text:
Hurricane Warning
A Guide to Preparing Marinas and Boats for HurricanesClick here to view and print the Hurricane Brochure in Adobe PDF format.
Click here to view and print the Hurricane Tracking Chart in Adobe PDF format.
Boat owners from Maine to Texas have reason to become edgy in the late summer and fall: Each year, on average, two hurricanes will come ashore somewhere along the Gulf or Atlantic coasts, destroying homes, sinking boats, and turning people's lives topsy turvy for weeks, or even months. This year, who knows? Florida is struck most often, but every coastal state is a potential target.
Experts predict that in the next 20 years there will be much more hurricane activity than has been seen in the past 20 years. Experts also fear that after a number of storm-free years, people in some of the vulnerable areas will be less wary of a storm's potential fury. But to residents of New York and New Jersey ravaged by Sandy in 2012, the hurricane threat won't soon be forgotten.
Click the link below for more information:
Developing A Plan:
Boats are especially vulnerable to a storm's winds and surging seas. Some are slammed into their docks by high water, or flooded and sunk by rain. Others roll and thrust violently against mooring lines until they chafe through the lines and wind up broken on the rocks. After a storm, boats and any valuables left aboard are the first target of looters.
If you own a boat, the first step in developing a preparation plan is to review your dock contract for language that may require you to take certain steps or to leave the marina when a hurricane threatens. Ask the marina manager what hurricane plan the marina has in place.
Planning where your boat will best survive a storm, and what protective steps you need to take when a hurricane threatens, should begin months before hurricane season. The BoatUS Marine Insurance claim files have shown that the probability of damage can be reduced considerably by choosing the most stormworthy location possible.
Where to Keep Your Boat in a Hurricane
Securing a Boat Ashore
A study by MIT after hurricane Gloria found that boats stored ashore were far more likely to be saved than boats stored in the water. For many boat owners and marinas, hauling boats is the foundation of their hurricane plan. Some farsighted marinas and yacht clubs have evacuation plans to pull as many boats out of the water as possible whenever a storm is approaching and secure the rest. There are some types of boats that must be pulled if they are to have any chance of surviving. Smaller, open boats and high performance powerboats with low freeboard, to use two examples, will almost always be overcome by waves, spray, and rain. Fortunately, most of these boats can be placed on trailers and transported inland.
Boats ashore should be stored well above the anticipated storm surge, but even when boats are tipped off jackstands and cradles by rising water, the damage they sustain in a storm tends to be less severe than the damage to boats left in the water. Windage is also a consideration. If nothing else, reduce windage (see "Critical Points") as much as possible and make sure your boat has extra jackstands, at least three or four on each side for boats under 30' and five or six for larger boats. The jackstands must be supported by plywood and chained together. To reduce windage, some ambitious boat owners on the Gulf Coast dug holes for their sailboat keels so that they presented less windage. Smaller sailboats were laid on their sides. Recent storms have proven that high-rise storage racks are vulnerable in a storm's high winds. Several have been completely destroyed in recent hurricanes. If possible, boats on storage racks should be placed on trailers and taken home.
Securing a Boat in the Water
Any boat in the water should be secured in a snug harbor (don't even think about riding out the storm at sea unless you're the skipper of an aircraft carrier). The trick is deciding which harbors will be still be snug if a hurricane comes ashore and which will be vulnerable.
Click the link below for more information:
At A Dock:
Members of the BoatUS Catastrophe team estimated that as many as 50% of the boats damaged during Hurricane Fran could have been saved by using better docklines: lines that were longer, larger, arranged better, and/or protected against chafing. If you decide to leave your boat at a dock, you'll need to devise a docking plan that is liable to be far different than your normal docking arrangement. By the time preparations are completed, your boat should resemble a spider suspended in the center of a large web. This web will allow the boat to rise on the surge, be bounced around by the storm, and still remain in position.
Take a look at your boat slip and its relation to the rest of the harbor. For most boats you'll want to arrange the bow toward open water or, lacking that, toward the least protected direction. This reduces windage. Next, look for trees, pilings, and dock cleats-anything sturdy-that could be used for securing docklines. With most docking arrangements, lines will have to be fairly taut if the boat is going to be kept away from pilings. The key to your docking arrangement is to use long lines, the longer the better, to accommodate the surge. (A good rule of thumb: storm docklines should be at least as long as the boat itself.) You will probably want to use other boat owners' pilings (and vice versa), which calls for a great deal of planning and cooperation with slip neighbors and marina management.
Lines should also be a larger diameter to resist chafe and excessive stretching. On most boats you should use 1/2" line for boats up to 25', 5/8" line for boats 25' to 34', and 3/4" to 1" lines for larger boats. Chafe protectors (see "Critical Points") must be on any portion of the line that could be chafed by chocks, pulpits, pilings, etc.
To secure lines to hard-to-reach outer pilings, put the eye on the piling so that lines can be adjusted from the boat. For other lines, put the eye on the boat to allow for final adjustment from the dock.
Hurricane Holes
Whenever canals, rivers, or waterways are available, they serve as shelters-hurricane holes-and offer an attractive alternative to crowded harbors and marinas. Your mooring arrangement will depend on the nature of the hurricane hole.
In a narrow residential canal, a boat should be secured in the center with several sturdy lines ashore (the "spider web ") to both sides of the canal. This technique was common to most of the boats in canals that survived Hurricane Andrew. Conversely, boats that were left at docks without the benefit of lines to both sides of the canal didn't fare any better during Andrew than boats at marina docks. The boat should be facing the canal's entrance and be as far back from open water as possible. Besides sheltering the boat, being away from the entrance should help with another consideration, which is the need to maintain a navigable waterway.
Securing boats in canals with private homes is possible only if you make arrangements with the homeowners whose trees and pilings you will be using to secure your boat. This can be difficult if your boat isn't normally moored in the canal. If your boat is already in the canal, getting other homeowners involved in planning for a hurricane increases the chances that your boat (and theirs) will survive. This is important. All it takes to wreak havoc in a narrow canal is one or two neglected boats coming loose.
In wider canals and waterways, boats should be secured using a combination of anchors and lines tied to trees ashore. The more lines and anchors the better. Try to find a spot that is well away from open water and that has tall banks, sturdy trees, and few homes. Moor your boat away from the main channel. Other considerations: a hurricane hole that ordinarily takes an hour to reach may take two hours to reach when winds and seas are building; bridges may not open as frequently once a hurricane warning have been posted; or the bridges may be locked down to evacuate cars. (This was the case on the Miami River before Hurricane Andrew.) Plan on moving your boat early.
At a Mooring, at Anchor, or Both:
Mooring in a sheltered location can also be a good alternative to exposed harbors and/or crowded marinas. A boat on a mooring can swing to face the wind, which reduces windage, and it can't be slammed into a dock unless the anchor or mooring drags.
The first question, then, is will your mooring hold? As a result of numerous moorings being dragged during recent hurricanes and northeasters, a search has been underway for a more secure mooring anchor. A recent BoatUS test using a large tug and several types of moorings found that the moorings that are the least likely to be dragged are the "embedment" type anchors-a helical and an expanding fluke anchor- which are deliberately screwed or driven into the harbor bottom. Traditional moorings- mushroom anchor and dead-weight blocks- were far more likely to be dragged with relatively little effort. A mushroom anchor that isn't sufficiently buried has very little holding power. The holding power of a mushroom or deadweight anchor can be increased by extending the pennant's scope, but you also have to consider the proximity of other boats. Embedment anchors do not rely on scope to increase their holding power, but scope must be sufficient to allow for tidal surge.
If you have doubts about your mooring, the chances of its dragging can be reduced significantly by using one or two additional storm anchors to enhance its holding power and to decrease the room your boat will need to swing.
An arrangement that uses two anchors (or a mooring and an anchor) set 45° apart has been used successfully to moor boats in storms. Three anchors, if they are set correctly, are even better. Three anchors should be set 120° apart (see diagram) and joined at a swivel.
Whatever arrangement you decide on, it is important to have plenty of scope-at least 10:1 if possible- and a lot of heavy oversize chain. Probably 50/50 is the optimum chain-to-line ratio. A riding weight, or sentinel, placed at the chain/line juncture will lower the angle of pull on the anchor and reduce jerking and strain on the boat. To absorb shock, an all-chain rode must have a snubber (usually nylon line) that is about 10% of the rode's length.
Chafe gear is essential on any line, but it is especially important on a mooring line. Recent storms have given dramatic evidence that a boat on a mooring is especially vulnerable to chafing through its pennants (see "Critical Points"). Unlike a boat at a dock, which is usually sheltered and is secured with multiple lines, a boat on a mooring is typically in a more exposed location and secured with only two pennants, which are under enormous loads and will chafe through quickly if they aren't protected.
Trailer Boats:
A trailer is, or should be, a ticket to take your boat inland, to a more sheltered location away from the tidal surge. But your boat won't get far on a neglected trailer that has two flat tires and rusted wheel bearings. Inspect your trailer regularly to make sure it will be operable when it's needed.
If you take your boat home, you may want to leave it, and not your car, in the garage. A boat is lighter and more vulnerable to high winds than a car. If this isn't practical, put the boat and trailer where they will get the best protection from wind, falling branches, etc.
Let some air out of the trailer tires and block the wheels. You can increase the weight of lighter outboard boats by leaving the drain plug in and using a garden hose to add water. (Rain will add a lot more water later.) This has the added advantage of giving you emergency water (non-drinking) if the main water supply gets knocked out by the hurricane. Place wood blocks between the trailer's frame and springs to support the added weight. On a boat with a stern drive, remove the drain plug so that the engine won't be damaged by flooding.
Secure the trailer to trees or with anchors or augers. Strip all loose gear, bimini tops, canvas covers, electronics, etc. and then lash the boat to the trailer.
Boats on Davits and Lifts:
Boats on backyard davits or lifts are extremely vulnerable to storm surge, which will probably reach higher than the boat can be raised. If possible, boats on lifts or davits should be taken off and stored ashore. Another alternative would be take the boat off the lift and secure it at a dock or in the center of a canal.
If the boat must be left on its lift (only as a last resort), remove the drain plug so the weight of accumulated rainwater will not collapse the lift. (If the tidal surge reaches the boat, it will be flooded, but to leave the plug in place is likely to result in more serious structural damage.) Tie the boat securely to its lifting machinery to prevent it from swinging or drifting away. Use fenders anywhere it could come into contact with pilings, lift motors, etc. Plug the engine's exhaust outlet and strip the boat.
Critical Points
Chafe Gear!
Chafe protectors are essential on all lines: at a dock, at a mooring, or at anchor. Nylon stretches and absorbs shock, which is good, but this stretching under tremendous loads also works the line against chocks and other contact points. On moorings or at anchor, the line stretched over the edge of the rail can create sufficient heat to melt the line internally. Polyester (Dacron) has much less stretch, but is more chafe resistant than nylon. By using a polyester line from the cleat through the chock and then joining it with a nylon line (use two eyes) to the piling or mooring, you can get the best of both types of line-the chafe resistance of polyester and the stretch of nylon.
Any line must be protected in a storm. For a super system, if your chocks are large enough, fit a second, larger diameter hose around another hose that fits snugly to the line. Drill holes in both hoses, and use cord to tie them securely to the line. In a pinch you can use a single hose.
If you need chafe protection quickly, use duct tape (a lot) to secure several layers of heavy canvas to the lines. This won't be as rugged as hose, but it is certainly better than leaving the line unprotected.
Selecting rope and chafe gear is complex topic. For more on what types of line work best in which situations and for more information on chafe, click here.
Cleats and Chocks:
Many boats have cleats and chocks that are woefully inadequate. This problem becomes critical when more and larger diameter storm lines are used during a storm. If necessary, add more and larger cleats and chocks now; they'll make securing the boat easier all year.
Asses the ability of cleats to carry heavy loads. This means making sure all are backed properly with stainless steel or aluminum plates. Marine plywood is OK if it's healthy-free of rot and delamination. On sailboats, winches (if backed properly) and even keel stepped masts can also be used to secure lines at a dock. (NOTE: Anchor lines should NOT be secured to the mast, as it creates that much more stretch on the line at the chock, which further increases the chances of chafe failure.)
Don't put too many eggs in one basket by leading numerous lines to a single cleat, even if it is backed properly. Two lines per cleat is probably the maximum. Also, a cleat is not reliable when lines are led perpendicular to the base and the cleat can be wrenched out by the tremendous loads (see diagram). Lines led perpendicular from a cleat can wrench the cleat out of the deck. Two-hole cleats are more vulnerable than four-hole cleats.
Reduce Windage:
One of the first steps when preparing your boat for a storm is to take off all loose gear that will create windage: canvas covers, bimini tops, spray dodgers, outriggers, antennas, anchors, running rigging, booms, life rings, dinghies, portable davits, etc.
Sails also create a lot of windage, especially when they come unfurled, and should never be left on deck in a storm. The boat in this photo broke loose during Hurricane Hugo and "sailed" downwind into a marsh. (Salvaging the boat was very difficult.) If there's time, windage can be greatly reduced on a sailboat by unstepping the boom and mast.
Preventing Theft:
Electronics and other valuable gear should be taken home for safekeeping. Not only are electronics vulnerable when vandals comb through boatyards after the storm, they can also be wrecked by all of the water. Personal belongings and other loose gear (potential missiles) should be taken home and the cabinets and cabin doors secured. All ship's documents should be taken off of the boat.
Preventing Water Damage: Remove cowl ventilators and seal the openings. Use duct tape to cover instrument gauges. Duct tape should also be used around hatches, ports, lockers, etc. to prevent water damage below. Close all but the cockpit drain seacocks and bang a plug into the engine's exhaust ports. If the boat does take on water, it will sit lower, and water could back-up into the cylinders. (Remember to remove the plug before starting the engine when the storm has passed.)
When to Take Action
"The time for taking all measures for a ship's safety is while still able to do so. Nothing is more dangerous than for a seaman to be grudging in taking precautions lest they turn out to have been unnecessary. Safety at sea for a thousand years has depended on exactly the opposite philosophy.
A hurricane "warning" advisory is posted when sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are expected within 24 hours or less--too late, in most situations, to head for the boat. Securing the house, gathering emergency provisions, and evacuating the family will need attention at this point.
A hurricane "watch" is posted when hurricane conditions pose a threat to a specified coastal area, usually within 36 hours. Some hurricane observers believe waiting for a watch to be posted also may be too late to head for the marina or to move the boat to a safer location.
Even watching the barometer, which is helpful for some weather patterns, can't tell you when to prepare for a hurricane. The extreme low pressure associated with a hurricane occurs close to the eye of the storm; too late to predict landfall.
The best advice is to prepare or move your boat when a hurricane is a substantial possibility, even before a watch is issued. If you wait longer, and your plan includes relocating the boat, bridges may be locked down and the hurricane hole you chose may be inaccessible. Or, if you planned to have your boat weather the storm ashore, you may find the marina is too busy to haul your boat.
Learning From Experience: A Guide For Preparing Marinas and Clubs for Hurricanes
Philip Hale says he sometimes stands in his boatyard and imagines it under four or five feet of water. Philip looks at all of the yard's valuable equipment that would be transformed into deadly battering rams by a storm's fierce winds. And he looks at the boats. What could be done to secure all of those boats?
It's a scene that isn't difficult for Hale to imagine. His marina, Marthas Vineyard Shipyard, has been pounded recently on at least two occasions, by Hurricane Bob in 1991 and then by the big "No-Name" storm that swept up the coast in early 1992. Other marina owners in areas like Charleston, South Carolina and South Florida who were hit hard by Hugo and Andrew are plagued by the same sorts of questions. Hurricanes do that to people. What if it happens again?
Click the link below for more information:
- Experience: The Teacher That Gives You the Test First and the Lesson Afterward
- Hauling Boats
- A Model Plan: The Houston Yacht Club
Experience: The Teacher That Gives You the Test First and the Lesson Afterward:
One mistake that any responsible marina owner would never make twice is to wait until a hurricane warning is posted to think about hurricane preparations. An extraordinary amount of work has to be done in a short time, perhaps only a few hours, and important decisions have to be made months in advance. Where will boats be stored? If boats are going to be stored ashore, which boats will be pulled first? What arrangements have been made with the owners?
Any hurricane plan ultimately involves people, and one of the first things Hale did after Bob was to put together a list of emergency employees, including many former employees and some local boat owners who are familiar with the boats and boatyard. This emergency staff is organized into teams, each having a specific assignment and leader, who can be called upon to join the regular staff whenever a large storm is approaching.
Most marinas don't have the personnel available to attend to all of the boats, and they depend on boat owners to strip their boats and add extra lines and chafe protection. James Frye, who runs a group of Westrec marinas in South Florida, says that in addition to evaluating their own procedures, one of the biggest parts of their new hurricane plan is getting the name of a local alternate for each boat owner who will take care of hurricane preparations if the owner is out of town. There isn't enough time before a storm, Frye says, for marina personnel to take care of all of the boats and still have time left for their homes and families.
Time is critical. At Marthas Vineyard Shipyard, preparations start at the beginning of the boating season by requiring that all boats in the harbor use extra pennants and chafe gear. At other yards, like Burr Brother in Marion, Massachusetts, a second, extra-heavy pennant is added to boats in the beginning of August, when the hurricane season gets started in earnest. Although boats would still have to be stripped, sails stowed, ports taped, etc. adding extra lines and chafe gear gives marinas and boat owners a valuable head start before a storm.
In the likely event that at least some owners won't be available to prepare their boats, many marinas will haul and/or prepare boats for a fee, but this should be arranged at the start of the season, not in the waning hours before a storm is due ashore. One marina in a particularly exposed Florida location has arranged to have several paid captains available to move boats to a more secure marina further inland. In this case, the agreement was written into the hurricane contract but extra services usually requires a separate agreement.
Hauling Boats:
A study by MIT after hurricane Gloria found that boats stored ashore were far less likely to have been wrecked than boats stored in the water, and for many marinas hauling boats is the foundation of their hurricane plan. Toby Burr at Burr Brothers in Marion, Massachusetts has a list of boat owners who have agreed to have their boats hauled by the marina whenever a hurricane threatens. The decision to haul boats is left to the marina, and Toby Burr says it puts an extra burden on them to decide at what point a storm might pose a threat. The responsibility is more than offset, however, by the additional time it gives them to evacuate boats.
While almost all of the boats hauled by Burr Brothers for Hurricane Gloria escaped with relatively little damage, boats that were stored ashore during Hurricane Bob were not so fortunate. Unlike Gloria, which came ashore at low tide, Bob came ashore at high tide and many of the boats stored in the yard got knocked off their cradles by the surge. To prevent a recurrence of the damage done by the rising water, Burr Brothers has arranged to receive NOAA charts that predict when and where the surge is likely to be highest. If the surge predicted could be a threat to boats stored ashore, Burr Brothers has a contingency plan to unstep masts so that boats can be moved further inland to higher ground.
Ashley Marina in South Carolina, doesn't have the facilities to haul boats, and even if it did, Ed Rhodes at Ashley says the grounds are too close to sea level to offer even minimal protection from tidal surge. Rhodes recommends boat owners take boats to nearby Ross Marina, which has a travellift and a storage areas that is a much safer 15' above sea level. David Browder at Ross acnkowledges that many of his regular customers have already made arrangements to have their boats hauled and stored at his yard whenever a storm threatens.
A Model Plan: The Houston Yacht Club:
Probably the best known and most comprehensive hurricane plan for a facility was devised by the Houston Yacht Club after Hurricane Alicia wrecked the club's docks and 141 of its member's boats in 1983. The plan, now used as a model for many other marinas and yacht clubs, is anchored by the individual efforts of all its members, each of whom is required to submit a hurricane plan with their harbor rental agreement. Each plan must include details on where the boat will be kept, what equipment is available, and the name of a "boat buddy" who will take care of the boat if the member is sick or out of town. The plan must be approved by the club's Hurricane Committee.
Individual plans must conform to the overall guidelines set by the club. For example, boats in the outer harbor have to be evacuated, and arrangements must be made to move them to hurricane holes and alternative dock sites further inland. During hurricane season, owners of boats in the outer harbor are required to keep fuel tanks topped off and extra mooring gear aboard.
In the event of a storm, boat owners report to one of the 14 dock captains, who coordinate the preparation efforts at each of the club's docks. There are other captains and teams to haul and secure boats in the club's one-design fleets and strip them of masts and sails. Each captain has a back-up.
In addition to the dock and fleet captains, there are also crew chiefs who are responsible for the crane operations, harbor operations, and securing the clubhouse and grounds. The crew chief for the grounds, for example, is responsible for seeing that volunteers board windows, store outdoor furniture, shut off electricity, store emergency water, and provide sources of electricity.
The captains and chiefs report to the hurricane operations group at the clubhouse, and the entire effort is coordinated by the club's Commodore and Vice Commodore. Preparations are implemented in carefully planned phases, beginning 72 hours before the hurricane's ETA.
Perhaps the most notable accomplishment of the Houston Yacht Club is that their plan wasn't written and then left on a shelf to gather dust. Although it has been over a decade since the club was devestated by Alicia, the plan continues to be examined and revised. Members must still submit individual plans whenever they bring a boat into the facility. And every year at the start of hurricane season, the entire membership gathers together to rehearses the plan.
Axiom: Never Stay Aboard in a Hurricane!
One of the most dangerous mistakes a skipper can make is to stay aboard his or her boat during a hurricane. Several accounts given in claim files indicate that there is little, if anything, a skipper can do to save a boat when winds are blowing 100 mph, tides are surging, and visibility is only a few feet.
What can happen? Consider the case of a 68-year old skipper in Charleston, who together with his grown nephew, took their trawler up the Wando River to ride out Hurricane Hugo in what they thought would be a sheltered hurricane hole. He reported that the boat seemed to be doing fairly well, but later that night the wind picked up to over 100 mph and 15' seas sent the boat crashing completely over.
The two men were trapped briefly in a pocket of air underwater when another wave rolled the boat back upright.The two men scrambled onto the deck and were eventually rescued, but not before almost drowning and being overcome by exposure.
Another skipper who stayed aboard his motorsailor at a marina during Gloria had to jump overboard and swim through breaking waves, drifting boats and debris after another boat broke free and rammed its mast (the boat was on its beam ends) through his boat's pilot house window. Again, he was lucky to reach shore alive. Two Miami men who stayed aboard a Sportfisherman (not insured by BoatUS) during Andrew were not so lucky. Both drowned while trying to escape their sinking boat.
When a hurricane is approaching, you should certainly do everything you can to protect your boat: secure extra lines, set out anchors, add chafe protection, strip the boat above and below decks, etc. Do whatever you think it takes, then head inland. Your boat can be replaced; you can't.
After the Storm
Marinas that were visited by the likes of Hugo, Andrew, Bob, and Gloria had to contend with downed power lines, blocked roads, and stacks of wrecked boats. Henry Finch at Wild Dunes Marina said that after Hugo his marina's clean-up operations were given a considerable boost by portable generators that provided power for the clean-up crews and operations center.
Widespread looting is a problem after a storm, and personnel should also be available to protect the marina and boats. Boat owners who did not take home expensive equipment before the storm should be encouraged to do so afterwards.
Broken ports and hatches on boats should be sealed to prevent further damage below. Engines should be pickled as soon as possible. And if a boat is underwater, it should not be raised until someone is available to pickle the engine.
The BoatUS CAT Team
The various insurance companies that insure boats at the marina coordinate most of the hurricane salvage efforts. The BoatUS Catastrophe Field Team will be on scene immediately after a storm and can help the effort to get boats cleared and the marina back in operation.
BoatUS CAT team member Dave Wiggins
In better times, this could have been done in a jiffy (well, almost a jiffy), but immediately after a hurricane, with boats piled everywhere, powerlines down, and mountains of debris blocking roads, locating a crane and getting it into position to hoist a 54' sailboat off of somebody's lawn can take a little longer.
So the BoatUS employee at the headquarters in Alexandria took down the information from Mr. Myers and said that someone on the BoatUS Catastrophe team (CAT team) would be contacting him to arrange salvage.
Moments after they hung up, CAT team member Dave Wiggin happened to be driving by on his way to one of the many inspections he had scheduled that day. When Mr. Myers stepped outside, he noticed the BoatUS sign on Wiggin's car and waved. Wiggin, who didn't have a clue who Mr. Myers was, pulled over.
Among the many reasons that Wiggin, a marine surveyor from Massachusetts, is on the BoatUS CAT team is his ability to work quickly, deal with dozens of complicated salvage problems, and, never, ever be fazed by something unexpected. So when Mr. Myers thanked him for coming by so quickly ("You guys are GREAT!!"), Wiggin just shrugged his shoulders, smiled modestly, and took out his notebook and pen. As luck would have it, a barge and crane were nearby, and in short order Wiggin arranged for Mr. Myers' 54' boat to be lifted gingerly off his neighbor's lawn and placed back in the water. All of this was done while most boat owners were still trying to contact their insurance companies.
Exceptional service? Dave Wiggin wouldn't say so; he'd just shrug his shoulders, smile modestly, and move on to the next salvage problem.
Download the Hurricane Preparation Worksheet in Adobe PDF format.


text:
GOSHEN — Middletown schools Superintendent Ken Eastwood continued testifying Thursday in Orange County Supreme Court in a defamation case he filed against his former nemesis from Oswego.
GOSHEN — Middletown schools Superintendent Ken Eastwood continued testifying Thursday in Orange County Supreme Court in a defamation case he filed against his former nemesis from Oswego.
Eastwood has sued Fran Hoefer, a former Oswego school board member who was highly critical during Eastwood's tenure as superintendent there, saying Hoefer defamed him in 2010 when Hoefer published old allegations on the Inside Middletown Schools website in 2010.
The allegations are issues Hoefer spoke about in 2003 and 2004, and which were found after various investigations to be false.
Eastwood's lawyer, David Brodsky, of counsel to Greenwald Law Offices, is arguing that Hoefer's commentary was made with actual malice, intended to damage Eastwood's good name.
Hoefer's lawyer, Michael Sussman, maintains that Hoefer merely stated things he believes to be true, opinions protected by the First Amendment.
On Thursday, Eastwood was back on the witness stand before Justice Elaine Slobod and the jury as Brodsky took his testimony.
Brodsky took Eastwood through the history of 2004, establishing that a hearing officer had found Hoefer's claims meritless and recommended that the Oswego school board remove him from office — which the board did, because of personal attacks Hoefer had made against other members and Eastwood and because he had publicly disclosed confidential information.
Brodsky had Eastwood read from postings Hoefer had made in early 2004 on a website called Inside Oswego, in which he used harsh language to describe Eastwood, including calling him a "fascist Nazi," and in which he threatened Eastwood's job.
Brodsky called consultant Vincent Coppola, a consultant with the Western New York Educational Council who helps school boards find new superintendents.
Middletown hired Coppola in 2004 for its search, and Eastwood was one of the candidates he presented to them.
Coppola testified that in his opinion, the 2010 rehashing of the 2004 accusations hurts Eastwood's prospects for lucrative consulting work, even though Eastwood has accomplished a great deal at Middletown — he cited a $20 million federal Race to the Top grant the district just won, and even though Eastwood is well-regarded in state educational circles.
Eastwood will continue testifying on Friday, and Sussman will likely start his cross-examination.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Design on a Dime
This story appears in the August 2007 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
What: Design studio
Who: Gavin Levy of Creative Instinct
Where: Denver
When: Started in 1998
Startup costs: Less than $2,000
Gavin Levy's company, Creative Instinct, is based in a building that used to house a taxi company. He says the unique location helps drive traffic to his five-person design studio, and it's one of the reasons he chose to move there when he needed more office space.
In 1998, Levy left his job to start his own design company. He found it easy to keep startup costs low since he was able to bring the computer equipment from his previous job with him and work out of his bedroom. "My only startup costs were incorporating the company," he says. Maintaining a relationship with his former employer gave Levy more than enough work to start with, and within a year, he hired his first employee. By 2000, he moved the company out of his bedroom and into an office space.
Levy, 35, says that hiring young workers who command lower salaries has kept his business profitable, and he has his clients deal directly with his designers instead of account executives. All this has helped Creative Instinct maintain a high caliber of customer service, while earning 2006 sales of more than $500,000.


text:
"My Generation" lyrics - DAMIAN MARLEY
[Chorus - Joss Stone & Choir]
My generation will make a change
This generation will make a change
(Yes we will)
My generation will make a change
This generation will make a change
(Do You hear me now)
My generation will make a change
This generation will make a change
(we bout to make a change)
[Damian Marley - Verse 1]
Now mi love fi see the schoolas dem a graduate
A study hard and save the party for the holidays
Diplomatic with dem Diploma
And them bound fi great
Because dem nah pick up no matic and a perpetrate
And then I love the energies whe dem a generate
My Generation it so special it will make a change
Because the elders sew the seed and it a germinate
So anytime dem see the progress dem a celebrate
Because we rising up despite of the economy
And then a we a star the show like the astronomy
And how we keep on breaking through is an anomaly
Because we keep remaining true without apology
The mission ha to carry through and finish properly
Say Gambia to Guadeloupe Paris to Napoli
Say Zambia to Honolulu back to Tripoli
And everybody want a future living happily
[Chorus - Joss Stone & singers]
[Nas - Verse 2]
Can you blame my generation, subjected gentrification,
Depicting their frustrations over ill instrumentation
'Cause music is the way to convey to you what I'm facing,
Placing my life in front of your eyes for your observation
Now if you can't relate then maybe you are too complacent,
Athletes today are scared to make Muhammad Ali statements
Whats up with your motto?
Will you lead? Will you follow?
Improve your values
Education is real power
I reach em like Bono
So get rid of your self sorrow
Add some bravado
Get wealthy likes Wells Fargo
Its truth, that I am you
And I am proof
Surviving through
We do what we gotta do
Yo we could break the cycle let nobody lie to you
Then maybe put our sons and our daughters in private school
'Cause there's a mission we gotta finish before we leave
This generation is destined to do historic deeds.
[Chorus - Joss Stone & singers]
[Verse 2 - Lil wayne]
Uhh if you weather that storm
Then that rain bring sun
Been a long time comin
I know change gone come
Man I gotta keep it movin to the beat of my drum
Last night I set the future at the feet of my son
But they thinkin that my generation gotta die young
If we all come together then they can't divide one
Don't worry bout it just be about it
Got a message from god heaven too crowded
But I say hey young world you've never looked betta
And I heard change started with man in the mirror ughh
This generation
I'mma represent
A generation led by a black president
Now hows that for change
Who knew that could change
I don't even look at the flag the same hey ughhh
So when you finish readin revelations
Thank god for my generation
[Chorus - Joss Stone & singers]


text:
There's something so liberating about going sockless—until your feet start sweating. And while powders and foot deodorants will absorb some of the perspiration and odor, there's no way to fully replace the myriad benefits of a sock without actually wearing one. Here's the ultimate solution: no-show socks, which give the appearance of bare feet without the smelly side effects.
I want to appreciate these socks more, but for me they just didn't cut it. I love the feel of wearing socks without actually wearing socks, but they just wouldn't stay on my feet. I was constantly removing my footwear to fix them. Credit due though for keeping away that "stinky foot odor". Just not for me.1
I usually only review things that I really like and think people should really buy. In this case, I have to say that these socks were not good quality. They didn't really stay on my feet from the first wear and they stretched to the point of uselessness after a few washes. The tommyjohn socks we received a few months later were much better quality. Don't buy.1
The socks are completely the wrong size for me. They almost hurt to try them on, though I am a size 9 and a half/10--not huge. I don't really think I'd use them, anyway, as I'm more of a hiking boot and flip-flop kinda guy rather than a loafer man. I gave them to my husband, though, and he wears them and enjoys them, though they ironically slip off his feet when wearing his loafers, as opposed to lace-up shoes.1


text:
Berna Saglik
Clinical Associate Professor of Dentistry
Biologic and Materials Sciences & Prosthodontics
Dr. Berna Saglik received her DDS degree from Marmara University in Istanbul, Turkey where she also practiced for three years upon graduation. She completed her graduate prosthodontics training at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 2007. Dr. Saglik is a member of the American College of Prosthodontists, and a fellow of the International College of Oral Implantologists. Dr. Saglik's research interests are in dental implants and ceramics. She studied the precision of fit and fracture resistance of all ceramic fixed partial dentures. She currently teaches in the Comprehensive Care Clinics and co-directs the Removal Partial Denture course for D2 students.


text:
Portable Assembly: Panels Unfold (no tools)
Classic Presentation Table Top Displays are North America's leading line of affordable briefcase displays. This remarkable series comes in five portable sizes, offers plenty of display real estate, yet easily folds into a slim portfolio-style, self-enclosed case with a built in handle. Even graphics fit in the recessed frame so there's no need to remove them.
Each Classic Presentation display weighs between 5 and 10 pounds. That's about half the weight of an average laptop computer. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly permanent display, a mobile sale presentation unit, or a complete branded identity solution, our road tested Classic Presentation line can meet your needs. All are made in America and include a lifetime warranty!
Table Top Systems
It depends on the table top system.
With the exception of a few Intro Table Top designs, which are built exclusively for 8 ft. tables, all the tabletops will fit both 6 ft and 8 ft tables. Most, however, fit better on an 8 ft. table, which allows for addtional space for literature and promotional products.
See the Table Throw Gallery for a wide selection of printed and unprinted throws.
A full-size table throw covers all four sides of the table, where an economy size throw will cover 3 sides leaving the back of the table open.
Classic Exhibits Inc. warranties the performance of its portable, modular, and custom hybrid systems during normal use, excluding excessive wear and tear, as per the instructions. This covers the workmanship and locking systems as long as the exhibit has a useful life. All remaining parts are covered against defective materials or workmanship as long as the exhibit is in service. The warranty is transferable should the product be sold or assigned to another party.
The manufacturer cannot be held responsible for damages due to abuse, misuse, or shipping damages. This warranty does not cover laminate cracks and chips, wood crate and roto-molded case damage (excluding workmanship), aluminum extrusion scuffs, mars, and scratches from normal use, and graphics wear and tear or misuse. The manufacturer is not responsible for lost or missing parts once the owner has assembled, accepted, and used the product.
Should there be any questions regarding the warranty, please contact your local Classic Exhibits Distributor.
The lead time for the Classic Presentation 32 Plus is 5 Days.
Add designs and photos to your personal gallery simply by clicking on the +My Gallery links
Then email your "My Gallery" to colleagues, friends, or your favorite exhibit designer. There's no better way to begin designing a display that reflects your exhibit marketing goals.
Note: My Gallery uses a temporary browser cookie to store your gallery. We recommend that you send your gallery to your email address if you need to retain it for longer than 30 days.


text:
Cast iron is an alloy of iron, silicon and carbon.
Typically, the concentration of carbon is between 3-4% by weight, most of which is present in insoluble forms (e.g. graphite flakes or nodules). The two main types are grey cast iron and nodular (ductile) cast iron.
The corrosion resistance of cast iron is comparable to that of steel – and sometimes even better. To improve corrosion resistance, cast iron can be alloyed with 13-16% by weight silicon or 15-35% by weight nickel (Ni-resist), respectively.
Various types of cast iron are widely used in industry, especially for valves, pumps, pipes and automotive parts. Cast iron has good corrosion resistance to neutral and alkaline liquids (high pH). But its resistance to acids (low pH) is poor.


text:
I am still relatively new to fly fishing and struggling with good casting. Yet I would like to take my canoe to the local lake. Does anyone have tips for sitting snd casting? Thanks.
I am still relatively new to fly fishing and struggling with good casting. Yet I would like to take my canoe to the local lake. Does anyone have tips for sitting snd casting? Thanks.
Practice a bit sitting on a stool on dry land. It really doesn't make much difference but you will feel more comfortable.
Guns don't kill children. Children do! Guns just make them so much more efficient.
It is difficult for me to assist you without being there with a one-on-one instruction, but, if you will concentrate on not casting a fly rod and, instead, concentrate on unrolling a fly line behind you on the back cast and unrolling it in front on the forward cast, it will help you to better understand the techinques of using a fly rod. You cast a spinning rod and a casting rod, but, you unroll fly line with a fly rod. Look at your back cast and watch your fly line unroll and do not come forward until it has unrolled behind you and then bring it forward and let it unroll in front of you before lowering the fly rod. This takes much less effort on your part.
What rainbowchaser recommended, with sitting in a chair, is good advise because when you are in a canoe, you are closer to the water and you will need to concentrate on holding the fly rod and line up higher on your back cast or it will hit the water behind you.
The above is offered as help. Most people are just too agressive with the stroke with the fly rod and do not allow the fly rod to do the work for you. A nice slow movement of the fly rod back to a stop and then a slow forward movement of the fly rod to the front stop is all it takes. The backward and forward movement should be a smooth movement with no agressive push of the rod hand coming forward. Just one smooth stroke back and forward with a short wait for the line to unroll behind you and in front of you is all it takes. Most try to really push the fly rod on the forward stroke thinking this is the movement needed and it is not.
Just trying to be helpful and nothing more.....
Fly fishing and fly tying are two things that I do, and when I am doing them, they are the only 2 things I think about. They clear my mind.
Thanks for the tips. I hadn't thought about practicing on a stool.
I do a ton of fly fishing out of a canoe, in fact I am not sure that I know how to cast a flyline in any oher position than sitting in a canoe! As far as equipment goes, a long flyrod will definitely help in picking the line up off the water and going into a soli back cast. Other than that, you need to learn to cast while keeping you weight centered in the canoe. I have a friend that goes on a small mouth trip with me every spring, we both fly fish out of my canoe and the canoe barely moves as we cast.
Capt. Paul Darby Dont wait to be ask, get out and teach.
You are new to fly fishing so, don't try to make really long casts using way too much upper body movement. Start with short casts, I mean, you are in a boat so row little closer and make a cast. As you learn the timing of your cast you will be able to extend the cast a little farther, then some more....Take your time and learn to cast. Also, don't have a lot of loose items in the canoe since there is a chance the canoe will tip over, just minimize your potential for loss. As mentioned, a longer rod will help, a 10 or 11 foot rod, but you can cast nicely with a 9 footer as well, if you learn to cast properly. Again as mentioned, sit on a stool or even just on the ground (that is how a person using a tube must cast) and it will greatly help you with your back cast as you will find out really fast just how quickly the back cast can lower and hit the ground or water.
Have fun and catch some fish.
Larry ---sagefisher---
I fish from a kayak and had to learn to cast siting down. I practiced actually siting on the ground and casting (my kayak sits even lower than a canoe). Concentrate on good technique for shorter to medium range casts. Long casts can be really difficult. Two things to remember is that with the stealth of a canoe or kayak, you can usually get closer to the fish and if you are on open water, try to position yourself for downwind casts. One other thing that I have found is that, due to the siting position, I can actually get more power from a backhand cast.
You don't ever want a crisis to go to waste... - Rahm Emanuel
Who is John Galt?
When I fish from my Old Town canoe I sit flat on the bottom. Due to the smooth, flat bottom (on the canoe) I found this was the most stable for me to learn and just never changed. Down that low you can easily transfer to a kayak or float tube. Learning to cast that close to the water will force you to 'keep thy back cast up' and make you a better caster even when not in a watercraft. As advised above start short and go longer as you get more comfortable.
I cast about as good sitting in the canoe as I do when wading. I had taken up the canoe before the fly rod and so the first attempts were at standing in the canoe (in that I figured what an expert canoeist I had become), only to experience one of life's many rude awakenings ... I took some cold water dips + lost some gear in the process. Hence, I learned fly casting from the sitting position. As so many times pointed out, a distance cast might be necessary at times but the vast majority of fish are caught not that far away. In my experience, either from the canoe or wading, I've caught most of my fish within 30' - the problem with getting a fish on with a 60' cast is that extra 30' to bring it in.
Bottom line (and hard for some to comprehend), I'd rather fly cast sitting in the canoe vs standing. First off, there's more sport and skill to it. AND ... the only way to acquire the skill of fly casting sitting down in a canoe is to get out and start practicing fly casting sitting in the canoe.
The only reasons I can see for distance fly casting is: (1) seeing just how far you can cast, (2) showing off, (3) participating in a distance fly casting contest for some kind of a prize.


text:
- Background and Description
- Coformulations
- Dose
- Food Restrictions
- Storage
- Patient Assistance
- Side Effects and Toxicity
- Drug Interactions
- Resistance and Cross-Resistance
- Clinical Data
Also known as: azidothymidine, AZT
Background and Description
Retrovir was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 1987 as the first antiretroviral to treat HIV disease. The drug is manufactured and distributed by GlaxoSmithKline. Retrovir is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). In September 2005, the FDA approved a generic version of zidovudine.
Retrovir is included in the combination drugs Trizivir (Retrovir, Epivir, and Ziagen) and Combivir (Retrovir and Epivir), both of which are taken twice daily.
The recommended dose for Retrovir in adults is 300 mg twice a day.
Food Restrictions
Retrovir can be taken with or without food.
Tablets and capsules should be stored at a temperature of 59° to 77°F. Capsules should be protected from moisture.
Patient Assistance
For those who qualify, GlaxoSmithKline offers a patient assistance program. For more information, call 866.728.4368.
Side Effects and Toxicity
Retrovir can suppress bone marrow production of blood cells, resulting in anemia or neutropenia. In patients with low neutrophil counts (less than 1000) or hemoglobin levels (less than 9.5) Retrovir should be used with caution. Special care should be taken when administering the drug to patients with advanced HIV disease or other conditions characterized by anemia or neutropenia. Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) with steatosis (fatty liver) is rare, but potentially fatal, and has been associated with NRTI use. Additionally, some complaints of gastrointestinal intolerance (pain, nausea and diarrhea), headache, insomnia, and asthenia (weakness) have been documented. Myopathy (muscle wasting) and myositis (muscle inflammation), similar to that produced by HIV itself, have been associated with prolonged use of Retrovir. As a class, NRTIs have been implicated in damage to mitochondrial DNA and may therefore play a role in the development of lipodystrophy (fat accumulation and fat atrophy).
Drug Interactions
Because of blood cell (hematologic) toxicity, caution should be used when co-administering Retrovir with bone marrow suppressive agents or interferon alpha. Dose reduction or interruption of one or more agents may be necessary; frequent hematologic monitoring is recommended. Ribavirin should be avoided in combination with Retrovir, since it inhibits processing of Retrovir during metabolism.
Additional Information
Resistance and Cross-Resistance
Retrovir resistance is associated with mutations at positions 41, 67, 70, 215, and 219. In general, a greater number of mutations confers greater resistance, with the 215 mutation being most significant. Cross-resistance can occur with other NRTIs. A mutation at position 333 confers resistance to both Retrovir and Epivir. A mutation at position 151 is associated with resistance to the entire NRTI class. An insertion at position 69 can also lead to broad NRTI resistance.
Clinical Data
Early use of zidovudine showed some effect on viral replication resulting in approximately a 0.6 log drop in viral load. This effect was short-lived when zidovudine was used as monotherapy. Other studies show the efficacy of Retrovir in combination with another NRTI, such as Epivir, and a protease inhibitor.
The START 1 study looked at Zerit/Epivir/Crixivan compared to Retrovir/Epivir/Crixivan in antiretroviral-naive subjects. Out to 24 weeks, both arms performed equally well in decreasing viral load to less than 500 copies/mL. The START 2 study compared regimens of Zerit/Videx/Crixivan versus Retrovir/Epivir/Crixivan in antiretroviral treatment-naive subjects. The percentages of subjects in each arm with viral loads less than 500 copies/mL at 24 weeks were 68% and 77% respectively.
Retrovir therapy is the current standard in preventing vertical transmission (mother to child) of HIV. In a study of pregnant women, ACTG 076, the estimated risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV was less than 8% in Retrovir-treated infants (antenatal, perinatal, and neonatal drug administration) versus almost 25% in the placebo group.


text:
The world depends on mariners. Mariners depend on SCI. And we depend on you.
Photos taken at Port Newark during distribution of Christmas at Sea gifts, December 4, 2013.
Photos by David Rider, President & Executive Director.
Volunteer knitters from around the country knit garments as symbols of SCI's mission of hospitality. Each year, SCI distributes these warming gifts to mariners far away from home.


text:
Many visitors have called Chiloé the "Ireland of Chile" because of its gently rolling green hills and the soft friendliness of its people. If you arrive with an open mind and a free schedule, you will undoubtedly be rewarded. Islanders will be happy to invite you into their homes, feed you and share with you the many secrets and sayings passed down through generations of insular existence.
Buses to Chiloé run directly from Santiago and most of the larger towns around the region such as Temuco and Puerto Montt. A 30 minute ferry ride across the Chacao Channel and a short bus ride bring you to Castro, the island's main city, tucked into the western side of the island. A ramshackle maze of corrugated iron houses supported on nobbled trunks that rise from the water, Castro is well connected by microbus to the island's 100 plus towns and various national parks.
The months of January and February are best to visit Chiloé because of the multitude of traditional parties and events which spring up in villages and fields across the island. On any given weekend there might be up to 5 different events.
Long isolated form the mainland, Chiloé was originally populated by the Huilliche tribe, descended from the Mapuche people of the nearby Araucanía region. Colonized by the Spanish in 1567, the local culture blended with those of the Andalucían horsemen and Jesuits who settled in the area, the remnants of which are still visible today in beret-style hats and woven wool trousers worn by Chilotes.
A little digging will overturn a rich mythology, unparalleled craftsmanship and building techniques, and forms of cooking which blend the boundaries between earth and sea, echoing the ancient rites of this sea-bound, agricultural people.
Chiloé National Park and President Piñera's very own Tantauco Park cover a vast section of the western part of the island. Within these parks visitors can explore the forests and cliffs which span the western coast, one of the best places to watch humpback whales on their way to Patagonia.


text:
Skip to content
Educational Programs
Praise for CHS
Insights Courses
Community Ministry Certificate
CMC Q&As
CMC Registration & Payment Setup
CMC Registration Form
Books for Community Ministry Certificate
Self-Directed Short Courses
Conferences and Intensives
Pagan Life Academy – for Incarcerated Pagans
Order Pagan Life Academy Lessons Online
Student Catalog
Frequently Asked Questions
First Time at CHS?
Apply Now
Apply To A Degree or Certificate Program
Register As A Non-Degree Student
Registration for Community Ministry Certificate
For Students & Faculty
For Students
Fall 2020 Courses Sep 7-Dec 13
Sages and Crones: Ministry To and For Older People P6203
Counseling Theories P6101
The Art and Craft of Sacred Speech: Homiletics M5900
Per Ankh II: Ancient Egyptian Spirituality for Today
Archetypal Imagery in Counseling II
Pathworking for Healing
Grief and Pagan Practice
Academic Calendar
Classroom Login
Votaries Alumni Circle
The Wendy Griffin Professor of the Year Award
Materials for Students
Student Forms
Course Evaluation Form (by student)
Course Withdrawal Request
Program Leave of Absence Request
Return From Leave of Absence Request
Change Program/Department Request
Course Transfer Request
Paying For Your Courses
Financial Information
Tuition Rates
Tuition Installment Payments
Pay for One Credit Hour
For Faculty
Materials for Instructors
Faculty Handbook & Teaching Guide
Faculty Course Self-Evaluation
Turn In Grades For Semester
Incomplete Grade
Teach Course Request Form
New Course Proposal
Teaching Work Agreement
Submit Master's Course Syllabus
Request CMC Certificate Award
Faculty Classroom Observation Evaluation Form
Teaching for Cherry Hill Seminary
Apply To Teach Insights Courses
Apply to Teach Master's Courses
Seminary Policies
Nondiscrimination Policy
Sexual Harassment Policy
Confidentiality Policy
Acceptable Use of Cherry Hill Seminary Electronic Communications Systems and Services
Support CHS
Give Now
Some Things Are Timeless
Thank you!
Amazon Smile
Legacy Giving
CHS Gifts
Host an Event
Hypatia Day is Our Birthday!
Spread the Word
Graphics & Banners You Can Use On Your Site
News & More
Read More News
Email News-Announcements Archive
News Releases
Cherry Hill Seminary Announces Release of "Paganism and Its Discontents: Enduring Problems of Racialized Identity"
Aline O'Brien Awarded Honorary Degree In Recognition of Lifetime Achievement and Service
Healing & Justice
Candace Kant Is New Academic Dean For Cherry Hill Seminary
Solidarity: December 9, 2014
Sad Farewell to CHS Teacher, Visionary, Friend
In Tribute: Margot Adler 1946-2014
Cherry Hill Seminary Awards First-Ever Pagan Master of Divinity Degree
Eminent Scholar Named Academic Dean of Cherry Hill Seminary
Cherry Hill Seminary Honors Judy Harrow by Library Naming
Remembering Sept 11
Emergency Resources
Don't Look Away from sexual abuse
Wise Words
Why We Need Pagan Spiritual Direction
How Can Ethics Training Strengthen Your Group?
Rites Can Change Society
Real Change Through Advocacy
The Pagan As Chaplain
Five Essential Traits of Pagan Leaders
About Us
Our Mission, Vision, Values & History
From the Director
Board of Directors
Tribute: Michael York, Pagan Scholar
Tributes to Aline O'Brien October 12 2019
Advisory Council
Hypatia of Alexandria – Guardian Ancestor
Frequently Asked Questions
Apply for a position
Contact Us
Admission Fee
Admission Fee
Admission Fee quantity
Add to cart
Related products
Student ID Card (for matriculated students only)
Add to cart
Pay For One Credit Hour
Add to cart
Leave of Absence Return
Add to cart
Administrative Fee
Add to cart
Search for:
Starts Oct 12
Starts Nov 9


text:
Freaky Friday Ghosts and Giveaways!
(Stop #2 – see JustRomanticSuspense for stop #1)
Since Halloween plays a critical role in the plot of my romantic thriller, FIRST DO NO EVIL, I wanted to do something special to celebrate the holiday.
At first, I thought about re-telling my favorite ghost stories from childhood. But we've all heard them before. Then I thought, what if….
What if – I poll my friends and find out if they have had some sort of TRUE paranormal experience. Wouldn't that be fascinating?
It turns out several of my author friends have had paranormal encounters, and they were willing to share. The stories I have for you today may seem less dramatic than those childhood tales and urban legends…but these stories are TRUE.
I've got more stories posted on the other blog I'm doing today over at JustRomanticSuspense so be sure and drop by there to read more true life ghosties!
Samhain author Carey Baldwin (that's me!): Blue-eyed Brown-eyed Girl
I make no warranties that someone else in my family may not have a different version of this story. Everyone seems to have his own way of telling it. But according to family lore, my grandmother, Bessie Baldwin, was clairvoyant. This much I know is true because I remember: She was a beautiful woman with very unusual eyes. One of her eyes was blue. The other eye was half green and half brown. Like a magical marble.
According to family lore, she frequently knew when trouble was about to befall someone near and dear, or had a premonition before someone passed. Only once, that I know of, did she have a vision that was not directly related to family members.
When I was a little girl, a python escaped from the Ft. Worth zoo. Everyone was hunting the python. Where had it gone? Was it injured? Would someone harm the snake or be harmed by the snake? The whole community became caught up in the human interest story of the lost python. Day after day news reports came in that the python was still missing and feared dead or lost forever. After a few days, my grandmother turned to my grandfather and said, "Call the zoo and tell them the python is curled up in the grasses behind her cage."
My grandfather did what any sensible person would do- he refused. So my grandmother called the zoo herself. Sure enough, the python was there behind the cage, just as she'd predicted!
Three-time Golden Heart finalist Sharon Wray: Baboo the Friendly Ghost
I grew up in a haunted house with a real imaginary friend- a ghost -named Baboo. Although no one in my family believed me, ever since I was a small child I could sense when Baboo was around. My room had once been an attic, and every night at 3am, his pacing would wake me up. I'd tell him to please stop, and he always did. Eventually I learned to sleep through it. Every once in a while my dad would ask me why I was walking around at night. I'd just shrug and say I couldn't sleep.
Baboo wasn't an active ghost who moved things or tormented me, but he did have one habit which used to drive my parents crazy. Baboo liked to turn all the locks in the house. My dad would lock up the house every night, but some mornings all the deadbolts were unlocked. I used to try to tell my parents it was Baboo, but at an early age I realized no one believed me.
This went on for years – since preschool until I went to college.
But one day in middle school I came home early. I had a key just in case my parents weren't home, and that afternoon I went into the house through the front door. Except every time I turned the key, it would relock.
The key would turn, open, then immediately relock as if someone were on the other side of the door turning the lever. I got so frustrated, I went to the side door. Four times I'd unlock the deadbolt, four times it would relock. Finally, I went to the lower basement door and it opened. As I went in, I heard noises upstairs. I just assumed it was my father who often came home for lunch and I'd missed him walking around the house. So I yelled, "Hi, Dad!" as I went up the basement stairs.
Just as I said that, the door ahead of me slammed shut and locked. I was about to pound on the door when I heard two male voices speaking – and I realized neither one was my father. A moment later, I heard a crash, a few curses, then a door slam.
I stood there shaking, not sure what to do, when the door in front of me suddenly unlocked and opened. I could barely walk, I was so scared. But I also realized that Baboo wouldn't have opened the door if it wasn't safe – so I went into the house. A few things were knocked over, some things broken, but the back kitchen door was wide open. Someone had broken in and I'd interrupted. The police found the two men later that night, trying to break into a neighbor's house. Both men were carrying guns and knives.
Many, many years later my father asked me about that day. He asked me if Baboo had kept me out of the house. I said yes. He nodded and apologized for not believing me. He then admitted that he'd had an incident with Baboo the day before he sold the house, but he wouldn't tell me what happened. Maybe he still didn't believe it. My parents moved out of the house nine years ago, and I often wonder if the new family has met Baboo or if he finally found his way home.
Avon Impulse and Harlequin Intrigue Author Lena Diaz: Grandma's Favorite
Most of my family comes from Kentucky. Since my dad was in the Navy, we traveled a lot, and we were living in Florida when my oldest sister woke up in the middle of the night and saw my grandmother standing at the foot of her bed – my grandmother who lived in Kentucky at the time. My grandmother didn't say anything, but she smiled sadly and reached out as if to pat my sister, then disappeared. It totally freaked my sister out. She got up and ran into my parents' room. My mom and dad tried to console her, and then the phone rang to tell my dad that his mom – the grandmother my sister had just seen – had just passed away. My sister was always my grandmother's favorite grandchild and my sister has always believed that grandma came to her that night in spirit to say goodbye.
Dr. Skylar Novak: Halloween Havoc
Okay this story is not true and it is not a paranormal story, because Sky Novak is the heroine of my romantic thriller, FIRST DO NO EVIL. But it is a great read for Halloween!
FIRST DO NO EVIL opens on a Halloween morning. Halloween is the worst day of the year for Sky, the anniversary of her father's murder. If you want to know more about Sky's story, I've pasted the blurb below:
One killer is in her blood. The other is in her house.
There's a killer lurking in Dr. Skylar Novak's family tree: the gene for breast cancer. That's why her brilliant brother invented the Bella vaccine. But even if the miracle drug protects her from the cancer that took her mother's life, it can't save Sky from the flesh and bone evil stalking her in secret.
When the killer strikes, detective Daniel Benson finds himself in the wrong place at the right time. The bold detective manages to save Sky's life…just in time for her to return the favor. Survival leads to seduction, and Danny risks everything—his career, even his life, to keep Sky safe. But will the buried sins they uncover cost him her heart?
Danny's strong arms may hold her close, but only Sky can stop the terror that's coming next…
Warning: Contents include: One heart-melting hero—good luck getting this delicious detective out of your head. One reluctant heroine—wielding a Glock was never on her to-do list. One crazed villain—an entire flock of baa baa black sheep won't be enough to put you to sleep. And a lifesaving vaccine with one deadly side effect—murder.
Commenters : We've got PRIZES GALORE! So please read carefully.
One grand prize, consisting of the following books, will be awarded to one lucky commenter: FIRST DO NO EVIL by Carey Baldwin, (Nook or Kindle copy); SIMON SAYS DIE, and HE KILLS ME HE KILLS ME NOT by Lena Diaz (winner's choice of electronic or print), HOW TO DANCE WITH A DUKE by Manda Collins (winner's choice of electronic or print copy). Leave a comment here, on Kiss and Thrill, to be eligible to win this grand prize.
But wait, today only, EVERYONE'S A WINNER
Are you the kid who never, ever, won the cakewalk, no matter how many tickets you bought? Well, not on my watch. Today I'm also blogging over at JustRomanticSuspense and everyone who leaves a comment by midnight tonight on this blog, AND my Just Romantic Suspense blog will win an electronic copy of FIRST DO NO EVIL for kindle or nook. Remember, you must comment on both blogs to automatically win FIRST DO NO EVIL.
So tell us please, do you have a favorite Halloween memory?
Posted on October 26, 2012, in Carey Baldwin, Halloween, Lena Diaz, Manda Collins, Sharon Wray and tagged Carey Baldwin, giveaway, Halloween, Lena Diaz, Manda Collins, Sharon Wray. Bookmark the permalink. 77 Comments.
My favorite Halloween memory is getting my kids ready to go trick or treating when they were young. I can still remember how excited they would be. Thanks for the wondeful giveaway!
Maureen, I'm right with you there! I miss my babies being babies. I think my favorite age was around four or five. So cute, and too young to sass yet! Good luck in the giveaway and thanks for visiting us today. And don't forget to hop on over to JustRomanticSuspense.com for the other half of our blog spooktacular!
We don't celebrate Hallowe'en where I was born– we're more of the Mardi Gras persuasion, which also involves fancy dress but no spookiness! I've only been trick-or-treating once in my life (living in a British colony at the time) when I was in my teens, but I have fond memories of the silliness of putting on a fancy dress costume & going out asking for candy with hordes of little kids. And the sugar rush! 🙂
Scariest Hallowe'en memory: my high school chemistry teacher (living in N. America at the time) adjusting the drooping diapers he'd used for breasts when he dressed up as a woman whilst he lectured at us about acids & bases. Good times.
A favorite memory is dressing up for Halloween and going trick-o-treating with family and friends.
We had a ghost in our historic house in Galveston–a woman in white who hung around the staircase. My husband and I had both seen and sensed her many times but hadn't told anyone else. My friend Julia stayed in the house alone for a couple weeks and when we arrived for the weekend asked us who the chick on the stairs was. Nobody was afraid of her, in fact she seemed quite nice.
Wow, what a story about Baboo! I am so glad he was there to keep you from getting hurt.
I have such great memories of Halloween… the costumes, the candy, the fun time, etc… Now when I answer the door, I truly enjoy seeing the little ones come around in their outfits… always puts a smile on my face!
Happy October & Happy Halloween! 🙂
Wow, what incredible stories! Every child should have a Baboo. 🙂 Of course I was scared of my own shadow as a kid so I never would have slept.
When I was pregnant with my daughter, (now 17) I lived in an old Victorian house that was divided into two apartments. Three times I came across ghosts in that house. Once I woke to an angry little girl staring at me as I slept. When I lifted my head and blinked, she sort of drifted backward and faded away. After that I refused to sleep on that side of the bed. About a week later, I woke and lifted to roll over and found the same little girl standing next to a woman, both watching us sleep. I slammed my eyes shut and stayed frozen for hours. I don't know why I was so afraid, but I'm sure it had to do with the angry vibes I got from the little girl ghost.
This was a great idea. I loved reading all the stories, and I can't wait to check out your book, Carey.
I remember in elementary school we would have a half day so that we could have a Halloween party right after lunch. All the teachers would pass out candy.
I've always wondered what it would be like growing up in a haunted house. I'm pretty sure I would be terrified even if it's a friendly ghost! Baboo sounds harmless enough, though unlocking and locking doors would be a clear indication of a paranormal activity. My favorite memory of Halloween is staying in and watching scary movies. It's a tradition my family still does.
One year my Grandma made my brother and I a rabbit costume and a mouse costume. I believe my mom still has the costumes. My three sisters also wore the costumes on halloween.
I found it freaky when my tiny daughter wore an old woman mask one year. This big old face on her little body!
This looks like an interesting site so I signed up.
My favorite Halloween memory was when my grandfather allowed me to have a black cat because my parents wouldn't allow me to go trick-or-treat with my friends.
I have loved that black cat because she was my first cat, pet, and friend.
I'd have to say my memories are tied up with Halloween movies & stories. Love the thrill.
Forgot my email:
Thanks for the great post and giveaway! Ummm… not really. I came from a religious household growing up so we didn't get to really participate. Now its fun to hand out candy to all the kiddos 🙂
Thank you for sharing with us today. I think I may have missed the 12:00 deadline, as I am on the other coast LOL, but I wanted to join in on the fun anyway. I think my most memorable Halloween was when my son was a baby – his first Halloween he was dressed as a baby lion and I remember walking through the mall with him and so proud. Thank you for reminding me of that awesome memory.
I have not one specific Halloween memory. All those fun filled celebrations, trick-or-treating as a kid, eating too much candy… All of these things have made my Halloween great.


text:
Turner joins Bisons
The New York Mets have claimed INF JUSTIN TURNER off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. He has been assigned to the Bisons and activated today by the Herd.
Turner, 25, has spent most of the 2010 season with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, but did see action in five games with the Orioles from April 12-23 (0-9 at the plate). With the Tides, Turner hit .250 (21-84) with eight doubles, one home run, eight RBI and 11 runs scored in 23 games.
In 2009, Turner hit .300 (116-387) with 28 doubles, two home runs and 43RBI in 108 games for Norfolk. He led all Orioles' full season minor leaguers in average (.300) and led the Tides in doubles (28), hits (116) and games played (108). He ranked 3rd in the International League in lowest strikeout/plate appearances (11.92) and 10th in average (.300). Turner received a September promotion in 2009 for his major league debut and hit .167 (3-18) with two runs scored in 12 games.
Turner was originally a seventh round draft pick of Cincinnati in 2006 and was traded to Baltimore in a four-player deal in 2009 that sent C Ramon Hernandez to the Reds.


text:
NEWS- Fear factor? Local woman's death raises questions
Jennifer Leigh Wells was an accomplished horsewoman who had just celebrated her 21st birthday a week earlier. Yet, the Monticello High graduate and UVA fourth-year student died on Sunday, September 10 in what appears to authorities as a case of bacterial meningitis.
Wells had complained of headaches on Friday morning, according to an account in the Daily Progress, and stayed at her parents' home in Charlottesville, away from school and her part time job at A Cut Above, the hair salon owned by her mother and stepfather. She reportedly collapsed that afternoon and was rushed to UVA Medical Center before passing away the next day.
In an e-mail sent to the UVA community Monday afternoon, Executive Director of Student Health Dr. James Turner said that despite the tragedy, there should be no cause for alarm among students and faculty.
"This was a very isolated case in which the student did not live in University housing or with other students," he wrote. "All individuals who had contact with the student have been notified and provided antibiotics."
That's an opinion seconded by Dr. Lilian Peake, Health Director for the Thomas Jefferson Health District.
"This is not something people need to take immediate actions against," she says. "It's a rare disease, and the general population is not at risk because of this one particular case."
Peake also emphasizes that this is not a disease that's transmitted in passing.
"Bacterial meningitis is spread by direct close contact with discharge from the infected person's nose or throat. So you cannot get it just from casual contact. It has to be close, intimate contact with the infected person," she says.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, caused by either a bacterium or a virus that has entered the bloodstream or cerebrospinal fluid from elsewhere in the body.
According to Turner, almost 95 percent of UVA students had already received the vaccine against meningococcous, the suspected bacterium, and the other five percent have been encouraged to get the vaccine in the wake of Wells' death.
"We are cautiously optimistic that we've achieved such high levels of vaccination that we won't see any more cases," says Turner. "But we're quite vigilant and aggressively work up any student who looks like they have meningitis. And we'll stay on top of this."
The vaccine is 90 percent effective against four of the five strains of meningococcous. Turner says it might never be known which strain caused Wells' death, but if Wells had the fifth strain, strain B, it will be something of a relief.
"If it's strain B, the good news– if there is any positive news– is that strain," says Turner, "is less likely to cause outbreaks among several people and generally causes isolated, single cases."
This is UVA's first case of meningitis since 1996 when five students contracted the disease. All survived.
"Back then, no students were vaccinated," says Turner. "Now we have one of the best vaccination rates in the country. For 10 years we've offered the best preventive tool we have, and we'll continue to offer it until a better vaccine comes along."
According to the American College Health Association, 100 to 125 cases of meningitis occur on college campuses each year, resulting in five to 15 deaths. The increased risk among college students results from their crowded living situations and irregular sleep patterns.
What's puzzling about Wells' case is that she lived at home with her parents. Turner says he hopes to know more about why Wells died when tests come back in a few weeks. Wells' family declined comment when contacted Tuesday.
Generally, the symptoms of meningitis begin with a combination of high fever, headache, stiff neck; and sometimes a rash. If untreated, it can result in a coma or death.
"You don't go from a headache to a coma," Peake says. "But generally speaking, if you have a high fever and a headache, and it's getting progressively worse, you should see a doctor."
Born September 3, 1985, Wells was an otherwise healthy 21-year-old who spent much of her time training and riding in state and national equestrian events. Before entering UVA, where she was a Dean's List psychology major, she graduated from Monticello High School.
According to an obituary, she is survived by her mother and stepfather, Cindy and Tom Payne, her father, Jamie Wells of Glen Allen, her sister Wendy Shifflett, and her brothers Thomas "T.D." Payne, and Bradley and Aaron Wells.
Jennifer Wells was rushed to UVA Medical Center on Friday afternoon after she collapsed at her parents' home. She had complained of headaches and stayed home from class that morning.FILE PHOTO


text:
Who's Broke??: Nefu Da Don Shows The WSHH Haters How To Stunt!
Nefu Da Don reponds to the WSHH haters about him being broke.
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Events for January 26, 2020 › Portsmouth
Events Search and Views Navigation
11:45 am
(CANCELLED) Magic: the Gathering Booster Draft
Join us for our weekly Sunday booster draft event for Magic: Gathering. This is a sanctioned event by Wizards of the Coast. All players, beginners and seasoned are welcome to…Find out more »


text:
Hey Guys,
Yesterday we tried a bit at the Spirit Kings and got some trouble withe the Shield of Darkness of Zian of the Endless Shadow.
But this ability only causes us problems in the transition phase through Meng. Its like the shield triggers even though we aren't hitting him at all.
Can this shield be triggered by spells like consecration of our prot paladin? It triggers so fast after he finished the cast, our diszi can't even react. We don't have this problem at all when he's alive, only in the transition.
Did you guys noticed the same problem or have some suggestion? Did you maybe already stop attacking before he even starts the cast?
thanks alot


text:
BP plc, formerly known as British Petroleum, is a British-based global energy company. It is the United Kingdom's largest corporation, the third largest energy company, and the fourth largest company overall in the world. BP is also one of the six supermajors, which are the largest non-state owned energy companies.
Originally created to exploit oil operations in Iran in the 1950s, BP was forced to explore other options when Iran's oil production was nationalized in 1979. In response, the company began exploring other possible oil producing methods and areas including offshore drilling. Currently, BP is focused on deepwater offshore drilling and is the leader in exploration and production in that field. BP operates oil fields in the North Sea, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago, the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Angola, Columbia, Australia, and Norway.
Throughout BP's history there have been a number of human rights, environmental, and safety catastrophes. In 2005 BP was responsible for an explosion at a Texas City refinery that killed 15 people and injured 180 others (details below). It was later found that maintenance and safety at the plant had been cut as a cost-saving measure. The most recent catastrophe is the ongoing Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which killed 11 people when the rig initially exploded and has already caused extensive environmental devastation due to the oil spilling from the well.
Though BP was one of the first supermajors to openly promise to combat global warming, they have made little in the way of substantive investment in renewable energy. While adopting the slogan "Beyond Petroleum" and changing their logo to a green flower pattern, they have only committed 3% of their profits to renewable energies. This has led to accusations of greenwashing, or rebranding to give the illusion of environmental concern.
BP was named by Mother Jones Magazine as one of the ten worst corporations in both 2001 and 2005 based on its environmental and human rights records. The Political Economy Research Institute ranks BP 25th on their list of the 100 worst air polluters in the U.S. BP's polluting facilities disproportionately affect minority communities. CARMA reports that BP PLC releases over 8.7 million tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide each year.
In 1991 BP was cited as the most polluting company in the US based on EPA toxic release data. BP has been charged with burning polluted gases at its Ohio refinery (for which it was fined $1.7 million), and in July 2000 BP paid a $10 million fine to the EPA for its management of its US refineries. According to PIRG research, between January 1997 and March 1998, BP was responsible for 104 oil spills.
BP's Greenwashing:
BP won a satirical award for best greenwashing campaign for rebranding themselves "Beyond Petroleum." The company spent $93 million on advertising in response to the Macondo well blowout as of early September, 2010. Their total advertising relating to energy and environmental issues in 2010 by October 20 was over $125 million.
BP avoids compensating Inupiat community:
In February, 2011, BP was forced to compensate $4.9 million in unpaid rent to an Inupiat Eskimo family on the North Slope of Alaska. BP had been granted permission by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to use the family's land to access Raven oil field, which produced $35 million worth of oil to the company. BP also granted subsidiary ARCO and ExxonMobil access to the area without the permission of landowners.
Partnership with Rosneft in Russian Arctic:
BP has partnered with Russian state-owned company Rosneft to begin offshore drilling in the Arctic Ocean, due to rapidly depleting oil from land operations ("We've already pumped the land dry," said one member of Russian Parliament). Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin claims BP is the best company for the job, having dealt with a major offshore disaster (see "DEEPWATER HORIZON DISASTER," below). This has not proven true in other cases of repeated safety failures by the company, most notably in the case of the company's Texas City Refinery.
Safety Violations and Disasters resulting in loss of life:
Two weeks before the infamous Deepwater Horizon disaster, BP's Texas City refinery began leaking over 500,000 pounds of hazardous chemical gases over the course of 40 days. Chemicals released included carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and benzene, a known carcinogen. When the accident became public, the Texas City refinery was already under scrutiny for failing to improve safety conditions in the refinery after a deadly accident in 2005. After heavy effort to cut safety costs, an explosion at the refinery killed 15 employees and injured another 180 people. Since the accident, four more workers have died in accidents at the same plant and over 100 more have been hospitalized. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined BP $87 million in late 2009 for 270 violations of their agreements to improve safety after the 2005 blast, as well as 439 new "egregious and willful" safety violations. These fines were imposed on top of millions in fines immediately following the 2005 refinery explosion. BP is now selling the refinery.
DEEPWATER HORIZON Gulf of Mexico deepwater well blowout:
On April 20, 2010, BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded during a well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven employees and marking the beginning of the largest accidental oil spill in world history . As the disaster unfolded, it became increasingly clear that BP's safety precautions on the Deepwater Horizon were inadequate; the company took advantage of poor federal oversight and even ignored its own engineers' safety and operational concerns in matters that directly contributed to the accident. BP's concern over the project falling behind schedule and going over budget appears to have been a major contributing factor to their failure to maintain a safe workplace; one employee famously referred to the project as a "nightmare well". Still, former BP CEO Tony Hayward told Congress he had "no reason to conclude" that BP wasn't following the strictest safety standards.
Over the course of three months, 4.1 million barrels of oil (over 172 million gallons) were released into the Gulf. Dispersants, used to break the oil into droplets, were heavily applied despite concerns over their health effects and the likelihood that they could make cleanup far less effective. This concern eventually materialized as reality when federal authorities announced the vast majority of oil had disappeared, while independent scientists began confirming the existence of vast underwater oil plumes and heavy crude pollution on the ocean floor. The company Nalco, producer of the Corexit dispersant BP exclusively used, has ties to BP through director Rodney F. Chase.
BP has been heavily scrutinized over its response to the Deepwater Horizon explosion, as the company was caught censoring reporters, putting cleanup workers at unnecessary risk, and controlling what scientific research could be conducted in response to the disaster. Revolving door concerns also became apparent as conflicts of interest were highlighted between BP and the Coast Guard, judges in lawsuits, and even the White House Oil Spill Commission.
Less than a year after the disaster began, without completing compensation payments and far from successfully cleaning the 4.9 million gallon oil spill, BP sought permission to resume offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
Political Spending:
Since 2008, BP has spent over $49.4 million on federal lobbying. In the last 3 election cycles (2007-2012), BP spent $1.4 million on federal political candidates and committees.


text:
HONG KONG (CNN) -- While it's not a stretch to imagine the Edward Snowden saga would spawn books and movies, a group of amateur filmmakers in Hong Kong have already beaten Hollywood to the punch with a short thriller dramatizing the events that unfolded in the city last month.
On June 9, Snowden identified himself as the source of leaked classified documents exposing mass surveillance programs purportedly operated by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). The American computer technician also revealed he had been hiding out in Hong Kong for three weeks, sparking widespread speculation about his exact whereabouts and whether he would find safe refuge in the territory -- a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China.
Two days later, freelance videographer Edwin Lee contacted a few friends about shooting a short film about the maelstrom swirling around Snowden in the city.
"We were so intrigued as to why Snowden came to Hong Kong," Lee said, an Irish expatriate. "All of us love Hong Kong to death; we all call Hong Kong home."
The five-minute film was shot over four days, Lee said, describing it as a "foot-on-the-gas" guerrilla operation. The script was mostly written the day before shooting and actors had no rehearsal time, he added.
Yet the final product is surprisingly suspenseful and sophisticated, with gorgeous time-lapse panoramas of the city and "shaky cam" shots reminiscent of Hollywood. (Lee, who was largely in charge of cinematography and editing, named the Bourne film series and director Michael Mann as inspirations.) In its first week, the film has garnered over 43,000 views on Youtube.
While Lee and his three co-directors/producers took creative license with plot details, such as an imagined briefing between a mainland Ministry of State Security attaché and Hong Kong police, they also filmed scenes inside the same hotel where Snowden had stayed and shot a video interview with The Guardian. Renting the hotel room cost half of their estimated HK$4,200 budget (US$ 540), Lee said.
The actor who played Snowden in the film also bears a remarkable similarity to the man himself, to the extent that the hairdresser who cut off the actor's "long shaggy hair" to mirror Snowden's photo warned him afterward not to be mistaken for the fugitive, said co-producer Shawn Tse, who orchestrated his makeover.
Curiously Snowden has no dialogue in the film.
"Yes the film was about Snowden, but he wasn't featured the most prominently," Lee said, adding that the team was careful not to impose judgments upon a man who largely remains a mystery to them. "He's mostly the catalyst [of events] affecting all these different people around him; it's more about the vignettes," Lee said , describing the film's focus as split "50-50" between Snowden and the city of Hong Kong.
Rather, the film is intended more as a homage to Hong Kong by a group of expatriates who love the city. "We tried to give Hong Kong the limelight we think it deserves," Tse said.
Describing a "very muted response to the Snowden affair" from Hong Kong and the Chinese central government, Lee also acknowledged an underlying political critique in invoking the Ministry of State Security attaché. The scene was intended as a "vehicle to represent (Hong Kong's) relationship with China" and the murkiness of Beijing's role in the Snowden affair.
"To say China wasn't pulling any string at all would be naïve ... Even though it gives us autonomy; it's always Beijing that calls the shots," Lee said. In a keen cultural detail, the attaché speaks in Mandarin, while the officers respond in Cantonese. Hong Kong authorities have denied that China influenced Snowden's decision to leave the city.
While Lee said Snowden's sudden departure didn't cut their project short, he said it hastened the editing process to get the film out. He said there are no plans to extend the film or shoot a sequel, now that Snowden has left the city.
™ & © 2013 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.


text:
Getting Started/Build/Mac OS X/MacPorts
The process described here sets up a MacPorts installation of the latest stable KDE SC release and uses this to then build a KDE trunk development environment. This approach has the big advantage of using MacPorts to build, install and keep updated the base system and libraries required with minimal effort and without touching the base OSX system install, and allows you to run stable KDE apps for everyday use while still developing on the unstable trunk.
The big disadvantage is compiling all the MacPort dependencies takes longer than binary installs.
This process makes use of David Faure's scripts.
Install XCode and X11.
Install Apple's XCode developer tools either from your OS X install disks or download from http://developer.apple.com/technologies/xcode.html.
If you are running Tiger you will also need to install Apple's X11 from your OS X Install disks. Snow Leopard and Leopard come with it installed by default.
Once installed, perform an OS X Software Update to ensure your system is fully up-to-date and reboot if required.
Install MacPorts.
"The MacPorts Project http://www.macports.org/ is an open-source community initiative to design an easy-to-use system for compiling, installing, and upgrading either command-line, X11 or Aqua based open-source software on the Mac OS X operating system."
It is recommended to initially install MacPorts using the package installer as this will automatically set-up your required $PATH.