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When you first log into Crimson, you'll instantly get an overview of all money loaded into the database on your Fundraising Dashboard. Below are the features found on the dashboard:
• Countdown: This is managed by admin users and used for major report dates, elections, etc.
• Total Raised: Shows the total raised for CTD or YTD (depending on the specific account), and this will also have a time stamp for when it was last calculated. To refresh the total raised amount, account administrators can click the button.
• By Channel: See which channels are performing the best. Channels are setup on the Settings menu, and correlate with Program Codes (see Crimson: Fundraising Terms Solution for further info). Hover over the blue bars to see the totals raised.
• By Money Type: View a breakdown of contributions on the Money Type pie chart. Click on the chart to see results broken down in the graph at the bottom of the page. You can also click on the pie chart headers to add or remove different fund codes for further analysis.
• Gifts: Get a quick count of gifts processed for the current cycle.
• Other Date Breakdowns: Get an even more detailed breakdown of contributions by multiple date ranges: Year-to-Date, Qtr-to-date, Month-to-date, Week-to-Date, Past 30-Days, and Past 7 Days. Hover over the bars to get a snapshot of a single day.
• Overview by Channel: Hover over the different channel lines to see the dollar amount raised over the past 30 days for that specific channel.
Account Menu Options
Your account menu options can be seen from all areas of Crimson. They are located at the top right hand corner of the screen. Below are the menu options available:
• Messages: Read messages from CMDI and view details for completed Mass Appends
• HelpDesk: View Guides and FAQ's for all Crimson Features here.
• Donate Now: Process donations on the fly through Donate Now. This can be enabled if you are setup with Merchant Services/WidgetMakr. If interested in these services, please contact Support at firstname.lastname@example.com for further information.
• My Tasks: Quickly access tasks specifically assigned to you here. You can complete the tasks, export them as a list in Excel, or view/print call sheets
• Photo Inbox: Email pictures to firstname.lastname@example.com. The pictures will be in the photo inbox the next time you log in, and from here they can be attached directly to a People record. We recommend naming the subject line the donor/candidate name.
• Account: Client can change their password as well as add /change their profile picture
• Logout: Manually log out of Crimson here if you are done.
People Menu
• Dashboard: The People Dashboard gives you a total # of People records in the database and breaks them down by contact info, county, city, zip, CD, and Donor Info.
• Search: Use the Quick Search to look up a specific donor by name or PID. Use the Detailed Search to find a group of donors based on different search criteria.
• Dropdown Menu's: Each search field has its own dropdown menu which allow you to edit how it searches. For example: Last Name "Starts with" … B (for Joseph Banks), State "In list of"… VA, MD, DC, and Email "Is not empty"
• Search Sections: View the search sections available below:
- Profile - Use if donor information like Name, Employer/Occupation, Fundraising Tracking #, or PID is known.
- Contact - Use if donors address, areas they may live, or general contact info is known.
- Group - Use if searching by codes like flags, keywords, club, or events
- Flags/ Flag Date - Used for hygiene like "do not mail" or "deceased". Also used for noting VIP prospects, donors, etc
- Keywords - Used for issue interests like "social security", or to classify if donor willing to write a letter to an editor
- People Type or Code - Search PACs VS. Individuals or Donor VS. Non Donor
- Giving Summary - Use to narrow down gift amounts by cycle or specific dates, pull pledge history, or search outstanding pledge money.
- Gifts - Use to search gift details like batch information, money type, coding, etc.
- Giving Aggregate 1 & 2 - Use to specify what amounts or fund codes to search for or exclude. This is most helpful with historical data/incumbents.
- Suppress - Use to exclude people from results. Ex: "do not email" or "maxed out".
- Can "Reset" to clear all the search settings entered
- Click "Search" and then click Export to create list in Excel or CSV. You can also Print call sheets here.
People Tabs Found Within Donor Profile
To view a People Record from your Search Results, click on the green button. Below are the main tabs you'll find within a Profile directly under the Profile picture and contact info.
• Fundraising:
- Dashboard – View a summary of the donor's total contributions
- Gifts – View the donor's live contributions and/or add new contributions directly from their profile.
- Statement – View adjustments applied to the original contributions.
- Clubs –View the donor's Club information if any are associated with their record. (See Crimson: About Clubs and Status or Contact Support for further information on donor Club Codes.)
- Pledges – Enter donor pledges and track as money comes in.
- Political - View a summary of voter history here. (See the Help Desk or Contact Support for further information on loading Voter Data.)
• General:
- Add/View Additional Info like Salutations, Unique URL's, or FEC ID #
- Add/View Bio info here.
• Tasks - Add, view, complete, or delete all active open or completed tasks only in relation to that profile. (Ex: Subject: Fundraising Call » Type: Call » Purpose: Initial Contact » Date Due: call next Friday » For: John Smith » Note: Call about maxing out and attending upcoming fundraiser » Save.)
• Note: Keep general notes on the donor here using a Title, Date, and Description. Ex: Note that one should always contact the Secretary not the Donor.
• Events: Add the Donor to an event here. Attribute a contribution to the event, and track their event RSVP status. See Help Desk or contact Support for further info on creating or managing Events.
• Contact: Keep contacts for donor here, like secretary, campaign manager, etc. This is extremely useful for PAC and other Committee contacts.
• Map: See the records primary address on a map and see how many other donors are in their area.
• History: View any changes or additions made to the record. See the original data, the change made, who made the change, and when it occurred.
• Activity: View records Activity logs for Donations, Pledges, Events, Tasks, and general Changes applied.
• Flags & Keywords: Click on and to add/view Flags and Keywords (Ex: DNM – Do Not Mail).
Other People Profile Features
• Upload Photo: Upload photos to a record by clicking Change on the default silhouette.
• PID: This is the unique ID assigned to people records by Crimson. This ID is searchable in the People and Money search.
• Edit Full Record: Edit the Donor's main contact information: Name, Salutations, Primary Mail Record Indicator (for house holding), Address, Email, Social Media Links, Etc.
• Save as Business Card (vCard): Click the button to save the donor's profile info as vCard.
• Copy Record: Click the button if you want to quickly copy the donor's home info to create a new record for their spouse.
• Links: Select the button to access the donor's Relationship Tree. Use this tool to create relationships (e.g. spouse of, contact of, employer of, etc.) between donor records. The linked records can be opened from here.
• Dupe-checking & Merge: Use the button to find possible dupes matching the donor's record, and merge the duplicates. Use the Not a Dupe checkbox if the match is not a dupe.
• Look Up:
- Use the Look Up tool to perform a general search on the donor's First and Last name on FEC.gov as well as the following Social Media Outlets: Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
- Use the Google Map and Zillow options to search the donor's primary address.
- Lastly, if you have a Wealth Engine account, login and use the search tool directly from the donor's profile.
• Call Sheets: View or Email Call Sheets (Full, Brief, Pocket, or PAC).
• Edit Address: Book Click the Edit Address Book button to manage multiple addresses, phone numbers, and emails for a donor.
• Address Map: View Scroll through and click on the address directly from the donor's profile to see its location in Google Maps.
• Lobbyist/Tracking#: Track funds raised by lobbyist for FEC Reporting needs. Create a tracking system and designate a tracking number to a lobbyist here. Then apply that Tracking# to money coming in. Contact Support or Sales for further bundler tracking options available for Crimson.
Other People Tab Tools from Left Side People Menu Options:
• Merge Tool: Use this if you know what records you want to merge. The left side donor's information will save. The right side donor's information will be added to the left so long as it does not override any of the information already given.
• Tasks/Calls:
- Select the user who created the task. (b) Select the user who will be performing the task. (c) Select the due date range
- Print a summary, call sheets, view donor profiles, or go to a task.
- Re-assign Tasks"
- Hierarchy system-candidate will call to seal the deal
- Vice Versa-candidate calls then staff follows-up to get CC info
- Just to have someone else make the call
• Events: Manage finance events here and view them from a calendar or as a list. Track events by date, invitees, RSVPs, money raised, etc.
Money vs People Menu
The Money Tab gives gift level output. It's hard to explain until you need it, but it's important to know the output will be per transaction instead of a summary of gifts like the People Tab.
Money Window Editing
While in a people record you can view the contribution history and double click on any contribution to view the details of it. Below are the features found within this money window:
Edit Button: If you have entered a contribution, but realized it was coded to the wrong event code, you wanted to add the check number, or add a tracking number you want to use the Edit button.
Adjust Button: This is the button you would use for compliance edits. Here you will see a drop-down menu for Full Refunds, Partial Refunds, Re-designations, Re-attributions, etc. You will then add an adjustment date, and the person name, fund code, etc. for the contribution to be adjusted to.
Gift Details:
- Transaction ID# - Known as the MID, it's a unique ID for a contribution.
- Amount - the amount of the contribution.
- Batch# - This is the number you've assigned to a money batch entered through data entry or imported in per day or at any given time period.
- Date - This is the date of the batch entered (used for reporting).
- Source - This is the code assigned to the contribution tying it back to the event or source it came from.
Payment Details:
- Pay Type - lists the money type of the contribution: cash, check, in-kind, etc
- Ck/Cc# - this is where you store the check or credit card # if you chose to collect this information
- Exp Date - of the credit card used
- Comment - any comments you would like to make for the contribution
Exception Coding: To add an Exception Code to a contribution you use the Edit button. These codes are used to flag gifts that need further attention for FEC compliance. (For example: over-limit donors, partnership attribution, personal funds verification, or third party signatures.)
The purpose of assigning these codes is to make it easier to pull the lists for Exception Letters that need to be sent to Donors.
Note: A list of these codes can be found on the HelpDesk.
Tracking #: If you chose to create a tracking system, then you can assign tracking #'s to contributions here through the Edit button.
FEC Memo Text: Add FEC Memo Text here for reporting.
Reports Menu
All Reports: Find helpful reports here. Place arrow over reports to see a description or select "List" to view at once.
- Income-#216 "Income Report By Package"- gives the stats on amounts raised in a specific time frame
- Data maintenance-#104 "Dupe Checker"-this will look for dupes with money only. Every line has a unique paring, one on left and scroll to one on right
- Data maintenance- #115 "Dupe Check"- individuals w/o money.
- Check reports for easy access on homepage
- Ask clients to let us know ideas for reports in future


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Spring 2016 - Mosaic
Breakthrough thinking
A pH imbalance is serious business. Low pH levels can lead to cystic fibrosis, ischemia or cancer. But it's been difficult to gauge these levels using current technology.
Best of both worlds
It's a first: two U of T Scarborough students are about to graduate with both an Environmental Science Bachelor's degree and a Master in Engineering.
Telling the stories of UTSC
A special endeavor called the Scarborough Oral History Project shares stories of immigrant women, of community elders, of people who've led dramatic lives.
Enabling citizen research
Inside every citizen dwells a potential researcher. By promoting citizen engagement, an online research platform called Participedia aims to connect these latent researchers with those already in the field.
Did you know?
Why was the outside wall of the Doris McCarthy Gallery pink?
To many, the job of higher education is to develop informed, thinking citizens. To others, it's to prepare students for the job market. But why not both?

subset: commoncrawl


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immediate access to Starbucks-type of coffee. If you are familiar with Keurig, this is pretty much the same. I chose this, though, because among those that I looked at, this was one that made hot chocolate drinks as well. My husband is not a coffee drinker, but he loves hot cocoa!
Since getting this, my husband has concocted his own recipe for hot chocolate drink. I just get the usual packs available for caffe latté, caffe macchiato, and the regular ones. Gevalia brand has become my favorite, as I find Starbucks too strong. Of course, it has its cons, like I get too much trash (no recycling program by Tassimo for their pods), and I get to do maintenance (so does a regular coffee brewer) - daily wiping, change of filter, and descaling every three months....but it is so worth it!
If at times it does not seem to work okay, it could be that the bar code reader is dirty. I just get a cotton cloth (I get the rags sold by Wal-mart), dampen it and wipe the reader. Instructions say not to use paper towel for the bar scanner since that will damage the see through material (glass? or plastic? I can't remember).
I also got some teas (yellow tea, black tea and green tea, Tazo brand) for use on those times when I feel bloated.


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As the sun rises over the Ozark mountains, waves of morning fog carry the fragrance of muscadines into the Altus valleys, where Post winery employees work from dawn to dusk to turn the ripened grapes into sweet Southern wines.
As the sun rises over the Ozark mountains, waves of morning fog carry the fragrance of muscadines into the Altus valleys, where Post winery employees work from dawn to dusk to turn the ripened grapes into sweet Southern wines.
The muscadine grape grows especially well in the warm, Arkansas River valley climate of Altus, explained Joseph Post.
"We're in the southeast, so we're known for our muscadine wines, which you don't find in other parts of the world because the grapes won't grow there," he said.
"It's such a perfect area for growing grapes" added Patrick Hodges, maintenance supervisor. "And happy grapes make happy wine."
With hardy fruit, tough skins and an extra pair of chromosomes that make them exceptionally strong, muscadines are equipped to survive the hot, humid Arkansas summers and produce hefty harvests come fall.
From the break of dawn to late afternoon, Thomas Post, his son, David Post, and a crew of harvesters set to work on the fields.
"We're right in the beginning of our muscadine harvest," said Andrew Post, president and senior winemaker. "And we'll harvest about a thousand tons of muscadines."
The harvest is done largely by a machine that, although very large and noisy, runs gently through the grapevines, gingerly agitating the branches so the grapes fall, uninjured, to a conveyor belt.
"This is a 39-year-old harvester," said Thomas "and it does the work of 100 men."
The conveyor belt then carries the grapes up and over the harvester and down a chute into one-ton bins. Two members of the crew ensure no loose twigs contaminate the grapes when moving along the conveyor, while another pair direct the chute to evenly distribute the grapes in the bins. Two more crew members follow ahead and behind the harvester to make sure the delicate leaves don't entangle in the machine.
After the bins are full, a truck takes the muscadines back to the winery where they are prepared for consumption.
"We bring the muscadines straight from the vineyard, and we crush them, de-juice the muscadine and get rid of the stem and the skin so just the juice is left," said Andrew Post, gesturing around a room full of machines.
One machine pops the grapes open, and a pump sends it through a pipeline into the press, he explained. The machines have air balloons in them that inflate the balloons inside the barrel to squeeze the grapes, separating the juice from the seeds, skins and stems. The juice then is transferred to 12,000-gallon cooling tanks where it is cooled to 26-28 degrees and processed into either juice or wine.
Muscadine wine features a fragrant and unique flavor, oft-boasted in country songs and known around the United States as a Southern drink. But the Post family ensures the grapes aren't limited to use in wine and juice. From baskets of the whole fruits to jellies and concentrated nutraceuticals — no part of the muscadine goes unused.
"It's a superfruit," said Andrew Post. "Not only does the juice taste yummy, but what's left over at the end, the skin and the seed, is one of nature's bounties as far as an anti-inflammatory goes and micronutrients."
While winemaking staff ensures the juice is transported from the press to the tanks, another staff works to shovel the seeds and skins into buckets for medical use and sale to pharmaceutical companies.
"Muscadines are significant sources of several phytochemicals (chemicals found in plant foods) that have been associated with disease prevention in humans. High concentrations of gallic acid, catechin, epicaechin, ellagic acid and resveratrol found in the seeds and skins give muscadines a high antioxidant capacity," said a 2004 report by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station with the University of Arkansas' Division of Agriculture.
Antioxidants are substances that slow damaging oxidation.
"Nothing gets wasted," added Hodges, explaining that even the stems are spread out for the cattle to graze after the pressing is over.


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The are 100 images of jeeps on this program, and the second in a
series of screensavers the author has available. They are sent in to the
author's website, and included here. With each image is a name, the year, make
and model of jeep, and the state it is from.
You can set the display time, choose the order, size, choose transitional
effects, change alignment, and more. You can also set one of the images as your
wallpaper, and under the wallpaper tab, you can view the images of the
screensaver as thumbnails.
The author says that if you want your own screen saver, to mail him 5 photos and
he will make you a screensaver for free. If there is over 5 photos there will be
a small fee.
Return to


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I've been feeling very tender about Samantha lately. I'm not sure why, necessarily. Maybe because she's growing so quickly all of a sudden. Or because we just ordered a stroller for her -- that costs a few thousand dollars (more on that later). Or maybe because lately, I've just been in awe at her beautiful smile. She smiles so big. And it makes me melt.
Tonight, we watched a movie. Sammy came over, climbed up on my lap, curled up, and fell asleep. I didn't want to let her go. And so, I held her for a long time before I put her to bed. It was just me with my right arm around Callie, and Sammy sitting on my lap. I felt as if I were surrounded by angels...not just the 2 sitting with me.
Though I feel like I truly am "ok" with her life -- her disabilities and the struggles that she and we face because of them -- I have recently been thinking a lot of "what if." I really wonder who she would be if she had been born without a faulty mortal body. Quite frankly, I think she'd be a pill! But she'd still be tender and loving and ... probably the same way she is now in many respects. I've struggled a lot with some of these feelings I've had, and I can easily ignore them because I am working on other projects that distract me. And then, there are nights like tonight, when the house is quiet, it's just us, and her spirit and mine connect...peacefully. And I'm reminded of what a blessing she is in my life. And I forget about the what ifs. Because she's mine and my life is more full because she's in it.
I was reminded of this song. I've shared it before. And I guess I wanted to torture myself and cry like a baby, so I listened to it again. I love it.


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Well, the first of the month has come around. We have art from two sources and both are looking great – they are nearly finished.
The first is Jeremy Pea's take on the Leopard gunship for the Outworlds Alliance. About the only thing I have for suggestions is (a) the guy exiting the Leopard - he looks like he's either dropping or hovering and since the ground is presumably out of sight below, I'd bet he's using a small jump pack. Perhaps some exhaust jets from it? Otherwise, you have done a fine job, Jeremy.
The second is the Taurian Concordat's Cortes light tank. Lee Madison has done an excellent job and will be done with it shortly. I have no suggestions at this point, as the inking has been completed and all that remains is the crewman, who is being done separately and will be incorporated digitally into the final piece. Next up from Lee will be the Horatio Bridgelayer and the Mastodon Mine-clearing tank.
I offered the Fox art to Jim Lafferty but have not heard back from him yet. Wait for your first payment to hit the bank, Jim, before beginning on the next piece. I don't mind.
Also up for illustration is the Argus. It is a sixty ton 'Mech which I mentioned a few posts back, and as there are several artists who are good with 'Mechs, anyone interested can send me an email. It comes with a miniature picture, so there are fairly solid parameters on this one.
We are on the last month of summer vacation and the editing is proceeding well. I have finally gotten my computer back from the shop – the hard drive was unrecoverable, so I will spend a few hours this evening putting files back onto it which I have on DVD. I backed most of it up about three months ago, fortunately.
I will also be sending out writeups for proofreading this evening.
Geoff, I am going to try to get you a copy of that Periphery book you asked for. Look for an email soon. Meanwhile, payments have gone out to Jim Lafferty, Mike Sullivan and David White. A payment to JP Sphagnum for his fine work on the Thug will go out when I get either his PayPal account name or his mailing address.
JP, I am still hoping for some additional surrounding detail on the Thug, if you can manage it. The 'Mech itself looks really good. The Blackjack also looks good; fleshing out the surrounding buildings will add that hi-pro glow.
Payments to Lee and the Pea-man will go out upon finalization of their work – next Friday at the latest. As with JP, I will need either a PayPal account name or a mailing address. To all of you, please forgive me if I have misplaced your account name or mailing address, as much of it was eaten by the computer crash. Digging through back-emails is very, very time-consuming.
I have the next week off, so if you want to get some work done (especially you proofers), this would be an ideal time to do it. I will be going through the Vehicles section, checking for boners with my new eyes.
Finally, the CM-33 ammunition carrier was sketched by Daniel Cherng, but I have not heard from him for nearly a month. He has a busy schedule - if he does not reply to my emails within the next few days, I will offer that vehicle commission to another artist.
Enjoy the summer, everyone. Fall will be here sooner than some of us like.


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"the fastest car ever recorded by our Correvit,
pulled 1g in acceleration off the line, quicker than a $300K F355 Ferrari!"
Motor Magazine
APS has designed and produced what is arguably the ultimate in bullet proof turbochargers for the Subaru Impreza enthusiast.
Unencumbered by the limitations of current off the shelf WRX turbochargers, APS has totally engineered a "no-compromise" series of turbochargers from the ground up to match the exact requirements
of high performance Subaru Impreza engines.
High strength
compressor wheel design, ball bearing construction and high nickel content
turbine housing means complete reliability to pressure ratios over
3:1 (30 psi!). And since nobody likes to wait, the APS S/R Series turbochargers are designed for fast spool-up to provide crisp turbocharger response.
Best of all, the S/R range of turbochargers are complete bolt on. Simple hook up of all factory connections and full compatibility with high performance inlet/exhaust means that the installation of your APS S/R Series turbocharger is truly no hassle.
If you want ballistic power and outstanding turbocharger reliability in a truly bolt on high performance unit, then the APS S/R Series turbocharger the perfect choice.
Available in a range of 3 turbocharger power output sizes to over 550 hp (410 kW), APS provides an S/R Series turbocharger that is optimum for engines from mild 2.0L through to wild 2.5L. The APS S/R Series Turbochargers are complete with all ancillary equipment for a truly bolt-on performance upgrade to the Subaru WRX/STI.
Supplied with WRX style oil hose to suit all wrx & '06 model STI.
Supplied with WRX style oil hose to suit all wrx & '06 model STI.
Supplied with oil hose to suit '03 - '05 model STI. Note: '06 model STI requires WRX style hose.
MZM's Full Weight Subaru WRX with '03 JDM STI Version 8 Type C Transplant peeled off consistent mid 11's in San Antonio in an internally stock 2.0L fitted with the following components:
Click here for video action of MZM's previous 11.6 sec @ 121 mph run.
Why Twin Ball Bearing?
Demands for improving acceleration response and for the reduction of so-called turbo lag are popular amongst performance enthusiasts who wish to take advantage of the enormous gains in power and torque delivered by turbochargers. In addition, bullet-proof reliability is required particularly at high turbocharger boost pressure levels as well as at extreme exhaust gas temperatures commonly found in high performance turbocharged engines.
In order to achieve crisp turbocharger response, a number of advances in turbocharger design have been utilized over the past decade. Primarily through the use of modern metals/ceramics in order to reduce the mass of the rotating assembly. However, significant gains have been made by reducing the friction of the rotating assembly - and this has meant a departure from traditional turbocharger designs.
Traditional turbocharger design employs a conventional plain bearing that runs on a film of oil. This is known as a floating metal bush.
The diagram above shows the turbocharger main shaft supported by floating metal bushes. Oil is fed through the bushes and forms a cushioning layer between the turbocharger shaft and the supporting bush. The shaft relies on a constant supply of fresh, clean oil over a very wide contact area in order to maintain sufficient clearance from the bush itself. A similar approach is used to support the turbocharger main shaft from thrust loads as well.
Whilst floating metal designs have served us well in the past, the frictional forces are relatively high. This results in sluggish turbocharger response and can be somewhat fragile in nature under extreme operating conditions.
Nissan attacked this very issue some 15 years ago on the GTR Skyline by developing a turbocharger bearing system that forms the basis of the true high performance modern turbocharger.
By utilizing robust ball bearings at either side of the turbocharger main shaft, this did away with the floating metal and thrust bushes.
As seen in the diagram above, the turbocharger shaft is supported by two ball bearing assemblies. These again are fed with engine oil, but no longer rely on a thin film of oil over a wide area to support the turbocharger shaft.
The result is an outstanding reduction of frictional torque on the rotating turbocharger assembly in contrast to the old fashioned floating metal bushes. The improvement in turbocharger response, particularly in the lower to mid turbocharger speed range is phenomenal.
The graph above shows frictional torque versus turbocharger speed of both old fashioned designs and modern ball bearing turbochargers. Clearly evident are the improvements with ball bearing turbochargers - especially at the low speed range of under 60,000 RPM where friction losses are reduced by 40% to 50%. This translates directly into a quantum leap in turbocharger response.
To show this in another way, the above chart demonstrates the mechanical efficiency advantage of the dual ball bearing design compared to journal (floating metal) and hybrid ball bearing turbochargers. The improved mechanical efficiency of the dual ball bearing design results in exceptionally crisp and strong throttle response over that of lesser turbocharger designs. This produces an improved response that can be converted to quicker 0-60 mph times.
Reduced Oil Flow
The dual ball bearing design reduces the required amount of oil to provide excellent lubrication. This lower volume reduces the lubrication load upon the entire engine lubrication system and allows more oil flow to vital engine components - resulting in improved engine durability.
The oil flow through the turbocharger is contolled precisely through an innovative oil flow control module that also acts as a highly effective debris separator in order to keep potentially harmful foreign particles from entering the turbocharger bearing assembly.
Improved Rotordynamics and Durability
The ball bearing cartridge delivers exceptional damping and control over shaft motion, allowing enhanced reliability for both everyday and extreme driving conditions. In addition, the opposed angular contact bearing cartridge eliminates the need for the thrust bearing, commonly a weak link in the turbo bearing system.
And best of all for those who wish to push the limits, ball bearing design turbochargers provide significantly higher robustness by better supporting the rotating turbocharger assembly, as well as better spreading thrust loads over old fashioned methods.
Water Cooling
Whilst turbochargers began to be applied to passenger cars in the late 1970's in response to the energy crisis, the first generation passenger car turbochargers were derived directly from commercial diesel engines. Engine oil was used to provide both lubrication and cooling and whilst this was an effective compromise between cost, durability and performance, in high engine performance applications durability suffered through fouling of the turbocharger bearings through high turbine and bearing temperatures.
By encasing the turbocharger bearings in intricate water passages, engine coolant is used to significantly reduce turbocharger bearing temperatures in order to eliminate the coking and lacquering issues that fouled old fashioned turbocharger bearings. Non water cooled turbochargers have no place in a high performance gasoline engine application and should be avoided at all costs.
The graph above shows the turbocharger bearing temperature leading up to engine shutdown and for 20 minutes following shutdown. The temperature is displayed relative to the coking threshold of high quality mineral based oil.
As is clearly evident, the old fashioned non water cooled turbocharger operates above the coking threshold when under high load and experiences a very high temperature increase through heat soak immediately after engine shutdown. The APS water cooled turbocharger on the other hand remains cooler than the coking threshold at all times and the bearing temperature increase through heat soak immediately after shutdown is reduced drastically.


text:
What would you like to do now?
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3.5
Sq Feet: 3,651
City: Fountain Hills
Zip: 85268
Sub Division: Eagle Mountain Parcel 9
Property Description
PRICED $50,000 BELOW RECENT APPRAISAL! Beautiful curb appeal welcomes you to this impressive home that overlooks the 10th green of Eagle Mountain Golf Course. This home offers 4 bedrooms plus an office with custom built-ins and 3.5 baths in 3651 SqFt. Designed for entertaining, this floor plan offers formal living and dining areas, family room with floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and multiple exits to the fantastic backyard. The chef's kitchen is well designed with an abundance of oak cabinetry, granite countertops, gas cooktop, double wall ovens, island with breakfast bar and built-in desk. You'll love the amazing golf course and mountain views from the extensive flagstone patio, sparkling saltwater pool with rock waterfall, outdoor fireplace and built-in BBQ. The master bedr
General Information
School Information
Community Information
Lot Information
- Directions:
- Head Northwest on Shea Blvd, turn Left onto Eagle Mountain Pkwy, turn Right onto Summer Hill Blvd and continue to gate, turn Left Miramonte Way, turn Left onto Longfeather, home will be found on Left
- Cross-Streets:
- 87 And Shea Blvd


text:
Monthly Archives: November 2014
Why Self Help Doesn't Help
Filed under Uncategorized
Letter 13: The Building Blocks of Worship
What should we be seeking in worship? Outside of the proscribed sacrifices and festivals in the Old Testament, the Bible does not offer a comprehensive and normative statement of what should be in a worship service. Strangely, beyond the command to keep the Sabbath, there is no apparent obligation in the Old Testament to attend a weekly worship service. Formal worship was strictly centered on the Temple. Given the Sabbath travel restrictions, it is highly unlikely the people worshipped on a weekly basis as we do. We do have example of private prayers (Hannah, David, Daniel), and private altars, (Jacob, Gideon). From the accounts of the temple, we also know that there was music and choirs.
Turning to the New Testament, its authors seem to consciously steer away for any specific instructions on how we are to worship. Temple worship is abolished, so all of the sacrificial rules and regulations are no more. We do know that congregations sang and prayed. Words were spoken, as either teaching or prophecy (see I Cor. 14: 26ff). Given Christ's teaching (Matt. 5:23), confession was expected, and these meetings were regular. Revelation envisions worship in heaven as including prayer, singing, and offering of praise to God.
This leaves the question of Communion. Christ clearly commanded it, but how often are we to receive it? Weekly? Monthly? Quarterly? Since Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension are the core of the Christian message, I believe it should be a part of the weekly service. Communion forms a visible and tangible representation of the message, and serves as bond of unity within the body, as we all partake, at the same time. Paul offers some specific guidance on how we are to partake of it (I Cor 1:17ff)), which again highlights its importance and centrality to Christian worship. Here again, Paul makes mention of the need for self-examination and confession, as a prerequisite for partaking.
So we have some sense of the basic ingredients of worship: Prayer, Praise, Song, Teaching, Confession, and Communion. How might these flow? Some of this is dependent on what we take to be the apex of worship. We know that the basic models suggest: Communion, Sermon, or Experience. I am not sure any of these are entirely adequate. The worship model depends too much on the state of mind or soul of the congregant. If I do not reach the desired state of worship, I do not really participate in the service, and thus the service fails. In the traditional Protestant model, if the minister mishandles Scripture, again, the service fails, or worse, commits blasphemy. The catholic model offers the advantage of offering every worshipper something that is not limited by any of the participants. But is that satisfactory for the focus of the entire service? I will consider that question next.
Filed under Worship


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Pink Lake Tourist Park is your four star getaway in Esperance. Esperance is described by most who see the remote area as the most beautiful coastline in Australia
Our park is only two kilometres from the centre of town, with its excellent shopping and dining facilities, and only a short distance from Esperances magnificent beaches. The park provides a quiet, sheltered secluded environment that will ensure your holiday is a success.
Pink Lake Tourist Park boasts extensive lawned areas with magnificent mature shade trees, and much larger than average camping and powered sites (some are drive through), new sheltered barbeque areas, a fully renovated campers kitchen with television, gas hot plates, oven and fridge.
We have several levels of accommodation including Budget Cabins, Tourist en-suite cabins, Villas and our Apartments.
We also cater for those of us that treasure our pets and will not travel without them. We welcome well behaved family pets by arrangement, under strict conditions. Pets are only allowed with site bookings.
Esperance attractions and things to see and do include:
Excellent beaches for swimming, diving, snorkelling, skiing etc
Great fishing
Whale watching
Walking and cycling
National Parks
Esperance Visitors Centre
Esperance Civic Centre
Bjou Theatre
Festival of the Wind
The Cannery Arts Centre
Fenwick Cinema Complex
Julie Curtain Art Gallery
Section Glass Gallery
Mermaid Leather
Mackenzies Island Cruises
BlackJack Charters
Esperance Diving and Fishing
Kepa Kurl
Eco-Discovery Tours
Esperance Municipal Museum
Aussie Bight Expeditions
Esperance Bay Yacht Club
Amberland Fun Park
VISIT OUR WEBSITE for more information!
Please do not hesitate to call us to discuss any aspect of the facilities at the Pink Lake Tourist Park, or Esperance in general.
Please mention you found us on the GoSeeAustraliawebsite when you contact us!Extra Adult/Child: From $10/$8
Type: Villa Accommodation
Playground: Yes
Environment: Coastal/Beach
Washing Facilities: Available
BBQ Facilities: Available
Pool: Not Available
Spa: Not Available
Kitchen: Available
Pet Friendly: Yes
WiFi: Available
Shop/ Kiosk: Available
Games Room: Not Available
Toilet Facilities: Available
Shower Facilities: Available
Larger than average shady grassed sites
New sheltered BBQ areas and Camp Kitchen
Campers kitchen with TV, cooking, fridge etc.
Childrens playground, Bouncing cushion
Well stocked kiosk, LPG, Ice, Coffee vending machine
Fully renovated spacious amenities and laundry
Dump Point
Wi Fi Internet access, Tour booking service
Close to shops and attractions
Friendly service


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4048 N Williams Ave
Portland, OR 97227
Come and Celebrate Spring & Mother's Day with us!
Our Pop Up Shop is set and curated in a unique small studio setting with some just finished updates.
We collaborated with 30 Artist/Makers to give you the best of locally made Ceramics, Jewelry, Cards & Art, Home Decor,
Sweets & Preserves, Air-plants and many more beautiful gifts perfect for Spring and Mother's Day!
Our #Tinyshop outside will be open, you can leave a wish on our wishing tree and we will have yummy tastings and special activities over the weekend!
Actual hours are
5/10 4-9pm ( also this is the night of Walk Williams, check out the event here https://www.instagram.com/williamsdistrictpdx/ )
5/11 -5//14 11am -6pm
Follow us on instagram for daily updates @updesignpopushop !!!
We hope to see you 🙂


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The task of choosing the right storage solution can be complicated, but it doesn't have to be with the help of Verologix. We've taken the time to narrow down the short list and focus on the highlights of EMC VNXe in order to make a definitive move to EMC or eliminate it from discussion.
You see, Verologix has already done much of the analysis and researched the value propositions in order to select the vendors we are willing to bet our reputation on. EMC is but one of those vendors, and at the top of our list for several reasons you will see in this report.
May is EMC month at Verologix. Downloading this report automatically qualifies you for special promotional pricing through the end of May.


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If Once You have Slept on an Island
If once you have slept on an island
You'll never be quite the same;
You may look as you looked the day before
And go by the same old name,
You may bustle about in street and shop
You may sit at home and sew,
But you'll see blue water and wheeling gulls
Wherever your feet may go.
You may chat with neighbours of this and that
And close to your fire keep,
But you'll hear ship whistle and lighthouse bell
And tides beat through your sleep.
Oh! You won't know why and you can't say how
Such a change upon you came,
But once you have slept on an island,
You'll never be quite the same.
Rachel Lyman-Field 1894-1942
~ ~ ~
A few decades ago, a friend sent Lyman-Field's poem to me when we spent eleven beautiful days on Grand Manan in New Brunswick. It seemed appropriate to reference it here again after spending two relaxing nights on Quadra Island in British Columbia.
~ ~ ~
Our weekend started out at the crack-of-early by heading down to the ferry terminal in Tsawwassen. There was a tiny hiccup in our ferry selection but we rolled with it and enjoyed the scenery.
BC Ferries - Came to be in 1960 to provide a similar service to that by CPRail. BC Ferries has become the largest passenger ferry line in North America and the second largest in the world, boasting a fleet of 36 vessels with a total passenger and crew capacity of over 27,000 serving 49 locations on the BC coast.
In fiscal 2011, BC Ferries reported a loss of $16.5 million due to dropping ridership, with vehicle traffic dropping by 3.5 percent and foot passenger traffic dropping 2.8 percent. Increased fares were to blame for the drop in ridership and warnings came that there would likely be cutbacks in the service on a number of its routes in order to reduce costs.
On August 26, 2012, BC Ferries announced that it will be cutting 98 round trips on its major routes starting in the fall and winter of that year as part of a four year plan to save $1 million on these routes. Service cuts have included the elimination of supplementary sailings on the Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen route, 18 round trips on the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay route and the largest number of cuts to round trips on the Duke Point to Tsawwassen route by 48 sailings with still more plans to look for savings on the smaller, "unprofitable" routes in the future.
On November 20, 2012, BC Ferry Services Inc., was listed as the 90th most profitable company in BC with a net income of $3,781,000 for 2011 and $3,422,000 for 2010.
|Gorgeous sunny morning sailing out of Tsawwassen.
|Spirit of Victoria.
|Crossing to Victoria.
|Wind swept coast.
~ ~ ~
Quadra Island - was named in 1903 after the Spanish navigator Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra who explored and settled the Vancouver Island area in the late 18th century. The Southern Kwakiutl (part of the larger Kwakwaka'wakw ethnic grouping) migrated into the northern Georgia Strait from Queen Charlotte Strait over two centuries ago, enslaving, displacing and absorbing the Comox and Pentlatch Peoples who formerly lived there.
Quadra island is a short ten minute ferry ride from Duke Point in Campbell River on Vancouver Island. Quadra is the hub of the Discovery Islands. Has a close-knit community of about 2,700 full-time residents. Three main communities make up Quadra; Cape Mudge to the south, home of the indigenous We-Wai-Kai band of the Kwakwaka'wakw Nation, Quathiaski Cove, considered the 'commercial hub' of the island and where we stopped for our supplies for our weekend, and Heriot Bay is at the north end.
Our weekend stay was at the south end of the island at Cape Mudge in a charming little cottage at the Tsa-Kwa-Luten Resort and Lodge (#1 Lighthouse Rd).
|Wood carvings spotted in Campbell River while we waited for the next ferry to Quadra.
|The 'great room' (lobby) of the Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge & Resort.
|The lush view out the kitchen windows in our cottage.
|Sitting room of our cottage complete w/fireplace.
|Twilight view of Campbell River from our cottage.
|Moon over Discovery Passage from just outside our front door.
|Mysterious Cruise ship coming up the Passage under a full moon.
|We speculated that the ship was possibly heading up to Alaska. It floated by so silently.
|Morning rush hour up the Passage.
|Main dining lounge at Tsa-Kwa-Luten. Delicious meals and charming staff.
|Driftwood on the rocky beach across from our cottage.
|Single striped stone - said to be good luck.
|Beach stones draped in 'terry cloth' seaweed (that's what we named it for the weekend).
|Our little cottage nestled in the trees.
|Heading along Cape Mudge Rd to try and find petroglyphs.
|There were supposedly petroglyphs on this but we didn't find them.
|But there were H.R.R Giger-like corpses among the rocks.
|And an unnerving number of caterpillars EVERYWHERE.
Totem Poles, derived from the Ojibwe word odoodem [oˈtuːtɛm], "his kinship group" are normally carved from western red cedars which decay eventually in the rainforest environment of the Northwest Coast so, few examples of poles carved before 1900 exist.
Beliefs about maintaining the totem pole vary, but generally it is believed that the deterioration of the pole is representative of natural processes of decay and death that occur with all living things, and attempts to prevent this are seen as somehow denying or ignoring the nature of the world.
|Retired Totem Pole.
|Dust to dust.
|Quadra Island Cemetery.
|Robin's egg by a local monument.
|United Church built in 1931. Still in use today.
The Arbutus, with its smooth reddish-brown bark is one of the most beautiful trees on the planet - imho. Arbutus can be found in a narrow band along the south coast of British Columbia, generally found on exposed rocky bluffs within eight kilometres of the ocean. It is found in locations that lack moisture like the rocky bluffs or in rapidly drained soils. The Arbutus does not like shade so will take hold in clearings or on the bluffs along side Garry Oak or Douglas Fir and several herbs and grasses.
Its flower has a strong honey smell and very attractive to bees (just another reason to love this tree!). Fruit eating birds like the Waxwing and Robin are frequent nibblers. It is the only native broadleaf tree in Canada.
|Spectacular Arbutus at Duke Point ferry terminal.
|Waiting to board.
|Aboard and waiting to sail.
|Kayaking along the shore.
|Hitching a ride in the middle of nowhere.
|Ominous backdrop over Tsawwassen.


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[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Atlantic City 10-24-1990 by Ord. No. 72-1990. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Except for complete copies of the City Code, the fees that the office of the City Clerk is authorized, pursuant to section 4-27 of the City Code, to charge all members of the general public for copies of public documents shall be in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5. Members of the general public may be so charged for copies for any public documents covered by this section and maintained by the City Clerk, including resolutions and ordinances passed by the City Council, but there shall be no charge for copies of City Council agendas and supporting documents that are pending before the City Council. The current fees, which may be changed upon amendments to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5, are as follows:
[Amended 9-17-2003 by Ord. No. 58-2003; 8-8-2012 by Ord. No. 55-2012]
Per letter-size page or smaller: $0.05.
Per legal-size page or larger: $0.07.
Except as otherwise provided by law or regulation, if the costs for duplication of the record exceed the foregoing rates, the City shall charge the actual cost for duplication. The actual cost of duplicating the record shall be the cost of materials and supplies used to make the copy of the record.
Except as otherwise provided by law or regulation, excluding the actual cost of any needed supplies, such as computer discs, access to electronic records and nonprinted materials shall be provided free of charge.
City Code.
Copies of the City Code and supplements thereto shall be issued through the City Clerk's office.
Land Use Development Code.
[Added 9-16-1992 by Ord. No. 97-1992]
For copies of the city's Land Use Development Code pamphlets the City Clerk shall charge a sum equal to the per copy cost paid by the city for such pamphlets, rounded to the nearest dollar. Additionally, the City Clerk shall charge $5 for shipping and handling for any said pamphlet that must be mailed to the requestor.
Copies of the city's Land Use Development Code pamphlet shall be issued through the City Clerk's office.[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsections D and E, providing fees for copies of audiotapes of Council meetings and yearly mailings of Council agendas, respectively, which immediately followed, were repealed 8-8-2012 by Ord. No. 55-2012.


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Indigo Jazz is the First Friday feature at the Zocalo Café this month.
The trio plays jazz standards that range across the decades, and recently they have been ranging across genres as well, setting choice Gordon Lightfoot classics in a jazz context.
Dale Graham (vocals), Rick Husband (guitar), and John Hyde (bass) provide musical nourishment for hungry hearts and thirsty ears.
Zocalo Café is licensed, and offers hearty meals and mouth-watering desserts. Full sensory satisfaction is the likely outcome of your Friday evening at The Zo.
The show starts at 7:30, and admission is by donation.
— Indigo Jazz


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If a land owner or developer suffers a loss because of what might be considered "excessive" no-growth policies or government regulation, is he entitled to compensation?
That is one of the questions to be considered March 29-30 at a national conference on affordable housing at UC San Diego.
The question will be debated by Gideon Kanner, professor of law at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and Richard R. Babcock, professor of law at Duke University, Durham, N. C.
Under examination will be a Tennessee case now before the U. S. Supreme Court, in which a bank is seeking compensation of $350,000 for loss of value to a property during a development delay caused by a change of governmental policy.


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Harry who?
The rest of the world may have been following his progress since owls began flying by day in the first Harry Potter novel in 1997, but at least one person in the book-buying world resisted the bespectacled little wizard. Me.
Granted, even here in L.A., 6,000 miles from its original setting on Privet Lane, the hype generated by the books, and then movies of the books, tapes of the books, books about the books, was unavoidable. For the last eight years, TV networks have insisted on showing us footage of books from Britain being unloaded from planes onto trucks, from trucks into shops, then from shops being stuffed into the hot little hands of children.
Yes, the hype is a bit much, concede the fans, who then invariably proceed to mount an earnest lecture about how the Potter books and their author, J.K. Rowling, introduced a generation of children to the joy of reading. One of our book editors even gave it a historical wash. Isn't it remarkable, he noted, that when Harry Potter books are released, American children still line up at midnight outside bookstores for first copies, much like the followers of Alexandre Dumas thronged squares in France for the latest installments of "The Three Musketeers" and "The Count of Monte Cristo" more than a century ago?


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Sand which Artist
-Prep Food
-maintaining cleanliness
Currently attending Ben Davis University to graduate with a high school diploma and associates degree. Interested in furthering my education at Ball State University in Law enforcement, in hopes of becoming a professional DEA investigator.
-Prep Food
-maintaining cleanliness
-maintaining cleanliness
Ben Davis University High School is a focused high school program where students can earn a Core 40 high school diploma while also earning college credits toward an Associate Degree from Viennese University through dual credit opportunities.
Ben Davis University , 1155 S. High School Road Indianapolis, Indiana 46241
Team work


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by Dr. Lawrence Wilson
© March 2015, L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc.
All information in this article is solely the opinion of the author and for educational purposes only. It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.
A rather unique and unusual pattern on a hair mineral analysis occurs in people who eat fruit at least two or more pieces daily. It is a newer pattern, and not part of Dr. Eck's original work. I have observed enough cases with some consistency to write about it in some detail. It is not an easy pattern to understand in biochemical terms.
Why the strange name? I call it Beam Me Up, Scottie pattern. "Beam me up, Scottie" is a phrase that was used a lot in the early Star Trek television series during the 1970s and 1980s. It signifies a person who wants to escape from something and definitely wants out. It appears that eating a lot of fruit makes one spacy and detached in a certain way, and also seems to damage one's health and kidneys, in particular, in an unusual way that is reflected on a hair mineral analysis.
On a hair mineral analysis in which the hair is not washed at the laboratory, this pattern appears as:
1. A fast oxidation rate, sometimes with a low sodium/potassium ratio. The level of sodium and potassium can rise quite high. The sodium/potassium ratio is usually mildly low, between about 1.5 and 2.5, though not necessarily.
2. A three high or a four highs pattern is present in many, but not all cases.
3. In acupuncture or Chinese medicine terms, the pattern is a type of yang rising or toxic yang pattern. This corresponds to a fast oxidizer in an adult, or a three or four highs pattern.
4. In terms of the stress theory, it is a type of secondary alarm stage or second wind type of stress pattern.
5. In terms of movement patterns, it is a desire to move out of life or away from this physical life.
Eating a lot of fruit these days seems to have the following effect upon the body:
1. Irritating. This is probably due to a combination of factors including its sugar content that upsets the blood sugar, the presence of fruit acids, or perhaps the presence of salycilates that are found in many fruits. For more on this, read Salicylate Poisoning on this site.
The irritating quality of fruit perhaps is also due to the effects of various pesticide residues that are used on all fruit, even organic fruit, and it is definitely due to the particular yin qualities of fruit.
Fruit-eating today seems to irritate the kidneys and the adrenals, or perhaps the entire sympathetic nervous system, and this may be the cause of the fast oxidation with a low sodium/potassium ratio.
It is important to emphasize "today" because I do not think that eating fruit 100 years ago had quite the same effect, though I am not sure. Fruit is one of the most hybridized and altered foods today. Its sugar content is generally higher, it is often picked unripe and shipped hundreds or thousands of miles, and other factors may be affecting its quality today.
2. Yin, with yang rising. These are terms from Chinese medicine. Yin means expanded, cold, sugary, fragmented and weak in a certain way. Yang rising is a secondary heating that occurs as a compensation, or perhaps as a reaction in some cases to some types of toxins in the body. This is an excellent description of this pattern in a kind of metaphorical way.
3. Mild water retention. There can be some water retention with the pattern. This is often associated with fast oxidation and a high sodium level, because excess sodium can cause some water retention.
4. It can cause a type of heat or inflammation in the body. This corresponds to a faster oxidation rate, perhaps, and perhaps to a yang rising or toxic condition that might be called a toxic yang or toxic heat.
Few symptoms of fast oxidation. The person with Beam Me Up pattern usually does not have a lot of fast oxidizer symptoms, except perhaps some irritation and heat in the body. In this sense, it is definitely not a "true fast oxidizer" pattern. It is more likely just kidney or adrenal irritation of an unusual type.
Joint pain, heat or other irritation symptoms. These are more common with this pattern.
Psychological symptoms. The person can seem to be "flying high", but not in a healthy way. This may be an effect of the sugar in fruit, or some other constituent of fruits. It is a type of 'out of control' pattern in this regard, also seen with other causes of fast oxidation.
What fruits cause the pattern? It appears that any fruits or fruit juices can cause the pattern, including eating a lot of avocado, for example, which is a tropical fruit but not a particularly sweet fruit.
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|Via Emily Andrews Twitter
How did we get here? Prince William jetted to the Swiss resort on Friday for a "Lads' Weekend" skiing with pals Guy Pelly, James Meade and Thomas Van Straubenzee while Kate took George and Charlotte to Bucklebury to spend the weekend with Mama Carole and Papa Mike. The Duke and Duchess did miss the Commonwealth Service on Monday, which neither was scheduled to attend and which they have never attended annually. Althoughthe headlines first latched onto the fact he missed the Commonwealth Service, they have quickly shifted to focus more prominently on the young woman and the terrible, terrible inferences (right or wrong) that can be drawn from three men in their thirties, on a holiday without their wives, laughing and drinking with girls a decade younger.
The Palace has used its influence in the past few weeks to suppress other photos from this same holiday that show Harry and Meghan passionately embracing on a hotel balcony, but the spare might have to take it on the chin for the heir. I could see the Palace giving the green light to steamier shots of Harry with his beautiful girlfriend to cover over William's weekend indiscretion.
[Update: One reader has (rather aggressively :)) noted that the young woman's boyfriend was a member of the lunch party. If this is true, it changes the situation. If William and his guy pals lunched with two blondes it is indefensibly inappropriate. If William and his pals lunched with blonds and a boyfriend, it opens the door for more appropriate explanations. There was absolutely no mention of a male companion to the girls in the report I read. Which is not to say that there wasn't one, but there was no report of one.]
Update II: Emily Andrews of The Sun has reconfirmed that her initial story is accurate and that the BFs were not present at the lunch.
I have posted my complete thoughts on this mini-scandal. You can read that post here.


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Apple has been sabotaging devices for years with software "upgrades" that slow every iPhone and iPad except the very latest model. It's a strategy called planned obsolescence, and its one of the ways that Apple and other gadget makers are getting so filthy rich while the planet and everyone else pays.
Apple's latest operating system, iOS 10, will be released in just a few months' time. Anyone owning a perfectly functional iPhone or iPad bought two years ago would do well to ignore the prompts to 'Install Now', or they could end up with sluggish devices. Nevertheless, Apple is expected to push upgrade notification to millions of customers because every frustrated user with a slow device is another sales prospect.
The iPhone 7 is also expected in September, but already paid tech journalists and Apple fan-boys are already hyping up the next iteration of iPhone and how 'great' a company Apple is.
Apple, the arguably most valuable company in the world, could easily extend the life of older devices and end up with more happy customers by stopping its practice of aggressively pushing software 'upgrades' that appreciably slow down older devices. Also, somebody needs to point out to Apple that it should make it possible for iPhone and iPad users to easily 'downgrade' to the earlier software version, and return to how things were before if they find their devices becoming slower as a result of a new upgrade, without having to learn hacking skills.
Now is your chance to tell Apple to ditch its planned obsolescence and help customers who want to extend the life of their iPhone or iPad and also save money and save the planet from growing e-waste.
Apple usually plays up its green credentials, but the truth is that Apple only began investing in renewable energy, and phasing out toxic chemicals when public pressure became too strong to ignore. People power did it before, and we can do it again.
"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed."
"Envy comes from wanting something that isn't yours. But grief comes from losing something you've already had."


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The first part of Loconte's book focuses on the history of WWI and the climate before, during, and after the war. The Myth of Progress was the prevailing belief before the war; that the industrial revolution, Darwin's theory of evolution, breakthroughs in medicine and inventions meant that the human condition could be explained by science and technology at the expense of spiritual morality. The belief was that progress was so great under a liberal democracy that all countries should have it and many believed God had chosen them and would bless them as they went to war. Britain, England, and Germany thought this way. The church declared a holy war and made it one not of justice, but righteousness. The problem was the focus on human achievement meant the subversion of moral obligations and human dignity. Atrocities were committed with no thought of right or wrong or the moral implications on the individual. Eugenics promoted a "pure" race that hid those considered flawed away from the public eye. Society embraced collectivism over individualism and people rationalized cruel and violent actions. For Lewis and Tolkien this was an affront on human dignity and character.
Tolkien and Lewis wrote epic tales about war based in the fantasy genre, but realistic in their portrayal of war and its savagery and suffering. Both men were drafted into the army. Tolkien fought in the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest battles in modern warfare, where almost 60,000 men died. Lewis turned 19 and ended up on the Western Front in a trench. When his sergeant was killed by mortar, Lewis took shrapnel - one so close to his heart it could not be removed. All of their close friends were killed. When the two met at Oxford their war experiences, literary tastes, and friendship grew to the point that Tolkien was critical in Lewis' conversion to Christianity and Tolkien said he would have not finished Lord of the Rings without Lewis' critiques and support. Neither writers glorify war in their books and both create flawed characters that need support from others or a higher being on their quests.
Postwar Europe had a plethora of antiwar literature; yet, these two men created works rooted in medieval literature and while critics call it escapism and a nostalgia for the past, Loconte proves that it is a realistic portrayal of being in the trenches and a look at the human condition. The recurring theme of the desire for power and domination over others disguised under the umbrella of religion and morals is found in both works. Loconte expounds on literary themes more toward the latter part of the book getting into specific examples. The heroes in their works is the result of great characters who put others needs ahead themselves. WWI robbed people of their humanity. The trenches, the Battle of the Somme, the razing of nature and towns left people feeling helpless and caught in a big machine that they had no control over. Almost every family lost someone in the war. A fatalism and moral demise left people apathetic and feeling that they had no choices or free will in their lives.
Tolkien and Lewis wanted to awaken the noble spirit in people like the medieval myths of old such as Beowulf, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, or the Icelandic sagas. They created works that showed the violence and suffering of war, but also the compassion, courage, and sacrifice of others for a good cause. Their stories show that life is a moral contest. It is the responsibility of the individual to resist evil and not one person can resist the corruption of power. That is the tragic flaw in humans; that even the purest of heart such as Frodo cannot resist the desire to dominate. It takes an outside force to check that desire and in Frodo's case, even someone as twisted as Gollum is not beyond redemption. Lewis is showing at the end of his book that there can be no heaven on Earth as the Pevensie's step through a door into Narnia-like Heaven. Loconte ties this to the pitfalls of liberal democracy and the desire of the church and state to create a heaven on Earth before WWI. While this is too complex to write about in a review it is a fascinating comparison between the Narnia and Lord of the Rings books and WWI.
These two men ignored the trends of the times because they were inspired and saw in the midst of violence, heroic individuals on the battlefields of France. They saw soldiers going back to help another injured comrade at the risk of being killed themselves. The Hobbit is the ordinary British soldier. The British army showed remarkable resistance in the war. They didn't run away or lose their moral fortitude. Reepicheep shows the greatest valor on the battlefield. He is the smallest and supposedly the weakest but he rises above himself and shows great courage. Same with Frodo, Sam, Aragon, and more. Loconte explores these characters proving his point and showing the importance of reluctant allies uniting in fellowship and friendship by the end, just like soldiers. Tolkien and Lewis met one to two times a week for 16 years with a group called, "Inklings." They had their own fellowship of the ring.
Loconte points out how today the modern superhero saves the day on his or her own strength. Tolkien and Lewis create heroes that cannot save the day and prevail against evil on their own. They are destined to fail and they know it is a doomed quest. It is this tragic mix of good and evil that makes the story so powerful because their only rescue can be by grace and redemption from an outside force. The heroes know they will die in both books: Frodo when destroying the ring and the Pevensie's when they enter the stable. Loconte shows how this parallels war and the soldiers plight. The soldier knows he will die. At the Battle of the Somme it was a slaughter; yet, the men kept coming out of the trenches toward the enemy. The books ends with hope that there is goodness in humans. That the shadow of sin and suffering can be lifted from people's lives. That the Great War will be won, but not on Earth because the human condition is a mix of sin and free will.
5 Smileys


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Why Disc Brakes?
I fail to see the point of a disc brake on a road bike. A conventional caliper brake is a disc brake, with the rim being the disc.
The rim is the largest possible diameter and therefore has the most leverage when the braking force is applied.
With a disc at the hub the braking forces are transmitted through the spokes. What is more the driving stress is in one direction, followed by the braking stress in the opposite direction. Stressing spokes in this manner could possibly lead to breakage or coming loose.
With a normal caliper brake acting on the rim there is little or no stress on the spokes, (Apart from the normal weight bearing stresses.) the stress is directly from the rim to the tire.
A disc brake means you can't have radial spokes. Not only must there be crossed tangential spokes on the non drive side of the rear wheel, you must also have tangential spokes on the front wheel.
Tangential spokes are longer, therefore more weight; remember also this is spinning weight which is more important. A radial spoke wheel has marginally less wind resistance.
The disc and its caliper has to be heavier than the conventional brake, and more expensive to produce.
I can see an argument for a disc brake on a mountain bike or a cyclo-cross bike, because it would possibly collect less mud than a brake that operates near the tire.
But on a road bike; I just don't get it. Why make something more complicated than it need be.
What is your view?
Update 11/17/10
An interesting piece by a commuter from Minnesota who rides through the winter in the ice and snow
More about the bike and its brake here


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- Cubs Chariman Tom Ricketts Apologizes For Distraction Of Father's Emails
- Clark: Some Teams Make Little Effort To Justify Ticket Costs
- Kyle Van Noy Says He Went 'From Toilet Bowl To Super Bowl' After Lions Traded Him To Patriots
- Michigan Falls To 7, MSU Up To 10 In Latest AP Poll
- Trailer Released For "Russian Five" Doc, Set To Hit Michigan Theaters
- Team LeBron Rallies To Beat Team Giannis, 178-164
- Surging Flyers Beat Red Wings 3-1 For 12th Win In 14 Games
- 21 Cars Involved In "Big One" Late In Daytona 500 [VIDEO]
- Nick Ward Suffers Hairline Fracture In Left Hand; No Timetable For Return
- No. 11 Spartans Finish Strong In 62-44 Win Over Ohio State
- Do You Want The Lions To Sign Colin Kaepernick?
- What Would You Buy With $50,000?
- Sports Update 2-18-19
- How much better off are the Lions with Bob Quinn as GM?
- Did Colin Kaepernick or the NFL win with the settlement?
- New CBS Sports NFL Mock Draft 2/15/19
- How do Red Wings fans feel about Jimmy Howard?
- Gator and Riger debate who was wrong in the Matt Kuchar vs. caddie debate.
- Discussing The Matt Kuchar/Caddy Tip Controversy
- What was your moment of sports futility?
Southfield, MI VIEW FULL FORECAST
Sports Update 9/28/18
WXYT-FM: Flash Briefing - 97.1 The Ticket
Friday, September 28th
Sports Update 9/28/18


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The day I recorded this marked the 3 year anniversary of the passing of a friend and I thought I'd share with you a tiny bit of his huge legacy.… Watch This Video
A grateful heart, an open being and the deepest sense of connection with source from this conversation with my friend Mercedes. Here's a woman whose broken heart led her on a quest to find her truth.… Watch This Video
Today I share an incredibly simple but profound way to strengthen your spiritual heart's muscles and create a completely different reality than you could have ever imagined.
Today I'm excited to share with you an interview with someone who loves showing people how to create a life of meaning and purpose by creating businesses around their passions.… Watch This Video
Many people today look at retirement as a worthy milestone in life. Today I share an example of bliss that moved me deeply and inspired me in a way that I will never be able to forget.… Watch This Video


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Just let Lisa know you saw the Free Shipping offer here so she applies that to your order!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Free shipping!!
I recently purchased some new pillow covers from an awesome Etsy seller. She has contacted me & will offer you Free Shipping on any 3 pillow covers or more through the end of September. Her pillow covers are very high quality, her customer service is great and the prices are very reasonable. She uses a lot of the new fabrics from Waverly, Michael Miller and Amy Butler and can customize the size for you. How awesome are these new covers that will totally update your space?!
Labels: Amy Butler, shopping
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Walt Disney has done it again, this time designing collectible sterling silver and gold beads with its most beloved Disney characters. Carina is pleased to present to the millions of Disney fans worldwide the officially licensed Disney silver and gold beads, to be worn on a Chamilia chain as a bracelet. Some beads may also be worn as pendants. (Some Disney beads are top heavy, so call Carina to inquire about the suitability of a particular bead as a pendant.) Carina is proud to be an official retailer of Disney beads.
Choose from popular characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Tinkerbell, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, the Cheshire Cat, Mrs. Potts and Chip, Cinderella, Miss Piggy, and Kermit in silver, silver/gold, solid 14 kt. gold, or fun dangle beads.
The three dimensional detail on these eternally charming beads is incredible. Stunning new glass beads with the world famous Mickey icon have been added to the Disney bead collection. Be sure to buy some of the colorful glass beads to sprinkle every few beads to really make your Disney bead bracelet spectacular. We guarantee you will receive compliments on this Disney jewelry.
We recommend the following brands of chain for the Disney beads: Chamilia, Pandora, or Pasha. The Disney beads are shiny silver with some with 14 kt. gold, with no dark grey oxidization. They do not look their best on an oxidized chain such as Troll or Bling. You may find our Chamilia and Pasha chains under our "Silver and Gold Beads" link on the homepage.
Please note that to clean these Disney beads, use a silver cleaning cloth or jewelry cleaning tank, but do not use liquid silver polish as it removes the oxidation on the bead.


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He is an Astromech, anyway!
I thought I would have an easier time coming up with new themes now that I have my new Sphero Battle-Worn BB-8.
I was wrong.
With more than 279 photos uploading daily, it's still a struggle to come up with new ideas!
I tried out three of them before settling with this flying one. Goes to show how many ideas get rejected each day.
Until the next time then; talk to you all soon!


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Judy Weinberg, a Metuchen artist, will exhibit her whimsical art photos at the Highland Park Public Library from October 3 to November 25, 2015. Her images printed on pillows will be in the main hall display case. An art reception will be held in the meeting room on Saturday, October 3 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Judy Weinberg is volunteer co-chair at Transformations Gallery located in the historic Old Franklin Schoolhouse in Metuchen. She was raised in Highland Park and became interested in photography at the age of 11 while participating in a photo club at her Middle School. She creates art photographs using nature, food, found objects, and architecture as her subjects. Sometimes the artist elaborates on a theme by creating series photos, while other times composing "scenes" by combining unusual objects not usually seen together to create a piece.
"I wanted to experiment with my images to see how they would work when printed on different mediums, while also creating art that people can take with them. Printing on metal has allowed the images to hang both indoors and outdoors, canvas adds a subtle texture, while printing on pillows allows my work to still be seen in the home – but now it's off the wall."


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Dear students,
Could I please have one volunteer to update the blog daily regarding homework? You would need to post the information for all to see before 8pm everyday (the earlier, the better) and ensure that the format is clear and easy to understand. This role is very important and you will be greatly appreciated by all. First to post a positive reply will be our class rep for homework. Thank you.
Ms Andrea Koh


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Some of you may know, I used to have a blog called [just had] A Bright Idea where I focused mostly on interior design & decor and some DIY-ing. When I started Style Oyster, I wanted to incorporate those things along with my love of fashion and all things, well, stylish. Unfortunately, leaving that blog for a new url posed it's challenges. I lost the readers I had acccumulated over the 6 months of having the blog as well as the content…but wait, that content is NOT lost! Thanks to Blogger, I was able to move it over to Style Oyster. However, it was a little outdated (the wording in some, etc.) and of course the pictures were all tagged with my JHABI logo (and a few with even older blog logos than that! I had some name change issues…) I am putting this paragraph here as a preface to these posts because even though they are from the past, they are still projects that took a long time and are dear to my heart and I didn't want to lose them when I officially take my old blog off the Internet. So I apologize to those of you who have followed me since [just had] A Bright Idea, as you will be experiencing some deja vu, but I know some of you are new and this may all be new content to you. So bear with me, I plan on posting these once a week until they are all on Style Oyster. Thank you so much, and I do hope you enjoy. xoxo
Tanner has been long overdue for a good Lego storage solution. The kid has been obsessed with them for the last two years and they are always a big unorganized mess – usually scattered all over the floor.
A few weeks ago, I searched "Lego Storage" on Google and was pleasantly surprised to find I wasn't the only one who had an issue with Legos scattered all over the floor. I found some great pictures and great ideas. I decided that out of all the ideas, I liked the ones where clear plastic bins were used and they were separated by color.
I immediately went on an online search to find a cart of enough plastic bins to segregate the array of colors of Legos he has. I was a bit surprised to find what some stores are actually getting away with charging for a simple cart of plastic bins. It's plastic, people, NOT titanium.
So I was sad and thought that this project would have to be put on hold for a little while until I could a) afford to buy the cart, or b) magically happen upon a cheaper version randomly in a store one day. Then I had an "a-ha" moment…(I love those)…and realized that I had this piece of furniture that I had never exactly made practical use from (this is actually an old pic I took when I was considering selling it on Craigslist! THANK GOD I didn't!):
It was perfect. All I had to do was take measurements and find either two or three plastic bins that would fit perfectly across each shelf. Off to the dollar store I went. I found 12 that fit perfectly in the shelves when set three across.
Now to the organizing. This step took the longest. I enlisted Tanner's help because I knew he'd a) be into it because he loves anything to do with Legos, and b) he'd be more likely to keep it organized if he too spent the time organizing it. (And I'm happy to announce that so far, it's worked!)
I decided the bins definitely needed some cute color labels. I couldn't find exactly what I wanted, so I decided to get some construction paper, freehand the letters and cut them out.
Then I used some Mod Podge to stick them onto the bins. I first did a thin layer on the front of the bin, then I stuck the letters on, and went over them with another thin layer.
I let them all dry and then put them all back into the shelving unit. And here we have the finished product:
Oh, and I kept secret the best part about this particular storage unit…which made it even so much more perfect:
The top opens so he can keep his boards in there and build on them when playing! It's like shelves and a table in one! I can't believe it never donned on me to use this piece for this purpose sooner!


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Extended Hand To Toe Pose Photo
Woman doing extended hand to toe yoga pose outside on city rooftop building.
Start your own yoga business
Download our free image set and start your own yoga business today! Whether you want to sell mats, blocks, lessons or apparel, these photos are free for you to use.
Your photo is downloading now…


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Back side of Davis & Anna Jacobs
Anna 1820-1841
Sarah 1822-1900
Davis 1825-1890
Whitman 1828-1857
Livonia 1829-1918
Hannah 1832-1902
J. Nicholas 1834
Deborah 1836
Adelia 1839-1933
Anna 1842-1942
Contributed on 7/15/05 by kllast
Email This Contributor
Record #: 1013
On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in New York, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 7/15/05 • Approved: 7/16/05 • Last Updated: 11/13/15 • R1013-G1006-S3


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Class A Local Truck Driver(Home Every Night!) (Madison, IL)
Vacancy expired!
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CDL CLASS A LOCAL DRIVERMr. Bult's is looking for Local Class A CDL Truck Drivers in your area. Mr. Bult's Inc. is the nation's largest semi-truck waste transportation company; hauling trash for companies like Republic, Waste Management, and Advanced Disposal. Our pay is a per job basis which favors hard workers in this competitive market. Home Every Night!-Home Every Night!-Year-round work-Paid holidays and vacations-Full Benefits (health, life, 401k, dental, vision)-Pay Checks directly deposited-Safety BonusesSafety Bonus:-Every clean D.O.T. inspection driver receives $100.00-6 Safety Modules- $100 per Module completion-If all Modules are completed by 12/1 of the year, $550.00 bonusResponsibilities of the CDL Truck driver1. Perform pre and post inspections2. Courteously interact with customers and dispatchers3. Complete required route/productivity sheets, Vehicle Condition Reports, and other forms4. Follow all safety policies and procedures5. Ensure commercial driver's license/medical card is valid and current6. Report all accidents and injuries immediately7. Performs other job-related duties assigned8. Act and drive in a professional manner at all timesQualifications of the CDL Truck driver· 2 years verifiable tractor-trailer experience· Clean MVR & PSP· 23 years minimum age· Tank endorsements are a plus but not necessary· Successfully pass a D.O.T. physical and pre-placement drug screenUse thelink below to fill out ouronline application!https://intelliapp2.driverapponline.com/c/mrbults?uri_b=ia_mrbults_1604593073
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MSI GS70 Stealth Pro Review
Slim and elegant chassis; Extremely portable; Blazing SSD; Solid battery life; Vibrant 1080p display
Runs hot while gaming; Display colors not as accurate as competition
The MSI GS70 Stealth Pro is a svelte 17-inch gaming laptop that pairs a fast Core i7 processor with a powerful Nvidia 800 GPU.
The secret to any successful update is to keep the things you love while improving the things you don't. MSI has accomplished that with the new MSI GS70 Stealth Pro. The $2,099 (starting at $1,999) laptop gets a welcome boost of power with an updated Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 870M GPU. It also adds some impressive software, including XSplit Gamecaster to capture the play-by-play action. You get all this in a 6-pound, 0.85-inch frame that continues to turn heads. With a chassis this slim, there's bound to be some compromises, but overall, the Stealth Pro is a summer blockbuster gamers shouldn't miss.
The Stealth Pro inherited the sleek looks of the original GS70, including its remarkably thin chassis. The inky black aluminum lid is cool to the touch and resistant to most fingerprints. The backlit red-dragon coat of arms continues to be the defining accent on the notebook's lid, highlighted by the chrome MSI logo and the hard strip of plastic residing at the top.
The notebook's black aluminum interior, with its large chrome power button centered above the keyboard, continues to remind us of the Razer Blade. However, what sets this MSI apart is the placement of a large speaker grille along the top of the keyboard and a smaller one in the hinge.
MORE: Laptop Mag's Guide to Gaming Laptops
A large rear panel on the laptop's bottom is covered with a gray pleather that ensures a good grip when you're carrying the notebook.
Similar to the original GS70, the 16.47 x 11.29 x 0.85-inch Stealth Pro weighs 6 pounds, making it slimmer and lighter than the 6.6-pound, 0.88-inch Razer Blade Pro. The Digital Storm Krypton (8.6 pounds, 1.81 inches thick); ASUS G750JX (8.8 pounds, 0.66~1.9 inches); and the Alienware 17 (9.2 pounds, 2.26-2.23-inches) look corpulent by comparison.
Lighting and Macros
In addition to setting colors and effects on different keyboard zones, you can create custom profiles for different applications. Just like on Razer's Synapse 2.0 software, gamers can assign actions to each key on the keyboard. Setting individual keystrokes and macros was as simple as selecting a key, entering the command and hitting Save. A Statistics feature shows how a particular user engages with the keyboard, highlighting the most frequently used keys.
We still love setting up our own personal light show. The SteelSeries utility offers seven effects, including Breathing, Wave and Gaming. Depending on the effect, these split the keyboard into up to three zones. After picking an effect, we clicked one of three zones to customize the color. SteelSeries lets you create four separate color layers in one profile, allowing GT60 owners to switch lighting setups on the fly.
The 1080p trailer for "Guardians of the Galaxy" also presented a cornucopia of color. The blues looked lovely, as evidenced by the periwinkle suits worn by Glenn Close and John C. Reilly. Gamora's emerald-green skin was striking and made the perfect contrast to the intricate red markings on Drax the Destroyer's skin.
The vibrancy extended to our play-through of "South Park: The Stick of Truth," serving up bright yellows, reds and greens. We were particularly impressed with the fart-destructible objects as they slowly undulated from deep emerald to neon orange.
MORE: 12 Dumbest PC Default Settings (and How to Change Them)
The Stealth Pro averaged 281 nits on our light meter, which is brighter than the 264-nit desktop-replacement average. Both the Alienware 17 and the G750JZ delivered a lower 268 nits, while the Digital Storm registered a sparkling 304 nits of brightness.
On our colorimeter test, the Stealth Pro produced only 89 percent of the sRBG gamut. This edges out the Krypton's 88 percent but fell short of the category average (100 percent) as well as the G750JZ (101 percent) and the Alienware 17 (106 percent).
During our Delta-E test, we discovered the Stealth Pro doesn't have the best color accuracy; it registered 8.4 (a score of 0 is perfect). That's worse than the 4.67 average but better than the Krypton (10.7). The G750JZ and Alienware 17 were mere tenths of a point from perfection, hitting 0.9 and 0.6, respectively.
Michael Jackson's posthumous track "Love Never Felt So Good" blanketed our test space in rich guitar and piano. However, Jackson's vocals sounded flat, as did Justin Timberlake's contribution. The percussion section of the track sounded lighter than it should have, despite our attempts to tweak the audio via the SoundBlaster Cinema 2 software.
The flat audio persisted during our "South Park" play-through, relegating our epic rumbling farts to chuckle-inducing squeakers.
On the Laptop Mag Audio Test, which measures the volume of a notebook's speakers from 23 inches away, the GS70 hit a very loud 94 decibels, surpassing the 89-dB average. The Krypton and G750JZ registered 82 and 80 dB, respectively. The Alienware 17 continues to rule the audio roost with an earsplitting 99 dB.
Keyboard and Touchpad
Measuring 4.1 x 2.7 inches, the Elan touchpad is comfortably large, enabling us to seamlessly summon the Charms bar or perform pinch-to-zoom, two-finger rotation and three-finger flicks. The bottom corners of the touchpad provided bouncy feedback with an audible click.
MORE: The Best Gaming Keyboards You Can Buy
Following our 15-minute play-through of "Child of Light," the touchpad and G and H keys measured 88 and 93 degrees, respectively. The notebook's undercarriage hit a hot 110 degrees, while the hinge measured 95 degrees.
With a name like the Stealth Pro, you'd expect a fairly quiet experience. However, whether we were watching video or playing "Child of Light," the laptop's fan was a noticeable distraction. The noise is really pronounced in a quiet setting such as our office.
On the laptop's left side, you'll find another two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, dual mini DisplayPorts, a Gigabit Ethernet port and three jacks for S-PDIF, headphones and mic.
Gaming and Graphics
On the 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme benchmark, the Stealth Pro notched 100,109, sailing past the 86,596 desktop-replacement average. Outfitted with more powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 880M GPUs, the Alienware 17, ASUS G750JZ and Digital Storm Krypton scored 95,245, 101,899 and 114,079, respectively.
When we ran the "BioShock Infinite" benchmark, the Stealth Pro notched a frame rate of 124 fps at 1920 x 1080 pixels on Low, which is several frames below the 127-fps average. The Krypton delivered 151 fps, while the Alienware 17 and G750JZ posted 144 and 141 fps, respectively.
MORE: Laptop Mag's Guide to Gaming Laptops
The Stealth Pro's frame rate dropped to 53 fps on High, short of the 54-fps average. Both the G750JZ and Krypton hit 65 fps, while the Alienware 17 obtained 63 fps.
During the "Metro: Last Light" benchmarks, the Stealth Pro notched 70 fps, which is below the 84-fps average, as well as the Krypton (88 fps), the Alienware 17 (82 fps) and the G750JZ (81 fps).
At maximum settings, the Stealth Pro's frame rate dropped to 17 fps. That's below our 30-fps playability threshold, but almost nothing we've tested so far can hit the mark on this game. Our desktop-replacement average is 21 fps, while the Alienware 17 hit 20 fps and the Krypton and the G750JZ were in a dead heat, at 24 fps.
On the PCMark7 benchmark, the Stealth Pro hit 6,193, beating the 5,496 desktop-replacement average. The Alienware 17, with its 2.9-GHz Intel Core i7-4910MQ CPU, hit 5,838, while the ASUS G750JZ's 2.4-GHz Intel Core i7-4700HQ CPU scored 5,969. The Digital Storm Krypton's 2.8-GHz Intel Core i7-4810MQ CPU topped the competition, with a score of 6,437.
Perhaps MSI should have named the GS70 "Swift" instead of "Stealth." The laptop's pair of 128GB solid state drives (SSDs) in Super RAID 2 configuration, which is faster than a RAID 0 setup, booted Windows 8.1 in a speedy 9 seconds.
The Stealth Pro duplicated 4.97GB of multimedia in an absurdly fast 9 seconds, for a file-transfer rate of 565.5 MBps. That's more than twice as fast as the 201.1-MBps average. The Alienware 17 scored 463 MBps, while the G750JZ and Krypton were far behind, at 283 and 159 MBps, respectively.
During the OpenOffice Spreadsheet Macro Test, the Stealth Pro paired 20,000 names and addresses in 3 minutes and 53 seconds. That's enough to top the 4:40 category average as well as the G750JZ's time of 4:03. However, the Krypton and the Alienware 17 clocked in with faster times of 3:33 and 3:29, respectively.
Battery Test
Software and Warranty
Other utilities include the System Control Manager, which you can use to adjust screen brightness, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, volume and the webcam. MSI Dragon Gaming Center lets gamers monitor general system health and set utilities to launch at start.
MORE: Top Gaming Mice 2014
After initiating the software overlay (by pressing CTRL + Tab), simply hit the Stream button to begin capturing footage and the Webcam button to add video of yourself. Gamers also have the option to share or stream footage to Twitch and YouTube.
The MSI GS70 Stealth Pro is available in two flavors. Our $2,099 configuration features a 2.5-GHz Intel Core i7-4910HQ processor with 16GB of RAM, a dual 128GB SSD in Super RAID 2 configuration, an Intel HD Graphics 4600 GPU and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 870M GPU with 6GB of VRAM.
The $1,999 base model has a 2.5-GHz Intel Core i7-4910HQ processor, 16GB of RAM, a dual 128GB SSD in RAID 0 configuration, an Intel HD Graphics 4600 GPU and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 870M GPU with 6GB of VRAM.
However, some sacrifices were made in the name of portability. In the case of the Stealth Pro, it's not as powerful as its bulkier competitors equipped with Nvidia 880M GPUs. An Alienware 17 with a Core i7 CPU, Nvidia GTX 860M graphics, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive costs $2,199 and offers a brighter display, better sound and a cooler keyboard, but it's 1 inch thicker and a full 3 pounds heavier.
Overall, gamers seeking a 17-inch laptop that's powerful but doesn't break their back will find the MSI GS70 to be an excellent choice.
|2.5-GHz Intel Core i7-4710HQ
|Operating System
|Windows 8.1
|RAM Upgradable to
|Hard Drive Size
|Dual 128GB
|Hard Drive Speed
|Hard Drive Type
|Dual SSDs
|Secondary Hard Drive Size
|Secondary Hard Drive Speed
|Secondary Hard Drive Type
|SATA Hard Drive
|Display Size
|Native Resolution
|Optical Drive
|Optical Drive Speed
|Graphics Card
|Nvidia GeForce GTX 870M
|Video Memory
|Wi-Fi Model
|Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260
|Bluetooth 4.0
|Mobile Broadband
|Touchpad Size
|4.1 x 2.7 inches
|Ports (excluding USB)
|Ports (excluding USB)
|Ports (excluding USB)
|Gigabit Ethernet
|Ports (excluding USB)
|Ports (excluding USB)
|Ports (excluding USB)
|security lock slot
|Ports (excluding USB)
|Ports (excluding USB)
|USB Ports
|Card Slots
|3-1 card reader
|2 Years Limited Warranty (Includes 1 Year Global Warranty)
|16.47 x 11.29 x 0.85 inches
|6 pounds
|Company Website


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40th wedding anniversary
This cake tells the couples story of their 40 years of marriage all around the cake. To meeting in a pool hall to having the blessings of grandchildren. Fun cake.
3 Comments
They must haven been thrilled :)
I LOVE this, such a great idea to tell a story with the images.


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|8620 Reed Drive, 7x9" watercolor
The painting of the house above will be a gift from Debbie and husband Phil to the former owner, a man whose partner died suddenly from a massive heart attack. Heartbroken, he put the house, including all its furnishings, on the market. He and his partner had exceptional taste and a flair for whimsy. I hope he likes the watercolor.
I delivered a commissioned watercolor when I was on the coast to a customer in Morehead City. While in Morehead, I ran over to El's Drive-In, a historic drive-up restaurant that's been around since 1959. The wind was whipping up a storm. I think I have captured it in the painting below.
|Fly-in Drive-in, 7½ x 9" watercolor