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Directors and Officers
President Naveen Modi (Paul Hastings LLP)
This may sound basic, but do not play games with your opponent and be courteous and reasonable (e.g., with requests for extension). As one example, I was involved in an IPR where the other side submitted an English-language declaration, but insisted that the deposition be conducted in a foreign language right before the deposition started. This was the first time the other side made us aware of this issue and asked us to use an interpreter they had on-site. When we indicated that we would need our own interpreter as provided for by the rules and needed time to secure one, they insisted that we use their interpreter. We ended up having a call with the PTAB during which the judges ordered that the deposition be rescheduled for another day with proper interpreters and made the other side pay for certain costs for having to reschedule the deposition.
President – Elect – J. Steven Baughman (Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP)
As important as it is to know your audience — at the Board, three technically-savvy judges with tough questions — it can also be critically important to know your stage. The PTAB's hearing rooms, whether in Alexandria or a satellite location, vary widely, and this can lead to unpleasant surprises for the unwary. Perhaps the most obvious challenge is one of space: in a multi-petitioner dispute, for example, Alexandria courtrooms other than "A" are unlikely to have enough room for all of the attorneys, let alone a representative from each party. And even within the available space, revamped technology has shifted some prior layouts and logistics practitioners have come to count on (in "A," for example, there is no longer a shelf waiting under the podium for your papers and binders, and a new projector interface makes computer placement tricky if you don't have a long extension cable at the ready). So for your next trip to the PTAB, bear in mind that knowing your room, as well as your case, can help smooth out what might otherwise be an awkward visit.
Vice President – W. Karl Renner (Fish & Richardson P.C.)
Practice before the PTAB has provided many practitioners, including myself, an incredible outlet to bring value to our clients, and to have fun doing so. In fact, one of the best attributes of PTAB practice is the opportunity for patent prosecutors and litigators to work more closely together. While these two groups live homogenously within the walls of our firm, this practice allows us to come together across the industry. As for the PTAB Bar Association, I am honored to work shoulder-to-shoulder with colleagues around the nation and the globe to bring this off the ground, and I am excited by the prospects of what we can accomplish as we continue to work together to create a useful resource for industry and the PTAB!
Treasurer – David Higer (Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP)
Working with the dedicated and creative group of people who have come together to form the PTAB Bar Association has been a great example of General Patton's sage advice: "Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." I look forward to the continuing surprises sure to come as the Association strives to fulfill its goals of being collaborative, congenial, inclusive, highly professional and community-centric. To that end, my two pieces of advice are (1) strive for excellence in everything you do; and (2) if you're not five minutes early, you're late!
Secretary – Teresa Stanek Rea (Crowell & Moring LLP)
The PTAB and Outreach
The America Invents Act may have taken at least seven years to come to fruition but it was worth the wait. The success of the AIA is best demonstrated by the popularity of the new trial proceedings before the PTAB. These new proceedings are now a mainstay of every litigator's armamentarium. Their significance and value are appreciated by most practitioners in the United States but it is worthwhile to note that our international colleagues are immersed in the nuances of these proceedings as well. Many patent disputes can now be handled more efficiently, quickly and cost-effectively. We have the PTO to thank for getting everything up and running so quickly and for reaching out to our community as things progressed. The PTO remains flexible and continues to revise the rules as the need arises. That outreach is important and will be enhanced by the creation of our new bar association.
Past – President – Erika Arner (Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP)
PTAB trial practice is a bit like the Wild West. When Congress gave us this brand new law, we all became pioneers trying to figure out how it should work. Nearly every proceeding involves something that is not specifically addressed in the statute or rules, providing opportunities to be creative and collaborate with the Board─and sometimes even opposing counsel─to shape the practice. In one case, we proposed a new type of motion to the Board, and the panel promptly asked us to file a short memo explaining how this new procedure should work under the statutory provisions. More recently, the Federal Circuit and Supreme Court have taken an interest in the nuances of PTAB trial practice. In one particularly fun argument, Judges Newman and Prost spent nearly 20 minutes questioning us about how motions to amend really work, and now the en banc Court will be taking up that issue. So much more to explore!
Bob Steinberg (Latham & Watkins)
"Law School Doesn't Teach How to Form A Bar Association, But with the Help and Collaboration of Over 45 Law Firms, We Figured It Out."
After litigating patent cases in district court for more than 25 years, a profound shift in my practice started in 2014 as I began to litigate proceedings at the PTAB. After a number of trial hearings, I noticed a few ways the process might be improved and wondered if others in the legal community had similar concerns and experiences. To my surprise, I couldn't find a directory of PTAB practitioners or any bar association dedicated to addressing issues related solely to the PTAB. Shouldn't there be one?
On February 19th, 2016, a "kick-off" conference call occurred with a handful of PTAB practitioners to explore whether they felt similarly. They did. Our first action was the creation of an organizational charter to provide a unified voice for all stakeholders to participate in the formation of a PTAB bar association. More than 45 law firms (and several companies) quickly signed on, and in less than seven months we launched the PTAB Bar Association.
I have been humbled by the level of commitment and effort by so many of the legal community to fulfill our mission of launching this association and making this bar association a success.
Q. Todd Dickinson (Polisinelli PC)
Remarkably, more than 11 years have passed since a steamy DC summer when disparate groups with varying interests in patent reform met in a downtown conference room and began the effort to reach consensus on a recently-drafted patent bill. What ensued was a long, often challenging, process leading to the most significant change in U.S. patent law and practice in a century: the 2011 enactment of the America Invents Act. A key component of that statute, the creation of new types of post-grant review processes before a newly-constituted board of administrative patent judges, has revolutionized patent practice, transformed the economics of law firms, and even altered the public's perception of intellectual property itself. The creation of the PTAB Bar Association is a natural outgrowth of those developments. Bringing a talented bar together to share best practices, serve as stakeholder liaisons to the PTAB, and inform the development of a brand new jurisprudence, the PTAB Bar Association links great practice with great promise.
Alison Baldwin (McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP)
The AIA post grant proceedings have been viewed by some as the savior and by others as the destroyer of the US patent system. These viewpoints are often based upon whether one frequently is involved in using the post grant proceedings to challenge patents or is repeatedly defending against post grant attacks, but both viewpoints are valid. The PTAB Bar Association provides an unparalleled opportunity for stakeholders of both viewpoints to come together and share their perspectives. Through sharing of ideas and information with our fellow Association members and with the PTAB, we have the ability to shape these proceedings so that they are a fair forum for both the petitioner and the patent owner now and into the future.
Mita Chatterjee (Hologic, Inc.)
At less than six years old, the PTAB is still a relatively young institution. In this short time, however, practice before the PTAB has surged as post-grant proceedings have become an important component of any patent litigation strategy. Given the large number of post-grant proceedings and appeals from the PTAB, every day brings new decisions and rulings that shed new light on how the PTAB is to apply and interpret both the substantive law and its procedural rules. In this dynamic landscape, the PTAB Bar Association continues to be an important venue for stakeholders to come together and shape this developing area of patent practice. I look forward to collaborating with our members to lead the conversation.
Herb Hart (McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd.)
The creation of the Federal Circuit more than thirty years ago spawned a bar association dedicated to providing a forum for practitioners appearing before that tribunal – the Federal Circuit Bar Association. There's now a new bar association focused primarily on post grant trial practice at the Patent and Trademark Office, a natural consequence of the transformation of the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences into the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Here at the PTAB Bar Association, we are fortunate to have the collective opportunity to channel the energy and the ideas of our membership into shaping this growing area of intellectual property law and practice.
Gene Lee (Perkins Coie)
PTAB work is an interesting and dynamic part of patent practice. PTAB trials are critically important to petitioners and patent owners, with implications for patent litigation, prosecution, and transactions. The PTAB Bar Association is the premier professional organization related to PTAB work. As a Director, I hope to play an active role in helping the Association shape PTAB practice in the future as it continues to evolve.
Jason Stach (Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP)
Post-grant proceedings now affect nearly every aspect of patent practice. People often focus on their interplay with litigation, which is significant, but the broader effects pervade patent prosecution and portfolio management strategies, licensing negotiations, monetization strategies, and due diligence when acquiring or transferring patent rights, among others. Companies that value their patent rights are now being more selective in which technologies they protect and are investing more resources in each patent to ensure that it can withstand the PTAB's scrutiny. From conducting more thorough prior art searches to presenting additional objective evidence of non-obviousness during prosecution, innovators must have the long game in mind from day one. It has been a pleasure to practice in this important and ever-evolving area of the law.
Tom Rozylowicz (Fish & Richardson)
Jon Wright (Sterne Kessler)
Before law school, I spent seven years in the U.S. Navy Submarine Force. There, my first commanding officer often reminded us that "organizations allow ordinary individuals to accomplish extraordinary things." He, of course, was talking about his crew – a mishmash of ordinary people who, working together, were able to take a nuclear powered fast attack submarine to sea, which is an extraordinary feat. As stakeholders in the PTAB Bar Association, we each belong to our own organizations that allow us to accomplish far more than we could on our own – we are counsel to corporations, attorneys in firms, APJ's at the USPTO, and judges at the Federal Circuit.
I see this Association as a vital and vibrant organization for bringing together individuals from various stakeholder organizations so that we can meet, share ideas and concerns, learn, and grow without the barrier of being on the opposite side of the boardroom, the aisle, or the bench. In this collegial environment, we can ultimately improve not only ourselves, but also this vital piece of our innovation-driven economy in which we operate.
Marc Richards (Brinks Gilson & Lione)
There is much to be learned from each other by PTAB stakeholders coming together in a collegial community of engagement. I see the PTAB Bar Association as a collaborative forum of stakeholders working to advance the ever-evolving AIA post grant proceedings at the PTAB, and bridge the gap of the disparate viewpoints of the PTAB. I am pleased to be serving again as a Director of this Association that strives to be all-inclusive, serving the interests all PTAB stakeholders. As more than 60% of the workload of the PTAB is handling ex parte appeals of examinations, the association also provides educational and advocacy opportunities for practitioners who are involved in prosecution and ex parte appeals to the Board.
Li-Hsien (Lily) Rin-Laures (RinLaures LLC)
In just a few short years, the PTAB has become an important venue for patent challenges. Over 9000 IPRs have been filed since its inception. Appeals from the USPTO, which formed only 16% of the Federal Circuit's docket in FY2014, represent about 47% of the court's docket in the first half of FY2019. Nowadays, IP strategy must constantly consider the possibility of initiating or defending against PTAB challenges and the potential impact on prosecution, licensing and litigation. Even through the lens of my past experience with other inter partes proceedings such as interferences and oppositions, it requires vigilance to keep up with evolving PTAB practice as it is shaped by a growing body of Federal Circuit and Supreme Court precedent, agency decisions and guidelines. It's an exciting and fun time, and the PTAB Bar Association offers an incredible community of practitioners, in-house counsel, and judges to foster a dynamic dialogue that informs us all and helps shape the future.


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Getting hurt on the job is frustrating. A Peoria worker may feel as though steps were missed in keeping them safe as they performed the duties of their employment or that the cause of their harm could have been prevented. Regardless of how they ended up with a work-related injury, that individual may miss time on the job and the pay that accompanies putting in the time at their place of employment.
Steps to take after a work-related injury
When Illinois workers suffer injuries while on the job the harm they experience can be devastating. As they recuperate from their injuries they may find themselves unable to work and they may discover that the bills they have incurred from seeking treatment for their ailments are more than they can financially manage. As they regain their capacity to work they may wonder what options they have regarding the recovery of their losses from their employers.
Illinois workplace safety could be improved
In Illinois, workers are hurt and killed while on the job every year. Whether it's in a warehouse, a heavy manufacturing facility or a healthcare setting - or any workplace - safety is crucial for all people who are on the job. Although Illinois workers see some of the lowest workplace fatality rates in the United States, there is still much that can be done to improve overall safety for workers in the state. Those who are injured can rely on workers' compensation for medical and financial assistance.
Supreme Court rules against workers' compensation insurers
Illinois does not have a workers' compensation fund -- at least not in the sense that it compensates with insurers to offer coverage to employers required to carry workers' compensation insurance. Nationally, about half the states have funds that will pay workers' compensation benefits when an employee is injured on the job. In four jurisdictions, the state is the sole provider of workers' compensation insurance. In the rest of the fund states, the state fund compensates with private insurers, ostensibly keeping premiums reasonable across the board.
Failed a drug test? You can still get workers' compensation.
Drug tests are common after injuries at the workplace. If you fail a drug test, the thinking goes, then that was clearly the reason for the injury, which insurance companies in Illinois may use to automatically deny your workers' compensation claim. However, these cases are still winnable, based on a few factors.
Illinois workplace accidents, fatalities should be preventable
After several years with a workplace fatality rate consistently near the national average, Illinois' rate of work place fatalities has fallen since 2013 from 3.1 deaths per 100,000 workers to 2.9 deaths per 100,000 workers - third lowest in the nation. This puts Illinois well ahead of the national workplace fatality rate of 3.6 deaths per 100,000 workers. Illinois' rate has not been reflected by the national level - where the on-the-job death rate has remained between 3.5 and 4 fatalities per 100,000 workers since 2007 - since 2010 when the rate spiked to 3.7 and matched the national levels.

subset: commoncrawl


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The term cluster headache describes a condition where several painful headaches occur in a pattern over the course of 24 hours. These headaches often begin at night, waking you with pain that's felt behind your eye or on one side of your head. Cluster headaches tend to differ vastly from other types of headaches.
Men between the ages of 20 to 50 are the most likely to experience cluster headaches, but anyone can get them. Though they can be painful, cluster headaches aren't dangerous. For most people, they can be treated with over-the-counter medications or with home remedies. Keep reading to find out more about cluster headaches and how to treat them at home.
Cluster headaches can be treated in different ways, depending on the cause, the intensity, and how often you get them. Sometimes, they can be treated with the same methods and approach as more typical headaches.
Keep in mind that herbs and supplements aren't monitored by the Food and Drug Administration. Do your research and choose products known to be safely manufactured with high standards for quality and purity.
If you get frequent cluster headaches, your magnesium levels may be below average. You can try taking magnesium supplements in the recommended dosage of 400 to 500 milligrams per day.
You may also consider eating foods high in magnesium, such as seeds, almonds, figs, and avocado. If you're already having a cluster headache attack, an IV of magnesium sulfate may be given to you at an emergency room or urgent care center.
Vitamin B-2
Also known as riboflavin, vitamin B-2 has been found to prevent some symptoms of headache and migraine. You can take riboflavin in supplements of
Kudzu extract
Kudzu extract is a botanical supplement that comes from the kudzu vine. Anecdotal evidence suggests that kudzu can effectively treat headaches. More clinical trials are needed to determine the appropriate dosage of kudzu to treat cluster headaches.
There's not enough known about the safety of kudzu during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so it should be avoided. It can also interfere with medications used to treat blood clotting.
Melatonin is a hormone that your body uses to regulate your sleeping patterns. People who get cluster headaches often have low melatonin levels. Taking melatonin supplements daily about two hours before you go to sleep may have a positive effect on preventing and treating cluster headache.
Note that recommended melatonin dosage varies greatly depending on your weight, sex, and other factors, so speak with your doctor and always read product labels and start with a small dosage before gradually increasing.
Capsaicin cream
Topical capsaicin cream can be purchased over the counter and used to manage cluster headaches. This analgesic can be applied to the site of your headache. Be careful to keep this kind of medicated cream away from your eyes.
Deep breathing exercises
Getting extra oxygen into your bloodstream can calm your body and help you manage pain. Deep breathing exercises can be performed at home when you have a cluster headache. Box breathing and pursed lip breathing are also powerful stress relieving techniques.
Essential oils
The essential oils of certain plants have been shown to reduce headache symptoms and may help you with cluster headaches.
Apply eucalyptus or peppermint oil mixed with a carrier oil, such as jojoba oil or coconut oil, to your forehead and temples using a cotton swab or sponge. Studies show that peppermint oil in particular may relieve pain at the site of your headache and improve your symptoms.
Ginger tea
Ginger has been found to be as effective as the drug sumatriptan in the treatment of migraine symptoms. An advantage of ginger tea is that it has very few side effects and is safe for most people. You can purchase ginger root tea and drink it when you have cluster headache pain.
Common cluster headache symptoms include:
- headache pain that sets in behind your eye or on one side of your face
- headache that begins without any warning
- headaches that start at the same time each day
- several headaches that last between 15 minutes to 3 hours, within 24 hours
- headache that wakes you up early in the morning
- eye redness and irritation on the side of your face where your headache pain originates
- numbness or tingling on one side of your face, or in your arms or fingers
- migraine-like aura and nausea
- headaches that occur around the same time every year
Researchers are still working to understand what causes cluster headaches. Most likely, cluster headaches are connected to activity in your hypothalamus. Located at the base of your brain, the hypothalamus contains reflex pathways that control pain in your face and behind your eyes.
When this nerve pathway is activated, it triggers sensations of tingling, throbbing, numbness, and intense pain. Eye tearing and redness can also be stimulated by this same group of nerves.
If you're predisposed to having them, cluster headaches can be triggered by:
- changes in your hormone levels, like melatonin and cortisol
- changes in your brain neurotransmitters levels, like serotonin
- disruptions in your circadian rhythm, like sleep deprivation and jet lag
Certain activities can help prevent the appearance of cluster headaches. While there's no cure for cluster headaches, incorporating these lifestyle changes may help you stretch the time between headaches or even help symptoms disappear completely over time.
Daily exercise
Daily cardiovascular exercise may improve circulation to your brain, reduce stress, and help you sleep better. Adding a moderate workout routine to your schedule might reduce your risk for recurrent cluster headaches.
Consistent yoga practice
Consistent sleep schedule
A consistent sleep schedule may improve your circadian rhythm, triggering fewer cluster headaches,
Avoiding tobacco
Cluster headaches occur much more often in smokers than in nonsmokers. While quitting smoking might not mean you never have a cluster headache again, there's strong reason to believe that cutting out nicotine and other stimulants might help improve your body's sleep patterns and nerve responses.
Quitting smoking is difficult, but possible. Speak to a doctor about finding a personalized program.
If you have cluster headaches, the pain alone is reason to seek medical help. If home remedies aren't relieving the pain, your doctor will design a treatment plan to give you pain relief.
Talk to your doctor about your options for self-treatment to be sure none of your approaches have side effects or interfere with medications or other treatments. For those with severe cluster headaches, introducing some home remedies may improve effectiveness of medication, so speak with your doctor.
Medical treatments commonly prescribed for cluster headache include:
- oxygen delivered by mask
- injectable sumatriptan (Imitrex)
- intranasal lidocaine
- intravenous magnesium sulfate
- steroids
Cluster headaches are extremely painful, and they do tend to reoccur. Cluster headaches don't last forever, and symptoms usually disappear within a few days.
The good news is that taking steps to prevent and address your cluster headaches are relatively simple. By identifying triggers and taking steps to lower your risk of cluster headaches, you may be able to stretch the time between recurrences to months or even years.


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BAM Cell Phone Checkon July 28th, 2008
I went to an advance screening of "Pineapple Express" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (whom I'm fully aware doesn't have a sign at all like the one in my first panel). They checked everyone's cell phones and put them into a brown paper bag with an assigned ticket number. Though someone in the front row I noticed got away with their phone, thankfully it didn't go off during the movie. The movie by the way was freakin' hilarious and a lot more over the top in a number of ways that I completely wasn't expecting. So yes, go see it.
But as I entered the theater looking at all those paper bags of cell phones, cameras and such I couldn't help but think of the last panel of this comic. Don't ask me what determines the gender of a cell phone I have no idea.


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[distraction] Freak Watcher's Textbook… Iron Mike: 'The one redeeming quality of the Iron Mike is, despite continual hangovers, he keeps a steady stream of low-paying temporary jobs that he gets from Labor-Ready — an employment agency for the unemployable. None of these positions are particularly desirable, but he makes do. The alcohol helps. With no retirement pay to look forward to, the Iron Mike generally wills himself to die on his 55th birthday. How this is accomplished is a mystery, but it often involves drugs, Mexican strippers and a goat.'
Freak Watchers Textbook
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 30th, 2001 at 8:42 am and is filed under Funny, People.
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Lasco 52T alloy chain gear crank set chainguard for folding bicycles - silver
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Lasco's quality alloy 52T front chain gear crank set includes everything you need to upgrade or replace on your existing MOBIC folding bike. Comes with single side polymer chain protector and the right side 52T crank gear and arm and the left side crank arms are forged in polished silver finish.Crank arms are 170mm in length and compatible with square taper bottom brackets. Includes bottom bracket crank arm covers. This fits all MOBIC folding bikes.
Related Products


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The holiday season is the perfect time for a little DIY action. On a budget? Save some money. Throwing a party? Create something memorable.
DIY-ing is also another great excuse to get together with friends, share some appetizers, and open a bottle of your favorite wine. Because that's what the holidays are all about, right?
But with so many bloggers and crafters bombarding the internet these days, it can be tiring to sift through all the DIY ideas out there. So, for those looking for some instant inspiration, I've curated a list of a few favorite DIY ideas. And the best part? They're totally versatile and can be used throughout the year. Enjoy!
DIY wreath. This is an instant statement piece.
Change out the flowers and greenery to match the occasion.
Holiday Wreath Idea
DIY wrapping paper. Instead of dealing with a slew of wrapping paper that takes up storage space, consider purchasing a plain roll of mailing paper. Now you just have one roll to deal with throughout the year, and a blank canvas for you to get creative with.
Wrapping Paper ideas
DIY dip dyed napkins. My favorite part in prepping to host a party is setting the table. It's the centerpiece of a room and where most good memories are made. So why not have fun with it? These dip dyed napkins not only look great but can also easily be stored until the next event.
Dip Dyed Napkins
We've had no shortage of Cal Poly SLO Alums here at Talley Vineyards and recently we were able to add another to the club. Joining the production team is Emma Lyon, one of our newest production assistants. Emma is fresh out of Cal Poly's Wine & Viticulture program having graduated just last month. We are excited to have her here at Talley Vineyards and are looking forward to a great 2018 harvest.
I've asked Emma some ice-breaker questions so that you can all get to know her a little bit better.
Where are you from originally and what brought you to the Central Coast?
What experience really solidified that you wanted to have a career in the wine industry?
What's your favorite part about Harvest?
What's your least favorite part about Harvest?
What are you most excited for this summer?
How do you like to spend your free time outside of work?
Speaking of happy hours, what's your favorite happy hour drink?
What would you say is your spirit animal?
If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be?
What's something on your bucket list?
And I'm not just talking about plates and silverware. The concept of setting your table goes further than the place settings (but don't get me wrong, sometimes styling the table is half the fun!)—it is about the moments we share with our friends and family. The food we eat. The wine we drink. You can set your table anywhere—from the dining room to the living room, even a blanket sprawled on the beach.
Thanksgiving is the perfect occasion to set your table.
So here's to making memories this Thanksgiving.
In case you want a peek into how others spend their turkey day, I've asked the Talley crew to share some of their most memorable Thanksgiving moments:
"Flippy Cup" AKA flip cup. Great for those who love some friendly competition. This drinking game will get your floors messy, but definitely worth every spill.
We always try to eat our meal early so we have time for a beach walk before sunset. If it's not raining ...
We take in the stray dogs (friends with no thanksgiving plans). This year will be the biggest in a while with 16 people. We cook all day, feast, and then my father-in-law busts out his intense collection of liqueurs and brandies. Drambuie is my jam!
We listen to a lot of music…lots of Adele…
My aunt Ella, who recently passed away, would always bring her green Jello. I remember it being at every Thanksgiving I can remember. I would always put it on my plate but never tried it until last year.
If the weather is nice, which is usually the case here in SLO, my family will head out to the beach, wetsuit up, and go for a morning surf or boogie board session.
My dad makes a Pernod Shrimp appetizer with Crustini that he flambé's and my husband usually smokes our turkey which makes it juicy and flavorful and I watch football all day while cooking the sides.
We started walking on the beach in the morning the last few years, makes you feel a little better before eating so much delicious food later! Then walk "across the street" to my Grandma's, decide which of the many wines we want to start with for dinner (which is always a hard decision). We always say we're going to play a game, but never get around to it. I think we end up enjoying the wine too much….
My brother-in-law and I always make 'competing' turkeys for Thanksgiving. He usually fries one and I use various roasting or smoking methods. Everyone wins.
Thanksgiving seems to be one of the days when my family and I remember how much we enjoy games. After we finish the traditional meal, we love to pull out board games or cards for some spirited competition.
We roll pumpkins down our hill after our Thanksgiving meal. Dixie Pearl chases them.
The day before Thanksgiving, I go to my mother's house and we bake 4 to 5 different pies. I make the filling and she makes the crust. Half way through the day we have a Mexican cocktail AKA shot of tequila. We tell everyone that we need just a touch of something to keep us going and warm us up. I look forward to this day all year. I have been watching my mom make pies since I can remember. No matter how hard I try to make her pie crust, it never turns out just right. 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of butter, and ½ cup of cold water is all that she uses; yet it tastes like there is so much more in there. Maybe it is her magic rolling pin. Nothing crazy, just some women baking!
We have another new team member to introduce you to in this week's blog— meet Larry Lemire! A Los Angeles native, Larry moved to the Central Coast in back in 2001 where he has explored living in various locations across the County before most recently settling down in Nipomo. Since relocating to the Central Coast, Larry has worked in the courier industry where he gained freight and warehouse experience. Here at Talley Vineyards, Larry's position as Warehouse Coordinator is vital to the success of our day in and day out operations. But because Larry's position is a bit behind-the-scenes to those visiting the winery, I've asked Larry some ice breaker questions for you all to get to know him!
Where are you from originally and where have you lived since?
I grew up in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. I've always felt L.A. was too crowded and spread out. In 2001, a friend of mine who operated a courier company here on the Central Coast had just landed Mid-State Bank as a client and was in desperate need of drivers. I thought that was a golden opportunity to leave LA, and I've never looked back.
What brought you to Talley Vineyards?
In 2015, my friend decided to retire and sold his courier company. Initially I was grandfathered in as one of the operational managers, but after almost 15 years in the delivery business, I was ready to look at a different line of work.
What aspect your job do you like best so far?
The friendly and positive vibe that the staff here projects. When you come from work environments with unhappy and overly negative people, it makes one really appreciate how much more productive the workplace can be.
What's your favorite happy hour drink?
After 8+ hours of being on my feet, I will never turn down a cold pint.
If you could spend the day with any 2 individuals, living or dead, who would they be?
Oh, living for sure. Not being much of a conversationalist myself, hanging out with two dead guys would make for a very boring afternoon.
What's something on your bucket list?
I have always wanted to witness the totality of a solar eclipse. Before, time or money constraints were always an issue as it would have involved traveling to another country to see one. This coming August, I hope to cross this one off of my list.
If you had an extra hour every day, what would you do with it?
I've learned over the years, that magic hour is between 4:00-5:00AM. You cannot believe how much one can get done before the rest of the world has even got out of bed.
What is one thing you could not go a week without?
Probably my AM cup of coffee. Or my internet connection!
What would be your ideal vacation?
Any destination with a minimal agenda. My wife and I went to Maui for the first time a few years ago. Outside of lodging and a rental car, we just made up every day as we went. If we felt like zip-lining, we did that. If we felt like napping on the beach, we did that. It was the most fun I have ever had. Someone once told me retirement is like that. Hope to get there some time.
If you had to describe yourself as an animal, which one would it be?
A hippopotamus. My wife said she wanted one for Christmas.
In honor of spring, and all of the goodness that comes along with it—warmer weather, longer days, chilled white wine—it's only fair that we share another recipe from Brian Talley's new cookbook, Our California Table. In my mind, there is no food that says spring better than seafood and this Sea Bass Ceviche is the perfect example. So much so, that we will be featuring this recipe at our Spring Fling for everyone to try. Please join us at our Spring Fling celebrating the release of Our California Table as well as our annual Mano Tinta wine label design competition. Tickets are available on our website. Enjoy!
For this dish I use California sea bass, not Chilean sea bass (actually Patagonian toothfish), which has been severely overfished and is regarded as one of the least sustainable fish you can consume. If you can't find California sea bass, corvina, rock cod, and red snapper are all good substitutes. Just make sure that the fish is a fresh as possible, since the fish isn't actually cooked in the recipe, but rather marinated in a combination of lemon and orange juice. With a salsa of fresh tomatoes, garlic, and avocado, the ceviche is perfect for lunch on a hot summer day. All you need to finish this meal is a refreshing glass of chilled white wine.
Serves 4 as a main course
Prep time: 24 hours for the best tostadas; 1 to 2 hours for the fish
Prepare tostadas: For best results prepare the tostadas 24 hours in advance.
Prepare Ceviche: Cut the sea bass into ¼-inch dice. Squeeze juice from lemons and oranges over fish. Mix to coat. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
Prepare Salsa: Combine tomatoes, garlic, onion, jalapeño, olive oil, and lemon juice. Gently fold in avocado. Add salt and pepper to taste.
To Server: Drain marinade from ceviche. Combine salsa and allow flavors to combine for 15 to 30 minutes. Serve on tostadas with the garnish of cilantro, additional lemon juice, and Mexican hot sauce to taste.
What to Drink: A summery white wine is best with this refreshing dish—Sauvignon Blanc or cool-climate Chardonnay with little or no oak.
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we thought it only appropriate to share the delectable Raspberry Pie recipe from Brian Talley's new cookbook, Our California Table. This sweet treat is sure to please. Try it out for yourself and you'll quickly see why this has been a long-time tradition in the Talley Family.
Plus, look how festive it looks! You'll be sure to earn some extra V-Day bonus points. Cheers!
Raspberry Pie
My family loves pies. While this tradition started with my grandmother, it was reinforced when my dad baked my mom a pie at his apartment in Berkeley on their first date. Over the years, we each did our part to continue to improve our craft. My father gathered cuttings of his favorite raspberry selection from a farmer in Arroyo Grande and planted them next to his prized Gravenstein apples, adjacent to Rosemary's Vineyard. My mom perfected her crust, which she got from Cook's Illustrated magazine. The unique thing about this crust is that vodka is used in place of half the water in the recipe. The vodka evaporates as the pie bakes, which reduces the moisture content and results in a super flaky crust. Finally, my daughter Elizabeth continued the family tradition by incorporating a lattice top crust.
Serves 6
Prep time: 2 hours
Pie Crust
Prepare dough Place 1½ cups flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor and pulse until combined, about 2 1-second pulses. Add butter and shortening, and process until dough just starts to collect in uneven clumps, about 15 seconds. Dough will resemble cottage cheese curds, and there should be no uncoated flour. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and redistribute dough evenly around the processor blade.
Add remaining 1 cup flour and pulse until mixture is evenly distributed around the bowl and the mass of dough has been broken up, 4 to 6 quick pulses. Empty the mixture into a medium bowl.
Sprinkle vodka and water over the mixture. With a rubber spatula, use a folding motion to mix, pressing down on the dough until it is tacky and sticks together. Add water sparingly, as more water results in a less flaky crust. Divide dough into 2 even balls and flatten each into a 4-inch disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.
After the dough has chilled, preheat the oven to 425˚F.
Prepare filling Combine raspberries, flour, and sugar in small bowl. Set aside.
Finish Roll one disk of dough into a roughly 13-inch-diameter circle. Carefully fold in half, then place this in a 9-inch pie dish and unfold, positioning dough evenly in the dish with the edges hanging over. Trim the dough so that a ½-inch overhang remains. Roll out the other disk into a 13-inch circle. If making a lattice-top crust, cut into 12 strips, each ¾ inch wide.
Pour the berry mixture into the bottom crust. Place 6 of the lattice strips over the filling, evenly spaced about ¾ inch apart. Take each of the next 6 strips and weave those through the original 6. When this is done, trim the excess length so that no more than 1 inch hangs over. Crimp the edge of the pie. (For a much more elaborate explanation of this process, and pie making in general, refer to Great Pies & Tarts by Carole Walter.)
If you prefer a solid top, simply place the rolled-out top crust over the berry mixture. Crimp the edges to seal the bottom and top crusts together. Cut vents in the top crust to let the steam out.
Bake at 425˚F for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350˚F for 45 minutes, until pie is bubbly and top is light brown.
As promised, we are sharing another delicious recipe from Brian Talley's new cookbook, Our California Table, in anticipation of the book's spring release date. This fresh and veggie-filled side dish is the perfect way to kick-start all of those healthy New Year's resolutions. Not to mention it's versatile, too. Just add some grilled chicken or shrimp to the mix, and you've got yourself a good looking entrée.
Happy cooking!
This is a recipe that my wife, Johnine, has been making since before we got married, and one that family members and guests have requested many times. It was originally developed by Mary Evely, the chef at Simi Winery in Sonoma County, one of the oldest wineries in California. The salad incorporates a number of vegetables that we grow, including spinach, red bell pepper, and green onion. Orzo, if you're not familiar with it, is a small, rice-like pasta. The original version of the salad calls for capers as well, but Johnine doesn't like capers, so she omitted them from her version. The dish can be made well in advance and, with the addition of shrimp or chicken, makes a perfect entrée salad.
Serves 6 to 8
Prep time: 1 hour
Cook orzo as directed on the package to al dente, rinse with cold water, and drain. Toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil, then set aside.
Prepare dressing by combining remaining olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, mustard, garlic, herbs, and cumin. Whisk until smooth, then set aside.
Place orzo in a large bowl and toss with the dressing. Add spinach, olives, pepper, and green onion. The salad can be held for several hours.
To serve: Top with feta cheese and pine nuts.
What to drink: This fresh summer salad is perfect with a light white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Rosé. A light Pinot Noir is good if the salad accompanies grilled meat.
Sneak Peek!
With a recipe this appetizing, we couldn't wait any longer to share a sneak peek into Brian Talley's new cookbook, Our California Table: Celebrating the Seasons with the Talley Family. This will be the first of several recipes that we will be sharing on our blog over the next few months in anticipation of Our California Table, set to be released in March of 2017. So be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for news and updates.
Dungeness Crab with Pink Sauce
Dungeness crab is one of the true winter delicacies of the West Coast. We celebrate Christmas Eve with this dish, which features a slight variation on my grandmother's recipe for the pink sauce. She used to add 1 cup of mayonnaise to the whipping cream. My mother eliminated the mayonnaise, for a lighter version. For many years Master Sommelier Sara Floyd and I hosted a special crab lunch at Alioto's, the famous seafood restaurant in San Francisco. Nunzio Alioto would prepare platefuls of Dungeness crab, and everyone who was invited to lunch had to bring what they believed to be the perfect wine to pair with the dish. The guests included some of the most highly regarded wine professionals in the Bay Area, and inevitably they brought crisp Chardonnay from France or off-dry Riesling from Germany.
Serves 4
Prep time: 1 hour for live crab, 15 minutes if working with cooked and cleaned crab
Whip cream into stiff peaks. Fold in chili sauce and lemon juice. Refrigerate until ready to use.
If working with live crabs, choose vigorous, healthy specimens. Watch your fingers; the crabs can pinch you hard with their claws. Bring a large quantity of water to boil in the biggest pot you have. Add crabs and return water to the boil, then reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes for 2- to 2½-pound crabs and 20 minutes for 3-pound crabs.
Remove crabs from water and rinse with cold water. When crabs are cool enough to handle, pull off and remove the triangular flap from the belly side. Turn belly side down, then remove top shell. Scoop the soft golden crab butter and white crab fat into another bowl (some people like to eat the butter). Break off the bony section, which is the mouth, from the front of the shell and discard.
On the body section, pull off and discard the reddish membrane that covers the back (it may have come off with the shell), as well as any loose pieces. Add any remaining crab butter to your butter bowl. Remove and discard gills. Rinse with cold water.
Twist the legs and claws from the body. Using a nutcracker or mallet, crack the shell of each leg and claw section. Break or cut the body section into quarters. Chill thoroughly.
To serve Arrange cracked parts, including back shells, decoratively over ice on a large serving platter. Serve family style with the pink sauce, lemon slices, and drawn butter. On the side add fresh sourdough bread and a green salad.
What to drink. Follow the lead of the guests at the crab lunch and open crisp Chardonnay or off-dry Riesling.
A few weeks back I brought a bottle of Bishop's Peak Elevation with me to a relative's house up in San Francisco. I knew that the wine would be well received, but what I wasn't expecting was how it would spark our topic of conversation for the next 45 minutes. As the bottle was passed and poured, everyone was genuinely intrigued, not so much about what was going into their glass, but rather about what exactly was on the label itself—Bishop's Peak. I'm not going to lie, at first I was a bit surprised that no one knew what Bishop's Peak was. Sure it's not Mount Whitney, Muir Woods, or any other major hiking destination in California, but for the County of San Luis Obispo, Bishop's Peak is kind of a big deal.
Bishop's Peak is iconic of SLO; a climb to the top is every newcomer's rite of passage. Like many, I was introduced to the mountain back when I first moved into town as a freshman at Cal Poly. I quickly learned why Bishop's Peak is such an integral part of the community. On any given day, you can expect to find the avid hiker, leisurely sightseer, or thrill-seeking rock climber. This is one of the things that I love most about Bishop's Peak—the fact that it is enjoyed by so many people with varying agendas. And, not to forget, the hike is also thoroughly enjoyed by happy dogs everywhere.
At 1,546 feet, Bishop's Peak is the tallest of the Nine Sisters. The Nine Sisters are a series of volcanic peaks that stretch throughout San Luis Obispo County. Not all can be hiked, but of the ones that can, Bishop's Peak is definitely #1. The hike to the top is a noteworthy two mile stretch. Taking the Highland Drive entrance, the trail begins in a tranquil wooded grove and eventually winds up through a series of scenic switchbacks. The sun can be a bit intense towards the end, so bringing a hat and plenty of water is definitely a must. Once at the top, there are two benches and plenty of rocks that offer a place to catch a breath and absorb the stunning 360-degree view of San Luis Obispo County. This is where hikers can fully revel in the beauty that all of San Luis Obispo has to offer. To the East are expansive views of the Cal Poly campus, downtown San Luis Obispo, and Sister Mountain, Cerro San Luis. To the West are epic views of Morro Bay, Montaña de Oro, the Pacific Ocean, and beyond. Because there is so much to take in, it is common for people to spend more time hanging out at the top of the mountain than on the hike itself.
So the next time you're in town, if you haven't already, I highly recommend a trip to the top of Bishop's Peak. Hikers will be rewarded with a great workout, excellent views, and yet another excuse to open up a bottle of your favorite Bishop's Peak wine (once you get home, of course!).


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Today, website designing services are selling quickly and in large numbers among the clients having big or small business. With internet reaching hundreds of thousands of people every day, the web application providers are exploring each and every possibility to reach the target customers in short time. Internet has millions of websites pertaining to different fields but a good website is the result of a perfect web site design and a customize web hosting. There are many companies around different parts providing complete web applications i.e. host, design and develop quality websites using high-end technologies.
Nowadays internet has turn into one of the most dominant revenue generating tools in existence, through a combination of advertising and search capabilities. Consumers looking for whatever information about products they may want, they easily get at any particular time or place. If you are in an online business and planning for making money from your websites, you definitely need an unlimited web hosting where you can host infinite domains, have limitless disk space, bandwidth, FTP accounts etc. Moreover, if you own a large enterprise and getting large visitors daily you must need a reliable and effective hosting partner for your business.
One of the biggest and most essential issues when choosing a web hosting provider is its reputation and reliability in providing web server. The web host has a direct impact on the company owner's capability to conduct his/her business, which in turn affects the future and progress of the enterprise. If you choose a host that has a good standing then be sure that it must provide facilities like:
• Can host multiple websites on a single reliable web server
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The popularity and vast reach of internet has boosted the market of web hosting industry. There are thousands of companies round the globe coming up with unlimited hosting plans at a cost-effective pricing. Thus, to have a successful online business it is always recommended to go for a professional and experienced hosting firm. A reliable corporate hosting partner should provide emailing, telecom, and 24*7 live support service for clients located globally.
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Sorav Singh has 5 long years of career proficiency as a content writer and written some of the most searched articles on web services like cloud hosting, windows hosting, email providers and dedicated server.


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At Rusutsu Chalets you're just moments away from Hokkaido's largest resort, Rusutsu; in the only place on the planet with more than 14 meters of snow per season. Cleverly planned lifts and mountain trails make multi-award-winning Rusutsu the best place to ski in Japan. And when you think you're done with the mountain for the day there is the famous night-skiing or dozens of restaurants within a short 2 to 10 minute drive from your very own private luxury Chalet.
Rusutsu Chalets is the only estate in Hokkaido located within a golf course, this unique location gives Rusutsu Chalets a strategic advantage over other estates in the region, and with the increased rental yield potential from summer visitors it is a wise investment in comparison with other winter focused resort areas. Each Chalet is literally a few steps away from the golf course and within a short drive of the Rusutsu amusement and water park as well as other summer activities such as hiking, rafting, paragliding, fruit picking or even motorcross riding for the adrenaline junky. After you own a Chalet you will find yourself coming back long after the snow has melted and the lush environment has sprung to life. Our Chalets are designed with indoor living spaces that open up into outdoor decking for entertaining and barbecues, all surrounded by the beautiful Izumikawa golf course.
Just 10 blocks available, register your interest today.
In the real-estate business location is everything, and Rusutsu Chalets has it all. Within a golf course, nestled in a protected forest away from the busy Rusutsu-Chitose highway yet minutes from the ski lifts. This unique location is without parallel in Hokkaido.View Pricing
Contact us if you would like to know more about this exciting new estate.
If you have any suggestions, questions or comments, here are the best ways to connect with us:


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from the Rotary Club of Sinkor, District 9101
Sponsored Clean Up and Ebola Awareness in Gbarngay Town, Sinkor Airfield
Saturday November 15, 2014
Spreading the message. Ebola is close to your community, protect yourself and your family
On Saturday November 15, 2014, the Rotary Club of Sinkor sponsored a clean up campaign and Ebola Awareness in the Gbarngay Town Community.
The message was, Ebola is in Barrolle Practice Ground in the Airfield area, don't go there and don't let people from that community enter your community.
Don't let your mother or father bring sick relatives into the house. If they do let us know. Keep your children clean, don't let them play on the ground. Wash your hands regularly and keep your community clean. Cleanliness is next to Godliness. All these measures will keep Ebola out of Gbarngay Town and keep you and your family safe from Ebola.


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Don't: Think less eye makeup is more
Ali Blumenthal/Rd.com
Despite what you might think about the magnifying power of your specs, you may actually need to wear more eye makeup than you normally would to make your eyes pop. Don't miss these tips for fighting puffy eyes and dark circles.
Don't: Allow slippage
Ali Blumenthal/Rd.com
To keep glasses in place, put a little eye primer on the bridge of your nose before applying foundation. As the editors at allure.com note, this hack—reposted from Reddit—makes sense, since primer is formulated to hold makeup in place by creating a base that also offers glasses a little extra grip. These tips can help extend the life of your glasses.


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Muse Readies 'HAARP' CD/DVD
February 01, 2008
Here's the 411, courtesy of Muse's official site: *Following Muse's 2 nights at the new Wembley Stadium last summer, the band is delighted to announce that they will be releasing a CD-DVD package documenting the weekend. Released on March 17th, it will contain an audio CD from Saturday night and a DVD with footage from Sunday night. More information will come very soon!* - Source


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WonderFox is giving away its premium Video Converter software away for a limited period of time and you can take advantage of this. This giveaway tagged Back-to-School Multifunction Suite is totally free and with a single download, you get two different software programs you can use freely for a lifetime.
WonderFox Video Converter Factory Pro– An Overview
This is a $49.95 software program that is being given away for a limited time. This software allows you to convert from almost any video format to a wide range of formats. With it's conversion speed 50x faster than regular video converters and zero quality loss which is a big plus, this is definitely the best video converter you can have.
Key Features:
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- All-in-one and easy-to-use video editing software
This converter allows you do do basic video editing such as:
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This converter allows you to convert your video into over 150 audio/video formats easily.
WonderFox DVD Ripper Speedy
This freeware lets you RIP any DVD in just two steps. It has a flexible parameter settings, a simple editing feature and it's very easy to use. It is free to download and will always be free.
Time Limited Special Offer!
There's only just 11 days left to grab these software programs for free. All you need to do is visit this page and hit the Get It Now button. That's it. Sharing the page is optional but then, there's no harm in letting your friends on Facebook know about it.
Enjoy the offer while it lasts.


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Telephone: 1-800-879-1800 or (860) 291-8177
Fax: 860-282-2441
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Store Hours:
Monday thru Friday: 7:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday: 9:00am-12:00pm
Removes and saves all types of clips.any clips fit tightly into the hole and against the surface of the vehicle. Our clip saver removes, without damage, all types of clips. The front of the tool is tapered so it will fit easily under a clip. Spread the jaws slightly so they will go under and around the clip. Then, close the jaws and the clip saver removes the clip without damage to the clip. Great for removing door panels. Made in USA.


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When you are enclosed in a high-tech suit of metal armor and wield the most advanced weaponry your society has to offer, it can be easy to feel comfortable. MONOLOCK is an incredibly atmospheric jenga-based RPG that does away with this feeling of safety. You are vulnerable, you are prey, and you can't even see the thing stalking you through the skies. The rules are a bit cryptic, but they do a good job of evoking a hotshot mech team fleeing from something far too powerful to face. MONOLOCK is reminiscent of another well known jenga-based RPG, Dread, with some additional powers and limitations to give it a more tactical feel.
A downloadable mecha roleplaying game
MONOLOCK is a game of horror, survival and sacrifice.
MONOLOCK is played with 3-5 players, all part of a mecha squadron attempting to survive and flee the Predator - an unrelenting foe who they can't see nor fight. To play, players will pull from a central Jenga tower to determine their fates.
MONOLOCK comes in two pages. In it, the game lets you:
- Choose from 5 unique pilots. Each with their own Advantages to survive the escape.
- Run a GM-less, quick-prep game of survival cat-and-mouse horror.
- Create atmospheric, tight escapes and confrontations against the Predator as it hunts you down.
- Generate tension and horror in your environment with a whole list of tables for location, complications and details for the Predator.
- Narrate dramatic deaths and monologues as the Predator compromises your comms channels.
- Print out in either sleek, gritty BLACK or an easier, less demanding INVERTED/WHITE colour document.
MONOLOCK is free to use & remix, and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Made for the Emotional Mecha Jam.
|Physical game
|Swords and Flowers
|Role Playing
|emotional-mecha-jam, Horror, Mechs, pen-and-paper, sadmechjam, Sci-fi, Survival Horror, swordsnflowers, ttrpg
Click download now to get access to the following files:
MONOLOCK BLACK v1.pdf 1 MB
MONOLOCK INVERTED v1.pdf 1 MB
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It's pretty good but Magic Swords is better


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Where group retail 3C business requires related third party personnel on site for handling official affairs, site personnel office requirements and regulations and requirements for information security by the group security shall be met simultaneously.
3C business party and group security department put forward several requirements for office security: 1. Only specified function modules in the business system can be accessed, it is not allowed to view, download or forward other office Intranet information; 2. The data in the accessed business system can only be used or transferred in the specified environment and cannot be taken out of the office environment; 3. The data owned by the third party personnel can be uploaded or replicated to the office environment, but the office environment data cannot be downloaded or copied to the computer of the third party personnel for retention; 4. Business system operations of third party personnel shall be logged, and such logs can be accessible to the security department for supervision and review; 5. The information function shall be added so that on-site people can send information to their corresponding internal management personnel of the group through this function and the internal management personnel of the group can view historical sending information.
JD WorkSpaces Solutions of JD Cloud:1. JD WorkSpaces Cloud Solutions:JD WorkSpaces of JD Cloud establishes a security channel between the client and JD WorkSpaces server resource based on the industry leading remote interface transmission technology to display Windows JD WorkSpaces to various terminals, and achieve server and user control of various dimensions and different granularities through the JD WorkSpaces control and management services of JD WorkSpaces.2. Security Management System of Enterprise Internal Business:The security management system is a reverse proxy cluster built on Cloud to enable complete isolation from staff end to data end; and permissions that can be used by external personnel shall be subject to whitelist processing to ensure security and integrity of data in the Date Center.3. Customized Development Function:User Information Management Module: Store relevant user information through a database and maintain relevant information through programming;Internal system login verification: Verify the account logged into the system through reverse proxy services for relational mapping;Whitelist IAM: Achieve the requirements of fine control of permission of on-site personnel, carry out whitelist control on the function meeting the office requirements in the business system, and shield the function or data that have information security problems or shall not be viewed.Log Statistics Module: Record statistics for user's operations and access logs and display in visualization.Information Module: Email can be sent to the corresponding internal management personnel of the group through the function, and the internal management personnel of the group can process relevant follow-up business process after receipt of email.
The following benefits can be achieved through using JD WorkSpaces Solutions of JD Cloud: 1. Compliance of office security: External personnel can only directly access the internal business system with permissions through restriction on Cloud of JD WorkSpaces; data security can be protected through Virtual JD WorkSpaces to restrict direction of data so that data will not leave the Date Center; 2. Control and management of account system: Make account mapping through JD WorkSpaces, and allow virtual accounts of external personnel to be mapped to the real accounts of existing employees for office business without disclosing any real accounts; reduce the complexity of account management, improve the efficiency of subscription, and reduce the learning time of users; 3. Filter of access contents: Ensure that part of the information that cannot be seen by external personnel is desensitization filtered on Cloud to guarantee confidentiality of information. For example, shield the business modules in ERP that outsourcing personnel do not need to access; prevent sensitive data from being downloaded, etc.


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Welcome to Hoskins Trucking & Excavating. We are proud to have been providing homeowners, builders and municipalities the highest quality work for more than 25 years. Every project is completed proficiently and in the promised price range. Schedules are met on time without complications. We look forward to serving you!
28 Pinewoods Drive, Barkhamsted, CT 06063, US


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Lexington Insurance Co v AGF Insurance LTD; and Lexington Insurance Co v Wasa International Insurance Co Ltd [2009]
In one of the most significant reinsurance decisions of recent years, the House of Lords last week unanimously allowed the appeal of reinsurers Wasa and AGF against the Court of Appeal's judgment in favour of their US reinsured, Lexington. The House of Lords held that although Lexington had settled various contamination exposures sustained over a 44-year period on the basis of a decision of the Supreme Court of Washington, reinsurers were not obliged to follow the settlement because the period of cover under the reinsurance should be interpreted under English law, by which it was clearly limited to three years.
To read the enitre article please download the attached PDF or visit RPC's website.
RPC Comment - The end of back to back reinsurance?PDF, Size 30.1 kb


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Andy's latest project, another T250 Suzuki Hustler, this one's a 1972 model.I first saw this bike as a frame and a pile of boxes stacked into his car on his way home from purchasing it. An unbelievable job since!
Didn't procrastinate too much on this deal!
Removed the pinstripes from the sides of the fairing. Will probably remove the ones above the headlights as well.
Back in November 2011, I published an email from my mate Andy outlining his refurbishment of his Norton Commando fastback. That post can be read HERE
After a bit of nagging from me, he has put together this summary of his current projects. It would be great to start a trend of guest writers on this site. Anyway, Andy takes up the story ……..
Purchased as a "basket case" in about 1987, laid under the bench in boxes until I took on a "love job" doing up a BSA B33 for a mate (Jack) in about 2007.
Thought to myself, "I'll just throw that old A7 together to get my head around BSA's". Should have known better, once one bit gets shined up you gotta do it all!
I wound up making nearly every bolt and fitting myself in stainless steel, around about the time I finished it repro stuff was beginning to come onto the market quite well priced.
Doing a job like this is a bit like pissing yourself in a dark suit, – you get a lovely warm feeling but no-one else notices.
1974 Suzuki GT380
Aint e-bay grouse?, this one was a shed clearout, guy was moving and wanted to unload a shedful.
Paid 380 bucks for the lot, The short version is , there's a complete bike, plus two or three spare engines.
The silver tank on the frame in the photo, I just got at the Ballarat Swap meet, NOS, $40, didn't really need it but for that sort of money I couldn't leave it behind.
The guy with the tank also has exhaust systems he's willing to part with, so I got his number. (mine has an aftermarket 3 into 1 which I'm told sound great but steal power)
It's lower on the list than the T500, but since it's all there I may as well "just throw it together".
Ducati 450
This one used to be a trail bike, I bought it in about 1976 off a workmate who found out its shortcomings in the bush and moved up to a Yamaha XT500.
It really was just a streetbike with trailbike handlebars and a bash plate. It even had a low exhaust pipe???
I ran it around on and off for a few years as a street hack, and it was alright except that if you wanted to do highway speeds, you needed to make a dentist appointment for after, because your fillings will all be rattled loose.
Unfortunately I don't have a photo of its early days, shit happens.
It lunched the timing pinion one day, too much end float on the crankshaft, whilst idling, I leaned it onto the sidestand, it then stopped with a loud "CLUNK!"
In a fit of despondency I sold it (as was) to another workmate, who later worked out he didn't have the money/skills/time/marital goodwill etc, to deal with it, and offered it back to me along with another worthy project (Panther), so I re-aquired it.
A complete engine / gearbox re-build followed,(circa 1990) I spent two weeks re-shimming all the gearbox and bevel drive shafts, the end result was the only one of these I've ever heard that you can't hear the valve gear from 200 yards away.
It then got put away with no more than about ten minutes running, various other projects took over, including but not limited to marriage/children/ several other bikes (Yamaha XS650's, BMWR75) marriage break up etc, before I knew it ten more years had got behind me (good line that, someone should put it in a song)
I had decided at some point in the timeline that it needed to be a pocket rocket, but didn't want to pass it off as a silver shotgun , which it never was.
Someone gave me some Yamaha XS250 forks and wheels, I thought at the time that would be good to set it apart from the 'real' Desmo's.
I've since changed my mind, the mags look crap so they're going, but I've now decided to graft a set of lower frame tubes into the frame and mount the engine/gearbox in it with a set of Norton Isolastic mounts.
If I'm lucky It will be rideable & different enough that no-one will think I'm trying to pass it off as a proper desmo, if it doesn't work, well that'll just give me something else to work on.
GT500 Suzuki
Yep, you guessed it, e-bay again!, ad said it didn't run, but had compression.
I took a punt on it, when I picked it up the guy said he thought it was crank seals, because it used to run but didn't any more. I felt the compression and knew straight off it wasn't crank seals.
Took about five minutes when I got it home to work out it was the ignition module. $26 for a monkey bike CDI kit at the local electronics store got it running.
The rear tyre was bald but my Norton Commando rear was half down, so Nora got a new tyre, Suzie got a good enough one.
Right hand fork leg had a big graunch in the hard chrome about an inch above the fork seal which had buggered the seal, resultant oil leak had buggered the front brake pads. Rear guard was a bit ratty, swapped one for a tub of wine grapes I had an excess of, and had cost naught.
Fork staunchions aren't cheap, re-doing the hard chrome is about $600, so a bit of hard thinking was called for.
I had a spare Commando fork tube picked up at the Ballarat swap meet only owed me $10, so I welded up the oil bleed holes in the commando tube, turned down the welds, then re-drilled the bleed holes the same as the Suzuki tube, made a new upper bush (Commando tube is 0.5 mm smaller), made a fork top nut with british thread but same hex as the Suzi, fitted new seals, and bob's your uncle!
It goes like shit off a shovel, very tourquey, owes me bugger all money and goes well alongside the others. To make it dead original I only need a seat, sooner or later one will show up, I just keep looking.
1972 Suzuki T350J, T250J
My first road bike when I got my learners permit in late 1973 was a T250R, I put quite a few miles on it in only four months before trading up to a GT550 (emulating Jules who had also just bought a GT550).
I always had a soft spot for this little twin, so when one appeared in 'Just Bikes', at the right price, I couldn't resist.
The guy I bought this bike from didn't know a screwdriver from a spanner, and had paid various people to completely refurbish the bike from stem to stern, then sold it to me for about a third of what his cost was! (and no it isn't stolen), I have all the receipts for the work he even paid someone to tune the horn!
First thing I did when got it home was fit a set of 'ace 'bars, just the same as when I was a youngster. Once around the block, I realised that I'm not as "bendy" as I was way back then, don't know how the heck I ever managed to ride like that, anyway the bike now has flat bars, much better!. A set of chromed pipes sourced from opposite ends of the country helped make it look much tidier.
The sharp – eyed among you will note that it has the T250 fuel tank and sidecovers, this is about to be changed, I had acquired a set of heads from a T350II, they had straight fore and aft fins like the 250, so no-one would be able to pick up on the bigger engine capacity, however I have recently picked up a T250, so the 350 will become a proper 350 with the correct tinware.
This 250 was a project picked up on e-bay for the right price, no-one else bid on it, the seller wasn't real happy, but rules are rules.
The frame has been beautifully painted in 2-pak in a very tasteful charcoal colour, not quite standard but such a good job , I'm not going to change it. Rims are in good shape, a quick re-spoke and a spruce up of the hubs, new seat cover (a repro from Thailand – excellent product for $60), tinware will come off the 350
By the time this spiel gets posted I hope to have it back together, It had lunched the right hand rings, so I sourced new 1st oversize pistons and rings, crank bearings were a bit ordinary so I fitted new bearings and seals, took me most of a weekend to make a jig to part the crank halves and about twenty minutes to do the job!
I sent all the bolts to be plated some weeks ago, found out yesterday why the plater stopped answering his phone, the bastard's had his power cut off. Sending a "mate" round to get my stuff back later this week.
Once the 250 is done I have a T500 basket case I acquired (e-bay can get a bit addictive can't it?), there was no crankcases or crankshaft or wheel hubs, the seller said he couldn't remember where they went, anyway, I knew a guy who had a complete engine that someone had thrown away the entire gearbox (ain't people weird?), I've found hubs, have all new seals, pistons & rings ($92 a set delivered) once the 250 is done I'll "just throw this one together".
1952 Panther Model 75 350cc
This is a bit long winded, but bear with me…
I had a Ducati 450 road/trail that lunched the timing pinion one day, in a rush of blood, I sold it to a workmate.
In 1990, I had the job of house minding for Mr & Mrs Tarsnakes whilst they did a round Aussie trip in their Campervan.
Whilst living in Tarsnake Towers, said workmate offered me back the Ducati, I was actually happy to have it back (I know – it's a sickness), he also offered me his 1952 350 Panther which he said he would never do anything with, so it may as well go to me.
Deal gets done, suddenly I notice there's no more room in Tarsnake's garage, boxes of Ducati and Panther everywhere, and homeowner is on the return leg of his trip!
A great effort was put in, the Panther, upon examination turned out to have flogged out the drive side crank case bush (yes, bush – not really a high performance engine this!).
A visit to a mate who's a tool maker ensued, Frank found the centre of the now oval crankcase bearing hole, bored it back round, and made a new bush.
The panther was then re-assembled from the boxes, which yielded sufficient garage space to pass muster. It fired up and ran straight off, only time it gave trouble was when I gave it a bit of a squirt it kept "nipping up" the piston. Eventually I realised that I was actually retarding the ignition at high speed (that's a relative term) as the advance lever worked the opposite way to my old AJS!
There's always something to learn in this game.
The long and short of it is , this bike hasn't been touched since then, is still a fist kick starter and whilst it's not fast is a delight to ride. Now if only I could get those air forks to hold air for more than ten minutes, I'd ride it far more than I do. I could spend more than its value making it pretty, so she is what she is. (She's a sweet thing. Tarsnake edit)
Thanks for the words and pics Andy. Now we will work on Steve for some history on his bikes!
OK, so that's part of the story of Andy's stable. Here's a few pics of his previously owned motorcycles that I'm adding – just because it gives some more context.
Can't find it now to scan, so you will have to wait for a pic of the Bridgestone 90 on its back wheel.
The AGM of the West Coast Procrastinators was held on 1st January 2013 at the Timboon Distillery, Vic. The minutes of last year's meeting were not available, no office bearers were elected, nor were any resolutions proposed or passed – however, there was talk of a censure motion for the hasty and rash purchase of the westcoastprocrastinators domain name!
The NYD ride has become a regular event in recent times. We do some other rides together throughout the year, but this one is a bit special as it marks the beginning of a year of riding ahead. When we four 'fellas get together, there is a lot of shared history and with that goes a certain amount of banter, story telling and laughter.
Marty and I left Geelong and met at Steve's property near Colac. Andy had traveled from Ballarat on NYE and spent the evening drinking fine wine with Steve.
Here is our route. (Click on map to enlarge). The Geelong to Colac highway section is omitted. The circuit shown is around 210 kms, virtually all on back roads and through some beautiful farmland and bush. It also takes in the famed 12 Apostles.
Gathering at Steve's place near Colac, Vic. The banter had started already!
Steve's Commando ready to go.
Andy's Commando ready to go.
The weather forecast had been for a sunny 25C day with a late changes, however, it was obvious at the start of the day that this was not to be the case, and so waterproof gear was packed – by some! The run down to the Distillery only took around an hour and we were actually a tad early. There was a little drizzle as we neared Timboon, but nothing to warrant donning wet weather gear.
As you can see – all were in good humor.
I received this sticker with a T-shirt that I bought and it accurately encapsulates my mechanical abilities and knowledge.
We had booked and were allocated a seat out on the deck. Unfortunately just as we started eating two families were allocated a table near us and the sound of poorly behaved squealing children was fairly intrusive.
Some had garlic prawn pizza
Some had grilled fish
I had the 'cholesterol special'.
In a new feature for 2013, here is my score card for our meals. Your experience may vary! This proforma is not mine and I'd like to acknowledge its author, however, I can't find the URL where I first saw it – so my apologies to someone in advance!
|We had booked and were a bit early at 11:30 but there were plenty of open seats. In the summer on a busy weekend they could easily be full.
|Nice modern but rustic feel. Lots of produce as well as their whisky for sale. Sitting out on the deck was lovely until a couple of families with poorly behaved children screamed incessantly. There were plenty of sunny and shady spots.
|Wait Staff
|Very friendly and pleasant, didn't seem contrived. Handled the full restaurant well.
|Garlic pizzas were tasty but rather spartan. Grilled flake OK but on wilted salad. Every aspect of my steak sandwich was tasty, EXCEPT the steak! It was so tough to chew that I left half. French fries were excellent and meals arrived hot.
|About par for what one would expect to pay at a modern, nice place in the country.
|I'd go back because of the overall venue and where it's located, but the food didn't really wow me.
I took a few pics around the building and in my absence my helmet mysteriously disappeared from my bike! Hmm, didn't take the bate and lo and behold, it reappeared from Steve's bag. The truth be known, I was in a drowsy post postprandial state and didn't even notice its absence.
From Timboon we took a short run down to the Great Ocean Road at a tiny place called Peterborough. The weather was really deteriorating and in the strong wind it was easy to appreciated why around 200 sailing ships sunk along a short 130 km section of coast- commonly known as "The Shipwreck Coast".
Peterborough Vic on the "Shipwreck Coast"
Three procrastinators. Within 200 meters of the shore at this point, lie the wrecks of three ships; the Newfield (Aug 1889), the clipper Schomberg (Dec 1855 – skippered by the legendary 'Bully Forbes' and the Young Australian (May 1877). Actually the scandal of the Schomerg offers some interesting insights into Forbes' captaincy.
The reason these guys still have their helmets on is because it started drizzling about this time, as it did until Port Campbell,where we stopped for gas. In the gas station the console operator had a secondary screen with a readout and wave forms tracking across it. I asked her about it and she told me it was real time wave height and interval between swells measured from a beacon 20 kms out to sea. It was typically reading 7 meters while I was talking to her, but she told me that waves of 17 meters can commonly occur during winter!
As we were leaving the gas station it started to rain a little and by the time we reached the 12 Apostles it was raining properly, so Marty & I donned wet weather gear over the leathers. The sightseeing helicopters had stopped flying due to the poor conditions. We hung around for 15 mins and then headed off in light rain and gusty winds – so much for a sunny 25C! We headed inland via some bumpy back roads rather than continuing along the GOR.
As a consequence of the rain there are no more photos, nor did we stop at the Apostle Whey cheesery as we had originally planned. Despite the rain and drizzle, it was actually OK riding through the bush on virtually deserted roads. By the time we approached Colac the rain stopped and as we emerged from the bushland into the farming land the temp actually went up 4C from the 14C it had been.
Despite the weather, we had another great start to 2013. What could be better than riding motorcycles with your best and oldest mates? Well, there was a tinge of sadness in the background actually.
Our thoughts were occupied throughout this ride with the loss of an old mate (and flatmate for Andy) with the sad news that he had died on New Years Eve after a battle with cancer.
RIP Terry Stokes AKA "Mother".
The West Coast Procrastinators got their act together again to reprise our New Year's Day 2011 run. The aim for the day was to ride some back roads and then enjoy a leisurely lunch to usher in the New Year at the cafe at a distillery in the tiny Western District township of Timboon (Pop 850). This place is just inland from the famous 12 Apostles and the gas processing plant for the Casino Natural Gas off shore rigs is based nearby.The motorcycles present were two early 1970's Norton Commandos and two big bore Kawasakis.
Andy had a gift for us – a couple of personalized stubby holders each!
Most of the following pics are distorted because I copied and pasted the report from another site – and I can't be stuffed reformatting it all!
Our route.
I had some new gloves to try out. They are Held Steve II's, featuring kangaroo skin palms. They are a recent birthday gift from Mrs Tarsnakes.
Marty and I met on the edge of town. The blue sky, a forecast top of 35C and the lack of traffic looked very promising for a great day of riding. I guess many folk were still in bed being New Year's Day.
About 40 minutes later Marty and I arrived at our rendezvous point near Colac (Vic) which is approx 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Melbourne. From here we headed to Timboon via Cobden.
Lunch venue. The Timboon Railway Shed Distillery
The motorcycles in front of the distillery. Steve's Norton in front.
Andy's Commando
Me astride the ZX14.
The West Coast Procrastinators doing what they do best!
It was time for some lunch and we secured a table out on the decking. The temp was climbing, I'd say approx 26C by this stage. Some had beef, some had pie & some had fish. The background music included a Derek Truck's band number so all was good.
No whisky for us, but at least it was local.
I'd heard of an old timber trestle rail bridge in the area so we asked for directions and headed off to check it out. "Watch out for snakes down there" our waitress warned. It was down a dusty, corrugated gravel road, but certainly well worth a look.
Arty shot as suggested by Marty.It was really hot down in this valley, maybe 35C and no breeze to be had at all. The bikes were parked in the shade!
Here's a framed shot of Steve.
The bridge is now used as part of a bicycle path. One of many "rail trails" in the Australian countryside.
Two brave motorcyclists walk across the bridge towards a large black creature with horns.
Two brave motorcyclists return, the horned creature stands its ground!
By the time we rode the few kilometers back up the corrugated, gravel road Andy was concerned that his clutch wasn't feeling quite right nor functioning correctly so he and Steve decided to head for home back along the way we had come, rather than taking in the 12 Apostles – Great Ocean road loop.
Marty and I said our farewells and headed off to the coastal township of Port Campbell. We fueled up and the rode the GOR through the twisties to Laver's Hill. At Laver's Hill we turned off the GOR and headed inland to Beech Forest and then Forrest via Turton's Track. From there we headed back to Colac to see that the Norton devotees had arrived home OK, which thankfully they had!
We sat in Steve's shed and chewed the fat for a while, then Marty and I saddled up and headed back to Geelong via Hwy 1. All up, 385 kms of scenic and really enjoyable riding with mates.
Ride safe in 2012 everybody.
The West Coast Procrastinators finally got their act together to reprise our NYD 2008 run. The route differed slightly, but still involved the same guys, the 12 Apostles, two old Norton Commandos, two Japanese motorcycles and plenty of time spent chatting over a tasty lunch together. Let me tell you a little about my riding buddies.
In addition to his Norton Commando, Andy has numerous other motorcycles. Complete and running are a 500cc BSA twin, a lovel and newly acquired 1972 T250 Suzuki Hustler, and an old 350cc Panther single. Under restoration is a 450 Ducati and another BSA. I've probably missed some, as there are numerous other motorcycles in various states of completion.
Other than his Comando, Steve has another complete and rideable Norton 500cc single, a 1970's RD350 Yamaha (which he rode to some of the most remote parts of Australia on back in 1979) and currently has a 500cc twin cylinder Norton Dominator under restoration. He also kindly houses my wife's rideable, but incomplete, early 1970's 175 Yamaha dirt bike and some other miscellaneous motorcycles and parts of Andy's. Both of these guys were my mates from our teenage years, when we came together with motorcycles and riding as our common bond.
Neither Marty nor I are are into restoring old motorcycles. He's my main touring buddy (and features in most rides reports on this blog) and we've been great friends for the past 25 years.
We headed off from our rendezvous point in Colac (Vic) which is approx 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Melbourne. Our lunch destination turned out to be the cafe at a distillery in the tiny Western District township of Timboon (Victoria). This is quite close to the famous 12 Apostles and the gas processing plant for the Casino Natural Gas off shore rigs.
Here's a map of our route starting in Colac at Steve's place, which is approx 80 klm (50 miles) from my home.
|Map of ride from our rendezvous point in Colac (Vic).
|Andy's '69 Commando
|Steve's '71 Commando
|The VFR and ZX9
|A distillery-restaurant makes a nice point of difference from all the microbreweries that are popping up everywhere
|Lunch on the deck was excellent
|Visitors' centre at the 12 Apostles
|Two of these and another large helicopter were sitting idle. NY's day seems to be a slow day for scenic flights!
|Stop for drinks at the Gellibrand store
This was a very laid back ride in near perfect motorcycling weather and a great start to 2011. Here's hoping for many more great rides in 2011!
Ride safe everyone.
Three of the West Coast Procrastinators got together to begin 2008 with a celebratory ride. That meant they needed to behave on New Year's Eve, however, a good night's sleep was not enjoyed by all as we experienced the hottest New Year's Eve ever recorded in Geelong.
Yesterday it was 43C (yes, that's 109F) during the day and incredibly was still 38C at midnight.
I rode solo from Geelong to just near Colac where Steve's property is.
Despite being a total fireban day again, Jan 1st 2008 was, however, a good day to head to the hills as a cool change was on its way.
After last summer's bushfires people are edgynow that it is getting hot – some Gov.t awareness advertising. I hope it works.
I headed from Geelong to Colac. When I left at 9.00am it was already 30C, but I felt OK once I got moving. Andy trailered his bike down from Ballarat. After a brief chat we fired up the bikes and headed off towards Laver's Hill. Here's the route we took (click on map to enlarge), travelling the loop in a clockwise direction.
Two Norton Commandos
Steve on the Gellibrand to Laver's Hill road – on a down hill, negative camber curve that he enjoys so much!
We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Lavers Hill. (I had the foccacia though).
As we hit the Great Ocean Road there was a bank of frontal cloud which dropped the temp about 10C and made for really pleasant riding conditions.
We pulled up at the 12 Apostles helicopters helipad – just a paddock with a portable office really. You can get quite close to the choppers though.
We stopped for a breather on The Carlisle River road. Andy
Yours truly. Sorry Steve – pic of you didn't work out.
This is the road we took home, riding in the uphill direction.
Let me tell you a little about the "Procrastinators".
It started way back here, some 'fellas who loved motorcycles, lived near the West Coast of Victoria Australia, and sometimes had trouble with the group dynamics of "good decisions made fast".
Or maybe it was here
Some left the group and others came. We continued throughout the 1970's and 1980's
And now we're more mature – and still loving motorcycles!
The 'brothers' in no particular order are;
Andy – he has numerous motorcycles (that is an understatement actually). In addition to his Norton Commando, he has a complete and running 500cc BSA twin, a lovely 1972 T250 Suzuki Hustler, two Suzuki 500 Titans and an old 350cc Panther single. Under restoration are a 450 Ducati and another BSA. I've certain that I've missed many of his machines, as there are numerous other motorcycles in various states of completion. Actually I'd better get him to send me an inventory!
I probably should add that Andy also has a passion for making and drinking wine – the drinking of wine is also a passion that we all share!
Steve – also a Norton Commando owner. Other than his Commando, has another complete and rideable 500cc twin cylinder Norton Dominator, an AJS 500 single, a Norton 500cc single and a 1970′s RD350 Yamaha (which he rode to some of the most remote parts of Australia on back in 1979). He also kindly houses my wife's ride-able but incomplete, early 1970′s 175 Yamaha CT1 dirt bike. Both of these guys were my mates from our teenage years, when we came together with a love of motorcycles and riding as our common bond. You can visit his restoration blog at 79 x 100 Norton
Steve with Commando
Steve on the AJS
Neither Marty nor I are are into restoring old motorcycles. He's my main touring buddy (and features in most rides reports on this blog) and we've been great friends for the past 26 years. This year he replaced his Kawasaki ZX9R with a new 2012 ZX-14R. I'm sure this bike is really going to see some miles over the next few years.
Jules, that's me, I also post on various websites under the screen name Tarsnakes I currently ride a 2010 Kawasaki ZX-14, certainly the best bike I've ever owned. I've had Kawasaki's previously, but I'm also a fan of Honda's road bikes as well, having previously owned a VFR800, a CBR600 and a couple of CB750's.
My wife says I'm 'not quite right' unless I own and ride motorcycles. She should know as we've been together since we were teenagers.


text:
2010 Early Chapter Books: A Collection of Reviews
Extraordinary Ernie & Marvelous Maud
written by Frances Watts, illustrated by Judy Watson
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2010
early chapter book
Poor Ernie Eggers. He's always wanted to be a superhero and now he's got a chance except, his sidekick is . . . a sheep. He makes the best of it and with Maud at his side, the superhero team selects their outfits and names. Ernie becomes Extraordinary Ernie and Maud becomes Marvelous Maud. Sounds promising, doesn't it?
When Ernie is buying bubble gum, Maud is attacked by a mean dog. What will Ernie do? Will he be able to save Maud? With a shopping cart? Of course!
Kids will love these quirky characters, Ernie and Maud. It's a funny book filled with problems every child faces — bigger boys, mean dogs, a cute girl, and dreams of being a superhero.
Number One Kid (Zig-Zag Kids)
written by Patricia Reilly Giff, illustrated by Alasdair Bright
Wendy Lamb Books, 2010
early chapter book
I've read this book and the other Zig-Zag book, The Big Whopper, and I didn't love either. In fact, I was disappointed; I usually like Patricia Reilly Giff.
There are a lot of characters in the Zigzag School. This book focuses on Mitchell who is worried about not winning a prize on Prize Day – he doesn't think he's good at anything. To make matters worse, his sister, Angel, and an older boy tease him. Mitchell worries throughout the story. I thought the worry got excessive at times.
This book teaches valuable lessons like giving people a chance and learning to appreciate your talents. Those are good things to learn, even if I didn't totally love the story.
Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade
written by Stephanie Greene, illustrated by Stephanie Roth Sisson
Putnam, 2010
early chapter book
Posey is worried about first grade; especially worried since she's not supposed to wear her tutu which helps her be brave, and lets her become Princess Posey. Her boy neighbors tell her all about "the Monster of the Blue Hall" and snakes at the school. Posey is sort of sure they're teasing but feels more worried than ever.
When Posey sees her new teacher, Miss Lee, in the grocery store, she is scared and tries to hide. Will Miss Lee understand and help Posey feel comfortable about school?
You'll love the way Miss Lee helps Posey. She's the kind of teacher everyone would want for first grade – wonderful and kind. This is a sweet book many girls will relate to.
Aggie the Brave
written by Lori Ries, illustrated by Frank Dormer
Charlesbridge, 2010
easy reader / early chapter book
Colorful illustrations match the basic sentences which tell the story of Aggie the dog who must go to the vet to get spayed, stay overnight and heal at home. The story teaches about the process at the vet as well as what to expect – like the stitches and cone she must wear post-surgery.
I love the way the little boy owner imagines that Aggie is not a cone head but a LION. (It's so much less embarrassing!)
Finally, the healing is done. "The vet gives her a meaty treat — a meaty treat for a brave lion. Aggie loses her mane. / She runs and jumps. She circles my legs. / We play chase till it gets dark."
For those children who own dogs, this book is sure to engage them, as well as the other children who love dogs and want a dog of their own.


text:
The building in the background of the photo is the Old Quadrangle of the University. The Quadrangle building, constructed out of local limestone in a Tudor Gothic architectural style, is modeled on Christ Church at the University of Oxford. The 'Quad' still stands proudly at the heart of the University today as a testament to its past.
The performing troupe are from the theatre and street performance company Macnas. Macnas are a mainstay in the theatre and festival life of Galway and, since their establishment in 1986, have developed a national and international reputation as a creative, innovative, and energizing performing company.
This image identifies the performing arts as a real and living aspect of the arts in Irish society and its links with the University. The looks of curiosity, puzzlement, shock, and amazement on the faces of the troupe members can be interpreted as that of a group of artists looking at current events and trying to make sense of them.
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