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Hello and welcome to the Tol Barad Mining and Herbalism Guide! If you're reading this, you either have a miner or an herbalist (or hopefully, a character who has both!). Whether it's one or the other (or both), this guide will clue you in and help you master the art of farming in one of the most lucrative zones introduced in Cataclysm. Keep in mind that we're referring specifically to Tol Barad, the active battle PvP zone, and *not* Tol Barad Peninsula, the contested zone to the north.
What is so good about Tol Barad?
There are several things about Tol Barad that make it an ideal farming zone for herbalism and mining. They can be summed up as follows:
1) Little to no competition.
2) Little to no mob interference.
3) Nodes that are high in density, spawn in easily recognized areas, and respawn in about the same time as it takes to run a complete circuit of the zone.
But what makes Tol Barad different than any other farming spot?
That's a good question, and there are several answers.
For one, Tol Barad has two particularly valuable nodes: Whiptail and Rich Pyrite Deposits. Whiptail can only be found in one other place (Uldum). It spawns there only along the river/delta and the dried river delta, so competition can be rough. Rich Pyrite occurs nowhere else in the world: It is unique to Tol Barad and can yield two to three times as much Pyrite Ore as the regular Pyrite Deposits found in Twilight Highlands and Uldum. This stuff looks like a pile of leprechaun gold, and for all intents and purposes it may as well be. If you ever got excited in Burning Crusade or Wrath about finding a Khorium or a Titanium node, imagine if you could have found a "Rich" version of one of those nodes. One whack at a Rich Pyrite Deposit can easily be worth 100 gold or more, just in the raw materials value. The other nodes in Tol Barad are Elementium Vein, Rich Elementium Vein, and Cinderbloom.
For another, Tol Barad has the distinction of being a PvP battle zone, which among other things helps to keep your gathering competition extremely low for a number of reasons. If a player is in Tol Barad between battles, he or she is either there to do a quick set of dailies or to gather. There are many less random passersby to stop and gather the mining and herbalism nodes. Since only one faction can do dailies at a time, average competition is immediately cut by about half. Your mileage may vary, but this can be extremely exagerrated on your server depending on your faction balance. A significantly underpopulated faction has a distinct advantage in Tol Barad because it is easier to get a preformed group in, and players on the underpopulated faction generally always get in and so get more experience playing the battles and form a relatively tight knit group that performs increasingly well over time. The overpopulated faction tends to get a raid of a much more mixed variety of players and thus generally improves very little, and much slower. Plus, since defense is currently much easier to do, the trend is that the underpopulated faction wins and then continues to hold onto the zone indefinitely. So if the overpopulated faction generally cannot do dailies in the zone, the larger portion of herbalists and miners on the server have much less of a reason to ever wander in there in between battles. Even further still, as the day wears on and the members of the winning faction have generally completed their daily quests, the traffic in the zone falls off towards zero.
Furthermore, there is absolutely no phasing in Tol Barad. You do not have to worry about nodes pulling a vanishing act on you, appearing on your minimap then disappearing as you approach.
Lastly, it being a PvP battle zone lends a certain stigma to many players who will tend to keep away from it as much as they can. Many players are under the incorrect impression that (on PvE servers) you are automatically flagged in this zone and thus they will stay out, when in fact you are only flagged during a battle. In between battles it acts like any other contested zone: You will unflag after five minutes of unhostile activity. It is also a permanent no-fly zone. It is ground mounts only in Tol Barad, and this is largely seen as an inconvenience and yet another reason players will tend to keep away from the zone.
(It also stands to reason it is an inconvenience for botters as well. There are reports of gathering hacks and botters on most realms, but I have yet to see one in Tol Barad, at least on my realm. You can gather here without that frustration!)
Mining Map
As you can see, there are seven clusters of mining nodes (three nodes per cluster). Only one node per cluster can be spawned in at any given time, so one complete circuit around Tol Barad can yield at most seven mining nodes. These nodes can spawn as either Elementium, Rich Elementium, or Rich Pyrite. They are all also an excellent source of Volatile Water, Volatile Earth, and Volatile Fire. If you're really lucky, you might also loot an occasional Elementium Geode, a rare quality pet that is worth a fair amount on the auction house. You will also loot a small number of green and blue quality gems.
Note that the northernmost node of the cluster nearest the main entrance to Tol Barad is out of reach unless there is an active battle and an attacker dies and resurrects at the elevated graveyard and jumps down to it. It is possible to kite a mob over to it and creatively make use of a charge mechanic, but depending on the node (and your ability to do this) it probably is not worth your time. If the node spawns here, you will likely have to accept that it is inaccessible to you and forget about it for the rest of your session.
Herb Map
Here you can see that there are seven clusters of Cinderbloom nodes (three nodes per cluster). As with the mining clusters, only one node per cluster can be spawned in at any given time, so one complete circuit around Tol Barad can yield at most seven Cinderbloom nodes. There are six tightly packed clusters of Whiptail in the swamp area, mostly guarded by Crocolisks. Most nodes can be looted while avoiding combat. It is also possible to crowd control a crocolisk, loot a Whiptail node, and start running towards the next node and have the crocolisk in question drop combat with you before it reaches you. In this way, nearly all combat with Crocolisks can be avoided.
All herb nodes are also excellent sources of Volatile Life.
Gathering Path
It is best to begin your gathering circuit from the zone entrance and move towards the first mining node near the Northwest Tower. Continue down the path towards the next mining node (do not enter the swamp for Whiptail at this time). Pass in front of Warden's Vigil, then proceed up the hill to the South Tower. Come back down and pass in front of Slagworks, heading across the bridge towards the Northeast Tower. Continue west and pass in front of Ironclad Garisson. After you check the seventh and final mining node, turn and make a loop through the swamp for Whiptail. End your circuit at the base of the hill between the zone entrance and the Northwest Tower.
The average circuit will take between six and seven minutes to complete. Coincidentally, this is almost exactly as long as the average respawn time on the node clusters. Therefore, when you get back to where you started, the first node you looted should be respawning. If not, you may only need to wait a minute before it respawns and you can continue on your merry way.
What do I need? For starters, you need to reach level 85 to access Tol Barad. You will need basic things like a ground mount and you will want to have 100% ground speed, as well as at least one of the largest gathering bags (mining, herbalism, or both) and, obviously, a mining pick if you are a Miner. Your gathering skill should be at or very near max level before entering Tol Barad so that you can take full advantage of the zone. Leveling herbalism is very easy. Leveling Mining can be tricky, as Obsidium Veins can be particularly hard to come by. A tip I have is to put a Gathering enchant on a pair of white quality gloves (+5 to all gathering skills) and to level mining in Wintergrasp until you reach 475 skill (470+5). At this point you can gather from Elementium Veins, which can be found in Cataclysm zones with much greater frequency than Obsidium Veins.
When to start? The best time to start is when the underpopulated faction on your server controls the zone. This automatically means less competition because the larger portion of the server population has almost no reason to be there.
What about competition? Do a "/who Tol Barad" to determine how many people of your faction are in the zone, and who they are. In time you may start to recognize who your competition is. If no marked competition is there, get a move on and start gathering!
What if competition joins me while I'm gathering? If a competitor joins in but you were gathering there first, do not be discouraged! You have the upper hand, as you know the exact order in which you have gathered from the nodes and you know best when approximately the nodes will be respawning. A smart competitor will do a lap or two around the zone and find nothing, realize there is competition here before him with knowledge of the respawns, and leave. An unintelligent competitor will circle endlessly and only be able to take the occasional node away from you.
15 Minutes Before a Battle: This is your golden fifteen minutes. During this time, all mobs and NPCs in the zone despawn. This means players doing dailies no longer have a reason to be there, and will often port or hearth out, so nodes lost to random passersby are no longer an issue. It also means that you no longer have to worry about mobs interferring with your gathering. Furthermore, at this time mark, a gate appears that blocks the entrance to the zone from across the bridge. This means that absolutely no new competition can enter the zone during this time. You might very quickly find yourself with the zone all to yourself.
Should I queue for the Battle? Absolutely, 100% YES. You don't want to risk losing out on a node that's right in front of you because the battle automatically ports you out of the zone.
Once the Battle starts: Whether you stay or leave is entirely up to you. If you enjoy the battles, stay and participate. If you don't, you're free to leave. You're also free to keep right on gathering, only note that you may be inconvenienced by attackers. You won't be contributing to the battle, but hey, I won't judge you. You can even leave the raid without being kicked out of the zone, so nobody can identify you as a non-participating gatherer just by looking at the zone map and spotting you. It is also worth noting that you have a vested interest in the overpopulated faction losing, so if you are a member of that faction, you might end up actually helping yourself out by staying and not contributing.
Also keep in mind that a very recent hotfix (12/27/10) made it so that the attackers get 1800 Honor Points if they win, so if your faction is going to be attacking and you have any interest in PvP gear, it is definitely worth you staying on the off chance your faction succeeds and you score a free 1800 Honor.
What if I queued but the battle starts and I don't get in? You will be ported out to Tol Barad Peninsula. Now is a great time to empty your bags. Smelt your ore, and send everything by mail to your auction/bank alt. If you don't care to remain in the queue and possibly enter the battle in progress, you can also log over to your auction alt and post what you've gathered. Alternatively, you can take a break to do just about anything your heart desires, and return once the battle ends.
What should I sell? Smelt your Elementium and Pyrium into bars and sell the bars. Pyrium bars can be sold individually or in small stacks. Elementium Bars are best sold in full stacks. Sell full stacks of Cinderbloom and Whiptail. Volatile Life is used often by Alchemists to transmute into Volatile Air, and so is likely best sold in stacks of 15. Volatile Earth, Water, and Fire sell well individually or in small stacks up to about 5. Uncut green gems can often sell for more than cut greem gems, particularly if they are required for the Jewelcrafting daily. You can also sell uncut blue gems. All auctions should be set to Short / 12-Hour durations.
What if I get undercut? Never fear! Getting undercut is practically inevitable. However, if you're selling raw materials, keep in mind that currently all of these raw materials are basically guaranteed to get sold. Just wait for your auctions to expire and repost them. Posting once in the morning and once again in the evening should be sufficient. Everything that you have will sell, and you're only paying a pitance in listing fees.
How much money will I make? That's impossible to tell exactly. It depends entirely on your own server's market and how much time and effort you spend gathering. Gathering may or may not be the absolute *best* way to make money with the time you have available to you, but it is certainly up there. A *rough* estimate can easily be put at several thousand gold per hour, but as with all things in life, this is not guaranteed. Gathering in Tol Barad is certainly an easy activity, and the income is more or less guaranteed. It can also be a very relaxing way to spend your time, as it is repetative and often isolated from most of the population on your server. You don't have to spend time and energy haggling in trade chat or worrying much about playing the auction house (these raw materials will practically sell themselves). You also don't have to invest any money of your own, only time. There is no risk or any potential for loss involved with gathering.
Is there any way to make more money? Of course there is! They just require access to other characters (either yours, or helpful friends) who have other professions. Some useful ways to increase the value of your stuff include:
- (Blacksmith) Crafting Ebonsteel Belt Buckles. These can sell for double the materials cost, but don't make too many!
- (Jewelcrafting) Blue/Superior Gem Cuts - Depending on availability and your server's market, most cut Superior quality gems sell for much more than the uncut gems.
- (Jewelcrafting/Enchanting) - This one is tricky as it requires a toon that has both Enchanting and Jewelcrafting. With your own Volatile Life and Cinderbloom (and additional Heartblossom and Azshara's Veil either gathered yourself or purchased), BoP Lifebound Alchemist Stones can be crafted and disenchanted into Maelstrom Crystals. These can sell for a pretty penny on their own (be sure to check the value of the materials compared to the value of the crystals first). Furthermore, with access to the highest end enchants, particularly weapon enchants, severly limited because the recipes themselves require 5x Maelstrom Crystals each to purchase, you may be able to make a ton of money with a near monopoly on certain enchants. Be sure to check your auction house to determine your own server's market first!
- (Alchemy - Transmute Spec in particular) - Transmuting Truegold is almost universally profitable. Be sure to do this once every day on every toon you have access to, especially if they are transmute specced. You may have to purchase Volatile Air, or transmute Life to Air, but it will be well worth your while to do so.
Thanks for taking the time to read this guide, and good luck gathering in Tol Barad!


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Team Green Collects Nine Titles at Mini O's
Irvine, Calif. – The 2012 Thor Winter Olympics at Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, Fla., commonly known as "Mini Os", combines both supercross and motocross competition and is one of the largest amateur motocross nationals of the season. Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green started the week with two supercross championships by Keith Johnson in the Plus 35 and Plus 40 classes. Johnson carried his momentum on to the motocross track and claimed a third championship in Plus 40. Team Green's Austin Forkner collected seven moto wins throughout both supercross and motocross and won the Supermini 1 (12-15) and 85 (12-13) Modified motocross championships to earn the coveted Bronze Boot award. Combined, Kawasaki achieved nine championships and 45 overall podium finishes.
Click here for the full report and photos.

subset: commoncrawl


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Immigration Minister Tony Burke says he will travel to the Manus Island detention centre within days to assess what he says are "horrific" claims of rape and torture at the site.
A former senior Manus Island security manager has told SBS's Dateline program that detainees there have been raped and abused with the full knowledge of staff.
Mr Burke says the allegations are appalling, but says the Government still intends to massively expand the Manus Island facility.
Meanwhile three people, including a young girl, are believed to have died after a boat carrying more than 100 asylum seekers sank off the coast of Java.
Another boat, carrying 40 people, has been intercepted west of Christmas Island by HMAS Bathurst.
Speaking to Dateline, former G4S senior manager Rod St George said some Manus Island inmates were left locked up with men who had already raped them, and others were bashed and forced to sew their lips together in a protest about conditions at the centre.
He also confirmed an instance where a man was left with a perforated eardrum after solvent was poured in his ear.
Burke says he knew of the claims earlier this month
Speaking on Radio National, Mr Burke said he was made aware of the allegations a week and a half ago, but only spoke to Mr St George for the first time last night.
"The allegations were horrific. I wish I'd had an opportunity to get the specifics of them earlier than last night because I would've started acting on them earlier than last night," Mr Burke said.
"You want to make sure that people are being treated with dignity. You want to make sure that services are being provided appropriately.
"The allegations on the program last night clearly fell appallingly short of that, and clearly there's a lot of direct allegations that need to be followed up."
Inmates 'lived in constant fear of rapes, bashings'
Mr St George, who no longer works on the island, said "vulnerable" inmates live in constant fear of attack.
"There was nothing that could be done for these young men who were considered vulnerable, which in many cases is just a euphemism for men who have been raped," he said.
"They couldn't go to the toilet unassisted, they couldn't shower. Some of them were even changing tents constantly so they couldn't be tracked down."
He said the PNG nationals employed as security guards on Manus Island were not up to the task.
"If there was something going to happen, an attack for instance, they might be told by the perpetrators 'walk away', and they would comply," he said.
Burke says problems 'can be fixed'
Mr Burke said he would work through the issues, reaffirming the Government's plans to increase the detainee population at Manus Island to up to 3,000.
"Even the whistleblower himself wasn't saying shut it down. He was saying it can be fixed and these are the things that will be done to fix it and that's what I intend to work through," Mr Burke said.
He said those involved in violent behaviour were being removed from the facility, and the Government was working on ways to separate inmates.
He said he would inspect the changes when he visited Manus later this week.
Mr Burke said issues about training staff would be worked through and addressed as the centre expands.
"You're looking at very significant changes in the staffing and staffing levels. There's a complete opportunity on cultural change when you've got those expansions happening," he said.
Mr Burke will also visit Nauru at the end of the week after rioting detainees there torched 80 per cent of the centre's buildings.
Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill has played down the rape and torture allegations.
Responding to a question on talkback radio he said the allegations were an ongoing issue.
"You've got people from different areas living together in one area so there are problems about how they live, how they manage their day-to-day activity," he said.
Mr O'Neill took aim at those running the centre.
"Some of the contractors who are managing these facilities are not doing the job that they are paid to do, so they need to beef up their performance."
He says building a permanent centre on Manus Island is the key to improving conditions for detainees.
About 70 asylum seekers have already been flown out of Manus Island to make way for the Federal Government's so-called PNG solution.
The group are all single men from Iran and Iraq, a PNG immigration officials says.
They arrived on Manus Island before the Australian Government's new agreement for all genuine asylum seekers who arrive by boat to be settled in PNG.
The Government has said it will remove all the asylum seekers currently detained on Manus island to make way for those who have arrived since the start of the new agreement last Friday.
Abbott says claims need urgent investigation
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the claims are serious.
"They have to be taken seriously, they have to be properly investigated, and if people have done the wrong thing they ought to be punished," he said.
Mr Abbott said Opposition spokesman Scott Morrison had been warning the Federal Government about the risk of abuse in detention centres for months.
"I'm disappointed that the Government has made light of Scott Morrison's warnings," he said, adding, "now there's further evidence that what Scott Morrison has been saying for months is right."
And he has used this latest controversy to again promise that a Coalition government would "stop the boats".
"A lot of terrible things are happening right now and the only way to end the tragedies, to stop all of these horrors is to stop the boats," he said.
"It's the right thing do and it's the compassionate thing to do and it will happen under a Coalition government."
Meanwhile, Greens immigration spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young says she is aware of reports of malaria at the Manus Island detention centre.
"I've heard today as well reports that there is malaria outbreak within the camp - 15 people being hospitalised because of malaria," she said.
"This is just a rolling catastrophe of damage and danger."
The Immigration Department says claims of a malaria outbreak at the Manus facility are wrong.
It says since Manus reopened in November 2012 only one person has been diagnosed with the disease.


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If the bishops of the United States had any question whether Catholics could come together in common cause, the answer came quickly and forcefully when the Obama administration attempted to impose a definition of religious organization that was far more restrictive than the one normally used for tax and other legal purposes.
Catholic leaders and opinion makers on the right and left, conservative to liberal, rallied to oppose the Health and Human Services definition that essentially split our religious experience between places of worship and other organizations with roots in those same houses of worship. Those are the organizations where people are educated and where the hungry are fed, clothed, housed and otherwise given aid.
The agreement that was forged across the normal Catholic divides was to a broadly stated, clear principle: Our faith is not confined to a building. Aiding the poor and marginalized, educating people, taking care of the sick are not add-ons to our religious convictions. They are core religious activities; they are who we are as Catholics.
The response from the politicians to such a unified front was quick and decisive. Organizations affiliated with religious groups that oppose artificial contraception would not have to pay for contraceptive services or devices.
The significant number of Catholics -- including many NCR readers -- who did not rally to this cause also points to a lesson church leadership needs to learn. The bishops' trying to build a case for religious liberty on the sandy foundation of church teaching on contraception is too much for many Catholics to accept.
If the bishops want to see how quickly common cause and goodwill dissipates, they need only continue to overreach, walking away from the clear victory they earned and insisting on measures that can only be construed to have as an end the destruction of the Affordable Care Act. The bishops were unable to win the battle over health care, despite trumpeting a manufactured and unfounded concern over the use of federal money for abortion, and in so doing caused an unnecessary split in the Catholic community.
In this latest round, refusing to accept the administration's accommodation -- and its promise to continue working to find a reasonable solution to any remaining concerns -- will only result in another unnecessary defeat in the public arena and further division in the community.
* * *
The cold reality of the politics is clear: If the bishops want to make this a matter of religious liberty, they've won. Quietly working with the administration to make further adjustments to the policy means an even bigger win.
If the intent is to continue to make this a contest to expand the exception for religious institutions to any individual private employer who might have an objection to providing contraception, or wiping out the mandate altogether, the bishops are asking the impossible. There is no free exercise claim in such a configuration, unless we all become some form of church in our own right with the ability to opt out individually of whatever federal responsibility might be asked of us. Beware what you wish for.
If the bishops want to obliterate what little credibility they might have left in the public realm, they'll continue to involve their newly constituted Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty in a battle over contraception. Bulletin to the bishops: You've already lost that on every front, inside the denomination, outside in the wider culture, among women, especially, of every persuasion. Your biology needs to be updated and your understanding of how birth control methods work (see Jamie Manson column) needs to catch up with considerable science. If you want to hand the Obama administration an issue that it would love to have in the public discussion through next November, keep talking about contraception.
As an added bonus to the administration, keep sending your frontman on religious liberty, Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., to congressional hearings with a group of other men, no women in sight, to discuss contraception. What you'll accomplish is new material for Jon Stewart and more return appearances by comedian Amy Poehler for "Really?!?" segments on "Saturday Night Live."
* * *
One of Pope John Paul II's successes over his quarter-of-a-century reign was to effectively neuter national episcopal conferences, especially that of the United States, that had proved able to speak powerfully and with a unified voice on a range of social issues. What we now have, in lieu of clear leadership and a conference that comes to consensus, is sometimes a cacophony of voices, driven by a variety of interests and ideologies. So in the recent case, the reactions have ranged from a reasoned and measured opinion by Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Wash., who granted the president the benefit of goodwill and seeks common ground for an extended discussion of the sometimes thorny church-and-state issues, to the hot, culture-warrior language of Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput, who questioned the sincerity of the president's religion, saw the HHS rule as a calculated attack on religion and pronounced the media complicit in an attack on Catholicism. His model for debating such subjects, he said in a column for his diocesan paper, was a warrior, Gen. Creighton Abrams, namesake of the Army tank.
Whether New York's newly minted cardinal, Timothy Dolan, can bring some order to what at times can seem like chaos in the public square remains to be seen. His language, to this point, has been more conciliatory than combative, his approach seems generally to grant the other side best intentions rather than spin conspiracies about antireligious and anti-Catholic campaigns.
But in the Catholic culture wars, the moderate bishops will tell you, prudence is often a lost virtue. The actors with the biggest megaphones and the most aggressive language are the ones who capture the headlines, the sound bites and end up shaping the Catholic narrative for the general public.
They increasingly make the church look foolish and detached from reality.
Part of the problem, of course, is that church leaders, in seeking to be arbiters of morality, particularly sexual morality, have to face the fact that for two generations the faithful have rejected the official church teaching on birth control. The rejection comes not -- as the bishops mistakenly tell themselves -- from Catholics who don't understand the teaching. Faithful Catholics have studied the teaching, they have prayed about it and weighed it. And they have found it wrong.
Some bishops eagerly take to the stump at every opportunity to rail against the culture and the media for causing any number of woes for the Catholic church and religion in general. They have to be aware, however, that no individual or group in this country's history has done as much to compromise the church's integrity and to besmirch its good name as the U.S. episcopacy in its handling of the sex abuse crisis. The church really needs no other enemies; no one outside could do it as much harm. And all Catholics, not just the bishops, bear the effects of that deep wound.
It will take courageous and consistent leadership to face the church's deep internal problems without looking for outside scapegoats. It is telling that considerable numbers inside the institution still believe in it deeply enough to come to its defense when they perceive a clear wrong.
The bishops should take the win, and be grateful that they still have enough clout to cause a president to attend so quickly to their concerns.


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Photography Guide
All Photography News
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The widest aperture a zoom lens could achieve was f/2.8. All that has changed with Sigma announcing the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art lens, which features a maximum wide aperture of f/1.8 throughout its entire zoom range.
Sony May Introduce Eye-controlled Focusing System in 2014
According to Sony Alpha Rumors, Sony is now working on an eye-controlled focusing system. If everything goes well, it'd debut on the company's flagship camera next year.
Canon and Olympus Hold Largest Camera Market Share in Japan Last Year
Despite losing market share over the past year, Canon and Olympus still have the largest market share in the Japanese domestic camera market. Canon sees an increased DSLR market share while Olympus remains the top mirrorless system camera manufacturer.
Toshiba to Build Lytro-like Cameras for Smartphones
Toshiba is developing a light-field camera for use in smartphones and tablets. Like the light-field image sensor found in the Lytro camera, Toshiba's camera will allow photographers to change the focal point in an image after it has been shot.
Canon Shutters the EOS 5D Mark II, Mark III to Take the Reins
Canon has quietly retired the EOS 5D Mark II, leaving its successor, the EOS 5D Mark III to take the lead.
Foxconn Buys Stake In Camera Maker GoPro, Invests $200 Million
Foxconn has just invested $200 million for a 8.88% stake in GoPro camera makers, Woodman Labs.
Nikon D600 Time-lapse Video Shows Dust Accumulation on Sensor
Reports have been coming in of the Nikon D600's tendency to accumulate dust on its sensor. Photographer Kyle Clemens bought a brand new D600, and investigated the problem for himself. The results show a clear accumulation of dust on the camera's sensor over time.
Olympus' New Flagship XZ-2 & Discussion with Seiki Yamamoto
The Stylus XZ-2 is Olympus' new flagship digital compact camera, succeeding the nearly two-year old XZ-1. We discover what's new about the camera, and carry out an interview with Seiki Yamamoto of Olympus about the state of the camera industry.
Sony's First 35mm Interchangeable Lens Full-Frame Handycam Unveiled
The first Handycam with a 35mm full frame sensor by Sony, the NEX-VG900 packs a 24.3-megapixel Sony-developed full frame Exmor CMOS sensor approximately 40 times larger than the equivalent in ordinary consumer camcorders. It's also more than twice the size of the APS-C sized sensor found in other interchangeable lens Handycam models.
Sony Announces New Full-frame Alpha SLT-A99
The first Translucent Mirror camera from Sony to feature a 24.3-megapixel full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor, the A99 also debuts an advanced AF-D continuous autofocus mode which works with moving subjects to ensure unprecedented levels of imaging performance with still and video shooting.
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December 26, 2018
Make a Statement With Your Bookshelf In the New Year
Posted in Living by John Trupin
There comes a time in life where gifts take different forms during the holidays. Toys are replaced by tools and appliances. Games are supplanted by gift cards and gear for grander hobbies. Clothing ranges from stylish to functional, but typically reflects real-life necessities over fantastical dresses or costumes. But for many, books remain a timeless gift, offering windows into worlds we know...
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December 19, 2018
Creating Caring Connections With Mary Ann Vandergriff
Posted in Windermere Foundation by Guest Author
When people in the West Seattle community are in need, they've learned they can turn to Windermere broker Mary Ann Vandergriff. After a company backed out of providing turkeys for 40 elementary school families the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the school's family support worker called Vandergriff in a panic. Just a few phone calls later, the big-hearted broker had rounded up 40 vouchers for...
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December 18, 2018
2019 Economic and Housing Forecast
Posted in Market News by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
What a year it has been for both for the U.S. economy and the national housing market. After several years of above-average economic and home price growth, 2018 marked the start of a slowdown in the residential real estate market. As the year comes to a close, it's time for me to dust off my crystal ball to see what we can expect in 2019.
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December 17, 2018
Bringing Warmth And Good Cheer For The Holidays
Posted in Community and Windermere Foundation by Marilou Ubungen
The winter holiday season is one of our favorites! It is also a busy time of the year for Windermere offices, as many are working with local non-profits to support families who need a little extra help during the holidays. From running clothing drives to hosting free photo events with Santa, our agents and offices are out in their communities helping those in need have a warm and merry holiday.
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December 12, 2018
Guaranteed to Please: Holiday Gift Ideas for the Home
Posted in Living by John Trupin
Every holiday gift list has at least one person who is tough to shop for. Wavering between a risky guess at clothing that might not fit and just throwing in the towel and buying a gift card can be frustrating. But there's one thing you can be sure of: everyone on your list probably loves to have their home looking stylish. If you're hoping to score a big win with the pickiest of people of on...
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December 05, 2018
Four Holiday Decor Trends We're Excited About This Winter
Posted in Living by John Trupin
The holiday season is here and for many of us, that means it's time to deck the halls. If you're looking for some inspiration and a place to start, here are some ideas that are certain to get everyone in the spirit.
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December 03, 2018
A Lifetime of Making a Difference - Joan Tate Allen
Posted in Community and Windermere Foundation by Marilou Ubungen
Tis the season when we look back upon the year and give thanks for all that we have and count our blessings. At Windermere, we are thankful for all who generously donate to the Windermere Foundation, and we are grateful to have franchise owners and agents who go above and beyond to make a difference in the communities where they live and work.
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Mariners tab Goldsmith as radio play-by-play man
And while Goldsmith, 29, has made a rapid rise through the broadcasting ranks, he wasn't sure this day would ever come when he was working unpaid radio internships and working odd jobs as a landscaper and dog walker to pay the bills not many years ago.
"This means everything to me," Goldsmith said Thursday. "I always try, as best I can, to keep perspective. That's the best thing to come out of my windy path. I've been at the very bottom. You don't get much lower than being out of college two years and then driving halfway across the country to call games on the Internet without pay.
"At that time, I never felt in my wildest dreams I'd realize Triple-A, let alone now a big league team that I respect as much as the Mariners. It goes to show if you surround yourself with great people and mentors and listen to them and work hard, good things can happen."
Goldsmith is the Mariners' first full-time replacement for Dave Niehaus since the Hall of Famer's death in November 2010. The club used six part-time broadcasters on a rotating basis the past two seasons to work with Rizzs on 710 ESPN Seattle and the Mariners' Radio Network.
Mariners senior vice president of communications Randy Adamack said former players like Dave Valle, Dave Henderson and Dan Wilson might still do occasional substitute work in the booth, but Goldsmith is the full-time partner for Rizzs going forward.
"Aaron is easy to listen to, which is important when you're talking about broadcasting every day for seven months," Adamack said after the Mariners selected Goldsmith from 160 applicants for the position. "He loves baseball and has a passion for broadcasting. This is a guy we feel the fans of the Northwest will grow to like and will be a great fit here for years to come."
Dave Sims and Mike Blowers will return as the Mariners' television announcers for their seventh seasons. Rizzs will begin his 28th year with the Mariners' broadcast crew when the season opens April 1.
Goldsmith worked as the play-by-play man for the PawSox last year after spending two seasons as the voice of the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Rangers.
While he grew up a big sports fan in St. Louis, it wasn't until shortly before graduating from Principia College in Elsah, Ill., with a history degree that he decided broadcasting might be a better way to make a living. So after 10 months learning the business in a trade school, he began a series of unpaid and barely paying jobs that began his journey.
He worked for $70 a month in 2007 covering home games for the Gateway Grizzles in the Independent Frontier League in Sauget, Ill., took an unpaid internship doing play-by-play for the Bourne (Mass.) Braves in the Cape Cod League in '08 and followed that up with a similar post with the Portland (Maine) Sea Dogs, the Red Sox's Double-A club.
He wondered at times if it was worth it, especially the night he hit a fastfood joint for a burger and realized his credit card was maxed out. He wanted to marry his longtime girlfriend -- and now wife, Heather -- but said his job at the time as a dog walker for $8.50 per hour was something of a hindrance.
"I couldn't ask her parents' permission when I had a leash in my hand," Goldsmith chuckled.
But when the Rangers offered him his first full-time position covering their Frisco club, he found a new lease on life. Goldsmith also met Mariners pitcher Blake Beavan, who was the ace of that staff and now his best connection to his new club in Seattle.
Goldsmith said he'll jump into Seattle and the Mariners' situation with both feet, eager to work with Rizzs and learn from the veteran broadcaster while refining his own game. The two have already shared lunch and some laughs.
"I could instantly tell this was a guy I'll enjoy spending the season working with," Goldsmith said. "We share some qualities. We take it seriously, but want to have fun with it. For me, the opportunity to sit next to him and contribute to the broadcast when I should and do my part, but also sit back and take notes from a guy that's done it on a nightly basis for a long time will help me immensely."
For the last two seasons, the Mariners had Rizzs work with former Niehaus broadcast partners Ron Fairly, Ken Levine and Ken Wilson, as well as former players Wilson, Henderson and Valle on a rotating basis, but the club planned all along to make that transition temporary.
"This is a great opportunity for a young man who deserves it," Rizzs said. "We had an exhaustive search and he was selected from a very talented group of baseball broadcasters. He's going to make a great contribution to our broadcast team, and I'm confident the fans will enjoy his work."
As for being part of the next chapter after Niehaus in the Mariners' booth that carries his predecessor's name, Goldsmith said he can only compare it to the feelings he shared in St. Louis when Cardinals legend Jack Buck died in 2002.
"It's tough to really grasp it, because I didn't grow up listening to Mr. Niehaus on a nightly basis, so it's not fair for me to say I understand completely how people feel," Goldsmith said. "But if Mr. Niehaus meant to Seattle what Jack Buck did to St. Louis -- and I imagine that he did -- then I can begin to understand how much fans still treasure all that he brought to the city.
"Nobody will ever replace him. Nobody wants to replace him. To me, it's just a tremendous honor to be given the challenge to try and keep that standard of excellence on a daily basis. Guys have done this on the highest level here, and it's up to me to not drop that torch. That's something that will always be in the front of my mind."


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Sony RX10 IV Compact Digital Camera
Now, it's easier to capture more stunning stills and movies at every opportunity. The new RX10 IV is much more than a solid, smart all-in-one compact — it packs enough groundbreaking innovations for even professionals to marvel at, from ultra-fast AF system of its kind, to legendary optics throughout its 25x zoom range, to extraordinarily precise, powerful image processing, and more.
The RX10 IV's AF systems heighten response, accuracy and range for more controllably precise, tenacious focus on your subject, however quickly the scene's action unfolds.
World-leading 0.03-sec. AF speed is made possible by the 1.0-type Exmor RS™ CMOS image sensor that provides for fast, accurate autofocusing at all times.
315 phase-detection AF points cover approx. 65% of the image area to provide widespread autofocus coverage of subjects that appear in the frame.
With High-density Tracking AF Technology, focus reliably stays on moving subjects and activates AF points to cover the area around the subject.
Touch operation and other autofocus innovations take optimal advantage of the Fast Hybrid AF system's superior speed, accuracy and versatility for location shooting, continuous shooting and ultra-telephoto shooting.
Consistently capture decisive moments of even fast-moving action. The RX10 IV features a high-speed front-end LSI and the vast power of the BIONZ X™ image processing engine to enable continuous shooting, even with AF/AE tracking, at up to approx. 24fps for up to 249 frames at a time.
Even images shot continuously at 24fps look extraordinarily smooth and rich as you monitor them on the electronic viewfinder that keeps display lag to an absolute minimum during shooting. Record live performances, wildlife and action without being distracting, by setting the electronic shutter for silent shooting. Up to 1/32000-sec. fast, this shutter also minimises image distortion.
Sony packs the RX10 IV with extraordinary large-aperture lenses, a state-of-the-art BIONZ X processor ensuring high resolution out to the images' edges, capability to shoot dazzling bokeh and steady close-ups, and much more. The quality of every still and movie image, even shot at top speed, is as clearly superior as all the innovation that this brilliant Cyber-shot contains.
The built-in ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* 24-600mm F2.4-4 high-magnification zoom lens achieves excellent contrast and sharpness in every shot, throughout an extreme wide-angle-to-ultra-telephoto range.
The BIONZ X image processor's advanced algorithm improves image quality by enhancing resolution, minimising noise, and depicting reality in all its variety and subtlety.
Fast Hybrid AF makes autofocus more speedy and accurate, while 4K movie (QFHD: 3840x2160) recording with full pixel readout and no pixel binning ensures footage with resolution high enough to satisfy professionals.
Focusing, monitoring, setting adjustments and other essential functions not only feel natural to handle at all times — they're designed to accommodate professional-style applications, as well.
The Sony RX10 IV Compact Digital Camera comes with a full Australian warranty.Cameras Direct since 2003. Pop into our Gold Coast camera store & warehouse or order online. We look forward to being at your SERVICE Australia wide. We look forward to helping you take a better photo soon. Thank you
|Live View Mode
|Headphone Jack
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1. How do I know if I am on probation? Disqualified (DQ)?
You will receive a letter from Academic Advising & Retention Services notifying you of your probation/DQ status. However, if your cumulative GPA drops below 2.0 you are considered on academic probation. If your term GPA is below 2.0 when you are on probation, you will be disqualified from the university. You can verify your GPA and academic standing by checking online at http://my.sjsu.edu/
2. I'm on probation, what can I do to get off probation?
Attend a probation/DQ workshop provided by Academic Advising & Retention Services. Underestimating the amount of work and the amount of time required to reach the necessary level of quality expected, and unrealistic personal scheduling are among the main reasons students' grades suffer. The formula for determining the amount of study hours can be calculated, Units enrolled X 2 = Study Hours. To learn more about retaking courses you did poorly in the first time in order to raise your GPA, please review the Grade Forgiveness Policy.
3. What is Disqualification (DQ)?
Please see the online SJSU catalog for information regarding disqualification from SJSU.
4. How do I get reinstated?
Obtain a Petition of Reinstatement. Read and follow the directions carefully.
5. What's the difference between probation and DQ?
Probation = A warning; DQ = Dismissed from SJSU.
6. Do I have to reapply to SJSU after I have been disqualified?
Yes, it is the school's policy.
7. Do I have to choose a major?
You should attempt to be reinstated to your former major, but you may also apply for reinstatement as Undeclared.
8. If my semester GPA is below a 2.0 but my SJSU Cumulative GPA is above a 2.0, am I on probation?
No, probation status is determined based on your SJSU Cumulative GPA.


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I love the D100 rule system, and have been running a few mini-campaigns using Legend for the last 3 years or so. I also love the World of Greyhawk - so I've recently kicked off a new campaign set there, and started the players off with Keep on the Borderlands combined with a modified (history) version of In Search of the Unknown. My ultimate goal is to, eventually, run them through the Temple of Elemental Evil.
I haven't really struggled so far, since there is a lot of opportunity for PCs to return to the Keep to resupply and rest. The question I have is linked to the Outer Planes and using them in Legend, and how to best handle this? One of the players (a young sorcerer) has a demonic patron and I'd love to incorporate a trip to his realm at some point - as a sort of high point. The realm is a frozen wasteland which is something I can handle, based on the rules, but the sorcery used to travel to and from the realm is where I'm coming up short.
The New Campaign
Discover the Legend RPG, Mongoose's fantasy game.
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Shipping & Returns policies
Shipping Policy
Delivery takes 7–14 business days inside the States when selecting the basic shipping method (USPS). Orders placed after 2pm on Fridays, and throughout the weekends, will be processed on Mondays. Please note that even if 2-Day or Overnight shipping is selected it will not be processed 'til the next business day.
On occasion, we do not have the entire order printed and we have to print the shirt to order. In these cases, the order may take slightly longer to get to you. If this happens, we will make every attempt to notify you of the issue.
For international orders* please note that in some cases your country may charge you duties, taxes, or import fees. We have no control over those and are not responsible for those fees.
Only Human is NOT responsible for stolen or lost packages, packages sent to the wrong address, or for refunding or replacing packages in these cases. The customer is responsible for filing all claims. Only Human is not responsible for any package(s) once it is in the hands of USPS.
*Any order, domestic or international, that is returned back to us for either having an insufficient address, wrong address, unclaimed, etc., the customer will have to pay for reshipment of the package. We do not cover/reimburse for shipping costs in regards to a return/exchange.
Returns Policy
Only Human LLC is happy to offer no hassle returns, on all products returned in original condition.
If you are not sure of the condition of your item, please note below:
- We cannot accept item(s) that have been washed.
- We cannot accept item(s) that are covered in human/animal hair.
Send us an email to [email protected], include a note detailing your order number, and what you want to be exchanged/refunded. We do ask for you to give us 24 to 48 hours to respond to your email. All returns must be made to the following address:
Only Human
4232 S 36th Place
Phoenix, AZ 85040
United States
*Include Order Number | Do Not Require Signature*
To return or exchange an item, simply return the item to us in their "original condition" within 14 days of receipt. Delivery charges will not be refunded. Also, the cost of returning the item to us is your responsibility. For purchases after 14 days of receipt, no refunds are issued and you may receive store credit or exchange for a different item.
When returning your item, please include your name, order #, and whether or not you would like to exchange for another item or receive a refund. Send the item(s) to the address stated above.
Is it faulty? Don't worry, that's our fault-y.
If the item you received is faulty, please contact customer support at [email protected] with your order number, your name and address, details of the product, why the return is being made, and whether you require a refund or a replacement. You have 30 days from receipt of the faulty item to return it to us.
Did your order disappear?
If your order has taken longer than a week to arrive, feel free to contact us at [email protected] and we will be able to take a look at where it might be. In instances of pre-sale items, please wait up to one week after shipment date to contact us.


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Moon Cushion
Moon cushions perform the same function as a Zafu or Meditation Stool but are well-suited to those who prefer an added degree of comfort and support (see Blue Banyan Guide to Choosing Meditation Products).
Our moon cushions are made by us to our design from strong 100% cotton drill with an integral cotton webbing carry-handle. The filling is organic buckwheat hulls and the cushion casing has a discreet zip closure allowing the user to make adjustments to the firmness of the cushion by removing or adding some of the filling. The Moon Cushion can be easily cleaned and maintained in its pristine condition by occasionally brushing it down using a stiff brush dipped in lukewarm water.
Regular Price: £43.50
Special Price £39.50
Moon Cushion Buckwheat Chinese RedNew smaller size launched January 2019: 60cm, Height: Apx 13cm ...


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Asia's ageing population drives demand for dividends
Asia's ageing population drives demand for dividends
Global stockmarkets have been rocked by short-term volatility triggered by falling commodity prices and the start of the US Federal Reserve's hiking cycle.
Despite the more dovish comments, the Federal Open Market Committee remains in hiking mode, with its expectation for two rate increases this year exceeding market pricing of one or less.
However, from a longer-term perspective, our views on Asian stocks have not changed.
We have maintained for a while that companies in the region will be impacted by the four Ds:
- Demographics
- Deflation
- Disruption
- Deleveraging
It is in the realm of demographics where we believe opportunities for dividend investors can be found.
Ageing demand for high yield
Investing in dividend-yielding stocks in a low-yield environment has become almost de rigueur for investors in search of returns in the current environment.
The conventional wisdom is that investors all over the world are seeking more lucrative alternatives to the low (or near-zero) interest rates that are being offered on bank deposits.
What is perhaps less well-understood is that a high dividend-yielding strategy is often also the preferred choice for an ageing population.
Behavioural economics
Although economics is often referred to as the "dismal science" for its inflexibility to relate to real-life human behaviour, the area of behavioural economics has shed light on a multitude of issues and has often been at the forefront of the most insightful observations about investor habits.
According to the behavioural life-cycle theory, an individual mentally breaks down their wealth into three components:
- Current income
- Current assets
- Future income
At the individual level, the temptation to spend is always greatest for current income, and least for future income.
This is especially the case as people age and start to retire: they have a tendency to consume out of dividends received (or current income) rather than from capital gains (or future income).
As a result, these investors generally favour high dividend-paying stocks over those that pay lower dividends, which in turn has led to outperformance from the former.
And this is exactly what I discovered in a paper I published two years ago . I found a strong positive relationship between the long-term returns of dividend-yielding strategies in the US and the change in the proportion of older investors.
Effectively, the larger the increase in the proportion of older people in the general population, the greater the relative demand for high dividend-paying assets.
What does this mean for Asia?
Although most of the study was focused on the US, unsurprisingly the same kind of relationship is seen in most other international markets, including those in the Asia Pacific region.
It is particularly pertinent for countries such as Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore – the traditional bastions of Asian dividend-paying stocks.
Commentators often follow the market adage that dividend-yielding strategies are the "low-hanging fruit" in creating alpha (a measure which helps identify whether an actively managed portfolio has added
value in relation to risk taken) and that its time has passed as investors look elsewhere.
However, for long-term investors ruminating about what to buy in a deflationary world, where rock-bottom interest rates and ageing demographics are the norm, high dividend-yielding stocks are looking as ripe as ever for the picking.
The views and opinions contained herein are those of Schroders' investment teams and/or Economics Group, and do not necessarily represent Schroder Investment Management North America Inc.'s house views. These views are subject to change. This information is intended to be for information purposes only and it is not intended as promotional material in any respect.


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Start learning the basics of Japanese with a fun series of Hiragana alphabet sheets! Hiragana is easy to learn, so you and your child can work through them together. He'll get to trace letters and practice phonics, and you'll both get to learn some new words in Japanese.
Follow the link to see the whole Hiragana Alphabet Chart.


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What do you really want for Christmas? More time, more joy, and less stress? Welcome to the Christmas Countdown! We're kicking off the 2020 Countdown on Sunday, October 25.
A calmer, more centered holiday celebration is easy when you simplify your holidays with the Christmas Countdown, a six-week Christmas organizing plan from Organized Christmas.
The Christmas Countdown is a free six-week Christmas organizing workshop from Organized Christmas. Written by author and Web publisher Cynthia Ewer, the Countdown has been online since 1998. Tested by hundreds of thousands of families like yours, it's a tried-and-true road map for an organized Christmas.
Countdown assignments, spread over six weeks, simplify the job of getting ready for Christmas. By breaking down Christmas preparation into small, easy-to-take steps, the Countdown gives you a holiday headstart for a stress-free Christmas season. We'll cover gift lists, cooking, decorating and fun--and you'll be ready for Christmas with time to spare.
Get the Plan
During the Christmas Countdown, we'll follow a six-week organization plan from late October until early December. Goal: to complete holiday planning and preparations by the first weekend in December so we're free to celebrate an organized Christmas.
Six Weekly Themes
Each week has a special theme to focus Christmas organizing. Grouping tasks makes them easier to complete--and to simplify!
Working week by week, we'll zero in on gift-giving, take charge of holiday budgets, organize Christmas cards, plan holiday meals and decorate for the holidays.
Free printable checklists make it easy to follow each week's assignments.
Print A Free Christmas Planner
Over the course of the Countdown, you can choose from more than 100 free printable forms, calendars and checklists to build a personal Christmas planner. Disguised as a simple three-ring binder, your Countdown planner is the premier toolkit for holiday planning. It'll be your companion and guide to an organized Christmas--this year, and in the years to come.
Daily Reminders
Each day during the Countdown, we'll post reminder messages to keep you on-track for Christmas organizing. Daily messages bring a dose of inspiration, the day's assignments, links to checklists and printable holiday planner forms, along with recipe, gift and craft ideas for a jolly holiday.
We've made it easy to keep up with the Countdown. Follow the daily Countdown messages on the Web at daily Countdown messages. You can also subscribe to the Countdown RSS feed, or receive our feed through Google's Feedburner service: subscribe to the Countdown feed by email.
Want company? Join friends and work the Countdown together with our new Facebook community: Christmas Countdown Get Organized Community. Chat, ideas, support and inspiration await ... along with lots of fun.
Ready? Join the fun as we count down ... to the best, most organized Christmas you've ever had!


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After being unobtainable for a while due to Shapeways changing their minds about what will print I've got round to fixing the Hudson axleboxes for Gn15 I do http://shpws.me/IA1L - They have increaed slightly in price but I still think are good value at 50 cents each !
We had some discussions on here about whether they were too small - will I took a recent opportunity to take a picture of one with a tape measure on a 15 inch gauge truck.
I reckon it's 116 mm wide so 4.8 mm in 1:24
Mine are 4.5 mm wide - very slightly too narrow, but I don't think anyone will notice.
I'll try and sort out some other axleboxes too in this scale.


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No account yet?
click here to create an account
Our online ordering facility is suspended until further notice, while we finalise a system upgrade to move to our brand-new website shortly.
In the meantime, please call us on (+44) 207 636 8900 to place an order, or email firstname.lastname@example.com with your contact details and we'll get in touch.
We're very sorry for any inconvenience!
The TRIADBALL™, designed to add the benefits of the Pilates equipment exercises to your Pilates workout ... read more


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If you're looking for heartwarming stories, thought-provoking essays, and a blog that reveals and encourages, you've found the right place.
I write about intriguing people and places, experiences that expand the mind or enlarge the heart, and sometimes I simply write about beautiful or dramatic moments, hoping that my words will help you savor anew the sweetness of life.
Here you'll find fiction — from the elderly school teachers addicted to hoarding money in "Gathering Crumbs" to the troubled young boxer in "About to Win" — focusing on what people do and why.
You'll find non-fiction about admirable people and fascinating places.
You may even find some poetry.
Come on in and stay a while. Explore, sample, read. Share what you like with your friends and share your thoughts and responses with me. Together, we'll keep the conversation going.
Onword - My Blog


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Call 888-861-9565 to speak to one of our dedicated sales reps or click "Reserve Internet Price" for the new Ford vehicle near Ayer that you are interested in!
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|6.40 lbs (2.90 kg)
|Breaking Strength
|58,960 lbs (26,740 kg)
The Master Pull Cobra Lock Sling Hook was specifically designed to provide ultimate strength in a lightweight and compact form. Grade 100 rated, these hooks have unrivaled breaking strengths, allowing for it to be used in place of heavier, more cumbersome hooks.
A heavy duty forged safety latch engages the tip of the hook to prevent lateral bending and a triple-coiled, double leg stainless steel spring keeps it in place.
For safety, the hook is cast with gauge marks to measure deformation along the opening of the hook. Wear marks on the hook opening show the statutory allowable wear hint.
When weight and extreme strength matter, this hook will get the job done.


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Welcome to exclusive Grundy Chamber & ChamberMaster partnered content
Upcoming Events
New Members
Trivia Night with Chicago Trivia Guys
Name: Trivia Night with Chicago Trivia Guys
Date: January 11, 2022
Time: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM CST
Website: http://www.riverhawkbrewing.com
Event Description:
A night of FUN with questions on current events, geography, history, movies, music, sports, science, pop culture, & more. Grab your crew, a brew or two & let's see if you know a few!
Ready to grow your business?
Partner with the Grundy Chamber of Commerce and grow your business in your community


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On Tuesday, I'll be able to share the complete Narciso Rodriguez for Kohl's lookbook, but until then, here are a few photos of some of the signature pieces in the collection. I received these items from Kohl's as part of a press mailer, which included a colorblock shift, tweed coat, tuxedo stripe leggings and chiffon peplum top. Sizing is generous and quality is comparable to the rest of Kohl's clothing (think ELLE or Dana Buchman). I also had the chance to browse the complete lookbook and my favorite pieces have yet to be revealed! I like the bodycon "illusion" dress (scroll down for a peak) and cool print pajama pants, which I totally would have written off had I not seen them on Jessica Alba. Inspired by a trip to Istanbul, Turkey, the limited-edition Narciso Rodriguez for DesigNation collection will be available exclusively at kohls.com and Kohl's stores beginning November 7, 2012.
What are your initial reactions?


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Contact staff, site addresses, Press Office contacts, feedback and general enquiries.
Contact Enquiries if you can't find the information you need on our website. We will be happy to answer your question.
Site addresses — road maps and public transport information. Plus lists of local accommodation.
Media enquiries for press, public relations and public affairs.
Mail order service for maps, books and reports.
BGS has a well-equipped meeting and conference venue at BGS in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire.
Environmental Science Centre Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
Customer feedback and complaints procedure.
Email the BGS webmaster with any comments about the BGS site.


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Publication talk:Eyes of the Lich Queen
From Dungeons and Dragons Wiki
Is the reason we don't have a page because we're not allowed to describe them due to copyright? I noticed they were mentioned in Harry Potter Wikia and I am interested also in this Phylactery and the spell Hide Life, while we can't give details, would it be okay to create a stub article describing in what source books people can purchase to find information about them? Ty 04:41, April 7, 2010 (UTC)


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Reuters Full Focus
Photographer Brian Blanco gained rare access to a group of survivalists in Florida led by Jim Foster, 57, a retired police officer. The North Florida Survival Group trains children and adults alike to handle weapons and survive in the wild. The group passionately supports the right of U.S. citizens to bear arms and its website states that it aims to teach "patriots to survive in order to protect and defend our Constitution against all enemy threats". Since the shooting at Sandy Hook, the group are getting increased interest from people looking to sign up. Foster says he now gets about one person signing up per day. Read Brian's personal account here. 20 PHOTOS


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Dir: RZA. US. 2012. 95mins
An homage to old-school kung fu movies that ends up being more fun in theory than it is on the screen, The Man With The Iron Fists boasts some giddy, bloody action sequences and a whole lot of dull genre clichés the rest of the time. The directorial debut of RZA, the visionary force behind the seminal hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, will appeal to hardcore action junkies, but anyone who's not already on the wavelength of this silly pulp trash won't find much here to draw them in.
Iron Fists often resides in an awkward middle ground between straight homage and cheeky, self-conscious send-up.
Opening November 2, The Man With The Iron Fists stars Russell Crowe, a sturdy but by no means sure-fire commercial draw. Universal will also be hoping to lure audiences who appreciate the B-movie influences pulsing through the work of Quentin Tarantino, whose Kill Bill RZA scored. (Indeed, Tarantino receives a "Presented By" credit on Iron Fists, a stamp of approval that should help attract his fans.) For one week, Iron Fists won't have much competition for the action crowd — but that will all change next week, however, when Skyfall arrives in the States, presumably obliterating all in its path.
The Man With The Iron Fists is ostensibly set in 19th century China in a small community called Jungle Village but, really, the movie lives in the shadow of old martial-arts flicks with their melodramatic plotting and vigorous fight scenes. RZA plays a nameless blacksmith who teams up with Jack Knife (Crowe), a charming mercenary, to do battle against Silver Lion (Byron Mann), a corrupt, bloodthirsty soldier who's about to put his hands on a great sum of stolen gold.
Prior to directing, co-writing and starring in Iron Fists, RZA had done some acting — including two films with Crowe (The Next Three Days and American Gangster) — as well as film scoring. Fans of Kill Bill, particularly the first volume, will probably take a shine to RZA's sincere melding of kung fu mayhem with a few tenets of the spaghetti Western. But unlike Tarantino, who draws from his influences and then twists them into crafty new hybrids, RZA is largely reverent to his sources, which is perhaps surprising considering that Wu-Tang Clan's music often sampled dialogue from chop-socky flicks, giving them a newfound steely resonance in the process.
Consequently, Iron Fists often resides in an awkward middle ground between straight homage and cheeky, self-conscious send-up. The film's knowingly archetypal heroes and villains — not to mention the fact that some characters have groan-worthy names like Jack Knife — suggests that RZA and his co-writer, Tarantino colleague Eli Roth, are having a little fun with genre conventions, but the storytelling and a lot of the performances are so humdrum that it can be difficult to enjoy the movie beyond a theoretical exercise. (This is most noticeable in RZA's performance, which is too muted to connect. No doubt he's trying for a mystical, taciturn vibe, but he doesn't have the onscreen presence to suggest levels beneath his dour surface.)
Much more pleasurable is Crowe's easygoing turn as the lovable rogue Jack. After years of playing heroes, the actor seems relish his opportunity to be a randy bastard, and he provides enough gravitas to the role to offset the occasional winking at the camera that's perhaps inevitable. Still, let it be said that for a star who's occasionally criticised for his humourlessness, this is one of his more delightful, likable turns.
Additionally, while the film's story never catches fire, it does lead to a pretty propulsive third act in which dull characterizations give way to a mammoth, enveloping action sequence. Guided by veteran fight choreographer Corey Yuen, Iron Fists is always at its best when its characters are flying through the air in battle with one another, and if RZA occasionally overdoes the gory carnage, at least it has a spark that the rest of the film lacks.
For years, RZA has built his reputation on his sterling production talents, which have birthed spooky, skeletal hip-hop songs that have felt weary and soulful in a way that a lot of contemporary rap doesn't. Considering what a musical original he is, it's a bit disappointing that his Iron Fists doesn't deliver the same punch.
Production companies: Strike Entertainment, Arcade Pictures
Domestic distribution: Universal Pictures, www.universalpictures.com
Producers: Marc Abraham, Eric Newman, Eli Roth
Executive producers: Tom Karnowski, Thomas A. Bliss, Kristel Laiblin, Doris Tse
Screenplay: The RZA and Eli Roth, story by RZA
Cinematography: Chan Chi Ying
Production design: Drew Boughton
Editor: Joe D'Augustine
Music: RZA, Howard Drossin
Website: www.ironfists.com
Cast: Russell Crowe, Cung Le, Lucy Liu, Byron Mann, RZA, Rick Yune, David Bautista, Jamie Chung


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Our Head Trainer & Founder, Oliver Henry, runs the Ready Steady FIT team. Oli has a lifelong enthusiasm for sport, fitness and nutrition. He found his passion for Fitness Life Coaching after suffering a horrendous injury (aged 19), which laid him up for over a year. During rehab, Oli developed a deep passion for the fitness industry and realised he had a natural way of helping people achieve their goals and live a healthier happier life.
Head trainer, Adam Harris, has worked in the health and fitness sector for over a decade with high profile sports brands, the media and private clients. He has worked with journalists from mainstream publications demonstrating the benefits of a healthier lifestyle, and busting the myths behind celebrity exercise regimes and fad diets.
I studied at YMCA fit in Central London; one of the UK's leading training establishments. I qualified with an Advanced Diploma (Level 3) in Personal Training and specialise in the following:-
RSF's massage therapist, Sam, has been a keen yoga and fitness enthusiast for over 15 years. Travelling and studying abroad has provided Sam with a wealth of knowledge in different massage techniques which have made her treatments completely bespoke. Her passion is in helping people with muscular issues in her deep tissue work as well as alleviating symptoms of stress and anxiety with a holistic approach.
If you have further questions, email us directly at email@example.com or call us on: 07783 414 587
After finishing University following the path of my course into an accountancy office, I soon realised that a life behind a desk wasn't for me. Whilst on maternity leave with my 2nd child, the transition into becoming a Personal Trainer was an easy decision to make. I have always been conscious of my health and wellbeing, and with a history of playing a variety of sports and always working out, I knew it was the right path to go down. I am Ready Steady FIT's Pre and Post Natal Specialist and get a real buzz out of helping all those mums get back into fighting shape.
My yoga journey began around 15 years ago after my mom introduced me to Iyengar yoga. I am an ex GB Acrobatic Gymnast and RAD classically trained.
I started my career as a performer in the West End and around the world in different circus and arena shows. After working in shows for eight years I decided to become a yoga teacher. I still perform and am also currently training to be a stunt woman.
Yoga for me couldn't have come at a better time, it was a decision I made one day. I knew I needed to invest into my own wellbeing. Yoga has enabled me to create balance in my life and that is what I try to teach through my sessions. Empowering yourself with the ability to work on your mind, body and soul. Learning to breathe properly, energise your body and spirit and teaching yourself how to rest and calm your mind (let's be honest this is normally the hardest part, far beyond standing on your head) are practices I find invaluable.
This new found awareness has very much changed my life. Yoga goes far beyond the mat but the mat is certainly a brilliant place to start… As is the garden or your bedroom floor. My aim is to help share these skills and bring them in to your day to day life.
My sessions allow for challenges and goals to be set, opportunities to develop new skills but also to enjoy that well earned and necessary 'me time' and learning to relax and let go.
I practice and teach Hatha, vinyasa, restorative (injury and illness) together with more strength/dynamic based classes focusing on balance, headstand and handstand work, having influence from my gymnastic background. I work with all age groups and all levels.
After having to step away from professional cricket due to a few long term injuries, I decided to use my experience of rehabilitation and regaining fitness levels to enter the fitness industry.
I draw upon all my knowledge of my own experience to motivate clients on their fitness journey. Now that I am back fitter and stronger than before my injuries, I help people realise their full potential.
Whether it be weight loss, weight gain, sports specific, rehabilitation, and so on, I can help you achieve any fitness goal. I help you find the right solution to achieve results whilst making sure they are enjoyable and most importantly sustainable.
I am a fully qualified Heath and wellness specialist and am currently undergoing a further Strength & Conditioning degree to widen my knowledge base.
Several years ago, I turned from Fashion Designer to Personal Trainer – and I never looked back. I found my passion for fitness several years ago when I started to work from home and joined the gym to ensure that I was still exercising. Years later I qualified to teach Group Cycle and then wanted to study to become a Personal Trainer.
I love the idea of being able to sculpt peoples bodies whilst making them fitter and stronger in the process. I pride myself on building programmes designed around an individuals wants, needs and abilities.
I am a Level 3 qualified Pilates instructor. I have also completed further training in pre and postnatal Pilates. I have been teaching Pilates for a number of years and enjoy teaching people of all abilities and all walks of life. I love sharing my passion for Pilates and believe it helps create well functioning and strong bodies.
I've always had a passion for exercise and fitness and enjoy helping and encouraging people to improve their health through training. It doesn't matter what your current level of fitness is, it's about where you want to be in 1 month, 6 months or even further into the future. Whether your goal is to lose weight, become stronger or running a marathon, I will help you to get the results you want, whilst making sure your training is enjoyable and sustainable.
I am a REPs Level 3 qualified Personal Trainer, and am currently studying for a Level 4 Obesity and Diabetes Management qualification. I specialise in the following –
I've played a wide range of sports from a young age and have always enjoyed the physical, mental and social benefits that come with being physically active. I have a particular interest in racket sports and am constantly looking to improve my fitness and skills. Being a personal trainer, I find it extremely fulfilling to get clients not just hitting their goals but smashing through them!
Adam Greenfield is a Health and Wellness Strategist who partners with individuals and corporations to help them thrive rather than just survive. After spending 15 years dedicated to improving human performance and having managed more than 4000 individuals, Adam has turned his focus towards the management of stress from a health and wellness perspective.
Adam has been featured twice in "mother & baby" magazine and has published clinical cases in "Clinical Chiropractic". He has been invited into numerous companies as an educator, particularly assessing how a company manages stress in the workplace and how to create an exceptional work environment.
Adam holds a BSc (Hons) in Human Science, MSc in Chiropractic, MSc in Chiropractic Paediatrics as well as Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the British Chiropractic Association. He is a Licentiate Member of the Royal College of Chiropractors.
Adam's team are all registered with their appropriate governing bodies and individually qualified in their specialist fields. Together, they believe that although stress has now become the health epidemic of the 21st century, with the right tools and adaptation, everyone can excel with energy and purpose.
Having suffered from a weight problem during my childhood, I decided to enter the fitness world and use my knowledge of weight loss and conditioning to help others.
I use fitness methods that I personally used to help motivate clients to show them that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Now that I feel happy and fitter in myself, I want to help inspire others too.
It doesn't matter if you want to lose weight, focus on sports conditioning, put on weight or focus on pilates based exercises, I will help you reach your goals. I aim to make exercise entertaining rather than it being a chore.
I have a full Level 2 and Level 3 qualification in Health and Wellbeing and am currently furthering my knowledge with a Pilates degree.
I am REPS level 3 qualified and specialise in:


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Aug 14th [TBwebworks.News] Be Responsive
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Aug 6th [TBwebworks.News] Because You Asked
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Revisit yesteryear -- swing from a branch of the 100 year old Walnut tree!
Pilot Knob Inn
Whirlpools for two & fireplaces, lake with boating & fishing, Full breakfast.
Augustus T. Zevely Inn
Cica 1844 Moravian style historic landmark on the National Register, only lodging in Old Salem Historic District
Stay at a Seagrove, North Carolina Bed and Breakfasts and Inns for the personal attention you desire. A Seagrove B&B is a great alternative to hotels or motels while visiting the state of North Carolina!
Visit our Seagrove, North Carolina bed and breakfast directory of historic, romantic, and adventure B&B's. You can browse through our detailed listings of Seagrove, North Carolina bed and breakfasts and inns with nearby city listings that include pictures, room rates, booking information and area activities. Every Seagrove, North Carolina b&b inns has complete contact information and a direct link to the innkeepers.


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A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
The Intellectual Portrait Series: A Conversation with Harry V. Jaffa (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2003). https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/1020,
|Available in the following formats:
|MP3 Audio for your computer or iPod.
|MP4A Audio for your computer or iPod.
|MP3 mono
|MP3 Audio in mono format for smaller file size.
Jaffa talks about his work on American constitutional theory and history including the nature of the American Republic and the impact of Abraham Lincoln on constitutional matters.
The copyright to both the video tape and the audio track of this recording is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit.


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There's been a fair amount of talk about The Amazing Spider-Man of late, between Sony's Comic-Con panel and general reactions to the footage glimpsed in the Amazing Spider-Man teaser trailer.
Today, we have some thoughts from the reboot's aptly-named director, Marc Webb, concerning a (touchy?) issue for fans of the webslinger: how Peter Parker will be wielding his own, home-made artificial web-shooters in the reboot. There are also new high-resolution versions of official images from Amazing Spider-Man available, which offer a clearer look at Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone as the new incarnations of Peter and his gal pal, Gwen Stacy, respectively.
Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy deviated from its comic book source material in many respects, including Peter's newfound ability to create and shoot webbing, as a result of his mutation. With Amazing Spider-Man, however, Webb ultimately decided to drop that particular idea.
In an interview with Hero Complex, Webb offered the following insight on the matter:
"I had a meeting with Stan Lee and we talked about the web-shooters. I was curious about the incarnation of them [because] of course in the previous films [they went away from them] and we wanted to reestablish ourselves. That was one thing but the other thing was the fact that the web-shooters were able to dramatize Peter's intellect and I thought that was really cool. … It was in the comics and we have a different design but it's a cool element to have. It's not something we over-use or over-exploit. To me, it's something I remember from when I was a kid and thinking 'It would be cool if I could build those.'"
That decision on Webb's part seems all the more fitting, given the more realistic tone that he is aiming for with Amazing Spider-Man. It also won't allow for those jokes about Peter's ability to "perform" (re: shoot web) that worked okay in Raimi's more cartoony spider-universe – but would feel out of place in a "gritty" Spider-Man movie.
The suit devised by Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker in Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy was by and large loyal to the look and design of the hero's outfit in the comic book continuity. It was also (intentionally?) stylized in such a manner that it almost looked computer-generated at times, which allowed for scenes of Maguire (and his stunt double) in costume to often mesh together well with the CGI version of the character. Webb and his production team went a similar route with Garfield's red-and-blue duds, but still deviated noticeably from the look of Maguire's outfit.
For more, read Webb's comments on the matter below.
"We paid attention to the question of 'How would a kid make it?' And obviously we took some license with it. We also wanted a design that would make the body longer and more lithe, more of an acrobat, someone incredibly agile, and the legs of the spider [symbol on the chest] were something we used to emphasize that. We made a bunch of different suits for different lighting conditions. I wanted something that worked in the night a little better. We paid attention to that and also made the webbing [on the costume] a little bit darker. With the costume and the web-shooters we wanted to emphasize that these are things that Peter Parker made and that he is special himself even if he feels like he's an outsider."
To get a taste of what Webb means, check out this photo gallery of previously-released Amazing Spider-Man images – now, in hi-res and without the Entertainment Weekly watermark – which offers another look at Garfield in costume, among other things:
See the photos HERE.
As was discussed in the Amazing Spider-Man trailer breakdown, Webb's film really seems like it will either (pardon the pun) fly high or fall flat on its face. Going off early footage, the 3D elements and cinematography looks promising, as does the cast as a whole. Whether the movie will really feel like a more nuanced and complicated examination of the Peter Parker origin story – or come off as a poor man's Batman Begins – is something we'll just have to wait and find out.
The Amazing Spider-Man will swing into 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D theaters around the U.S. on July 3rd, 2012.
Source: Hero Complex, Columbia Pictures
Sandy Schaefer blogs at Screen Rant
The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of music, film, and television bloggers. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by The Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own and they are responsible for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger, click here.


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Emma Watson certainly doesn't look her age — just ask security officials at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport.
The Harry Potter actress, 22, was stopped at a passport checkpoint over the holidays by agents who thought she was an unaccompanied minor and was asked where her parents were, she recounted on Twitter.
"Passport control: 'unaccompanied minor?' Me: 'sorry?' Passport control: 'where is ur guardian?' Me: 'I'm 22!!!!!!!'" an abashed Watson tweeted on Dec. 22, adding the hashtag "#neverwearingabackpackagain"
"The really sad thing is that this is not the first time this has happened," Watson added.
Ever confuse Amy Adams and Isla Fisher? Check out more celebrity doppelgangers
Watson starred in The Perks of Being a Wallflower last year, but is most widely known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise, a role she landed at the age of 9.


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The first shock is the visa cost: $145. One hundred and forty-five? To get into Bangladesh? You'd think they'd be trying to encourage visitors, not scare them off.
But that's how much it costs to visit Bangladesh. OK, you can wear that, it's not so much in the grand scheme of international travel. And it'll probably be worth it, right?
The plane touches down in Dhaka and all hell breaks loose. People are up and out of their seats as soon as the wheels hit the ground, pulling bags down from lockers, oblivious to the chaos they're causing beneath them. Hosties try in vain to keep everyone seated as boxes and plastic bags come crashing into the aisle.
That's a pretty good introduction to Bangladesh.
I jump in a taxi at the airport. I need to get to the bus station to get to the southern city of Chittagong. I've been to India before so I know what this will be like. Except, I don't have a clue.
The traffic is insane, a dense knot of people and bicycles and carts and rickshaws and taxis and buses and trucks. The newer cars don't have bumpers but steel bars surrounding them in a vain attempt to protect pristine paintwork in a place with no respect for pristine paintwork.
It's hot. My shirt is sticking to me in the back of the taxi as I stare in petrified fascination at the scene playing through the front windscreen. There are strange smells, the honking of horns, the yelling of touts.
It's amazing how you can spend a small amount of time in a country and it can leave such a permanent mark. Some destinations you'll barely be able to remember. But Bangladesh? Every detail is burnt in the memory in vivid Technicolor.
It's wild. There can be a big difference between "memorable" and "fun", and while Bangladesh certainly falls into the former category, it doesn't always join the latter. Everything is a shock, like nothing you've ever seen or experienced before.
The main bus station in the capital city of Bangladesh is actually just a small shed with an airconditioner that fights a losing battle against the dense heat. I buy a ticket and board a bus, watching in confusion as a man walks down the aisle filming the passengers' faces.
Um, 1970 called, guys - it wants its video camera back.
Soon our bus joins that knot of traffic and we make our way south along the scariest road I've ever been on in my entire life, a hellish stretch of constant near misses with every type of vehicle imaginable. I put on my headphones, close my eyes, pretend I'm in ... I don't know, Baghdad. Anywhere but here.
It's dark when I'm dumped in Chittagong, at a featureless intersection of another busy street. I'm supposed to meet a friend, but she's not here. I might be in the wrong spot.
I wind up in a cycle rickshaw, backpack and all, making very slow progress across to the other side of town. This is a city of 4 million people and it only has one set of traffic lights. And they don't work.
I make it to my friend's house. Eventually. And over the next four days, things get really interesting.
There are the open sewers that constantly flood the city. Groups of kids work the corner of our street begging from foreign aid workers who know better than to hand over their cash. My friend buys them a snack; they break into smiles.
There are the tales of constant illness from expats. There's laughter from the locals at my shorts and thongs. (It's 45 degrees outside, but only children wear shorts, and only rickshaw drivers wear thongs.)
There's an impromptu game of cricket that threatens to escalate into something worse when groups of teenagers start surrounding my friend, a Western girl in demure local dress. More join the group, and more. We find ourselves having to make a swift escape.
There's the museum dedicated to General Zia, the founder of Bangladeshi independence, housed in his former abode. In one of the rooms, red splotches stain the walls. This is where the general was assassinated, we're told - the splotches are his blood.
There's the realisation, thanks to my friend, that the video taken on the bus had a horrifying purpose. The films are used, she says, to make it easier to identify the bodies in the highly likely event of an accident.
I decide to take a night train back to Dhaka. It crashes. The passengers are marched off, put in buses, and sent back onto that road.
I make it back to the airport, eventually, and bid this crazy country goodbye.
One short week: a thousand stories, a million experiences. Definitely worth $145 for a visa.


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I missed
Fail Moab Fall Moab this year for no good reason. I so wanted to get back to the desert and ride with the team but I'm old, kids are busy, dug, Rick and Rick bailed. Not to mention a Chicrosscup double header weekend for crying out loud. Wait, those are all good reasons.
Oh, and the debut of the CR skinsuit, front row!
Day 1 was awesome because the family came out to heckle and take pictures. Kendra captured my favorite moment of the entire series – Cassidy running along side me heckling, "You suck, is that how you ride a bike? Can't you pass me?" The daughter heckle rules!
Day 2 was awesome because I finally got to zip on a superhero suit, I left it on all day – ask Tasha. Thanks for the pic Duane!
Maybe it was the new superhero suit, maybe not. All I know is I was riding out of my head, hanging with dudes I have no right to be hanging with. Finished 6th on the day, tying my best finish at a Chicrosscup.


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The skies were overcast this morning, and I was having trouble getting my shutter speed low enough to snap many non-blurry photos. So I hammered it.
My personal best average speed on Hybridzilla is 18.8 MPH by the time I hit Boulevard Brewery, but that time I had a backpack instead of panniers. My personal best to the brewery on The Twelve was 19.2 MPH average. After slogging into downtown, my PB was 17.3, which I've hit a few times on both bikes.
About halfway into my ride today, I'd gotten up to 18.2 MPH average.
By the time I reached Boulevard Brewery (where my route begins a general trend of climbing into downtown) I had gotten to 19.6 - almost half a mile per hour over my personal best average speed by this point in my commute.
Even after the slog, I was doing alright at 17.9 MPH average. That's again, about half a mile per hour faster.
Now, I had a great tune-up ride on the June Moon ride, and I had a rest day yesterday. This was basically a perfect storm for a record-breaker hammerfest. I had to take it.
Random Tunage:
Pole Folder - Waxxx
Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone (Jason Nevins Club Mix)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Hammer. *gasp* Fest. *pant* - new personal best
The skies were overcast this morning, and I was having trouble getting my shutter speed low enough to snap many non-blurry photos. So I hammered it.
2 comments:
- Jason said...
It looked like you hammering it on Nieman, I think? I was half asleep on the bus, but who ever it was, was really having a good ride!
Congrats on ur personal best!
- June 26, 2008 7:55 AM
- Noah said...
I wondered whose bike that was on the front of the Quivira bus! Yeah, your bus passed me on Nieman as I approached 67th. I was already having a blast!
- June 26, 2008 8:02 AM
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Officially licensed 3' x 5' flag with attached D-rings. The imprint is 100% show through to the backside with a long lasting color-fast die. Fly on a flagpole or hang it on a wall. Flags come poly-bagged with header and graphic displayed. Made in USA.
- Please Allow 7-10 Days for Processing & Delivery:
- Item #: 74352016
- Manufacturer: WinCraft


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Latest exam updates
Practical Session 2 Update – Oman
We appreciate how much the cancellation of our exams has affected learners and we're working hard on solutions to ensure they can gain their qualifications at the earliest opportunity. However, on the basis of official and local advice we will be postponing the entry period for Session 2 Practical exams and we will provide an update about the exams scheduled for November - December as soon as we can.
We will provide updates about future exams sessions as soon as we can and our Representative will provide further guidance in due course.
We are very sorry for the impact on teachers and candidates and thank you for your loyalty and support at this difficult time.
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Mailvox: the necessity of Christianity
I found the Rushton video interesting. During the Q&A, someone astutely asked Rushton why the difference in terms of societal output between whites and higher-IQ Asians. Rushton said the answer is not known, but he's wrong. The answer is well known amongst historians of science: it's Christianity.
Pearcey and Thaxton, in their book, The Soul of Science, explain in great detail that it was the ideals and assumptions of Christianity that led to science and thus greater technological advances.
These ideals and assumptions include:
- Belief that the universe was created and ordered by a transcendent, rational mind
- Belief that the universe is lawful and knowable
- Belief in the reality of the physical world
- Belief that the physical world is of value
- Viewing physical work as noble, as a divine calling
- The Biblical admonishment to test claims
- Viewing the study of nature as a proper form of worship
- Belief in linear time
- Belief that mathematics forms the substrate of the physical world
Every non-Christian culture lacks at least one, and usually several, of these, which are all necessary for the development and advancement of science. This is why the intellectually advanced Greeks, and the technologically advanced Romans and Chinese, did not develop science, while the "backwards" medieval European Christians did.
The implications are obvious:
- If progressives are ever successful in completely secularizing the West, we will be relegated to second-world status.
- If Asians, with their superior IQs and self-discipline, ever become Christian in sufficiently large numbers, they will eat our lunch in terms of scientific and technological advancements.
This is why any efforts to make America and Europe great are doomed unless they are centered around Christianity.