text:
There are many wondrous, enigmatic and fascinating attractions on the Big Island of Hawaii, some better known than others, many out of the way and generally off the beaten track. Tour Guide Hawaii has produced an encyclopedic collection of the most up-to-date information, presented as short GPS-cued videos, in an app downloadable to iPhone and iPod Touch that covers the entire Big Island, highlighting the popular and the uncrowded, the famous and the secluded, the adventurous and the relaxing.
Kilauea Volcano
Although it is the most active volcano on earth, many visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park standing on the very summit of Kilauea Volcano often stare and wonder "Where's the volcano?" Nestled snugly up against Mauna Loa, and not as vertically spectacular as either this near neighbor or Mauna Kea, Kilauea doesn't even appear to be a bump on the landscape from the usual viewpoints. Even though it doesn't standout visually, Kilauea is one of the most intriguing and fascinating volcanoes on earth…let's just take a quick look at some of the reasons why.
Comprising the entire southeastern portion of Hawaii Island, Kilauea Volcano is not only currently the world's most active volcano, it is also the home of the fire-goddess Pele. Early geologists believed Kilauea was merely a satellite vent of Mauna Loa, as it lies directly on that mountain's southern slopes. However, Kilauea is now recognized as its own, distinct, volcano which has its own, separate, magma source and unique plumbing.
Presenting the classic "Hawaiian Shield Volcano" shape, a basic oval with low, shallow slope angles, volume-wise Kilauea is one of the the world's most massive mountains. Standing 1240 meters (4080) above sea level, the above-ocean part of the volcano is about 80 km (50 miles) long and 32 km, (20 miles) wide, along an axis trending roughly southwest to northeast. However, like all the other Hawaiian volcanoes, the great majority of its vast bulk lies below the sea, about 5.5 km (18,000 feet) deep here, making Kilauea's true base-to-summit height about 7 km (23,000 ft).
Sometimes vying with Mts. Aetna and Stromboli for the title of "most active volcano on earth", Kilauea has been erupting continuously since January 1983; between then and June 2009, nearly 700 acres of new land was created on Hawaii Island by Kilauea lava flows. As the time scale of human lives and human tragedy are so much shorter than geologic time scales, and thus human memories of past disasters grow dim rather rapidly, this volcanic growth has come at quite a cost because people insist on building villages, towns and roads on this highly active landscape. In recent decades, the towns of Kapoho (in 1960), Kalapana (in 1990), and Kaimu (in 1990) have all been burned, buried and destroyed by Kilauea, and now are seemingly all but abandoned except by a few hardy souls. Although popularly thought to be rather tame with fairly peaceable eruptions, Kilauea in the past has had its fair share of explosive, violent, phreatomagmatic eruptions, spewing great quantities of ash as well.
Kilauea owes its peculiar shape to two long rift systems, the currently active East Rift and the Southwest Rift. These rifts are comprised of huge, deep fractures through the bulk of the mountain. Magma rises from deep below the volcano to a pool just below the summit caldera, then flows through internal plumbing down either rift, causing flank eruptions at vents down-rift. These flank eruptions greatly enhance Kilauea's exaggerated elongate shape. In recent times, many more eruptions have occurred along the East Rift, than the Southwest Rift.
The orientation of these rifts is controlled by the geography of Mauna Loa and Kilauea, as well as by gravity. Because the north side of Kilauea is well buttressed by the huge mass of Mauna Loa and the unsupported south side slopes-off into the sea, the very mass of Kilauea is pulling it down slope, into the sea. Indeed, the sub-sea, southern slope of Kilauea is a vast, hummocky field of debris from enormous landslides. Above sea level, this slumping activity is evidenced by the several, sub-parallel ridges (or "Pali", in Hawaiian) on the southern flank. With throws of much as 430 meters (1400 feet), these faults represent the massive fracturing of the volcano's southern flank and the subsequent slumping of these giant blocks down slope. A drive down the Holei Pali along Chain of Craters Road will quickly demonstrate the magnitude of seaward movement as Kilauea erupts, slumps and grows.
Seaward slumping is exacerbated by the volcanic activity itself; as Kilauea fills with magma, it swells and slumps southward, producing massive earthquakes and landslides. The slumping, however, also exacerbates the volcanic activity. By opening-up new voids in Kilauea's internal plumbing, the slumping allows injection of even more magmatic material into Kilauea, which then causes more earthquakes and more slumping. Essentially spreading under its own enormous weight, the synergy between magma injection and slumping allows Kilauea to grow both by eruption of, and intrusion of, magma.
The supply of magma to the volcano is fairly consistent at 1.8 cubic km (1.0 cubic miles) per year, however forty to fifty per cent of the melt never makes its way to the surface. Called "endogenous growth", nearly half the growth of Kilauea can be attributed to magma cooling and solidifying below ground, in the growing voids opened by the synergistic magma injection and seaward slumping of the mountain.
Conjoined on its northern flank by the vastly larger Mauna Loa, Kilauea doesn't appear to the casual observer to have a true summit. However, the summit region, around which Crater Rim Drive circles, is comprised of a larger collapse crater (Kilauea Caldera), which contains three smaller collapse craters (Halema'uma'u, Keanakako'i and Kilauea Iki Craters). Collapse craters, such as here and those along Chain of Craters Road, are formed when magma is withdrawn from a reservoir during an eruption, and the suddenly unsupported land above simply collapses into the void. As you look out over the enormous cavity formed by Kilauea Caldera, imagine the immensity of the eruptive event that left enough of a void in the magma chamber to allow this huge crater to form.
Kilauea's large magma pool lies just below the summit region, somewhat south of Halema'uma'u Crater, at a depth of about 1.5-5 km (1-3 miles). Forming a magma reservoir several kilometers wide, it acts as central storage for the entire summit-rift magma plumbing system. Partial melting in the mantle at a depth of 40-60 km (52-30 miles) produces magma which rises through the earth and pools within a couple kilometers or so of the surface, and which then flows almost immediately to the site of eruption (summit or flank), having very little residence time within the volcano itself. This "open door to the mantle" feature is a fairly unique to Kilauea Volcano.
Based on eruptive patterns in recorded history, Kilauea has been observed to follow three shifting modes of eruptive behavior. The first mode involves explosive volcanism at Kilauea's summit. This activity contributed to the formation of past and present calderas in the summit area as well as having showered Ka'u with a cover of cinder and ash. The second mode is continuous effusive eruptive activity at the summit. This mode is typified by features such as the former lava lake at the summit which was present well into historic times, and events such as voluminous outpouring of lava from several summit vents. This mode tends to fill-in summit calderas and produce a landscape of broad, coalescing shields atop the various vents. The third mode of eruption is the continuous flank eruption, as seen today on the East Rift at vents such as Pu'u O'o and Kupaianaha.
These modes are derived from observation of the volcano's activity only during modern times, and almost certainly Kilauea's behavior over geologic time must be much more complex. Rather than a view of the evolution of Kilauea Volcano, these modes may serve more as template through which to view what the volcano is capable of doing. It has been observed that periods of volcanic quiescence, or of small eruptions which shift location from summit to flank, may herald a shift in these eruptive modes. Further, it has been suggested based on recent observations that large, south-flank earthquakes initiating magma intrusion can greatly alter eruptive modes.
So, now that we understand a little of the mystery and complexity of Kilauea Volcano, where is the best place to see it from? For starters, one cannot beat the view off the back porch of Volcano House in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which encompasses much of Kilauea Caldera and Halema'uma'u Crater. Although currently closed between Jagger Museum and the intersection with Chain of Craters Road because of the ongoing eruption in Halema'uma'u Crater, the portion of Crater Rim Drive which is open provides a unique view of the volcano in a scenic loop around the entire summit region. Of particular interest are the stops at Steaming Bluff, Jagger Museum, Halema'uma'u Crater (closed), Southwest Rift Zone (closed), Keanakako'i Crater (closed), and Kilauea Iki Crater Overlook.
Driving across the summit dome and down to the slump-block cliffs on Hilina Pali Road takes you on a fabulous backcountry exploration from a nether-world of volcanic destruction and to lush, tropical dryland forest and savanna. Hikes along Devastation Trail, through Kilauea Iki Crater and out to the caldera overlook at Waldron Ledge give fabulous insight to Kilauea Volcano and are particularly beautiful as well as fascinating, and fairly easy for those in reasonable physical condition.
Aside from the summit region, the Chain of Craters Road travels through the most interesting geography of Kilauea, including lava flows from numerous recent eruptions. Although everywhere fascinating, stops at Pauahi Crater, Mauna Ulu and Muliwai O Pele are almost mandatory. As mentioned earlier, this drive gives stark perspective on the slump blocks and the slippage of Kilauea's south flank toward the sea. Stops at Kealakomo Overlook, Halona Kahakai, Alanui Kahiko and Holei Pali illustrate the vast nature of the slow creep of Kilauea's southern flank down-slope. A stop to see the amazing, ancient petroglyphs at Pu'u Loa Petroglyph Field provides a moving, human connection to the peoples of the past, the awe and respect they had for this Goddess and her mountain home. The end of Chain of Craters Road gives way to a playground of geological landscapes, booming sea cliffs and ancient villages, as well as providing the jumping-off point for hikes to see the flowing lava, when it is flowing within the Park boundaries.
A complete guide to exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park can be found here; you should plan to spend the better part of a full day in the park—unless you've been here before, it will be the most interesting place you've ever been to yet. Viewing the flowing lava, the spectacle of the earth remaking herself, is one of the most moving, soul-filling, surprisingly emotional experiences you can have. The current eruption in Halema'uma'u Crater, although it hasn't yet produced any lava flows, is best viewed from the Jagger Museum; at times of peak activity, it is most spectacular when viewed after dark. Guides to Lava Viewing in the Park and at the County of Hawaii Lava Viewing platform east in Puna at Waikupanaha can be found here and here respectively. A general outline of the volcanoes of Hawaii Island is presented here, a brief discussion on the differences between a'a and pahoehoe lavas can be found here, and an overview geologic history of the Hawaiian Islands can be found here.
Perhaps no other volcano in the world, certainly no active volcano, is so easy to explore, to touch, to experience. If you come to see Kilauea, home of the Goddess Pele, be sure to give yourself a lot of time—you'll be more captivated than you expect; certainly you've never experienced anything like this before. Come, explore, enjoy, stand at her door and breath the breath of the Fire Goddess.
To see the new iPhone/iPod Touch App, please visit http://www.tourguidehawaii.com/iphone.html.
The best of Tour Guide Hawaii's free content about traveling to, and exploring, the Big island, can be found here.
For more information on traveling to Hawaii in general and on touring the Big Island in particular, please also visit www.tourguidehawaii.com and www.tourguidehawaii.blogspot.com.
All media copyright 2010 by Donald B. MacGowan. All rights reserved.


text:
On behalf of all of us here at ARTastic Challenge blog I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of our supporters peace, joy and much happiness for the Christmas season.
You still have until 11.55pm on the 31 of December to complete our December challenge and we would love to see your entries. If you have some downtime over the Christmas break please think of us :)
I'd like to thank you for your support and encouragement through 2016. We have seen some amazing work submitted by all of you wonderfully talented ladies and we hope we will see more from you again next year. We have much to inspire you!
ARTastic will be back in 2017 with a new look and some new and super talented team members as well as some familiar faces. Sadly there are also some goodbyes at this time as several of our members move on to other pursuits. We will miss you Lizzy Hill, Sue Smith and Mary Bennetts. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done while here at ARTastic - you are all such wonderful and inspiring ladies.
Design Team for 2017
We welcome new team members ...
Judy Willey - Australia
Tanya Heritage - Australia
Evelyn Walter - Germany
Kripa Koushik - Australia (joining us in February)
Plus returning members ...
Tracey Henly - Australia
Tone Jensen - Norway
Kat Gray - Australia
Karen McLaughlin - Australia
Angelika Ushakova - Canada
Anna Uhras - Sweden
Maria Shakhova - Russia
Helene Bogren - Sweden
Elaine Schoof - Australia
Jane Howden - Australia
Travel safe everyone and enjoy time with your families and friends - see you in 2017 !!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Ven. Thanissaro (aka Geoffrey DeGraff), American abbot of Wat Metta, Merit: A Study Guide; edited by Ashley Wells, Dhr. Seven, Crystal Quintero, Wisdom Quarterly
|Big golden Buddha, Bagan, Burma (RobertoCornacchia.com/bosforo65/flickr.com)
|What are the habits of happy people? (viralnovelty.net) Having made merit in the past.
This is perhaps because the pursuit of merit seems to be a lowly "selfish" practice, focused on getting and hoarding, whereas in higher Buddhist practice the focus is on letting go, particularly of any deluded sense of permanent or separate "self."
- [All things, including our "selves," are dependently arisen. They are therefore not separate from their constituent elements, their building blocks. But liberating-insight requires that the undeluded mind realize that "self" is not those building blocks either. There is no breakthrough to the first stage of enlightenment, as the Heart Sutra explains, until not-self is directly realized.]
But the Buddha did not teach in such a way. The Dharma (path to liberation) and practice he gave was a "gradual teaching."
|"Meditation" starts at absorption.
He repeatedly warns that the higher levels cannot be practiced in a stable manner unless they are developed on a strong foundation. Where is our foundation as we meditate for insight (vipassana)?
Nowhere to be found. We need virtue and serenity (sila and samadhi) first. These manifest as firm precepts and meditative absorptions (jhanas, concentration, stability, increasingly coherent states of mind).
Nowhere to be found. We need virtue and serenity (sila and samadhi) first. These manifest as firm precepts and meditative absorptions (jhanas, concentration, stability, increasingly coherent states of mind).
The pursuit of merit provides that foundation. To paraphrase a modern Buddhist psychologist:
One cannot wisely let go of one's [deluded] sense of self
until one has developed a wise sense of self.
The pursuit of merit is the Buddhist way
to develop a wise sense of self.
until one has developed a wise sense of self.
The pursuit of merit is the Buddhist way
to develop a wise sense of self.
|Buddhas in a factory and curio shop, Cambodia (Peter Denton/flickr.com)
.The following translations/readings show how this is done. They begin with a section on basic wisdom, which shows how the questions that lead ultimately to the wisdom (liberating insight) of letting go first focus on the things to hold onto: skillful traits that, at the beginning or preliminary level, provide a secure place to stand while letting go of character traits that are obviously harmful.
Buddhist wisdom famously focuses in the characteristics of radical impermanence (not the obvious fact that something will end but the counterintuitive fact that everything is falling away right now), distress (disappointment, unhappiness, annoyance, boredom, lack of fulfillment, "suffering" of ALL kinds), and not-self (the impersonal nature of phenomena we consider as most closely belonging to us).
The application of that wisdom grows out of the pursuit of what is relatively constant and pleasant, and it requires a mature sense of self -- one that is able to plan for the future, to sacrifice short-term happiness (immediate gratification) for long-term happiness, to compassionately consider the needs of others, and to develop a strong sense of self-reliance in the pursuit of a happiness that is wise, pure, and compassionate.
The section on merit then sets out in general terms the types of meritorious activities that conduce to happiness, focusing primarily on three: giving (internally letting go), virtue (non-harming), and meditation (bringing into being).
Joy and Giving?
|How can I make the most merit?
For instance, the section on giving discusses how the happiness of generosity can be maximized by wisely choosing the superior motivation for giving gifts, superior gifts, and superior recipients for gifts.
The section on virtue shows how to learn from one's past mistakes without succumbing to debilitating feelings of guilt.
The section on meditation discusses not only how the development of good will -- the meditative practice most often cited in conjunction with merit -- can lead to happiness both here and now and anywhere in the future, but also how it can help minimize the bad karmic results of one's past unwise actions.
All three of these forms of merit conduce to the highest form of merit: the realization of stream-entry, the first glimpse of nirvana or deathlessness, the first stage of enlightenment (bodhi).
The penultimate section of this study guide focuses on the happiness and well being that derive from this supermundane attainment.
Merit (reservoir of good karma)
|Peace Pagoda, Batersea Park (Andrea Grasso)
For all the rewards of meritorious action, however, the concluding section serves as a reminder that the pursuit of happiness ultimately leads beyond the pursuit of merit.
In fact, this study guide is planned as part of a two-part guide covering the Buddhist approach to the pursuit of happiness, with the second part discussing the teachings on the three characteristics as the next stage in this approach as they lead to the deathless happiness attained with full enlightenment.
Still, it would be a mistake to view the two stages as radically separate: In the course of developing a wise sense of self in the pursuit of merit, one is already learning how to let go of unwise ways of "selfing" as one learns to overcome stinginess, apathy, and hard-heartedness through the development of giving, virtue, and good will.
The teachings on the three characteristics simply carry this same process of "un-selfing" for the sake of an even truer happiness to a higher vibration.
Basic Wisdom
"There are some cases in which a person overcome with pain, heart/mind exhausted, grieves, mourns, laments, beats breast, and becomes bewildered and perplexed.
"Or one overcome with pain, mind exhausted, comes to search outside, 'Who knows a way or two to stop this pain?' I tell you, meditators, that suffering (disappointment) results either in bewilderment or in search." — AN 6.63
|The Buddha, wandering ascetic
"Or one overcome with pain, mind exhausted, comes to search outside, 'Who knows a way or two to stop this pain?' I tell you, meditators, that suffering (disappointment) results either in bewilderment or in search." — AN 6.63
"This is the way leading to wisdom: when visiting a temple priest/priestess or wandering ascetic, to ask:
- 'What is skillful, venerable sir?
- What is unskillful?
- What is blameworthy?
- What is blameless?
- What should be cultivated?
- What should not be cultivated?


text:
Drones to take center stage at Brennan hearing … Strange bedfellows in defense of drones … Republicans get delay of Hagel vote ... Rubio to deliver SOTU response ... What's behind Chris Christie talking so much about his weight … What does Jeb Bush's trying to buy the Marlins say about his presidential aspirations? … Another Menendez shoe drops … Obama to National Prayer Breakfast, then huddles with House Democrats.
Yuri Gripas / Reuters
John Brennan, nominee for CIA Director, arrives at a meeting with Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on Capitol Hill, Jan. 31, 2013.
*** Drones take center stage: President Obama's pick to head the CIA, John Brennan – the current White House counter-terrorism adviser -- hits Capitol Hill today for what's likely to be a contentious confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee at 2:30 pm ET. Brennan is certainly going to get tough questions, especially from Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden, but what could be more remarkable is we're likely to learn more about America's drone war in a public setting than we ever have before. It may be technically a confirmation hearing for Brennan, but he will also be up there defending America's drone program, as someone who's worked in both of the last two administrations, for both a Democrat and a Republican. Other items are sure to come up, including torture (remember, that's what scuttled Brennan's potential confirmation for the same job in 2009); Benghazi; and the issue of accusation Republicans circulated last year accusing Brennan and others of leaking some national security nuggets to politically help the president.
*** The surprising lack of congressional outrage: Contention aside, it's likely Brennan will be confirmed. But the White House, by saying last night it would brief Congress on the classified legal justifications of the targeted killing of Americans, made a decision not to have a confrontation -- mostly with Democrats. Wyden on TODAY this morning called the move a "step in the right direction." What's been surprising about this entire episode has been the lack of outrage from Congress. Don't they want the administration to have to justify their actions even in AFTER-action settings? It's amazing that it took Brennan's confirmation hearing to convince the White House to allow even a FEW members of Congress to read the ACTUAL legal memos and not just a "white paper."
*** Political whiplash: You'll be forgiven if you've had political whiplash with Republicans defending Obama on the issue. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and even ex-Bush U.N. Amb. John Bolton gave full-throated defenses of Obama's use of drones even in the targeting of American citizens-turned-al Qaeda operatives. Graham yesterday said, per NBC's Kasie Hunt, that he was "totally supportive" of the actions. Bolton called it "entirely sensible" and "derived from the Bush administration approach to the War on Terror." This is not a Democrat vs. Republican issue. This is an Executive branch vs. Legislative branch issue. There are still important and serious questions to be asked about the United States use and increased use a program that can catch (and has caught) civilians in the line of fire. But the big difference between this and, say, the political opposition to the torture memos is you had prominent voices on the right opposing this (John McCain), who were feeding the media back in the day. It's not like Hillary Clinton is sitting in the Senate criticizing the drone program. That's essentially what McCain did to Bush. But, as we learned then and see now, the public also seemed to overwhelmingly favor the use of drones overseas to target terrorists. In a Washington Post/ABC poll last year, 83% said they approved; it's when they're used domestically that people start to have privacy concerns.
*** Republicans get their Hagel delay: Republicans yesterday pushed for a delay of Chuck Hagel's committee confirmation vote. And they got it. A vote was supposed to take place today, but it was put off by Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) to try and answer Republicans' questions over Hagel's finances, speeches, and even a 2007 sexual harassment claim between staffers in Hagel's office that didn't involve Hagel. (Hagel's former chief of staff said she'd handled the matter, and the senator was never informed of it.) All indications have been that Hagel has the votes, but delay's never a good thing, especially when some many Democrats are quietly more nervous today about Hagel than they were before because of his shaky confirmation hearing performance. Any delay can create uncertainty. This may be just Levin trying to keep his committee in check. By the way, outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testifies on the attacks in Benghazi today before Armed Services at 10:00 am ET with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey. Last week, Graham threatened to put a hold on Hagel's confirmation vote until Panetta testified on Benghazi. Well, Panetta's testifying today…
*** Rubio to deliver GOP State of the Union response: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), widely thought to be considering a 2016 presidential bid, will deliver the Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union Tuesday. In his remarks, "he'll likely mention immigration, but it won't be the focus of the speech," an aide told First Read. "His speech will focus on the Republican Party's agenda to grow the middle class. Immigration will likely be mentioned as one way to grow the economy, but the speech really is about the Republican Party's commitment to limited government as the best way to help the middle class, and how it differs from the President's plans for bigger government." Rubio will speak in both Spanish and English. Considering what issues are at the forefront and what problems the GOP is facing, as they try and rebuild their brand, picking Rubio to do this is a no-brainer.
*** History hasn't always been kind to State of the Union responders: Nothing is harder than following a president. So this is not without risk for Rubio. State of the Union responses haven't been so kind to presidential aspirants. Here are just the last few:
2012: Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-IN)
2011: Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
2010: Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA)
2009: Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA)
2008: Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS)
2007: Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA)
2006: Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
2005: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
2004: Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
So counting Rubio, four of the five Obama State of the Union responders look like a 2016 Iowa caucus lineup: Rubio, Ryan, McDonnell, Jindal. But the last eventual party nominee to deliver a response was Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) in 1996. And the last person to deliver one and go on to be president was Bill Clinton in 1985 when he was governor of Arkansas. By the way, Rubio will be the first senator to deliver the response since Webb in 2007. Six of the last 10 have been governors.
*** What's behind Christie's 'healthiest fat guy you've ever seen in your life' push: We've seen a lot of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) this week, talking about -- and joking about -- his weight. We also saw him get serious in a back and forth with an Arizona doctor – and former White House doctor – who suggested Christie lose weight because she's afraid he'd die in office. Christie took offense. It makes for good cable fodder, but let's not miss the bigger picture. Why did this topic come up? Christie decided to bring it up. This is about Christie trying to confront, ON HIS TERMS, what would be one of his biggest obstacles if he launches a presidential bid in 2016. He knows this is a hurdle; he knows it's not an insignificant one. The biggest thing is he has changed his tone on this, becoming much more open about it, even hinting that he's on a program and that people would notice if it's working relatively soon. As late as last year, Christie's standard response was essentially: my weight is my business, period. Not anymore. If you needed a hint that Christie is trying to get it together to run for president, this is it. There's every chance Christie can use his battle with weight issues to connect to average Americans. It's something everyone can relate to. But Christie has to look like he DOES care about this issue. And this week, he's done a 180 and indicated he cares.
*** Just asking…: …but doesn't the fact that Jeb Bush THIS OFFSEASON made a "large offer," to try and buy the Miami Marlins baseball team, send a signal he's not all that interested in running for president? Trying to buy a baseball team doesn't exactly say your focus is prepping for a presidential run…Then again, the Marlins never actually "sold" the Marlins to its current owner. They "gave" him the team (but that's a rant for one of us that we'll save for Twitter!).
*** Menendez watch: The Washington Post: "Sen. Robert Menendez raised concerns with top federal health-care officials twice in recent years about their finding that a Florida eye doctor — a close friend and major campaign donor — had overbilled the government by $8.9 million for care at his clinic, Menendez aides said Wednesday. Menendez (D-N.J.) initially contacted federal officials in 2009 about the government's audit of Salomon Melgen, complaining to the director overseeing Medicare payments that it was unfair to penalize the doctor because the billing rules were ambiguous, the aides said." This has always been the danger for Menendez. It's not the story about prostitutes as much as it could become more about these other stories.
*** Obama's day: President Obama speaks at the National Prayer Breakfast before heading to Northern Virginia to speak at the House Democrats' Retreat in Leesburg, Va.
Click here to sign up for First Read emails.
Text FIRST to 622639, to sign up for First Read alerts to your mobile phone.
Check us out on Facebook and also on Twitter. Follow us @chucktodd, @mmurraypolitics, @DomenicoNBC, @brookebrower


text:
LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
Looking to keep track of all the various projects in development? Click here to visit our signature "Devwatch" section. There visitors can view our listings by network, genre, studio and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!
Ferrer then is set as Jonas Bledsoe - "50s-60's, forceful and not above lying to get what he wants. He is the ruthless leader of the secret government agency that turned Jaime into a Bionic Woman. Though furious with Eric for wasting $50 million worth of classified, illegal technology on "some girl," Jonas decides to use Jaime to track down and retrieve the other Bionic creations who escaped. Topping his list of fugitives is insane, deadly Sarah Corvus, whose violent break-out and subsequent revenge streak haunts Jonas to this day. After using unscrupulous means to manipulate Jaime into joining his organization, Jonas agrees to her terms and we get the feeling he will treat her with respect and honesty from now on." Ferrer's involvement is in second position to his "Jordan" duties however it's understood he could play both roles concurrently.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Chris Bowers (Dr. Eric Masters), Katee Sackhoff (Sarah Corvus), Mae Whitman (Becca Sommers), Michelle Ryan (Jaime Sommers), Miguel Ferrer (Jonas Bledsoe), Molly Price (Ruth Treadwell), Will Yun Lee (Jae Kim)
Writer: Laeta Kalogridis
Director: Michael Dinner
Executive Producers: David Eick, Laeta Kalogridis
Studio: NBC Universal Television
Commitment: In production
Cast: Danny Huston (Samuel Adams), David Morse (George Washington), Guy Henry (Jonathan Sewall), Justin Theroux (John Hancock), Laura Linney (Abigail Adams), Paul Giamatti (John Adams), Rufus Sewell (Alexander Hamilton), Stephen Dillane (Thomas Jefferson), Tom Wilkinson (Benjamin Franklin)
Writer: Kirk Ellis
Director: Tom Hooper
Executive Producers: Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks
Co-Executive Producer: Kirk Ellis
Studio: Playtone
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Jamie Kennedy (Joel Salsberg), Lee Majors (Lee Majors)
Writer: Matthew Salsberg
Director: Paul Dinello
Executive Producers: Allan Loeb (Scarlet Fire Productions), Jenji Kohan, Matthew Salsberg
Studio: Lionsgate Television
Also signing on in potentially recurring roles are Kristy Wu ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") and Andre Holland ("Law & Order"). The former is believed to be playing Darla - "23. She's a somewhat hapless intern who is understandably dismayed when the newly promoted April decides to treat everyone to coffee - which means that Darla has to schlep 10 blocks carrying 30 cups of hot java." - while the latter is set as Deshawn Burkett - "30. He's Judd's photographer, a wry guy who comments on how April's recent promotion has changed her from a nice person to an uptight control freak."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Amy Yasbeck (Terry Lynn Collins), Andre Holland (Deshawn Burkett), Barry Bostwick (Harvey Deegan), Jay Harrington (Judd Brinkmeyer), Julie Gonzalo (Gretchen Holt), Kristy Wu (Darla), Rachel Boston (April Tarnoff), Tim Conlon (Reese Padilla)
Writer: Ric Swartzlander
Director: Marc Buckland
Executive Producers: Ric Swartzlander
Studio: ABC Television Studio
Commitment: Script
Cast: Cindy Williams, Penny Marshall
Writer: Jim Vallely
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Gay Rosenthal (Gay Rosenthal Productions), Jim Vallely
Studio: TBA
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Ashley Williams (Julie), Ayda Field (Elise), Ben Savage (Todd), Geoffrey Arend, Kym Whitley (Theresa), Scott Wolf
Writer: Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah
Director: Gary Halvorson
Executive Producers: Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah
Studio: ABC Television Studio
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Kathleen Rose Perkins, Orlando Jones, Sarah Lafleur, Stephen Mangan
Writer: Victoria Pile
Director: Victoria Pile
Executive Producers: Victoria Pile
Studios: ABC Television Studio, CBS Paramount Network Television
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters


text:
Suffice to say that a few more years, and perhaps careers, may be ending today....
Suffice to say that a few more years, and perhaps careers, may be ending today....
Mr. Macro, I am not seeing the ISK/EUR bit on my Bloomie - can you suggest where I can witness such a mighty crash with my own eyes?Reply
Mr. Man,
I'm a bit puzzled about the "off shore market" that you referred to - I don't know much about FX but the only time I've heard of an off shore market in currencies has been when there are strict capital controls in a country (China).
Have Iceland in imposed capital controls?
I cannot see EUR/ISK. please give a quote... the last quote I see from Saxo Bank is 154.21
Please tell what the current level is!
Many thanks!
And the winner is... JPY!
I'd have bet on CFH for the silver medal, but I've never been able to understand the Swissie...
Anyway, there's some kind of beauty in all this!
Most banks are not dealing with the Icelandic banks because of, ahem, fears of solvency of those institutions.
So the offshore banks are trading with each other; the last quote I saw there was 215/225.
Spreads must be hugely wide in the EURISK as well - my chart is flicking from 155ish to 180 and back again with no in-between levels. Anyone got any ideas of where Iceland's sovereign debt CDSs are trading now?
I'm hearing rumors a co-ordinated GLOBAL rate is being considered. Anybody else hear that? As much as 100 basis points across the board. What are the odds?
I'm hearing the rumors out of London UK from some traders there. No way to know how credible this is.
We were talking about it as a possibility for 1.15 today. Instead, we got a TAF extension.
In the near term, this crash-like behaviour will probably continue until we get a coordinated policy easing...after which we get the vicious rally and settle back into a normal bear market.
This may be a tiny addition to the global problems but a new worry getting ink in the US is regarding the solvency and liquidity of states and municipalities. CA, MA and NY have already raised concerns with more to come, I fear. Thanks for giving us insight and courage, MM.Reply
"Most banks are not dealing with the Icelandic banks because of, ahem, fears of solvency of those institutions."
This is a terribly anti-icelandic biased statement, I fear. The following statement may be closer to reality:
"Most banks are not dealing with banks because of, ahem, fears of solvency of those institutions."
sorry for the pun but well, with a name like EURISK its no wonder that no one wants go long it now.Reply
You can pull up a live chart of EUR/ISK here:
1) Click "File"
2) Click "Change Symbol"
3) Click "More"
4) Enter "EUR/ISK"
However, I'm not seeing a 50% move, looks roughly unchanged on the day..
Disregard the last post, the quote feed on that pair appears dead.Reply
The EUR/ISK at 195 according to ECB:
yeah! lets fix too much irresponsible lending by lowering rates even more!
If we are going to survive this, we need to stop taking advice from failed traders and failed central bankers
MM: Thanks to stupid bailouts of insolvent banks at sub-market rates, Uncle Sam can no longer afford to operate soup lines
There are too many houses financed with too much leverage -- a rate cut isn't going to solve either one, it will just bankrupt the country
If I were part of the Federal Reserve/Treasury and not a GS alumnus, I'd imagine that making sure that the non-financial commercial and municipal market doesn't freeze is more important than saving all the banks.
For example, guarantee "lender of last resort" to all commercial & muni paper starting 75 bp above fed funds (AAA) and going from there. Make sure the payrolls get paid, and the cops too.
It's also a matter of justice, and that matters too.
"flow5 Says:
The FED may be able to bailout many banks but the FED cannot bailout the SYSTEM."
soup for you too MM
I am long tureens, short caviar spoons, to be sure.Reply
MM: I hear what you're saying about no one benefiting from a general Depression.
That said, I think it's pretty clear that the financial system (particularly the $ parts) needs to delever.
It's like house prices need to fall to align with incomes
Do you have another mechanism for this?
A global rate cut might be a nice headline, but unless the Committee of Central Banks to Save the World can find a way to get the liquidity they are soaking the money center banks with to trickle down to borrowers then I don't see what this does that other liquidity injections haven't. Maybe a coordinated intervention in the Commercial Paper markets might actually do something. Maybe winding down all the massive bank lending facilities and letting the weak fail, then nationalizing/recapitalizing the survivors would work. I don't know if anything is going to resolve this in a politically acceptable manner or timeframe.Reply
Zanon, I hate to say it, but I think we're at the point where developed market authorities need to inject capital into banks and, after having done so, aggressively lend to them...either through interbank deposits or CP, or something of that nature.
Deleveraging can come from reducing assets or increasing capital....while the former will need to be done in the long run, in the short term the latter is easier to accomplish.
I think it is safe to assume that most people who made mistakes in the last few years (and plenty who didn't) have been punished, so I think the time for hair-shirt financial Calvinism is over. And I say this as someone who opposed Fed rate cuts last year, pretty much for all the reasons that materialized...the run on the dollar and concomitant inflation shock.
Let's just say that I have changed my view in the ensuing 12 months.
MM: We have to restore confidence in "the system". Two things must happen:
(1) everyone has to delever (already mentioned)
(2) The guilty need to be held accountable
As for #2... there is absolutely nothing you, Hank Paulson or either Presidential candidate can say about tax payer funded lending or capital injection while Wall Street CEOs sit around with millions in ill gotten gains.
I have met several of these men, and they are not dumb. I think they knew what was happening-- at least the big picture.
To be paying multi-million dollar bonuses one day and then asking for a taxpayer bailout a few days later just doesn't make sense. Clearly, the P&L to justify those bonuses was not there (or they wouldn't need a bailout).
Every single American needs to ask -- no demand-- where is my multi-million dollar mansion in the Hamptons?
If you don't have a Hamptons mansion, and the folks that ran Bear, Lehman, AIG, etc into the side of a mountain do -- its just going to cut it.
There is NOTHING Paulson can say to change that.
I am not saying we should turn all socialist and ban million dollar pay packages... I am just saying the pay packages need to be earned. And these were not.
To restore faith in the markets, Wall Street needs to be a meritocracy, not a kleptocracy
BTW -- Paulson appointing a Goldman employee to run his super-SIV is just making things worse. Even if this guy is qualified, he is ex-Goldman. You cannot have even the appearance of impropriety, never mind actual impropriety
My problem with concentrating on banks only is that if they are so fscked, they won't bother to lend to anybody else, even if they are good borrowers. Why should the liquidity and normal operations go to them first? Why must they hold the rest of the economy hostage?
The Federal Reserve Banks are indeed banks, and it may be time to allow them to bypass the rabid and raving commercial banks if necessary to save the physical economy.
Since government is a bad capital allocator, how about a "matching funds" program? E.g. if a company gets $X from meager commercial paper rollover from banks, then Feddie Pae sticks in beta*X at similar terms, capped by FF + 300bp (or whatever), for some time-dependent beta.
The banks will take years to fix, let's not let that problem asphyxiate the rest of us.
as for the SuperSIV executor: What do you mean "ex"-Goldman?
It appears that U.S. Treasury is just another trading desk of theirs.
Except bonuses are awarded based on how much they lose with every trade.
Reuters: Lehman's Fuld: Where was our bailout?
Taxpayers to Fuld: Where was our $30 million pay package for screwing up?
"As much as 100 basis points across the board. What are the odds?"
I will wager that Japan does not cut interest rates by a hundred basis points. :)
Hmm ...
This is definitely crunch time ... I think the ECB might cut rates this week (50-75 basis points). Whether it will be a sole play is debatable, but if the rout continues tomorrow they have no choice.
Basically, there are too many macro implications of not doing anything.
JCT et al. will now have to face the music ... let us see whether they can dance.
What is this talk about a coordinated G3 response (i.e. this would take Japan back into ZIRP no?. Anyway, I am sure MM will be there with some thoughts if and when it happens.
I see some numbers on Bloomberg (about 173) for EURISK Curncy (function). The spread seems a lot tighter than I would expect, though.
"I think it is safe to assume that most people who made mistakes in the last few years (and plenty who didn't) have been punished,..."
I don't agree with that at all (at least with the first part of that statement). I don't consider going from a $500 million fortune to a $50 million fortune "punishment."
"Let's just say that I have changed my view in the ensuing 12 months."
Always a good thing for a trader to do when the situation changes.
I don't think a rate cut will help much as a practical matter, but it does offer a feel good factor, so bring it on (especially since I have big long positions in Fed Funds and Eurodollar futures).
What the CBs need right now is for the market to give them some time to draft sensible, long-term solutions to deleverage the financial system in an orderly fashion. To buy time however, the inter-bank and other money markets need to be resuscitated, and a rate cut is certainly not going to do that. The only thing that is going to work at this point is a near blanket guarantee, subject to a limited set of conditions, on lending in these markets. This is key to avoiding further damage to the real economy and in particular preventing the spread of illiquidity to NFN corporates and munis. Once this guarantee is in place, then the plan to delever can be crafted. I'm not sure what form it will ultimately take, but given private investors are pretty fed up with sticking money into increasingly large black holes, the cash required to delever is ultimately going to have to come from government.Reply
What we need is a coordinated sale!! Only 79 days to XmasReply


text:
1. In retrospect, the "surprising" success of Bridesmaids should have been the furthest thing from a surprise. It was a big, broad, audience-friendly comedy that made sure, in between all the poop jokes and the rampant silliness, that you liked all of its characters. It was ribald and bawdy, but never in an alienating way: Like any great comedian, like a puppy, Bridesmaids, deep down, desperately wanted you to love it. And we all did. You might think that Bachelorette is a Bridesmaids knockoff, and from a marketing perspective, I suppose it is. But this movie definitely doesn't care whether or not you love it.
2. The three main ladies of Bachelorette don't have the irrepressible lovability of a Kristen Wiig. They're harsh; they're cruel; they're nasty; and they're completely messed up in every possible way. Regan (Kristen Dunst) is an ice-queen control freak who despises everyone around her and appears destined for a cold, unhappy, fussily organized life. (She seems like she's looking forward to it.) Gena (Lizzy Caplan) is crass, sarcastic, off-putting, and defiantly self-destructive. Katie (Isla Fisher) is a raging alcoholic who can't go five minutes in a social setting without embarrassing herself and everyone around her. They all have a rather serious cocaine problem, and they all openly mock their friend Becky (Rebel Wilson), whose wedding has brought them all back together. They think Becky is fat and ugly and stupid and totally unworthy of the handsome, charming guy she's marrying; at the core, they're angry with her for being a nice, happy person and being rewarded for it. (There's also an explicit discussion of bulimia, an affliction of which all the women are acutely aware.) Cute, goofy Melissa McCarthy and Rose Byrne this isn't.
3. And that's what Bachelorette, a smarter movie than it probably looks to you, is about: It's about reaching that point when you realize your life hasn't turned out the way you thought it was going to and trying to figure out why ... or if you even care. These women all look at Becky and can't figure out why she's doing so well, why everything worked out for her and not for then. Then again ... do they really want her life? Aren't they happier being them? This all gets played out in a somewhat predictable sitcom fashion from time to time—most of the movie is spent trying to fix Becky's wedding dress, which they drunkenly destroyed—but there's a real undercurrent of sadness, of almost anger, beneath everything going on. This movie, written and directed by Leslye Headland (adapted from her play), isn't taking any prisoners. It's a tough bird.
4. It's not nearly as funny as Bridesmaids is, which is a little bit of a problem, this being a comedy and all. The plot is somehow more contrived—everybody finds someone with a similar problem to be matched up with perfectly—and the movie is better at setting up its characters' issues than it is at resolving them. Party Down fans will enjoy that Caplan is reunited with co-star Adam Scott, and while they still have chemistry, their story doesn't conclude all that satisfactorily. Same goes for James Marsden, playing a charming cad who would be an ideal fit with Regan as long as neither one of them had to actually talk to the other one. The center of the movie is Dunst, who gives another inscrutable, balls-out performance; like in Melancholia, she's outstanding at internalizing her pain, chewing it up, and spitting it back out at you in deeply uncomfortable ways. Yet she still humanizes Regan: When she has her come-to-Jesus moment with Becky at the end of the film, you shouldn't believe it, but you do. Dunst is quickly re-emerging as an actress with whom to be reckoned.
5. There's a great line from Regan that sums up what Bachelorette is about. "I did it all right," she says. "I went to college. I exercise. I eat like a normal person. I've got a boyfriend in med school. And nothing is happening for me." This is a movie about people who have been so caught up in themselves, in being so defiantly themselves at the expense of actual human connection, that life is passing them by. And they're not happy about it. It has worked out for their friend, and the tragedy of the women of Bachelorette is that they can't quite figure out why. All they can do is just keep mercilessly mocking her, and continue careening down the road of self-destruction. It's an option. Funny thing is: Who knows, it might just work. Who are we to tell them they're wrong? I don't want to be their target either.
Grade: B+
Grierson & Leitch is a regular column about the movies. Follow us on Twitter, @griersonleitch.


text:
Saints Alert is the College's rapid notification system for prompt communications during campus emergencies. Although participation is not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged and students are required to either register or formally opt-out of the program. Please note that all faculty, staff and students will receive message via their CSS email account regardless of participation status.
You will need to log into the site with your CSS User Name and Password.
Accidently opt-out of emergency text messages? You may request to begin receiving text messages again by texting "SUBSCRIBE Saints" to 23177.
If you have questions about Saints Alert, please contact Mike Turner at firstname.lastname@example.com
Thank you for your participation!
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Saints Alert work?
Saints Alert enables St. Scholastica officials to very quickly send notification about an on-campus emergency to cell phones (voice and text messages), emails, land-line phones, PDAs, the Web and social media.
Can I be notified in more than one way?
Yes. Saints Alert can deliver to each person a notification via up to six phone numbers, one text message, and two email addresses.
What do I need to do?
Think about how you could most efficiently and quickly be reached in case of a crisis on campus. That could include your cellphone, any landline in your room, home or apartment, a PDA if you own one, and any email address in addition to your St. Scholastica email address. Also consider whether there are other people you'd like to be informed in case of a crisis on campus. Parents? A spouse? Consider supplying their phone numbers.
If I want to receive a voice call, what will that be like?
If you answer your phone, you will hear a recorded voice that will provide information and instructions. You will have the opportunity to hear a Saints Alert message in one of our upcoming test sessions.
When listening to a message, be aware that background noise will cause the Saints Alert system to "stop and start." It is calibrated delicately to determine whether a person or an answering machine has picked up the phone, and background noise may affect the delivery. If possible, move to a quiet area, or press the "mute" button on your phone. If you miss any part of the message, stay on the line and press "*" (star) to hear the message again.
How about email?
The email will be from the College and have an appropriate emergency subject line. Upon opening the email, you will see the words "Emergency Communication" across the top of the email message. If you view your email in HTML the words will be in a red banner. The email message will contain information about the situation or instructions for you to follow. Do not reply to emergency email messages. You will have the opportunity to see a Saints Alert email message in one of our upcoming test sessions.
Will I have to pay for any text messages I receive?
Yes, if you have plan that charges per text. The cost will be negligible, since College will text message only in case of a campus emergency.
Will my contact information be kept confidential?
All personal information will be maintained in the strictest confidence.
I'm a St. Cloud student. Will Saints Alert cover my campus?
Saints Alert does have the capability to be customized to each of St. Scholastica's five campuses around the state.
Is Saints Alert the only way the College will try to reach me if there's a crisis?
No. Each emergency presents a different set of circumstances, which might require different response tactics. Usually, "low tech" tactics for spreading information on campus will also be used. Such tactics could include security personnel using bullhorns, "runners" between buildings, and so on.
Thank you for your cooperation in making St. Scholastica safer. Be smart - take part!
If you have questions about safety and security measures at the College please contact Michael Turner, Safety and Security Manager at firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
- Brand: Shimano
- Type: Cable Crimp End
- Size: 1,2 mm
- Delivery includes 1 piece
- Color: Silver
This item is sold individually!.
The first Shimano product was the bicycle freewheel, which also became the first product by Shimano to be exported in 1931.
Halfway through the 1950s Shimano expanded its range with a derailleur and a 3 speed hub.
In 1960 cold forging technology was introduced, quickly becoming a vital part of the production process and the main reason behind the premium quality of Shimano's bicycle parts.
Export figures grew exponentially. In 1965 and 1972 Shimano America and Shimano Europe were founded, and the first factories were opened in Singapore.
In 1973 the first complete Dura-Ace group came into being and Shimano Inc. became a publicly listed company.
Starting in the early 80s, the introduction of the mountain bike and the company's leading role in its evolution led to rapid growth for Shimano Inc.
Then Shimano turned the road bike market upside down in 1984 with the introduction of indexed shifting (SIS), and again in 1990 with integrated braking and shifting (STI).
Shimano Benelux is the official distributor of Shimano bicycle parts and accessories for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
In addition, the Benelux subsidiary also represents 18 other top-class brands in the bicycle industry.
Shimano Benelux strives to be an excellent supplier to its customers, offering high-quality parts and accessories that contribute to the health and happiness of society through their recreational and sporty nature.


text:
Last year I got talking to a few dive buddies and we were all talking about the best dives we had done , a few divers told me about diving with dolphins and said it was an amazing experience. Another diver asked if any of us had seen The Cove and what is happening to Dolphins in Japan. None of us had heard about it, the first thing i did was get online and watch it, if you haven't seen it already you really need to. The majority of the world is not aware this is happening. It's critical that we get the word out, once the Japanese people and the rest of the world know about the travesty that's going on in there we believe a demand for change will be made. If you would like to make a donation directly click here.
Statistics show that some 70% of you reading this page now are doing so from work (dont worry we`re not going tell your boss) Did you know you can start learning to scuba dive right now from your computer and the SSI Online Learning is free! So if your on a hourly rate at work you boss will even pay you while your doing it…(just don't tell him what your doing) SSI was the first certification agency to offer online learning and is still one of the only agency's that makes Online Learning free for it's divers. Once you finish your online training your scores will be emailed to us so once you book and arrive at Oceans5 we'll be ready to begin your pool training and Open Water Training complete in 2.5 days as you have saved time by doing the theory online… Look around you, stop dreaming about it, just do it… Click here to begin your own adventure now!
Open Water Course 3 Days
With small Instructor to student ratios, you're guaranteed the highest excellence in safety and personalized diver education. The SSI Open Water Diver Course enables you to scuba dive to 18m, rent scuba equipment and tanks anywhere in the world without the assistance of a dive professional, just you and your certified buddy. Our professional Instructors will share with you their years of experience to give you the best diving experience possible. Because we run or courses over 6 dives (not 4) you will receive an additional 2 bonus dives after your course is complete, this will ensure your future diving adventures are more enjoyable, safer and most importantly it will make you a more comfortable, confident diver. Why keep doing those shallow try dives with an instructor when you can become a certified diver and dive anywhere with your real friends!
You even can start learning online Now
Price: from $350
Becoming a Dive Instructor is definately a lifestyle choice and one that is well within your reach. Once you make the decision to go for it the next step is deciding where and with who. You want experienced and professional teachers at a reputable dive store, a great location and a good price. At Oceans5 we have you covered. Our Instructor courses are run by an SSI Instructor Trainer. Nha Trang, Vietnam is one of the most picturesque places around the world and our course costs only $2,350 (12 day course) all inclusive no hidden fees. When looking at prices many dive companies only display the cost of the course itself and fail to mention material costs ($400-$600) or evaluation and registration fees ($550-$750). Our price includes everything there is no more to pay.
To find more about our instructor course click here.
Upcoming Events
If you have any questions about diving don't hesitate to ask one of our friendly instructors. Don't worry there is no such thing as a stupid question, so fire away. here are some of the regular questions we get asked are;
Carol from England asked: Is it hard to beathe underwater? No it's not at first it may seem a little strange because it is a totally different enviroment underwater, but we take care of you so don't worry.
John USA asked: I snorkel alot and whenever I freedive I have serious pain in my ears, can I dive? Yes John you can, when we go under water there is an increase in pressure, that is what you feel. All you need to do is equalise just like you do on an aeroplane.


text:
DescriptionYou are the Director of a circus that's just packing up and moving on to the next town. The Big Top has been taken down, and now all that remains is to ensure that all the circus animals are safely on board the circus train and in their respective cars. Switch the animals with each other to create matches. Match three or more animals and they will fall into the cars passing below. Try to make the right animal fall into the right car.
- Match three or more animals by switching them with each other.
- Try to make each type of animal fall into their respective cars.
- Match four or more animals to get special power-ups that will help you earn more points.


text:
- Home
- Government
- City Departments
- Development Services
- Building Safety & Permits
- Permitting Commercial Projects
Commercial Projects
Building Permit Overview
A Commercial Building Permit application is required to:
- Alter, demolish, enlarge, move, or repair a building
- Change the occupancy of a building or part of a building
- Construct a new building
- Construct a retaining wall over four (4) feet high
Digital Building Permit Requirements
- One (1) complete set of drawings, including Architectural and Structural with civil, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing drawings attached. This set of drawings will be returned to the contractor upon issuance of the building permit.
- One (1) disk containing the complete set of drawings in a digital format (PDF).
- State plumbing approval when required.
- Fire Code Review Sheet in digital format (PDF) ***NEW Requirement ***
Building Permit Review Requirements
Building Safety Division
The Building Safety Division will review a permit for conformance to the International Building Code, including the National Electric Code, Arkansas Energy Code, Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, Arkansas Mechanical Code, Arkansas Plumbing and Gas Code, and the Fayetteville City Code. The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code can be ordered from the International Code Council online.
You may contact the Commercial Permit Coordinator at (479) 575-8238 should you need further assistance.
Engineering Division
The Engineering Division will review building permit applications for compliance with the City's regulation of development, flood damage prevention, physical alteration of land, storm water management, drainage and erosion control, and street and sidewalk specifications. You may contact the Engineering Coordinator at (479) 575-8206.
Fire Marshal
The Fire Marshal will review all nonresidential building permit applications, as well as review all sprinkler drawings and inspect installations. Fire Code forms needed for commercial projects Fire Code Submittable Checklist and Fire Code Review Sheet. You may contact the Fire Marshal at (479) 444-3448 or email@example.com.
Planning Division
The Planning Division will review all building permit applications for conformance to all zoning and development regulations as required by the City of Fayetteville Unified Development Code, the Planning Commission, or City Council before a building permit application will be approved. You may contact the Planning Division at (479) 575-8267.
Sidewalk Administrator
The Sidewalk Administrator will review building permit applications for sidewalk requirements and construction of parking lots containing five (5) parking spaces or more. You may contact the Sidewalk Administrator at (479) 575-8291.
Recycling & Trash Collection Division
The Recycling and Trash Collection Division will review building permit applications for compliance with the city's service and access regulations. You may contact the Recycling and Trash Collection Division at (479) 575-8398.
Urban Forester
The Urban Forester will review building permit applications for compliance with the tree preservation and landscape regulations of the Unified Development Code. You may contact the Urban Forester at (479) 444-3470.


text:
Fans of de Winton locomotives and similar will probably, like me, have a copy of the above titled book by A.S. Abbott on their bookshelves. They may also have the chunky (both size and price) book about de Winton too.
And now there's the opportunity to add a third excellent volume about VB locos. I was at the Llanfair Garden Railway show on Saturday and there I found (and purchased!) Vertical Boiler Locomotives and Railmotors Built in Great Britain Volume 2, published by the Industrial Loco Society.
There's a little more info in the link below, but it appears to be so new that it doesn't yet feature much when Googled. It isn't even on the ILS website amongst their own publications.
http://www.billhudsontransportbooks.co. ... &pid=12676


text:
Lactobacillus Acidophilus - Apple Strawberry
Now in Liquid form for maximum absorption.
Friendly bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum, are called probiotics. Probiotic bacteria favourably alter the intestinal micro flora balance, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, promote good digestive health, boost immune function, and increase overall resistance to infection.
People with flourishing intestinal colonies of beneficial bacteria are better equipped to fight the growth of disease-causing bacteria. Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria maintain a healthy balance of intestinal flora by producing organic compounds such as lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and acetic acid that increase the acidity of the intestine and inhibit the reproduction of many harmful bacteria. Probiotic bacteria also produce substances called bacteriocins, which act as natural antibiotics to kill undesirable micro organisms.
Regular ingestion of probiotic supplements, particularly Lactobacillus Acidophilus, may help in the overgrowth of Candida albicans. A review of the research concluded that both topical and oral use of acidophilus can prevent yeast infection caused by Candida overgrowth. Lactobacillus can help in keeping constipation and diarrhoea under control. Diarrhoea flushes intestinal micro organisms out of the gastrointestinal tract, leaving the body vulnerable to opportunistic infections.
Replenishing the friendly bacteria with probiotic supplements can help prevent new infections. The incidence of "traveller's diarrhoea," caused by pathogenic bacteria in drinking water or undercooked foods, can be reduced by the preventive use of probiotics. Probiotics are important in recolonising the intestine during and after antibiotic use. Probiotic supplements replenish the beneficial bacteria, helping to boost the body's immune response, particularly after antibiotic use.
Regular consumption of Lactobacillus Acidophilus benefits the body as it boosts the natural resistance to harmful internal parasites, eliminates bad breath by internally cleansing, reduces flatulence and can help reduce cholesterol by promoting normal absorption of dietary fats.
Regular consumption of Lactobacillus Acidophilus can help to prevent intestinal contamination, and promotes overall good health.
Dynamic Health Laboratories'™ Lactobacillus acidophilus is a delicious probiotic supplement with a hint of apple strawberry favour. This high strength formula with 10 billion live cells (!) is now in liquid form for maximum absorption!
Serving Size 2 tbps (30 mls) Servings per container 16
Lactobacillus Acidophilus Kosher D
Milk Free, Fat Free, No Egg, No Yeast, No Soy, No Wheat
No Preservatives
No Starch, No Lactose
- Helps Reduce Cholesterol
- Reduces Yeast Infections
- Alleviates Diarrohea, Gas, Constipation
- Yucca Shidigera Purifies the Digestive Tract
- Counteracts Side Effects of Antibiotics to the Digestive Tract
Dynamic Health
Instructions For Use
Serving Size 2 tbps (30 mls). Servings per container 16
Nutritional Facts
Customer Reviews
- very good Review by Kasia
Write Your Own Review
We Also Recommend
SporeGone Anti-Candida Yeast Supplement 60 V-Caps
Regular Price: £14.99
Special Price £13.99As low as: £12.99
Lactobacillus Acidophilus - NEW Black Cherry 473ml
Regular Price: £15.95
Special Price £12.95As low as: £9.72


text:
Acer species
Trees and Shrubs, Bonsai
Seed experiences double dormancy, and is ideally planted outside when the seeds drop from the tree, before it can dry out. Or soak seed 48 hours, surface sow, 3" apart, stratify 2 months, then grow warm and moist 2 months, and stratify in fridge another 2 months. Ring-barking is fairly slow. Most maples do well with good light but some shade. Well-draining, acidic, moist soil preferred. Softwood cuttings may also be taken in summer. Zone 2-9
Acer japonicum and Acer palmatum, Japanese maple, are among those species suited to side veneer grafting; both are hardy zones 5-8. Acer palmatum and its cultivars, best grown in a protected location and light shade, are particularly suited to growing in containers, and as bonsai, though most species may be used
Acer saccharum, the sugar maple, is grown as above, though ideally in full sun, as are the Norway maple, Acer platanoides, and silver maple, Acer saccharinum; the latter is also fairly pollution-tolerant. Hardy respectively to zones 3-7, 4-7, and 3-8. Acer platanoides also relatively salt-tolerant, and a good choice for clay soil
See Also
Flowering maple (Abutilon species)
Related Topics
|Copyright © 2020,
All rights reserved


text:
Walker and Associates offers service providers a multitude of network design options for deploying broadband services. Broadband access and delivery is a key driver of economic growth. The ability to share large amounts of information at ever-greater speeds increases productivity, facilitates commerce, and drives innovation. Broadband is changing how we communicate, educate, entertain, and work with each other. Increasingly, it is a determining factor in where we live, which is why broadband is particularly critical in rural areas, where advanced communications can shrink the distances that isolate remote communities.
Carrier Ethernet
Carrier Ethernet offers a price performance leadership and investment protection in the face of increased bandwidth requirements for residential and business services.
Multi-Service Access
Today's converging network is often a mix of TDM, Ethernet, and DSL protocols supporting voice, video and data applications. Walker provides solutions and the expertise that enable service providers to offer their business customers a seamless migration path from TDM-based services to enhanced triple-play services.
Optical Transport
Networks that are built on a scalable optical foundation can grow with changing business demands. Walker delivers future-proof optical transport solutions that will scale to tomorrow's unconstrained data transport needs.
Mobile Backhaul
Keep pace with today's increasing demand for mobile communication with a mobile backhaul solution that will expand capacity at a lower cost, while providing the necessary service, reliability, and quality of experience. Walker's strong partnerships with leading manufacturer partners and its ability to deploy multi-vendor solutions allow for specialized backhaul communications solutions to meet your needs.
Timing and Synchronization
The quality of timing and synchronization that telecommunication operators put into their network impacts the Quality of Service (QoS) of their voice, video and data services. Superior timing solutions and reliable synchronization means better QoS maximizing network performance.


text:
FAIRHAVEN YOUTH REC. LEAGUE fall programs: The Fairhaven Recreation Youth Basketball League is open to all members for SIGN-UP in Pee Wee (co-ed ages 6-8), Junior Girls and Junior Boys (9-11) and Senior (co-ed 12-14). Age is as of Dec. 1, 2011. Brings two proofs of residency and a copy of child's birth certificate. Cost $10. FRYBL is looking for OFFICIALS (approx. $13 per game) and volunteer COACHES. KOOL KIDS HALF DAY Thanksgiving Program 12:30-5:30 p.m. One, two and three-day programs include homework time, snack, sports and games (costs vary, no transportation available). Basketball CLINIC for ages 4-5 to be held 8-9 a.m. Saturdays beginning Dec. 1. Cost $10. Pre-registration required. For all inquiries, call 508-993-9269 or stop by the Rec. Center at 227 Huttleston Ave. during business hours.
VIPERS Tryouts: Vipers FC Youth Soccer Club of Greater New Bedford is looking for girls 14-16 years old to play competitive Club soccer both winter indoors and spring outdoors. Players must be in high school and have previous soccer experience. Any interested player can contact coach Ernie Bettencourt at 978-210-0210 or email at email@example.com. Visit the Vipers website at www.vipersfc.org.
MASS XPLOSION OPENINGS: The Mass Xplosion 14u Class A travel softball team has two roster openings. In need of a pitcher, and either a shortstop or thirdbaseman. Must be born in 1998 or later. Xplosion is based out of New Bedford. Please contact Chris for a tryout at firstname.lastname@example.com or 508-207-3057.
APPONEQUET HOF BANQUET: Apponequet Regional High School will hold its 12th Hall of Fame Induction on Friday, Nov. 23, at Mitchell Memorial Club, Elm Street (Route 28), Middleboro. Social hour at 6 p.m., dinner at 7, with the Induction Ceremony immediately following. Tickets are $25 per person and are available by contacting: Kristi Wills Falzone (email@example.com or 774-218-3855); Mike Kelley (firstname.lastname@example.com or 508-763-3479). Seating is limited; only a very small number of tickets may be available at the door.
FAIRHAVEN TURKEY TROT: The Fairhaven Turkey Trot for Health and Hunger will be held on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22. The race, which raised over $5,000 last year for local food panties, will be held at 8 a.m. at Cushman Park. Runners and walkers cover a 3.1 mile course, which begins in Cushman Park at 8 a.m. All proceeds go to support Shepherd's Pantry, Damien's Pantry, and M.O. Life, all in the Fairhaven/Acushnet area. In the past two years, over 300 runners/walkers have helped the Fairhaven Turkey Trot for Health and Hunger raise over $4,500 dollars and an astounding amount of non-perishable food items for those in need. Visit "Fhvn T. Trot" on Facebook or fairhaventurkeytrot.com/
Notices may be mailed to Sports Calendar, The Standard-Times, 25 Elm St., New Bedford, MA 02742, e-mailed to email@example.com or faxed to (508) 997-7491. Notices without stop dates will run three weeks. The sports calendar runs every Thursday, with a cut-off time of 3 p.m. Tuesday for submissions.


text:
Jim Hoft Says Man Arrested For Gunning Down Innocent Black Men Was 'Understandably Upset'
Two men were arrested in Tulsa, Oklahoma after allegedly driving through town and gunning down three random, innocent black men. According to police reports, one of the men, Jake England, had posted racial slurs on facebook indicating he was upset that his father had been killed by a black male two years ago. For the record, here's how the Daily Mail described the events two years ago:
On April 5, 2010, Carl England, 47, showed up at the apartment complex where his daughter lived with her boyfriend. The boyfriend had gotten into a fight Pernell Jefferson, 40, and had hit him with a baseball bat, the Tulsa World reported at the time.
Jefferson, who had been in prison on drug and weapons charges, then tried to break into the couple's apartment but left, saying he planned to 'settle the dispute.'
England and his daughter's boyfriend went looking for Jefferson at the apartment complex. When the found him, England hit him with a stick and knocked him to the ground.
Jefferson pulled out a gun and shot England in the chest, the World reported, killing him.
Jefferson, who is black, was arrested the next day when he showed up at a hospital. He was convicted of pointing a firearm. He is serving a six year prison sentence in the shooting.
Jim "Gateway Pundit" Hoft, writing about Jake England's alleged killing spree, wrote the following while posting screenshots from England's facebook page:
England was understandably upset over his father's death.
DERPOf course, we can all agree that anyone would be "upset" about the death of a close family member, but saying that England was "understandably upset" in the aftermath of England being arrested for allegedly driving around shooting innocent black people, after England had used a racial slur to refer to them, is remarkably dense even for Hoft. And it raises an age-old question: is Hoft being intentionally evil or just amazingly stupid?
I won't try to answer the question here, but I do have some relevant context for your consideration. First, Hoft has linked on multiple occasions to race-baiting news from the Council of Conservative Citizens, a White Nationalist group that is a decedent of the old White Citizens Councils. In fact, Hoft *still* has links to the group's old "C of CC" website on his blog, though the links are broken because they moved locations. Hoft also has a history of getting source material from blatently racist websites like "diversityiscrap.com," even getting called out for this by our local Village Voice-owned alt weekly newspaper. And Hoft has repeatedly been called out for using race-baiting articles that quickly turn into racist cesspools, yet he has never apologized nor taken steps to fix the problem.
A good example is Hoft's post in the last week titled: "HORROR!… Black Youth Mob Beats, Strips & Robs Tourist in Baltimore As Onlookers Laugh & Joke (Video Reposted)," where Hoft uses a video from a youtube channel that posts nothing but stories about black on white crime. In contrast to the post on the alleged murderers of three black men, where Hoft merely reported facts except for his comment that England was "understandably upset," in the "Youth Mob" article Hoft added editorial comments like "Horror!" and "how awful." Predictably, the comments section was full of people calling the attackers "animals," suggesting that they should be "deported to Africa" and saying "Derbyshire was right!" In Hoft's recent story about the gunning down of three innocent black men, a commenter with a long history of racist comments says:
You know what? It's about damn time whites started shooting back. If the media is going to hide black-on-white crime and cover for those savages, this is what's going to happen. They need to grasp that white America has been suffering 'enword fatigue' for too long. We are sick of the freebies, the wasted money, the pulling up to grocery stores in Escalades with food purchases paid with foo' stamp cards, the attacks on the streets, buses, in schools, in malls, the robberies and the racially-motivated beatings and killings. We are sick of the stupid, money-down-the-crapper useless 'programs' and the vast sums wasted on trying to educate and civilize these savages.
AFAIC, I say 'good shooting!'
Blacks, their race-hustling masters like Jackson, Dumb-ton, etc., and elected officials and appointess in government as well as the media can stop this tomorrow just by standing down. It's time for black America to back the hell up off of whitey and human-up. Savagery will and should beget nothing but savagery in return.
Whether Hoft is stupid or racist, if the right-wing wants to claim that they're actively dealing with their racism problem, they've clearly got a long way to go.


text:
Deliverance is a wholly original American film, directed by a Brit, an action survival thriller in the Straw Dogs mode. Ahead of its time in '72 it precluded a number of genres that would emerge over the decades from "hillbillyxploitation" of the '70s to "torture porn" of more recent years. Films from Southern Comfort to The Descent have been explained and pitched as "Deliverance with…" No film since has been able to combine the stunning filmmaking and the shock, but not just for shock's sake. This isn't an exploitation film, beneath the horror there is great and powerful purpose, when man takes on wild nature, he also finds out what is buried in his own nature.
Instead of an easy weekend of golfing, four Atlanta white collar guys get out of their depth with a canoe trip on a river that is slowly being damned up deep in the Appalachian mountains. The trio are linked by the family man Ed (Jon Voight); he is joined by two cronies completely out of their comfort zone, Bobby (Ned Beatty in his film debut) and Drew (Ronny Cox, Richard "Dick" Jones of Robocop). Luckily joining them in the adventures is he-man Lewis (Burt Reynolds), who seems to know what he's doing and who is quite the Hemingwayesque philosopher as well, "sometimes you have to lose yourself before you can find anything."Continue Reading


text:
Each card states:
100% of the net proceeds from this greeting support the American Cancer Society and its mission to save lives and create more birthdays by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back. To view ACS holiday cards and invitations, visit www.ACSGreetings.org. Cancer Information: cancer.org | 1.800.227.2345


text:
Left to right: Bava and Sons, Coast.biz; Jon Rafman, Juan Gris Dream House; Charles Broskoski, Untitled (Iris); David Kohn architects, Carrer Avinyo; Etienne Descloux, Visitez ma tente. Photograph by Noah Rabinowitz.
If Google had a pavilion at the Venice Biennale, who would they exhibit? How would their installation compete against the Artsy auction exhibition? Would a Young Incorporated Artist feel more comfortable representing Tumblr or the USA?
Biennales have long been recognised as vehicles of internationalization and globalization in the worlds of art and architecture. Founded in 1895, with its younger sibling the Architecture Biennale following in 1980, the Venice Biennale is perhaps the most well known of its ilk. Although structured around a thematic exhibition in the imperially-named Arsenale, a significant attraction is inevitably the soft state play that occurs between the national pavilions. But in a world where the certitude of nation states is increasingly coming up against a new dominance of multi-national business, it is perhaps surprising that outright corporate pavilions aren't more of a Biennale mainstay, beyond the aggressive sponsor interests that keep national pavilions afloat.


text:
Title: Katerina's Hope
Series: A Four Realms Novel #2
Author: Sabrina Rawson
Published: September 23rd, 2014
Word Count: 100,000
Genre: NA Urban Fantasy
Content Warning: Non-graphic sexual content and minor violence
Age Recommendation: 16+
Striker Wells is son to Queen Briksanna, and knowing Katerina is her best friend, he does not feel ashamed of his love or his commitment to pledge his life to her. Before their lives can begin, Katerina is kidnapped. Devastated, Striker searches for his lost love, swearing not to stop until she is found. The woman he finds is not the same woman when she was taken. Will Striker be able to overcome his personal demons of abandonment to accept the man Katerina will need him to be for them to have a lifetime of happily ever after?
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Although Sabrina Rawson had been physically writing for two years, the ideas that conceived her first novel had been percolating in her mind for many years. In many ways, she found life experiences had influenced her story although it is written in fantasy format.
Nelson Mandela's words inspired her: "There is no passion to be found playing small -– in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."
No truer words could have been said. After her first cancer battle four years ago, she was in the mindset to survive, get back into the swing of things. Problem was she couldn't. She wasn't the same person anymore. She relapsed by the end of the first year. She survived that experience exhausted and has had multiple tumors pop up ever since. To say her health presented a mental and physical challenge was putting it mildly. She wanted to be more, do more, and was determined to reinvent herself along the way.
What she left behind after that first surgery was her passion for life. Cancer didn't take that away; she buried it along with her drive and ambition. Her creative muse happily skipped right along with the rest of her dreams, leaving her disconnected. She had to rediscover herself, and it was a slow personal process. It's now four years past her first surgery, and even if she had to do it all over again tomorrow, so what! She refused to settle for a life less than what she could create for herself.
Sabrina has published works with Survivor's Review Online Magazine and Titan InKorp Online eMag. She has published two novels within a New Adult Urban Fantasy Romance called A Novel of Four Realms, titled Briksanna's Sacrifice (Book One) and Katerina's Hope (Book Two). Book Three is due to publish in early spring 2015.
Sabrina lives in Sonoma County, heart of the wine country of California, enjoying life in the rural land and happily married to a wonderful, supportive husband. You can always find her reading a book or cooking a meal for her multitude of children.
Two winners will receive signed print copies of the first book in the series, Briksanna's Sacrifice, by Sabrina Rawson. Enter through the Rafflecopter form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: Susan Heim on Writing is not responsible for Rafflecopter content or prize fulfillment.


text:
Moderator: General Mods
Jynks wrote:Till then if you are looking for awesome scifi, or fims in general.. i would start looking backwards in time.
ScarletJester wrote:I'd only get Teknolust if you're a BIG Tilda Swinton fan, otherwise its garbage . I think I like it only because of the dance the tri-colour Swinton's do in it.
Return to Sci-fi Fanatics Cabal
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


text:
Sorry folks, our services have been discontinued!
Read More
Hop on Aboard! Discover new experiences and activities with us. Subscribe to get inspiration for your next trip, great deals on your consult and lots more!
© 2020 GoPo.
A Product of Modus Operandi Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Don't Miss Out!
Stop doing more of the same things... Discover new experiences!
Sign up today!


text: div 13,464 Report post Posted July 2, 2018 A question for SMiSA if I may. Having successfully paid off the £380K to the previous board, well ahead of schedule, we now start saving to pay back the £615K due to Gordon. With membership well over what was projected in the project plan it stands to reason that, assuming membership stays at broadly the same level, we will have that £615K raised within say the next 4 years. That would bring us to 2022 but the general agreement with Gordon was for handover and completion in 2026. So, if we DO raise enough by 2022, does the deal go through early, or do we keep saving for a contingency fund, and if so for how long? Interested to know if this has been thought about and if so what the plan would be? 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Book Direct with the Owner at Aloomba Australia Vacation Geraldton Accommodation Agent in Aloomba, for all your holiday and travel needs.
Address: 75 Jacobs Road, Kurrimine Beach QLD 4871
Address: Fitzroy Island, Fitzroy Island QLD 4871
Address: 199 Ellis Road, Bellenden Ker QLD 4871
Address: 2429 Pine Creek Yarrabah Road, East Trinity QLD 4871
copyright © 2020 Geraldton Accommodation. All rights reserved.


text:
Niya yu asian pornstar porn star gallery free pic pics
I just love action,, lm a great steady worker.
Discover More
Welcome to dvictoriafinearte.com! We collected a lot of sexy video for every taste. Porn Fidelity, Lithuanian whores, Fucked by Huge Cock, My Little whore, Slut in Latex, Mexican slut, Whore In the Street, Lesbians slut.
There are thousands of galleries in each category. Everyone will find photos or videos of their interests. So if you like our website, come and check it everyday. We'll update videos every single day. Hope you enjoy! Watch and have fun! Thanks.
You are about to enter a website that may contain
content of an adult nature. These pages are designed for ADULTS only and may include pictures and materials that some viewers may find offencive. If you are under the age of 18+, if such material offends you or if it is illegal to view such material in your community please dvictoriafinearte.com now!


text:
== The general Two-Higgs-Doublet Model ==
=== Authors ===
* Claude Duhr
* Université catholique de Louvain
* [:mailto:email@example.com:firstname.lastname@example.com]
* Michel Herquet
* NIKHEF theory group
* [:mailto:email@example.com:email@example.com]
=== Description of the model ===
The two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM) has been extensively studied for more than twenty years now, even though it has often been only considered as the scalar sector of some larger model, like the MSSM or some Little Higgs models for example. The general 2HDM considered here already displays by itself an interesting phenomenology that justifies its study like, for example, new sources of CP violation in scalar-scalar interactions, tree-level flavour changing neutral currents (FCNC's) due to non diagonal Yukawa interactions, or a light pseudoscalar state and unusual Higgs decays
The 2HDM considered here is based on two SU(2) doublets with the same hypercharge Y=+1. If one imposes only gauge invariance, the most general renormalisable scalar potential can be found in the reference quoted below. This potential has 6 real (mu_(1,2) and lambda_(1,2,3,4)) and four complex parameters (mu_3 and lambda_(5,6,7)). We assume the electromagnetic gauge symmetry is preserved, i.e. , that the vev's of two doublets are aligned in the SU(2) space in such a way that a single SU(2) gauge transformation suffices to rotate them to the neutral components.
The most general form for the Yukawa interactions contains two 3x3 complex Yukawa coupling matrices, noted Delta_i and Gamma_i, expressed in the fermion physical basis, i.e. in the basis where the fermion mass matrix are diagonal. Since the fermion mass matrix isfixed, only the Gamma_i matrices, i.e. the Yukawa couplings of the second Higgs doublet, are required. We choose as free parameters the Gamma_i matrices, while the other Yukawa couplings, the Delta_i matrices, are deduced from the matching with the observed fermion masses. Conventionally, the indices of the elements of these Yukawa matrices refer to the generations of the SU(2) doublet and singlet, respectively
The 2HDM Lagrangian implemented in !FeynRules is based on the Standard Model default implementation, where the scalar potential and Yukawa interactions have been modified as explained above. An important feature of this model is the freedom to redefine the two scalar fields using arbitrary "horizontal" U(2) transformations acting on the two doublets simultaneously since this transformation leaves the gauge-covariant kinetic energy terms invariant. Since a given set of Lagrangian parameter values is only meaningful for a given basis, let us take advantage of this invariance property to select the Higgs basis (by defining the additional file HiggsBasis.fr) where only one of the two Higgs fields acquires a non-zero vev, namely H_1. Note that the Higgs basis is not univocally defined since a phase reparametrization of H_2 leaves the Higgs basis condition invariant, so that the phase of H_2 can be fixed in such a way that lambda_5 becomes real. Other basis choices can in principle be easily implemented as different extension files for the main Lagrangian file Lag.fr.
There are two independent minimization conditions for general 2HDM potential, one relating m_1 to lambda_1 and one relating m_3 to lambda_6. This reduces the number of free parameters in the most general 2HDM to ten (seven real parameters, three complex ones and three minimization conditions). Besides the usual three massless would-be Goldstone bosons, the physical spectrum also contains a pair of charged Higgs with a mass directly related to lambda_3 and m_2, so that m_2 can be directly extracted from this mass, given as an external input.
The symmetric matrix squared mass matrix for the three neutral Higgs field is diagonalized by an orthogonal matrix T which describe the relation between the physical scalar fields and the doublet neutral components. Even though this matrix is directly related to the potential parameter, it is still considered as an external input in the current implementation and must be provided by the user.
In the current implementation of the 2HDM into FeynRules, the user has to provide numerical values for all the lambda_i parameters in the Higgs basis, together with the charged Higgs mass. The other parameters of the potential, such as the \mu_i, are then deduced from these inputs. Contrary, the T matrix must be calculated externally. This, together with the change of basis required if the user wants to provide potential parameters and Yukawa coupling values in bases different from the Higgs basis, as it is often the case, can be done using the ''TwoHiggsCalc'' calculator introduced for the original implementation of the 2HDM in MadGraph. This code has been modified to produce a parameter file compatible with the present implementation. This calculator can also be used to calculate the required Higgs boson tree-level decay widths. It can be found at
=== References ===
* " ''CP violation'' ", G. Branco, L. Lavoura and J. P. Silva, Clarandon Press, Oxford, 1999. Chapter 22.
=== Model files ===
* [http://europa.fyma.ucl.ac.be/~duhr/twiki/pub/Main/2HDM/2HDM.tar.gz 2HDM.tar.gz]: This archive contains all the model files. Should be expanded in the FR model directory.
* [http://europa.fyma.ucl.ac.be/~duhr/twiki/pub/Main/2HDM/HBreal.rst HBreal.rst]: Additionnal restriction file to define all parameters as being rule, to be used, for example, with !CalcHEP?
=== Instructions ===
The model-file is loaded in the usual way.
Feynman gauge is not supported, only unitary gauge is available.
=== Examples ===
* [http://europa.fyma.ucl.ac.be/~duhr/twiki/pub/Main/2HDM/2HDM.nb 2HDM.nb] : This is an example Mathematica® notebook that loads the model and calculates Feynman rules.
* [http://europa.fyma.ucl.ac.be/~duhr/twiki/pub/Main/2HDM/param_card_FR.dat param_card_FR.dat] : This is an example of LHA parameter file to be used with this model. It also contains the defalut values used for validation.
=== Validation ===
* [http://europa.fyma.ucl.ac.be/~duhr/twiki/pub/Main/2HDM/PSPoints.jpg Phase space point comparison with stock version]
* [http://europa.fyma.ucl.ac.be/~duhr/twiki/pub/Main/2HDM/TANU.jpg Cross section comparison, for tau/nu_tau initial state]
* [http://europa.fyma.ucl.ac.be/~duhr/twiki/pub/Main/2HDM/TATA.jpg Cross section comparison, for tau/tau initial state]
* [http://europa.fyma.ucl.ac.be/~duhr/twiki/pub/Main/2HDM/TATAbis.jpg Cross section comparison, for tau/tau initial state (part 2)]
* [http://europa.fyma.ucl.ac.be/~duhr/twiki/pub/Main/2HDM/VV.jpg Cross section comparison, for VV initial state]
* [http://europa.fyma.ucl.ac.be/~duhr/twiki/pub/Main/2HDM/VSSS.jpg Cross section comparison, for VSSS external legs]
-- Main.MichelHerquet - 09 Jun 2009


text:
In the old days (the '80s), most New Orleans rap was released by labels from outside the state. Dallas's Yo! had handled Gregory D & Mannie Fresh and Tim Smooth. Ft. Lauderdale's famous bass label, 4 Sight, released Ninja Crew's "We Destroy." Juvenile was initially on New York's Warlock. When majors got involved, they invariably mis-handled the artists. Gregory D & Mannie Fresh moved to RCA; Warren Mayes and pioneering west bank rapper MC Thick signed to Atlantic.
All that changed following the bounce explosion of 1991. New Orleans's long established Soulin' Records finally got into the rap game, releasing DJ Jimi's debut single, the bounce classic "(The Original) Where Dey At?" Seemingly overnight, a number of cottage industry labels sprang up, including Big Boy, Cash Money, Parkway Pumpin, Slaughterhouse, Take Fo' and Untouchable. None of them except Cash Money lasted into the new millenium. But for a time, they collectively produced and recorded some of the most overlooked and greatest rap of the decade and routinely outsold nationally-promoted rappers of the day, helping turn the tide toward the south.


text:
Domain Name: GRIFFSOFT.INFO
Domain ID: D6122496-LRMS
WHOIS Server:
Referral URL: http://registrar.1and1.info
Updated Date: 2016-08-12T22:20:47Z
Creation Date: 2004-08-12T07:30:36Z
Registry Expiry Date: 2017-08-12T07:30:36Z
Sponsoring Registrar: 1&1 Internet SE
Sponsoring Registrar IANA ID: 83
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited
Registrant ID: proxyafilias_us
Registrant Name: Oneandone Private Registration
Registrant Organization: 1&1 Internet Inc
Registrant Street: 701 Lee Road Suite 300
Registrant Street: ATTN
Registrant City: Chesterbrook
Registrant State/Province: PA
Registrant Postal Code: 19087
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: +1.8772064254
Registrant Phone Ext:
Registrant Fax:
Registrant Fax Ext:
Registrant Email: email@example.com
Admin ID: proxyafilias_us
Admin Name: Oneandone Private Registration
Admin Organization: 1&1 Internet Inc
Admin Street: 701 Lee Road Suite 300
Admin Street: ATTN
Admin City: Chesterbrook
Admin State/Province: PA
Admin Postal Code: 19087
Admin Country: US
Admin Phone: +1.8772064254
Admin Phone Ext:
Admin Fax:
Admin Fax Ext:
Admin Email: email@example.com
Tech ID: proxyafilias_us
Tech Name: Oneandone Private Registration
Tech Organization: 1&1 Internet Inc
Tech Street: 701 Lee Road Suite 300
Tech Street: ATTN
Tech City: Chesterbrook
Tech State/Province: PA
Tech Postal Code: 19087
Tech Country: US
Tech Phone: +1.8772064254
Tech Phone Ext:
Tech Fax:
Tech Fax Ext:
Tech Email: email@example.com
Billing ID: proxyafilias_us
Billing Name: Oneandone Private Registration
Billing Organization: 1&1 Internet Inc
Billing Street: 701 Lee Road Suite 300
Billing Street: ATTN
Billing City: Chesterbrook
Billing State/Province: PA
Billing Postal Code: 19087
Billing Country: US
Billing Phone: +1.8772064254
Billing Phone Ext:
Billing Fax:
Billing Fax Ext:
Billing Email: email@example.com
Name Server: NS57.1AND1.COM
Name Server: NS58.1AND1.COM
DNSSEC: unsigned
>>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2016-10-06T04:49:46Z <<<
For more information on Whois status codes, please visit https://icann.org/epp
Access to AFILIAS WHOIS information is provided to assist persons in determining the contents of a domain name registration record in the Afilias registry database. The data in this record is provided by Afilias Limited for informational purposes only, and Afilias does not guarantee its accuracy. This service is intended only for query-based access. You agree that you will use this data only for lawful purposes and that, under no circumstances will you use this data to(a) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission by e-mail, telephone, or facsimile of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations to entities other than the data recipient's own existing customers; or (b) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that send queries or data to the systems of Registry Operator, a Registrar, or Afilias except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations. All rights reserved. Afilias reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. By submitting this query, you agree to abide by this policy.
Registrar Information :
Domain Information Updated : 10/06/2016 12:50am