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Article From The Mid County Post, July 11, 2006
The Road House: How Pleasure Point Got Its Name
By Phil Reader
After a Century of various uses, the Road House once again rents to residential tenants. A sculpture by local artist Aaron Van de Kerkhove stands out front. The name "Pleasure Point," now widely recognized as one of Santa Cruz' premier surfing spots, was formalized through the efforts of an unlikely champion. Dr. Norman Sullivan was an eccentric and generous man, an enormously popular physician who for many years served as the Santa Cruz City Health Officer.
Sullivan was known to have taken chickens as payment for his services, and in at least one case ó the birth of this reporter ó a side of beef. Retiring in 1950 to the Point, he became a local fixture there, singing its praises in countless interviews. When he died in 1977, the name was so engrained in the public consciousness that it was at last deemed official.
Prior to acquiring its nickname, the area had long been known as Point Soquel. It was originally a part of the old Rodeo Rancho of Mexican days, but following statehood was deeded to a pair of Irish immigrants who carved out large wheat farms along the cliffs. The land changed hands several times until it was finally purchased by John J. Henchy at the turn of the 20th century.
The Luck of the Irish
Henchy was another Irishman, a rollicking freewheeler who migrated to the United States as a sailor following the great famine in the 1840s. After a turn at farming, he moved to San Francisco where he slipped easily into the lifestyle of the Barbary Coast red light district. By 1880, he owned his own saloon and brothel there.
Following one of the rare police crackdowns on the area, Henchy returned briefly to farming before ending up in Live Oak, where he bought a portion of the old wheat farms on the point. There, in 1902, he began construction on a building which he intended for use as his primary residence. But even as construction was underway, he turned the ground floor into a saloon.
Henchy moved his family into Capitola and continued to operate what became known as the Road House.
The Road House was perched almost alone overlooking the surf until 1904, when Austin Houghton bought a large portion of the southernmost tip of the point. Houghton, a former design engineer for J.D. Rockefeller, built a home so similar to the Road House that they almost surely shared the same architect. Houghton named his home "The Owls."
These two homes were connected by a wide lane of packed dirt and gravel. Even before more permanent roads were laid out, the point began to attract out-of-town visitors. The vast majority were groups of men who fished, dug clams or hunted pheasants or waterfowl. Initially these tourists pitched tents along the road or stayed at the Road House. Few families came to the point óthey usually went to the downtown beaches.
Bootleggers Find the Point
Over the next decade, smaller homes, usually summer cottages, sprang up along the cliffs. The largest of these developments was called The Breakers, laid out in 1905, but most of the lots remained unsold for 20 years. Except for a small strip along the cliffs, the point remained basically an agricultural area of small farms and orchards.
In the days prior to the Red Light Abatement Act of 1914, it was often tacitly assumed that saloons would have female companionship available to their customers, and the Road House was no exception. But sin did not become an issue there until the advent of Prohibition in 1920.
At that point the Road House became one of the busiest speakeasies in Santa Cruz. Because of its isolated location, San Francisco bootleggers made the point a drop-off spot for boatloads of contraband liquor, burying it in the sand below the cliffs by night to retrieve later in broad daylight.
The Roaring '20s were the heyday of the Road House, with bootleggers mixing merrily with off-duty policemen and tourists with locals. Flapper girls rented rooms upstairs at night, plying their customary trade. It was then that the name Pleasure Point became irrevocably affixed to the area.
The Pleasure Point Night Fighters
According to legend, there arose in these free-wheeling times a peacekeeping group called the Pleasure Point Night Fighters. The Night Fighters were supposedly a public service group of volunteers and renowned as a vigilante organization. In truth, they were actually volunteer fire fighters who not only put out the numerous fires but would tend to victims of the rowdy crowds.
The Depression had a calming influence on the activities of Pleasure Point. The lustier pursuits never did actually rival agriculture as the area's predominant activity, and now a string of small tourist cottages were built to attract another class of visitor. Henchy finally retired once and for all, and the saloon was remodeled into a grocery store complete with gas pump and upstairs rooming for families and visitors.
The Road House had become completely legitimate.
The Advent of Surf Diving and Tract Homes
With all the revelry at the Road House during the 1920s, a few eccentric swimmers along the nearby beaches attracted scant notice. As far back as the 19th century, local farm boys did a thing they called "surf diving," similar to body surfing today.
The sport became more popular after World War I, when a few long boarders made their appearance on the swells at Pleasure Point. They were mostly members of the Santa Cruz Surf Club seeking waves when Steamer Lane was flat.
However, most of the activity on the Point in the 1930s was housing development. One impetus was a farmer named Charles Beltz who successfully sank a commercial water well on the Point, forming the Beltz Water System.
The lots at Breaker's beach soon filled up with summer housing, and the Hawes Development sprang up between Moran Lagoon and 30th Avenue. Residents formed the Rodeo Civic Club, lobbying County Supervisors to widen and macadamize East Cliff Drive. They also donated the land to extend 41st Avenue through to the cliffs.
Perhaps the most interesting housing tract was the Pleasure Point Subdivision built by W. C. Thompson in 1934. These seven homes were luxury units intended for year-around occupation. The tract perched on the southern tip of the point overlooking Monterey Bay, one of the most beautiful spots in the district. Many of these homes still exist.
The Pleasure Point Plunge
The subdivision featured the famous Pleasure Point Plunge, which during the early years offered an open air dance pavilion, live music and a cozy fireplace. The Plunge was built over the large basement of The Owls, which had burnt in 1915. Among the various owners of the Plunge were Peggy Slatter, who later founded the Begonia Festival, and the aforementioned Dr. Sullivan, who built a home on the Point during WWII.
Dr. Sullivan's only daughter, Marilyn, was a well-known swimmer as well as a musician. The Plunge remained open continuously until 1962 when a wide crack developed in the bottom of the pool, forcing its closure.
Besides new roads and The Plunge's association with water sports, one more accident of history led to the Point's evolution into a surfing mecca. In the 1940s many local surfers, having learned the sport during a tour of duty in the Hawaiian Islands, flocked to the adjoining beaches.
From then on, surfing was king at Pleasure Point. In the '50s and '60s, the popular media discovered surfing, transforming it from a relatively unknown sport to California icon. Pleasure Point emerged as one of the most renowned surfing spots in Northern California, host to a number of stops on the U.S.S.F Championship Tour as well as the annual Jay Moriarity Memorial Paddle Board Race, named for a local surfer.
Surfing also inspired the resurrection of a familiar name. The Depression and World War II had brought the Night Fighters' activities to a halt. However, during the mid-1970s, under the leadership of Harry and Ray Conti, the group emerged once again. They lay the foundation for a tight-knit community watchdog organization that still exists today.
The new Night Fighters were disheartened with the amount of trash found on the beaches. They were successful in obtaining the donation of 12 trash cans and took on the responsibility of keeping their local area clean and emptying the cans on a weekly basis. They also initiated "Pack Your Trash Day," an event where local residents gather to clean beaches after several high-use holidays.
It has served as a model program for other communities in California to clean up their own neighborhoods. The group now maintains a small park on the cliffs across the road from Elizabeth's Market.
However, it is the Pleasure Point Road House that remains the enduring symbol of the long colorful history of "The Point." The old building, located on East Cliff Drive between 38th and 41st Avenues, has served variously as a farmhouse, a saloon and brothel, a speakeasy, a grocery store, a massage parlor, a hippy commune and a surfer hangout. The Road House today is privately owned; its rooms and cottages rented out to tenants. After more than a century, it still welcomes those with an eye towards the area's unique pleasures.


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LITCHBOROUGH - airport taxis
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Jill Hurst-Wahl is an associate professor of practice in Syracuse University's School of Information Studies and the director of both its library and information science & LIS with school media specialization programs. A former corporate librarian, Jill has always been an advocate for expanding the career opportunities for LIS graduates. She is a member of the USNY Technology Policy and Practices Council. Her interests include copyright, the use of social media, and the future of the profession.


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mak·er / mākər
1. a person or thing that makes or produces something
Someone recently referred to me on my Instagram account as a Maker. I've heard the word used to describe people that I feel are professionals in the creative community but never have I thought of myself in this term. It got me thinking quite seriously about the creative side of my brain that makes me a Maker and what it takes to keep the creativity alive. This is what I've learned the last little while as I've pondered these thoughts.
Hand quilting and embellishing little sewing projects with hand work is one of my favorite things to do.
Find Your Passion
I feel that we all have (or at least we should have) something that we are passionate about. I happen to be one of those people that has many interests and enjoys learning new things, working in my gardens, cooking, and even cleaning house. But recently I've become aware that time in my sewing room is my passion. Even if all I'm doing is sewing up some quick potholders for a birthday gift for a friend, it is completely enjoyable to me. Everytime I am with my elderly parents – who still ranch full time – I am aware that what keeps them active and happy is their passion for what they do. We all need something that drives us.
My vintage locker basket full of my favorite inspirational project books!
Make Time For It
In the book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, the Author talks about how necessary it is to make time to develop that creative thing in our life that we are passionate about. For me it doesn't mean that it has to be all consuming, but I do recognize that it helps me in so many areas of my life if I make time for that creative passion. Recently I read a comment that a friend had written about her love of creating. She said, "I make time to sit at my sewing table and do something every day. Even if it is only 15 minutes to pull some fabric for a new design, sew a few hand stitches on a quilt, or look at a new pattern. I am happier, my family is happier, my day goes smoother." And I would agree completely. Sometimes all I have time for is a few minutes to look at one of the fun creative books that I own. It's enough to get the energy flowing again!
The quilt that was not my thing!
Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone
I recently was asked by a friend if she could pay me to make a specific lap quilt for her sister in law. She showed me a picture of what she wanted and I told my friend that yes, I could make it. But then the trouble started. The fabric colors required for the project were not my favorites, the pattern itself was not something that was enjoyable for me (it was weener dogs for goodness sakes!) and all of a sudden what I love doing became drudgery. Because I'm a finisher, is wasn't hard for me to stick it out and finish it but I felt that it was not my best work and I was disappointed in it. But it taught me a lot; I learned some techniques I had never done before, I learned that even though it didn't make me happy it certainly made someone else happy. I also learned that stepping out of my comfort zone was good for me and that I need to do it more often. And the final lesson was one I'm sure you're waiting for: when the quilt was finished I loved it and the few things that I felt I could've done better will certainly not be noticed by anyone else!
The gorgeous bundle of fabric I have for twin size quilts… and I can't bring myself to cut into it.
Put The Fears Aside
Why, in doing something I love, would there be fears? I ask myself this all the time. I have had a plan to make quilts for my guest room beds for three years now. Twice I've put the project out of my mind. Last year, after a tremendous amount of deliberation, I purchased the fabric for the quilts. I looked at hundreds of patterns until I finally settled on my two favorites. And so how far have I come in the process? Not one single step. The beautiful fabric is still sitting on my sewing room work area. But I cannot seem to cut into the fabric. Strange as it seems I am having some real fears of failure here. I'm not afraid that I can't do it; because I can. I'm not afraid that I won't love them; I'm quite sure I will. I'm not afraid of the time involved; I'm prepared in my mind for how long it will take. But somehow I've got some fears of taking that plunge and cutting the fabric! I've finally figured out that I love projects that give me instant gratification and a quilt, especially one that I intend to quilt by hand, is a very long process that could take me a year to complete. Somehow soon I will put those fears aside and get started. I'm asking you to hold me accountable!
"So this, I believe, is the central question upon which all creative living hinges: Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you?"
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
A quote from one of my favorite books I've read about creative living.
Take A Deep Breath… And Have Courage
Do you all remember this post I wrote in January about my plans to teach a summer quilting camp to four sweet girls? To some people it may not seem like a big deal to plan something so simple as a summer quilting camp for young sewists, but for me it has been a really big deal and took a lot of courage to commit to it. But just writing about it helped me to make it real and after I shared my blog post on my IG feed I could not believe the support that I received from people in the quilting community. I feel so much more confident now and recognize that even if the camp doesn't go exactly as I picture it in my mind; if the girls go home with a feeling of success for themselves then it is absolutely perfect! I'm thankful I had the courage to just simply get started with the ideas. I think there is treasure hidden there and I'm eager to see what it is!
One little area on my fabric shelves… continual inspiration!
Surround Yourself With Creativity
Numerous times I've shared the picture of my craft room – especially my sewing table with my wall filled with mini-quilts that I've sewn and many that have been gifted to me. So I'm not going to share that picture again. But the picture above is just a little vignette of what the top of my fabric storage shelf looks like. I try always to have little areas like this with beautiful fabric displayed because it makes me happy and also makes me creative! Incidentally that bundle of fabric there on the left that is tied with a ribbon? That fabric is called Caravan Roundup and is designed by our very own MaryJane! It is sitting there reminding me of my summer quilting camp coming up because one of the girls will be using that fabric! (Just one of the little things of MaryJane's that always inspires creativity in me.)
One of the sweetest gifts I've received from a Maker friend – a Maker bag that holds everything I need for any little hand project I'm working on. I can grab it and go – it's always at the ready!
Do Not Compare Yourself To Others
Living in the world we live in now where we Makers share our projects on all sorts of different social media platforms, we are opening ourselves wide up to comparison. I have found myself in this place a few times and all it does is feed insecurities. However, the flip side of "comparison" is that we can use it to help us fan the flame of creativity, to give us more ideas and to strive to perfect our skills. Something I've found in the Maker community is this desire to encourage and inspire others. The sharing of ideas is amazing. And the sharing of kindnesses. I've received so many beautiful little things in the mail from other Makers that I know only through social media and it is amazing the kindness. I have found in myself that sharing is always better than comparing.
Passing on my love of fabric and quilt blocks to my grand-girls encourages me.
Always Thank Those That Encourage You
Thank you dear readers for listening to me ramble today about my musings on being a Maker. And for always, always being an encouragement in your comments. So…. to thank you (smile!) I've got a GIVE-AWAY! A great little special home-made item to send to one lucky winner. It is a complete surprise…. custom made for you, by me! I AM a Maker after all! All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me what it is that you are passionate about and do you find time for it daily?
Until our gravel roads cross again… so long.


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Banana Muffins with Almond Paste Bits and Chocolate Chips (makes nine muffins) 1 large very ripe banana, mashed (or two small ones, about 7oz/200g/heaping 1/2 cup mashed) 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp almond extract, optional 1/4 to 1/3 cup almond milk 1/2 cup turbinado sugar 1 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 tbsp baking powder 1/3 tsp salt 3oz/85g almond paste, cut into small pieces (about 1/2 inch each) 1/4 cup chocolate chips, optional turbinado or brown sugar for sprinkling, optional 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with nine paper liners and spray each one with cooking spray. 2. In a small sized mixing bowl, whisk together the mashed banana, oil, vanilla extract, almond extract, milk, and sugar. Depending on the brand of flour that I use, sometimes I need 1/4 cup of milk, and sometimes I need 1/3. You might want to start with 1/4 and add more later if needed. 3. In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Scatter the almond paste bits around the flour mix, throw in the chocolate chips and and mix well. 4. Pour the liquid ingredients on top of the dry ingredients and gently fold until all ingredients are just incorporated. Spoon the fairly thick batter into the prepared muffin pan, filling each three-quarter full. The batter should be quite thick, but if you find that it is crumbly and it's not coming together, add a tablespoon or two of milk until it's workable. 5. Sprinkle a little bit of sugar all over the muffin tops if you want. If you want to decorate the tops with a few extra chocolate chips, this would be the time to do it. 6. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean. Remember that there are gooey almond paste bits in there that might trick you into thinking the muffins aren't done yet! Poke the muffins in a couple of different places if the toothpick doesn't come out clean after 22 minutes, just in case. Notes: * You can use the crunchy nutty topping from the Apple-Cinnamon Muffins recipe instead of sprinkling sugar on top. You can leave out the cinnamon if you don't like cinnamon in your banana bread. |
These are so good with a cup of coffee or Roastaroma! I make my own almond paste with turbinado sugar using Celine's recipe (blogged here). Should we look inside so we can appreciate the gooey goodness?
I am submitting this recipe to Ricki's Wellness Weekends. Be sure to check out Ricki's blog, Diet, Dessert and Dogs, for lots of wholesome Wellness Weekends entries!
Random duck photo: Curly loves grooming his floofy feathers.


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Planning a Family Ski Vacation
It's time to plan the family vacation – and everyone wants to go skiing.
Don't worry, skiing isn't as expensive as you might think, and there are numerous resorts that cater to families, offering a variety of packages designed to save you money. The problem will be choosing the destination.
Most ski resorts have websites. Start the planning process by accessing these websites to determine where you and your family might want to go for your family ski vacation. There are many different things to look for when choosing a resort. The absolute most important thing to look for is a ski school if someone in your family will need instruction. While most resorts do have ski schools, some don't. Don't make the mistake of choosing a destination where one or more of your family members won't have fun, simply because they don't know how to ski.
Next, take a look at the slopes, lifts, and trails. You want to make sure that the resort has something to offer everyone in your family. If the resort only caters to beginners, an expert skier will become quickly bored. If you have a snowboarder in your group, and there is no snowboarding park or terrain, that snowboarder will not be happy. There are resorts that serve all winter sports – so make sure that your families interests are covered.
Lodging is the next thing to look at. You want to be comfortable, so where you will sleep at night matters a great deal. In most cases, there is a hotel right at the base of the slopes – but this isn't necessarily the best or most affordable place to stay. Find out what your lodging options are for the area, and choose the one that is right for your family and your budget. If you will be staying farther away from the slopes, make sure that there is transportation to and from the slopes each day!
Your family will have many more interests that you will need to search for before deciding on a particular destination and resort. Some of those interests may be dog sledding, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or horseback riding. Resorts do offer these activities, but some don't – so be sure to ask about the winter activities, as well as the planned events during the time that you will be at the resort. This will help you plan a ski vacation that your family will enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives.


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Yellows Towel - 2020 Away
Yellows Towel - 2020 Away
The importance of a good golf towel cannot be overstated. If you want to get the most out of your game, the face of the golf club has to be clean and dry.
Level up your towel game today with one of our vibrant designs.
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- Crafted with great care in our workshop in the heart of Scotland.
- As each golf towel is made to order, we will dispatch your order within 3 working days of purchase.


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Introduction and Summary
Televised release of President Clinton's grand jury testimony is stemming a decline in his public support. Strong opposition to the release of the grand jury videotape and increased disapproval of Republican congressional leadership accompany the reversal of the trend against Clinton. However, on balance, those who viewed the testimony have a negative opinion of his performance.
A Pew Research Center survey this weekend found a decline in Clinton's job approval rating and an increase in the percentage of Americans saying he should resign or be impeached and removed from office if he lied. But a parallel follow-up survey conducted Monday and Tuesday finds these trends abating as the public expresses nearly two-to-one opposition to the airing of Clinton's videotaped testimony.
The President's rebound in public support coincides with increased disapproval of GOP leaders on Capitol Hill. An early September survey found 44% of the public approving and 37% disapproving of them. The survey conducted after the video was aired finds the public equally divided between those approving and disapproving of the Republican leadership. (See box.)
Nonetheless, the feeling that the President should resign or be removed from office is somewhat more prevalent in the post-video survey than it was in early September. The fall-off in support for Clinton over the weekend suggests that the negative impact of the release of the Starr report took some time to manifest itself.
Even though the President is benefiting from a backlash to the release of his testimony, he does not come out well in the eyes of Americans who saw it. By a 50%-38% margin, those who watched do not think he made a good case for himself. Similarly, his testimony lost rather than won him personal sympathy (43%-32%). More viewers saw the prosecutors as fair in their questioning of him than unfair (54%-36%). People who watched all or most of the testimony (21% of the public) are more of the view that the President made a good case for himself than those who watched only part of the proceedings (48% of the public).
Other Findings:
- Opposition to the airing of Clinton's videotaped testimony is greatest among women, non-whites and Democrats. By a margin of 56%-37%, Americans also think that the news media made a bad decision in airing reports about Republican Congressman Henry Hyde's extramarital affair of 30 years ago.
- The survey conducted after Clinton's testimony aired finds a 44% plurality favoring a censure or reprimand, compared to 26% favoring impeachment, and 26% no formal action. Even Republicans are divided on whether it would better to impeach (46%) or censure Clinton (41%).
- Similarly, the surveys find 56% of Americans continuing to say they would have an unfavorable opinion of members of Congress who voted for beginning hearings.


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This Hood Decals Auto Truck Vinyl Sticker features easy to install high gloss vinyl and is the perfect truck sticker to make your dune buggy decal original. These truck hood stickers also make a great gift for mud runners, dune buggy groups or truck lovers. It would look great at a truck show or car swap meet maybe at a street drag racing event. Our car hood decals are sharp, crisp and easy to install they will look like you spent hours on the detail but you only spent minutes.
Our decals are easy to install, instructions included with videos!
High quality high gloss 6-year Oracal vinyl.
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100% Satisfaction guarantee, we will make sure your happy with your decals. We are here until your decals are on your project.
30 Day no hassle return policy.
Tell us your details and add to cart, we will start shipping your set.
***Walmart customers, we will contact you via email or phone for your order details.


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www.Agram.com |
Zagreb (Agram) is the capital city of Croatia. The city's population was 973,667 in 2005. It is situated between the southern slopes of Medvednica mountain and the northern bank of the Sava river at an elevation of 120 m above sea level, located at 45°48'N 15°58'E. |
The modern name Zagreb was recorded for the first time in the 11th century (1094). It is derived from Croatian in the ditch/depression, probably referring to its geographic location. Perhaps illuminatingly for Anglophones, the older German name (now less common) is Agram, from am Graben, likewise meaning in/on the ditch/depression, German Graben and Croatian grab both being related to English grave. See also: Names of European cities in different languages There exist different legends about how the name of Zagreb came about. One of them says that a Croatian ban (viceroy) was moving with his army through a deserted region and the soldiers were struck by thirst. In his anger, the ban thrust his sabre into the ground and suddenly water began pouring out. He ordered the soldiers to scrape the soil (zagreb in Croatian) in order to get to the water and that is how Zagreb got its name. The verb zagreb in the sense of digging is also believed to have something to do with the name of the city and this is supported by some scientists, as the city lay behind a water-filled hole (graba). There also exists a theory that Zagreb may mean a place behind a hill (za breg), i.e. behind the Sava river's bank, and then the name just changed into Zagreb. This theory is supported by the fact that Sava had once flowed nearer to the centre of the city. At today's Cvjetni trg in the very centre of Zagreb, pieces of what was once a wooden boat have been unearthed. Some scientists believe that the name Zagreb is not of Slavonic origin, just as the name Croat is believed to be not of that origin. However, if the name does derive from Slavonic origins, then possibly the most acceptable explanation is the city za grebom, i.e. "behind the tomb". The tomb could be the one in Drziceva Street or some other still not located tomb near Gric or Kaptol. Much of Croatian industry is concentrated in Zagreb, including metal processing, electrical appliances, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals (Pliva), printing and leather industries, wood processing, and paper. The city also has a notable services sector, including finance, tourism, and trade. It had a remarkable per capita GDP of 23,730 USD in 2004 (the EU average was 28,114 USD). However, average income and prices are still somewhat lower than in Western Europe. Zagreb, being a relatively large city situated on the fastest route that connects Central with Southeastern Europe, has great potential for investment and development. In 2005 the average unemployment rate in Zagreb was around 8%, half of the national average. There are three main transit connections: the western, towards Ljubljana, Slovenia and on to Western Europe; the eastern, towards Slavonia and on to Southeastern Europe and the Near East; and the southern, towards Rijeka, Croatia's biggest port in the Kvarner bay and Split in Dalmatia, the second largest Croatian city and also an important port. A motorway tunnel going through the Medvednica Mountains is in the planning stages and will become Zagreb's main northern transit connection. The railway running along the Sutla river and the Zagorje main road (Zagreb - Maribor - Vienna), as well as traffic connections with the Pannonian region and Hungary (the Zagorje railroad, the roads and railway to Varaždin - Čakovec and Koprivnica) are linked with truck routes. The southern railway connection to Split operates on a line via the Lika region (renovated in 2004 to allow for a five-hour journey); a faster line along the Una river valley is currently in use only up to the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The railway and the motorway (A3) along the Sava river that runs to Slavonia and further to Belgrade are some of the busiest traffic corridors in the country. The city has a well developed road network with several main arteries up to six lanes wide and a full-profile expressway encircling most of the city. There is some congestion in the city centre and parking is also a problem. This is somewhat alleviated by the construction of new underground multi-story car-parks (Importanne Centre, Importanne Gallery, Langov square). Public transportation in the city is organized in two zones: the inner parts of the city are mostly covered by trams and the outer suburbs are linked with buses. The public transportation company, ZET (Zagrebački Električni Tramvaj, Zagreb Electric Tram), is subsidised by the city council. Currently there is an ambitious programme underway to replace old trams with the new and modern ones built mostly in Zagreb by companies Končar elektroindustrija and, to a lesser extent, by TŽV Gredelj. 70 trams have been purchased, with the final tram expected to be delivered by December 2007, and a deal securing an additional 100 trams is forthcoming. The funicular Uspinjaca in the historic part of the city is a tourist attraction. Taxis are readily available, but are comparatively expensive. In recent years, the state rail operator HŽ (Hrvatske željeznice, Croatian Railways) has been developing a network of suburban trains in metropolitan Zagreb area. As of 2004, westbound railway connections have been updated. A light rail system is in the planning stages. Currently, the system is envisioned with five lines; three running west-east, and two running north-south. All lines would go underground in the city centre. The first line is expected to be operational by 2012. Zagreb Airport currently handles 1.6 million passengers a year. A new terminal is planned for 2011, with construction beginning in 2008. Zagreb is an important tourist centre, not only in terms of passengers travelling from Western and Central Europe to the Adriatic Sea, but also as a tourist destination. Since the end of the war, it attracts around half a million visitors annually, mainly from Austria, Germany and Italy. However, the city has greater potential as many tourists that visit Croatia skip Zagreb in order to visit the beaches along the Croatian Adriatic coast and old historic Renaissance cities such as Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar. Zagreb celebrated its 900th birthday in 1994 not only as a city with numerous cultural and historical monuments, museums and galleries, but also as a vibrant destination with a variety of modern shops, quality restaurants and sports/recreational facilities. It is a major centre of congress tourism, hosting a number of business events and trade fairs that are amongst those of the longest tradition in Europe. Being an important junction point, Zagreb has road, air, railway and bus connections with other European metropolises and all bigger cities and tourist resorts in Croatia. The historical part of the city to the north of Ban Jelačić Square is comprised of the Upper Town and Kaptol, a medieval urban complex of churches, palaces, museums, galleries and government buildings that are exceptionally popular with tourists on sightseeing tours. The old town's streets and squares can be reached on foot, starting from Jelačić Square, the central part and the heart of Zagreb, or by a funicular on nearby Tomićeva Street. There are several sports and recreational centres in Zagreb. Recreational Sports Centre Jarun, situated on Lake Jarun to the southwest of the city, has fine shingle beaches, a world-class regatta course, a jogging lane around the lake, several restaurants, many night clubs and a discotheque. Its sports and recreation opportunities include swimming, sunbathing, waterskiing, angling and other water sports, but also beach volleyball, football, basketball, handball, table tennis, and miniature golf. Dom Sportova (Home of sports) features six halls. The largest two can accommodate 4,000 and 12,000 people. This center is used for basketball, handball, volleyball, hockey, gymanstics, tennis, and many others. It is also used for concerts. The Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall seats 5,400. Alongside it is the 104 m glass Cibona Tower. Sports Park Mladost, situated along the embankment of the Sava river, has an Olympic-size swimming pool, smaller indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sunbathing terrace, 16 tennis courts as well as basketball, volleyball, handball, football and field hockey courts. A volleyball sports hall is within the park. Maksimir stadium, Sports and Recreational Centre Šalata, only a couple hundred metres from the city centre, is most attractive for tennis players. It comprises a big tennis court and eight smaller ones, two of which are covered by the so-called "balloon", and another two equipped with lights. The Centre also has swimming pools, basketball courts, football fields, a gym and fitness centre, and a four-lane bowling alley. Outdoor ice skating is a popular winter recreation at Šalata. There are also several fine restaurants within and near the Centre. Tennis Centre Maksimir, in the part of the city called Ravnice to the east of the centre, consists of two sports blocks. The first comprises a tennis centre situated in a large tennis hall with four courts. There are 22 outdoor tennis courts with lights. The other block offers multipurpose sports facilities: apart from tennis courts, there are handball, basketball, indoor football grounds, as well as track and field facilities, a bocci ball alley and table tennis opportunities. Recreational swimmers can enjoy a smaller-size indoor swimming pool in Daničićeva Street, and a newly opened indoor olympic-sized pool at Utrine sports centre in Novi Zagreb. Skaters can skate in the skating rink on Trg Sportova (Sports Square) and on the lake Jarun Skaters' park. Hippodrome Zagreb offers recreational horseback riding opportunities, while horse races are held every weekend during the warmer part of the year. The unfinished 40,000 seat Maksimir Stadium is located in the eastern part of the city. When completed, it will hold 60,000 spectators, and finally serve Zagreb somewhat more approrpiately. The stadium is part of the immense Svetice recreational and sports complex, south of the heavily wooded Maksimir Park. The complex covers an area of 276,440 m2 just outside the built-up urban space that forms the city's eastern boundary. It is part of a significant Green Zone, which passes from Medvednica Mountains in the north towards the south. SRC Svetice, together with Maksimir Park, creates an ideal connection of areas which are assigned to sport, recreation and leisure. |
Hosting www.orbis.hr |


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As recreational cannabis sales begin Jan. 1, one fact is sometimes overlooked: Employers still can fire workers for using it on- or off-duty.
State law gives employers full authority to impose any drug prohibitions they wish, despite it being legal in Colorado for adults to possess and consume marijuana.
"Employers hold all the cards," said Curtis Graves, a staff attorney for the Mountain States Employers Council.
So you smoke only off-duty? Not good enough. Consuming just at home provides no protection if your workplace drug test comes back positive for marijuana.
Many employees may be enjoying a false sense of security stemming from passage last year of Amendment 64, which legalized marijuana possession for adults in Colorado.
"Right now there is a great deal of confusion," said attorney Danielle Urban of labor-law firm Fisher & Phillips in Denver. "People are surprised to learn that they can lose their jobs."
Amid the euphoria of approving legal pot, some cannabis enthusiasts may have overlooked a key piece of fine print in Amendment 64.
Nothing in the law will "affect the ability of employers to have policies restricting the use of marijuana by employees," the amendment states.
That includes getting high at work or even after hours, according to legal experts and judicial rulings.
Tests can't determine exactly when pot was ingested. Marijuana metabolites can remain in the human body for weeks, so employers don't know whether a positive test resulted from on- or off-duty use. Nor do they care, if they have a strict no-drug policy.
Mason Tvert, who co-directed the Amendment 64 campaign, said a double standard exists because employers would almost never sanction a worker for off-duty alcohol use, unless it was affecting job performance. Yet with cannabis consumption, penalties can result even if employees use it legally off-duty and are not impaired at work.
"It's really irrational to punish employees for engaging in lawful activities outside of the workplace," Tvert said.
Despite legalization of recreational use in Colorado, it is still a taboo subject for employers. Several Denver-area businesses declined to comment about their marijuana policies.
A couple of companies, though, say their position won't change, at least initially.
"We have discussed the new law and how it's going to impact our business with recruitment and overall operations for quite some time," said Jeremy Ostermiller, CEO of Denver-based Altitude Digital. "There is still uncertainty how the federal government will respond to the states' new legal-marijuana laws. We don't have rules concerning off-hours marijuana use. At this time, we are not changing our drug-testing policy, but we embrace and fully support the new Colorado law."
Altitude Digital, which employs 50, does not test its workers for drugs.
Ostermiller said he worked with pot-friendly artists such as Snoop Lion and Cypress Hill prior to starting his online video marketing business.
"Many believe their marijuana use has fostered creativity, an important and valuable asset to any business," Ostermiller said. "While there is a lot of misinformation about marijuana use, especially how it affects the body, Altitude Digital encourages creativity by cultivating a fun and collaborative company culture."
Denver-based Spire Media, a Web designing and consulting firm, also doesn't test its employees for marijuana.
"I'm not going to fire somebody if they smoke pot, but I don't want them doing it in the office," said Spire CEO Mike Gellman.
His position won't change after the new law goes into effect, he says.
"I know personally I wouldn't be able to do my job if I smoked pot," Gellman said. "But I know some people can program and do better programming while smoking pot, and that's fair."
Graves, of the Mountain States Employers Council, said employers in high-turnover service industries such as retail, hotel, restaurant and casino may be less inclined to use routine drug screenings because they already are challenged with maintaining staffing levels.
In addition to Amendment 64's clear language that gives employers full discretion in setting marijuana policies, a Colorado court case this year affirmed an employer's right to prohibit medical marijuana use, even off-duty for employees with registered medical status.
Dish customer-service employee Brandon Coats, a quadriplegic, sued Dish after the satellite-TV company fired him for testing positive for marijuana in a random drug test.
Coats acknowledged that he used legal medical marijuana off-duty to help control muscle spasms but said he was never under the influence at work. Nonetheless, Dish fired him after the positive test.
In a precedent-setting decision, the Colorado Court of Appeals upheld the firing. The court said that since marijuana is illegal under federal law, employers can sanction their workers and are not bound by Colorado's Lawful Off-Duty Activities Statute, which otherwise prevents employers from interfering in employees' nonwork activities.
Coats' attorney, Michael Evans, has appealed the ruling to the Colorado Supreme Court.
"Unless you've got a guy who is obviously impaired," Evans said, "you should hold off on terminating him."


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Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:
Donald Trump's State of the Union address was notable for what he didn't say. He didn't address any of the issues that matter to women. In Donald Trump's America, a president doesn't need to care about women's health, pay equity or gender equality. Donald Trump turned his speech into another episode of the reality TV show that is his presidency. He brought in special guests, made dramatic pronouncements from the podium, hyped his accomplishments and lied about his record. Once again, we saw the real Donald Trump—a braggart, a bully, a pretender who has no patience for serious subjects and no interest in solving urgent problems.
We didn't hear a word of real leadership from Donald Trump, but this November, Donald Trump will hear us. We have a message for Donald Trump.
You can't stop us with your tweets. You can't stop is with your bullying and you can't stop is with your hate speech. We're marching to the polls in November, and Donald Trump, we're voting against you.
Emily Imhoff, email@example.com, 951-547-1241


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We believe that the dynamics of all sectors is a difference in creativity and approach. We believe that innovativeness, vision difference and customer focus are the elements that make the pioneers of the sector different from the others. According to us, every company should add something to the small or large sector.
Each company should make an effort to solve the problems of the sector, even at its own axis. As a result of these efforts, sectoral experience and accumulations, a better quality of supply can be provided. Increasing the quality of the service offered will have a positive impact on the quality and profitability of our sector.
To us, it is necessary to give much more to get more. You deserve more, but when you can deliver better. With this philosophy, we develop our infrastructure and services every day and try to become the innovative face of the sector.
In order to develop the general nature of the real estate sector, the efforts and synergies of all other sector representatives, such as our company, are required. However, even if our company believes in perfectionism alone, this innovative vision will not be lost.


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"What Is College For?"
Gary Gutting
December 14th, 2011
The New York Times
Gary Gutting
December 14th, 2011
The New York Times
Most American college students are wrapping up yet another semester this week. For many of them, and their families, the past months or years in school have likely involved considerable time, commitment, effort and expense. Was it worth it?
Some evidence suggests that it was. A Pew Research survey this year found that 74 percent of graduates from four-year colleges say that their education was "very useful in helping them grow intellectually." Sixty-nine percent said that "it was very useful in helping them grow and mature as a person" and 55 percent claimed that "it was very useful in helping prepare them for a job or career." Moreover, 86 percent of these graduates think "college has been a good investment for them personally."
Nonetheless, there is incessant talk about the "failure" of higher education. (Anthony Grafton at The New York Review of Books provides an excellent survey of recent discussions.) Much of this has to do with access: it's too expensive, admissions policies are unfair, the drop-out rate is too high. There is also dismay at the exploitation of graduate students and part-time faculty members, the over-emphasis on frills such as semi-professional athletics or fancy dorms and student centers, and the proliferation of expensive and unneeded administrators. As important as they are, these criticisms don't contradict the Pew Survey's favorable picture of the fundamental value of students' core educational experience.
But, as Grafton's discussion also makes clear, there are serious concerns about the quality of this experience. In particular, the university curriculum leaves students disengaged from the material they are supposed to be learning. They see most of their courses as intrinsically "boring," of value only if they provide training relevant to future employment or if the teacher has a pleasing (amusing, exciting, "relevant") way of presenting the material. As a result, students spend only as much time as they need to get what they see as acceptable grades (on average, about 12 to 14 hour a week for all courses combined). Professors have ceased to expect genuine engagement from students and often give good grades (B or better) to work that is at best minimally adequate.
This lack of academic engagement is real, even among schools with the best students and the best teachers, and it increases dramatically as the quality of the school decreases. But it results from a basic misunderstanding — by both students and teachers — of what colleges are for.
First of all, they are not simply for the education of students. This is an essential function, but the raison d'être of a college is to nourish a world of intellectual culture; that is, a world of ideas, dedicated to what we can know scientifically, understand humanistically, or express artistically. In our society, this world is mainly populated by members of college faculties: scientists, humanists, social scientists (who straddle the humanities and the sciences properly speaking), and those who study the fine arts. Law, medicine and engineering are included to the extent that they are still understood as "learned professions," deploying practical skills that are nonetheless deeply rooted in scientific knowledge or humanistic understanding. When, as is often the case in business education and teacher training, practical skills far outweigh theoretical understanding, we are moving beyond the intellectual culture that defines higher education.
Our support for higher education makes sense only if we regard this intellectual culture as essential to our society. Otherwise, we could provide job-training and basic social and moral formation for young adults far more efficiently and cheaply, through, say, a combination of professional and trade schools, and public service programs. There would be no need to support, at great expense, the highly specialized interests of, for example, physicists, philosophers, anthropologists and art historians. Colleges and universities have no point if we do not value the knowledge and understanding to which their faculties are dedicated.
This has important consequences for how we regard what goes on in college classrooms. Teachers need to see themselves as, first of all, intellectuals, dedicated to understanding poetry, history, human psychology, physics, biology — or whatever is the focus of their discipline. But they also need to realize that this dedication expresses not just their idiosyncratic interest in certain questions but a conviction that those questions have general human significance, even apart from immediately practical applications. This is why a discipline requires not just research but also teaching. Non-experts need access to what experts have learned, and experts need to make sure that their research remains in contact with general human concerns. The classroom is the primary locus of such contact.
Students, in turn, need to recognize that their college education is above all a matter of opening themselves up to new dimensions of knowledge and understanding. Teaching is not a matter of (as we too often say) "making a subject (poetry, physics, philosophy) interesting" to students but of students coming to see how such subjects are intrinsically interesting. It is more a matter of students moving beyond their interests than of teachers fitting their subjects to interests that students already have. Good teaching does not make a course's subject more interesting; it gives the students more interests — and so makes them more interesting.
Students readily accept the alleged wisdom that their most important learning at college takes place outside the classroom. Many faculty members — thinking of their labs, libraries or studies — would agree. But the truth is that, for both students and faculty members, the classroom is precisely where the most important learning occurs.


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The Costa Rican Times would like to present an article written by Sir Richard Branson. When I started networking on behalf of Virgin Music — meeting with agents, persuading musicians to sign with us, finding distributors — it often involved swapping phone numbers scrawled on napkins. It was the '70s, after all!
These days it's much easier to connect with people who can help you launch and grow your business. Just think: LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+ and Twitter all provide opportunities for you to meet and interact with fellow entrepreneurs, experts in the field and innovative newcomers. However you go about making connections, from the very first moment you begin to realize that your idea is worth pursuing, the first step on the road to success is building a network.
To get started, attend industry events and meet key players; join regional business associations and start learning about local market conditions. Also remember that you can meet potential mentors at schools, clubs and business groups.
Someday, when you get stuck or when something goes wrong, these contacts will be the people you'll turn to for help. (Finding investors is a step that follows: People buy from people, so if you're limited in terms of who you can access, talk to and sell to, well, you probably won't get very far.)
Launching a startup is tough and scary, so it is important that as you build your network, you look for smart, supportive partners and employees who understand and share your goals for the business. When I started Student magazine as a teenager, I worked with a small group of other students. Their tireless support and our camaraderie was invaluable as we got the magazine going. Some of us continued to work together for decades, and I count these people among my closest friends.
My parents were also very important to that project (Yes, your family is part of your network too — don't underestimate their ability to help you), and without their backing we probably would not have succeeded.
Finally, you're also going to need a network of peers, so don't be wary of making friends with your competition. When you see other people achieving similar goals, you will be reminded that your own plans and dreams are possible. And if you are feeling daunted by a task, there's no better encouragement than learning that somebody else has already achieved something similar. In my experience, moments like those have been the tipping point for many a new business venture, and there's nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition!
Almost 50 years after the launch of Student, the team at Virgin Media started up the Pioneers program with the goal of helping young entrepreneurs to create their own networks. As operators of and investors in many businesses, our group also wanted to understand how the digital generation would go about it — whether or not tech-savvy young entrepreneurs could use social networks to unlock valuable business connections. So Virgin Media decided to partner with them to create a fun social platform showcasing their ideas.
Virgin Media Pioneers started with 100 people in March 2010. We gave each of them a laptop, a flip camera, a broadband connection, and some space on our website to use as they wished. Without our prompting, the Pioneers started connecting, sharing their ideas about their businesses and making them happen in ways they probably would have never considered before.
Jammin Designs started up when Pioneers Dowa Ojarikre and Nathaniel Peat met at one of our events and decided to combine their talents, working together on designing smartphone and iPad cases celebrating the Jamaican Olympic team. They managed to get their wares stocked in outlets near London's Olympic Park and also in Jamaica House, the center of all activity for those cheering on the Jamaican team during this summer's Olympic Games.
The Pioneers community has now grown to more than 3,000 people and it is attracting many more who want to connect and discover new ways of doing business. We are using the site to help entrepreneurs, no matter what stage they're at.
For those who are kicking around ideas or who dream about opening a business someday, we're providing inspiration; for those trying to expand their businesses, we provide information and resources to help them get ahead. Last year, Virgin Media also invited some Pioneers to pitch their ideas as part of our Innovation Challenge, a number of which are now being considered for development.
Once you're a successful business leader, it's time to start championing undiscovered talent yourself. I get a real sense of pleasure from seeing talented people realize their ambitions and grow professionally and personally. As I've learned, in the process you can gain new insights and discover fresh approaches to doing business by simply discussing how things work. After all, continuing to network means continuing to grow.
By Sir Richard Branson


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A Plane With Wings Of Glass?
- Date:
- June 24, 2008
- Source:
- University of Bristol
- Summary:
- Imagine a plane that has wings made out of glass. Thanks to a major breakthrough in understanding the nature of glass by scientists at the University of Bristol, this has just become a possibility.
- Share:
Imagine a plane that has wings made out of glass. Thanks to a major breakthrough in understanding the nature of glass by scientists at the University of Bristol, this has just become a possibility.
Despite its solid appearance, glass is actually a 'jammed' state of matter that moves very slowly. Like cars in a traffic jam, atoms in a glass can't reach their destination because the route is blocked by their neighbours, so it never quite becomes a 'proper' solid.
For more than 50 years most scientists have tried to understand just what glass is. Work so far has concentrated on trying to understand the traffic jam, but now Dr Paddy Royall from the University of Bristol, with colleagues in Canberra and Tokyo, has shown that the problem really lies with the destination, not with the traffic jam.
Publishing June 22, 2008, in Nature Materials, the team has revealed that glass 'fails' to be a solid due to the special atomic structures that form in a glass when it cools (ie, when the atoms arrive at their destination).
Royall explained: "Some materials crystallize as they cool, arranging their atoms into a highly regular pattern called a lattice. But although glass 'wants' to be a crystal, as it cools the atoms become jammed in a nearly random arrangement, preventing it from forming a regular lattice.
"Back in the 1950s, Sir Charles Frank in the Physics Department at Bristol University suggested that the arrangement of the 'jam' should form what is known as an icosahedron, but at the time he was unable to provide experimental proof. We set out to see if he was right."
The problem is you can't watch what happens to atoms as they cool because they are just too small. So using special particles called colloids that mimic atoms, but are just large enough to be visible using state-of-the-art microscopy, Royall cooled some down and watched what happened.
What he found was that the gel these particles formed also 'wants' to be a crystal, but it fails to become one due to the formation of icosahedra-like structures -- exactly as Frank had predicted 50 years ago. It is the formation of these structures that underlie jammed materials and explains why a glass is a glass and not a liquid -- or a solid.
Knowing the structure formed by atoms as a glass cools represents a major breakthrough in our understanding of meta-stable materials and will allow further development of new materials such as metallic glasses.
Metals normally crystallize when they cool, unfortunately stress builds up along the boundaries between crystals, which leads to metal failure. For example, the world's first jetliner, the British built De Havilland Comet, fell out of the sky due to metal failure. If a metal could be made to cool with the same internal structure as a glass and without crystal grain boundaries, it would be less likely to fail.
Metallic glasses could be suitable for a whole range of products that need to be flexible such as aircraft wings, golf clubs and engine parts.
Story Source:
Materials provided by University of Bristol. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
- Patrick Royall et al. Direct observation of a local structural mechanism for dynamic arrest. Nature Materials, Published online: 22 June 2008 DOI: 10.1038/nmat2219
Cite This Page:


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Vitamin D, 25 Hydroxy
Vitamin D blood tests are used to determine if bone weakness, bone malformation, or abnormal metabolism of calcium (reflected by abnormal calcium, phosphorus or PTH blood tests) is occurring as a result of a deficiency or excess of vitamin D.
Since vitamin D is fat-soluble and is absorbed from the intestine like a fat, vitamin D blood tests are sometimes used to monitor individuals with diseases that interfere with fat absorption, such as cystic fibrosis and Crohn's disease, to assure that they have adequate amounts of vitamin D. Vitamin D blood tests also are used to determine effectiveness of treatment when vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and/or magnesium supplementation is prescribed.
When is it ordered?
Either calcidiol or calcitriol tests may be ordered when a patient has an abnormal blood calcium, phosphorus, and/or magnesium level or evidence of bone disorders.
If calcium is low or the patient has symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, such as bone malformation in children (rickets) and bone weakness, softness, or fracture in adults (osteomalacia), the calcidiol test usually is ordered to identify a possible deficiency in vitamin D.
If calcium is high or the patient has a disease that might produce excess amounts of calcitriol, such as sarcoidosis or some forms of lymphoma, the calcitriol test usually is ordered.Vitamin D blood tests also may be used to help diagnose or monitor problems with parathyroid gland functioning since parathyroid hormone is essential for vitamin D activation. When vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, or magnesium supplementation is necessary, vitamin D levels are sometimes measured to monitor treatment effectiveness.
What does the test result mean?
NOTE: A standard reference range is not available for this blood test. Because reference values are dependent on many factors, including patient age, gender, sample population, and test method, numeric test results have different meanings in different testing labs. Your lab report should include the specific reference range for your test. Lab Tests Online strongly recommends that you discuss your blood test results with your doctor. For more information on reference ranges, please read Reference Ranges and What They Mean.
Low blood levels of calcidiol may mean that you are not getting enough exposure to sunlight or enough dietary vitamin D to meet your body's demand; that there is a problem with its absorption from the intestines; or that enough is not being converted to calcidiol in the liver (which means that it is not making it into the bloodstream). Occasionally, drugs used to treat seizures, particularly phenytoin (Dilantin), can interfere with the liver's production of calcidiol.
High levels of calcidiol usually reflect excess supplementation from vitamin pills or other nutritional supplements.
Low levels of calcitriol are often seen in kidney disease and are one of the earliest changes to occur in persons with early kidney failure.
High levels of calcitriol may occur when there is excess parathryoid hormone or when there are diseases, such as sarcoidosis or some lymphomas, that can make calcitriol outside of the kidneys.
Is there anything else I should know?
High levels of vitamin D and calcium can lead to the calcification and damage of organs, such as the kidneys, as the body tries to lower blood calcium levels by depositing calcium phosphate compounds into the organs.
If magnesium levels are low, they can cause a low calcium level that is resistant to vitamin D and parathyroid hormone regulation. It may be necessary to supplement both magnesium and calcium to regain normal function.


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The first flight of a production Cessna Corvalis TTx — the plane Cessna bills as "the world's fastest fixed-gear, single-engine piston aircraft in production" — took place on Saturday, March 2, at Independence, Kan., the company announced Wednesday. The Cessna turbocharged TTx evolved from the Corvalis (previously Columbia) line. Cessna says the plane is the first to fly with Garmin G2000 14 avionics. The power plant for the four-seater is a 310-hp Continental TSIO-550-C engine that the company says will pull the plane to a maximum cruise speed of 235 KTAS. Saturday's flight took the aircraft to 17,000 feet and "a speed of 213 kts," according to the company.
The TTx best range of 1250 nm (with reserves) comes while flying at 25,000 feet (its operating ceiling) at 45-percent power and carrying a payload of no more than 388 pounds. Maximum payload is 700 pounds. The aircraft is not pressurized. According to the company, maximum takeoff weight is 3,600 pounds and maximum landing weight is 3,420 pounds. Cessna announced at Sun 'n Fun 2012 that it had started production of the TTx. Along with Garmin G2000 avionics, Cessna has also incorporated Garmin's Electronic Stability Protection System (ESP), which is designed "to help pilots keep the high-performance aircraft operating within the normal flight envelope." The aircraft comes with an option for a flight into known icing system. Prior non-production examples have already logged 339 hours in the air.


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Attilio Berdusco
- BS Mining 1952
Attilio dedicated his entire career to Algoma Steel with increasingly responsible positions in Wawa and Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario. One of his many achievements was planning and executing a pillar blast at an underground mine in Wawa; this is the largest underground blast in North America using 1.1 million tons of TNT. In the mid-1970's he was instrumental in designing a 15,000 foot long conveyer belt with 2,432 feet of vertical lift, allowing the company to mine an additional 71 million tons of ore.
Attilio graduated from Michigan Tech University in 1952 with a B.S. in Mining Engineering. While at Michigan Tech, he was a member of Blue Key and Theta Tau. Since graduating he has served on the Police Commission in Wawa and has held other civic positions.
From 2006 Induction to the Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Academy


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March 5, 2012
I believe this is the most difficult message I have ever had to write. Where do I start? How do I begin? Peter & I shared the same path through life for many years. I did not realize how much a part of each other we were until he left me.
The last 10 years of his life became increasingly difficult for him as the terrible illness of dementia slowly but surely took over his days. He tried so hard to battle it. He stayed with me at home until he went into the hospital on Jan. 10 and passed very peacefully on Feb.6.
He was a good man. He could be wild & wooly at times but he was kind, thoughtful, protective & generous to a fault. He was a loving & caring husband & father.
I would like to let all of his fans know that your e-mails and cards through these past years meant so much to him. You gave him great pleasure by letting him know that so many still thought of and remembered him.
I must give my thanks to all of you that have sent me messages of condolence. It has been overwhelming to me. I deeply wish that I could answer every one personally. Your support through these trying times has meant more to us than you could possibly imagine.
He was my husband of almost 52 years. I love him and I miss him.
Thanks for your patience
Warren James, Webmaster
Please click here to view or download a video of stills (with audio) I have to commemorate Peter and also I have added a high resolution copy of Peters video resume on the welcome page.
Just added Feb. 29 and used with permission, thank you James Drury and Karen Lindsey
Memories of Peter Breck by James Drury (The Virginian)
The 2012 calendar is still available through this site.
Previously added ... have a listen to the interview Peter had with 96.5 FM in Melbourne, Australia in May of 2008. Well you are at it ... have a listen to the interview Peter did for a local Vancouver radio station. Just go to welcome page.
Catch a view of the actual video resume that Peter's agents used to use. There is two versions listed and you can find them on the welcome page.
You can still see Peter's Christmas 2006 greeting video on the welcome page.
Also added (as of April 26, 2011) on the welcome page see links to video of Warren Jame's short western film "ShowDown" that Peter had the pleasure of working on a few years back.


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Updated at 2:15 p.m. ET
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has released a report that outlines the findings from public hearings and closed-door interviews conducted by impeachment investigators since late September.
"The impeachment inquiry has found that President Trump, personally and acting through agents within and outside of the U.S. government, solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, to benefit his reelection," Schiff wrote in the 300-page report.
The inquiry, formally launched in September after a whistleblower complaint, has centered on an effort to get Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
"[T]he President placed his own personal and political interests above the national interests of the United States, sought to undermine the integrity of the U.S. presidential election process, and endangered U.S. national security," Schiff wrote.
Read the House Intelligence Committee report here.
Republicans released their own report on Monday, arguing that Democrats had not proved "evidence of bribery, extortion, or any high crime or misdemeanor." The minority party's prebuttal to Schiff's summary cast the inquiry as a partisan attack on Trump.
The Intelligence Committee report triggers the next step of the impeachment process, in which the House Judiciary Committee becomes the central player.
Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and the members of that committee will use the Intelligence Committee report as well as additional information requested through committee procedures to determine whether the facts support writing articles of impeachment.
If the Judiciary Committee does write and approve articles of impeachment, those articles would then go to the full House of Representatives. If the House votes to impeach Trump, the Republican-led Senate will begin a trial on whether to remove the president.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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The Roman Empire is remarkably familiar to the modern eye. It had highways, indoor plumbing, religious tolerance, and even fashion violations such as wearing socks with sandals. It's like a primitive version of our own culture, with more similarities than differences.
And now it turns out they had tourist trinkets too.
A press release from Hadrian's Wall Trust announces that a new book examines what may be the earliest known tourist mementos in the world. "The First Souvenirs: Enamelled Vessels from Hadrian's Wall" is published by the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society. It looks at three artifacts dating to shortly after the Hadrian's Wall was built in 122 A.D. Three enameled pans bear the names of forts on the western portion of the wall. Some archaeologists believe these were mementos for visitors to the empire's latest symbol of power and prestige.
Editor David Breeze says, "Remarkably it seems that Hadrian's Wall was a tourist attraction soon after it was built. None of the pans were found on the Wall, but in southern England and France. As souvenirs they may have had no other function, though it has been suggested that they might have been used for wine drinking by veterans of the Roman army."
Souvenirs for Roman tourists have also been found at other popular destinations such as Athens, Ephesus, and Alexandria. With the best transportation network in the ancient world and a large monied class, the Roman Empire could support a tourist industry.
Hadrian's Wall stretched across northern England 84 miles from the Roman fort of Segedunum in the city of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to Bowness-on-Solway, on Solway Firth., the traditional boundary of Scotland and England, and for two centuries the northernmost border of the Roman Empire.
For more information about the wall and its history, check out my series on hiking Hadrian's Wall.
[All photos courtesy Tullie House Museum, Carlisle]


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Spencer, Wilson and Swan Sentenced to Three Decades for Brutal Death of Glenn Scarborough
Theodore Spencer was sentenced today to 36 years in prison for his roll in the brutal death of Glenn Scarborough. Terrell Wilson and Phillip Swan were sentenced to 34 and 30 years, respectively, for their involvement. The three men appeared before Judge Thomas Motley Wednesday showing no remorse for their actions. Wilson was the only … Read more →


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Flat Roofing
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that your home isn't really complete without a fully functioning roof, this is particularly true if your home happens to be protected by a flat roof. The fact of the matter is that a minor problem in another part of your home may be an annoyance but on your roof, it is something altogether more serious. Whether you consider your flat roof to be the first or last line of defense for your home, the fact remains that even the smallest discrepancy can cause serious problems that may cost thousands and take months to repair. The easiest way of making sure that a small roofing issue doesn't turn into a major headache is by having it maintained and inspected regularly. If you are looking for a tried and trusted team to carry out this important task then you shouldn't look past the tried and trusted service offered by Apex Roofing Midwest LLC.
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There is a wide range of factors that explain why your home's flat roof may experience problems from time to time. In general, these issues often involve pooled water. This is water that puddles on your roof for 48 hours or more, usually after heavy rainfall, and can begin to cause serious problems for your home. Other common causes of leaks include roof drains, chimneys, skylight, parapets and a range of other penetrations. While less common than the reasons mentioned above, material shortage is another issue that can cause major headaches for your home's roof. The reason for this that when a rubber membrane shrinks it can pull off parapet walls, drip edge or even a chimney with it.
Benefits of Metal Flat Roofs
The true test of the popularity of metal flat roofs can be seen by virtue of the fact that it has been used for many decades. In this time, it has proven to be a durable and relatively eco-friendly option for homeowners who want a long-lasting material that won't adversely affect the environment. More recently, metal roofs have started to be replaced by aluminum but metal still remains a reliable choice for homeowners looking for a sturdy and reliable roofing material.
Flat Roof Experts Near Me
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Let us help you with your roof


text: The 20 Poly-Fly High Strength Lightweight Wheelchair/Flyweight Transport Chair Combo by Drive Medical can be used as a standard, self propelled wheelchair or as a transport chair, all-in-one for your convenience. The quick release 24 wheels can be easily removed to transition from a wheelchair to a transport chair. Also comes with two sets of aluminum wheel locks, one for use with wheelchair and one for use with transport chair, for added safety. The deluxe back release folds down the backrest for easy and convenient storage and transportation. Comes standard with easy to clean nylon upholstery, swing away footrests, composite crack-proof footplates, heel loops and 8 caster wheels that provide a smooth ride over most surfaces.


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Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is a common eye problem that can afflict children and adults alike. It is highly contagious and spreads quickly in environments like classrooms or offices filled with multiple people in close proximity to one another. The good news is that conjunctivitis is easily
Read more


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Beauty and the Beach
Beauty and the Beach
Cork and leather, on hoops
Stripes and florals- variation will be chosen randomly!
Please allow 7-10 business days for items to be shipped. This does not include actual shipping time. Orders will ship via USPS first class mail. I am a one woman small shop and with all items being handcrafted this does extend the processing time. If you have special requests or need your items expedited please contact me via email. I appreciate you!
Return policy
Return policy
Due to the nature of the products at hand and for hygiene purposes, no returns will be accepted. Please email us with any questions or concerns related to your order.
All items are handcrafted and there may be slight variations to colors and patterns.
I do my best with photographing true color but colors and hues may vary.


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The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings ta ever one in Western Illinois and all readers of the Quill. Next Monday is Memorial Day. Be sure ta pay yer respects!
The rain keeps come'n and time keeps ticking along fer those who like ta plant on a timely basis. One local seed company feels a feller can yet successfully plant corn inta the last week of June. However, some feel ya lose 1 bushel per acre of yield potential fer every day delay beyond June one. We will see how that works out I'm a guess'n.
With Memorial Day upon us, both traditional and legal, I'm include'n the follow'n which I've given before, as an appropriate reminder:
Six Boys and 13 Hands - Well worth the read
Each year I am hired to go to Washington, DC, with the eighth grade class from Clinton, WI where I grew up, to videotape their trip.
I greatly enjoy visiting our nation's capital, and each year I take some special memories back with me. This fall's trip was especially memorable.
On the last night of our trip, we stopped at the Iwo Jima Memorial. This memorial is the largest bronze statue in the world and depicts one of the most famous photographs in history - that of the six brave soldiers raising the American Flag at the top of a rocky hill on the island of Iwo Jima, Japan, during WW II.
Over one hundred students and chaperones piled off the buses and headed towards the memorial. I noticed a solitary figure at the base of the statue, and as I got closer he asked, "Where are you guys from?"
I told him that we were from Wisconsin. "Hey, I'm a cheese head, too! Come gather around, Cheese heads, and I will tell you a story."
(It was James Bradley who just happened to be in Washington, DC, to speak at the memorial the following day. He was there that night to say good night to his dad, who had passed away.
He was just about to leave when he saw the buses pull up. I videotaped him as he spoke to us, and received his permission to share what he said from my videotape.
It is one thing to tour the incredible monuments filled with history in Washington, DC, but it is quite another to get the kind of insight we received that night).
When all had gathered around, he reverently began to speak. (Here are his words that night.)
"My name is James Bradley and I'm from Antigo, Wisconsin. My dad is on that statue, and I wrote a book called "Flags of Our Fathers". It is the story of the six boys you see behind me.
Six boys raised the flag. The first guy putting the pole in the ground is Harlon Block. Harlon was an all-state football player. He enlisted in the Marine Corps with all the senior members of his football team.
They were off to play another type of game. A game called "War." But it didn't turn out to be a game.
Harlon at the age of 21, died with his intestines in his hands. I don't say that to gross you out, I say that because there are people who stand in front of this statue and talk about the glory of war.
You guys need to know that most of the boys in Iwo Jima were 17, 18, and 19 years old - and it was so hard that the ones who did make it home never even would talk to their families about it.
(He pointed to the statue) "You see this next guy? That's Rene Gagnon from New Hampshire.
If you took Rene's helmet off at the moment this photo was taken and looked in the webbing of that helmet, you would find a photograph..a photograph of his girlfriend Rene. He put that in there for protection because he was scared.
He was 18 years old. It was just boys who won the battle of Iwo Jima. Boys. Not old men.
The next guy here, the third guy in this tableau, was Sergeant Mike Strank. Mike is my hero. He was the hero of all these guys.
They called him the "old man' because he was so old. He was already 24. When Mike would motivate his boys in training camp, he didn't say, "Let's go kill some Japanese" or "Let's die for our county". He knew he was talking to little boys.. Instead he would say, "You do what I say, and I'll get you home to your mothers."
The last guy on this side of the statue is Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian from Arizona. Ira Hayes was one of them who lived to walk off Iwo Jima.
He went into the White House with my dad. President Truman told him, "You're a hero". He told reporters, "How can I feel like a hero when 250 of my buddies hit the island with me and only 27 of us walked off alive?"
So you take your class at school, 250 of you spending a year together having fun, doing everything together. Then all 250 of you hit the beach, but only 27 of your classmates walk off alive.
That was Ira Hayes. He had images of horror in his mind. Ira Hayes carried the pain home with him and eventually died dead drunk, face down, drowned in a very shallow puddle, at the age of 32 (ten years after this picture was taken).
The next guy, going around the statue, is Franklin Sousley from Hilltop, Kentucky. A fun-lovin' hillbilly boy.
His best friend, who is now 70, told me, "Yeah, you know, we took two cows up on the porch of the Hilltop General Store. Then we strung wire across the stairs so the cows couldn't get down. Then we fed them Epsom Salts. Those cows crapped all night." Yes, he was fun-lovin' hillbilly boy.
Franklin died on Iwo Jima at the age of 19. When the telegram came to tell his mother that he was dead, it went to the Hilltop General Store.
A barefoot boy ran that telegram up to his mother's farm. The neighbors could hear her scream all night and into the morning. Those neighbors lived a quarter of a mile away.
The next guy, as we continue to go around the statue, is my dad, John Bradley, from Antigo, Wisconsin, where I was raised. My dad lived until 1994, but he would never give interviews.
When Walter Cronkite's producers or the New York Times would call, we were trained as little kids to say "No, I'm sorry, sir, my dad's not here. He is in Canada fishing. No, there is no phone there, sir. No we don't know when he is coming back."
My dad never fished or even went to Canada. Usually, he was sitting there right at the table eating his Campbell's soup. But we had to tell the press that he was out fishing. He didn't want to talk to the press.
"You see, like Ira Hayes, my dad didn't see himself as a hero. Everyone thinks these guys are heroes, "cause they are in a photo and on a monument. My dad knew better. He was a medic.
John Bradley from Wisconsin was a combat caregiver. On Iwo Jima he probably held over 200 boys as they died. And boys died on Iwo Jima, they writhed and screamed, without any medication or help with the pain.
"When I was a little boy, my third grade teacher told me that my dad was a hero. When I went home and told my dad that, he looked at me and said, "I want you always to remember that the heroes of Iwo Jima are the guys who did not come back. Did NOT come back."
"So that's the story about six nice young boys. Three died on Iwo Jima, and three came back as national heroes.
Overall, 7,000 boys died on Iwo Jima in the worst battle in the history of the Marine Corps. My voice is giving out, so I will end here. Thank you for your time."
Suddenly, the monument wasn't just a big old piece of metal with a flag sticking out of the top. It came to life before our eyes with the heartfelt words of a son who did indeed have a father who was a hero.
Maybe not a hero for the reasons most people would believe, but a hero nonetheless.
One thing I learned while on tour with my 8th grade students in DC that is not mentioned here is .. that if you look at the statue very closely and count the number of "hands' raising the flag, there are 13.
When the man who made the statue was asked why there were 13, he simply said the 13th hand was the hand of God.
There ya have it then, a great story fer Memorial Day, worth every American's time, in my opinion.
Well, that's all fer this week.
Plan on attend'n the church of yer choice this week.
Remember "where ever ya are, whatever ya be a do'n "BE A GOOD ONE!"
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
Barnyard Bruke


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An employee at a New York state company involved in a union decertification vote wrote "vulgar, offensive, or threatening statements" on union newsletters in a company break room. The statements were aimed at inducing fellow employees to support the union.
During a company investigation begun after female employees complained, he lied about writing them. He was terminated for both writing the statements and lying about it, but the National Labor Relations Board reversed that decision. The company could investigate, the NLRB found, but it could not fire the employee for writing the statement. That amounted to "protected union activity." While the company could investigate, the employee had a right to lie in response, the NLRB held.
Source: Jon Hyman, "Now the NLRB says employers can't regulate threatening or offensive speech (this is getting ridiculous, folks)," Ohio Employer's Law Blog, October 1, 2012 h/t overlawyered