text:
- Creating a Simple Form
- Using Get or Post
- Receiving Data from a Form in PHP
Web sites use forms to register and log in users, to receive feedback, for online shopping, and for many other purposes. Even the most basic site will find logical reasons to incorporate them.
Frequently, programmers create CGI scripts in Perl to handle the data created by these forms, but the same results can be achieved more easily using PHP. Unlike CGI scripts, where you have to write a segment of code that will extract the information sent by the form, PHP has a nice method of built-in support for receiving data from an HTML form without the need of any parsing.
This article will cover the basics of creating HTML forms and how that data is transmitted to your PHP script. Those who are new to the topic of forms may want to refer to an in-depth HTML resource, such as HTML for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide, for more detailed coverage of the topic, considering their importance in the field of Web site design.
Creating a Simple Form
For your HTML form you will create a feedback page that takes the user's first and last names, e-mail address, and comments. You'll need to create the necessary fields with this in mind.
To create an HTML form:
Open your text editor and create a new document:
Between the body tags, add the opening and closing <FORM> tags:
Save the page as form.html.
After the opening FORM line (line 6) but before the closing FORM tag, press Return to create a new line.
- Now begin adding your form fields by typing:
First Name <INPUT TYPE=TEXT NAME= "FirstName" SIZE=20>
Follow a consistent naming convention within your form by giving each field a logical and descriptive name. Use letters, numbers, and the underscore (_) when naming fields. As you work, keep track of names you use for each field (Script 2).
Last Name <INPUT TYPE=TEXT NAME= "LastName" SIZE=40>

Add the
 tags to make the form look cleaner when viewed in the Web browser.
E-mail Address <INPUT TYPE= TEXT NAME="Email" SIZE=60>
Comments <TEXTAREA NAME="Comments" ROWS=5 COLS=40></TEXTAREA>

Script 2 Any combination of input types can be added to your form -- just ensure that all of them are within the <FORM> tags or else those elements will not appear. As a stylistic suggestion, laying out these input elements within a table can give your form a more professional-- and more useable -- appearance.
A TEXTAREA gives the user more space to enter in their comments than a TEXT field would. However, with the TEXT input you can limit how much information the user can enter, which you cannot do with the TEXTAREA. When creating your form, choose input types appropriate to the information you wish to retrieve from the user.
On a separate line, type
<INPUT TYPE=SUBMIT NAME="SUBMIT" VALUE="Submit!">
The VALUE of a SUBMIT type is what will appear on the button itself in the Web browser. You could also use "Go!" or "Enter," for example.
Save your script, upload it to your server, and view it in your browser (Figure 1). (Since this is an HTML page, not a PHP script, you could view this in your Web browser directly from your computer.)
<TITLE>HTML Form </TITLE>
<FORM ACTION="HandleForm.php"> </FORM>
(Script 1).
The <FORM> tags dictate where a form begins and ends. Every element of the form must be entered within these two lines. The ACTION attribute tells the server which page (or script) will receive the data from the form.
Script 1 Every HTML form begins and ends with the <FORM></FORM> tags. When hand-coding forms, take care not to forget either tag. Also be sure to direct the form to the proper handling script with the ACTION attribute.
Figure 1 If you have typed in your form correctly, it should look like this in your Web browser. Make sure that you close the form and include the submit button within it.
In this example you created your form by hand-coding the HTML, but you can do this in a Web page application (such as Dreamweaver or GoLive) if that is what you are more comfortable with.
Note that you used the HTML extension (.html) here as you created a standard HTML page (not necessarily a PHP page). You could have used the PHP extension and achieved the same results, even though there is no actual PHP utilized. (Remember that in a PHP page, anything not within the PHP brackets--<?php and ?>--gets treated like HTML.)
Although I didn't do so here, I would recommend that most forms, especially more involved ones, also have a Reset button, created with the code:
<INPUT TYPE=RESET NAME=RESET VALUE="Reset">
Be careful to make sure that your ACTION attribute correctly points to an existing file on the server or else your form will not be processed. In this case, we are indicating that the HandleForm.php file is within the same directory as the form.html page.


text:
By Tessa Raebeck
Plans to unleash federal sharpshooters on the East End deer population have been met with bureaucratic setbacks and vocal opposition, but are moving forward nonetheless.
In coordination with the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Long Island Farm Bureau (LIFB) plans to hire USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) sharpshooters to kill deer with high-powered rifles to cull the local herds.
In addition to carrying tick-borne illnesses, causing car accidents and adversely affecting other animal habitats, deer destroy an estimated $3 to $5 million worth of crops annually on the East End, according to Joe Gergela, LIFB executive director.
Gergela said the cull, which will be largely funded by a $200,000 state grant, aims to kill 1,500 to 2,000 deer. All processed meat will go to Island Harvest to feed the hungry on Long Island.
"We felt whatever we did with the grant should be for community as well as farming benefit," Gergela said Wednesday, adding a cull is crucial to having a successful agricultural industry.
LIFB has asked that villages and towns who want the sharpshooters sign onto the program by committing $15,000 or $25,000, respectively.
The DEC has yet to reveal whether it will require a single permit for the program or make each municipality signing onto the program file individually. Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. said Tuesday although many municipalities have expressed interest in joining the program, they don't want the legal liability of having the permit in their name.
So far, East Hampton Village, Southold Town and the eastern part of Brookhaven Town have signed on.
North Haven Village opted out, but is pursuing its own organized cull.
Sagaponack Village's participation is contingent on the participation of both East Hampton and Southampton towns.
Southampton Town has thus far stayed mute on the subject — which has been under public discussion since September. Calls to Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst were not returned as of press time.
The East Hampton Town Board, under the previous administration, adopted a deer management plan that included plans for a cull. On Tuesday, however, newly elected Supervisor Larry Cantwell said he was unsure if the town would, in fact, join the LIFB in this initiative.
"At the moment, it's up in the air," Cantwell said, adding he would like to see culling on a limited basis and there are advantages to participating, but the town's decision will be based primarily on the opinions of its residents.
"To some extent," said Cantwell, "this is happening fairly quickly in terms of building a community consensus moving forward."
The East Hampton Group for the Wildlife, the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center of the Hamptons and 13 individuals have filed suit against East Hampton Town, East Hampton Village and the East Hampton Town Trustees.
The lawsuit asks for a temporary restraining order against the town's deer management plan and specifically, any proposal that calls for an organized cull.
"The lawsuit," Cantwell said, "is certainly a factor in the decision-making process about this."
Critics contend little information has been provided to show the cull is truly necessary.
"Killing other beings as a way of solving the problem is abhorrent, unethical and monstrous to me," said East Hampton Group for the Wildlife President Bill Crain. "These are living beings with families and social lives and emotions, so to kill them just seems like a moral outrage."
"It's not about animal cruelty and all the nonsense that the Bambi lovers are spouting," Gergela said. "If they would sit down and listen to people, they would realize there are no practical solutions other than to hunt or to cull."
A petition on change.org to stop the "stealth plan to brutally slaughter 5,000 East End deer" had garnered over 10,600 signatures as of press time. In addition to local residents, activists from as far away as Belgium have signed the petition, which calls for the "unethical, 'quick-fix,' non-science-based plan" to "immediately cease and desist."
A rally in protest of the cull will be held Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. at the Hook Mill in East Hampton.
Gergela dismissed the opposition as a "vocal minority" of non-locals with "no vested interest other than they enjoy animals and they enjoy their peaceful weekend on Long Island."
"That's very nice," he added, "but for those of us that live here, whether you're a farmer or a general citizen that's had an accident, that has Lyme Disease or whatever, everybody says to me, 'You're doing a great thing.'"
Local hunters have also expressed their opposition to the cull, arguing if state and local governments lessened hunting restrictions, they themselves could thin the deer population.
Terry Crowley, a lifelong Sagaponack resident whose family has been hunting on the East End for generations, called the cull "a little ridiculous."
"They should just change a few laws so more deer can be killed," Crowley said Tuesday.
Thiele is working on legislation that would implement the state deer management plan, which has a number of recommendations to increase hunting opportunities, including expanding the January season to include weekends and allow bow and arrow hunting.
Cantwell voiced his support of such legislation.
"I certainly want to work with the local hunters who want to take deer," the supervisor said Tuesday, "because I do think that removing some deer from the population on an ongoing basis is necessary to control the population."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Thank you for your interest in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Individuals interested in career, internship, or volunteer opportunities should check this page frequently for updated listings.
Check here for current employment opportunities available at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Applicants interested in completing an internship at HSP should send a cover letter and resume to the contact person listed for each position. A background check and interview may be necessary. For current internship opportunities click here.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Volunteering your time and talents is a powerful way to change the world and change your life. Add yourself to a growing list of people who care about their communities by volunteering for an organization that supports the community and preserves our history. For a current list of volunteer opportunities click here.
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.


text:
A fan favorite exits on Glee! A steamy moment between Elena and one of the brothers on The Vampire Diaries! Answers to burning mythology questions on Revolution!
What do all three of these awesome things have in common? They're what we have in store for you in today's Spoiler Chat! Plus, we've got romance scoop on Scandal, goodies on The Walking Dead premiere and the inside scoop on how much of a Teen Wolf fan favorite viewers will be seeing this season...
Nicole: Can you please find out what's going on with Jayma Mays on Glee? Why is she a guest star when she's been a regular for the past three seasons? Please tell me they don't plan on writing her out of the show. Glee would suck without Emma and Wemma.
As far as we know, there are no plans to write anybody off the show. And we agree, Glee would suck without those two, but it sounds like we might have to get used to the show without Wemma, or at the very least, without Will. Based on what Jane Lynch told us recently, Mr. Schue is going to be absent for a bit, perhaps to go to Washington? "Finn is going to take over the glee club for a couple of weeks," she reveals to us. But does Will take his bride-to-be with him? That is scoop for another time, Gleeks.
David: Any TVD scoop you can share?
While Caroline will be there for Elena, expect to see a major change in their friendship when the blond vamp doesn't like the way the new bloodsucker is acting. Hint: It may or may not have to do with a steamy moment Elena shares with the older Salvatore brother in episode four.
Gregory: When will we see Grace again on Revolution? Or is she dead? I need answers!
And you will get them…in episode seven. "We see who Randall is, this person who kidnapped her in episode two, and we get to learn more about him," creator Eric Kripke tells us. "We start to expand it because she is under duress with this character, Randall. She's in a dangerous position right now. In the second of the half the season, Grace and Randall and what's happening with their storyline begins to play a huge, huge part in the main storyline of the show."
Melissa: After hearing about Colton Haynes' exit, I need some good Teen Wolf news.
Fans will be happy to hear that Daniel Sharman, who plays new wolf Isaac on the MTV hit, will be in at least eight episodes in the first half of season three. We're hearing there's a good chance Sharman could eventually be bumped up to series regular.
Meg: Scandal just keeps getting better and better, but I'd love to see Harrison get a love interest! What's coming up for him?
Why don't we just let the very attractive and charming Columbus Short field this one himself? "Harrison is a very interesting person. Does he have a love life in a romantic sense? No. But he has a very distinct love life with Olivia, with Abby, with Quinn," he says. "Abby and Harrison have this relationship that has grown into something truly special and it grows into something tremendously special and complicated. Abby always questions Olivia and Harrison has this loyalty to Olivia that is unbreakable—that becomes a really big element." Take from that what you will!
Christina: CSI: NY scoop, please!
It's time to meet Adam's father! Viewers will be introduced to Walt (and his Irish accent!) when Adam goes to visit his father—who's suffering from Alzheimer's—in the nursing home.
Tessa: I need Good Wife scoop on Mr. Big, I mean…Peter.
Chris Noth will always be Mr. Big to us, too. And Matthew Perry will probably always be Chandler. So imagine how happy it makes us to see Noth and Perry on The Good Wife together, even if they are at odds. "We're running against this guy who's using family values as a way to get elected, played by the wonderful Matthew Perry," Noth tells us. "So what I'm dealing with now is [Eli] is dealing with the blowback from my separation and how that appears politically. [Peter's] got a lot of stuff to deal with. There's going to be stuff that they're going to drag up to drag me down." Drama, drama, drama…
Eddie in Los Angeles: Walking Dead premiere is finally here! Please please tell me something about the new season!
"It's going to be an escalation of what we saw at the end or the second season, creator Robert Kirkman tells us. "So it's going to be bigger, better, faster. There's going to be a lot more action, a lot more cool stuff. But the same drama that you want to see." How much more action? "Well, let's just say in the first episode there are more zombie kills than in most of season one," star Andrew Lincoln teases. Bring on the bloodbath!
—Additional reporting by Jenna Mullins and Tierney Bricker
Want your TV questions answered in our next Spoiler Chat? Email them to email@example.com or tweet at @KristinDSantos!


text:
Article content
The bodies of 23 people were found hanging from a bridge or dismembered in ice boxes and garbage bags in northeastern Mexico on Friday, in an escalation of brutal violence involving rivel drug gangs on the U.S. border.
In a first incident, the bodies of five men and four women were found hanging from a bridge in Nuevo Laredo, in Tamaulipas state just across the border from the Texas city of Laredo.
Police could not confirm who was responsible for the murders but a message seen with the bodies indicated it may have been an attack by the Zetas cartel against the rival Gulf cartel.
Hours later, police found the dismembered corpses of 14 people in garbage bags and ice boxes dumped near the police station of Nuevo Laredo, police investigators said.
They said the second massacre could have been an act of revenge for the earlier killings, police said.
More than 50,000 people have died in drug-related violence in Mexico since President Felipe Calderon launched a crackdown on traffickers after taking office in late 2006 and deployed tens of thousands of federal police and soldiers across Mexico.
The Zeta cartel was founded by desertres from the Mexican special forces who became Gulf cartel enforcers and later split from their employers.
The two gangs are now fighting for control of local drug trafficking routes.
Last month the dismembered remains of 14 men were found stuffed inside a minivan left near Nuevo Laredo's town hall.
Days later a car exploded outside police headquarters and police said the explosion was caused by a grenade.
Discontent over the bloody attacks is helping fuel support for the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, ahead of Mexico's July 1 presidential election.
Opinion polls make the PRI the favorite to regain the presidency they held for most of the past century.
The Zetas have also been engaged in hostilities with the powerful Sinaloa cartel, named after the state in northwestern Mexico where violence has surged over the past week.
Sinaloa is the home turf of Mexico's most wanted drug trafficker, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, who heads the Sinaloa cartel, and analysts say his killing or capture would boost Calderon's embattled conservatives ahead of the presidential vote.
Calderon cannot seek a second term in office.
At least 20 suspected drug gang members, one police officer and a soldier have been killed in six confrontations in Sinaloa since April 28, a spokesman for local state prosecutors said.
He was unable to specify which gangs were thought to be behind the latest violence in Sinaloa.
tap here to see other videos from our team.


text:
Author's note: This is the second story highlighting two Midwestern Catholic schools and their ongoing immersion in sustainability. On Sept. 18, Eco Catholic featured Lewis University, a De La Salle Christian Brothers school near Chicago. Today's column focuses on Xavier in Cincinnati, the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the country.
When he first enrolled at Xavier University in 2008, Gerardo Patron-Cano anticipated becoming a successful businessman like his dad, moving across the globe for international work assignments in such exciting places as Beijing and Brussels.
It didn't happen. Four years later, the 22-year-old graduate is now growing radishes, turnips, oats and tomatoes as an intern at Turner Farm, a working organic farm outside of Cincinnati.
"It's been an amazing time," he said. "I can't believe this is a job because of how awesome it is. And I know that what I'm doing is ecologically sustainable."
Patron-Cano's career plan flipped on its head after he signed up for one of Kathleen Smythe's history classes. It was an eye-opener. For the first time, he learned about "globalization and neoliberal policies as causes for the grave injustices in the world."
"I was so ignorant," he said. "I had previously looked at the world in terms of demand and structural problems of social justice."
The class affected him deeply, providing an alternative micro-lens perspective of the ruinous effects of agribusiness practices.
"I became aware that most food comes from over mechanized highly impersonal growing processes," Patron-Cano said.
It caused Patron-Cano to rethink his major. He switched from business to the school of liberal arts with a major in economics, and he now dreams "of having my office hours as a professor being divided between my desk and my plot of land. I want students to come to me to talk and farm and have a good time."
His story is one glimpse into the world of Xavier University, where every student participates in experiential learning components related to sustainability before they graduate. Patron-Cano's experience went further: He signed up for one of Smythe's academic learning semesters in Ghana. When the group returned to Cincinnati, she reoriented them to the U.S. by organizing a day trip to Turner Farm, where "we did a couple of hours' work and talked about localization as an antidote to globalization," Patron-Cano said.
Farming duties as part of a history class might seem out of place, but it's been mostly successful, Smythe said.
"Students are open to new experiences, and they generally find the work rewarding in ways that they are not accustomed to -- an immediate sense of satisfaction in a row weeded or lettuce harvested that tastes sweet, for example," she said.
Xavier students meet sustainability through other courses as well. Elizabeth Groppe's theology and ecology class explores the biblical and theological foundations of care for creation, and "from this perspective we study climate change, the biodiversity crisis and agriculture issues." (In December, America magazine published her article on climate change.)
Like Smythe, Groppe sends students into the community for hands-on work with sustainable groups. Some go to Green Umbrella, an initiative to turn Cincinnati into a sustainable city. Others help out on farms, urban gardens, the campus' own NEXUS community garden, or in local green businesses.
Groppe said some students coming to her class from Catholic high schools or parishes are already familiar with the need for creation care. For others, the alarming state of the planet comes as a shock.
"They totally resonate with Elizabeth Johnson's article 'Losing and Finding Creation' that explains how creation has been lost in much of Christian spirituality and practice over the course of the past 500 years," she said.
Groppe told Eco Catholic that in spite of the information age, many students are still clueless regarding the realities of mountaintop removal coal mining; the terrible extinction of species that is going on right now; toxins in the environment; soil erosion; and the scope and projected consequences of climate change.
Once they learn the facts, however, students start asking questions. Last week, after Groppe's class read Richard Miller's article on climate change in his anthology, God, Creation and Climate Change: A Catholic Response to the Environmental Crisis, one student asked, "Why doesn't Obama draft legislation to address this and take it to Congress, where it should be signed immediately into law?"
Groppe said, "Why is the wisdom in this action that is so apparent to this young man not evident to all of us?"
Sustainability consciousness does not stay in the classroom. It pervades the entire campus. The concept received a boost in 2008 when the university's president, Jesuit Fr. Michael J. Graham, signed the school's name to The American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment to become climate-neutral. More than 650 college and university presidents have signed on to the agreement.
After signing the commitment, Graham created a sustainability committee, which represents a cross-section of the campus community, including faculty, students and staff. It is working to reduce energy use and transportation costs; increase green space; conserve water and use organic materials; and make purchasing and maintenance practices more sustainable. The target date for becoming completely climate-neutral is 2030.
Currently, here is a campus update on what is happening. Construction-wise, Xavier recently completed the last of the buildings in its new Hoff Academic Quad. The quad consists of the Conation Commons, Smith Hall and the Central Utility Plant. The three buildings were designed to meet or exceed the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED silver standards.
Since the quad opened, energy consumption has decreased by 17.5 percent, the website notes. A green roof increases sustainability. Carpets, paint and other low-VOC materials are improving indoor conditions and helping the natural environment. The buildings boast reflective white roofs, which prevent 80 percent of sunlight from heating the city air and atmosphere. This directly reduces the earth's temperatures and reduces energy consumption from heating and cooling buildings.
In the words of John Buchanan, director of The Edward B. Brueggeman Center for Dialogue, these climate-friendly buildings serve "as teachers, too, not just places within where we teach."
Students are likewise teaching and getting the word out to their peers about creation care. Xavier's four student sustainability interns are active in prompting environmental consciousnesses in every place their contemporaries live. An extensive guide to a Green Cincinnati has tips on how to live green both on- or off-campus. The guide includes seemingly mundane things like turning off dripping water taps -- not doing so wastes about 2,700 gallons of water each year. The booklet, which appears on the school website, points out that showering just a minute less each day can save 700 gallons of water a month.
It encourages students to ride bikes on campus or take campus shuttles; to fill their reusable water bottles at refill stations; and to observe Meatless Mondays.
The guide talks about Xavier's food service operation, which is providing plastic Green-To-Go boxes instead of Styrofoam. Ann Dougherty, campus sustainability coordinator, says they can go through the dishwasher at the cafeteria and make takeout waste-free.
"We keep them in our dorm room or office, bring them back to eat in or get a clean box the next day. During summer, when school is not in session, the food service caters conference takeout meals for hundreds at a time using these boxes, and they save so much waste."
Another way the campus saves on waste is to promote sustainable projects, such as reorganizing dorm move-outs at the end of the year so furniture, clothes and food go to local charities. The temptation to just toss stuff is not there because the organizations send moving trucks to haul it all away, where it will do some good.
Finally, Dougherty points to the Xavier sustainability website, under the label "What Can I Do?" The site includes essays from faculty and staff regarding their own creation care practices. Smythe's piece on "Living Glocally" can be accessed there.
In an email, Smythe wrote she believes sustainability will not endure for the long haul unless it includes a spiritual component.
"Without attention to our spirits, sustainability education will not be successful. Why? Because if we and our students do not appreciate and love what we know and have, we will not have the emotional and spiritual reservoir to carry us through the work ahead.
"As a professor who has been in the classroom at Xavier for fifteen years, I can say from my heart and my head that a sense of wonder, of seeing God in all things is what we need to be emphasizing."
On a final note, Xavier's campus is preparing for its fourth annual Sustainability Week. The event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of "The Prophetic Vision of Rachel Carson," author of The Silent Spring. It began Wednesday with a showing of Sandra Steingraber's film, "Living Downstream." Steingraber, who has a doctorate in biology and is a cancer survivor, is an internationally recognized authority on the environmental links to cancer and human health.
Other activities include a community action day on Saturday, a one-woman performance piece by Kauilani Lee about Rachel Carson's life on Oct. 4, and an address by Steingraber on Oct. 7.


text:
The hero of the original books is a little terrier dog with a gloomy-looking face, who somehow manages to stumble into a variety of odd adventures with even odder characters. What I think makes Towser so appealing is that there are many sides to him: sometimes he's helpful, sometimes he's cheeky, but what he does not lack in is determination and a sly attitude. He even follows in the paw-prints of Bugs Bunny at times when it comes to dealing with troublesome characters like the Terrible Thing, Goblin Gobble and a rather confused Alien Invader from the Planet Nice, all by using his brains.
|Towser, the Alien and the Owl
|Towser and Friends
Roy Kinnear (SuperTed, Bertha) adds the icing to this wonderful cake as the storyteller, delivering each one-liner from Towser perfectly. No one could have done a better job with his gentle yet enthusiastic style, and giving just the right voice to all characters, main or secondary.
|Towser meets the Nosey Parker


text:
Australia protests to Japan about whaling ship
A support vessel for the Japanese whaling fleet is sailing in Australian waters in pursuit of anti-whaling activists, Australia said after protesting to the Tokyo government.
Environment Minister Tony Burke said his government received confirmation Thursday that the Shonan Maru No. 2 had entered Australia's exclusive economic zone near Macquarie Island in the Antarctic Ocean. The Australian embassy in Tokyo protested to the Japanese government, he said.
"Australia has made it clear to Japan on a number of occasions that vessels associated with its whaling program are not welcome" in Australia's territorial waters or economic zone, he said.
The Shonan Maru No. 2 is owned by the Japanese government and provides security for the whaling fleet conducting the country's annual hunt.
The ship tailed anti-whaling ship Bob Barker over two days toward Macquarie Island, said Bob Brown, mission leader of the Washington state-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
Brown said the Shonan Maru No. 2 stopped just outside Australian territorial waters but remained inside Australia's exclusive economic zone Friday as the Bob Barker proceeded up the island's coast. Australia's territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) from the island, but it claims exclusive economic rights within 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers).
"Tokyo has ignored the call from the federal government for this part of the whaling fleet not to enter our Exclusive Economic Zone," Brown, a former senator, told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Glenn Inwood, spokesman for Japan's Tokyo-based whaling organization, said there was no legal obstacle to Japanese ships entering either area.
He said Japan was forced to defy Australia's wishes because Sea Shepherd deploys dangerous tactics to sabotage the whaling fleet.
"Since Sea Shepherd has been putting Japanese lives and property at risk, it's been necessary to move as close to Australian territorial waters as possible to keep an eye on them," Inwood said.
A year ago, three anti-whaling activists boarded the Shonan Maru No. 2 and were held there for several days before being transferred to an Australian customs ship. No charges were brought. In 2010, the ship and a Sea Shepherd speed boat collided and the speed boat sank, but no one was injured.
Australia maintains the hunts violate Japan's international obligations and is seeking a ruling by the International Court of Justice in the Hague.
Japan says it hunts whales for scientific purposes, an allowed exception to the international whaling ban, though activists say the hunts are a cover for commercial whaling because whale meat not used for study is sold for consumption in Japan.
Japan decries Sea Shepherd as a terrorist group that risks lives through tactics used to obstruct the whaling fleet.


text:
A.V. Diamonds "The Ultimate Bridal Source," is a manufacturer and wholesaler of Fine Diamond Jewelry in Houston, Texas. As partners with HVK International Private Limited, a Sightholder with DTC, Diamond Trading Company, ALROSA, and Dominion Diamond Corporation. We have amazing strength of diamond sourcing and production with an accumulation of five factories in India, China, Bangkok and Dubai. Being a direct sightholder allows A.V. Diamonds to further offer unsurpassed craftsmanship in their quality production at remarkable price points. A.V. Diamonds brings weight to the phrase "From the mines to the retailers."
A.V. Diamonds was founded in 1998 and has been a consistent manufacturer and supplier to customers throughout the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, the Caribbean and Canada. The founders of A.V. Diamonds have accumulated over 40 years of jewelry and business experience and bring invaluable financial, marketing and manufacturing experiences to the forefront of the jewelry business. A.V. Diamonds is proud to have a multitude of loyal and active customers, expanding in the aforementioned territories, including retail stores, television jewelry and catalog companies, wholesalers as well as independent chain jewelers. It remains a vanguard in the industry mainly due to their superior manufacturing plants, dedication to quality and excellent customer service. We are a complete jewelry house offering products from sterling silver to 18k with price ranging from $9 to $19,000 and up. Along with amazing products and remarkable sales techniques, A.V. also offer a wide range of Customer Rewards Programs such as customized flyers, professional video commercials for the Certified Bridal Programs, state of the art display programs and a user friendly website. A.V. Diamonds is one of the major sponsors for JA, JCK, JIS jewelry shows attending all the shows in U.S. and Canada.
A.V. Diamonds remains one of the top leading companies in the industry with a stella


text:
Buoyancy Speciality 1 Day 2 Dives
Improve your buoyancy skills with the Perfect Buoyancy Specialty. Weak buoyancy skills in a diver have the potential to cause damage to coral reefs not to mention shorter dive times. By improving your buoyancy you not only improve your ability for longer bottom times you also help protect our reef systems. For more information about protecting marine life please visit the Mission Deep Blue section on our website.
Nitrox Speciality 4-6 hours
Would you like to dive with longer no-decompression limits and shorter surface intervals? Do you want to be as safe as you can while diving concerning the potential risk of decompression sickness? Nitrox is the key! Due to the reduced nitrogen in your breathing gas, your body has less work to do and the desaturation times are reduced. Completion of this course allows you to go diving immediately on Nitrox and enjoy the advantages of longer no-decompression dives. Many Dive Resorts are now offering free Nitrox with diving, make sure you don't miss out!
Deep Speciality 2 Days 4 Dives
While coral reefs are generally found in shallow water many of the worlds best dive sites are below 18m, especially sites with wrecks. Push your limits safely with SSI Deep Dive Specialty Course, start going deeper and exploring places that only a few have seen. This course qualifies you to dive to depths of 40m.
SSI photographer specialty course
These days almost every body has a digital camera. There are many things that you have to think about when using cameras underwater that you don't have to worry about when on land. In the Digital Underwater Photography Course you'll learn the difference so you can take that perfect picture everytime.
Stress & Rescue Speciality 3 Day 6 Dives
Serious Fun! That is what the SSI Stress and Rescue course is all about. This is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable courses you can take in diving, for you and for us too! You will learn how handle yourself in any situation and able to help out in an emergency which will give you and your dive buddies the confidence to take on new dive adventures. This course is alot of fun with various scenarios to complete and lots of new skills to learn. It's a challenge but definately one you will not regret taking on.
Think About
When you finish your Open Water Course with some dive organisations (rhymes with daddy) the next course that you are "pushed" into doing is the Advanced Open Water course. During some advanced courses all you do is get a feel for a select few diving specialties. 1 dive per subject for 5 dives and very little theory. After which you will still have to sign up for the Specialty Courses in the subjects your interested in and pay even more. What a lot of people don't realise is that with Scuba Schools International (SSI) as soon as your done with your Open Water Course a whole range of Specialties are available to you. Save money and get the right training the first time!


text:
EVERETT, Wash., March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Fluke Calibration, a leader in precision calibration instrumentation and software, introduces the 9190A Ultra-Cool Field Metrology Well, a small, lightweight, and accurate dry-block calibrator with best-in-class stability.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130314/SF75981)
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120130/SF43337LOGO-b)
The 9190A is ideal for pharmaceutical, biomedical and food processing applications that demand strict quality control and regulatory process compliance, including on-location validation and calibration of RTDs, thermocouples, thermometers, and other temperature sensors.
The 9190A conforms to EURAMET cg-13 guidelines for best measurement practices for temperature dry-block calibrators. This ensures that the 9190A specifications for accuracy, stability, axial (vertical) uniformity, radial (well-to-well) uniformity, loading, and hysteresis have been thoroughly and carefully defined and tested.
It has a wide temperature range (-95 to 140 degrees Celsius) to cover the coldest and warmest temperatures required in pharmaceutical, biomedical and food processing applications, operating at ultra-cold temperatures not typically available with a calibration bath. The 9190A uses no bath fluids, keeping clean rooms clean, making it easier to transport, and delivering faster heating/cooling rates. It offers best-in-class temperature stability (plus-or-minus 0.015 degrees Celsius) for consistent, accurate results.
The 9190A with "process" option features 4-20 mA connectors, a reference thermometer input, 4-wire PRT/RTD input with an accuracy of plus-or-minus 0.02 degrees Celsius, and a reference sensor control to minimize the effects of the axial gradient when a reference PRT is aligned with short sensors.
For more information about the Fluke Calibration 9190A Ultra-Cool Field Metrology Well, visit: www.flukecal.com/9190A. To purchase, contact your Fluke Calibration sales representative or call (877) 355-3225.
Contact Fluke Calibration
For more information from Fluke Calibration, visit the Fluke Calibration website or contact Fluke Corporation, P.O. Box 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206-9090, or call 1-877-355-3225.
About Fluke Calibration
Fluke Calibration is a leader in precision calibration instrumentation and software for electrical, temperature, pressure, flow, and RF measurements. Calibration products from Fluke Calibration are found in calibration facilities around the world, including National Metrology Institutes, that demand the highest levels of performance and reliability, backed by state of the art metrology and uncompromising support. They are relied on by quality engineers, calibration technicians, and metrologists to instill confidence in the measurements that are critical to their organizations for quality, safety, reliability, and cost.
Fluke and Fluke Calibration are trademarks of Fluke Corporation. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information:
Leah Friberg
Public Relations Manager
(425) 446-5905
|SOURCE Fluke Calibration
Copyright©2012 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved


text:
You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Love' tag.
Our reviewer for the challenge was Paul Newton-Palmer who is in the final agonising all-consuming throes of publishing his first book. Paul has an MA in Creative Writing from the University Chichester, UK. He is also an accomplished short story writer and has a high interest in poetry, although, he stresses, he is primarily a novelist. His first crime thriller will be released shortly.
The challenge for April/May was open, that means it could be about anything in any genre and style. The only constraint was to start the story with the letter 'D'. We had five delightful entries that our reviewer Paul, said he found a pleasure to read. He has provided detailed and insightful commentary to each of the writers, that I think they have found both useful and encouraging.
I shall place a photograph of Paul as soon as I receive one.
Here, without further ado are the stories in the order I received them:
I Spy with My Little Eye Something Beginning with D
By Glen Stansfield
"Dragons' eggs?"
"Yes, in a cave."
"There's no such things as dragons," Danny said.
"Is too, and I found their eggs – in the sand."
"How big are they then?"
"Not that big, but I know they're dragons' eggs, 'cos, – 'cos they're all knobbly." Brian was confused. He thought Danny would be excited by his news.
"They're probably seagull eggs."
Sometimes, Danny didn't know why he bothered with Brian. He was only eight, Danny was ten and so much wiser, almost grown up, or so he thought.
"Bet you've not even found a cave."
"Did so too. At the far end of the beach."
When the war ended, two year old Danny met his father for the first time. Brian hadn't quite been born; the product of a forty-eight hour leave pass, eight and a half months earlier. Living next door in their two-up, two-down terraced houses, it was inevitable the pair would grow up together. They spent hours kicking a football around the streets, or playing cricket with an old bat and a ragged tennis ball. And despite the numerous warnings from their parents, they would sometimes play on one of the bomb-sites still littering that part of Coventry.
"Show me."
"Now? We can't go to the beach on our own Danny. We'll get into trouble."
"I suppose, but when we go this afternoon you'd better show me that cave, or else."
Their fathers worked together before the war, employed as handymen in the nearby Alvis factory. After demobilisation they started a business in the building trade. Plenty of that to be done in post-war Britain, especially in a heavily bombed city like theirs.
They did well for themselves, and after so many years of hard work, arranged to take their families on a well-deserved holiday. Two weeks on the south coast of England, in the county of Dorset.
"I still say you're making it up," said Danny.
Brian responded the way little boys do when doubted. He thrust his hands in his pockets, pouted his lips, looked at the ground and scuffed the toe of one shoe on the floor. A little boy in a sulk can be difficult to deal with, for a minute or two. Then they forget all about it and move onto something new.
Brian tapped Danny on the shoulder and shouted "You're it!" starting yet another game of tag. Brian set off along the boarding house corridor, squealing in delight with Danny in pursuit.
Even though on holiday together, the two families agreed from the outset they would not spend all their time in each other's company. After all, the two men worked alongside each other, and their wives, being next door neighbours, spent a lot of time together. A little time apart would do them no harm. And that is how Brian had found himself wandering the beach without Danny.
The previous afternoon, his parents decided to spend a bit of time in the sun, while Danny's parents took him on the bus to Weymouth to do some souvenir shopping.
Brian didn't like sitting still in the sun. He soon got restless and wandered off along the beach.
"Don't go out of sight," his Mother called.
"I won't."
He went further than he intended. At the end of the beach, he clambered over the rocks beneath the cliff face and that's where he came across the entrance to the cave.
A hundred and fifty feet high, and jutting out some fifty feet, a rocky outcrop protruded from the rest of the cliff, as if trying to reach the sea. It formed a natural barrier between the beach and the continuing shoreline. From a distance it looked to be a part of the rock face. It was only when you got close you realised it was there.
In the corner, between the promontory and the cliff was a dark hole, visible only when you had passed by and looked back towards the town. A sandy patch stretched from the sea and extended into the cave as if someone had cleared a path.
Like all young boys, Brian had a fascination for things he knew might be dangerous, so he slowly made his way towards the void. He was aware things were different here. The sea was quieter somehow. He was becoming uncomfortable, but his curiosity got the better of him.
Cautiously, he went inside, hesitating at each step. He had no intention of going too far. It wasn't a shallow cave. A dark, gaping hole, both beckoning and intimidating at the same time. He would go inside for a few steps, no more. As he did so, he tripped over something sticking up out of the sandy floor. Two egg shaped objects, partially buried, knobbly and green, and very strange. Brian bent down to take get a better view.
The squawk of a gull echoed in the cave, startling Brian, and he fled before he had chance to examine what he was now sure were dragons' eggs. They were smaller than he expected, maybe this was a small dragon. He wasn't going to look again. The noise had spooked him. He wouldn't go back in there until Danny came with him, and wouldn't he be surprised when he saw the eggs. Brian couldn't wait.
He scrambled back across the rocks and back onto the beach. His Mother was looking for him and he waved, she beckoned for him to come back.
"What did I tell you?"
"I only went on the rocks, Mum. I could still see you."
"Well I couldn't see you, so you can stay here now."
"But, Mum…"
"Brian, don't argue with your Mother," came a voice from under the newspaper. And with that Brian sat down and began digging a hole with his spade.
In the afternoon both families gathered up the beach mats, buckets and spades, and all the other paraphernalia that makes for a pleasant afternoon in the sun, and set off for the beach. Pleasant for the adults that is. A bucket and spade was all the average child needed as long as there was an ice-cream van nearby.
After half an hour, Brian could take no more.
"Can me and Danny go beachcombing?" he asked.
"You better not disappear like yesterday."
Brian knew better than argue. That would be the quickest way to get the answer 'no'.
"We won't. Promise."
Despite Danny's thoughts about him being young and inexperienced, Brian wasn't stupid. If he and Danny made a bee-line for the cave, his Mother would suspect something. So with all the wiles an eight-year old can muster he grabbed Danny by the arm.
"Come on, let's go down there." He pointed with his free hand towards a patch of dried out seaweed, a hundred yards away on the tide-line.
"I thought we were…"
Danny got no more of the sentence out as Brian stamped on his foot and nodded his head towards the four adults lying on the beach mats.
Though not happy about the method of silencing him, he knew Brian was right. Maybe he was a bit more grown up than he thought.
After ten minutes of rummaging in the sand-fly-ridden seaweed, the pair checked on the nearby adult supervision. No signs of life, other than the occasional wave of a hand to ward off a particularly persistent fly.
They worked their way along the tide-line towards the cliffs and soon reached the promontory. Every few steps they paused to check on the adults.
Danny knew you couldn't rely on adults, they were always doing the unexpected. This time they didn't spoil things. They wouldn't be long at the cave. Just enough time to prove Brian wrong about the eggs.
"Brian! These aren't eggs you idiot, they're hand-grenades."
After gently removing the sand from around the two green orbs, Danny had his suspicions confirmed when he saw the release mechanism. He had seen hand-grenades in pictures his dad brought back from the war in North Africa.
"They must have been left over from the war. My Dad says they did exercises all along the coast. He says they practised for D-Day somewhere around here."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. We need to get out of here and tell someone. We could be blowed up."
"I was sure they were dragons' eggs," said a disappointed Brian.
"I told you. There's no such thing."
Something moved inside the cave. They both froze. Something being dragged across the sand.
"Don't be too sure about that," said a deep, resounding voice from inside the cave. It resonated and echoed, in their bodies as well as their ears.
The boys were motionless, their eyes wide and their mouths open.
A light flickered, seemingly floating in the air. A flame, building in brightness until they could see it reflecting off the gold and blue iridescent skin of what was unmistakably a magnificent specimen of a dragon.
— The End —
Dear Vikki
Seumas Gallacher
It was more than fifty years ago now, but it's as clear in my mind as if it were yesterday.
At fourteen, most of my non-school hours meant kicking a football with my pals on the spare ground close to our home in the Glasgow slums. An open piece of grass where piled jackets served as goalposts, was bounded by tenement buildings. On weekends, the noise of up to twenty or more of we lads reverberated for hours. Somehow, we never felt tired. One of the buildings which housed exclusively older, retired folks overlooked our makeshift pitch. Singletons all, either spinsters or widowed individuals, well beyond even the age that I'm now skirting with, they lived in a comfortable, protected environment.
One day I heard a call from the third-floor balcony of the unit facing where we played. A petite, white-haired lady waved to me, and beckoned me to come up. It was the first time I met her. Miss Kerr. Even at this distance of time, I know she must have been approaching her eighties. I had to pass by the caretaker's office and get permission to go upstairs.
"Aye, up you go, son. That'll be Miss Kerr, wanting you to go do a few errands for her," he said. The wooden strip on his door bore the name, J. Cassidy. Mister Cassidy fitted in perfectly with the age group of his charges. A big, broad-shouldered ex-docker, he and I would have many conversations in the ensuing months. His well-worn hands could convert to massive fists if ever needed, but the gentle giant in him showed his caring skills.
The elevator to the third floor opened onto the corridor running the length of the place. At the end, the diminutive Miss Kerr already stood with her door open.
"Hello, Miss Kerr? Mister Cassidy told me your name."
"Come in, come in," she said. Her tiny hand motioned me inside. The winter sunlight glared in to brighten a small, one-roomed area. A neat table set near the window gave her panoramic access to the goings-on up and down the street, including our football patch. In the corner near the window, a gas stove fitted against the wall, partnered with a low bank of shelves.
"You'll have some tea?" she asked, pointing at the shelves. It was more a command than a question. "There's some fresh brewed there. If you'll just take out a couple of cups and saucers. And in that wee tin on the top, you'll get us some biscuits."
I put the cups on the table and my elderly hostess brought over the teapot.
"My back's killing me," she said. Her slow gait looked painful. "I'm waiting for a hip replacement, but the time they take here is so long, I'll be pushing up the daisies before they get round to me."
I sat on the chair opposite her sentry-watch position.
"What's your name, son?"
"Good. Jimmy. I had a brother called Jimmy, but he died during the war."
I realised she meant the First World War. While she talked, my eyes took in the rest of the apartment. The worn bits of carpet stretched to the inside of the unit, all the way to her bed tucked against the far wall. A chest of drawers and a white cupboard completed the furnishing.
I took a sip of the tea. Then something caught my eye. A small movement on top of the bed. A teddy bear? No. Teddy bears don't move on their own. A small terrier dog lay, wrapped in a piece of blanket. Miss Kerr saw my surprise.
"That's my dear wee Vikki," she said. "She's not very well. That's why I asked you to come up."
My face must have displayed my puzzlement.
"I need you to help me to take Vikki on the bus to the Vet."
Then the penny dropped with me. The Veterinarian for the district held surgery in a mobile unit parked in the shopping area about ten minutes down the road from where we lived.
"Aye. No problem, Miss Kerr. "So, what's wrong with your doggie?"
"Just a wee cold. The Vet'll fix her fine. They did the last time."
We had nearly finished the tea.
"Shall we go now?" she said.
Vikki made a quiet moaning sound as I picked her up from the bed, but made no resistance to being carried in the blanket. Miss Kerr busied herself in readiness to go out. A grey coat, which had seen better years, would have fitted a small schoolgirl. Dark blue shoes, which my mother would have described as 'sensible', showed the scuffing that no amount of polish could hide. A maroon beret protected her head from what was, despite the sun, a biting, cold, morning wind.
A lick of pale, pink lipstick and she was ready.
The bus conductor nodded to Miss Kerr as we boarded. No need for her to show her pensioner's free pass. She made to pay for me, sitting beside her, cradling Vikki. The conductor smiled and refused her pennies.
Similar courtesy appeared at the Vet's office, where the surgeon's assistant clearly knew Miss Kerr.
"Doctor won't be long, Miss Kerr. Is this your grandson?"
"No, just a young friend from near where I live," she said, with a smile. I felt strangely pleased to be thought her relative. A few minutes later the assistant ushered us through to the Vet's area. Doctor Beattie was a middle-aged lady, with a terrific smile.
"Hello, Miss Kerr. What's wrong with your wee dog, then? Let's have a look."
I handed her pet over as gently as I could. The dog barely moved. I noted the change of expression on Doctor Beattie's face. Something was badly amiss.
"Hmm. Vikki is very sick, Miss Kerr, Do you want to leave her with us?"
"How long until she gets well?" asked my new surrogate grandma.
The Vet spoke as gently as she could. "I don't think she has much longer to go. We can take care of her, if you want?"
Miss Kerr's demeanour changed instantly. Her voice hardened. "No. I'll take her back home. She'll be okay with me."
She was firm in the way older people convey when they want to do things their way. Stubborn, resolved, determined.
Doctor Beattie knew it was pointless to try further persuasion. She administered an injection to alleviate the dog's symptoms. No payment was asked.
We retraced the bus journey back to Miss Kerr's apartment. She didn't speak at all, and I didn't attempt any conversation.
When the owner and her dog were settled back in safely, I sought out Mister Cassidy.
"Hello, son. How did it go?"
"To tell you the truth, Mister Cassidy, her wee dog's dying, almost gone already according to the Vet, but I don't think she's able to accept that. It's not good."
"Okay. I'll keep a close watch on her. Thanks, lad."
Two days later, Miss Kerr appeared again on her balcony and waved for me to go up. I knocked on Mister Cassidy's door and he signalled to go ahead. When I entered the apartment, a foul smell caught my nose.
"Jimmy, I need you to go and get some medicine for Vikki," said Miss Kerr.
I went to the bed where the dog lay. The eyes were staring, lifeless, probably dead since the day we brought her home from the Vet. The smell was from the decomposition already setting in. Miss Kerr had obviously been sleeping on the same bed as her pet.
"Miss Kerr, Vikki's dead," I said. "We need to take her out of here."
Her chin pushed out, lips a straight line. The edge returned to her voice. "No she's not, Jimmy. She still hears me when I speak to her. Look at her ears moving when I talk. Now will you go to the Vet and ask for some medicine?"
"Okay. Okay," I said. I left her and went to seek out Mister Cassidy.
I told him what I'd seen and the rancid smell in the unit. Good man that he was, he immediately made a phone call. Twenty minutes later, people arrived from the local animal shelter. The lead officer was excellent in the way he appeased Miss Kerr. He explained they were taking Vikki to the hospital to get her well. In the meantime, Mister Cassidy and I took our charge to lunch. The fumigation team moved in while we were away from the place. Of course, Vikki was never coming back. Miss Kerr had lost the most important companion in her life. During lunch with us, she was even more subdued than usual, the reality probably settling in slowly.
A week or so passed in which I wasn't able to visit. Eventually, I went to see how she was faring. Mister Cassidy wasn't in his office, and I went straight up to her apartment. My knocking went unanswered. I went downstairs again and found the caretaker back in his usual place.
I started to tell him there was no reply to my knocking at her door.
"Sit down, son." His voice wavered. He shook his head. "Very sad news, I'm afraid. Miss Kerr passed away two days ago."
As the years drift by, I think of her often. A lady I met and knew only for a matter of days, but that brief encounter has remained with me. My new grandma for a week. In the intervening years, I've owned many dogs. Always a terrier, and always called Vikki.
— The End —
Note: There are two point I need to make as a preamble: One there was some confusion in the writer's mind between the piece we were to share at the last Workshop and the Challenge that was to start with the letter 'D'. So this entry is a short one. The second is that the entrant wishes to remain anonymous.
On Grief
By Anonymous
Darkness started to envelop the beautiful red and yellow sunset just moments earlier. The surreal sky with its vivid colours suited the dream-like state everyone was in. Shocked, in disbelief, in denial, in a dream. Yes, let's pretend none of this was real. It's easier not to feel anything at this moment. Ouch, the cigarette I forgot about, burnt my hand; forcing reality upon me. I stubbed it out and lit another one, immune again, inhaling deeply. I hadn't smoked in a while but it came back to me like second nature. I took a long drag from the cigarette and stared at the house. The air was humid and all I could hear was the buzzing of a lamp by the pool and the distant sound of people at the house. I stared hard at the lit up pool, at the house, at the people. I still felt numb. Someone had seen me despite my efforts to keep my distance. They started walking towards me and I stubbed out the cigarette. I stank of smoke but who gave a shit, what did I care about my reputation at this point? When she came close I saw it was a close family friend, she gave me a long huge hug, my head nestling into her black abaya. I teared; it hurt to cry at this point. 'I'm so sorry' she said and I nodded in acceptance but words couldn't come out of my mouth. She turned and walked towards the house I couldn't stay in. I felt sick, I wish this wasn't real. At this point I felt as if nothing mattered, anything material was worthless. How could he die so suddenly? There was so much I didn't tell him, so much I didn't know about him. This wasn't fair; he was too young to go. I was angry, fuming mad now. How could you do this to me, to us, I asked silently staring at the black sky.
— The End —
Dear Life
by Muneera Fakhro
Dear Life,
You have been so unfair to me, by bringing me to this life,
I grew up in an agonisingly cruel environment, but had been fighting with all my might,
I was poor, weak and fragile, barely scraping through you and finding something to eat.
I was young, I had big dreams to realize, and bigger obstacles to beat,
just to be recognised, despite those who bullied, beat, and cursed at me, saying I will not make it far,
that only made me fight, against words, diseases, time and went through further distances than soldiers in war.
I grew older, I had seen many things, experienced many other,
But then I saw … great injustice in you, towards those who believed in you,
I saw your reality, and how -to you- they were not much of a bother,
You are just a rollercoaster of ups and downs that somehow all, including me, are so into.
I had seen how you manipulated us, dividing us into different societies
that would cast some outside if they did not fit into certain categories.
I had had enough of your games, fortunately it was just a phase,
For I had gone away, never to return to this place, I had simply left this maze…
Dear Mom and Dad,
You brought me life, my question is why?
You barely got along, or had enough to get by.
I was one of 5, so that makes it five mistakes,
neither of you ever liked kids, how long did it take
for you to lose your patience? And to start beating us
for the very first time?
We were always disrespectful, in your mind,
and did not deserve yours, you thought, but oh were you so blind
of what we did for you, we slept on time and studied hard.
Amongst them, I was the hardest worker, sometimes going overboard.
However, to you, I had been and always would be the biggest mistake, the ignorant retard.
Truth be told, you were the ignorant fools,
too negligent to take responsibility of your mistakes!
No longer would I go by your rules,
and for that I would do whatever it takes.
I had decided, what needs to be done is for
me to quit it all, and change the five into four…
Dear Friends,
I had lived my whole life alone, detached and friendless,
up until a while back, you came along and changed it all from a curse to bliss.
I had dealt with it all, for twenty years long…so empty.
But when you came you shared, bore and chased that pain away, and I thank you plenty.
You broke the shell that I had always lived in, and shattered the chains that pinned me down in my place,
You showed me how life is like, and taught me how to communicate face to face.
When I started talking, it was hard to hear what I say, all that came out was a mumble.
I tried speaking louder, but then I stuttered. It was not too easy to come out of my bubble.
I would always get misunderstood, though you were more understanding,
until they showed up, and changed you with whatever they would bring.
I would not blame you, since we live in a life ruled by materials.
Despite that, throwing me aside like we never been, was worse than any betrayal.
Now I am alone once again, with no more paths to take and follow.
There is nothing more for me to do after I have become so hollow…
You were the head manager of a respectable company,
the reason it flourished actually.
I was told I will be in good hands,
and be in charge of the marketing brands.
You were fair with all the costumers, and attended to all their needs,
and towards enemies and competitors you never pay no heed.
To colleagues in this office, you were such a flirt.
to that, I had not been alert.
You gave special attention to the ladies,
in no time would you forget all about your mateys.
When there were eyes on you, somehow I became the one to blame.
I have lost my rank, and for that, my resentment and fury turned to a blazing flame.
Before I leave this world I left a little gift for you, a 'flaming touch' to your house décor
I could do the same for your car, but your salary will not handle any more.
I could leave this life with no regrets,
since I had faced the only one I was up against…
To my unrequited love,
You were my college buddy, my closest buddy,
we shared our notes, food and money.
We would meet on every break, and talk about random things,
you had kind eyes and make a cute giggle at every topic I would bring.
Whether we talked or sat still in silence, it would be enjoyable.
All the moments that we shared will always be memorable.
Your hair up in a bun, never took off your glasses.
Had a fair skin, usually seemed deep in thought.
You would dress nicely, and wear accessories that matches,
often sitting there, eating the snack you have bought.
After we met, that bench became our usual place.
We joked, laughed, cursed and gave each other praise.
I had the deepest of love for you, yet you never felt the same,
it drove us apart and turned my life into such a waste…
This would be the end of this maze…
Dear God,
Why did you create a life that is so unfair?
One which gives us hopes and dreams only to be shattered away,
no matter how long, how much we say the same prayer.
It will only give so little thought before throwing them, and us, away.
Why did you grant couples who can't raise children with kids of their own?
They will grow to be nothing but trash to be thrown.
Why create people to be easily swayed by a materialistic life?
You gave everyone a rateable value which is worse than handing each a knife.
Also giving high ranks to people with the worst of traits
who would take advantage of others when they are in for questions and debates.
And what good would love someone so bad do if they do not love you back?
I could not have described it better when saying one would become a punching sack.
All these questions I have come to ask of you,
In a little while I will be hearing your answers right in front of you…
— The End —
Drowning in the Gulf
by Gordon Simmonds
This is part of a story whose full title is Flying in the Gulf (or something similar), which is a follow-on of another real life tale I called Cruising the Gulf.
Somewhere between the clay pigeon shooting and the bungee jumping, a visitor to the Chatsworth Country Show may notice a big sign promoting helicopter rides. For a small fortune, you too can experience a ten minute tour of Chatsworth House from the air. Wow! This is a true story about how the largesse of the off-shore oil industry allows its employees so much more than this, and not only is it free, but they will pay you to enjoy the delights of travelling by chopper.
Of necessity, this story doesn't start in the Gulf, but in that great city of culture and opulence, Kingston upon Hull. More commonly known in the local dialect as 'ull, (pronounced ull) it is famous for its fish docks and, er…fish.
To qualify for free helicopter flights, you become subject to the oil industry Health & Safety regime, which means that if you die on the job, they can wash their hands of any culpability. So your first requirement is to prove yourself fit enough to cope with the demands of North Sea travel – this means a trip to the local quack. You know the score; read this chart, pee into this, and as us gentlemen know, cough – while doc stares at your dangly bits. Then, with a clean bill of health, you can move on to the next stage of the process, which is survival training.
As the name suggests, you are taught to survive most benign incidents. As for the catastrophic ones, I'm reminded of the old parachuting joke.
A young soldier is to make his first parachute jump. He is instructed to release his main chute after he exits the aircraft. If that fails, he is to release his reserve chute. If that also fails, he is to shout GEROMINO!
So he jumps out of the aircraft and releases his main 'chute – it doesn't work.
He releases his reserve 'chute – that doesn't work either.
Then as he hurtles toward the ground he passes his instructor in mid air and shouts over "What was the name of that bloody indiannnnnnnnn?"
The first part of the course is a cruise around Hull docks, otherwise known as escape capsule awareness. You are directed to a site deep inside the dock complex, and you know you are close because forty or fifty feet in the air is a bright orange boat. Your first thought is "that's a long way up," but some time later, you are assured that they won't be dropping you from such a height because a quick change into bright orange overalls and you are invited to embark on a boat/capsule they launched earlier.
It's not really a boat, (which is why they call it a capsule). True it is boat shaped and floats, but with a roof the same size as the hull, a hatch in the side to get in and out, and a glass bubble at the top which allows the 'driver' to see where he's going. It's probably 20 foot long, and boasts a capacity of 50 people and you can't help thinking that they must be very thin people, because the ten or twelve people on the course seem to fill it to capacity. Put another way, it is tight enough to hope that your neighbour hasn't had a strong curry the night before.
The instructor runs you through the procedure for lowering the boat from a 40 foot platform and releasing it from the cables that lowered it. He omits to mention how to start the engine, at which point you might ask "How do you start the engine?"
He might reply that "The coxswain will do that for you."
Which begs the question "What if the coxswain isn't here?"
That elicits a funny look which says, "If there is an incident and the coxswain doesn't make it, you won't be here to worry about it." He stops short of mentioning Geromino.
The instructor then twiddles a few knobs, starts the engine and takes us all for a tour of the dock. Half an hour later you're back on dry land and ready for the next part of the course. So you jump in the car and make your way to the headquarters of the training company where you are told that the next lesson is first aid. You arrive at a classroom and are confronted by a body on the floor – but don't panic, it's only a plastic dummy. What follows is like a scene from Casualty. You shout "Can I have some help in here?" check to see if the dummy is dead yet, punch the poor guy in the ribs and start pumping his chest to the tune of "Nelly the elephant packed her trunk and said goodbye to the circus." Of course, your efforts are all in vain, but if you get it more or less right, you pass that session and it's now lunch time.
A bite to eat and it's on to fire fighting for dummies. You get to dress up like a fire-man – great if that's a childhood ambition – not so great if it's a hot day and you're kitted out in fire-proof overalls, steel capped wellies, gloves and helmet. They tell you all about fire extinguishers and how to use them, and then they light a few fires. First there's the chip-pan fire – throw a blanket over it without getting yourself charred in the process. Then there is the oil spill where they light up a big tray of fuel, maybe one or two metres square, and invite each of you to put it out with an extinguisher. Now I don't use the word 'dummies' lightly – because there's always someone who will insist on chasing the last remnant of flame around the tray until the extinguisher runs out, whereupon the whole lot starts up again. Mark him down as someone to avoid in an emergency.
Next is the smoke chamber, where they dress you up like Darth Vader, with breathing apparatus, and send you into a series of shipping containers which are blacked out and dark, very dark, and full of smoke. They want to teach you to find you way out of a building with zero visibility. Your team forms up in a line. The lead guy is meant to run one hand up and down the wall looking for an exit; his other hand moves up and down in front of him to detect forward obstructions, while his feet shuffle along looking for holes and hazards. The rest of the team place one hand on the wall and the other on the guy in front – a bit like a conga line without the party. It's not that difficult, so a minute or so after entering, the lead man finds the exit door, and you're back in the light. On the other hand, if your lead man is one of the dummies mentioned above, be prepared to shuffle round and round until they send in a search party.
If you manage to escape, there endeth the lessons for day one. A quick change and an early drive home.
Next morning you are introduced to the pool where you will carry out the underwater escape. The pool is no bigger than a typical municipal swimming pool, but the water level is maybe four or five feet from the top, and the water is much deeper. Suspended above the pool is a big red fibre-glass helicopter-looking contraption – but that comes later.
You're invited to select a survival suit from a rack of what looks like yellow space suits. You're then fitted out with a life-jacket and another bag like thing that they call a re-breather. Suitably attired, the first lesson takes place in a life raft which has been inflated in the corner of the building, where you are told how it works – it will inflate automatically on contact with the water – if not, it can be deployed manually – if that fails, shout GEROMINO! They didn't actually say that last bit, but it does cross your mind.
At this point I must digress to explain something that us North Sea Tigers don't necessarily mention to our spouses. Helicopters can move in every direction, up, down, left, right, forward and back, but what many people don't realise is that if the engines fail, they can glide, just like a fixed wing aircraft – the only problem is that the glide path is straight down.
In ideal circumstances, the engine dies, nothing falls off and the chopper auto-gyrates to land gently on the surface of a calm sea. The helicopter floats inflate automatically, as does the life raft, you open the cabin door and everybody steps out without getting their feet wet. A rescue boat arrives within a few minutes and its back to base and home in time for tea.
A more likely scenario is that; assuming the rotor blades remain intact and the gearbox is sound, the chopper auto-gyrates and hits the sea like a sack of potatoes. Since calm seas in the North Sea are rare, it's more likely that the immediate danger is that the still spinning rotor blades will hit a wave and disintegrate, sending shards of carbon fibre flying through the air. Survive that and the next probability is that the engine, which is mounted above the cabin, make the chopper top heavy and the next wave will cause the whole thing to roll. You then have to fight to get out of the upside-down doors and windows to reach the surface where the life raft may, or may not, have inflated. If you are stuck in the water, even at summer temperatures, hypothermia will set in within minutes rather than hours. But what's that compared to spending 60 or 70 quid at the Chatsworth Show?
Catastrophic failure is where one or both of the rotors fall apart or stop turning. There is only one course of action if this should ever happen – shout GERMINO!!
You are told how to operate the life-jacket and instructed in how to use the re-breather. This is a bag about the size of a large envelope that you wear round the neck with a diver's mouthpiece. You take a deep breath, blow into the bag and this stores enough oxygen to let you breath normally for about half a minute. So it's into the pool for the first practical exercise.
At one end of the pool is a platform about a metre wide complete with hand rails and about four feet below the surface of the water. You are required to inflate the re-breather and swim underwater for the seven or eight metres width of the pool. The survival suit is what divers call a wet-suit; which means that it is meant to fill with water, but initially is full of air which tries to make you float. So you have to use the handrail to keep yourself under while breathing from the bag. If you are too slow, you notice the gradual loss of oxygen, but normally, it is easy enough to get across without coming up for air. You must now drag yourself up the ladder at the far end. I use the word 'drag' because now, you are carrying an extra half ton of water in the suit. If you get through that, you've passed another test.
(NOTE: This was a much longer piece, but as there was a natural break here, Gordon said he was okay if the rest of the story wasn't included and so I too am ending this here.)
— The End —


text: Mozilla Firefox is a far better browser for Windows than Internet Explorer could ever be. It is more secure, standards compliant and its functionality can be easily improved using Extensions. Unfortunately the default installation of Firefox uses a range of icons that are unfamiliar to average users which can lead to some confusion. Fortunately the Internet Explorer icon pack for Firefox corrects this problem by replacing the distinctive Firefox icons with the more run of the mill Microsoft Explorer versions. This extension doesn't add any functionality beyond this but it sure does help out users who don't care what browser they use as long as the visual experience (i.e. the icons on screen) look the same.


text:
This is a beautiful heartfelt debut novel which at first glance seemed similar to The Rosie Project or Me Before You, but in the end was much more than a story about an unlikely romance. In fact the book is not about romance at all, which is why I really liked it. It's an affecting book about deep human connection and how community and genuine compassion can heal, like in A Man Called Ove. Looking at a number of similar novels recently, I think publishers know that sad/funny/quirky characters are memorable and intriguing–Eleanor is no exception, though I hesitate to liken this novel to any other because it has its own strength and value. Thanks for the recommendation Laura, I loved this one!
Eleanor Oliphant struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she is thinking. She does her job well at work, chats with her Mother once a week, but on the weekends her companions are frozen pizza and a big bottle of vodka. However, if you ask her, Eleanor's life is fine, just fine, completely fine, thank you very much. She doesn't need anything else in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding unnecessary human contact. But everything changes when she meets Raymond, a bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. Together they rescue Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen unconscious on the street. The story takes unexpected turns and is entirely unpredictable.


text:
"They are a mirror image of Netanyahu's campaign."--Maariv commentator Nadav Eyal writes that the U.S. President's remarks about the Israeli Prime Minister are the opposite of how the Israeli leader is portraying himself.
- For the first time since the disengagement (from Gaza in 2005): A whole month without rockets - Statistics published by the Shin Bet show that during December not even one rocket was shot at Israel. A senior source in the IDF command in the south: "Twenty years it has not been this quiet in the region." In 2012, Palestinians shot a record 1,893 rockets. (Maariv, p. 6)
- Two (Jewish Israeli) teens accused of assaulting Arab strike plea - Two youths implicated in August assault on Arab teen in Jerusalem strike plea bargain; State agrees to drop aggravated assault charges to secure incitement conviction. (Ynet)
- Legal expert to High Court: Israel could be tried in Hague if it evicts West Bank villagers - Petition relates to area in the South Hebron Hills that was declared a live-fire zone in the early 1980s, and which Defense Minister Barak decided in July 2012 requires the eviction of 8 of 12 Palestinian villages. (Haaretz+)
- Court orders state to suspend benefit packages for ultra-Orthodox - Supreme Court injunction requires state to explain why benefit packages are still being paid to 54,000 ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students when their military deferment is no longer allowed under the expired Tal Law. (Israel Hayom)
- Israelis worry over religious radicalization, poll shows - Both religious and secular Israelis oppose laws that would restrict secular lifestyle. Exclusion of women unpopular among general public. (Israel Hayom)
- Palestinians use street art to tell ideas - Outside of traditional museum exhibit halls, West Bank's walls serve as canvas for burgeoning arts culture. (Ynet)
For the full News from Israel.


text:
This is a grunge style design with a news box, a contact box, a twitter box and an advertising area on the main page. The subpage have a bigger content box to place any content you want. The design based on a wall formation, the color contrast is ideal to read all the information you need.
I used only basic fonts to provide maximum compatibility!
My previous works:


text:
I've been asked about my table so I thought it time to share. This is was an early Christmas present and we ordered it before it was released so it's still a fairly new piece. Designed by Nicholai Wiig Hansen and manufactured by Normann Copenhagen, a brand of which I am a monster fan, the Tablo table comes in four pieces which are just the legs and top. It's a pretty good size and as you can see, we use it to stack large books (that don't fit in the shelves next to the couch) so it's strong enough to hold a decent amount of weight.
They make a matte black version and a smaller one too!
Other Stories
21 comments:
hah, i´ve been lusting over the same one and yesterday i decided to order it! it´s so pretty!ReplyDelete
I saw this table on tv in a program about design, loved it right away. Looks very good in your house!ReplyDelete
Loove this table! : )ReplyDelete
Have a great weekend!
i think so too, the only thing i´m wondering is that does it match nicely to my eames rocking chair cause it also had these wooden parts. what do you think?ReplyDeleteReplies
think the Eames legs might be lighter, though they come in a variety of colors. It might look nice still. The top is glossy & I'm guessing your Eames is matte, if that makes a difference. There's always the black one too!Delete
I'm sure you'll make it look good. ;)
I think I just found my future table! :)ReplyDelete
I love this table, is beautiful, lucky you : )ReplyDelete
- RachelMarch 30, 2012
I am seriously wanting this table. My sister use to exhibit at Accent on Design a trade show at the Javitz center in New York and her booth was always across from Normann Copenhagen. We were able to order everything at wholesale and they would let us take their Norm 06 lighting displays after the show that they didn't want to ship back. I miss those days.ReplyDelete
- RachelMarch 30, 2012
The new pendant is pretty amazing!ReplyDelete
Thanks for posting the photos of the table, the table is amazing. Looks like the perfect size,ReplyDelete
I might buy this in a few months :)
-have a great easter :)
The table is great. I love that you have books and magazines stacked as "art." You are supporting my inability to discard magazines and books! ;)ReplyDelete
Such a beautiful piece, seriously your home is amazing! I was wondering where you got the spotty (?) black and white cushion on your sofa from? The one on the far right in the pictures?ReplyDelete
I pass their flagship store every day on the way to drop off the kids to school. It is SO much fun seeing how they change out their window display and what new products are out. I've been eying this table because I really want a round one. Now, you just need to come visit Copenhagen so you can really enjoy Normann Copenhagen! :-)ReplyDelete
Your home is looking really nice, very clean style.ReplyDelete
you would fit in well here, for sure!ReplyDelete
That table is absolutely fabulous! Your throw pillows are ridiculously perfect also. Love love love.ReplyDelete
- jaimeNovember 21, 2012
hi. i love your blog! i just came across this post and was wondering if you thought it could double as a kids play table if i just buy a couple little chairs. what do you think? thanks.ReplyDelete
Thank you for your comments, I love hearing from you!
Questions, comments or sponsorship inquires, please contact me via the 'contact' link.


text:
Nump Trump & Crook671 - Sex, Drugs, & Dubstep [DJ 5150 Submitted]
Las Vegas rapper Crook671 Teams up with Nump from the Bay Area for Sex Drugs & Dubstep. Check out Crook's mixtape here. http://piff.me/84a6779 Follow @Crook671
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Training is a way of life at Monell. Students and scientists interested in chemosensory research find the Center to be an outstanding resource for learning. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scientists — more than 400 since Monell's inception — have come from more than 20 countries to work and learn at Monell.
Visiting Scientists
Senior-level investigators, many on sabbatical leave from academic positions, come to Monell to collaborate with the Center's faculty, learn new skills, or both. In addition, the Center's corporate partners often send senior and junior scientists to Monell for specialized training and collaborative research opportunities. In both cases, the length of stay can range from several weeks to a year or more, depending upon the visiting scientist's needs and interests.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Monell's strong postdoctoral program attracts beginning scientists from a wide range of disciplines. Approximately 20 post-doctoral fellows, many of whom have no previous formal training in the chemical senses, are trained at the Center each year.
Monell's interdisciplinary approach is a central aspect of the postdoctoral training program. For example, fellows may be assigned to a faculty member doing research in sensory transduction and also work with a secondary preceptor studying developmental biology, or a fellow studying the molecular genetics of taste might also participate in parallel studies on behavior.
Graduate Study
Talented doctoral candidates benefit greatly from the specialized research environment at Monell. Through cooperative arrangements, a student can complete course work at the degree-granting institutions and carry out thesis and dissertation research at Monell. The selection of graduate students from a range of scientific backgrounds complements Monell's interdisciplinary approach to training and research.
Undergraduate Experience
Monell helps to educate and train undergraduate students through grants from local foundations, work-study programs and cooperative arrangements with the University of Pennsylvania and other nearby colleges and universities. Undergraduates from local universities may conduct their Honors Theses under the direction of Monell scientists.
During the summer, college students apprentice or volunteer their services at Monell to gain laboratory experience in the chemical senses. They, along with the Center's high school student apprentices, participate in weekly seminars of research findings in taste and smell, and also attend seminars on scientific ethics, communication skills, and career planning. Field trips to nearby medical centers and corporate research facilities give students the opportunity to observe and interact with scientific and medical professionals in other settings. Findings from students' research projects frequently are published in scientific journals.
Secondary Education
Since its inception, Monell's scientists have made a strong commitment to the training of local high school students. Through partnerships with several area high schools, students interested in a career in science work during school hours as research apprentices at Monell and receive course credit. Many conduct their high school science projects under the guidance of Monell scientists.
Monell's Science Apprenticeship Program brings at least 20 students, including many minority students, to the Center each summer for full-time participation. At the heart of the program is an intensive 7-week internship that allows students to participate in structured research experiences, as well as in a number of enrichment activities. Among the program's many goals are an increased appreciation of the chemical senses, a demystification of science, the development of critical thought, and hands-on experience with the scientific process. A follow-up evaluation process has shown that the vast majority of apprentices pursue degrees in science.
Members of Monell's staff also participate in local and international science fairs, serve as consultants to publishers of scientific educational materials, and help teachers develop new areas of classroom study.
Monell's scientists teach courses in the chemical senses to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in several departments and schools of the University of Pennsylvania, the Thomas Jefferson University, and other local colleges and universities. Members of the Center's staff also lecture and offer programs to industrial, professional, and community groups.
Seminars and Conferences
An annual seminar series for staff and members of the academic community features presentations by specialists in the chemical senses and related fields. Monell scientists regularly present their own research for review during in-house seminars. Sharing of interdisciplinary information is a keystone of the Center's operation.
Monell also hosts conferences and workshops attended by scientists from throughout the world. These meetings frequently combine the perspectives of basic research, development, and translation.


text:
The Panasonic Lumix FS15 is another dead-simple digital camera, akin to the Nikon S630 or the Sony W290, both of which we've reviewed previously. All of these cameras are simple, with "intelligent" auto modes that essentially put the camera on auto pilot, allowing the photographer to truly point and shoot without concerning themselves with any deeper settings or modifications. Without a doubt, however, the Panasonic FS15 is the most enjoyable to use.
While the S630 was disappointing and the W290 was good, the FS15 is truly excellent. It manages to combine great image quality, simple operation, and a stylish, lightweight design perfectly. The camera was a pleasure to use and would make an excellent choice for consumers interested in a compact, pocket-friendly camera.
The Details
The Panasonic Lumix FS15 is a 12-megapixel digital camera with a 5x optical zoom, 29mm wide-angle lens. It has a large, vivid 2.7-inch LCD display and uses Secure Digital memory cards for storing photos. It's a fully automatic camera, with no significant manual controls, so photographers who like to tweak and fiddle with settings should look elsewhere. The FS15 is a casual camera, intended for novices or those who don't want to spend all day frittering with their gadget. The camera has two automatic modes, the traditional kind and the intelligent kind, though it's hard to imagine why you wouldn't want to use the latter.
The FS15 is very similar to the W290 with one exception: high-def video. The W290 has a video mode capable of taking 720p video clips, while the FS15 sticks with a standard-definition mode. If you read our W290 review, you'll see that ultimately, you're not missing much. While the W290's video was alright, it's not worth the trade off in size and comfort. The FS15 does just fine without HD video and definitely has the advantage over the W290 in aesthetics.
The FS15 is a real winner when it comes to design. Panasonic has made this camera incredibly compact, very thin and very lightweight. It weighs only about four ounces and fits comfortably in the palm of one's hand. It can be dropped in a pants or shirt pocket without unsightly bulges or even the slightest hint that you're actually toting a camera around. It disappears into your pocket, you won't think about it until you need it.
The camera is available in silver, black, or a stunning blue color (pictured above).
The Intelligent Auto (iA) button is place right on top of the camera, where you might expect to find a mode dial. Since the FS15 has few modes, that feature has been turned into a button and placed on the rear of the camera. So it's easier to switch into iA when you want to, due to its placement. A few times, I ended up pressing the iA button instead of the shutter because the placement is so close to the shutter finger. It's a minor annoyance, one that's avoided with a little practice.
As you can see in the photographs on the right-hand sidebar, the Lumix FS15 was able to produce truly excellent photos for such a small camera. They are clear, vivid, and colorful, with little evidence of blurring or image noise, something that has plagued Panasonic point-and-shoot models in the past.
Intelligent Auto lived up to its name, moving swiftly and seamlessly through macro, portrait, and landscape mode whenever the environment required it. It made using the FS15 a breeze and gave confidence that each shot would be perfectly tuned to the scenario. Not having to worry about switching modes or adjusting settings really lifts a huge weight off your mind, and can make taking photos far more fun than with a traditional camera.
Conclusion: A User-Friendly Winner
The Panasonic Lumix FS15 is an excellent camera, perfect for those who'd rather focus on what they're shooting than the camera they're shooting with. It produces high-quality images, cuts an attractive figure, and makes photography simple and user friendly for everybody. Plus, it's also very affordable.


text:
make=Nissan&model=Maxima&gvBodyStyle=Sedan& 4 auto-new /new-inventory/index.htm
Show Only
At our Nissan dealership near Cary, NC, we have a huge selection of new Nissan models for you to test-drive. If you want to take home a fuel-efficient sedan that provides endless driving thrills, then buy or lease a new Nissan Altima or Maxima and enjoy the open road. Do you need a larger SUV to take on your everyday errands and carpools? Then buy a new Nissan Rogue SUV or an even more spacious Nissan Murano. You can take on your days at the worksite, too, thanks to the powerful Nissan Titan truck. Come to Michael Jordan Nissan and find the new Nissan that meets your needs, today!


text:
Fourteen miles north of Newport, the valley of the Llwyd opens out at the airy iron and coal town of BLAENAFON (sometimes Blaenavon), whose population has shrunk to five thousand, a third of its size in the nineteenth century. It's a spirited and evocative place, a fact recognized by UNESCO, who granted it World Heritage Site status in 2000.
Blaenafon ironworks
The town's boom kicked off at the Blaenafon ironworks, just off the Brynmawr road, founded in 1789. Limestone, coal and iron ore – ingredients for successful iron-smelting – were abundant locally, and the Blaenafon works was one of the largest in Britain until it closed in 1900. This remarkable site contains three of the five original Georgian blast furnaces, one with its cast house still attached, and the immense water-balance lift. Also here are the workers' cottages, some unchanged and others converted into a museum offering a thorough picture of the process and the lifestyle that went with it.
Big Pit National Mining Museum
Guided tours at the evocative Big Pit National Mining Museum involve being kitted out with lamp, helmet and very heavy battery pack, and then lowered 300ft into the labyrinth of shafts and coalfaces. The guides – mostly ex-miners – lead you through explanations and examples of the different types of coal mining, while all the while streams of rust-coloured water flow by. The dank and chilly atmosphere must have terrified the small children who were once paid twopence – of which one penny was taken out for the cost of their candles – for a six-day week pulling the coal wagons along the tracks. Back on the surface, the old pithead baths – one of the last remaining in the country – now holds a compelling, and very moving, museum documenting the lives and times of the miners and their families.
The Valleys
South Wales
Book through Rough Guides' trusted travel partners
Wales features
The latest articles, galleries, quizzes and videos.