text: Recently Kate helped me get out of a rut when I trying and failing to write the contents for my website. I honestly couldn't be happier with the results. She was absolutely fabulous to work with, worked within budget, responsive and above all else took the time to understand me, my brand and my potential customers. I envy the wonderful way she has with words and very much look forward to working with her in the future.


text:
Super Fuzz
Build description
This is my second Aion rift build. I had the first one in a 1590BB with a battery option, which I almost always used because running it off of wall power was noticeably noisier. Going with the 1590B this time, there was no room for that so I just slapped on a simple power filter and it comes out exactly as clean as battery power. I absolutely love these pedals and it's very rare that I can think of another fuzz I'd rather use. Thanks Aion for the super in-depth documentation, high-quality pcb, and fast shipping as always.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Would you recommend this product?No reviews yet
here if u have any questions or need a product hunt playlist :)
Upvote (7)
Scott Vener, music supervisor for Entourage, just launched this new music app. It's basically a social layer that sits on top of Spotify, Rdio, and Soundcloud that you share your favorite new tracks.
@andyfortson Thanks for posting our product! Yes, Undrtone hooks into the world's biggest cloud-based services (Spotify, Rdio, Beats and SoundCloud) and yes, it's a place to share your favourite tracks. But it's also about discovery. We found the most consistent way to come across tunes we love was recommendations from trusted friends and tastemakers. It's that human element that no machine or algorithm can compete with. With Undrtone we've designed and built a reliable way to discover really good music. Consistently. Let us know if you've got any other feedback! We'd love to hear it.
Upvote (2)
@andyfortson Awesome! Thanks for the feedback Andy. It's really helpful to hear what people think. We'll have to check out Wax.
So stoked to find this on here!! Make sure you check out the iOS app as well as the web app!
So far so good. I'm always looking for good music discovery tools. The design is nice, and I love the track view. However, I have no idea how I was following 23 people once I signed up. I don't follow them on Twitter and didn't really have an interest. So, now I have to manually unfollow them.
@iambrakes Hi Brett, thanks for the feedback. We automatically connect you to a list of our top tastemakers so you don't have a lonely stream and can start listening to cool tunes straight off the bat. Not sure if you saw the little onboarding message explaining that. It's definitely something we want feedback on and want to improve.
Upvote (4)
@tonynicalo Played around a bit, and it's pretty solid. Seems like a bunch of music insiders and writers are giving it a go, sharing new music that's super fresh. Kind of instagram-y for music tracks.
Thanks for your feedback @dshan! Have you come across any artists or tracks you like? And @tonynicalo, if you end up jumping on – let us know what you think.
@tonynicalo @gmdixon Digging it so far - especially for the fact that actual new music (like released today new) is surfacing. Loving Caverns and Alekesam, both releases I missed last month. Good stuff. Musicgeeks will benefit greatly:)
Upvote (4)


text:
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Oracle Solaris 11 Installation and Configuration Essentials
Question No: 11
A customer has multiple applications and you believe consolidation using Oracle Solaris Zones will help them. The customer is concerned that consolidating them all on one physic server may cause adverse interactions between them, causing problems with functionality, security, and performance. What are the two benefits of Zones that would explain why Zones would be a good choice?
better single threaded performance
better software isolation
better hardware isolation
simpler VLAN management
simple,effective resource controls
Answer: B,E
Explanation: B(not C):A zone is a virtualized operating system environment that is created within a single instance of the Oracle Solaris operating system. Oracle Solaris Zones are a partitioning technology that provides an isolated, secure environment for applications.
*When you create a zone, you produce an application execution environment in which processes are isolated from the rest of the system. This isolation prevents a process that is running in one zone from monitoring or affecting processes that are running in other zones. Even a process running with root credentials cannot view or affect activity in other zones. A zone also provides an abstract layer that separates applications from the physical attributes of the machine on which the zone is deployed. Examples of these attributes include physical device paths and network interface names. The default non-global zone brand in the Oracle Solaris 11.1 release is the solariszone.
By default, all systems have a global zone. The global zone has a global view of the Oracle Solaris environment that is similar to the superuser (root) model. All other zones are referred to as non-global zones. A non-global zone is analogous to an unprivileged user in the superuser model. Processes in non-global zones can control only the processes and files within that zone. Typically, system administration work is mainly performed in the global zone. In rare cases where a system administrator needs to be isolated, privileged applications can be used in a non-global zone. In general, though, resource management activities take place in the global zone.
Reference:Oracle Solaris 11.1 Information Library,Oracle Solaris Zones Overview
Question No: 12
A zone won#39;t boot. Identify the five causes.
The zone is configured to have its own CPUs, and there aren#39;t enough.
The zone isconfigured to have exclusive access to an NIC,and the NIC is alreadyup.
The zone is configured to mount a file system, which is already mounted.
The zone iscurrently running or shutting down.
The zone has been uninstalled.
Your terminal session is missing the SYS_TIME privilege.
Answer: A,B,C,D,E
Explanation: A:dedicated-cpu Resource
The dedicated-cpu resource specifies that a subset of the system#39;s processors should be dedicated to a non-global zone while it is running. When the zone boots, the system will dynamically create a temporary pool for use while the zone is running.
C:s the global administrator in the global zone, you can import raw and block devices into a non-global zone. After the devices are imported, the zone administrator has access to the disk. The zone administrator can then create a new file system on the disk and perform one of the following actions:
Mount the file system manually
Place the file system in /etc/vfstab so that it will be mounted on zone boot
D, E:Booting a zone places the zone in the running state. A zone can be booted from the ready state or from the installed state. A zone in the installed state that is booted transparently transitions through the ready state to the running state. Zone login is allowed for zones in the running state.
Not F: Sys_time not related to booting a zone.
Question No: 13
Which two statements are true of the GRUB menu?
GRUB is the default boot loader for Oracle Solaris 11 SPARC and x86.
GRUB supports Oracle Solaris and Oracle Linux only.
GRUB loads akernel based upon the file name, disk, and partition specified.
GRUB uses boot environments for all operating systems.
GRUB is fully compliant with the Multiboot specification.
Answer: A,C Explanation: A:
If your system has more than one OS installed on the system or more than one root boot environment in a ZFS root pool, you can boot from these boot environments for both SPARC and x86 platforms.
*GRUB, the open source boot loader, is the default boot loader in the Solaris OS.
C:With GRUB based booting, the kernel is loaded by specifying its file name, and the drive, and the partition where the kernel resides. GRUB based booting replaces the Solaris Device Configuration Assistant and simplifies the booting process with a GRUB menu.
Incorrect: NotE:
*In this implementation of GRUB, the multiboot module is no longer used.
Question No: 14
What two features identify Oracle Solaris 11 as being quot;built for cloudsquot;?
ability to use SSH lo securely connect to Oracle Solaris11servers
firstfullyvirtualizedoperating system featuring built-in virtualization with Zones
secure rapid provisioning and lifecycle management
OracleSolaris 11 has been designed toprovide arobust and easily usable desktop environmentfor end users
Oracle Solaris11is installable from DVD Media
Answer: B,D Explanation:
B:Built-in Virtualization
Whatever the needs of your cloud infrastructure, Oracle has a comprehensive suite of built- in virtualization technologies to compliment your business requirements.
Choose from Oracle Solaris Zones, OVM Server for SPARC, OVM Server for x86 and OVM VirtualBox. With Oracle Solaris Zones, administrators can rapidly provision secure and isolated virtual environments in which to deploy cloud applications and services.
Oracle Solaris is the best platform for the cloud because it combines key computing elements – operating system, virtualization, networking, storage management, and user environment – into a stable, secure, mission-critical foundation that customers can depend on
Question No: 15
Your installation has completed successfully and the system did not reboot automatically. Which option would cause this?
Automatic reboots are only allowed when invoked via SMF.
The client neverreboots automatically after the successful installation, staying availableformanuallyverification of the install process.
The quot;auto_rebootquot; parameter in the Automated Installer manifest has not been set to quot;true.quot;
The quot;installationquot;service needed to be refreshed for the quot;auto_rebootquot; setting is to be applied, so all clientsbeing installed from it could reboot.
Post installation rebootsare no longer necessary because the Oracle Solaris11AutomatedInstallation installs andactivesthesystem#39;s services in the desired state such that thereisno need for a reboot.
Answer: C
Explanation: auto_reboot – Optional. Omitting the auto_reboot attribute is equivalent to setting the value of the attribute to false. By default, AI does not automatically reboot the client after installation. To request automatic reboot of the client after successful installation, specify auto_reboot=quot;truequot;.
*Example 1 Set the auto_reboot Attribute
$ aimanifest set /auto_install/ai_instance@auto_reboot false Reference:Creating a Custom AI Manifest
Question No: 16
Which is the preferred command to manage Layer 3 network properties in Oracle Solaris 11?
Answer: B
Explanation: Interfaces that are on the IP layer (Layer 3) are configured by using the ipadm command.
Question No: 17
When conducting an automated installation, the name of the resulting root pool is quot;rpool1.quot; Which is the direct cause of this?
The system already has aroot pool named quot;rpoolquot;.
The manifestdeclares thename of the root pool to use.
quot;pool1quot;is the preexisting name of the root pool.
quot;rpoolquot; is a reserved pool name thatcan only be used for factory-based installations.
Of thetwo disks present for mirroring, the first is named quot;rpoolquot; and the second is namedquot;pool1quot;.
Answer: A
Question No: 18
What has become the default graphical user interface for Oracle Solaris 11 desktop operation?
CDE(Common DesktopEnvironment)
Gnome Desktop
X-Window System
Firefox WebBrowser
Java Desktop
Answer: B
Explanation: The Solaris 11 release in November 2011 only contains GNOME as a full desktop.
Not A: The Common Desktop Environment (CDE) is a desktop environment for Unix and OpenVMS, based on the Motif widget toolkit. For a long period, it was the quot;classicquot; Unix desktop associated with commercial Unix workstations. After a long history as proprietary software, it was released as free software on 6 August 2012, under the GNU Lesser General Public License.
Question No: 19
What answer includes three correct methods available to transition Oracle Solaris 10 environments to Oracle Solaris 11?
Solaris Upgrade installation,Live Upgrade, js2ai and Automated Install
Solaris Flash Archive Installation, ZFS shadow migration, NFS sharing and pool migration
Custom JumpStart, Oracle Solaris 10 non-global zones, Iu2be Conversion Utility
NFS file sharing and pool migration, ZFS shadow migration, JumpStart Migration Utility
Iu2be Conversion Utility, Solaris Flash Archive installation, Puppet
Answer: D
Explanation: There are no upgrade methods or tools available to transition from Oracle Solaris 10 to Oracle Solaris 11. You cannot use an installer to upgrade from Oracle Solaris 10 to Oracle Solaris 11.
Oracle Solaris 11 Transition Tools and Features
/JumpStart Migration Utility (js2ai)
Used to convert Oracle Solaris 10 JumpStart rules and profiles to a format that is compatible with AI manifest entries.
/ZFS shadow migration feature
Used to migrate data from an existing file system to a new file system.
/Oracle Solaris 11 support for Oracle Solaris 10 zones
Used to migrate your Oracle Solaris 10 application environments to an Oracle Solaris 11 system.
/NFS file sharing and pool migration
Used to access shared files from an Oracle Solaris 10 system on an Oracle Solaris 11 system.
Used to import a ZFS storage pool from an Oracle Solaris 10 system into an Oracle Solaris 11 system.
Reference:Oracle Solaris 11 Information Library,Transitioning Your Oracle Solaris 10 System to Oracle Solaris 11
Question No: 20
After installing and customizing an Oracle Solaris 11 non-global (solaris brand) zone, you execute commands:
# zonecfg -z myzone 'set file-mac-profile=fixed-configuration#39;
# zoneadm -z myzone reboot
What is the impact of making this specific change?
Thischange prevents MAC address spoofing by requiring outbound network packets to have apredefined value.
This enables supportwithin the zone for Mac OS Xextended file attributes for the zone root file system.
This change restricts user access to objects in the zone based upon their Oracle Solaris Trusted Extensionlabels.
This change prevents the zone from being able to mount any remote file systems oncethe zonehas boon booted.
This change forcesthe zone root file system into a read-only state where only parts of/var are writable.
Answer: E
Explanation: Through the zonecfg utility, the file-mac-profile can be set to one of the
following values (see note below). All of the profiles except none will cause the /var/pkg directory and its contents to be read-only from inside the zone.
Standard, read-write, non-global zone, with no additional protection beyond the existing zones boundaries. Setting the value to none is equivalent to not setting file-mac-
profile property.
* strict
Permits updates to /var/* directories, with the exception of directories that contain system configuration components.
IPS packages, including new packages, cannot be installed. Persistently enabled SMF services are fixed.
SMF manifests cannot be added from the default locations.
Logging and auditing configuration files can be local. syslog and audit configuration are fixed.
zonecfg file-mac-profile Property
By default, the zonecfg file-mac-profile property is not set in a non-global zone. A zone is configured to have a writable root dataset.
In a solaris read-only zone, the file-mac-profile property is used to configure a read-only zone root. A read-only root restricts access to the runtime environment from inside the zone.
Reference:Oracle Solaris Administration: Oracle Solaris Zones, Oracle Solaris 10 Zones, and Resource Management
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text:
May 4, 2016
Oh man, trying to set up a home studio has not been an easy task I tell you.
First of all; looms, or at least the kind I use, are BIG.
And not only are they big, the entire process of setting them up is laborious, and quite, eh, physical. Depending on your level of orga...
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The big banks offload a debt that may be worth hundreds or thousands to you and sell it in bulk to debt collectors at just a fraction of the price. If that seems unfair, it is indicative of a wider system where all money is debt and the poorest pay most for credit. The creation of money conjures up images of the Bank of England printing thousands of notes with the Queen's face on them to meet booming business needs and regulate interest rates. In truth, the modern economy is just a series of IOUs.
According to the Bank of England, 97 per cent of the money held by the public is in the form of deposits with banks rather than hard currency or central bank reserves.
That means almost all money created is debt – the result of a private bank typing a number into a box on a computer screen when giving out a loan. But if it is that easy to create, is it so simple to make it go away? It could be, according to the latest high-street bank near the City.
The Bank Job
Daniel Edelstyn and Hilary Powell were stunned to learn of the low prices that debts are routinely sold for on the secondary market. So – calling the venture The Bank Job – they became the new managers of the vacant former Co-op-owned bank in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, earlier this year.
The Hoe Street Central Bank (HSCB – a tongue-in-cheek reference to a high-street competitor) had its own currency – bank notes featuring faces from food banks, homeless soup kitchens, youth projects and primary schools.
That artwork – which featured in the V&A and the Bank of England Museum – was sold to raise £40,000 to go towards buying up £1m of payday loan debt on the secondary market. But they won't be chasing up debtors, they'll be writing off the debts in their own style, akin to the KLF burning a million quid in the 1990s.
"We'll be blowing up the van full of the debt in front of the city towers," says Dan, who also plans to offer the remains of the van to backers as "interest" as well as melting some of it down to create commemorative coins. "We have a spot in the Docklands and you can see the HSBC tower in the background – that's where we'll be blowing up the HSCB bus. We're calling it Big Bang 2.0 in reference to Margaret Thatcher's Big Bang in the Eighties. We see what we are doing as the logical conclusion of where the Big Bang has left us.
"Because we have had so much political paralysis in the last few years it feels like we are just drifting off to sea. Part of that paralysis is that nothing positive has been coming out of Westminster and so we thought what would it look like if we ran the Bank of England? What would we change about our financial system?"
Inspiration for the project came from Strike Debt rising up from the ashes of the 2008 financial crisis and Occupy Wall Street movement. They opted to wipe student and medical bills in the US, but when that was not an option for a UK version Dan had a clear target in mind.
"We chose payday loan debt because it is pretty clear in terms of the moral argument where it stands when people are paying more than 1,000 per cent in interest," he says. "It gave me a huge sense of injustice about how warped and unbelievable the financial system can be.
"Strike Debt believe that when people learn how the secondary debt market works it is a little bit of power for them as it can help them renegotiate their own terms."
Dan believes that sovereign money creation may be the way forward, using the government to create debt-free, interest-free money to slash the payments made to profit-chasing private banks. They are not the only ones with their own ideas of standing against debt – Debt Resistance UK were also inspired by Strike Debt to produce a UK version of their Debt Resistor's Operations Manual. The activist network is currently targeting local authorities rather than individuals when it comes to problem debt and is taking aim at LOBO (Lender Option Borrower Option) loans taken out by councils from private banks.
Can you just cancel it?
Blowing up a van may well turn a few heads in December, but waving goodbye to distressed debts could be achieved just as easily in the corridors of power. Dr Johnna Montgomerie is a reader in International Political Economy at King's College London and is publishing a book called Should We Abolish Household Debts? in March.
And for her, debt cancellation is not just a quick and easy way to end the psychological warfare of letters and phone calls demanding payment. It is a way of crushing the stigma of debt that goes all the way back to Victorian times.
"I'm quite a strong advocate of debt cancellation – in the end I think it is the only way we are going to finally finish the process of regulating the financial system that we started 10 years ago," says Dr Montgomerie. "Long since the banks were bailed out with billions of pounds, the consumer has been sold out. They are told they must honour their debts to banks that have not had to repay their own.
"What is needed is a financial and practical settlement between the people and the banks and there must be risk-sharing between the two. I think that the arguments against that are highly moralistic and more than 150 years since debtors' prisons were abolished, the perception of debt is still about shaming people."
Our vendors buy every copy of the magazine from us for £1.50 and sell it on to you for £3. Which is why we ask you to ALWAYS take your copy of the magazine. We believe in trade not aid.
Rather than a detonation on the streets of London, the changes that could be made to the financial system would reward banks with a tax break for writing off the debt rather than the same reward for selling it on and getting it off their balance sheet. That way there would be no need for projects like The Bank Job or Strike Debt.
"If you told lenders that they would get a tax break for cancelling debt instead of selling it then debt cancellation may be a reality," says Dr Montgomerie. "It would only take changing a couple of lines of legislation but that would depend
on there being the appetite to do that.
"I think that there needs to be closer monitoring of the secondary market. It's a very grey market where there is not much scrutiny of its practices. All the power is with the lenders and it is not consumer friendly – you can get so far down the process before anyone even realises that the contract you signed is not worth bothering with.
"It's time that the UK and the US got out of this Wild West mentality of chasing debts – we are supposed to be living in a civilised world after all."
The future of fair credit
If we had the power to quash debt, is that not just a get-out-of-jail-free card for those who are in the deepest mire? The reality is that slipping into debt for many is not a result of over-spending, it's down to wages not stretching far enough or something as simple as a broken washing machine. It's expensive to be poor, as The Big Issue has highlighted many times.
Big Issue founder John Bird is bringing his private member's bill through the House of Commons to help everyone access to fair credit. His Creditworthiness Assessment Bill aims to modernise the lending process by ensuring credit service providers take into account rental and council tax data with the consent of the individual.
So paying rent and council tax on time will allow the renter to build up credit file data in the same way as paying a mortgage, potentially improving your chances of attaining affordable credit. Due for its second reading in the House of Commons later this month, the legislation would prevent the most vulnerable from falling victim to the high-cost poverty trap and being trapped in a spiral of problem debt.
It is an important step to enable fair access to credit for people buying everyday basics, like a mobile phone or white goods, and to prevent them falling into the high-interest agreements that lead to life-changing defaulted debts. The reality is that the economy will never be without debt. It is hardwired into it. But maybe cancelling overdue debts is possible – without blowing them up in a transit van.
Image: Dan Edelstyn/Hoe Street Central Bank


text:
The Studs Lonigan Trilogy by James T Farrell is a classic Top 150 novel. It is by far one of the best, grittiest Chicago stories I have read to date.
Set in the early 20th century, this is the story of the life of Studs Lonigan, a fictional Irish Catholic punk from the south side of Chicago, which unravels like a noir movie. The three novels cover Studs as a young boy in Catholic school, Studs as a teen hanging out with friends, and finally Studs as a young man living through the stock market crash and depression years in the early '30's.
Studs likes his liquor and cigarettes. He lacks motivation necessary to fulfill his wishes and dreams of success. He is uneducated, in poor health, and an overall wastrel. The changing times and a family who turn a blind eye to his failings paint a bleak prospect for Studs. Several of his friends are already dead at young ages and he's skidding up the same path.
Little in this novel is uplifting. In fact, the story is downright depressing. However, the skill withStuds's it is told is masterful. I felt the characters in the novel; recognized their world because of the countless Chicago references. I believe many Chicago natives would feel the same as I do about this book. The changing neighborhoods, corner bars, parks, streets, subways, and beaches are vivid in my mind. The author writes about the decline of Studs's neighborhood as different ethnic groups enter and leave it. There exists a great deal of prejudice in the story much of which, wrong as it may be, we have all witnessed.
Stud Lonigan captures a tragedy not only of the past, but present as well. It is a social commentary which tells it "like it is". Excellent read!


text:
If you're searching for methods to make your laptop run sooner, you must know that you need to verify shared DLLs files from time to time. This text describes tips on how to obtain and set up the QRadar automated update bundle that's posted each Friday to IBM Repair Central. The auto-update dialog doesn't ever seem. As a substitute of manually installing the newest Stay updates, the present Ableton Reside software can preserve itself up-to-date routinely. Before downloading That is the default possibility.
Administrators can download the file from either web page and get the entire rpm updates and any each day updates for QRadar Vulnerability Managers as properly. Notice: autoUpdater.quitAndInstall() will shut all application windows first and solely emit earlier than-stop occasion on app after that. The earlier model will stay operating until Reside is closed, but the up to date version will be launched mechanically the following time you start Dwell.
Observe that only sites already working a development version will receive improvement updates. To disable Java Replace, deselect the Examine for Updates Robotically verify field. I strongly suggest leaving these settings alone, but there could also be instances when you wish to disable automated updating, or for some other motive it is turned off and that you must flip it on. Here's learn how to manage automatic updating in Windows 7 (articles exist already on how to do that for Vista and XP ).
For month-to-month updates, you possibly can choose the day of the week and the time of the day. You" might also imply an individual who has downloaded the Software program from an authorized website, such as or from a licensed software market or store, reminiscent of Apple's App Retailer or Google Play (every such application market or retailer is referred to in this Agreement as an App Store" and collectively as App Stores").
If this month is just like the overwhelming majority of Home windows patching months up to now 12 months or two, you might have more to lose from botched patches than there may be to realize by instantly putting in safety patches. An individual consumer can override the auto-update setting using the Advanced Preferences dialog. The auto-replace dialog appears. Manually discovering and installing them, nevertheless, could be an enormous chore, which is why Microsoft contains Windows Update as part of the OS.


text:
When: Sun., March 18, 1-4 p.m. 2018
A fun day of readings, healing. Tarot, angel, handwriting, crystal and psychic readings. Chakra balancing and Aura readings.
Price: $20
3347 Martin Luther King Jr. Way (Berkeley-South)
Select a star to rate.
Anonymous and pseudonymous comments will be removed.
© 2020 Telegraph Media


text:
The last week has been packed with things to do! For starters I finally finished my training at SkyWest so now I don't have to have someone constantly watching me as I work which is very nice. I also started school this week and even though my class schedule is still changing a week later it's nice to be back in school. This semester I am taking my practicum, clinical psychology, and hopefully ASL (I'm still trying to get in). Doesn't seem like a lot but trust me having a practicum along with my other classes, an internship, and work is a lot so I'm taking it a little easy. My internship at the middle school has been pretty lame to be honest. We haven't had any students yet in our class! It's frustrating because we have an entire curriculum and everything but no students to teach to. But at the same time it's nice because it means that 1) the students are being good and 2) we get to do fun things like paint our nails or do homework and get paid for it. Needless to say we aren't complaining that much about it and we know we will get some students eventually.
31 Aug 2014
School, Ducks, and a Memorial
Yesterday our advisor Aaron came and talked to us about doing some research with some students and their parents and teaching a skills/behavior modification class to them and doing more individual work with the families. We thought it was a great idea so we are going forward with it! I will be doing the research for my practicum and then once I do my capstone course I will do a follow up study with the families I use this year. I am super excited about it! Aaron was telling us that his goal with this study is to hopefully get it published in a journal! How cool would that be?! It doesn't sound that exciting to some of you but to have a study published in a journal as a junior in college is pretty sweet! And think of how good that would look on a resume. The hard part is getting our theory and everything all sorted out and organized by Friday when we have to submit our idea to the IRB – which is basically this board of people who approve or reject people's ideas/research ideas. So wish us luck on that!
This week Dakota and I were anxiously waiting for pay day but we really wanted to do something fun so we decided to go through our pantry and make random food. We ended up making chili with rice and cheese haha not exactly an amazing meal but if you put it all together it makes a mean dip! We also found some old graham crackers and things of that sort so we decided to go to the duck pond and feed the ducks since we weren't going to eat it! It was really fun because instead of wasting a bunch of food we found something fun to do with it and I'm pretty sure the ducks were super excited about the food as well. That same day we also drove out to the Mountain Meadow Massacre sight passed Pine Valley. Dakota has always wanted to go so we drove out and it was really cool! There are two different memorial sights with plaques that explain the history and they are very well kept! The burial sight was this really simple but pretty sight out in the middle of nowhere so it was like finding a hidden treasure! If you ever have a spare couple of hours take the short drive out there it is really cool! After that we went exploring! We found this cute little lake out by the Mountain Meadow Massacre sight and there were so many fun trails! I can't wait to go back so we can camp and hike and go fishing 🙂 We explored that area for a while and then we headed back into town to go watch a football game at Diamond Ranch Academy.
There was a lot of fun little memories this week too. For example one night I got off work and when I walked out to my car there were roses and my favorite candy sitting on my car! There was also a cute note saying "I love my husband" on my back window haha. I may have teared up a bit. It was so unexpected and cute!! I also got a package in the mail that I have been waiting to receive for three weeks now! A few weeks ago I bought a "Wifey" shirt online and somehow it got sent to our old address so it took much longer than expected to get it forwarded to our new place. I was pretty pumped when I opened the mailbox 🙂 I also got my hair done by the amazing Evan Stowers at Blow Beauty. I have been in need of a good haircut and Evan is my go to guy. This time we just thinned out my hair, gave it some shape, and went for a long bob time look and I LOVE IT!! Seriously it is so simple but fun. Hopefully I can get it colored here shortly.
Sorry for such a long post but I couldn't leave anything out! If you want to get a day by day update on our adventures check out my instagram 🙂


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UN High Commissioner for Refugees' Statement
UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres addresses journalists after the closing of UNHCR's two-day international conference on the humanitarian crisis in Iraq.
GENEVA, April 18 (UNHCR) – An international conference organised by the UN refugee agency to focus on the humanitarian needs of those driven from their homes in Iraq ended on Wednesday with agreement on the urgent need to aid nearly 4 million people who have fled to neighbouring countries or elsewhere inside Iraq … (full text).
Chairman's Summary, International Conference on Addressing the Humanitarian Needs of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons inside Iraq and in Neighbouring Countries, Geneva, 17-18 April 2007. He says:
I shall now attempt to sum up the main findings and recommendations of this conference focusing on the humanitarian needs of refugees and internally displaced persons inside Iraq and in neighbouring countries. It is a challenge indeed because of the rich debate and the breadth of issues covered.
First, you have analyzed extensively the humanitarian consequences of the security situation in Iraq, including the sectarian violence and conflict, drawing attention to the scale and complexity of the situation. You have underlined the urgency of meeting the humanitarian needs of some 1.9 million internally displaced persons inside Iraq and 2 million refugees abroad, especially of women and children, confirming international recognition of the gravity of the situation.
Second, you have expressed a deep concern about the situation inside Iraq and called for urgent action by the Iraqi Government and all relevant parties in order to find a durable solution based on national reconciliation. Delegations have also stressed the imperative to strengthen measures to avoid displacement and to protect persons in their areas of origin, while enhancing actions to provide humanitarian relief to the displaced. In this regard, you urged respect for fundamental human rights and observance of international humanitarian law.
Third, delegations therefore applauded the positive commitments made by Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari, notably that:
The Government is prepared and fully committed to take the lead in addressing the needs and improving the conditions of all Iraqi people who are internally and externally displaced. In a first phase, a total of 25 million US Dollars has been allocated for this purpose.
The Government will negotiate modalities for assistance to displaced communities, including financial contributions in the key sectors of education and health, so as to support the efforts of UNHCR and host governments, including the Syrian Arab Republic and Jordan.
The Government recognized the urgent humanitarian needs of internally displaced persons and refugees inside Iraq, such as for protection, defence of legal rights and shelter, and undertook to mitigate the burden on host communities. In this regard, the Government recognized the specific vulnerability of Palestinian refugees and undertook to enhance their protection.
The Government will provide displaced Iraqis with appropriate documentation to ensure access to essential services and facilitate travel through the issuance of passports.
Fourth, the conference welcomed the approval of the Strategic Framework for Humanitarian Action in Iraq, devised by the United Nations and partners, emphasizing that it provides an important mechanism for coordinating and expanding humanitarian assistance activities inside Iraq. Many speakers encouraged the United Nations to move forward rapidly with its implementation.
Fifth, regarding those displaced across Iraq's borders into neighbouring countries, there was unanimous recognition of the heavy and ever growing burden on the Syrian Arab Republic, Jordan and a number of other countries created by the arrival of Iraqis seeking protection. There was deep appreciation for the generosity of host countries.
Sixth, the conference expressed its concern for the situation of refugee groups inside Iraq, especially Palestinians, and urged all parties to take measures to ensure their safety and to find solutions to their plight.
Seventh, there has been broad recognition of the fact that local integration of such large numbers of Iraqis in countries of asylum is not an option, and that resettlement will give priority to the most vulnerable. Everyone emphasized that the preferred solution for the overwhelming majority of Iraqi refugees will be their voluntary return.
However, the conference called upon all host countries, including those further afield, to continue providing protection, humanitarian assistance and hospitality to Iraqis until such time as conditions have been created to enable voluntary return in safety and dignity.
Eighth, all delegations recognized the international community's obligation to protect and assist Iraqis in need in accordance with the principles of international refugee and humanitarian law, and to help host countries to shoulder their burden. I hope that in the near future these commitments will be translated into financial support to Iraqi displaced and host countries, through bilateral and multilateral channels, and an increase in resettlement opportunities for the most vulnerable.
Effective coordination mechanisms will be needed to follow-up on this conference. Every effort should be made to avoid duplication and the creation of parallel structures. UNHCR stands ready to facilitate full implementation of the above commitments and recommendations and to ensure that this conference is an effective first step in meeting the protection and assistance needs of the displaced in the framework of a coordinated and comprehensive international effort. Rest assured that UNHCR will play its part.
Finally, tribute has been paid by many speakers to the efforts of the Red Crescent and Red Cross Movement, local charitable organizations, civil society, NGOs and national institutions that have been meeting the needs of the victims both inside Iraq and in neighbouring countries. Inside Iraq, their staff, who are working under difficult conditions and often at considerable personal risk, have been the subject of special commendation and recognition.
Thank you.


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The Rotary Club of Bracknell is organising the Three Counties Cycle Ride again this year and it will take place on Sunday 4th June.
On Tuesday 14th March at 12.00, we launched the event with a Radio Berkshire interview and a press photo-call/publicity event at the Old Manor Hotel in Bracknell.
The Launch was attended by the Mayor of Bracknell Forest Borough, Cllr Tony Virgo, Kate Martin representing TV Air Ambulance, Hilary Sodhi representing the Stroke Association and members of the Rotary Club of Bracknell.
The Three Counties Cycle Ride is a community event, a sponsored cycle ride, catering for all levels of riders. There are three rides: 15 miles, 33 miles and 54 miles which are set in the surrounding beautiful countryside of Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Last year we enrolled over 600 riders through our website with many more enrolling on the day raising over £16,000 for our nominated charities. This year we hope to exceed that figure and raise even more money for the charities we are supporting this year:
Thames Valley and Chilterns Air Ambulance, Stroke Association, British Heart Foundation, Macmillan cancer Care and the Rotary Club of Bracknell Trust Fund.
Riders receive a certificate, medal and souvenir T-shirt.
To find out more about this year's Three Counties Cycle Ride and enrol for the event, please visit our website at www.3ccr.org


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Heading to the North..
It was mid-September when I moved to Germany. My first destination was Berlin. The sky was shrouded in grey, the streets were packed with waves after waves of people, and the noises of the city hissed in my ears. I got frustrated from the scenes I saw within few hours while waiting for my train to head to the destination – Flensburg.
First time in Europe, in a country where my local language skills were limited with few words.
I arrived at my final destination by the late end of the day. Its night. There is not a single person or sound in this sleeping town which is laying on the shores of Baltic Sea. I absorb the silence and peace around.
Mesmerizing beauty
I spent the next few days to discover the town and surroundings. I started getting used to this town, despite of the weather and other challenges. I had daily wanderings at the harbor where the ships anchored and swayed with the waves. Various festivals were organized almost every weekend at this spot. I started enjoying the view of this coziest of towns with an air coming straight out of a fairy tale. One needs only very short time to find their peace in this mesmerizing city with unique German style architecture and clean air. Even though Flensburg is a very small town, but since it's hosting a lot of local and international students, the social life is quite vibrant in the town. Very small but cozy walking street, shops, weekly farmer markets in the city center, festivals at the bay, cafes and restaurants became my favorite places, also the meeting points with my friends during my stay.
Politeness is a habit in this town..
I was immensely surprised by hearing greetings with smiles all the time by the bus drivers, shop owners, neighbors, etc. Every day starts with warm "Moin-Moin" which means hello in Northern Germany. It is also very common that while waiting for the bus, or driving in the train, your neighbor will approach you and start talking in a very friendly way.
Sea definitely matters..
Beautiful streets, buildings and harbor are not the only elements to describe this lovely town. There are also few very nice beaches around the town which is very easy to reach by public transport or bicycle. Even though the weather will not always allow you to go for a swim at the sea, one can still enjoy the pleasure of watching the waves, having coffee or organizing a picnic with friends. I cannot close this topic without mentioning that Denmark is only a small bridge away. Once you cross the bridge you step in a different country.
They say the place you spend your student years becomes the loveliest place with the best memories later on in your life. May be that is the reason why, Flensburg will always remain one of my favourite towns, where I met my best friends, spent unforgettable 2,5 years, found my favourite cafes, such as Campus cafe, Cafe Barista, Cafe Central, Marien – Cafe, Cafe Kritz, Cafe Extrablatt. I miss each of these cafes where I spent hours and hours every day, to read, to study, to surf on internet or to socialize with my friends.


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NCASE Resource Library
Featured Resources
This publication features some of the best resources, including webinars, briefs, and toolkits, available in the online NCASE Resource Library, developed for both practitioners and system builders.
These selected resources, curated by NCASE, offer ideas and information for OST system leaders to support recovery from COVID-19.
The NCASE Out-of-School Time Professional Development System-Building Toolkit was designed to assist states as they build professional development systems inclusive of school-age providers.
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This video, which is also a part of the School-Age Consumer Education Toolkit, shows the importance of afterschool and summer care for families.
This article defines parent engagement and why it benefits children, families, and afterschool programs. It provides 15 examples of promising practices. Sample outreach materials and parent surveys are included. This resource supports resilience.
This resource is for program leaders to explore cost allocation. It discusses why assigning a shared cost to 2 or more programs is important. It defines key costs and provides a step-by-step guide to cost allocation.
This report explores why libraries are well positioned to be allies in increasing family engagement. The strategies shared come from a review of the literature, a survey of library directors, and a learning community of librarians.


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Weekly Roundup #9: Cute Halloween Costumes You Can DIY!
Looking for a DIY Halloween costume for your little lady that's not ghoulish or gory? Perfect! That's just what we kept our eye out for this past week, too. And we found these 5 super-creative ones that range from groovy to "edible" to oh-so-sweet! So, take your pick and get your crafty hands ready. Halloween's just 28 days away!
Unique Little Girl Halloween Costumes to Make
Huge thanks to the talented crafters behind these creations. Your imagination is our inspiration!
1 – Disco Ball Costume by Oh Happy Day
Your little one may not even know what a disco is (Mom does!). But she'll love being the center of attention in this glitzy get-up!
2 – "Sassy Cookie" Chocolate Chip Cookie Costume by Crafted by Jen
How can anyone resist a cookie this adorable? Though no tutorial is provided, you DIYers out there can surely "bake up" your own.
3 – DIY Bag of Popcorn Costume by Aww Sam
Such a crazy, crunchy idea! Plus, as you can see, it can be made in grownup size, too. So, mother-daughter perhaps?
4 – Pizza Slice Costume by Studio DIY, via Loren's World
This zany concept is actually half of a "Pizza Slice and Delivery Boy" couple costume. But a single slice is still so cute for your little girl!
5 – DIY Flower Basket Costume by Make It Love It
Speaking of cute, you'll love how sweet (and simple to assemble) this "walking flower basket" is. Blooming instead of "boo"-ing!
Will we have more inspiration for Halloween parties in our next Weekly Roundup? Who knows? Drop by again next Saturday to find out!


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Heres a link to the planning portal which has good …
Read the planning and building regulations guidance for many common building work projects. In this section you can:
- Use our guides or the links in our common projects table to find guidance on the building work you have in mind
- Check other important matters you should think about before starting work in the 'Your responsibilities' section
- When you have read and considered the guidance around whether or not you need planning permission or building control approval you can find out 'What to do next'.
With all building work, the owner of the property (or land) in question is ultimately responsible for complying with the relevant planning rules and building regulations (regardless of the need to apply for planning permission and/or building regulations approval or not).
Therefore, failure to comply with the relevant rules will result in the owner being liable for any remedial action (which could go as far as demolition and/or restoration). The general advice is to always discuss your proposals with the relevant local planning authority and building control service before starting work.


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The Therm-A-Rest Vesper 20F represents another step in a growing trend: mainstream gear companies increasingly catering to the ultra-light crowd (the REI Magma Trail Quilt 30, which we'll compare to the Vesper to later in this article, is another example of this phenomenon). The Vesper is EN/ISO safety rated for a range around 20 F (-6.7 C) with a comfort rating of 32 F (0 C). Premium materials and a no-frills but elegant design combine to form a 19 oz (539 g) down quilt that packs down small, making the Vesper a powerful tool in an ultralight sleep system.
Features and Specifications
- Differential cut enclosed footbox
- DWR treated shell
- Horizontal baffle orientation
- Perimeter side baffles to minimize down migration
- Insulated, adjustable collar with snap closure
- Box-sewn baffles
- SynergyLink™ sleeping pad connection system
- Nikwax Hydrophobic Down™
- RDS certified down
- Four-point-compression stuff sack included
- Made in China
- Unisex
Specifications (size regular)
- Weight: 19 oz (539 g)
- Temperature Rating*: 20 F (-6 C)
- Fill Type: 900 fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down
- Fill Weight: 12 oz (340 g)
- Loft Height: 4.5 in (11.4 cm)
- Dimensions: 75 x 58 in (191 x 147 cm)
- Compressed Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 in (20 x 14 cm)
- Shell Fabric: 10D Nylon RipStop (DWR treated)
- Lining Fabric: 10D Nylon RipStop
*More on this in the Temperature Rating and Warmth section
Review Context
I've logged more than 2,000 trail miles and nearly 200 nights in quilts of various makes and models, so I know what I like in a quilt. To me, the ideal quilt should sit at the sweet spot of minimalist design and functionality. A quilt plagued by cold spots, drafts, or lack of coverage doesn't do anyone any favors no matter how light it is. Similarly, a quilt that has too much material or too many extra features might as well be a mummy bag.
A good quilt needs to allow for more temperature control than a mummy bag while still remaining firmly affixed to a sleeping pad. It needs to shave ounces by utilizing the most minimal amount of fabric possible while still being wide and long enough to provide coverage for a side sleeper. A well-designed quilt should retain its loft over a long period of time, be as breathable as possible while still being water and moisture resistant, and be sewn and baffled in such a way as to minimize cold spots and down migration.
Some companies design quilts to be multi-functional; manufacturing quilts that can be opened completely like blankets – allowing for more flexible temperature regulation, decreased drying time when laid flat in the sun, or even worn around camp as a poncho. These are nice features but only one of them is extremely practical: having the capacity to lay a quilt out completely flat in a patch of sunlight is massively useful in the event of a catastrophic soak, or even a run of humid nights.
As for temperature control, I personally haven't found blanket-style footboxes to be any more efficacious than simply adjusting my head insulation or rearranging the upper part of the quilt. I'll discuss footbox styles (and why I believe Therm-A-Rest's approach to the Vesper to be the best option) in greater detail later in this article.
I spent many of my outdoor nights sleeping in a quilt that was designed to be used as a poncho on chilly mornings (in fact that feature was one of the reasons I bought that quilt). I quickly learned that four inches of loft is a cumbersome thing to wrap around yourself while doing camp chores or, more terrifying, cooking over the unregulated flame of an alcohol stove. So I'm fine with quilt designs focusing on functionality rather than bells and whistles.
Description of Field Testing
The Vesper was my companion on every extended and short-term trip I took between July 2018 and April 2019. I spent upwards of 30 nights in the Vesper across three alpine seasons, including while at altitude, in four different shelters, and with three different sleeping pads. In short: optimal conditions for quilt testing!
A summer trip to Wyoming's Wind River Range provided ample opportunity to put the Vesper's DWR treatment and hydrophobic down through their paces. I followed that up with a ten-day trek through the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in Montana – where nighttime winds were gusty and high-altitude early fall-temperatures dropped into the low thirties.
Finally, I took the Vesper out on several multi-day late fall / winter / early spring excursions in the eastern Sierra Nevada. Overnight temperatures on these occasions sometimes dropped into the teens, and were on average closer to the mid-twenties.
I paired the Vesper with a Therm-A-Rest NeoAir UberLite (see our review here) or a Nemo Equipment Switchback (see our review here), and in the winter I used both at the same time.
My base layers were mostly Brynje wool thermo mesh t-shirt, leggings, and beanie with thick Darn Tough wool socks. Occasionally I used an Icebreaker merino wool t-shirt and Smartwool leggings.
Performance Assessment
My performance assessment of the Therm-A-Rest Vesper 20F will consist of the following considerations:
- Materials
- Baffles
- Quality
- Pad Connection
- Temperature Rating and Warmth
- Cut, Design, and Special Features
At this point, it should come as no surprise that high-end quilt and bag manufacturers are using silky, lightweight fabrics for both shell and lining. The Vesper is no exception. Therma-A-Rest utilizes a featherweight 10D Nylon RipStop fabric on both the shell and lining of the Vesper, and the result is a quilt that is a tactile pleasure to sleep in. The fabric is quiet, soft, and so thin as to be translucent in direct sunlight. The upshot is you can easily find and mitigate clumps of down if necessary, although that isn't much of a problem with the Vesper's baffle design.
The shell is treated with DWR, and it easily shed the mist and splashes I encountered during several intense rainstorms in the Winds. Likewise, a quick shake in the morning flung away the cold-weather condensation that collected on the surface of the quilt in the eastern Sierra Nevada. I never felt clammy, stuffy, or drafty while sleeping in this quilt – so my judgment is that Therm-A-Rest managed to balance breathability and wind/water resistance in its choice of fabric. I certainly didn't notice any rips, tears, or runs in the fabric after sustained use, so it seems to be sturdy enough. I'd be careful with it though.
If I had one fabric gripe, it would be this: I'm a fan of dark colored fabrics on the interior of my bags to aid drying on longer trips (full disclosure: I have no measurable evidence that a black or dark fabric dries faster than light fabrics in direct sunlight. Anecdotally though … yes). By contrast, the Vesper is a light grey. This color choice also tends to show stains and smudges.
Therm-A-Rest stuffs the Vesper with 12 oz (340 g) of 900-fill Nikwax Hydrophobic RDS certified goose down. This is premium stuff (most quilts come standard at 800 or 850 fill) and likely accounts for a good chunk of the Vesper's $379.95 price tag. The payoff is a quilt that compresses extremely well but lofts up to a thickness of around 4.5 in (11.4 cm) and boasts an impressive warmth-to-weight ratio.
"Vertical or horizontal?" – this is the eternal question. In my experience, vertical baffles mitigate the down migration that can happen over a long period of sustained use. Vertical or hybrid (horizontal on the chest and vertical on the legs) baffles are now quite common in both quilts and sleeping bags. Therm-A-Rest goes old school with the Vesper and uses a horizontal baffle system – with a twist. The horizontal baffles extend about halfway down the sides of the bag. From there, a smaller series of perimeter side baffles takes over.
Horizontal baffles were my chief concern with the Vesper's design: I have several quilts with horizontal baffles, and all suffer from cold spots in the baffles at the head end because of down migration into the sides of the baffles. So far, Therm-A-Rest's use of perimeter baffles seems to be working: I haven't experienced any noticeable down migration or cold spots using the Vesper, despite the side baffles seeming slightly under-filled. Holding the Vesper up to the light reveals areas in the side baffles that seem altogether lacking in insulation. Again, I haven't noticed any side drafts in the Vesper, so this is likely an extremely precise weight and design consideration. However, if you are the kind of person for whom the phrase "twenty percent overstuffed" holds great importance, the low fill volume in the side baffles is likely to bother you.
The horizontal baffles are 5.5 in (13.9 cm) wide. All the baffles in the quilt are box-sewn, meaning there are thin layers of mesh between the seams to prevent down migration between the chambers. This contrasts to a sewn-through style, where the liner and shell are sewn together to create a barrier. Sewn-through can create cold spots but is lighter, where as box-sewn adds material (i.e. weight) but avoids creating points of zero insulation.
I'm happy that Therm-A-Rest went with a box baffle system in the Vesper. I wonder how many ounces they could have dropped with a sewn-through design, but they were already down to 19 oz (538.6 g) so they probably figured that they had some wiggle room. Ultimately I feel it's the right choice. As I've already said, the Vesper is remarkably draft free and warm. Box baffles certainly play a part in that.
Cascade Designs (parent company of Therm-A-Rest) has a well-deserved reputation for tightly constructed products. The Vesper meets these standards … for the most part. I'd say that 99% of the seams and stitching are tight, even, and well-sewn. It's perhaps unfortunate timing that after thirty nights of use I noticed the first loose threads (only two of them) while photographing the Vesper for this review.
The extremely thin 10D Nylon probably doesn't help either – as the thin, light fabric may not hold stitching as well as heavier fabrics. I reached out to Therm-A-Rest about this issue and was told that my sample Vesper was produced on a different manufacturing line than the consumer products which were produced later. Small manufacturing flaws are not uncommon in such cases as, according to Therm-A-Rest, "sometimes we see slightly less quality control with the sample line." Our experience here at Backpacking Light backs this up, so we are considering the loose threads on this sample Vesper to be a non-issue.
It will be interesting to see how the stitching holds up over even longer sustained use: I plan on using the Vesper on upcoming thru-hikes of the Tahoe Rim Trail and Arizona Trail at minimum.
Sleeping Pad Connection
Out of all the design elements found in quilts, perhaps nothing has as much variation as sleeping pad connection systems. Hooks, buckles, straps, cords: everybody seems to have a different approach. I'm a fan of Therm-A-Rest's solution – a stretchy elastic cord with a plastic toggle on either end. Therm-A-Rest calls it a SynergyLink Connector. The toggle slips through a small loop on the sides of the Vesper and then the cord feeds underneath your pad to slip through a corresponding loop on the opposite side of the quilt. The resulting tension is just enough to keep the Vesper from being drafty while still allowing for freedom of movement.
The system is simple, elegant, and versatile: there are two loops on either side of the Vesper, one high up on quilt and one about two-thirds of the way down. You can choose which loop you'd like to use based on your sleeping style.
Of course, you can also always just leave the strap at home (but why would you at 0.1 oz / 2.8 g). Therm-A-Rest seems to know that ultralighters love hacking away at extraneous bits of fabric: why else would they make it removable in the first place? This is, in fact, my only problem with the system. The SynergyLink connector is so small and so light and so easy to attach and remove that it is easily misplaced (if you leave it hooked into the Vesper it sometimes comes loose and falls to the ground when you pull the quilt out of the compression sack).
After nearly losing it several times I took to storing the SynergyLink Connector in other places: a sundries bag, inside a sleep sock, in a zippered compartment of my pack. Basically anywhere but inside the compression sack with the Vesper. In the future I might experiment with ways of permanently or semi-permanently affixing the connector to one of the loops. A small rubber band might do the trick.
Temperature Rating and Warmth
The Vesper 20F is comfort rated to 32 F (0 C) and limit rated to 20 F (-6 C). These numbers are worth digging in to, as they are one of the chief reasons to choose the Vesper over a competing quilt.
Much ink has been spilled over how temperature ratings in sleeping bags aren't standardized in the same way that, for instance, R-Value in sleeping pads is. In fact, there is a standardized system, it's just that not every gear manufacturer chooses to rate their bags according to it.
For instance, here's a snapshot of the temperature specs for a competing quilt, taken from the product page of REI's website.
Now here's a snapshot of the temperature specs for the Vesper, also taken from the REI product page.
See the difference? Both products have a temperature rating, but only the Vesper has a tested lower limit and tested comfort temperature.
This is because Therm-A-Rest has on-site cold chambers and testing facilities that conform to the EN/ISO standards. Do other manufacturers have these facilities? Sometimes … but Therm-A-Rest seems to make it a point of pride to be accurate in their temperature numbers and they go out of their way to achieve EN/ISO certification on their quilts and bags.
Additionally, Therm-A-Rest has developed a handy visual graphic to help prospective buyers hone in temperature needs even more. Here's the one for the Vesper.
Most companies are only going to give you one number, say, 20 F (-6 C). What does this number mean? Will you be comfortable at that temperature? Shivering? Bitterly cold but not dying? It's different for every company, and they don't always tell you which is the case.
This is why I so appreciate Therm-A-Rest's attempts at transparency. I found their ranges to be right on: I was comfortable in a light beanie and base layer at 30 F (-1 C) and warmer. Any colder than that and I needed to start tossing on an extra layer or two (though not much). At 20 F (-6 C) I needed the Waterbear Hood and an insulating mid-layer like a fleece or long-sleeved shirt on top of my base layer. Temperatures in the teens required a down jacket or an additional quilt for maximum comfort.
Of course, this is all subjective. Experience and sleep temperatures vary wildly from person to person. But Therm-A-Rest is as precise and open about it as possible, and that is a great thing when making an expensive purchasing decision on a major piece of gear.
Cut, Design, and Special Features
Footbox Design
Broadly speaking, you could divide quilt footbox styles into two categories: fixed and unfixed. The footboxes on the unfixed models, like the Nemo Equipment Banshee or the Jacks R Better Sierra Sniveler, cinch closed because the quilts themselves are designed to be opened all the way (blanket style) if desired. This "lay-flat" design is ideal for claustrophobic sleepers, drying out wet quilts, or (in the case of the Sniveler) wearing the quilt as a serape.
Therm-A-Rest goes with a weight saving, simpler approach: a fixed footbox. The result is a quilt that doesn't open all the way like a blanket but also avoids the cold spots that are all but inevitable with a cinch-close footbox.
The Vesper's footbox has an ergonomic structure designed to accommodate a back sleepers upward pointed toes without undue loft compression. Some quilt foot boxes are designed to accommodate sleeping pads in addition to hiker feet (see the Nemo Equipment Siren, read our review here) but the Vesper's footbox is a "feet only" space.
The Vesper's footbox is sewn with a "differential cut", meaning the inner shell is cut in such a way as to allow the insulation to stay lofted even when pressure (from toes or ankles, for instance) is applied from inside the bag. A differential cut is valuable in preventing cold spots (particularly with horizontal baffles), and I'm happy that Therm-A-Rest chose to utilize one in the footbox of this product.
Adjustable Collar
The Vesper's draft collar is one of its best features. This narrow horizontal baffle runs along the top of the Vesper and closes from behind with a simple snap button. A bright green drawstring (with an extra large loop to accommodate gloved fingers) cinches the collar to the desired circumference. Far from being constricting, the collar is wide enough to be comfortable but lofty enough to be warm and cozy. I was shocked at how quickly I came to appreciate it.
Dimensions and Fit
I found the Vesper's 75 x 58 in (191 x 147 cm) dimensions to be plenty large enough to accommodate my relentless nocturnal rotations. That being said, at 5'6, 165 lbs, I'm not the world's broadest-shouldered backpacker. Hefty backpackers might want to go with a size long, which runs 79 x 61 in (201 x 155 cm) at the cost of an additional 2 oz (28 g). That size difference represents the limit of the customizations available for the Vesper I'm afraid. Customization is one of the benefits of the cottage industry quilt market, and if you like your sleep system precisely dialed in you might not want to go the Vesper route.
You'd be hard pressed to find a quilt of comparable warmth and weight that compresses down to a smaller size than the Vesper. In my opinion, this is one of the Vesper's strongest selling points. When paired with an ultralight sleeping pad (like, say, the UberLite) you have a supremely warm and comfortable (for its weight) three-season sleep system that takes up a relatively small amount of space in a minimalist pack.
Personally, I'm not a fan of the four-point strap and lid style compression sack that comes with the Vesper. The sack itself is fine: perfectly sized for the quilt, well-constructed, and functional. I just find all those straps to be a little unwieldy and, well, un-elegant.
I prefer a roll-top style compression sack. But it's very likely you couldn't get the Vesper compressed down to such a diminutive size in a roll-top style sack, so I can live with the one that comes with the Vesper. (For what it's worth, I haven't tried seeing how the Vesper compresses in other styles of compression sacks … I'd love to hear what other users have accomplished).
Product Strengths and Limitations
- Excellent warmth-to-weight (and size) ratio
- Supreme packability
- Premium materials: soft DWR treated nylon & 900 fill RDS hydrophobic down
- Solid construction
- Differential cut footbox
- Design hits the sweet spot between useful features and minimalist aesthetic
- Collar is comfortable and nicely sized
- Sleeping pad connections system is elegant, functional, and weighs 0.1 oz (2.8 g)
- Some loose stitching after thirty nights of use (is likely a flaw in my sample product)
- Can't be customized the way cottage brands can
- Sleeping pad connection system is easy to lose
- Can't be opened like a blanket
Compared To…
For this comparison table, I chose quilts that weigh from 17.5 oz (496 g) to 20 oz (567 g).
|SPECIAL FEATURES (draft tubes, poncho style, etc)
|Therm-A-Rest Vesper
|19 oz
|horizontal, with small periminter side baffles
|10D ripstop nylon
|elastic pad cords
|snap neck closure
|REI Magma Trail Quilt
|19 oz
|hybrid vertical/horizontal
|fixed, trapezoidal
|15D ripstop nylon
|cinching pad cords
|adjustable insulated draft tube, button snap neck closure
|Sea to Summit Ember
|19 oz
|hybrid vertical/horizontal
|drawcord closure
|15D nylon
|four adjustable straps
|can be opened like a blanket on warm nights
|Katabatic Palisade
|17.5 oz
|fixed, trapezoidal
|shell: Pertex Quantum ripstop .85 oz/yd2; liner: Pertex Quantum taffeta 1.0 oz/yd2
|cord clip attachment system
|down collar, cord clip system attaches to top of pad rather than underneath
|Western Mountaineering AstraLite Baffled Top Quilt
|17.5 oz
|shell: 7D nylon; liner: 10D nylon
|two flat elastic loops
|elastic-laced adjustable bottom closure
|Enlightened Equipment Enigma
|17.94 oz
|fixed, round
|10D nylon
|elastic straps and clip
|snap and drawstring neck closure
|Kammok Bobcat Trail Quilt
|20 oz
|diamond shaped
|snaps and drawcord closure
|Atmos 20D ripstop nylon
|underquilt conversion, can lay flat like a blanket
|ZPacks Solo Quilt
|19.5 oz
|hybrid vertical/horizontal
|7D Ventum ripstop nylon
|flat clip and strap
|30% overstuffed, flat clip and elastic cord neck closure
|Nunatak Arc UL
|19.4 oz
|hybrid vertical/horizontal
|Hyperdry optional
|10D with customizable options
|standard straps (running under pad) or shockcord (running under body) optional
|optional edge tension control for high draft adjustability, drawcord neck closure standard
I want to spend a few moments comparing the Vesper to another recent addition to the quilt market: The REI Magma Trail Quilt 30. This is a worthwhile comparison because both quilts are recent offerings from long-established gear manufacturers with track records for well-considered design and strong execution. Both quilts weigh 19 oz (538.6 g) and utilize some form of hydrophobic down. Both quilts have a fixed-footbox design, an adjustable collar with a button snap closure, and hybrid style baffles (the Vesper has horizontal baffles with perimeter side baffles, while the Magma has horizontal baffles across the torso and vertical baffles down the legs). Neither quilt can be customized beyond ordering different sizes (Regular and long for the Vesper, short, regular, and long for the Magma).
So, with similar features and similar weights, which bag is warmer? As we've examined, this question can be tricky. The Magma has a temperature rating of 30 F (-1 C). What does this mean, exactly? Hard to say. The best we can do is turn to REI customer support, which provides this feedback on a customer question.
So using this as a reference point, we can assume that both quilts will provide similar comfort at similar temperatures. But because the Magma isn't ISO rated (as opposed to the Vesper, see the Temperature Rating and Warmth section of this review) we don't know.
The Magma utilizes sewn-through baffles as opposed to the Vesper's box-baffles, and I think that has to come into play warmth-wise in some way.
One thing that is measurable is this: the compressed size of both quilts relative to their width and length. The Magma packs down to 4.75 x 13 in (12 x 33 cm) while the Vesper compresses to 5.5 x 8 in (14 x 20 cm). That's a significant difference inside a pack. Also, it's quite an effort to get the Magma compressed down that small (this according to our forthcoming Magma review as well as anecdotal user comments on the REI website). On the other hand, it's a cinch to get the Vesper into its sack and compressed.
The Vesper manages this win despite being two inches wider at the shoulders and having 1.5 oz (42.5 g) more fill weight than the Magma. Therm-A-Rest likely achieved this by using 10D fabric over the Magma's 15D and 900 fill down over the Magma's 850 fill.
These differences show up in the price tag, however. The Vesper retails for $379.95 while the Magma goes for $299.00. At those price points, you might just be getting more quilt for your buck with the Magma.
I was lucky to be able to test this quilt in such a variety of conditions and with so many different sleep system combinations. It performed well across the entire spectrum of my test: shaking off moisture and drafts, providing flexible temperature management, and keeping me warm at night while being virtually unnoticeable in my pack during the day.
This last point is the most salient to me, and the factor that places the Vesper on the "shelf of honor" in my gear closet. What is the ultralight ethos if not the utilization of well-designed gear that is as light as possible while still being extremely functional? That is the Vesper. It does its job with just enough frills (snap collar, pad connection system) to be effective but not enough to add unneeded ounces.
A focus on premium materials and intentional design choices means you end up with a quilt that provides ample coverage for all but the largest and most restless of sleepers. In addition, the Vesper compresses down to a size that is just a little ridiculous.
Review Rating: Highly Recommended
The Vesper 20F is a superior product: it excels in field performance, design, and material choice. Its warmth-to-weight and warmth-to-size ratio are top of class, and it handles inclement weather as well if not better than any other down quilt or bag I've come across. The design is precise and the manufacturing quality is as high as you would expect from Cascade Designs (which is to say, extremely high). The loose threads on my sample Vesper are not likely to be found on the consumer runs of the product.
My minor gripes like fabric color, stuff sack type, and an easily losable pad connector pale in comparison to the Vesper's main strengths: just how warm of a quilt Therm-A-Rest manages to squeeze into such a small and light package. I consider the Vesper to be one of the top three quilts available at the moment, and as such I believe it deserves a Highly Recommended rating.
Where to Buy
- Buy the Therm-A-Rest Vesper 20F at REI.com.
Related Content
- Need a quilt for warmer temps? Check out our review of Nemo Equipment's Siren.
Review Disclosure
- How we acquired these products: Product(s) discussed in this review were either acquired by the author from a retailer or otherwise provided by the manufacturer at a discount/donation with no obligation to provide media coverage or a product review to the manufacturer(s).
- We do not accept money or in-kind compensation for guaranteed media coverage: Backpacking Light does not accept compensation or donated product in exchange for guaranteed media placement or product review coverage.
- Affiliate links: Some (but not all) of the links in this review may be "affiliate" links, which means if you click on a link to one of our affiliate partners (usually a retailer site), and subsequently make a purchase with that retailer, we receive a small commission. This helps us fund our editorial projects, podcasts, instructional webinars, and more, and we appreciate it a lot! Thank you for supporting Backpacking Light!


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COLLABORATIVE. The evening of Sunday, July 28 is the event of the year: the #WeJustMetGala! Get together with Gishers in your area at your local museum in the strangest, fanciest attire you can create—go so all-out, you make Billy Porter jealous. Roll out the red carpet and a banner, then convince strangers passing by to pose with you for red carpet pictures. Be fabulous! We must see the museum in the background, and there must be paparazzi. Post your images and videos to social media and tag #WeJustMetGala, #GISH & @theebillyporter, then submit your image or video to us with the link to your social media post in the comments.
Tag: multi-team
Item 136 – Cross-Stitch Protest
COLLABORATIVE. Join the movement to cross-stitch what you care about: create a cross-stitch picket sign for a cause you believe in. Connect with at least 2 other teams and craft a protest march on a street corner. – Item Written By Misha's Mom
Item 111 – GISH Community Bazaar
SIDE-BY-SIDE. COLLABORATIVE. Swap-meet day! Use the GISH app to coordinate with at least 5 other Gishers in your area to meet up and hold a yard sale. Except, this is not a yard-sale, it's a yard-giveaway: the GISH Community Bazaar. Bring as many items as you can bear to part with and set up shop. And remember, no money must change hands and no bartering! All items must be gifted to passers-by and everything must go!
Item 213 – FOG Awards
It's time for the first-ever FOG Awards! Find another team that has done any Item (that's been allowed to be posted on social media) that you particularly admire and award them a Fellowship of Outstanding Gishing Award, complete with a virtual trophy or certificate. Post it on social media and tell them what you admire & tag them. You may do as many as you like, but submit a screenshot of just one of these.
Item 105 – Fortune 500 Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
A group of 30 people or more in business suits performing "Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes" in front of a Fortune 500 company's corporate office. (Multiple teams may collaborate on this item).
Item 48 – Human Rainbow
Connect with at least 6 people from opposing teams in your area to create a human rainbow in a public space. Each team's representative(s) must be entirely clad in a different color, (one team should be red, one orange, yellow, green, blue, purple). All participating teams get the points. Somewhere in the picture, include a sign with a message of love, unity, and support for the LGBTQIA members of our community. Accompanying text must list usernames of all participants. Post your rainbow moment on social media using: #GISHumanity
Item 39 – Lost Train of Thought
Create at least one MISSING flyer for a "LOST TRAIN OF THOUGHT" with at least 15 tear-off tabs at the bottom; on each tab should be your team name and a single, repeated word— it can be a verb, noun, conjunction— you get the idea. Post the location of your flyer(s) on the GISH app AND social media tagged #LostTrainOfThought, then search for other teams' flyers and collect at least 3 tear-off tabs from 3 different flyers (don't take more than one tab off any flyer you find and don't tear a tab of your team's flyer). Arrange the pieces you've collected into a short statement or short collaborative poem, which you should submit as an image. The more unique tabs you collect from different flyers, the higher the points you'll receive.
Behind the Scenes
Item 21 – Matching Painting Avatars
Use the GISH APP for this item if possible. Starting on Tuesday morning at 9AM PDT change your avatar to your favorite painting by Cezanne, Monet or Van Gogh. Find someone on the planet (who is not on your team) who has uploaded the exact same painting. Don't change your painting once you've picked it or plan out your painting in advance with other gishers. That's not the point of this Item. Screenshot your profile page (and have them do the same) and then submit them side by side. Your team must have at least 6 individuals with matching paintings. (Not on the GISH App? Take on this Item on social media tagged #GISHWorkOfArt.)
Item 10 – GISH Global Secret Santa
It's time for GISH Global Secret Santa. Create a list of 10 things you wish you had that would make your life (or the life of someone you love) easier. Make sure you have some inexpensive things in there. Post this list in the "FAVORITE QUOTE" section of your profile on the GISH app. Then, click around app users near you to look for their wishlists. Try to find one that has an item that you have (or that you can acquire) and give it to them to make their life easier. Contact that gisher and tell them you want to gift them one of their items. Post an image of the gisher with the item you gave them before the end of the hunt (with a sign that has their username). Not on the GISH app? Get it at bit.ly/GetGISHapp or do this one on social media instead, tagged #GISHSecretSanta.
It was awesome to meet Susan! #GISHsecretsanta pic.twitter.com/x3AbwUC2dE
— Kylo Jenn (@jennnmarshall) July 30, 2018
Item 86 – International Find Another Gisher Day – Bus Stop Sticky Notes
As you all know, Saturday the 6th of August is International Find Another Gisher Day. Meet up (reach out over social media to find gishers in your area) with AT LEAST 5 other Gishers that aren't on your team at a bus stop and, together, decorate the bus stop with post-it notes inscribed with a mix of delightful, surreal, and uplifting messages. One must read, "Be the unicorn you want to see in the world." Submit one image of all 5+ people standing in, on, or around the decorated bus stop. The submission description must include the gishwhes usernames of each Gisher in the photo. Each team can submit the same image if a team member was there representing the team.
Special thanks to Salt&BurnByEagleEyeoftheTiger, Voldeforts, (-30/~<3, Bumblebee Titans, Team Hooman, and Devils Pie Trap for their help with this item!
Team members:
- mpanighetti
- Lucidflux
- ra1ne01
- dessygois
- Dr Hands
- Midorihebi
- Aluzano
- Rune Phoenix
- Hikari_Echizen


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Here is one of the pleasures of walking down Park Avenue. Have you stopped to smell the tulips?
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Scary Fish Stick Fingers – A Halloween Lunch Treat
Creepy Fish Stick Fingers are a fun and easy that both kids and adults will love. Great treat for lunch, dinner or at your next Halloween party.
Scary Fish Stick Fingers – A Halloween Lunch Treat
It's the countdown to Halloween, and creepy things are brewing in my kitchen. What's on the menu? Bloody fingers of course.
BEWARE, Kids!!!! Do not OPEN that LUNCH BOX!!! These Scary Fish Stick Fingers will really add the spook to your kids lunch. I think in the last week I honestly have watched way too many Halloween wars. And really who won't. They are fun and addicting. If anything they have added a spark to my Halloween spirit this year.
Last night, as I was prepping my kid's lunches I had a light bulb moment (LOVE THOSE). I decided to put a spin on those plain old boring fish sticks.
Laughing as I created these fingers. I can't wait to hear about lunch at school. I know they love will love these creepy appendages.
What you will need:
- Fish Sticks (Your Favorite brand)
- Cheese Singles
- America Color Black
- America Color Red
- Brushes
- Cookie Cutter (optional)
Scary Fish Stick Fingers Directions:
It would be a cool Halloween project to do with the kids and these will be a big hit in a Halloween party! Your guests will be dying to eat this "finger food".
1. Prepare your Fish Sticks according to package instructions.
2. While Fish Sticks are cooking cut your cheese for fingernails. You can simply freehand your cheese nails or cheat as I did. I dove into my cookie cutter and found this butterfly cut out. I used the edge of the wing to form my nail.
3. Pull Fish Sticks out the last 2 minutes of cooking. Place cheese nails on and continue to bake the last 2 minutes.
4. After completely cooling. You are now ready to paint on your blood. I used America Color Food Coloring. I am sure regular ole food coloring will work just as good. But America Color is thicker viscosity and made for cakes, frosting fondant.
5. Add on your knuckles using the same brand food coloring in black.
6. And there you have it. Scary Fish Stick Fingers. You are going to want to add in a few extra drops of red food coloring to your tarter sauce to really putting the finishing touches on.
Let's keep our fingers crossed that all will be well this Halloween.
Other Fun Halloween Recipes
No Bake Mummy Haystack Cookies
Halloween Nutter Butter Bat Cookies
Spooky Spider Oreo Cookie Recipe


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people who are directly employed
community members indirectly benefit
Floreana Ecotours
Floreana Island, Galapagos
Critical Need
Tourism is the principal economic activity in the Galapagos, dating back to the early 1970s when local communities offered tours around the islands on their personal fishing boats. Over the past three decades the number of visitors has increased to well over 100,000 tourists each year, and is now at a critical point. In particular, one of the islands in the archipelago, Floreana Island, has experienced a sharp increase in short day tours but residents have yet to be able to benefit from this growth. With job few opportunities from this added tourism, the community's youth have been choosing to leave the island to study and they rarely return. Investing in training and infrastructure in Galapagos' first community-based tourism program benefits both the island's young entrepreneurs and its unique wildlife, preserving Floreana for future travellers and islanders alike.
Our Involvement
Planeterra has invested in a large scale training program to enable residents of Floreana Island to manage all aspects of tourism on their island. The community-owned-and-managed association will coordinate tourism activities such as guiding, trekking, kayaking and snorkeling; improving food services; developing business and hospitality management skills including accounting, reservations, etc. The goal is to provide job opportunities for the island's 150 residents to benefit from the booming tourism industry. By controlling the number of arrivals to the island, and improving the experience with an overnight stay, we ensure that Floreana maintains its pristine habitat, clean waters, and natural heritage.
Santos is the only person in his mid twenties on the island. He says everyone has left looking for work, but he associated himself with a local community group as soon as they started investigating how the community could organize to manage and grow tourism sustainably on the island. Planeterra and its local partner, Waponi, hired Santos to be a project assistant throughout the process, and to assist the project manager in the development of the services of the community tour operations, such as rotating transport and restaurant services. Santos is planning to study tourism at university so he can come back and proudly manage tourism on his own island.
View Other Projects
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Larger gifts with deeper impacts. Your gift could be the key to success for our more complex projects that required greater investments.
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Take your corporate giving to the next level by sponsoring one of Planeterra's projects, and helping women, youth, and communities in need.
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We are always seeking talented and dedicated people to support our continued growth. As a leading innovator of imaging IT products and services since 1997, we know how the collective power of smart and dedicated people can transform an organization, which is why we prioritize providing our team with competitive salaries, benefits, a great work environment and excellent growth and development opportunities. We also recognize the importance of team synergy and therefore prioritize candidates who align with our values.
Our Values
At every interaction with our clients and staff, we aim to gain a full understanding of our customers' needs and constraints to deliver the best solutions possible for the given situation. We are known for ongoing product development, innovation and support that exceed customer expectations. We do this by:
- Staying on the leading edge of technology R&D and market trends
- Remaining accessible and responsive to customers when help is needed
- Following through on promises and agreements
Does our culture align with your values, work ethic and passion for innovation? If so, you might be a perfect match for one of our open positions. Submit your resume Here!
Current Openings:
- Image and DICOM Migration Engineer
- RIS Applications
- PACS Applications
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- Project Managers
- Sales Assistant
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- Tier 1 Tech Support / PACS Engineer
- Junior Systems Administrator


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May 12, 2019
I had grand plans to tie lots of flies and take lots of pictures for you. I even purchased some extension tubes for my camera so I could take some really nice close ups. Well, two things happened – like a lot of you I'm sure, life's other responsibilities have managed to get in the way so I've been having a hard time finding time at the vice, and secondly, the close up tubes just demonstrated how appallingly horrible a fly tier I am! Nothing like magnification to highlight all your misplaced materials.
So – we'll see what I'm able to put together today – I do hope to tie some – but I suspect you are mostly going to get links to patterns.
So – let's start with the European March Brown – where there are a few flies of interest. First is Dame Juliana Berner's "Dun Fly" –
This is a nice page (and website) that gives some history of these early flies (as well as patterns). The pattern we are interested in here is the "Dun Fly" for the month of March.
From there let's move onto the March Brown Wet Fly. Here is a nice step by step on tying the March Brown Wet Fly:
I can't find a link which has a good description and picture of GEM Skue's march brown nymph. Granted it is basically a Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear – but here is the pattern and I'll try to tie a decent one up today and post a picture.
Hook: Nymph Hook – 12-16 I used a Mustad 3906b
Thread: Red; although honestly I think black or brown is better
Tail: brown or furnace hen hackles
Body: Dubbed hairs mask
Rib: Gold Tinsel
Hackle: Brown or furnace hen hackles
Wing Case: Pheasant tail fibers
And then here are some pictures of a few flies that Selene and I experimented with last night using the new clinger mayfly heads:
Selene's is on the far left – the grey one. She tied that with a dubbing brush – which I like and a tail of pheasant tail (all of these have tails of pheasant tail). The next two are mine made out of a dubbing loop. All of them were brushed out and then trimmed into the triangular shape. It is an interesting and fun idea, but I think still could use some further experimentation and revision.
Of course I love Don Bastian's flies. Here is a link to his March Brown Flymph – especially good as for a Western March Brown although would do well for Eastern March Browns as well – and more importantly, his comparadun. A great fly for any of the March Brown duns.
Here is a picture of Solomon's March Brown Floating Nymph – taken from Thomas Ames Jr.'s book Hatch Guide for New England Streams. The version tied in the book was tied by Mary Dette Clark. Mine does not exactly look like hers!
Hook: Mustad 9671
Thread: White or Brown
Wing Bulge – dyed brown hair extending to the center of the shank
Tail: Ring-necked pheasant tail fibers
Body – beige brown fox dubbing
Legs: Brown partridge
Head: brown thread or white with brown lacquer
Here's a great picture and pattern of Preston Jenning's March Brown Dun
In contrast, here is Art Flick's March Brown:
where the difference between the two flies is very subtle. Preston used mallard flank for the wings while Flick used wood duck (among a few other minor differences). I dunno – from a practical perspective I just can't get too worked up about those kinds of differences.
Here is a link to the Grey Fox
Art Flick's and Preston Jenning's Grey Fox are the same.


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"Dear children! I call you to prayer. By means of prayer, little children, you obtain joy and peace. Through prayer you are richer in the mercy of God. Therefore, little children, let prayer be the life of each one of you. Especially I call you to pray so that all those who are far away from God may be converted. Then our hearts shall be richer because God will rule in the hearts of all men. Therefore, little children, pray, pray, pray! Let prayers begin to rule in the whole world. Thank you for having responded to my call." Our Lady of Medjugore August 25, 1989
Jesus speaks to us about the power of prayer in Matthews's gospel:
When he was going back to the city in the morning, he was hungry.
Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went over to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again." And immediately the fig tree withered.
When the disciples saw this, they were amazed and said, "How was it that the fig tree withered immediately?"
Jesus said to them in reply, "Amen, I say to you, if you have faith and do not waver, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done.
Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive."
Prayer is by far the most common subject of Our Lady's messages in Medjugore, as well as a primary teaching of Christ in the gospels. It is the root of joy and peace, as Mary reminds us today, and its power in unbounded, as Jesus teaches his disciples in the gospel. 1
May we find joy and peace through prayer as we begin a new day, a true gift from our Lord above.
1 Medjugorje Day by Day, Richard J. Beyer