it would still have ranked as the most frustrating game of the season. I don't want to hate this team, but they aren't giving me much reason not to.
Oh yeah: The Yankees won on a Bubba Crosby ninth-inning home run, so Boston's lead is down to .5.
Somewhere in there, between the cursing and scowling and head-shaking, Craig Hansen made his major league debut, striking out two Rays in a 1-2-3 inning. I liked that, though it is a distant memory right now.
20 comments:
Amen, that's all that can be said. This team enjoys stomping on our hearts and sucking. Papi, meanwhile, has become God, hoisting a bloated, $123 million waste of money on his back as everyone else tries to lose the division. They're pathetic.
- September 19, 2005 at 9:42 PM
- Kyle said...
Yeah, why are we trying so desparately to LOSE the division? It's like we are doing everything in our power NOT to win games. It's amazing.
Could it be that our starters just aren't warming up as much now that its later in the season? Remember how Pedro and others were doing this last year and it was killing them early on? Seems to be like the same problem. When will management make adjustments?
Yes, Edgar needs to be batting 8th. Mueller batting 2nd. That's a no-brainer at this point. Now Graf and Youk are both hurt.
And, where is Manny Delcarmen in a tight game? Why is Francoma so in love with Bradford who is an automatic run no matter what?
Finally...where is Manny? We had him for two games and now he is gone again.
- September 20, 2005 at 4:52 AM
- DanM said...
Well my frustration and now gloom is as deep as yours. David Wells should have come on and anchored us for the final drive. Perhaps it is an omen. Johnny dropping the ball in center was ugly and resulted in the margin of victory for the Devil Rays. Hitting into double plays to take us out of an inning seems to be an art form. ANd what is with the constant changing of the line-up? Is it to get a higher OBP or is Tony Francoma out of his mind? But alas, such is the life of a Red Sox fan. We haven't heard this all season so maybe now is the time??
Everyone on three! 1, 2, 3, WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!
(the cursing is not necessary because it doesn't result in better pitching or better fielding or better hitting. It only demeans the person sinking to that lowly position. Stay confident that the BoSox will be back next year!
- September 20, 2005 at 5:24 AM
- Akins said...
I feel your pain, I feel your pain.
I am beyond frustrated with the lack of effort or the ability to play decent baseball. The yankess are winning the games they are suppoused to and we aren't.
- September 20, 2005 at 6:45 AM
I have to imagine that if our bench players weren't dropping like flies, amon would have gotten a two or three game rest by now - he just looks awful, as do they all. Tek looks at times like he's never seen MLB pitching before. Manny is not being anything like Manny. And now the pitchers are getting in on it. We can't even afford to sit a regular now, with Youk, Graff, Stern, and Kapler on the shelf. We have no MLB quality backups at several key defensive positions.
If we win this division, it will be a miracle.
- September 20, 2005 at 6:55 AM
- Neil Monnery said...
You guys are still .5 up and are in the driving seat!
- September 20, 2005 at 7:32 AM
- Kyle said...
Yeah, but 2 weeks ago we had the lead to almost 6 games! Our team is hurting. Bullpen is over-worked (due to Francoma's love affair with Bradford, Myers and Timlin), the hitting is nonexistent against so-so pitching and our defense is worst than little league.
Not typically the resume of a playoff team.
- September 20, 2005 at 7:57 AM
To paraphrase Churchill, never have so few spoken so truthfully for so many....
While Papi's stature grows to almost mythical proportions with each passing day, where his heroics are a veritable scream of " JUST CLIMB ON MY BACK, BRO", where are the rest of these guys?
Sure, there are the exceptions - Wakefield, Timlin, Mueller, Cora, Graffanino and V-Tek, who still works his ass off in each AB, personifying the type of no-quit determination that the rest of the team needs as he fights his way through a slump that could not have come at a worse time.
Among the sporting cognescenti, it is often said that team's take on the personality of their coaches. Take for example, NY, where you have the unflappable Joe Torre, fungo bat in hand, making decisions both large and small that help his team win in seemingly different ways almost every day, all in the face of an owner whose confidence in his leadership abilities seems to equal that of Ray Nagin's in Michael Brown...
In contrast, we have our wonder boy, Tito, resplendent in his rumpled red jumper. Last night, as in too many nights of late, he conjured up the image of that dork in Animal House, you know the one who has seized the baton from the band leader and proceeds to gleeefully lead the entire band down a dead-end alley where they all crash together in a crescendo of bodies and instruments.
If you put your ear close to your monitor tonight at about 7:05 p.m. EDT, you may be able to hear the distant wine of a souped up Lincoln V-8 (thanks, D-Day) as the Yankee Deathmobile hurtles screams across the Cross-Bronx Expressway with the words EAT ME, BOSTON spray-painted on the side.
Let's hope Tito and Schilling can both find their inner Blutarski tonight in TB before this team ends up collapsed in their own particular kind of alley. Change the batting order..get Millar the hell out of there...but please, Tito, go easy on the Delta punch before we revoke your charter.
- September 20, 2005 at 8:07 AM
Thank you, redsock, for saying exactly what I feel.
I'm sick of Tito's silver lining in the cloud bullshit.
I'm sick of this goddamn fascination with tricky-dicky specialist relievers who are good for one batter. Especially when we have starters that can't get nine outs deep.
I'm sick Edgar Renteria, period.
I'm just sick.
- September 20, 2005 at 8:55 AM
- NateC said...
I'm pretty sick and tired of people like you, actually a lot more sick of you guys than the Sox are making me right now. They are in a slump, relax. Honestly. Go tell Johnny Damon to F' himself to his face, you don't have the balls. The truth of the matter is, you were probably riding high when the sox were dominating through August and built up their 5 1/2 game lead. I'm pissed off too, and the Sox have become pretty much unwatchable, but look at the circumstance they are facing. Wednesday will be the 30th day in a row without a day off. They are tired, bruised, and beaten. Last year it seemed like the Sox had one day off a week, but that isn't the case this year. Their pitchers aren't exactly young, so the amount of innings that they have pitched lately may be catching up to them.
I'm still confident that this team will make the playoffs. Haven't you learned anything from watching this team the past two years? When the things begin to go south, or when they are down, you can never count this group out. They still have a better staff than the Yankees, and I'm much more confident in the Sox' lineup than their bitter rivals'.
Oh, and one more thing. I'm sick and tired of this Millar bashing bullshit. Honestly. You were all loving him when he was spewing out his Cowboy Up, and whatever the hell he was saying last year. He's had a tough year, but he's a gamer. He does bring a lot to this clubhouse, no matter if you want to accept it or not. We'll see how the team chemistry is next year, when they don't re-sign him. I think he is a huge part of the heart of this team, and without him, I don't know what the clubhouse would be like right now.
It's just funny to me that the players aren't the ones nervous right now, but the media and all the fans have their panties in a bunch. They know what they have been able to accomplish the past two years. They know what they are capable of, and they know that they will prevail in the end. Let's start supporting this team, instead of bashing it every time they go through a rough stretch. You know, they are still 25 games OVER .500. GO SOX!
- September 20, 2005 at 9:43 AM
- Kyle said...
Thanks for the reality check their, Natec! You are right, why are we bashing this team? They have been playing hurt.
Just want see some fire out there! And, for Francoma to snap out of it!
- September 20, 2005 at 9:50 AM
- laura k said...
They are in a slump, relax.
This is true, and I usually agree with you - the whiners make me more sick than the team. However, on September 20 with a comfortable lead dwindling daily, and the Yankees a mere half-game behind, and the Red Sox seemingly trying to give the game away at every opportunity, it's hard not to agree with Redsock. The Red Sox (minus Ortiz) have sucked royally and there's no sugar-coating it.
Also: I hate Kevin Millar. He is a useless excuse for a ballplayer. He contributes nothing. Fucking Jason Giambi plays a better first base, and that is really saying something. Gamer? Brings a lot to the clubhouse? Who the fuck cares! What does he bring to the field??? Games aren't won in the clubhouse!
- September 20, 2005 at 10:18 AM
Natec, I'm still going to watch this team, no matter how much they continue to disappoint, hoping that they will snap out of it. I hold out all hope that they will, but that being said, they are playing like shit. They are losing the games they should win and playing like the Sox of old in the stretch.
They could have had the East settled already, and we're watching them throw the division hopes (and possibly the playoff hopes) in the shitter, again.
I'm glad you're confident, but forgive those of us who have been here before, seen it before, and lived it before and let us vent.
- September 20, 2005 at 10:57 AM
- sarah said...
natec - i think we have every right to be whining right now. this team has done everything within it's power to LOSE games and I'm sick and tired of watching their half-ass play on the field and then hearing tito try and blow sunshine up everyone's asses about how they're going to go out there and get 'em tomorrow.
alan - thank you for finally having the balls to say something about damon. i'm sick of everyone sucking his dick. things like that keep you in solid standing as my favorite red sox blogger.
- September 20, 2005 at 2:51 PM
- NateC said...
Here we go with this bullshit about Damon. Please tell me what you have to complain about Damon, and his performance this year? I don't quite understand what more you expect of him? First of all, without him, we wouldn't even be talking about a possible playoff run this season. He has set the tone for the offense all year, whether it be by drawing walks or getting on base. He has continually given his all, every single game, no matter what physical ailments he may be going through. Oh shit, he dropped a couple of pop-ups the last couple of nights, how quick you forget about him giving up his body on numerous occasions to make great catches up against the monster. I don't know if I was the only one who noticed how badly Gabe Kapler played centerfield the last week while Damon was hurt (except for his arm). He misplayed many balls, a couple of which went clear over his head, balls that Damon would have made look routine. I can understand how you guys can bash Millar and Renteria, but Damon? What the fuck. You know, he should be the first one the Sox re-sign this off-season, and if he isn't then goodbye playoffs hopes next season. He is one of the top 5 centerfielders in the league, he has hit for average all year, drawn walks, and played the game like it is supposed to be played. Fuck Johnny Damon? Maybe it should be F' you for not realizing what a big piece he is to this team. Again, Sox fans who refer to the team as "we" when you are clearly not part of the team, disgust me...
- September 20, 2005 at 3:34 PM
Being part of a team doesn't mean you defend every player no matter how they perform. Being part of a team means sticking with them win or lose, and everyone here will do that.
I think Johnny Damon is one of the worst CFs in the AL. When he hits, it's worth the trade-off, but he can't field and he can't throw. Kapler didn't do any worse than Damon would have.
How much you love any given player is no proof of how big a fan you are.
- September 20, 2005 at 4:33 PM
When they don't run out grounders, don't even try on defensive plays, and can't pitch 9 outs, why should we think they have some massive comeback left in them? From watching these games, I don't think they care.
I want them to catch fire and care again, but I don't see it happen. We have Papi, then we have a bunch of people either too hurt or too indifferent to care what happens.
This team needs to just try not to injure anyone we need for next year, and cut our losses. Pay another team to take Wells and Clement and Schilling and Renteria off our hands, then just start new with players that can help us.
I want to be confident, but this team has done nothing to inspire my confidence. Please tell me something positive about them, I'm dying to know.
- September 20, 2005 at 4:36 PM
- NateC said...
I cant deal with you... Are you watching the game now Sean O? Oh weird... Domination. Oh also weird, the Sox DON"T have to comeback! The Sox are still a half game ahead of the Yankees. Before any of you speak, please know what you are talking about. I'm not defending Damon because he is so called one of my "favorite players." I'm defending him because he deserves to be defended by his play this year. Weird, the only outfielder with a higher batting average than Damon is Miguel Cabrera, the only outfielder with more runs is Ichiro, he is fourth in all outfielders in hits, and has only six errors on the season. How in the world can you say he is one of the worst outfielders in the league? Stupid morons. Yeah, the Sox are really going to dump Wells, Schilling, Clement and Renteria in the off-season. You sound ridiculous. They are going to keep all those guys, why wouldn't you? Renteria had an off-year, big deal. You want Cabrera instead? Yeah, you want his .230 batting average, and his 30 RBI's. Give me a break. You are the same fans who booed Nomar out of here. For what? The Sox treated him like shit. He gave over 9 years of service to this organization, never walked down the line, no matter if they were down by 1 run or 15 runs. I'm just getting sick and tired of this negative bullshit. They won the fuckin World Series last year, shut the fuck up. You were the same idiots crying after game 3 against the Yankees that they were all done. Enjoy this team! Enjoy them! You may never see a team like this ever again! They may have gone through a rough stretch for a week. A WEEK! Really, good lord, mark my words, they will win the AL East, and the Indians will win the wild card. Oops. ...
- September 20, 2005 at 6:44 PM
- allan said...
Settle down ... and use paragraphs.
We are not talking about Damon as a hitter. He was amazing until his shoulder was hurt and he can still contribute with the bat and his speed. I don't think anyone would argue with that.
We are talking about his fielding. He makes some great catches -- as every player will do from time to time -- but he is quite often horrible.
How many 45-hoppers from the track do we need to see? When chasing after deep fly balls, he bumbles around out there as much as Manny. It's amazing that his poor abilities out there are simply accepted and not talked about while every little fault of other players is blabbed about constantly.
And a runner scored from second base on a sac fly to center tonight. Why?
Because (1) Johnny de Milo has no arm and (2) after he caught the ball, he fell back 3 or 4 steps and banged into the wall for absolutely no reason -- purely for effect.
Meanwhile, Crawford sped around to score. Brutal and undefensible.
I'll miss his bat, but I'll be happy when we have a CF with an arm and more of a clue about how to track fly balls.
P.S. ERRORS? You're going to judge players by errors?!? ... How many games do we need to see when hits are called errors and errors are called hits before we see that fielding percentage is worthless?
(Remy still hasn't figured this out.)
They won the fuckin World Series last year, shut the fuck up. You were the same idiots crying after game 3 against the Yankees that they were all done.
How dare you write that? Because we don't agree with you, we are "idiots" who should "shut the fuck up"?
I will not tolerate that here. Feel free to disagree and back it up with info, but cut that shit out.
- September 20, 2005 at 7:50 PM
- sarah said...
well done, alan. well done.
- September 20, 2005 at 9:49 PM


text:
Dear All,
Greetings! This is the first day of spring! Happy Spring to you all and Happy Nowruz to those who were awaiting the arrival of the Persian New Year 1391 (no kidding). "Nowruz" refers literally to a new day and metaphorically the beginning of a new time, a new stage in life of nature of which we human beings are an important part. The Iranian calendar is a solar calendar celebrating seasonal change. In this cosmology which is based on Zoroastrian belief, light and darkness are engaged in a continuous struggle which unfolds inside all manifestations of nature. The role of us human beings is to help light to overcome darkness by spreading "good words, good deeds, and good thoughts" گفتار نیک، کردار نیک، پندارنیک. And by preventing the destruction and pollution of nature. Ancient Iranians considered it a spiritual duty to plant a tree!
How Do Iranians celebrate Nowruz?
First, they clean the house thoroughly. In fact there is a Persian word for especial Nowruz cleaning called "shaking the house" خانه تکانی. You shake the house clean! Then a special table is set with seven items on it all carrying names that begin with letter "seen" or "S" in English. That is why the table is called the haft seen, literally "the seven seens." All the items on the table are natural, nourishing, or somehow related to life (things like, apples, flowers, sprouted wheat, etc.) The haft seen table is usually decorated beautifully. It is your chance to share your artistic creativity with friends and relatives who visit you to say Happy New Year! Take a look at a few:
Sending Nowruz Cards
One thing that Iranians at home, and all over the world, do at Nowruz is sending each other Happy Nowruz cards. While there is a whole industry of creating such cards – electronic and otherwise – for sale, many people create their own cards. My lovely friends Zari and Reza do that by combining two verses of the great Iranian poet Hafiz of Shiraz (1325-1390) with their own art of design and calligraphy. I just got their card for this year:
Who Gave Iranians A Great Eidi This Year?
First, you need to know that Eidi عیدی in Persian means a special gift given on the occasion of an Eid, a day of celebration (in this case the Eid is Nowruz). That is to say, people give each other gifts. This year, a great Eidi for Iranians came from an Israeli, yes Israeli, couple. Last Saturday night, an Israeli couple – two graphic designers named Ronnie Edri and Michal Tamir– decided to cut across the growing anxiety and fear over the possibility of an Israel-Iran war, and address Iranian citizens directly. They created a slogan you can impose over your profile picture or any picture of your choice. Many of the first responses they got were cynical ones. But more and more Israelis took up the call in earnest.
First things first: "Ronnie and Michal! We love you too! And we love the peace loving people of Israel! You had the courage to cut through the cynicism and fear-mongering of politics and reached out to the people of Iran! Some people will tell you, this will amount to nothing. Don't believe them, this is a changed world and it needs people like you! In last year's anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, when the officials guided the crowds to say "Down with Israel!"people responded with "Down with China and Russia!" Not that they hate the Chinese or the Russian people. But they were saying, we have nothing against Israeli people. What we really dislike is the policy of these two superpowers who back dictators. Now with the aid of technology, people of the world can speak to each other! Here is the logo that Ronnie and Michal created:
Here is a young Israeli mom adopting the logo. Just think how many misunderstandings and fearful thoughts will be demolished with the power these two smiles. Let us get these smiles viral on the web. Please, please, please, share them:
I can't believe this, I have tears in my eyes! It is almost shocking how no one thought of doing this before! Thank you Ronnie and Michal. Let us make a promise to each other on this Nowruz occasion. We will stand together for peace, not just between Iran and Israel, but everywhere in the world and won't let anyone make us think this is naive. For all of you out there reading these words, please visit here, and on Iranian.com here to see who else adopted the logo. Of course, in Iran you must respond to an Eidi with an Eidi which brings me to my thank you gift to Ronnie, Michal and the people of Israel: a beatiful wedding picture of an Iranian Jewish couple and their relatives celebrating their union in Tehran's historic synagogue:
And a Happy and humorous Nowruz song by the Iranian band Ajam to cap it all:
We Will Not Forget!
In all the Nowruz festivity and Eidi exchange, let us not forget those who cannot celebrate Nowruz in Iran because they are too poor:
An injustice which is distributed without gender discrimination:
And to political prisoners who have committed no crimes and whose charge is spreading "propaganda" against the Islamic Republic. Their families will have to spend the Nowruz with their pictures:
Let us close this window with a beautiful painting by Sanaz Dezfoulian born in 1983 in Tehran pictured here.
And below, I post one of Sanaz's most recent creations, a bedroom. Acrylic on canvas, the work was a part of her art show in 2010 in Tehran
Have a great Nowruz wherever you are! Let us keep our messages of peace to each other going. Happy 1391 to you and yours!


text:
The Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, where a young woman recently gang-raped in New Delhi is now being treated, issued the following statement on her condition this morning from Dr. Kelvin Loh, the hospital's chief executive:
"As at 28 Dec, 11am (Singapore time) the patient continues to remain in an extremely critical condition. She is still receiving treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital's Intensive Care Unit.
Our medical team's investigations upon her arrival at the hospital yesterday showed that in addition to her prior cardiac arrest, she also had infection of her lungs and abdomen, as well as significant brain injury. The patient is currently struggling against the odds, and fighting for her life.
A multi-disciplinary team of specialists has been working tirelessly to treat her since her arrival, and is doing everything possible to stabilise her condition over the next few days.
The High Commission of India has been fully supportive in helping the hospital and her family, and ensuring that the best care is made available."
Follow India Real Time on Twitter @indiarealtime.


text:
Join the Virtual Career Fair for students and graduates, and find the right position to kickstart your career!
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Get in touch with the representatives of the junior positions and ask them what it takes to become a trainee or junior in their organisation.
No time wasted! You'll immediately see which companies offer jobs that match your profile and preferences.
Meeting companies online, instead of just reading static job descriptions, it is the future of job searching
For me, this was a really really convenient opportunity, since I'm abroad, and I could still network with the companies.
The private chat function enabled me to interact with several companies at the same time, and in the process, I discovered companies I had never even heard of.
It's a great experience to really engage with companies. It de-mystifies the job searching experience to meet the people behind the jobs.


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[QUOTE]Originally posted by The Famous Druid: [QB] Snaggy - it's getting on for what we here in paradise laughingly call 'Winter' and I thought I might do the bubble wrap thing. Any updates on your comments above now that you've had a chance to see how it goes through an entire real Winter? [/QB][/QUOTE]
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Member # 123
posted November 25, 2016 16:03
My house windows are old single pane windows, and they fog up when it's "cold" outside. This leads to annonyment and mold.
I've been using a computer fan to dry them out. If I leave it on, the window doesn't fog, or at least, the water droplets evaporate off the window and it stays clear.
Q. Is this just making *more* water vapour in my house, as water constantly condenses on the glass and fan air takes it away? In other words, does the layer of condensed water on the window help insulate it, so less water condenses on it?
Yes I know, I need a dehumidifier!
The Famous Druid
Member # 1769
posted November 25, 2016 19:20
It won't add moisture, the condensation is just moisture in your inside air turning liquid when it hits a cold surface.
As an alternative to a fan, you'll sacrifice your view, but
this might help
and it'll cut your heating bill in those long Canadian winters.
Member # 123
posted November 25, 2016 21:58
Oh cool, I'll have to try that bubble wrap trick! Thanks Druid!
Member # 1659
posted November 26, 2016 10:37
Snaggy there are kits of heat shrink vinyl that staple to the outside window trim and you make it tight with a hair dryer.
Member # 123
posted November 26, 2016 11:15
MoMan, yep I've seen and used those over the years, but never liked them. Back in Ontario they wouldn't last long before being shredded, but hmmm, maybe here where it's milder, they would.
Perhaps I'll try one window with that, one with the bubble wrap.
Member # 123
posted November 26, 2016 14:43
Just call me the Boy in the Bubbles
Member # 1659
posted November 27, 2016 11:33
That may explain why I have seen them installed inside the house.
Member # 123
posted November 27, 2016 12:42
Window update: Huge difference with the bubble wrap, the room is warmer, and no condensation on the outside of bubble wrap. Next to the glass there is some water, especially where the wrap separated from the glass, but still magnitudes less than without bubble wrap.
Still worried about mold though, I suspect it will be a bloom'in mess at some point.
The Famous Druid
Member # 1769
posted November 27, 2016 19:35
Keep me posted, I only saw that suggestion recently, and haven't got around to trying it m'self.
We don't have a condensation problem, but there's a couple of spots in Casa del Druid that are uncomfortably close to slabs of cold glass in Winter.
The Famous Druid
Member # 1769
posted November 28, 2016 02:39
I'm wondering if a little windex on the glass before you apply the bubble wrap would act as a mold retardant.
Member # 123
posted November 28, 2016 11:20
Heh, I'm using mold retardant. :-D
Member # 1659
posted November 28, 2016 12:54
Just what you need "Retarded Mold"
Member # 123
posted November 28, 2016 17:13
I'm on a bubble roll. This time, testing two different bubble sizes.
Member # 1659
posted November 28, 2016 19:39
You do realize that you have installed semi-opaque windows and you could walk around in your ....
Member # 1659
posted November 29, 2016 14:31
Snaggy a quick word of caution, flue gases from a furnace or space contain a lot of water vapor. Are you sure that your heating apparatus is venting correctly? The same question if using a gas water heater.
I do recommend a Carbon Dioxide Detector for you and Nitros safety.
Member # 123
posted November 29, 2016 17:14
Thanks MoMan for thinking of that. Luckily we don't burn any fuels in our furnace, as we have a heat pump. We do burn a lot of wood though, but I would think that tends to dry things out inside. (wood is stored outside)
So far, loving the bubble lifestyle! Thanks again Druid for that tip!
Member # 123
posted December 09, 2016 13:39
Just an update on my bubble wrap situation...
I love this! It's made a huge difference in water coming down on my sills and the rooms feel warmer. There's a little bit of water on the sills, but nothing like it used to be, and the mould seems to be under control so far. Today it's cold and there's even snow outside, but moisture is under control!
I do have to check it now and then to be sure the bubble wrap is against the window, and occasionally need to spray some areas every now and then so that the wrap sticks. Bigger bubble wrap seems to work a little better than the small stuff.
Thanks so much for that link Druid!
Member # 1659
posted December 11, 2016 06:42
Snaggy if you should happen to have one of those in/out door thermometers, could you put the probe next to the glass and the inside unit tight against the bubble wrap. I am curious about the delta "T" that you are getting.
Member # 123
posted December 11, 2016 13:50
MoMan: I don't have one of those, but the guy at Make it Solar did these calculations
Pretty much doubles the R value of the window.
Member # 1659
posted December 11, 2016 14:07
Thanks for the info.
The Famous Druid
Member # 1769
posted May 26, 2017 07:20
Snaggy - it's getting on for what we here in paradise laughingly call 'Winter' and I thought I might do the bubble wrap thing.
Any updates on your comments above now that you've had a chance to see how it goes through an entire real Winter?
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Mashable and others are reporting on a law that the governor of Illinois signed earlier this week, banning use of social networking sites by convicted sex offenders. The big criticism of that law seems to be that it may be unconstitutional. That question is worth thinking about.
The most likely constitutional challenge will be that the law is too broad. For a law to prohibit certain speech and not run afoul of the First Amendment, it must be narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest. Clearly there is a compelling government interest in protecting children and other victims of sex crimes from perpetrators. So the real analysis comes from examining whether this restriction on the use of social networking sites is narrowly tailored to serve that purpose.
What the law says
Let's back up and take a look at what the new law actually says. In short, it requires any sex offender that is on parole, supervised release, probation, conditional release or court supervision to "refrain from accessing or using a social networking website." Note that the restriction is not a lifetime ban, but just a restriction to be in effect during the sentence.
There are a number of terms to unpack.
There is a prohibition on "accessing" and "using." This is kind of redundant, because the statute defines "access" as "to use, instruct, communicate with, store data in, retrieve or intercept data from, or otherwise utilize any services of a computer." (The redundant part comes from the fact that to "use" is part of the definition of "access".)
The most important definition for our discussion is that of a "social networking website":
"Social networking website" means an Internet website containing profile web pages of the members of the website that include the names or nicknames of such members, photographs placed on the profile web pages by such members, or any other personal or personally identifying information about such members and links to other profile web pages on social networking websites of friends or associates of such members that can be accessed by other members or visitors to the website. A social networking website provides members of or visitors to such website the ability to leave messages or comments on the profile web page that are visible to all or some visitors to the profile web page and may also include a form of electronic mail for members of the social networking website.
This is a tortured definition plagued by a couple of runon sentences, but in essence, a social networking website, as defined under Illinois law, is any site that has:
- profile pages that contain
- identifying information such as names, usernames or photographs, and which are
- linked to other profile pages of "friends or associates" that can be
- accessed by other members or visitors to the website, and
- provides the ability to leave messages or comments on the profile visible to others
In a rather strange style for legislative writing, the definition says that a social networking site "may also include" direct messaging. That's weird to say in a statute — does it have to include direct messaging to be considered a social networking site? One could argue either way. So that part of the definition does nothing to assist.
How one can run afoul of the law
By merely accessing a social networking site, a sex offender violates this new law. He or she doesn't have to actually use any of the social networking functionality, all that is necessary is to merely retrieve data from the computer on which the site is stored. Clearly it would be verboten to use MySpace and Facebook. But also off limits would be LinkedIn and Focus. Flickr? YouTube? No way, even if the offender is just going there to passively view content for completely benign purposes.
The constitutional problem
Remember, the law has to be narrowly tailored to meet the compelling state interest. That means that if there is some less restrictive alternative than the law as enacted to fix the problem, the law is too broad and therefore unconstitutional. It would certainly seem that there is something less restrictive than a prohibition on merely visiting a website with social media functionality. A good start would be more aggressively targeting the actual online conduct that might put people at risk — actual online interaction through social media.
But it is far from clear. The Seventh Circuit (which is the federal appellate court that would hear a constitutional challenge to an Illinois law) has held that a convicted sex offender can lawfully be prohibited from visiting a city park. See Doe v. City of Lafayette, 377 F.3d 757 (7th. Cir. 2004). In a city park there is plenty of conduct one can undertake which is not unlawful or does not threaten others. And the court held that restriction was not unconstitutional. There is plenty of conduct one can engage in on a "social networking site" as defined by the statute that is not harmful as well.
Is the comparison between a city park and a social networking site justified?
Keyboard image courtesy Flickr user striatic under this Creative Commons License.


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text: U-18 Girls Travel Team falls to Toronto May 16, 200812:00AM PDT Previous Next Vancouver Whitecaps U-18 Girls Travel Team lost 4-1 to USL W-League club Toronto Lady Lynx in southern Ontario on Friday. Played in the indoor confines of the multi-million dollar Hershey Centre SportsZone in Mississauga, Mark Pennington's young Whitecaps squad faced a huge task in only their third match of 2008, as the more senior Lady Lynx were playing their final tune-up before starting their W-League campaign away to Western Mass Lady Pioneers. Following a ceremonial kick-off by local dignitaries, the Whitecaps started brightly, with midfielder Paige Scott having her effort well saved by the scrambling Lady Lynx goalkeeper. The high pace of the match continued until Toronto broke the deadlock on 21 minutes, as the Lady Lynx broke down the right before a chipped finish eluded the advancing Whitecaps goalkeeper Leah Peric, bounced off the back post and into the net for 1-0. In what was an end-to-end affair, the Whitecaps soon responded when Mikyla Kay saw her strike off an expertly-worked free kick from 25 yards out well saved by the Toronto keeper. The Lady Lynx doubled their lead eight minutes before the break when their centre forward latched on to a through ball before Peric made an excellent save to her initial shot. The rebound, however, fell to the feet of an on-rushing Lady Lynx winger, who coolly slotted home from close range for a 2-0 Toronto lead at the half. The second half continued with the same high pace as the first half, as both teams produced a fantastic display of controlled passing soccer, and it was the Whitecaps who came out to prove they could match the Lady Lynx team. Their persistence was rewarded midway through the second half when the hard-working Elise Horton chased down a through ball and clinically dispatched the ball over the Lady Lynx goalkeeper to bring the Whitecaps within one goal at 2-1. The Whitecaps continued to press forward, with April Coffin tirelessly creating chances, while Julia Corey and Chantal McFetridge were both unlucky to see their efforts go agonizingly wide, as they pushed for the equalizer. At the other end, Player of the Game Victoria Gonzalez and Tessa Locke looked very solid at the back, limiting the Lady Lynx to mere half chances near the goal. However, the Whitecaps rearguard was undone by a moment of brilliance when the Lady Lynx midfielder hit a volley off the outside of her right foot and into the top corner from 20 yards out when a clearance from a corner fell to her. As the Whitecaps pushed forward, the Lady Lynx added a fourth goal in the dying moments when their striker cleverly headed in from a cross on the left for 4-1. An inspiring performance from the young Whitecaps team won many fans, who were impressed by how well they played against a strong W-League side. Previous Next


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Gene implicated in progression and relapse of deadly breast cancer
Scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College and Houston Methodist have found that a gene previously unassociated with breast cancer plays a pivotal role in the growth and progression of the triple negative form of the disease, a particularly deadly strain that often has few treatment options. Their research, published in this week's Nature, suggests that targeting the gene may be a new approach to treating the disease.
About 42,000 new cases of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) are diagnosed in the United States each year, about 20 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses. Patients typically relapse within one to three years of being treated.
Senior author Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College, wanted to know whether the gene – already understood from her prior work to be a critical regulator of immune and metabolic functions – was important to cancer's ability to adapt and thrive in the oxygen- and nutrient-deprived environments inside of tumors. Using cells taken from patients' tumors and transplanted into mice, Dr. Glimcher's team found that the gene, XBP1, is especially active in triple negative breast cancer, particularly in the progression of malignant cells and their resurgence after treatment.
"Patients with the triple negative form of breast cancer are those who most desperately need new approaches to treat their disease," said Dr. Glimcher, who is also a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell. "This pathway was activated in about two-thirds of patients with this type of breast cancer. Now that we better understand how this gene helps tumors proliferate and then return after a patient's initial treatment, we believe we can develop more effective therapies to shrink their growth and delay relapse."
The group, which included investigators from nine institutions, examined several types of breast cancer cell lines. They found that XBP1 was particularly active in basal-like breast cancer cells cultivated in the lab and in triple negative breast cancer cells from patients. When they suppressed the activity of the gene in laboratory cell cultures and animal models, however, the researchers were able to dramatically reduce the size of tumors and the likelihood of relapse, especially when these approaches were used in conjunction with the chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin or paclitexel. The finding suggests that XBP1 controls behaviors associated with tumor-initiating cells that have been implicated as the originators of tumors in a number of cancers, including that of the breast, supporting the hypothesis that combination therapy could be an effective treatment for triple negative breast cancer.
The scientists also found that interactions between XBP1 and another transcriptional regulator, HIF1-alpha, spurs the cancer-driving proteins. Silencing XBP1 in the TNBC cell lines reduced the tumor cells' growth and other behaviors typical of metastasis.
"This starts to demonstrate how cancer cells co-opt the endoplasmic reticulum stress response pathway to allow tumors to grow and survive when they are deprived of nutrients and oxygen," said lead author Dr. Xi Chen, a postdoctoral associate at Weill Cornell, referring to the process by which healthy cells maintain their function. "It shows the interaction between two critical pathways to make the cells better able to deal with a hostile microenvironment, and in that way offers new strategies to target triple negative breast cancer."
Scientists still need to study how those strategies would help women with the disease.
"Obviously we need to know now whether what our group saw in models is what we'll see in patients," said coauthor Dr. Jenny Chang, professor of medicine at Weill Cornell and director of the Houston Methodist Cancer Center. "We are very excited about the prospect of moving this research forward as soon as possible for the benefit of patients."
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The art of mowing fairways
A lengthwise mowing pattern is one of the most-popular effects on golf courses. To achieve it, the operator drives the machine along the length of the fairway, mowing parallel strips from the tee to the green and from the green to the tee. As golfers stand on the tee looking toward the green, they see long strips of light and dark turf defining the pathway from tee to green.
While "hitting the fairway" off the tee is an event to be celebrated for many non-professional golfers, the fairways on a golf course are a crucial element for both course aesthetics and playability. Fairways are defined as the part of a golf course covered with short grass and extending from the tee to the putting green. While golfers tend to focus on the speed and playability of the green, they play much of their game on the expanse of fairway. Thus, how you mow that fairway definitely has an impact on their game. Crews face challenges in mowing fairways because of the large area that they need to cover quickly-often under less than ideal mowing conditions-and the need to provide aesthetic appeal combined with a high degree of playability.
Mowing patterns Two major cutting patterns dominate golf-fairway mowing. The most widely used is the cross-cut pattern, where the operator drives the machine in one direction across the width of the fairway and then drives perpendicular down the length of the fairway. As golfers stand on the tee looking toward the green, they see a checkerboard pattern of light and dark turf.
The pattern emerges as the mower moves across the turf, slightly bending the grass blades in the direction the mower travels. Because of the differential lean of blades of grass in alternating mowing swaths, light reflecting off the blades creates the illusion of light and dark mowing strips. As golfers look across the fairway, the turf appears lighter where the mower traveled away from them, darker where the mower traveled toward them.
To create a lengthwise mowing pattern-the second most-popular effect on golf courses-the operator drives the machine along the length of the fairway, mowing parallel strips from the tee to the green and from the green to the tee. As golfers stand on the tee looking toward the green, they see long strips of light and dark turf defining the pathway from tee to green.
The same bending of the grass blades that produces the pattern effect also can have a slight effect on the roll of the ball. The blades bending toward the ball produce a bit more resistance toward the ball than the blades bending away from the ball.
This leads to a third mowing pattern, which was used at the 1998 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga. Course crews there used multiple mowers on each fairway, with each operator driving his or her machine from the green to the tee. Golfers standing on the tee looking toward the green saw no discernible pattern, but only a large expanse of turf. The grass blades "bending" toward the tee provided a bit more resistance to the ball as it landed. The intent was to minimize ball roll on the fairway and slightly reduce the advantage of the hard-hitting, long-drive players.
To provide the greatest playability and the greatest vigor of the turf, you should change the direction of the mowing pattern with each mowing so the grass blades remain as upright as possible. If the mower travels from east to west along astrip of turf one day, it should travel from west to east along that strip at the next mowing. You also should adjust the starting point of the first strip a few inches to the right or left so the mower wheels follow a slightly different track at each mowing. This also moves the wheel route for each adjacent strip as you mow it, thus avoiding "paths" of compaction from repetitive travel.
Choosing the pattern Either of the two most widely used patterns enhances the appearance of the course. The key in determining which pattern provides the best look depends on several factors, such as: * The physical features of the course * The equipment and operators available * What makes the most efficient use of time.
The strips created by lengthwise mowing patterns extend the visual perception, making short fairways appear longer. Also, some golfers prefer to aim their shots along these direct lines to the green. Cross-cut patterns also somewhat alter the visual perception, making narrow fairways appear wider. They also tend to tie together the overall look of the course, bringing out striking features in the landscape at the sides of the fairway. Some golfers prefer to gauge their fairway shots to the general area of a horizontal strip near particular features of the course.
You must consider features within the fairway in plotting the mowing pattern, too. The number of bunkers and water hazards and their placement may make cross-cut mowing difficult by forcing operators to make numerous tight turns and spend extra time attempting to "match up" the pattern on one side of the hazard with the pattern on the other side. Lengthwise mowing patterns may be difficult to execute on fairways with overhanging tree limbs.
Plotting the course Like greens mowing, fairway mowing begins early in the day with the goal of getting the machines out on the course and the mowing wrapped up so the golfers can start play. During active growth periods, crews may mow fairways every day or every other day depending on the number of mowing units available, crew levels and the expectations of course users. Flexibility in pre-planning the mowing order can increase efficiency.
For most courses, early morning mowing means contending with heavy dew for much of the year. Therefore, simple economics drives the need for efficient mowing-the more rounds a course can handle, the greater the income it generates. Mower manufacturers understand the increased maintenance demands and have introduced roller and brush options to help keep wet grass from clogging cutting units and to spread clippings more evenly across the turf avoiding scattered, unsightly clumps of clippings.
Close observation of the microclimates on the course can help, too. Moisture lingers in protected spots longer than in open areas and in low spots longer than in higher ones. It isn't mandated that mowing the front nine holes begins at the first fairway and proceeds in order, though you obviously want to reduce transport time whenever possible. But, depending on the course, you may be able to reduce overall mowing time by mowing the fastest-drying fairways first and then heading back to the first hole.
Also, when the course design includes fairways that wrap back adjacent and parallel to the fairways of other holes, you may be able to reduce transport time by mowing the adjacent fairway rather than the next fairway numerically. For example, one crew member may mow the fairways on the first, seventh, sixth and second holes in that order, rather than the fairways of the first, second, third and fourth holes.
The best way to track the most efficient method is to time it. Have the operator note the start and finish time on three separate occasions for each of the mowing sequences, making sure mowing has taken place under similar conditions for each sequence. Then select the best sequence.
When possible, match an operator to a machine and assign them to specific fairways consistently. This gives the operator the opportunity to become familiar with the equipment and with the subtle variations of the turf and terrain. This expertise allows the operator to make minor adjustments in reel or ground speed or in directional patterns to deliver a higher quality of cut.
He or she also is more likely to notice those small changes in machine performance or in turf quality that can help avert major problems. You determine height of cut based on the type of turf, its growth rate and condition, environmental factors impacting the turf and player demands. Minor cutting-height adjustments made to accommodate turf needs can improve overall turf quality and aesthetics of the course. Frequent feedback from mower operators on turf condition based on their observations can help you determine the best cutting height.
Flexibility by design Mower manufacturers have developed equipment features to make choices in mowing patterns easier. Cutting units that lift and shut off the reels with a single touch and lower and re-engage them with another single motion make cross-cutting easier on the operator. Because fairways border the shorter, highly manicured turf of the greens and tees and the longer grasses of the rough, you produce a sight line at the meeting point each time you disengage and re-engage the cutting units. With the one-touch system, the operator must concentrate only on moving the mower into the proper position and lowering the cutting unit at the precise point to begin mowing again.
Cutting units with consistent down-pressure and the ability to follow the terrain allow mowers to deliver an even, high-quality cut in any type of grass despite uneven conditions and undulations across the course.
Manufacturers also have improved operator productivity by making equipment more user-friendly with such amenities as more comfortable seats and easier steering. In addition, easier backlapping and improved accessibility to machine components increase the likelihood that cutting units will be in top condition and that your crews perform routine service and preventive maintenance as recommended by the manufacturer.
The final check Before the machine heads onto the course, the operator needs to review a checklist developed jointly by the service technician and superintendent. Details will vary depending on the course but generally include checking fluid levels, tire pressure and the height-of-cut adjustment.
The few minutes spent here can save expensive maintenance to the machine or damage to the turf. The operator also needs the specific assignment of the fairway mowing sequence to be followed, a good understanding of the quality of the results you expect him or her to produce and the anticipated time it will take to produce the results. Great fairways are an important part of golfers' overall perception of course quality. Equip mower operators to deliver results that meet, or exceed, the expectations of your course's golfers.
Bob Tracinski is the business communications manager for John Deere's Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment Division (Raleigh, N.C.)
*Considering your course, choose from the two most-popular patterns (cross-cut or lengthwise) or use your mowers to create a random pattern that flatters your course. *Plot the course. *Choose the fastest possible schedule for mowing the fairways by timing different possibilities. *Make sure the operator has a clear understanding of the mowing sequence, quality expected and time allotment. *Select the equipment that makes your job easiest. *Look for equipment with such things as single-touch options to lift and shut off, lower and re-engage reels; consistent down pressure; high-cut quality; ergonomic design; and serviceability. *Create a daily maintenance checklist for equipment to avoid downtime. *Include the following on your checklist: monitoring fluid levels, tire pressure and height-of-cut adjustment.
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Lock up your Plaschkes and hide your David Eckstein bobbleheads tomorrow, shitbirds, because Ken Tremendous, DAK, and Junior return to plunge a pointy stake into the flaccid heart of sports journalism once again. Who's excited? GETEXCITED.
Even though last year was supposed to be a "one-time only" reunion for FJM, the reaction was so positive that they've decided to re-reunite. If tomorrow's show goes well, they've hinted at the possibility of a 2011 summer tour in the Falkland Islands. So be sure to scream your guts out and throw your frilly panties at them when they step on this here stage.
Get all of your mindless tasks done tonight and call all your friends in the neighborhood.