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ANN Exclusive:
Why Not Fly a FanWing?
New Technology Flies on Model, May Open Door to New Era of STOL
If the Osprey eventually gets bagged, perhaps there's another way to get in and out of tight spots, without using a chopper: a FanWing design.
Simply explained, consider a long squirrel-cage fan in the leading edge of a wing, grabbing leading-edge air and throwing it over the top of the airfoil. This concept led a clever American, who lives near Rome, to think that maybe that giant fan could do the jobs of thrust and much of the lift, simultaneously. The result, he reasoned, could be an efficient lifter with stellar short-field performance.
The design would be insensitive to angle-of-attack, and thus would be effectively stall-proof. Professional Engineering magazine explained the controls: "A small flap at the wing's leading edge controls lift and thrust. By increasing the lift and thrust on one wing and reducing it on the other, the aircraft will turn without yawing. [The author may have meant, 'rolling' --ed]. As speed is reduced, lift decreases, and the aircraft descends gently to the ground." Engineer F. Marc de Piolenc writes on the company's website, "There is a wing, hence the machine does have the ability to make a forced landing under control in the event of rotor or engine failure. Wing area can be chosen based on risk assessment-based criteria - the designer has more freedom in this respect than with conventional propulsion."
Additional testing showed that the mechanism was ideal for slow flight, and had the bonus of very quiet operation. Applications -- such as intracity transport -- immediately started popping into their heads. Inventor Patrick Peebles says, "'It's a sky barge: slow, looks funny, chugs along, but it carries anything, costs peanuts and it gets there." As an alternative to the taxicab from the airport, it's already looking pretty good, particularly in cities where the airport can be hours from the city it's supposed to serve, e.g., Chicago's O'Hare, Detroit's Metro, or Denver's DIA. Even at its low speed, it wouldn't encounter on-ramp gridlock. Mr. Peebles admits it's slow; you can't have everything: "For now it is pretty slow. Again this is something that needs research. It should be able to fly at about the same speed as a helicopter." Slow, relative to an airplane -- plenty fast, relative to a taxi!
The team liked the idea, but had to prove it, and started a company in England to build model prototypes, and do pioneering engineering work. A series of wind tunnel tests showed that they were on the right track, and subsequent model aircraft have shown that the contraption can indeed fly, and that it's even quieter than they had hoped.
With a "glide" ratio demonstrated in the flying models of just about 2:1, the team recognizes the need for some sort of autorotational capability, so that, if the engine quits, the trip down won't be too awful. Pat Peebles wrote us, "In recent tests, I managed to get the rotor speed up considerably.
The glide ratio would now be close to 3:1 . This is not very good if compare with a traditional airplane, but is quite reasonable if compared to a helicopter or an autogyro." One stopgap under consideration is a ballistic recovery system. Of course, multiple engines would be a normal configuration on a FanWing of any considerable size -- and without any offset thrust lines! (They still wouldn't address a fuel shortage, though...) As the company's financing develops, more research will, of course, be made in this area.
We also asked Peebles if the design were more, or less CG-sensitive, owing to its leading-edge rotation. He told us, "The sensitivity is about the same as on a traditional aircraft. Too far back and you get into a funny flying angle. The FanWIng will not stall, but it will lose altitude."
FMI: http://www.fanwing.com/


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Creating the future together
Leadership and performance coaching by entrepreneurs.
Specifically designed for entrepreneurs, executives, creatives and thought leaders to perform at their highest levels.
As a startup CEO, acquiring investment capital is critical to success. You couldn't be better served than to work with Rob Matzkin. He's formed more than half a dozen ventures and took our team through formation, valuation, the VC perspective and other key concepts. We got significant value for our time and are continuing to work with Rob.
Rob is an incredible business coach. I use the term "incredible" because not only does he offer you continued support and motivation. He opens up your mind to constantly see and aim for the end goal! Rob has certainly helped me grow not only on a business level but on a personal one as well! 10 stars for Rob!
Always insightful, flexible in his approach and never losing sight of the business needs, Rob proved to get me immediate results with a talent to simplify complex problems and create a productive workplan that made a real impact in my business.
In short, the world could use a few more people who listen and coach with the great consideration that Rob does.
He makes parallels across necessary areas I wasn't even paying attention to. He observes patterns I didn't know were there. And he listens with such an authenticity that makes it hard to be anything but completely transparent in turn.
What you get
Rob enables his Cadre of people to perform at their highest levels.
You'll have the opportunity to take dedicated, focused time on your goals and understand what is in the way to accomplish them.
For years, Rob has enabled his clients to lead powerful lives of purpose and financial success filled with love.
Recieve free strategy boosters for your business
Book a strategy session now to discover:
Latest podcasts – listen to Rob!
Continuous awareness foresight and vision – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking your full potential
Entrepreneurs lose their way from time to time. Many times, they are motivating themselves for all the wrong reasons.
For example; most entrepreneurs get fixated on money, fear of failing, investors, or the next milestone. With that they lose their passion, original purpose and ambition.
Let's bring back to that primal motivation to create a pathway to achieve goals and financial success WITH passion!
Rob speaking from experience being a multi entrepreneur himself.
My approaches
Unlock you from feeling stuck
Lifting your business and changing your life doesn't come easy. If it was, we would already have done it! We need to shake things up. That is why I call for a REVOLUTION.
Finding the right direction
Too often entrepreneurs lack focus and go in all sorts of directions. I help my clients finding their direction and stick to it to ensure business goals are met.
Power up through innovation
Many businesses fail to go to the next level because they don't offer anything new. In my sessions I will ask the questions that help lift your business through innovation.
Finding passion and balance
Working hard and playing hard can be very tiring. It's time to find some balance, to recharge and nurture your soul. I will help you find your way back to what motivates you.
The Ikigai fulfillment path
In my coaching sessions, I follow the Japanese concept of Ikigai, which means 'a reason for being.' The concept is about having direction or purpose in life where the actions we take are spontaneous and not forced upon us.
By living your Ikigai path you will find your flow and operate your business with the passion and purpose you are meant to. At the same time Ikigai also encourages a positive mindset, healthy lifestyle and reconnecting with nature. This is where we can find the life balance that so many of us are seeking.
The Balance
Finding and implementing true balance and power in all areas of your life!
Inner Wisdom
To learn from others, finding your own path without having to create one.
"It's said that a wise person learns from his mistakes. A wiser one learns from others' mistakes. But the wisest person of all learns from others's successes."
Remember there is no reason to reinvent the wheel, or learn things the hard way or on your own.
About Rob
Achieving dreams through self discovery
Ten years ago, my life was full of resentment, regrets, anger and frustration. I was running a successful company, but I wasn't happy in my life. I was working 16 hours a day, six days per week and I never got to unwind. The phone was ringing at 11 at night and 8 in the morning. I had very little time to decompress.
I also struggled with dyslexia growing up and was not able to read until I was 10. I felt exhausted always feeling I had to prove to people how smart I was.
Only when I started my journey of self-discovery and found what really fulfilled me in life, was I able to slowly and methodically work on my past and let go of my frustrations. This is when I joined the Landmark program which helped me find the tools that enabled me to live the life of my dreams: being a purpose-driven entrepreneur with time for people that matter and my other passions in life like surfing, yoga and skiing.
Now I have a lucrative career and full financial freedom, making an impact on others, but without having to work an overwhelming number of hours. Now I can grow as an intellectual and spiritual human being.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Businesses that are not very old tend to look for shortcuts with their expenses to make their startup cash last longer before sales revenue starts coming in. Doing so is a prudent move, but it does lead to some complications when buying cheaper website hosting for some companies that are setting themselves up for a fall.
Here are a few things to know about web hosting as it relates to young businesses that are less than two years old.
Shared Hosting Sometimes Means Poor Performance
A great many shared web hosting accounts are run on overloaded, underpowered web servers sold at a few dollars per month. Pack 'em in and pile 'em high is the approach of many web hosts where signing up new clients comes with a juicy profit margin after they stay for a certain period. For the business customers, it's not such a great story though.
The worst offenders offer shared hosting for literally a couple of bucks per month when paying a year ahead. The performance level is going to be poor because the server downtime will be considerable. Only when your business site goes offline for half a day will you realize that you used the wrong web host by going too cheap. Even moving up to a more expensive plan with the same web host isn't usually the answer because a self-respecting host wouldn't sell such a lousy package in the first place. But there is a better way.
Upgraded Shared Hosting
Mid-tier web hosts like Hosting Kingdom offer improved shared hosting that isn't overloaded with too many websites. When the web server is run on better quality equipment, it's more reliable. When network technicians have better training, they're able to handle file server issues and database problems without causing major downtime in the process.
The cost of a mid-tier web host with a shared hosting package isn't that much more than with the bargain basement hosts or even the slightly improved ones, but the difference is a host that's well funded vs one that's always starving for revenue. The performance level is important.
Technical Support Matters More Than You Know
Technical support is something you only think about when the website goes offline and your company's switchboard lights up. For web hosts, it's where the rubber meets the road. When they don't have the right people, who can answer intelligently to help customers that have technical issues with their site or they cannot figure outhow to get SSL to play nicely with CloudFlare, thenoutside help is required. You'll be stuck and be forced to hire a specialist you don't know to fix the problem for you. Paying a bit more so that the web host can afford a solid team of people on customer service and technical support pays dividends later. Everyone has a problem eventually that'll require their help.
When buying web hosting for a newish business, it's worth spending a bit more and not going for the absolute cheapest option. With web hosting, there's a minimum cost to hire in qualified people. Faster web server hardware with greater reliability and redundant internet backbone connections don't run cheap either. You get what you pay for with business hosting, so it's an area to spend up for greater reliability and a faster site for your visitors to use.


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Banks target gig economy workers
High street banks are preparing to roll out risky mortgages and loans to millions of gig economy workers, the Mail on Sunday reports, with experts such as Baroness Altmann warning the moves could recreate the conditions that led to the financial crash ten years ago. Banks say they are working on new ways to assess the creditworthiness of customers with unpredictable incomes in order to offer loans safely, chiefly through technology measuring the risk associated with spending patterns. RBS is planning an expansion of its digital bank Mettle to sell loans and accounting products to freelancers and sole traders while HSBC has made it easier for workers on zero-hour contracts to get a mortgage by relaxing its rules for people not in full-time work. James Daley, managing director at Fairer Finance, said: "There are more and more people who are working with uncertain incomes, and I don't think they should be shut out of the world of credit because they are not in a salaried role at a company."
Banks in overdraft fee rethink
M&S Bank and First Direct customers are set to see interest payments on overdrafts rise to 39.9% in March, with the banks following HSBC and Nationwide in increasing rates. First Direct current account customers currently pay 15.9% EAR on arranged overdrafts of over £250, or a £5 daily charge if they go into their unarranged overdraft. These fees are to be replaced with the blanket rate, with several banks making switches due to Financial Conduct Authority rules designed to cap how much borrowers pay in overdraft fees. M&S Bank is increasing its zero interest overdraft buffer for arranged overdrafts from £100 to £250.
Digital bank risks breaking small business loan pledge
The Sunday Times' Emma Dunkley reports that Starling Bank committed to making almost £1bn of loans within five years as a condition of winning funding from a £775m pot set aside by Royal Bank of Scotland but has so far lent less than 1% of the amount it promised to small businesses, raising questions over whether it can meet its target by 2023.
Lenders expected to pass bank stress test
Analysts say they expect the Bank of England to give the UK's biggest lenders a clean bill of health next week when it publishes the results of its latest stress tests. Investec's Ian Gordon said: "I expect all the banks to pass without any issues and for the Bank of England to say that they need to be prudent and make sure their respective risk appetites are OK."
Mortgage prisoners stuck with sky-high interest
So-called mortgage prisoners are paying £126m a year in extra interest to banks and hedge funds, according to analysis of official data by the Times. Homeowners trapped in expensive mortgage deals pay an average of £1,000 a year more on home loans than borrowers who can switch lenders, according to FCA figures.
Banks warned of SMS scam
Banks have been warned not to use text messages to send codes that allow customers to transfer cash, with the cybersecurity branch of GCHQ saying using SMS messages to verify payments is putting people's money at risk from sim swapping scams.
Goldman in new push for Marcus
Goldman Sachs is to launch a cash Isa and joint savings account in the UK under its Marcus brand. The bank launched its savings account in August last year and has so far brought in more than £12bn in deposits.
First Direct founder joins Dashly
The founder of First Direct, Mike Harris, has joined the board of mortgage fintech start-up Dashly as chairman.
Venture capital swarms to London fintechs
William Russell, the lord mayor of London, writes in City AM on how London alone has seen a record year so far of venture capital-led fintech investment, with more expected, particularly from US investors. Russell says the City of London Corporation is set to lead a delegation of British VC representatives to San Francisco to build relationships directly between US and UK investors.
3i to sell projects portfolio
Investment firm 3i Infrastructure it to sell its projects portfolio in Britain to a range of buyers, including funds managed by Dalmore, Semperian and Innisfree, for around £194m. Chairman Richard Laing said a review of the role of operational projects in its portfolio concluded that it was in shareholders' best interests to sell the assets. A 3i Infrastructure spokeswoman said the sale was not related to Brexit or political uncertainty.
Private equity: the bottom line benefits from gender diversity
Oliver Gottschal, professor of strategy and business policy at HEC Paris, says the business school's research proves that diversity produces higher returns for PE firms and a lower risk of failure.
Deutsche reaches settlement as prosecutors drop criminal investigation
Deutsche Bank has reached a €15m settlement over shortcomings in money-laundering controls. This came as German prosecutors announced they have dropped a criminal investigation into suspected tax evasion at a former Deutsche unit in the Virgin Islands. Deutsche Bank spokesman Joerg Eigendorf said prosecutors have not found any instances of criminal misconduct on the part of Deutsche Bank employees.
UK investors owed billions in Swiss PPI scandal
HMRC could miss out on a windfall of nearly £2bn due to around 200,000 investors failing to make claims from a long-running Swiss banking scandal, lawyers have warned. In 2012 Swiss courts ruled that banks in the country had been unlawfully charging hidden fees on savers and ordered them to return the cash, in echoes of the UK's PPI scandal. But a deadline has been set for the end of this year, and around £4.68bn remains unclaimed by investors in the UK, according to litigation funding firm Liti-Link.
Goldman plans to bring wealth management to the masses
Goldman Sachs will offer digital wealth management services to individuals with as little as $5,000 from next year. The robo adviser service will be rolled out via United Capital, the wealth management firm Goldman bought in May.
EU's green light for NordLB rescue provokes backlash
The legality of the European Commission's approval for the €3.6bn bailout of NordLB is being questioned with campaigners arguing the commission has misinterpreted state-aid rules for political reasons.
New Stansted Airport terminal plans paused
Stansted Airport has put its new £150m arrivals terminal on hold while it reviews the plans. Economic and political uncertainty, fresh demands from airlines, and delays in approval for further expansion are behind the rethink, bosses said.
Berkeley on track despite 30% profit fall
Housebuilder Berkeley Group saw its profit for the first half of 2019 fall 31%, from £401.2m in 2018 to £276.7m. Revenue nearly halved, dropping to £930.9m from £1.6bn in 2018. But the company said the reductions were expected as it had finished a number of developments acquired between 2009 and 2013, adding that the group remained on track for their six-year profit target of £3.3bn. The firm delivered 1,389 homes in the period, while average selling prices fell by nearly 13% to £644,000, which may be as a result of the group diversifying its portfolio away from London.
BoE prepares restrictions on fund withdrawals
The Bank of England is preparing new restrictions on investors withdrawing money from property funds after M&G and Prudential became the latest with hard-to-sell assets to block outflows last week. The Bank of England and the FCA are set to reveal proposals in a week's time as fears rise that even well performing funds with strong liquidity positions could be gated due to a surge in redemptions. Elsewhere, the FT reports that nearly £57m was pulled from property funds on Thursday, the worst day all year for real estate fund outflows. The paper also reports that the FCA is investigating funds that have holdings in Neil Woodford's collapsed investment vehicle as it seeks to prevent the liquidity crisis from spiralling.
Regulators issue warning over Big Tech's move into financial services
Global regulators could force Big Tech firms to share the data they have on financial services customers with banks and fintech firms to ensure financial stability, healthy competition and data privacy. The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has warned that the shift into financial services by companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, eBay, Baidu, Apple, Facebook, Google and Tencent needed "vigilant monitoring" and that rules requiring banks to share data may need to be replicated with Big Tech.
Police cuts hamper fraud prosecutions
A fall in the number of white collar fraud cases being prosecuted has been blamed on cuts to police, according to Thomson Reuters. Ministry of Justice figures show that there were 9,415 prosecutions in 2014 compared with 6,670 last year, while reported fraud and cyber offences across the UK rose by more than 8.5% to 693,418. Advances in financial services technology, such as crypto-assets, have complicated fraud cases. The report cites Europol figures showing up to £4bn is laundered across the EU annually using crypto-assets.
Phoenix snaps up ReAssure
Insurance consolidator Phoenix is to buy Swiss Re's UK business ReAssure in a cash and shares deal. The deal unites Britain's two largest buyers of historic insurance policies and makes Phoenix the UK's fourth-largest insurer. Swiss Re and ReAssure's minority shareholder MS&AD will receive £1.2bn in cash and a 28% stake in the enlarged group. Swiss Re and Japanese insurance company MS&AD will also get two board seats.
FCA fines hit highest level in four years
Fines issued by the Financial Conduct Authority have hit £391.8m - their highest level in four years – with a crackdown on mis-selling responsible for a large chunk of the rise.
CMA looks at Daily Mail's i takeover
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has served an initial enforcement order as it reviews the Daily Mail's £50m takeover of the i newspaper, with the order forcing parent company DMGT to run the i independently ahead of a potential competition probe.
House prices climb in November
House prices increased at the fastest rate in seven months in November, Halifax data shows. Values were up 2.1% to an average of £234,625 in the year to November, exceeding the 0.9% year on year increase recorded in October. On a monthly basis, prices were up 1%, having dipped 0.1% the previous month. Halifax's analysis show's stronger yearly growth than other recent surveys, with Nationwide saying prices were up 0.8% year on year in November and Rightmove saying values were up 0.3%.
Grandparents dip into pensions to offer property help
Figures from the Financial Conduct Authority show that over-75s withdrew £247.5m from their pension savings in the year to April 2019, compared with £158.7m the previous year, largely to help their children and grandchildren to buy property.
Jessops calls in administrators
Jessops has called in administrators to its property arm, having been considering a restructure for several months. The camera retailer is thought to have called in administrators after failing to win backing from landlords for a CVA that would see store closures and rent reductions.
UK ready to take off, says buyout chief
Dan Zilberman, the European chief of buyout firm Warburg Pincus tells the Sunday Telegraph that his takeaway from talking to business is that a flood of business investment will wash into Britain after the election. Mr Zilberman also commented on the state of challenger banks, predicting a wave of consolidation "because on their own their business models are more than flawed." He added: "There is nothing special about them and they are going to need more scale to push costs down. They are just smaller, less efficient versions of Barclays."


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Sal Buscema comic
The mysterious man known as Buzzard is lost, wondering what manner of creature he is, following his brutal showdown with the loathsome Zombie Priest in Eric Powell's celebrated Goon Year.Buzzard leaves home, wandering into the shadowy spirit realm of the forest. A dark path leads to a village living in fear of a bestial race of savages. More animal than man, these creatures hunt the villagers and drag them from their slumber in the depth of night.As a bonus, readers will delight in the new Billy the Kid's Old Timey Oddities short stories, which revive 2005 series that paired Eric Powell with artist Kyle Hotz and leads up to the three-issue series launch in September 2010.
Genre: Mystery
The Zombie: Simon Garth
The last time we saw Simon Garth, the bank teller single-handedly stopped a gang of murderous robbers and got shot, bitten by zombies and med-evac-ed straight into Army custody for scientific experimentation. No problem, right?
Genre: Zombies
Billy the Kid's Old Timey Oddities and the Orm of Loch Ness
From the Eisner award-winning creator of The Goon comes an over-the-bigtop horror romp pitting outlaw legend Billy the Kid and a band of circus "freaks" against the evil machinations of the nefarious Dr. Frankenstein!Penned with deranged glee by Powell and illustrated by fan-favorite horror artist Kyle Hotz (The Agency andThe Hood), Billy The Kid's Old Timey Oddities starts with Billy the Kid free to roam America, having faked his own death. Free, that is, until Fineas Spoule, AKA. The Human Spider, discovers his secret. Now, afraid of being exposed, Billy finds himself in the service of a caravan of carnival sideshow performers who have unfinished business with a mad scientist none other than Victor Frankenstein himself!This twisted love child of spaghetti westerns and Hammer horror flicks combines Powell's humorous fast-paced storytelling and Hotz's quirky macabre visuals for a story that the whole family will love...if they're the kind of family that love alligator men and miniature boys fighting monstrous mistakes of science with the help of the fastest gunslinger in the West!Written by Eric Powell creator The Goon, recipient of the International Horror Guild Award and multiple Eisner Awards!


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It is never boring to pick favorites from every red carpet event, here's mine from the recent Met Gala.
Sofia's witty and funny antics make me so fond of her that I always look out for her during red carpet events…doesn't she look stunning in this peplum gray/silver dress? Gotta love that smile too!
Scarlett Johansson wore a Dolce&Gabbana dress with Christian Louboutin heels and accessorized with a Judith Leiber clutch and Fred Leighton earrings. I would have loved her with an updo or a low chignon than a loose crown though.
'The Vampire Diaries' star Nina Dobrev was totally mesmerizing in a Donna Karan Atelier gown. The gown has asymmetric shoulder straps, super long train and criss cross open back which she paired with gold peep-toe heels. Even her hair and makeup where flawless!
Carey Mulligan acting as honorary co-chair alongside designer Miuccia Prada and US Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour wore a silver-gold fish-scale like ensemble from Prada, her favorite and trademark.


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Serving Santa Fe for over 50 years, Barker Management takes as much pride in the quality of our rental properties as we do in our friendly and responsive staff. We bring quality tenants and owners together with professional, courteous, hassle-free property management tailored to their particular needs. Our comprehensive service handles the responsibilities of property management with courtesy and efficiency.
The Barker family has been a part of the Santa Fe community for generations. N.B. Laughlin came to Santa Fe from Texas on horseback in the 1880s and served as a Territorial Supreme Court Judge. His grandson, Laughlin Barker, started a real estate brokerage in 1965 when Santa Fe was still a small town. His attention to detail, fairness, honesty, and integrity garnered him numerous friendships and loyal clients. Today, Laughlin's sons, John and David Barker, own and operate Barker Management where they continue their father's business philosophy and long-term relationships with the owners and tenants for whom they provide professional property management.
Barker Management expertly manages single-family homes, condos, townhouses, and short-term rentals. As a licensed Santa Fe Property management firm, Barker Management understands the importance of landlord/tenant law, state and federal fair housing law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, potential rental discrimination, local fire and building codes, and bankruptcy and criminal issues that may impact your real estate investment. We understand local knowledge is key in driving maximum performance, and we're proactive to effectively respond to changing market conditions. With more than half of our owners living out of state, our goal is to provide a package of services that allow them the peace-of-mind of knowing their investment is in good hands. We strive to serve our tenants to the best of our ability when unforeseen issues arise. Barker Management firmly believes in the values the company was founded on: quality, kindness, honesty, and efficiency; we strive to apply them daily with every decision.
Whether you're a property investor or one of our tenants, we look forward to making your rental experience in Santa Fe a happy one!


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When we paused last week, I had just noted the unexpected result that, in two of three tests (#1184 and #1189), GFAJ-1 cells in 3 µM PO4 + 40 mM AsO4 grew to a higher density than the cells in 3 µM PO4 (no AsO4), but the cells with more and with less phosphate didn't grow much at all. In the other test (#1188) the cells didn't grow at all in the arsenic cultures; I won't say anything more about these cultures unless I get more results like this. All cultures without arsenic grew as they had in previous experiments.
I left the #1189 arsenic cultures in the incubator while I was away, and over this ~225 hr incubation the 1.5 mM-phosphate' and no-added-phosphate cultures grew to densities close to those of their no-arsenate controls. I don't know why they grew so much slower than the 3 µM phosphate+arsenate culture.
I'm going to repeat these cultures once more. If I see the same results (fast high growth of cells in 3 µM phosphate + arsenate), I'll dilute the 3 µM phosphate cultures into 400 ml of the same medium ± arsenate, to get lots of cells for my first arsenate-grown DNA prep.
Galton's "Hereditary Genius" (1871)
5 weeks ago in The Curious Wavefunction


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|Diamond Riches 2
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|Bigger Cash Win
|7 hrs
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|400x bet
|Ice Crystals
|7 hrs
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|225x bet
|City Girls
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|505x bet
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|500x bet
|Magic Spells
|9 hrs
|Bryce T.
|309x bet
|Pyramid of Spins
|9 hrs
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|250x bet
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|10 hrs
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|351x bet
|Light the Night
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Player testimonials
Magical New 'Enchanted Gems' Online Slot Machine Features Free Spins and Bonus Games
Collecting jewels earns extra playing time on new one-of-a-kind slot machineDecember 9, 2011
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This chicken cacciatore recipe is an old one from the October 2000 Cook's Illustrated. It's one of the first things I learned how to cook, and has become comfort food for me. Pair it with some good bread, and this is a hearty meal that makes me feel at home.
8 bone-in chicken thighs (about three pounds, the thighs I got this time were HUGE and four were about 2.5lbs, so I just went with that)
salt & pepper
1t olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
6oz portobello mushroom caps, cut into 0.75″ cubes
4 medium garlic cloves, minced
1.5T flour (Yes, I used flour. Feel free to sub in cornstarch)
1.5c dry red wine (not merlot, nothing oaked)
0.5c chicken stock
1-14.5oz can diced tomatoes, drained
2t minced fresh thyme
1 piece parmesan cheese rind
2t minced fresh sage
Season chicken with salt & pepper. Heat oil in dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add four thighs, skin-side down, and cook until skin in crisp & brown, about 5 minutes. Flip and brown on other side, another 5 minutes. Transfer to plate, and brown remaining thighs, transferring to plate when they're done.
Drain off all but 1T fat from the pot. Add onion, mushrooms, and 0.5t salt. Sauté over medium-high heat until moisture evaporates and vegetables begin to brown, 6-8 minutes. Meanwhile, remove and discard skin from thighs. Add garlic to pot, and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in flour and cook, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Add mine, scraping pot bottom to loosen brown bits. Stir in stock, tomatoes, thyme, cheese rind, and pepper to taste. Submerge chicken pieces in liquid and bring to boil; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until chicken is tender and cooked through, about 45 minutes, turning chicken pieces halfway through cooking.
Discard cheese rind, stir in sage, adjust seasonings with salt & pepper, and serve.


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Re: Over 50 Crossfitters Sign In
I heard the Lumberjack WOD is a killer. :D
Double rest day for me. I was going to go to the gym yesterday, drove four blocks, decided driving was not a good idea, so I circled back home. Darned snow. My legs are killing me anyway, so rest is probably a good idea.
Re: Over 50 Crossfitters Sign In
Wow, I thought everyone was just joking about puking!
Re: Over 50 Crossfitters Sign In
Still sick. Well, getting over it. Pretty sure now I had the flu. Which strain? I don't care. It sucked.
Back at it today, though still light.
30 squats
20 pushups
25 flutter kicks (4-count)
Dead lift 21x155
Bench Press 21x135
Dead lift 15x155
Bench Press 15x135
Dead lift 9x155
Bench Press 9x135
Maybe tomorrow the gym!
Re: Over 50 Crossfitters Sign In
Dave O. , I did not set the world on fire with this one!:)
Lumberjack 20 (scales in parentheses)
275# DL 20 reps, 400m Run (5.0 spd on treadmill for all runs)
70# DB/KB swings 20 reps, 400m Run
45# OH Squat 115 #, 20 reps (45# bar), 400 Run
20 Burpees, 400 run
20 Pull ups, 400 run
20 Box Jumps, 2 ft. box (step ups), 400 run
20 DB Squat Cleans, 45# ea. (25 # ea), 400 run.
completed in 45:34. The DB squat cleans were very difficult.
Maybe it's the conditioning or the weight loss or both. This many runs without significant knee issues is not where I was a year ago.:kicking0::kicking0::kicking0:
Re: Over 50 Crossfitters Sign In
[B]Pat, Dave & everyone else[/B] kudos on that lumberjack wod. The Shed did a way-modified version (limited time a lot of people) and everyone said it was very difficult anyway.
Still not sleeping well, but back in the saddle today. Felt good to be back in action.:)
[B]12_7_09 Monday[/B]
Warmup Row 500 (2 min, darn), dislocates
AMRAP (1) in 12 minutes of:
15 back extensions
5 pull-ups
rest for exactly 6 minutes
AMRAP (2) in 12 minutes of:
5 burpees
10 kettlebell swings - 24kg (16kg)
15 goblet squats - 24kg (16kg)
[I]Fun one!
Exactly 6 Rounds AMRAP 1
5 Rds +5 +10 +8 AMRAP 2[/I]
Re: Over 50 Crossfitters Sign In
1 mile run
Deadlift x5 225 255 275 275 275
Helen 12:35 with 40lbs Kettlebell.
PS, I'm only 46 :)
Re: Over 50 Crossfitters Sign In
push jerk
WOD 4 rounds
10 hang squat clean @ 115#
35 sit ups
Re: Over 50 Crossfitters Sign In
Yesterday - flew.
Today - snow, snow, snow. No one went to work. Tons of the stuff! Shoveled a little to keep the front porch clear and also the garage doors. No point doing more, it's still snowing hard.
Dug out my snow shoes and went for a short hike in the storm. Took the dogs with me. That's some hard work. Dogs are exhausted, but happy.
[B]Snow Shoe Broccoli[/B]
Re: Over 50 Crossfitters Sign In
I wish no one was at work in Denver. We have snow!
I got my deadlift up to 155# this morning. Last time was 145# and then my form went south. 155# felt really good. 165# was apparently out of the question though. That bar did not budge.
Re: Over 50 Crossfitters Sign In
No snow here. Just cold, gray Columbus.
30 squats
10 pullups
Rear squat 5x5 185, 205, 225, 235, 235
Thrusters as Rx'ed
Pullups with thin band
Feeling about 90%, still hacking a bit, but not infecting anyone in my basement!
|All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:11 AM.
CrossFit is a registered trademark of CrossFit Inc.


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Three months after its largest-ever recall, Samsung has finally completed its investigation of the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco. The high-profile flagship phone was recalled (twice) and canceled after reports of explosions and fires, and now Samsung thinks it has finally nailed down the issue.
Samsung's verdict: two separate battery construction issues were to blame. Samsung Electronics used two separate suppliers for the Galaxy Note 7—Samsung SDI, a sister company in Samsung Group, and Amperex Technology Ltd (ATL)—and it turns out both manufacturers had their own issues. Given that Samsung's first recall and attempted fix didn't work, it's no surprise that the problem behind the Galaxy Note 7 is a complicated one.
What went wrong
In its report, Samsung refers to the battery manufacturing partners in generic terms—possibly to help those partners save face. This "Battery A," "Manufacturer A" obfuscation really won't fool anyone who is paying attention, since Samsung identifies "Battery A" as "from the first recall," and the first recall exclusively targeted batteries made by Samsung SDI.
For the Samsung SDI batteries, Samsung's investigation determined that the corner of the battery casing was too small, which resulted in the negative electrodes in the corner of the battery being bent. This made it easier to short-circuit the battery and cause a "thermal runaway" situation where the battery explodes or catches fire. Exponent, one of the consulting companies in Samsung's investigation, said that this "unintended damage was present in all of the cells examined by Samsung and Exponent." This means that in the first round of Galaxy Note 7s, nearly 100 percent of devices were defective. (Think of that as a one-more-time warning for the 4 percent of Note 7 customers who still haven't returned their devices.)
Samsung also identified an "additional contributing factor" with Battery A: the negative electrodes were too long, which led to them being bent in the curve on the long side of the battery.
With the first recall underway, "Battery B"—which previous reports said was manufactured by ATL—was used in all the replacement Galaxy Note 7s. Battery B didn't have any of the Battery A defects; it had a defect all its own. When connecting the positive tab to the battery, "Manufacturer B's" welding process—which Exponent called "poorly controlled"—created high, sharp welding burrs. Normal expansion and contraction of the battery electrodes during charging and discharging caused the welding burrs to scrape against the insulation between battery layers. Eventually this scraping could penetrate the insulation and short out the battery, causing fireworks.
Another "additional contributing factor" to the failure of Battery B sounds rather alarming: some batteries were missing insulation tape. The tape helped reinforce certain trouble spots, and apparently ATL forgot to attach it to many units.
What Samsung is changing
Samsung made a big deal out of just how large this investigation was, saying "approximately 700 Samsung researchers and engineers replicated the incidents by testing more than 200,000 fully-assembled devices and more than 30,000 batteries." In addition to Samsung's work, it also hired three outside consulting firms for help: Exponent consulting, the ubiquitous Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and TÜV Rheinland. (Linked are their respective PDF reports.)
Samsung says it has "reassessed every step of the smartphone manufacturing process" since the Note 7 recall and in response has come up with a new "eight-point" battery safety check process. The new process includes the same investigative techniques that helped solve the Note 7 defects, like the use of an X-ray machine and physically disassembling the batteries and looking for problems. Samsung has also "formed a Battery Advisory Group of external advisers, academic and research experts to ensure it maintains a clear and objective perspective on battery safety and innovation." The product planning stage has changed, with Samsung promising an "improved battery design safety standard" with "brackets around the battery for protection" and "improved algorithms" for governing the battery.
Before announcing the findings, DJ Koh, president of Samsung Mobile, said, "I deeply apologize to all of our customers, carriers, retail and distribution partners, and all of our business partners." So far, Samsung has admitted to a $5 billion loss in profits due to the widespread recall and cancellation of the Galaxy Note 7, with analysts estimating the revenue loss at $10 billion.
Listing image by UL


text:
Search USP29
The procedure set forth in this chapter determines the amount of volatile matter of any kind that is driven off under the conditions specified. For substances appearing to contain water as the only volatile constituent, the procedure given in the chapter,
Water Determination
, is appropriate, and is specified in the individual monograph.
Mix and accurately weigh the substance to be tested, and, unless otherwise directed in the individual monograph, conduct the determination on 1 to 2 g. If the test specimen is in the form of large crystals, reduce the particle size to about 2 mm by quickly crushing. Tare a glass-stoppered, shallow weighing bottle that has been dried for 30 minutes under the same conditions to be employed in the determination. Put the test specimen in the bottle, replace the cover, and accurately weigh the bottle and the contents. By gentle, sidewise shaking, distribute the test specimen as evenly as practicable to a depth of about 5 mm generally, and not more than 10 mm in the case of bulky materials. Place the loaded bottle in the drying chamber, removing the stopper and leaving it also in the chamber. Dry the test specimen at the temperature and for the time specified in the monograph.
The temperature specified in the monograph is to be regarded as being within the range of ±2
of the stated figure.
Upon opening the chamber, close the bottle promptly, and allow it to come to room temperature in a desiccator before weighing.
If the substance melts at a lower temperature than that specified for the determination of
Loss on drying
, maintain the bottle with its contents for 1 to 2 hours at a temperature 5
to 10
below the melting temperature, then dry at the specified temperature.
Where the specimen under test is Capsules, use a portion of the mixed contents of not fewer than 4 capsules.
Where the specimen under test is Tablets, use powder from not fewer than 4 tablets ground to a fine powder.
Where the individual monograph directs that loss on drying be determined by thermogravimetric analysis, a sensitive electrobalance is to be used.
Where drying in vacuum over a desiccant is directed in the individual monograph, a vacuum desiccator or a vacuum drying pistol, or other suitable vacuum drying apparatus, is to be used.
Where drying in a desiccator is specified, exercise particular care to ensure that the desiccant is kept fully effective by frequent replacement.
Where drying in a capillary-stoppered bottle
in vacuum is directed in the individual monograph, use a bottle or tube fitted with a stopper having a 225 ± 25 µm diameter capillary, and maintain the heating chamber at a pressure of 5 mm or less of mercury. At the end of the heating period, admit dry air to the heating chamber, remove the bottle, and with the capillary stopper still in place allow it to cool in a desiccator before weighing.
Available as an antibiotic moisture content flask from Kontes, 1022 Spruce St., Vineland, NJ 08360-2841.
Auxiliary Information
Staff Liaison
Horacio Pappa, Ph.D.
Expert Committee
: (GC05) General Chapters 05
Page 2704
Phone Number
: 1-301-816-8319


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Earlier this week I was asked to populate a field in a Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement quick create form with a value from a field on the main form. Unfortunately, the main form would not be saved at the time the quick create form was opened, so the value couldn't be read from the database.
Here's sample code that runs in the main form to set the topmost window's property value:
var setValsForQuickCreate = function(){
window.top.attributename = Xrm.Page.getAttribute("new_attributename").getValue();
And here's the corresponding sample code to run when the quick create form loads:
var setValFromMainForm = function(){
This is a relatively simple example that assumes the value to set in the quick create form is the exact same value from the opening form, but there's no reason you can't do transformations if necessary. Additionally, there's no error checking here, so you'll probably want to at least add null checking/handling in the quick create form's script.


text:
By Cari Rutkoskie
Following the defeat of Schoolcraft Community School's bond in November 2019, a group of concerned parents decided to take action and form the YES for SCS bond team.
Kory Bienz, one of the group's leaders, indicated that the community and the parents needed a group of people to step up and lead the charge. "The response after the bond didn't pass in November was overwhelming. I assumed that the bond would pass because the problems with the buildings are so clear to me. We realized that we needed to inform the community about everything that's wrong with buildings that just can't be fixed any more. We formed the team and invited community members and parents to join us so we could educate people about the cold, hard facts of the situation with our school buildings. We don't want people to vote no because they don't have the information, or worse because they are misinformed."
Randy Blankenship, another of the YES for SCS team leaders, said he regrets not voting in November because he was new to the community. He wants to see a different outcome this time around. "I'm doing this for the kids. I have young kids who will grow up in these schools, and I want them to have a great building to learn in. I don't want them to go to schools that are falling apart. Great school buildings are important for more than just the students – they are an important element in keeping great teachers and school staff. And as a Realtor, I know that strong schools impact our property values. I chose to move here and invest in my home, and I want to see this community grow and stay strong."
Katie Redmond is co-leading the YES for SCS team because she's passionate about Schoolcraft Community Schools. A former PTO president, Katie was part of the facilities committee that worked for two years to put together the current bond proposal. She was also involved in the bond proposal that failed in 2014. She said the YES for SCS team feels different than previous efforts. "This time, we're taking a different approach. The team is out there in the community doing outreach. We're making it more personal. We're going door to door and engaging people in conversations. We're inviting parents and community members to join us, and they are much more involved. We have a much clearer plan this time, and our communication is more consistent," Redmond said.
"The bond may not be perfect in everyone's eyes, but it's the best plan," Redmond added. "It gives the schools a lot of what it needs while honoring the feedback we got from the community about cost and what people are willing to support. It's a compromise that I believe will only benefit us as a community. I've spent a lot of time in our schools as a parent and volunteer, and I understand what we are missing," Redmond pointed out. "Our teachers and the education they provide are phenomenal, but they deserve a facility that complements their hard work – someplace safe, secure, with usable spaces to help grow these little people into strong, compassionate, well-educated adults. It truly takes a village to raise children, and this is an opportunity for our village, our community, to pour into these kiddos. For a few dollars a week, we can change lives and uplift our community."
Dawn Burton is one of the many volunteers who raised her hand and offered to help with the YES for SCS campaign. "I am volunteering for the YES campaign because I believe our children and school faculty need a safe, comfortable, updated learning environment. The reality is that these buildings are beyond repair. At some point we have to say to ourselves, is it worth fixing anymore? And it is very clear the time has come to rebuild. The heating and cooling systems are failing and the roofs and ceilings leak in the two buildings. Our children and teachers do not have the space they need to move freely or store items. There are also major safety concerns. Any individual who comes into the school enters directly into the student population. In the event of an emergency, classrooms have no panic buttons or the ability to call the office. Over 50 years ago, when the elementary school was built, this was not a concern, but our world is sadly very different today. This community is known for its excellent school district. The kids and teachers who make this district what it is do not deserve unsafe conditions. My kids, your kids, and our teachers and staff are my why," Burton exclaimed.
Heather Barkalow, another YES for SCS volunteer, said, "My husband and I chose this district based solely on the size of the school and its phenomenal reputation. Our three kids have been provided with nothing but the best academic and social experiences, but now the district needs help. Going door to door and making our neighbors aware of the school bond and the dire need for new facilities is the least we can do as parents. It's my hope that every member of this community will see that our children, teachers, staff, and administration deserve new facilities that are safe, designed for today's world, and provide an increased sense of Eagle Pride. Voting YES for SCS will provide them with just that."
Scott and Kelly Goddard are also volunteers for YES for SCS. "My wife and I have volunteered in the schools since our kids started pre-K, and we have seen first-hand the challenges the teachers face, including crowded classrooms with inefficient temperature control, limited outlets, and a lack of security," Scott Goddard said. "The teachers have learned to adapt in creative ways, but the conditions are not getting any better. In our experience, SCS has incredible and passionate staff who deserve what is necessary to do their job effectively. It's not just about the kids – it's about the community as a whole. Saying yes to this bond will have a lasting impact on both current and future generations. Please vote yes on March 10," he said.
To learn more about the bond issue, visit the school's website at http://www.scs-bond.com or the YES for SCS Facebook page.


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While all of you back home were sound asleep we pulled into the harbor in Belfast. The weather is once again less than stellar, very cloudy and rain shall accompany us without doubt. However a new adventure beckons so it really just doesn't matter. And in spite of appearances it's not all that cold.
Up at the most unreasonable time of 6:30 AM, we do our best to open the eyes and get dressed. Making our way down to the International Cafe fortunately is easy enough and a Cappuccino and breakfast sandwich do their job. Now, shortly after 8 AM we make our way off to find our tour van. There it is along with today's driver, Jim, and soon the rest of our group has arrived and settled in. Off we go.
As we leave the parking lot, we pass by the no longer used shipyards. Sticking out quite glaringly are Samson and Goliath, the two massive cranes that were used in the building of the Titanic over one hundred years ago. Jim is quick to point out that it was built by the Irish and in good shape when it left. However an English captain was in charge with a Scottish engineer and it ultimately hit a Canadian iceberg. In the land of myths and legends they never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
It's about an hour's drive in the Irish countryside to our first stop. Houses, churches, sheep and cow pastures dot the landscape. It may be cloudy but it's still a very pastoral view. Johnny Cash, after visiting Ireland, wrote his song 40 Shades Of Green and it's easy to see his inspiration. Some of the foothills have their tops pushing into the low lying clouds which makes for a somewhat eerie site.
Carrick-a-Rede Bridge was built by local fishermen 350 yrs ago to cross to an island to catch salmon. The bridge itself is short and the island is very small. What made the whole exercise beneficial was the fact that the island was also not controlled by any government and thus had no tax applied to fish caught off its shores. For 2 months of the year they would catch as many as 300 salmon a day. They stopped using it in the seventies as the catch had dwindled to 300 per season. The bridge has been upgraded (somewhat) to better accommodate toll-paying tourists.
It almost seems as if our arrival has caused the clouds to disappear, blue skies to show and the Sun to try and come out. A little windy but that has dried up the pathway. From the parking lot the bridge is only 1.1 kilometers down that path and the time to get to it is presumably only 20 minutes. However that assumes at least three things:
You are in shape. We aren't.
The weather is decent. It is.
You don't stop to take pictures every 30 seconds. This is something we are incapable of doing.
I made it to the top of the hill about three quarters of the way to the bridge. However it is another steep walk down the other side of that hill followed by the 139 steps down to the bridge. This is then repeated in the opposite direction for the return trip. Not going to happen. On top of all this the path is packed dirt and rock not paved or even asphalt. (Note: Wear decent shoes.) The views along the way are fabulous and do make the walk worthwhile though. The limestone cliffs that border the shores used to be quarried but some time ago the owner decided to quit selling as he felt it was destroying the landscape too much.
Now we are on our way to Dunluce castle. Blue and red marked sheep are all over the pastures. When asked, Jim advises the British Protestant color is blue and Irish Catholic is red ergo, blue sheep are Protestant and red are Catholic…remember what I said earlier about the truth. Alternative facts suggest the grazing land is shared so owners mark their sheep for easy differentiation.
Before we get there, we pass through the town of Bushmills. Quite obviously it hosts the Bushmills Irish Whiskey distillery. They were granted a license to distill spirits in 1608 but really, the process was started by Irish monks in the 11th century. Apparently there are two major differences between Scotch Whisky and Irish Whiskey. One you may have just noticed – Scotch Whisky does not have an 'e' after the k. The other difference is Irish tastes better. That might be another one of those alternative facts depending on who you talk with.
Dunluce Castle was built in the 14th century and last occupied by the Macdonald clan from Scotland in 1650. Their departure was caused by a collapse of the kitchen area that took 6 servants lives. Lady MacDonald refused to live there anymore. The castle is built on the cliffs which are riddled with caves. Ocean erosion had ultimately caused the collapse. Given no-one has lived there for 300 plus years, it's in a very sad state of repair.
The Giant's Causeway is our next extended stop. It is a very unique gathering of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, formed by 5 to 8 sided rocks. These were created by volcanic eruptions some 40 million years ago. Local legend, however, paints a very different story. Really it was built by local giant Fin McCool. He wanted to cross over to Scotland to confront a local Scottish giant. Now Fin was no shorty. He was 12 ft tall. But when he got to Scotland, he discovered the giant he was after was 16 ft tall. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. So before they met, Fin went back to his own home in Ireland. The Scottish giant heard about Fin's desire for conflict so he came to Ireland looking for Fin. Fin's wife covered Fin while he was sleeping. When the Scot came to the house, Fin's wife cautioned the Scot to be quiet, pointing at the sleeping Fin, saying she didn't want him to wake Fin's baby. The Scot, looking at a 12 ft baby, decided that Fin himself might be a bigger handful than anticipated and left in a hurry. While making his way back to Scotland, he also destroyed most of the causeway so Fin couldn't come after him. I think that story is definitely more entertaining.
The decision was made to take a bus down the long, steep hill rather than walk and the return on that same bus proved well worth the 2 pounds total we spent (both ways). Once at the bottom the columns and the shore line with its ever-present surf made for another one of those you-have-to-do-this experiences. If it were wet today the climb onto the rocks would have been somewhat more treacherous. As it was we had only to deal with the fact the rocks are totally uneven in every direction. It's certainly not something you'd want to try after a few pints of Guinness. When we reached the top we began to wonder if sober was really a better way after all. It did provide a most unique way to test your balance. I'm happy to report that the ride back up the hill did not require an ambulance.
Now we're on our way to Ballycastle for lunch and more views. A step into a local pub (O'Connors) was immediately met with a very loud cheer and a full-to-overcrowding establishment. A soccer match of some import was on the television and critical plays were being made. This is well and truly a prime example of a pub party in Ireland. There was clearly no room in the main pub area but they did have a great outdoor section that got us away from the crowds and the noise. Lunch was enjoyed talking with another older couple that was also doing this particular cruise as a bucket list item, having never been to the British Isles before. I found it necessary, clearly in the interests of fairness and proof of concept, to try another half pint of Guinness. I can now state, unequivocally, it IS better in Ireland.
It is now time to make our way back to the ship. As we do so, we make a quick bathroom break in a very little village called Carnlough. Very much the quaint fishing village directly on the ocean.
Making our way through Belfast, we pass by the peace walls and listen to Jim give a little insight as to the Belfast Troubles in the 1960's, the peace accord helped into fruition in the 1980s by then US President Clinton and how, over 20 years later, the struggles for equality continue. This venue is not for a political diatribe, but there is apparently more going on than meets the world public eye.
I have to go to bed now as tomorrow will be an even earlier start as we need to be up by 6 AM. The day after, however, is a sea day and I will post the pics from both today and tomorrow at that time. I beg your indulgence and understanding.


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25% OFF: Gilmour 4.5 gal. Backpack Sprayer
Stop by Mansfield Feed Mill for all your gardening supplies. Take advantage of our great special on the Gilmour 4.5 gallon Backpack Sprayer! Originally $118.95, now 25% Off! Offer valid while supplies last.
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- 56″ reinforced PVC hose
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- Built-in carry handle
- No assembly required


text:
Ιf you are looking for a relaxing, traditional, Greek experience, you will find it at Christina Apartments. On the north west side of Corfu, at the village of San Stefano, a little bit of paradise is waiting for you.
They are situated by the Church and old harbor at the quiet end of the delightfull village.
With a beach just two minutes away and view of the amazing Ionian sunsets, our newly build and spacious apartments are waiting for you…
Christina's Apartments together with Tsaros Apartments, now have a rent a car facility, offering preferential rates for our guests, with airport delivery option available. For further details visit: http://www.sanstefanoscarhire.com/ .
New and spacious apartments are waiting for you, to make your vacation as comfortable as it gets.
We are at north west Corfu, in the village of San Stefano, with many beaches nearby and one just two minutes from the apartments.
Scuba diving, biking, boat hire, horse riding and many more activities are available for you nearby.
the accommodation you dream of…


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"Working on the holiday, are you?" Lila asked when she caught sight of Chase's number in her cell-phone's display.
"I'm calling to tell you the warrants for Carl's arrest are ready," he said. And, when Lila didn't answer, added, "I thought you'd want to know."
"Am I supposed to thank you for the information?"
"No. I'm calling to thank you. I'd also apologize again, but I know how you feel about that."
She ignored both. "Congratulations. You finally got your way."
"I owe you, Lila. Big time. Anything, anytime, anywhere, just ask."
"Be careful, Your Lordship. An offer like that, I'm likely to take you up on it."
"I'll be waiting," Chase promised.
"I have to admit," Grant told Frankie as they stood by the buffet table, her 4th of July party officially in full swing, complete with kids splashing in the pool, the smell of tofu on the grill, and red, white and blue bunting as far as the eye could see. "I was a bit surprised to get your invitation."
"When Charlie told me she'd invited Kirkland, I thought you might want a chance to run into him… accidentally."
"That's unexpectedly nice of you."
"My family has had a great deal of good fortune lately. The least I can do is pay it forward."
"I'm sure there are far more deserving candidates than me around."
"You remember our chat last year? Following Jamie and Lorna's wedding? I know what it's like to lose a lifetime with your kid. I came back expecting Charlie to be the same little girl in pigtails I remembered. Instead, I got a full-fledged young woman, wanting to talk about boys and condoms – "
Grant nearly choked on his drink. And not only because it appeared to be made from some kind of kelp. "Are she and Kirkland…"
The kelp sloshed heavily in his stomach. "Guess that means I don't have a little boy anymore, either."
"I told Charlie I was happy for them. Kirkland is a great kid, they seem great for each other. I'll admit, for a while there, I was afraid Charlie might act out in some way, do something inappropriate just to spite Cass and I. She was so angry, so ready to explode at any moment. I honestly was at my wit's end. I kept thinking, what if she goes for the casual hook-up, doesn't use protection, or, worse, takes up with some smarmy older guy who convinces her he loves her and ends up ruining her life."
"Hrmph," Grant cleared his throat.
Luckily, Frankie thought nothing of it. "What a relief to have her end up with Kirkland, the sweetest boy on Earth. At least I know they're being careful. They're both eighteen, it's the summer… it's a perfect, first romance. I couldn't have asked for more."
"You and Charlie must be very close, for her to confide in you, like this."
"I'm doing my best. It isn't easy. But, I want her to know she can be totally open with me. The last thing I need is to act like my mother, and turn sex into something dirty or shameful. It's perfectly natural. I want to support Charlie, encourage her."
"What can I say? You're a great mom." Grant stared down at the left-over dregs in his glass. "But, you'd be okay with me taking some time to process this new information? A couple of years, maybe? Then I'm sure the two of us will be on the same page again."
"At least Lila had the sense to warn us," Rachel told her husband as they both stood in the foyer, Carl with his bag packed, having already said good-bye to the children, only Rachel left now. "I suppose we should be grateful for that."
"You'll forgive me, if gratitude is not precisely the emotion I feel towards your Lila at the moment."
"It doesn't matter," Rachel shook her head. "I'll handle Lila. The only thing that matters right now is you."
"If that were the case," Carl sniffed. "You would be coming with me."
"I love you," Rachel reiterated, hoping this time the message might sink in – and be believed. "But, I can't allow that love to blind me towards what's best for my children."
"You mean, your eldest children."
"I mean, all of my children," she refused to budge, no matter how adamantly he refused to accept it. "Elizabeth and Cory need to see that there are consequences to the sort of life you've lived."
"Ah, so you are making me an example."
"Yes." She saw no shame in that. "Please don't tell me you would prefer our children actually approving of your actions, instead of learning from both our pasts."
"Do not twist my words, Rachel. Or your own."
"What does that mean?"
"It means, that while I have no doubt of your sincerity regarding Elizabeth and Cory, I equally as strongly assert that this is a case of reasoning being twisted in order to fit a conclusion. Not the other way around."
"You've lost me," she admitted.
"No doubt," Carl chose to take her sentiment literally. While Rachel chose to pretend she didn't realize he'd done so. With both of them at stand-off, Carl elaborated, "First, you made up your mind to stay behind. Then you conjured up a reason for doing so."
"I explained myself to you."
"Indeed, you have."
"Damn it, Carl. Is this really how you want us to spend our last few moments together? Fighting?"
"You could still change your mind," he pleaded, pride be damned. "Come with me. By tomorrow morning, you, Elizabeth, Cory and I could be starting a new life together."
"I don't want a new life," Rachel did her best not to dissolve into tears. "I want things to stay the way they were."
"And you blame me for that becoming an impossibility."
"Why?" Rachel finally broke down, asking Carl the one question she'd resolved never to ask. "Why did you have to do this? Why did you put me in this position? Why couldn't you have left well enough alone?"
"Because," the agony in his eyes was exactly what Rachel had been hoping to avoid. "Well enough, was never that, not for me. You must have sensed it. Why else did you not once, through all these years, question me regarding precisely what sort of business I remained in?"
"I was scared," she confessed.
"So you must have known."
"I suppose I did."
"I warned you, Rachel. I warned you that I would never become a toothless lap-dog. Not even for you. You knew the man you married. You would not have wanted me any other way. Imagine what might have transpired had the compound come to Bay City, and I no longer possessed the resources to fight them. I needed to hold on to some segment of my past, unsavory though it may be. It was our insurance policy. I suffer no qualms in accepting impenitent responsibility for it. The one thing I will not do, however, is accept even a fraction of the blame for placing you in this ghastly position. I am not liable for your tears. That lays on the heads of your precious, eldest three. The ones who insisted on dividing your loyalties in the first place. Had they chosen to pay you the respect you deserve as their mother, had they stood by you rather than choosing to flail on the floor, pounding their fists in juvenile tantrum, you would not be suffering so now. I will never forget what your children did to us. And I will never, ever forgive."
"Hey," Zeno said, coming up to Charlie and Kirkland as they sat by the pool, each one balancing a paper plate in their hands.
"Hey," Kirkland squinted up into the sun, shading his eyes with one palm.
"Hey," Charlie echoed, looking everywhere but up at Zeno.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing much," Kirkland told him.
While, despite the ninety degree temperatures, Charlie shivered.
"Hey, GQ, can I talk to you?" Jamie caught Jen's boyfriend right before GQ was about to step into her room.
"Uh… sure," GQ peeked inside, noted that Jen was asleep, and shut the door quietly, following Jamie down the hall, more than a little confused, and very concerned. "Surprised to see you working on the holiday, Dr. Frame," GQ attempted to make polite conversation until they were inside Jamie's office.
"Part of it. I'll catch up with my wife and kids tonight, take in the fireworks. Though I don't think the girls will get much out of it. Too young still."
GQ nodded, done with the pleasantries, he blurted out, "Is this about Jen?"
"Actually, no. It's about you."
"What do you mean?"
"That scene in her room yesterday, between you and Kevin – "
"It isn't good for her, I know. I'm sorry. Jen shouldn't be put under any stress."
"You're right. It isn't good for her. It also isn't good for you, GQ."
He cocked his head. "I don't understand."
Jamie sighed, looking for the most benign way possible to approach the topic. Giving up and deciding to speak from experience. "I was a lot like you when I was younger. And by younger, I mean last week. I had this firm, moral code, and God help anyone who stepped an inch over the line of it."
"Are you saying that having a moral code is a bad thing, Dr. Frame?"
"No, GQ. But, I am saying that trying to impose your code on other people, is. They don't appreciate it - surprisingly. And they let you know in no uncertain terms."
"I'm just supposed to ignore it then? When Kevin talks about cutting another human being up for parts, I'm just supposed to turn the other cheek, act like it's okay?"
"Pick your battles," Jamie advised. "Really think about what's important, and what isn't going to matter in a week, a month, a year. You're a good man, I can see that, I can hear it. I admire it, even. But, you are also inflexible, condescending, and holier than thou."
GQ opened his mouth to counter, but Jamie cut him off.
"It takes one to know one, son."
"You're telling me I'm supposed to swallow my principles based on popular opinion? That's unacceptable."
"Okay," Jamie backed off, having said his piece, understanding that, at GQ's age, he probably wouldn't have listened either. Scratch that: Knowing full well that he hadn't.
"How are you doing, Marley?" Cass asked.
She understood it wasn't just a polite holiday party question. He really wanted to know. And he knew exactly what he was talking about, too.
"I'm… okay," she told him truthfully, though not without soul-searching.
"I'm glad to hear it."
"You were right. Last year. When you drove me to the hospital. It really did help. A lot. It helped me see clearer. Figure out where I went wrong. How I could do better in the future. It helped me see what I really wanted out of life. Who I wanted."
"You and Grant, you seem… in a good place," was as far as Cass was willing to go.
"Yes," she agreed, hearing what Cass didn't say as clearly as she heard what he did. "We are. We're… compatible. It's going well."
"Well, congratulations. I didn't get a chance to say it before. I wish you the very best, Marley. I mean that."
"Thank you. And it's alright. You've been…" Marley indicated the house, the grounds, the pool, the whole enchilada, and laughed. "You've been busy."
"Yeah." Cass ran a hand through his hair, looking around as if seeing everything for the first time. "Can you believe it?"
"Not really. If I were you, I'd keep looking around every corner. You never know when my mother might spring out and yell: Gotcha."
Cass' eyes narrowed. "You think this is some kind of plot on Donna's part?"
"Everything is some kind of plot on Donna's part," Marley sighed. "Watch your back, Cass. And especially, watch your little girl."
"No party this year," Rachel told Mac, kneeling at his grave, clearing away the now dead flowers from her last visit, and placing new ones just below his name. Red, white, and blue for the occasion. "I just didn't have the heart."
No reply. Not that she expected one. Wasn't that the primary tragedy of losing people you loved? That you couldn't summon them up on a moment's notice? No matter how desperately you could have used their counsel. Or merely their presence.
Rachel went on, "The kids wouldn't have come. They want nothing to do with me these days. Because of Carl. I should have seen it coming. I did ask a great deal of them. To accept him after everything he'd done – especially to you. Carl certainly wasn't the replacement stepfather they would have chosen. I tried to explain. But, they never understood. What better homage to you, to what you did for me, than for me to turn around and do the same for Carl? My falling in love with him was just as much a tribute to you as it was to him. The kids refuse to see that. That stubbornness, where does it come from, do you think?"
Rachel smiled, imagining she could hear Mac laugh in response.
"I didn't run away with Carl. It broke his heart. He took it personally. The look on his face when he left the house… He wouldn't meet my eye. He stormed out. I don't blame him. Till death do us part? Isn't that what the vows say? He thinks I should have gone with him. I should have stood by him and proven my love. He needed that. He always needs it. That reassurance. He's never felt deserving of what we have. He always craves more proof. I can't blame him. I was the same way, remember? With you? I couldn't believe the gift I'd been given. I couldn't trust it. And so I expected it to disappear at any moment. I tested you. I gave you ample opportunities to turn your back on me. And then, when you did, I crowed that I knew it all along. Not a very secure way to live, is it?
"I never understood you, Mac. I loved you, but I never did understand how you could be so loving to people who kept disappointing you. Me, first and foremost. Iris, repeatedly. Jamie…. All the chances you gave us. All those chances… I didn't understand. And now, I think Carl feels the same way about me. And you can't trust what you don't understand. He wanted me to give up everything for him. And I would have. Gladly. Everything but my children. Your children. Our grandchildren. If I'd thrown in my lot with Carl, it might have meant never seeing them again. Any of them. Mackenzie… Our newest granddaughter's name is Mackenzie. She's barely a month old. If I'd left, she'd never know me, and I'd never know her. I couldn't tell her about you. Not that there aren't dozens of people in Bay City who would be happy to… But, not the way I would. There are limits, aren't there, Mac? Even you would agree. There have to be limits to what we're willing to do, how far we're willing to go for other people. What would you have done in my shoes?"
A discreet throat clearing behind her clued Rachel in to the fact that she wasn't alone.
She turned around, dragging herself back into the present from the past – and the future.
To find Alice standing there.
It may have been a while, but Lorna still had a sense of when she was being followed.
And she was definitely being followed.
She'd come to Bay City Park with Devon and Mackenzie in their double-stroller, choosing to follow the most shaded, most secluded paths in order to avoid direct sunlight.
The place was nearly deserted today, on account of the holiday. Barbequing in the park was illegal, meaning the majority of the city stayed home. Lorna was the only person on this particular trail. Well, except for the double pair of footsteps behind her.
Though her instinct was to speed up, Lorna forced herself to keep plodding at the same pace – no sense tipping her hand and letting them realize she knew they were there. Her mind, however, was spinning a mile a minute as Lorna considered her options. She'd be safer among other people. She'd seen a few families picnicking on the North Side when Lorna drove by. However, the parking lot, and thus Lorna's car, was on the South side. Should she risk putting others in danger, or try to make a quick getaway? The problem with either option was that to get anywhere, Lorna needed to pass through an even more secluded area, one that included Bay City's prize waterfall. Bay City's prize, deafening waterfall. You could barely hear yourself think there. And, like in space, she doubted anyone would be able to hear you scream. (While on bed rest, Lorna had made a good dent in Jamie's DVD collection. Though he had questioned the wisdom of a pregnant woman watching a movie about an alien being gestating, then bursting out of your body.)
Lorna decided to split the difference and circle the waterfall from the outside, going over the cement paved ledge along its top, which meant a longer trip, as she attempted to reach her car before the footsteps caught up with her. If that was, in fact, what they had in mind. For all Lorna knew, she was merely being observed. But, as a best-case scenario, that wasn't particularly comforting.
Having made up her mind, she changed course abruptly, hoping against hope that her postpartum, hormone addled mind had been making up the whole thing, and whoever she thought had been tracking her would continue on their own way.
No such luck. Lorna may have been postpartum and hormonal. But, that didn't mean she also wasn't being followed. Once Lorna changed direction, so did the footsteps.
And they sped up, too.
Giving up the pretense of ignorance, Lorna did the same.
She grabbed the stroller's handles and shoved, flying over pebbles and even rocks as she first power-walked, then out and out ran.
If Lorna had been on her own, she might have had a fair shot. With the stroller, though, they caught with her right at the top of the falls.
The first thug with a gun approached her from the right. The second came from the left. The falls were behind her.
And, right in front of Lorna, stood Carl.
For a moment, she was almost relieved.
The devil she did know was always preferable to the devil she didn't.
Except then she remembered that Carl was the worst devil she'd ever known.
"What the hell?" Lorna demanded, her near-paralyzing fear coming out, thankfully, as fury.
"Good day, Lorna," Carl all but tipped his hat.
She pointed to either side of her. "Get your damn goons' weapons out of my kids' faces. Now, Carl."
"Stand down, gentlemen," Carl ordered.
They did. But only to the extent that their barrels were no longer pointed directly at Devon and Mackenzie, but rather to the left of them. Which was little comfort. An itchy trigger finger followed by an unexpected ricochet, and who knew where a stray bullet might end up?
"Is there a point to this macho show of strength?" Lorna demanded.
"There is."
"Care to let me in on it?"
Carl smiled. "You and your imprudent husband are directly responsible for my being wrenched away from Rachel and our children."
"Don't be crass, Lorna. I taught you better than that."
"Bullshit," she repeated. In response to both statements.
"If it weren't for you and your unwarranted paranoia in regards to me – "
"Oh, yeah," Lorna indicated being currently held at gunpoint. "My paranoia was definitely unwarranted."
" – Jamie would have never grown to suspect me in the manner that he has."
"Jamie didn't need me to point out the obvious. You got this son kidnapped."
"And if Jamie hadn't grown to suspect me, he would never have issued his outrageous ultimatum to Rachel."
"Jamie gave Rachel a choice. I'm guessing she didn't choose you. That's gotta hurt, Carl, I'll give you that. Better luck next time."
"Interesting you should put it that way." Carl almost appeared pleased by how trouble-free Lorna was making this for him. Still, just in case she still didn't thoroughly grasp the situation, he offered, "Rachel's son stole my family. Don't you believe it only fair, my dear, for me to filch his in turn?"
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