text:
Melissa Mansfield, 31, was literally caught by police with her pants down, having been spotted earlier this week by a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper moving her bowels while shielding the deed with the door of the car she'd apparently stolen.
She was just six miles away from a proper rest stop.
The police report filed by Patrol Trooper P.E. Oneyear nicely captures the uncomfortable scene that played out on April 7th when Oneyear noticed a black vehicle pulled over on the shoulder of I-95 in St. Lucie County (you can read it in full here).
"… I clearly observed a white female squatting on the passenger side of the vehicle with her pants down below her knees defecating with moderate traffic flowing she had no expectation of privacy due to the fact she did open the rear passenger door to shield herself from the view of oncoming traffic. I asked her what she was doing and she stated "I am going to the bathroom."
From there things really go down the tubes, somehow. The "very nervous" woman identified herself as Melissa Mansfield but couldn't produce a license nor explain why she had the car other than to say she borrowed it from her boyfriend.
Trooper Oneyear had the dispatcher call the car's owner in the Keys and he said he had no idea who the woman was or why she had the car. The report also mentions beer bottles in the car that were cold to the touch.
Mansfield told the officer "I'm not trying [to] go to jail tonight."
As with her impromptu squat-popping, Masnfield was not successful and was booked into jail on charges of indecent exposure, driving without a license, and felony car theft.
What a crappy day.


text:
Government scrutiny in China could threaten Apple's global growth
Even as Apple enjoys breakneck growth in China, recent tongue-lashings from government-controlled media show the company faces perils in the country crucial to spur its global sales.
The media criticism, a new lawsuit by a Chinese company asserting Apple copied its software to develop the iPhone's and iPad's "Siri" personal assistant, and growing pressure from Samsung as the purveyor of tech cool in the world's second-largest economy underscore the Cupertino company's challenges.
"China has never been easy," said independent wireless analyst Chetan Sharma. The new media scrutiny and more assertive legal challenges from Chinese companies reflect the broader pursuit of the "Chinese Dream," as advocated by newly installed President Xi Jinping, that emphasizes local innovation and brands.
"There seems to be this targeting of Apple," said Anna Han, a Santa Clara University business law professor who advises U.S. companies operating in China. "But this is going to happen to all U.S. companies in China."
Apple has come under government scrutiny in China at a time when it is encountering stiff competition from Samsung, now the smartphone leader in that country, for the hearts and wallets of wealthy Chinese anxious to buy the latest status-symbol product. CEO Tim Cook must craft a careful strategy for China, where hundreds of millions of potential consumers with modest incomes would eagerly buy cheaper versions of the iPhone, a move that would boost market share but threaten Apple's premium brand.
Cook also is involved in tough negotiations with China Mobile, which has some 700 million subscribers and is aggressively promoting Samsung devices, to carry the iPhone, a process that has stretched on for years.
The stakes are huge for Apple, which has boasted explosive growth in China. During the company's first quarter, revenues for Greater China, which includes mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, jumped 67 percent from the year-ago period to $6.83 billion, Apple reported in January.
But its success is placing the company in the cross hairs of officials seeking to dim its reputation and of local companies eager to protect their patents or cash in through lawsuits, Han said, in a judicial system where they enjoy "home court advantage."
On Wednesday, Apple's lawyers appeared in a Shanghai court, where a Chinese company accused it of copying its software for the "Siri" personal assistant. Last year, Apple paid $60 million to Chinese computer maker Shenzhen Proview Technology to settle a legal dispute over the "iPad" trademark.
The latest court hearing came on the heels of Monday's criticism of Apple by the People's Daily, the Communist Party's flagship newspaper, which lambasted the company for not adequately responding to warranty complaints raised by an earlier broadcast on CCTV, the government-run television network. The news report suggested the Cupertino company treats consumers in China differently than it does customers in other countries. It was also critical of Apple's warranty policies.
During the weekend, Apple posted a message on its Chinese website saying it provides a 90-day warranty on repairs -- just like in the United States -- longer than the 30 days mandated by law in China.
The media attacks on a foreign company help deflect criticism of some Chinese companies after scandals such as the sale of tainted milk or the recent dumping of 16,000 dead pigs in a river that supplies drinking water to Shanghai, said Shanghai-based Shaun Rein, founder of China Market Research Group.
"They are trying to chip away at foreign companies and their reputations to say it's not just Chinese brands that have problems," said Rein, author of, "The End of Cheap China: Economic and Cultural Trends That Will Disrupt the World." "They are going after the best-of-breed foreign brands."
But Stanford University professor Hau Lee, a guru of supply-chain management, said the growing criticism of foreign brands may be part of a new government effort to protect consumers and give them more confidence to buy products.
"They are actually giving more rights to the consumers, and the Chinese government has encouraged more transparencies in the supply chain," Lee, who is traveling in China, said in an email.
The recent criticism of Apple, though, was viewed as ham-handed by many Chinese, who went online to mock the media reports.
"No one takes seriously the news from CCTV, at least no professionals," said Linda Jiang, vice president of business development of Umeng Analytics Platform, a Beijing-based mobile app and analytics service.
Apple's biggest problem in China is fine-tuning its strategy for a market that is very different from the West, said Duncan Clark, chairman of BDA China, a Beijing-based investment and strategy consultancy. Apple needs more models of differing sizes, such as Samsung offers, he said.
Clark pointed to Samsung's Galaxy Note line, devices with five-inch screens that act both as tablets and phones, and have been nicknamed "No Face" in China because they hide the user's face. They are now popular among trendy young women, he said.
While Apple remains a coveted brand in China, it is increasingly sharing the spotlight with Samsung, whose phones are popular among professionals, Rein said. Apple needs to expand its retail presence -- there are now eight stores in China, far short of the 25 it had planned to have open in the country by the end of 2011 -- and "launch new and better products," he said.
A deal with China Mobile would help Apple blunt Samsung's advances, Rein added. He believes Apple and China Mobile need a partnership more than ever. China Mobile is being challenged by the new free mobile phone text and voice messaging service WeChat developed by Tencent. Adding the iPhone to its network would juice revenues, he said.
"They both are facing massive challenges," Rein said of Apple and China Mobile. "So they need to cooperate."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Lezyne Teams Up with Ritchey for Project Rwanda
Monterey, CA April 16, 2011 – On Saturday, Lezyne met up with Tom Ritchey at the Sea Otter Classic to make a donation of Lezyne cycling accessories to Project Rwanda. Lezyne's Patrick Ribera-McKay and Mike Foote delivered over 600 Lezyne hand pumps, patch kits, saddle bags, and hydration packs to Ritchey to help further the efforts of Project Rwanda.
The idea of the partnership grew from Ritchey's March visit to Lezyne's headquarters in San Luis Obispo, California. He was making his way back home after the 2011 North American Handmade Bicycle Show and decided to visit his old cycling buddy and Lezyne Aftermarket Sales Assistant, Mark Mozart. After taking a tour of the Lezyne facility, Ritchey and Mozart crafted the idea of Lezyne contributing to Project Rwanda and presented the idea to Patrick Ribera-McKay, Lezyne Worldwide Marketing Manager. "Once I learned about Project Rwanda, I jumped at the chance to find a way for Lezyne to take part," said McKay. "Ritchey's passion for cycling and commitment to helping the people of Rwanda is very compelling and I am glad that we could take part in Project Rwanda and hope we can continue to do so in the future."
Afterward Ritchey explained just how valuable these basic cycling accessories are to the people of Rwanda. "Clean water is a luxury that many of us take for granted, but in Rwanda, it can be a rare resource. You can't imagine how valuable a tool these hydration packs will be for Rwandans. These packs will allow them to easily take clean drinking water and gear with them while traveling. Basic cycling essentials like a good pump and patches are also hard to come by in Rwanda. Many people patch tubes not with patch kits, but with string, and will do so repeatedly until the tube is completely unusable. To give a Rwandan a real patch kit and hand pump is a truly empowering gift."
Project Rwanda was founded by Tom Ritchey after he visited Rwanda in 2005, out of his passion for cycling, a love of Rwanda's natural beauty, and the inspiring stories of hope of the Rwandan people. Tom's trip resulted in a realization that the bicycle can be an important tool in rebuilding a country, building national pride and addressing local issues facing Rwanda and other African nations. Project Rwanda is committed to furthering the economic development of Rwanda through initiatives based on the bicycle as a tool and symbol of hope. The organization's goal is to use the bike to help boost the Rwandan economy as well as re-brand Rwanda as a beautiful and safe place to do business and visit freely.
The Lezyne goods will be transported one box at a time to Rwanda via the Rwandan Courier Network over the course of the year. The Rwandan Courier Network is a group of men and women who volunteer to carry goods to and from the African nation. Project Rwanda organizers found that due to the high cost of international shipping, individual couriers are the most reliant and cost effective method of transport. So, if you are bounds for Rwanda and have room for one more bag, give these guys a call and directly take part in helping another nation.
For more information about this Lezyne and Project Rwanda, please visit the following link:
Project Rwanda Official website >


text:
According to historians Andrew Dunar and Stephen Waring, writing in their 1999 book Power to Explor**e: A History of Marshall Space Flight Center, in the 1970s two lines of thought emerged within NASA concerning manned spaceflight's course after the Space Shuttle became operational. On the one hand, there was the "revolutionary" line taken by Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas. On the other was the "evolutionary" line of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama.
At JSC, many managers assumed that, as soon as the Shuttle became operational, NASA would get a green light to assemble a large, new-design, multipurpose space station in low-Earth orbit (LEO). They envisioned that a future President would make a speech much like President John F. Kennedy's 25 May 1961 "moon speech." Visionary goal thus proclaimed, the funding floodgates would open.
At MSFC, by contrast, many managers expected that NASA budgets would remain tight for the foreseeable future, so any space technology development that took place would need to be incremental; that is, it would have to begin with existing space hardware and occur in small steps. MSFC's work on Skylab, a temporary LEO space station launched in May 1973 on the last Saturn V rocket to fly, probably helped to shape their outlook. The 169,950-pound Skylab "cluster," which comprised the Multiple Docking Adapter, the Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM), and the Orbital Workshop, had been conceived originally as an element of the Apollo Applications Program (AAP). As its name implies, AAP was meant to apply hardware developed for the Apollo lunar program to new tasks.
When MSFC engineers looked at the Space Transportation System (STS), as NASA called the Space Shuttle and its stable of expendable upper stages and European-built Spacelab components, they saw not the promise of a big new space station, but rather a system which, once operational, could benefit from evolutionary development. In particular, they noted that Spacelab, which MSFC was assigned to integrate with the Shuttle, could not reach its potential as an orbiting laboratory while the Shuttle Orbiter's planned maximum time in space was only seven days. The Orbiter and its payloads would rely for electricity on the former's fuel cells, which meant that the quantity of fuel-cell reactants the Orbiter could carry would determine their endurance.
In early 1977, with the first STS flight test officially planned for March 1979, MSFC proposed "the first step beyond the baseline STS" - a Power Module (PM) capable of supplying 25 kilowatts of electricity continuously. The solar-powered PM was meant to be deployed into LEO from a Shuttle Orbiter payload bay and left in space for up to five years. A succession of Orbiters bearing Spacelab modules and pallets in their payload bays would dock with the PM and use its electricity to remain in orbit for up to 30 days at a stretch.
Alternately, a Shuttle Orbiter could attach a "freeflyer" payload to the orbiting PM and leave it to operate on its own. This appealed to materials scientists, who worried that astronauts' movements on board the Shuttle Orbiter and Spacelab would rattle and ruin their microgravity experiments. Orbiters would periodically dock with the materials science freeflyer/PM combination to remove experiment products - for example, large flawless crystals - and to replenish raw materials.
In addition to electricity, the PM "building block" would provide thermal and attitude control. The latter would permit a docked Orbiter to conserve its Reaction Control System propellants. Freeflyer payloads meant to be docked with the PM could be built without thermal and attitude control systems, reducing their cost.
MSFC engineers planned at first to base the PM on the Skylab ATM design. They quickly found, however, that modifying the ATM to meet stringent Orbiter payload bay safety requirements would cost more than a new design. They retained the ATM's octagonal cross-section, however, because they found that it made efficient use of the Orbiter's cylindrical payload bay volume while providing flat surfaces upon which to mount subsystems.
Although it nixed the ATM, MSFC still aimed to lower the PM's cost by using subsystems developed for Skylab, Spacelab, Shuttle, and other programs. These included three Skylab Control Moment Gyros for attitude control and four curved Shuttle payload bay door radiators for thermal control. MSFC planned to update and improve Skylab systems used in the PM based on Skylab flight experience. All major PM subsystems would be redesigned for easy replacement by spacewalking astronauts.
The 31,000-pound PM would measure 55 feet long from the framework holding its aft- and side-facing international docking ports to the forward ends of its stowed twin solar arrays. The PM would fill most of the Shuttle Orbiter's 15-by-60-foot payload bay, leaving room only for a docking tunnel with an international docking port at the front of the bay, attached to the aft wall of the Orbiter crew compartment.
Upon arrival in LEO, the astronauts would open the Shuttle Orbiter's payload bay doors and release the five pins that secured the PM in the bay. They would then use the Orbiter's robot arm to lift the PM from the bay and berth its side-facing docking port on the Orbiter port. This would position the module so that it extended out over the crew compartment.
The astronauts would next extend the PM's twin solar arrays. Fully extended, each wing-like array would measure 131 feet long by 30 feet wide. They would together span a little more than 276 feet. MSFC sized the arrays to generate a total of 59 kilowatts of electricity; that is, 34 kilowatts more than the PM would supply to Spacelab-carrying Orbiters and freeflyers. A portion of this excess would power PM systems, but the majority would charge batteries in the PM so that it could supply a constant 25 kilowatts throughout its roughly 90-minute orbital day-night cycle.
MSFC acknowledged that the big solar arrays would degrade over time; its engineers estimated that over five years they would lose 5% of their generating capacity. Similarly, the PM's batteries would gradually lose their ability to charge and discharge. After five years, a Shuttle Orbiter might be sent up to recover the PM and return it to Earth for refurbishment. Another Orbiter would then launch it back to LEO to continue its duties.
MSFC engineers presented the PM concept to scientists at an MSFC-sponsored solar-terrestrial physics workshop in October 1977. They found broad support for the new capabilities the PM would give to the baseline STS.
They also proposed that the PM become part of plans to reuse Skylab. MSFC contractor McDonnell Douglas had "interrogated" the abandoned space station's data handling system and found that, nearly four years after its last crew had returned to Earth, reactivation remained feasible. The first step toward Skylab reuse would be for a Space Shuttle to rendezvous with it late in 1979 and boost it to a longer-lived orbit.
The PM would be a late addition to the revitalized Skylab cluster; MSFC did not expect that the new STS element would reach LEO for the first time until 1983, by which time several Shuttle Orbiters would already have visited Skylab. Once added to Skylab, however, the PM would enable the revitalized station to support as many as six astronauts without a Shuttle Orbiter present. They would perform experiments with large-scale space construction and early space industrialization.
MSFC engineers hoped that the PM would also contribute toward NASA's quest for Skylab's successor. They envisioned that PMs attached to Shuttle Orbiters, freeflyers, and Skylab might lead to PMs attached to Spacelab-derived habitat and laboratory modules during the 1980s.
In 1978, the Huntsville center contracted with Lockheed Missiles & Space Company to study PM evolution. MSFC expected that PM development might lead to simultaneous operation of several small specialized "space platforms," each with at least one PM attached. The platforms would not need to be staffed continuously. MSFC argued that several small platforms would best serve scientific and engineering disciplines with conflicting needs, and might cost less than a single large station besides.
In early 1979, NASA Headquarters authorized MSFC to spend $90 million on PM hardware development. The Huntsville center created a PM Project Office in March 1979. At about the same time, however, the space agency abandoned plans to reuse Skylab because the Space Shuttle would not be ready in time to prevent its uncontrolled reentry. Skylab reentered Earth's atmosphere over Australia on 11 July 1979.
JSC, meanwhile, pitched a new-design Space Operations Center (SOC). The space station would include hangars for reusable auxiliary spacecraft and satellite repair, robot arms, habitat and laboratory modules, and truss-mounted solar arrays spanning more than 400 feet.
STS-1, the maiden flight of Columbia, the first Space Shuttle Orbiter, took place in April 1981. James Beggs, President Ronald Reagan's choice for NASA Administrator, was confirmed two months later. Beggs soon sought presidential approval for a space station. This move seemed to favor JSC's revolutionary vision. At the same time, however, Beggs informed MSFC that he wanted to buy the new station "by the yard" - that is, as money became available. This approach seemed more in line with MSFC thinking.
In November 1981, NASA Headquarters halted PM, SOC, and other station-related work at MSFC and JSC. According to Dunar and Waring, it did this to take charge of station development and to end MSFC-JSC rivalry. Following Reagan's January 1984 State of the Union Address, in which he called upon NASA to build a space station by 1994, JSC's revolutionary vision seemed to win out. JSC was designated "lead center" for space station in early February 1984.
Although Reagan authorized NASA to spend only the $8 billion Beggs had told him the station would cost and had specifically called for a space laboratory in his State of the Union Address, the agency's first baseline station design, the "Dual Keel," was an elaborate combination of lab, Earth/space observatory, and shipyard measuring more than 500 feet wide. Like the SOC, the Dual Keel included hangars, robotics, and a small fleet of reusable auxiliary vehicles.
The Dual Keel's complex multipurpose design immediately came in for criticism. Scientists, for example, complained that space construction and the comings and goings of auxiliary spacecraft were bound to spoil the station's microgravity environment. Congress, meanwhile, accused NASA of low-balling its cost estimate to gain the project's approval.
Congressional cost containment, combined with the Challenger accident, concern over the number of assembly and maintenance spacewalks the station would need, and a rapidly expanding U.S.-Russian space partnership (one which would have been unthinkable when Reagan delivered his January 1984 speech), led to a decade-long series of station redesigns. The station shrank and lost many of its proposed capabilities. This untidy evolution yielded the International Space Station (ISS), a U.S.-Russian hybrid with Japanese and European labs and Canadian robotics.
Ironically, the first ISS element launched into space amounted to a PM. The Russian-built, U.S.-funded FGB provided the second ISS element to reach space, U.S. Node 1, with electricity and attitude control from December 1998 to July 2000, when they were joined by what amounted to a habitat module - the Russian Service Module. At that point, ISS became capable of supporting long-duration crews.
Guntersville Workshop on Solar-Terrestrial Studies, NASA Conference Publication 2037, "summary papers from a University of Alabama in Huntsville/NASA Workshop conducted 13-17 October 1977, at Lake Guntersville State Park Convention Center, Guntersville, Alabama," NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, 1978.
"The 25 kW Power Module - First step beyond the baseline STS," G, Mordan; paper presented at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Conference on Large Space Platforms: Future Needs and Capabilities held in Los Angeles, California, 27-29 September 1978.
25 kW Power Module Updated Baseline System, NASA TM-78212, NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama, December 1978.
Power to Explore: a History of Marshall Space Flight Center, 1960-1990, NASA-SP-4313, Andrew J. Dunar and Stephen P. Waring, NASA History Office, 1999.


text:
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling (30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936 / Bombay)
» Click to list general statistics » OR, select a date :
Our Fathers Of Old
Excellent herbs had our fathers of old--
Excellent herbs to ease their pain--
Alexanders and Marigold,
Eyebright, Orris, and Elecampane--
read more >>
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text:
A-Dub (Feat. Yung Quis & M.U.G) - Respect Me [Unsigned Hype]
@A_DUB_HOOKKING Ft ABN's @YUNGQUISKUSHBOY & BHO's @MUGOfSDS "Respect Me' Off His Upcoming Street Album Hook King Powered By L.M.P. Films/Rec PRODUCED BY @CHUCKMOVESENT DIRECTED BY @DBDABOSS TO BOOK A-DUB CONTACT firstname.lastname@example.com
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text:
For forums, blogs and more please visit our
Developer Tools Community.
By: John Kaster
Abstract: Instructions for using, and notes about the Embarcadero chat system
Embarcadero has provided a free online chat service to Embarcadero Developer Network members since November 2007. For more information on our chat server, see its introductory article. We also published a chat FAQ during CodeRage.
All documentation currently available for our chat system can be seen at http://edn.embarcadero.com/help/chat.
All that is required to join a chat is a Embarcadero Developer Network (EDN) account. EDN accounts are available free of charge. If you don't have an account yet, our chat system can walk you through the process of creating an account when you want to join a chat.
We use a customized JWChat as our browser interface. You can click on the link for a chat room and automatically join the chat. If you are not yet logged in, you will be prompted to do so during the joining process.
Note: You must enable pop-ups for chat.embarcadero.com (or *.embarcadero.com) and enable cookies for embarcadero.com for our browser-based chat system to function properly on your machine.
The GUI client we recommend for our chat system is Pidgin, which supports far more than just Jabber for instant messaging. It is available on a variety of platforms.
To connect to our Jabber server with Pidgin, use the following values for the dialog under the Accounts menu on the Pidgin buddy list window, but change the user information to your Embarcadero Developer Network login rather than mine!
Use the Accounts|Add/Edit menu to edit or create your account.
Hide image
4 Basic account configuration
Your screen name should be your developer network Login name. You can view your login name with the login form at https://members.embarcadero.com. If the values on the form are blank, just do your login and you can see all your account values.
The password you provide is the same as your Developer Network login.
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5 Advanced account configuration
After you connect, you should see a status window similar to the Pidgin buddy list:
6 The Pidgin buddy list window
Then, use Tools|Room List menu to start retrieving the list of group chat rooms hosted on our server.
7 The room list dialog before rooms are retrieved
Click [Get List].
8 Entering the chat server address
Use "rooms.chat.embarcadero.com" as the conference server name if it's not already set, and click [Find Rooms].
9 The retrieved room list
Select the room you wish to join, and click the [Join] button. If you want to add the room to your "roster" of chats, click the [Add Chat] button instead.
We have extended JWChat and OpenFire with special features that are discussed in this section.
Throughout various locations on our web sites, we have invitations to join or start a chat in one of our special interest rooms. On the Developer Network, these currently appear in the upper right of the browser window on various pages. When no one is in the chat room, you will be invited to start a chat:
When one or more people are in the chat room, you will be invited to join the chat:
Hide image
The room list is a "dashboard" page that shows participation levels in the current chat rooms. Room status is updated every 15 seconds. The countdown can be pre-empted by clicking on the "refreshing" link. Any room on the list can be joined via the browser by clicking on the room name.
The room list is available at http://chat.embarcadero.com.
Any room that is currently "open" appears in the room list. Rooms that require moderation will be displayed when a moderator is available, and will disappear when a moderator is not present.
We have also introduced a "Question and Answer" (Q&A) interface for web broadcasts like our online conferences and public chats. For the browser, this Q&A interface uses three (3) chat rooms that pop up on request, and can be placed anywhere on your monitor(s): the public chat room, the VIP room, and the Q&A room.
Note: Pidgin and other jabber clients can be used to participate in VIP chat rooms but the output will not be formatted nicely like our browser interface shows. You can ask questions by prefacing your chat text with /ask.
The public chat room can be used by all people attending the chat, including moderators. Chat participants can /ask questions in moderated chat rooms, and receive notification that their question has been submitted to Q&A room. The Q&A room is only visible to chat moderators. Answers to /asked questions appear in the VIP room.
The main difference between the public chat room for Q&A chats and other public group chats are the [Ask] button, and links to the other rooms used during the event. Clicking on the link for another room will automatically join you to that room, or re-display it if you're "in" the room but it is not visible on your display.
For all participants, the public chat room has a link to open the VIP room. Moderators will also have a link to the Q&A room. Chat administrators can toggle any user as a moderator. If a user is a moderator, a link to open the Q&A room appears in the public chat room.
1 Sample public chat room
Only moderators can post content to the VIP room. Questions answered in the Q&A room appear in the VIP room with some special formatting to group the question and answer together. Moderators can also post messages directly to the VIP room from the Q&A room.
2 Sample VIP room with questions and answers
Only moderators can see the Q&A room. The Q&A room color codes the status of the questions.
As the following screen shot shows, multiple actions are available for processing questions. All buttons except for [Send] and [Ask] require a specific question to be selected in the queue.
3 Q&A room view, only for moderators
Sets the text field for the "Assigned" column if a specific user should answer the question.
Remove the question from the Q&A room
Mark as Read
Changes the status of a message from unread to read (only for your own browser view). Question ID 9 has been marked as "read" in the screenshot above.
Set Reply
Assign the text of the reply to the question. The question itself can also be edited in this dialog. Question 6 above has its reply set, so it is ready to be answered.
Send the question and reply to the VIP room. The question must have a reply to be sent. Question ID 7 above has been answered.
Submits a question to the Q&A queue. /ask <question> can also be used, just as it works in the public chat room.
Send a message to the VIP room. This message has all the special handling described above in the public chat room section.
We have a several standard "phrases" that automatically receive hyperlinks in the chat. These are defined in the JavaScript file cgAdditions.js. The string matching is case-insensitive.
Points to the 3rdRail product page
Blackfish, Blackfish SQL
Points to the Blackfish SQL product page
Points to the C++Builder product page
Points to the CodeCentral web site at the CC item id
Points to http://www.embarcadero.com
Points to the current CodeRage page
Points to the Delphi product page
Delphi for PHP, DelphiPHP
Points to the Delphi for PHP product page
Points to the InterBase product page
Points to the JBuilder product page
Points to the JGear product page
Points to the QualityCentral web site at the QC report ID
Point the QC Windows client to the provided report ID
RAD Studio, RADstudio
Points to the RAD Studio product page
JWChat has special text recognition enhancements for chat messaging presented in the browser. It also supports a subset of IRC commands, and some different commands applicable to browser client chats.
The command syntax is a slash character, followed by the command, and the text to parse for the command.
Ask a question. Only available in certain Q&A chats.
/ask Why is there air?
Join a chat room by room name.
/join delphi
Describes something you're doing.
/me laughs
Moderator only. Ban a user from using our chat server.
/ban bozo
Moderator only. Kick a user out of a chat room. They can rejoin the chat again.
/kick bozo
Moderator only. Kick all non-moderators out of a chat room
Posts a message to the chat room. (This is the same as entering text and not specifying any special command.)
/say Boo!
Clears the current chat display in your browser window. Does not clear chat history for the room.
Sets your chat nickname. This option is not available in Embarcadero chats.
If your Embarcadero user account has a nickname set, it will be used in the chat room. If you don't have a nickname specified, FirstName_LastName is used as your nickname. You can set your nickname in membership services.
Moderator only. Sets the topic of the chat room.
/topic New chat topic!
Invites a user to join the chat. Available in most chat rooms.
/invite jkaster
Send a private message to a specific user.
/msg jaben I'm here!
Leave one or more chat rooms
/part delphi
Display public information on specified user. (This currently has issues on our chat server.)
/whois jkaster
Many text patterns are treated specially by the JWChat browser client, including recognition of url patterns, bold and underline. We have also extended the JWChat regex matching to support italics with a syntax like /this should be in italics/.
Could not retrieve comments. Please try again later.
Server Response from: ETNASC04


text:
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Yasiel Puig tied a franchise record with three triples and added a double and two RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers moved within a half-game of NL West-leading San Francisco by beating the Giants 8-1 on Friday night.
The Dodgers matched a club record with five triples, including three during a five-run fifth inning that chased Tim Lincecum (9-7). It was the most triples in a game for the franchise since 1921 and most by a Dodgers player since Brooklyn's Jimmy Sheckard had three in 1901.
Zack Greinke (12-6) tossed seven innings of four-hit ball, striking out 10 and walking one. Tyler Colvin hit an RBI single in the ninth for San Francisco's only run.
Greinke recorded another rare feat on a night full of them: he struck out four batters in the third after a wild pitch allowed Hunter Pence to reach base on a swinging strike three.
Even with all of Greinke's greatness, the game belonged to Puig and the triple-crazed hitters in blue.
The performances at the plate came after Dodgers manager Don Mattingly shook up his crowded outfield, putting Puig in center, moving Matt Kemp — who had three hits, including a triple — to right and starting Carl Crawford in left.
Puig got things going with a hard-hit fly ball to center with one out in the first inning, flipping his bat as he sprinted out of the box. Two fans — one wearing a Giants jersey, the other in a Dodgers uniform — battled for the ball as it approached the wall, knocking it back on the field.
Puig hustled to third, and umpires kept him there following a video review. Adrian Gonzalez followed with a sharp single to right to score Puig and give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.
The Dodgers did most of their damage in a wild fifth. Puig and Dee Gordon hit back-to-back RBI triples, and Kemp had a two-run triple as the Dodgers scored five runs in the inning.
Puig added his third triple to right-center off reliever Juan Gutierrez in the sixth to extend the Dodgers' lead to 7-0. He thought he had another extra-base hit when he flied out to deep center in the eighth.
The last player with three triples in a game was Denard Span for Minnesota in 2010.
Lincecum was charged with six runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings. His start came after getting two outs in Tuesday night's 14-inning win in Philadelphia for his first career save.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he didn't expect Lincecum to be tired from the extra appearance because the right-hander usually throws a bullpen session on that day between starts. Either way, it was Lincecum's worst start since giving up eight runs in 4 1-3 innings at Cincinnati on June 3.
The night was even shorter for his catcher.
Hector Sanchez took a foul tip from Gonzalez off his mask in the third. Sanchez struck out in the bottom of the inning before Buster Posey moved from first to catcher to begin the fourth.
NOTES: Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez returned after missing three games with a left wrist injury. He went 2 for 5 with one RBI. ... The announced crowd of 41,753 was San Francisco's 300th consecutive regular-season sellout. ... Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (11-2, 1.92 ERA) starts opposite Giants RHP Ryan Vogelsong (5-7, 3.99 ERA) on Saturday night.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Yasiel Puig tied a franchise record with three triples and added a double and two RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers moved within a half-game of NL West-leading San Francisco by beating the Giants 8-1 on Friday night.


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Richard Stotz with Roscoe, the Regimental Mascot
In Richard Stotz's last years, he gave a scrapbook of photographs to his nephew. They were taken during Stotz's time as combat photographer with the 28th Marine Corps during World War II. The photographs were taken by him and his fellow comrades during training at Camp Pendleton, in Hawaii, at the Battle of Iwo Jima, and during the occupation of Tokyo.
You can see a gallery of some of his photos on the Hayes Presidential Center website
We "pinned" some of Richard Stotz's photographs on Historypin, where you can see a slideshow .
In October, the Stotz Photographs were highlighted as the featured collection of the week on the Historypin blog.
Richard "Dick" H. Stotz was born on 18 March 1922 in Fremont, Ohio to Edward and Neva (Heinman) Stotz. Upon graduating from Fremont Ross High School in 1940, he owned and operated Abdoo Photography with his brother, Donald Stotz. On 14 December 1942 Dick enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and reported to boot camp at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California.
After graduating from boot camp he was assigned to the base photograph section as a photographer, completing numerous aerial and reconnaissance training missions. In 1944 Dick was reassigned to the 5th Marine Division, 28th Regiment intelligence platoon as a motion and still photographer. Each division had 12 to 30 still photographers and cinematographers. Stotz and the other combat photographers were sent to 20th Century Fox Studios in Hollywood, California for additional training on still photography. After completing this training he rejoined his platoon, along with fellow photographer L.R. Burmeister and combat correspondents William Vessey and W. Keyes Beech.
Marines Carrying Their Wounded Comrade
Stotz's primary duty was to capture the battle in photographs as it was taking place. The job of a combat photographer was made more dangerous because they were never heavily armed, usually carrying only a single weapon and their camera equipment. Photographs taken during a combat assault, like Iwo Jima, were rarely developed in the field. The photographers film was sent out by plane or naval ship to an alternate location to be developed. Most likely, photographers never saw the actual photographs. These photographs were be used for training purposes and to identify any mistakes that may have occurred.
Medic Treating Wounded Marine
Once on shore the Marines were immediately met with a heavy assault from the Japanese that included artillery and machine gunfire. Both the United States and Japan experienced heavy casualties during the initial invasion. Intelligence correspondent, Sgt. Bill Vessey, was killed on 20 February 1945, the second day of the battle. Sgt. L.R. Burmeister was wounded several days later. On 22 February 1945 the Marines gained control of Mount Suribachi and proceeded to take possession of both airfields on the island. Stotz was acquainted with fellow photographer, Joe Rosenthal, who took the iconic photograph of the flag raising atop Mt. Suribachi. The assault lasted 36 days, with the United States taking control of the island on 26 March 1945. The seizure of Iwo Jima allowed for sea and air blockades, andthe ability to conduct intensive air bombardment to destroy Japan's air and naval capabilities. Although Iwo Jima was a key victory for the United States, the battle resulted in over 26,000 American casualties. Twenty-seven Medals of Honor were awarded to Marines and sailors, more than were awarded for any other single operation during the war.
To read more about the Marines on Iwo Jima, follow this link to Iwo Jima: A Retrospective
To read more about the Marines on Iwo Jima, follow this link to Iwo Jima: A Retrospective
Marines Dug In


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Peaches was born in rescue on the 14.10.2019 and was rehomed on the 07.02.2020.
" Ruby has settled in well. "
If you enjoyed this article please consider sharing it!
Heatons Cats is a charity dedicated to caring for and re-homing cats in need.
We rely solely on the income from our charity shop and donations to keep going. Our running costs (in particular our vets bills) are substantial, and we are in need of regular donations to help ensure the long-term survival of the charity.
If you are interested in making a regular contribution, or a one-off donation, please click the Paypal link below.
All donations, no matter how small, are gratefully received.
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$5.99 to $34.99
Self-insulating fiberglass rod posts. Very strong and flexible. Will not rot or rust. Never conducts electricity - so no insulators are needed. 3/8" D. Read More
This product is currently unavailable for purchase.
Approx. 3/8"D. Gray only.
Galvanized steel spring clips equalize tension over the entire line & allow wire to move freely horizontally while maintaining proper wire height.
Spring clips sold separately.
- Brand: Geotek
- Material: Fiberglass
- Height: 4',5'
Reviews (2)
"Quick, Easy, and inexpensive fencing"
Our setup: 5' fiberglass posts, metal butterfly clips and a single strand of polywire. 2 horses, about 1/4 mile of fence, been in the ground for 1 year. The fence works great, horses are terrified of it, showing no signs of wear and tear. The deer have had it down a couple of times, but it's easy to put back up. We're in a rural area, so it wasn't a big deal to put the horses back in when the deer took out the fence, might be a bigger deal next to a busy road!
"Great cheap fencing"
After a year of use poles still look brand new even in this hot New Mexico sun where they bake at 9000 feet close to the sun! Affordable practical portable fencing. This fencing holds up even when the elk try to break thru the fencing!


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At Nissan's Oppama plant, there's an innocuous red door with 'Nissan DNA Garage' written in bold font. It's not a welcoming door – 'keep out' is plainly written next to the handle – but for Japanese car nuts it's the equivalent of climbing through the wardrobe to Narnia.
Nissan's DNA Garage is a giant warehouse home to the company's most treasured possessions. Giant car companies aren't usually very sentimental; often they'd rather crush prototypes or one-offs than find space to keep them.
Thankfully, Nissan is different, and the DNA Garage is home to one of the most jaw-dropping collections of significant cars you're ever likely to see.
No matter what style or era you're into, there's almost guaranteed to be something to get you drooling. Vintage machinery? How about Nissan's first car, the 1933 Datsun 12? Or Prince Skylines so clean you could eat your dinner off them? If the '70s were your golden era, there's the legendary original GT-R 'Hakosuka' and immaculate early Z-cars.
For the computer game generation it's like walking into your very own Gran Turismo garage. GT-Rs of every type and iconic race cars as far as the eye can see – Group C Le Mans prototypes, historic rally cars, outrageous Group 5 Silhouette racers and more JGTC racers than you can point a Playstation controller at.
Sadly, the museum is very, very rarely open to the public, but hopefully flicking through our gallery is the next best thing. For a full list of vehicles and specs on each click here.


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Square cut engagement rings
Why do we need square cut engagement rings
Wedding rings – is a constant attribute of the wedding. I must say that at the legislative level the use of square cut engagement rings is not regulated at all. Sign and become a husband and wife is quite possible, without exchanging rings. But the sacred tradition to wear wedding rings adhere to for many centuries. And therefore, it is hardly possible to find a couple who would ignore the rite of exchange square cut engagement rings. Most often, the newlyweds exchange rings at the wedding. In more religious families, the priest puts the rings on the fingers of the young during the wedding ceremony in the church. So, square cut engagement rings!
What is square cut engagement rings
The ring is a symbol of loyalty and devotion of spouses. It has no end, no beginning, which symbolizes eternity and the strength of family ties. By exchanging square cut engagement rings, the bride and groom give each other a vow of love and loyalty.
The practical side of square cut engagement rings
From a practical point of view, wedding rings, square cut engagement rings, are also very important. They show that the husband and wife have already found each other, that they are happy and do not want to love affairs on the side. When meeting someone, it is somehow not acceptable to ask directly in the forehead: Girl, and are you married? But if the golden ring, square cut engagement rings, sparkles on the ring finger, then the question, like the intrusive cavalier himself, disappears by itself.


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At midnight on July 27, 2010 interplanetary conflict will ignite anew, as StarCraft® II: Wings of Liberty™ hits shelves at retail locations throughout the world!
At Gamerush in Mexico City, Blizzard Entertainment will be on hand to celebrate the launch of the game with players and sign newly released copies. Lines begin forming the afternoon of July 26. Quantities are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to arrive early!
In addition to the game itself, there will be prize giveaways, trivia contests and more. So don't miss out on the excitement; head over to Gamerush and be among the first to celebrate the arrival of StarCraft® II: Wings of Liberty™ with Blizzard Entertainment. In the words of Tychus Findlay, "Hell, it's about time...."


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primary school tutors
September 4, 2015
Should your child sit the Kent or Bexley test?
We all want the best for our children, and given the choice, all children should have access to the best schools and wouldn't need to sit the Kent or Bexley test to give them access to such a school. All schools should provide the same standard of education, and they should all be free – but in the real world, it's a different story. Read More
August 28, 2015
How to prepare your year 5 child for the 11-plus exams in Kent and Bexley
It's this time of year when a lot of parents with children going into year 5 start to panic a bit about the 11-plus. Many will have only heard about the 11-plus in passing during the summer holidays, and others have waited for the summer to end before starting their search for an 11-plus tutor.
Tuition aside, what do you need to do to help your child prepare adequately for the 11-plus exams in Kent and Bexley? Here are some tips: Read More
August 26, 2015
Does your child need a maths tutor to help them with the new maths GCSE?
The new GCSE maths is harder than before – if your child has always struggled with maths, or is demotivated when it comes to working on maths, then you may need to look for a maths tutor.
Year 10 children did not get into a panic about it for no good reason. But the fact is, with sufficient knowledge and practice, you can easily get an 8 or 9. Read More
August 23, 2015
Maths tutor needed! Does your child need a an extra push?
A 'maths tutor needed' sign comes when your child starts to hate maths, or is dragging behind the rest of the class. In an ideal situation, you'll have picked up on the cues before it gets that far, but sometimes, it can snowball, and the odd comment from their class teacher ends in a report that shows your childhas either slipped back or not made any progress at all. Read More
August 23, 2015
Looking for an 11-plus tutor in Bromley?
Are you looking for an academic 11-plus tutor in the Bromley area to prepare your child for the Kent or Bexley grammar tests? Are you looking for a tutor who can get your child ready to sit 11-plus exams at an independent school? Whatever your need, Geek School offers specialist tuition for the 11-plus and grammar tests, and we are based in Bromley and Sydenham.
With students coming from Downham, Beckenham, Bromley, Chislehurst, Oprington ad even as far as Biggin Hill, we must be doing something right – and our results speak for themselves. In the 2015 Bexley Selective Tests, we had the highest scorer – that's very impressive, considering there were more than 5,000 children sitting the exams.
What to check when looking for an 11-plus tutor in Bromley
Finding a good tutor in Bromley, who has a clear understanding of the demands of the 11-plus, and who is able to equip your child with the right tools to pass can be a challenge for many. Most parents feel relieved when they get in touch with Geek School, as they find that professionalism and a true understanding of these exams is just a bonus.
This year, Geek School graduates have gained entry into Chislehurst and Sidcup grammar school, Dartford Grammar, Beths Grammar, St Dunstans and Colfes.
Based in Downham, Bromley, we are just 10-15 mins away from Bromley Central by car, in a safe residential area that has free parking. We are the secret weapon of a lot of children in the Bromley area, with children coming from both state and private schools in the Bromley and Lewisham boroughs.
Get in touch today
Geek School is Ofsted registered, DBS checks (formerly CRB) is a requirement of this process, and it is carried out through the same system that is used in schools and nurseries, so you can have peace of mind.
We would love to hear from you – get in touch today.


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|Land Matters Discussion Area Discussion Relating to Your Land/Legislative Issues
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"Listening" Sessions...
America's Great Outdoors Initiative - What you need to knowJuly 8th, 2010
BRC Recreation Advisory
America's Great Outdoors Initiative - What you need to know
On April 16, 2010 President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum that will radically reshape the U.S. Government's conservation policy. The Memorandum created the America's Great Outdoors Initiative which directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ) to coordinate with the Interior and Agriculture Departments on a program to promote conservation and outdoor recreation.
According to Obama's Memorandum, the goals of the Initiative shall be to:
1.Reconnect Americans, especially children, to America's rivers and waterways, landscapes of national significance, ranches, farms and forests, great parks, and coasts and beaches by exploring a variety of efforts, including: promoting community-based recreation and conservation, including local parks, greenways, beaches, and waterways; advancing job and volunteer opportunities related to conservation and outdoor recreation; supporting existing programs and projects that educate and engage Americans in our history, culture, and natural bounty.
2.Build upon State, local, private, and tribal priorities for the conservation of land, water, wildlife, historic, and cultural resources, creating corridors and connectivity across these outdoor spaces, and for enhancing neighborhood parks; and determine how the Federal Government can best advance those priorities through public private partnerships and locally supported conservation strategies.
3.Use science-based management practices to restore and protect our lands and waters for future generations.
The Memorandum listed three "functions:" 1) outreach; 2) coordination; and 3) reports. The outreach function includes the listening session mentioned above and directs that special attention should be given to bringing young Americans into the conversation. The coordination function directs the EPA, CEQ, Dept. of Ag and Interior to work with various agencies of the federal government to "identify existing resources and align policies and programs to achieve its goals." The Memorandum also requires the Chair of the CEQ to issue a report by November 15, 2010, and Annual reports by September 30, 2011, and 2012.
Why this matters to you:
There is a very real possibility this might just end up being a giant vehicle to hand the "conservation community" whatever is on its latest wish list.
But you don't need to take my word for it. Here are a few excerpts from a speech New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson made at the April 16 conference:
"We need new outdoor initiatives that retain the basics and core of conservation and I'm going to talk about them today. Expanding our wilderness systems and parks protecting our air, water and habitat the basics, the Mo Udall, the Stewart Udall, the Bruce Babbitt agendas that were so worthy of American support. And now with Ken Salazar emerging, somebody that is driving this excellent agency into another period of excellence."
"... We have to work together to develop landscape conservation legacies that include a new series of parks, new monument, new management strategies for public lands. This isn't a decades-long fight, it should happen now. What do we need first?"
"I would say an omnibus wilderness bill, wilderness legislation consolidated. The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act in Colorado, Berryessa Snow-Mountain Conservation in California, the bills to provide Yute [Ute] Mountain and Rio Grande Del Norte as well as the Organ Mountains in New Mexico and other proposed landscape protections in Arizona, in Idaho, in Nevada and across the west."
"Secretary Salazar has wasted no time in protecting treasured landscapes working in partnerships with the states. I urge the Interior Department to move forward quickly on its expanded national monument plan and I commend Secretary Salazar for engaging the governors early on this initiatives."
What you need to do:
First of all, don't panic. Governor Richardson's fondness for the "bad old days" of Clinton era land grabs notwithstanding, Secretary Salazar seems to be pushing back a bit from adopting the Wilderness Society's wish list, at least not all of it. As if to hint at this, Secretary Salazar made the following comment to Governor Richardson immediately after his speech: "Governor Richardson, thank you for your presentation and your great ideas. We agree with most of them. [Laughter] But you were never shy."
Participation in the "outreach" portion of President Obama's Memorandum is MANDATORY.
BRC is encouraging our members to attend the meetings in Asheville, NC, Minneapolis, MN, Hudson River, NY, Maine/New Hampshire, Anchorage and Denver. Meeting time and locations as well as additional meetings will be announced soon. (Subscribe to BRC's Action Alert email list for regular updates and info.)
IMPORTANT: The DOI has an online "idea generator." There are many good ideas that you can "vote" for and you might want to submit your own. http://ideas.usda.gov/ago/ideas.nsf/
We've posted a few ideas and talking points below. Feel free to use these if you wish.
The DOI also has a "tell your story" webpage. If you enjoy OHV and snowmobile riding with your family, please consider taking a minute to jot down a personal anecdote on this webpage. http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/Feedback.cfm
Finally, call your congressional representatives! With all that is going on in Washington these days, your Congressman and Senator may not even know about this initiative. Make sure he or she knows and remind them that it is their (Congress) responsibility for provide oversight and represent constituents' interests - especially when access to public lands is at issue. Easily find your Congressman's contact info via our Rapid Response webpage. http://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/
Remarks by The President at America's Great Outdoors Conference
You can email your information to: email@example.com or mail a hard copy to: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife and Parks, America's Great Outdoors, 1849 C St NW, Washington, DC 20240.
The DOI has a online "idea generator." There are many good ideas that you can "vote" for, and you might want to submit your own. http://ideas.usda.gov/ago/ideas.nsf/
We've posted a few ideas and talking points below. Feel free to use these if you wish.
The DOI also has a "tell your story" webpage. If you enjoy OHV and snowmobile riding with your family, please consider taking a minute to jot down a personal anecdote on this webpage. http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/Feedback.cfm
Ideas for America's Great Outdoors Initiative:
This initiative is partly motivated by a need to enhance recreational opportunities on public lands. But increased recreation opportunities will not flow from a whisk of a pen in Washington D.C. Any successful recreation management policy must be accompanied by adequate budget, staffing, and above all, management's priority to achieve critical on-the-ground goals.
Federal agencies' allocation of budget, staff, and management effort should reflect the developing reality that outdoor recreation provides a greater good for more Americans than any other aspect of its multiple-use mandate. The time has come to make managed recreation the BLM and Forest Service's top priority.
Prioritize all efforts on clearing the repair/maintenance/improvement backlog in the National Park Service before designating any new National Parks or other similar protective area designations. (The National Park Service alone estimates that it would need an extra $9.5 billion to clear a backlog of repairs and improvements.)
All too often "conservation" means reducing public access and recreational uses. The AGO Initiative should explore ways to enhance a diverse range of recreational uses, including motorized and non-motorized recreational uses, across federal, state and private lands.
Federal land managers too often limit or restrict public recreation activities. Federal land managers should focus on recreation friendly management plans that are not restrictive and embrace a wide range of diverse recreational uses, including motorized and non-motorized recreation.
The administration has prided itself in being open and transparent, yet Representative Rob Bishop and Representative Doc Hastings have not yet received a response to their requests for documents. It will benefit the outreach function of this Initiative if the Department of the Interior would respond to H. Res. 1406.
The new National Park Service management policy emphasis is on preservation of our National Parks. This limits land managers' options insofar as what recreation opportunities a Park may provide. The initiative should study a supplement to National Park management guidelines to emphasize providing a wide range of recreational uses for the visiting public. Similar supplemental guidance may be appropriate for the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
The initiative and the public will benefit from a full understanding of the various public and private conservation efforts currently underway. Accurate information is critical for good decision-making. Statements that state large areas of our nation's natural landscape have been lost to population growth and development, or that a changing climate and new sources of pollution are affecting wildlife and watersheds, must be put into an accurate context. The initiative must disclose how much land is being conserved. The initiative should work with the over 1,600 privately run land trusts to find out how much land has been protected in recent years. The initiative should disclose how much land is conserved via federal conservation efforts, such as the Department of Agriculture's Conservation Reserve Program. In addition, it would help to disclose how many federal dollars are being spent on the various conservation efforts. Finally, the initiative should disclose the conservation efforts underway via the Land and Resource Management Plans of units of the National Forest System, the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service.
Millions of American families enjoy motorized recreation. It often forms a bond between parents and their children as they experience the great outdoors together.
The OHV community supports conservation efforts including support of the "travel limited to designated roads, trails and areas" paradigm as outlined in the Forest Service travel management regulations and BLM's planning directives. The OHV community also supports conservation through environmental review and analysis in route designation processes, as well as ongoing monitoring and maintenance of the OHV infrastructure. The OHV community supports conservation efforts by contributing substantial funds to implement OHV management and volunteers tens of thousands of man hours in volunteer work projects. Much of this funding is made available to federal land managers via state OHV programs. These programs exist today because years ago motorized recreationists voluntarily "taxed ourselves" via state OHV registration programs. Some of these funds are used to supplement the agencies' law enforcement efforts.
ATV and off-highway motorcycle riding encourages and promotes physical fitness. OHVs provide access to the Great Outdoors for Americans of all ages, shapes, and sizes.
If you participate in the idea generator:
The agency is asking for comment on four "topics."
Challenges - What obstacles exist to achieving your goals for conservation, recreation, or reconnecting people to the outdoors?
What Works - Please share your thoughts and ideas on effective strategies for conservation, recreation and reconnecting people to the outdoors.
Federal Government Role - How can the federal government be a more effective partner in helping to achieve conservation, recreation or reconnecting people to the outdoors?
Tools - What additional tools and resources would help your efforts be even more successful?
Here are some ideas for "Challenges"
The inefficiency of federal bureaucracy is a significant challenge. Disengaged or uninterested land management staff is also a challenge.
The problem known as "analysis paralysis" is a major concern. It should be a priority to review the reasons the U.S. Forest Service is having problems writing Forest Plans.
More and more land is being placed into protective designations. The increased focus on conservation in these areas lead to restrictive land use plans. In Wilderness for example, there are many restrictions including a group size limit. These group size limitations hurt scouting and other youth programs.
There are two key challenges related to funding federal outdoor programs. One problem is that much too much money is being spent on overhead and infrastructure and not on recreational infrastructure. The initiative should find ways to focus agency budget spending on recreational infrastructure, including roads, trails and winter sports areas (including ski areas).
The other problem is the lack of funding, especially appropriated funds. The initiative has ambitious goals but we must face the fact that federal budgets aren't going to be significantly increased, and may be decreased in coming years. The initiative must focus on locally based cooperative efforts to accomplish its goals.
An excellent example is leveraging the various State off-highway vehicle programs. Many states benefit from millions of dollars made available for OHV trails and snowmobile areas via these "user pay" programs. The initiative should enhance these programs where they exist and encourage their formation in states where they lack an off-highway vehicle program.
Here are ideas for "What Works"
Active management of recreational use works. With management (maps, kiosks, partnership agreements, adopt a trail, on the ground signing, etc) land managers increase capacity while decreasing impacts to natural resources.
Involvement of federal land managers with local communities works. Community based FACA committees formed from a broad base of stakeholders can well serve as advisory councils to assist the land manager in critical planning and decision-making efforts.
Here are ideas for "Federal Role"
The federal land managing agencies serve a critical role in supplying a diverse range of recreational opportunity to the American public. Recreation is a key multiple use value. The federal agencies should seek to enhance recreational opportunities on lands that they manage.
Training for local recreation program managers is essential, especially in the area of developing funding opportunities through private sector and federal grant programs such as the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative GRANT Program or the Recreational Trails Program at the federal/state level.
Here are ideas for "Tools"
Have units embrace substantive volunteer programs. Utilize proven management principles such as the Recreational Opportunity Spectrum and ensure that all aspects of ROS are served.
© Copyright 2010, BlueRibbon Coalition, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ______________________________
Friday, July 9, 2010
OHVers Attend Obama Outdoor Event in LA on July 8
The Recreation HQ wants to commend all the OHV clubs and members who took time away from their busy schedules to attend Obamas Great Outdoors Presidential Initiative held on July 8 at Occidental College near Pasadena, California.
The riders and public land access interests that attended the event include Cal4WD, AMA, AMA D 36/37, Dirt Diggers South, NOHVCC, ALAA, CORVA, ORBA, BRC, High Desert Multiple Use Coalition, and California Equestrian Trails Coalition. I apologize to any groups I missed but things were a bit hectic.
The event started off with the Mayor of LA trying to make some political hay to a largely sympathetic crowd. The General felt the jabs although expected were inappropriate and actually detracted from what should been bipartisan advocacy for the recreation and outdoor goals of the Initiative.
A number of speeches were given by cabinet level officials some of which challenged the group to tell them what works and what doesnt and if they should simple get out of the way. I wrote that challenge down to be brought up during the breakout sessions.
The following sub-panel was comprised of various interests that mostly supported conservation easements and more federal funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The token conservative on the panel was a spokesman for the California Cattlemens Association. He lauded conservation easements and the LWCF but saved his credibility in The Generals opinion when he stated his concerns about federal overregulation and land-use restrictions.
The last panelist to speak made an interesting comment about how CEQA was designed to stop projects. I couldnt agree more!
After the sub-panel presentations, a short video was shown. Every outdoor recreation group was highlighted except OHV. The video showed mountain bikers in a number of slides along with hunters, hikers, water skiers, equestrians, snow skiers, etc.
Great Outdoors Video (sans OHV)
Before the group was adjourned for the 1 hour breakout sessions, the microphone was passed around for about 30 minutes. Meg Grossglass from ORBA, spoke to the Obama administration officials and the over 750 people in attendance about how the OHV community had been wrongly left out of the video when, in fact, OHV recreationists are a major land use partner with the Forest Service and BLM via our state OHMVR grant program and our volunteer efforts. She got a good round of applause!
The rest of the folks that got to speak on the microphone were mostly there to praise the administration and ask for more federal funding for their favorite projects. The last speaker represented the recreational fishing community and said her folks sympathize with the OHV community as a hated user group since they too have seen fishing banned in many streams and rivers due to federal/state environmental rules and regulations.
See Blog on Proposed Ocean Wilderness Areas on N. Coast
There were a number of breakout sessions and OHV was well represented in most, if not all of them. The General pointed out in his session that the feds should review model programs of federal/state/local/community collaboration such as exists on the Inyo NF. That Forest has worked hard to have a holistic program that -unlike the Obama plan to date - includes OHV/OSV as an important partner in the recreation matrix.
After HQs presentation to the EPA officials who were facilitating his breakout session, one EPA official asked, What does OHV stand for? I explained it is sometimes referred to as off-road recreation and then he cocked his head indicating that he might understand what that term means. His ignorance of a major recreation stakeholder was not very reassuring. Both EPA officials seemed stunned when a board member of the California Wilderness Coalition told the feds that BRC and other OHV groups often work with them on land-use legislation.
On the other hand, Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar, knows OHV/OSV very well from his work with COHVCO in Colorado. The General and other OHV interests must continue to attend the listening sessions and insist that OHV being included in the Initiative and be formally recognized as a valued land-use partner. Secretary Salazar knows better..
Be sure and check out the Obama Outdoor Website for future meetings and make sure that your club or organization has representatives at those events.
Obama Outdoor Website
Thanks again to all those public land access interests who have attended these events. Your service is appreciated by the HQ and the OHV community at large.
Dave Walters
Tri-Cities Peak Putters
Land Use Coordinator
WOHVA Board member
It's a Scout thing
So, rumor has it there was one of these "Sessions" in Seattle. Anyone care to comment? I hope those of you who take the time to read this post are as upset as I am about the lack of any reference to OHV use...As Amador says, Salazar know better. We're getting screwed by the current powers that be, kids
Dave Walters
Tri-Cities Peak Putters
Land Use Coordinator
WOHVA Board member
It's a Scout thing
Great Outdoor Initiative - 2010
GREAT OUTDOOR INITIATIVE- 2010.doc
The above attachment is the report compiled on behalf of the PNW membership addressing the Great Outdoor Initiative " listening session" held July 1st in Seattle. Region Directors, Region Land Coordinators/Chairmen, and individuals interested in Washington's land issues - were emailed a report for their files and disbursement to the respective members. However, with the three-day holiday and the Trail Jamboree in full swing - the first week in July has been busy for quite a few.
(Side note - Dave (Walters) as one who had subscribed to receiving land matter information from my office - "did you not received a copy of this report through the "interested individual" email format"? If not, PM me so this can be straightened out. Thanks.) ###
Arlene Brooks, WA State Director
Last edited by Arlene Brooks; 07-10-2010 at 05:24 PM.
America's Great Outdoors Ideas -
As a result from President Obama's America's Great Outdoor "listening sessions" across the states - and for those of you who did not make the session in Seattle on July 1st you now have the opportuntity to express your thoughts on recreation.
Link: America's Great Outdoor Idea Jam @ http://ideas.usda.gov/ago/ideas.nsf
You will find in the lower right hand corner the "What's Hot" topics - and can post your thoughts on the different subjects. ###
Arlene Brooks, WA State Director
Spent time on this over the weekend, and sent the link to a number of friends and family...
Dave Walters
Tri-Cities Peak Putters
Land Use Coordinator
WOHVA Board member
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~illustrated by Korin Sutherland
~set measures 4"x3"
~includes 1 image and 6 sentiments
~price: $9
Our Design Divas, along with our special May guest designer, are all ready for next week's New Release Celebration. It all starts next Thursday, May 3 at 8:00 AM EST right here on this blog, with our New Release Blog Hop. It will be full of wonderful inspiration from the designers!
And all of that fun will be followed by our New Release Party over in our member company forums on Splitcoaststampers, beginning at 8:00 PM EST. We'll have challenges, fellowship and chit-chat, full reveals of all the stamp sets...and of course we'll wrap it up by making the stamps available for purchase in the store! Mark your calendars, and make plans to join us!
See you back here tomorrow for another great Sweet Peek!


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The Mekong River remains one of the mightiest - and most unspoilt - rivers in the world, a description you can only fully understand once you have cruised along the Mekong with its sparkling waters and witnessed the spectacular beauty that lies just beyond its banks.
From the Tibetan Plateau, the river - tenth longest on Earth and Asia's seventh longest - the Mekong flows some 3,050 miles through China's Yunnan province, then on through Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and finally Vietnam. En route to the Mekong Delta where it divides into nine channels emptying into the South China Sea, it runs through a number of familiar and famously exotic destinations: Hanoi, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane and Luang Prabang.
Some parts of the Mekong, those that flow through the beautiful countryside of Laos, were formerly inaccessible. While the journey is considerably more comfortable in modern times, the river is still a wild force of nature, so a cruise on it is an adventure to remember.
On this part of the Mekong, quiet and calm parts of the river alternate with most dramatic and exciting shore sceneries, including mountains clad in tropical lush green vegetation, impressive rock formations and secluded villages along the river banks.
Now, All Leisure Holidays is pleased to be able to offer you Mekong river cruises in these magical, unexplored places.
What's more, these special holidays also include extensive sightseeing with expert local guides in Siem Reap, gateway to the amazing temples of Angkor, and in Luang Prabang, one of the most beautiful towns in Southeast Asia.
Thank you for visiting, we hope you find the cruise Mekong site to be useful and informative.


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Oxbridge Biotech Roundtable and SR One present: OneStart competition 2015 – Your chance to win $ 150,000,- to realise your business idea
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Science and Religion: A Very Short Introduction
Laboratory Focus is asking its readers and web site visitors to vote on who makes the best lab stuff – instruments, gadgets, software tools, and resources that make it possible to do lab research. We want to share the results with all the readers in the November 2012 issue. Here's your opportunity to voice your opinions in print! Please click here and answer 10 questions about the best lab stuff you are using. Remember to click the next button on the bottom of the page to access the second page of the survey. We thank you in advance for your valuable participation in this survey, as a result you will be entered into a draw for $100 AMEX Travellers Cheque.
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by the help of Microscopes, there is nothing so small as to escape our inquiry; hence there is a new visible World discovered to the understanding......by Robert Hooke, 1665 (in the Preface of Micrographia)


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Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2014
Archibald Prize 2014
Archibald Prize 2014
Archibald Prize 2014
Archibald Prize 2014
Archibald Prize 2014
Archibald Prize 2014
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Australia's most extraordinary art event
The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes is an annual exhibition eagerly anticipated by artists and audiences alike.
The Archibald Prize, first awarded in 1921, is Australia's favourite art award, and one of its most prestigious. Awarded to the best portrait painting, it's a who's who of Australian culture – from politicians to celebrities, sporting heroes to artists.
The Wynne Prize is awarded to the best landscape painting of Australian scenery, or figure sculpture, while the Sulman Prize is given to the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project in oil, acrylic, watercolour or mixed media.
Each year, the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW judge the Archibald and Wynne, and invite an artist to judge the Sulman. This year's Sulman judge is Jenny Watson.
Visit the exhibition and vote for your favourite portrait in the People's Choice award.
Explore the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes
View winners and finalists from this year and previous years, and find out more about each of the prizes, including how to enter, in our prizes database.
19 Jul – 28 Sep 2014
Buy tickets now from Qtix
$12 adult
$10 concession/child
(5-17 years)
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(2 adults + up to 3 children)
Free for children under 5
Joint ticket with Theatre of dreams, theatre of play
Education groups
$7 per student
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After receiving the claim, the Risk Management Department will conduct an impartial investigation to determine if the county is liable. If it is determined that there is liability on behalf of the county, the investigator will begin settlement negotiations to resolve the claim. If a settlement is reached it must be approved by the Augusta-Richmond County Commission prior to the release of a settlement check.
If it is determined that the county is not liable or the parties cannot agree on the amount of damages, the injured party may chose to file suit with the court having jurisdiction of the claim. [Additional Info...]


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[View looking north at the Northern spur over 10th Avenue.]
Work is quickly progressing at the Northern spur, a horticultural preserve located on a portion of the High Line that juts across 10th Avenue, just north of Chelsea Market. The landscape at the Northern spur is designed to recall the self-sown landscape that grew up on the High Line after the trains stopped running. The High Line's landscape team planted over 7,500 native grasses and perennials in early November, before the soil froze.
Construction crews are now beginning to install non-slip, brushed-aluminum grating panels along a ramped structure that will provide access to and from the lower level. At the mid-point of the ramp, a cantilevered overlook will offer visitors views of both the preserve below them, and of the city beyond.
[Detail: A brushed-aluminum ramp provides a non-slip walking surface between the lower and upper levels of the High Line.]
Filed under: Construction, Design | Tagged: 10th Avenue, Horticulture, planting | 1 Comment »


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A remote Alaska volcano continues to erupt, spewing lava and ash clouds.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory said Thursday a continuous cloud of ash, steam and gas from Pavlof Volcano has been seen 20,000 feet above sea level. The cloud was moving to the southeast Thursday.
John Power, the U.S. Geological Survey scientist in charge at the observatory, estimates the lava fountain rose several hundred feet into the air.
Onsite seismic instruments are picking up constant tremors from the eruption at Pavlof, located about 625 miles (1,000 kilometers) southwest of Anchorage.
Residents of Cold Bay, 37 miles (60 kilometers) away, have reported seeing a glow from the summit.
Pavlof is among the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian arc, with nearly 40 known eruptions, according to the observatory.


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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
A quick glance at these pictures might lead you to believe this post is about The Great Gatsby. It's actually just my Kindle cover, but while we're on the subject, if you haven't read The Great Gatsby, you definitely should. I plan on re-reading it before the movie comes out.
While there are dozens of classic books I hold close to my heart, the book I want to share with you today is one I recently read. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is technically Young Adult Fiction, but there is something in this book for you no matter your age.
It is in one of the most unromantic settings, a cancer support group, that this love story begins. Hazel is sixteen and has lungs ridden with cancer. A "magic," experimental pill is prolonging her life, but she's not naive. She understands that one day she will die from this disease, and therefore is living her life so that her death will affect as few people as possible. Enter gorgeous, magnetic Augustus, who has had to have a leg amputated, but is now in remission. He is immediately drawn to Hazel, but she keeps things at a friends-only status because of her life's expiration date.
As these two go off on some crazy adventures, we get to watch the love story unfold. You will laugh. You will cry. Your life will be better for having this book in it. (Oh my, I'm being dramatic, but it's only because I really want you to read it!)


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Heat (Feat. Pook) - Hang Urself [Unsigned Hype]
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1st Single "Hang Yourself" Off the New Mixtape "Center of Hatred" Coming Soon!!
Hit Heat on Twitter/mrfloridaave
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2nd Single "Money Wont Fold" coming next week
Shouts to @djradio"
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I've only coded basic html and have a bunch of basic websites. Would to try to make a oscommerce site. They told me I need xampp first. I see the install instructions are easy. But I have no idea about the big picture. How does xampp run/what does it do on my mac? If I install photoshop on my mac it doesn't open my mac to the internet. By the warning I see in xampp, I guess it's an active program that accepts commands from outside my mac? I have no idea what xampp even does. I want to install oscommerce and make a simple shopping cart but don't know what could happen while I have xampp installed. If I shut down xampp can it be activated by incoming hackers?
It would be nice to see a DFD, the kind you'd show a manager, on what xampp does especially in relation to oscommerce.


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Friday 25 January
|Phocarctos (1)
Hooker's sea lion, also known as the New Zealand sea lion, is one of the rarest and most threatened sea lions in the world (2). Adult males are dark blackish-brown in colour and have a distinct light mane that reaches down to their shoulders. Females are grey or buff-coloured, and have a paler belly. Males are much larger than females. Pups are born with a thick covering of dark hair, which is lost at some point after birth (3).
Breeding takes place in colonies between November and January (4) (2). Bulls (males) arrive at the breeding beaches in November each year, and start to fight amongst themselves to establish territories. Those that successfully secure and hold a territory are known as 'beach masters' (2) and will have privileged access to a harem of females (5). Throughout the entire breeding season, the beach masters are unable to return to the sea to feed, as this would force them to relinquish their hard-won territory. Instead they rely on their reserves of blubber during this period (5).
Pregnant females arrive at the beaches around a month later than males (3). They give birth, usually to a single pup after arriving at the breeding beach, and mate after around a week to ten days (3) (5). Two weeks after giving birth, the mother starts to leave the pup in order to feed at sea, returning to the beach so that the pup can suckle (2) (3). She identifies her own pup by its distinctive calls (5). The pup begins to swim after two or three weeks, but it will suckle for a further eight months or more, and even up to a year (2) (3). Sexual maturity is reached at three to four years in females and five years in males (5).
Hooker's sea lion feeds on small fish, squid, octopuses, crabs, mussels and other invertebrates. The occasional penguin may also be taken (3) (4). Whilst feeding, this species makes the deepest and longest dives of any sea lion in the world (6).
This species has a very restricted range (4) and breeds only on the sub-Antarctic islands of New Zealand (3). Over 95 percent of breeding takes place in just three colonies in the Auckland Islands (2). Outside of the breeding season, these sea lions haul out from the Australian sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island to the south-eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island, with a few sightings of individuals on the North Island (2).
Breeding and hauling out occurs on sandy beaches (4). For the fist six months of life, the pups explore the freshwater creeks and pools around the beach (3). The adults often wander as far as two kilometres inland (2) and can be found resting in forests or on grassy cliffs (3).
During the nineteenth century, Hooker's sea lion was killed for its hide and oil. Since 1893, however, killing this species has been illegal (2). Rabbits, which were introduced into the breeding islands of Hooker's sea lion, caused a problem as pups were falling into the rabbit burrows, resulting in high pup mortality (4) (2). Rabbits have since been eradicated and their burrows have been filled in (2). Currently, the most serious current threat is accidental by-catch in the nets of the squid fishing industry (2). This fishery has operated in the range of this sea lion since the 1970s, and has been a serious problem since then (2).
In January 1998 the Hooker's sea lion population suffered a catastrophic mass mortality event, which is thought to have killed 53 percent of pups and a high percentage of adults that year (7) (2). The cause of this mass mortality is unknown (2). Before this event there were an estimated 12,000 to 14,000 individuals (7). This species is exceptionally vulnerable because its breeding range is so restricted (2).
At present, a 20 kilometre Marine Mammal Sanctuary exists around the Auckland Islands, and the sub-Antarctic islands of New Zealand were granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1998 (2). At present, steps are being taken to reduce the threat posed to the species from the squid fishing industry, including closure of the fishery by the Government when the estimated number of sea lions caught in the nets exceeds a set limit each year (2). Marine mammal escape devices are being tested, and there is increasing pressure on the industry to use net-free methods of fishing (2).
For more information on this species see:
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
Image credit
© Kathie Atkinson
Kathie Atkinson
Wildlife Photographer
PO Box 1583
Bowral NSW 2576
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Thanks for joining!
Can you help us make this protest epic? Share it with friends!
The U.S. Government wants to turn the Internet into a private surveillance system. It's called CISPA, and this Spring we're organizing the largest online privacy protest in history to stop it for good. Are you in?
Fight for the Future will contact you about future campaigns. Privacy Policy
Can you help us make this protest epic? Share it with friends!
As it's written, CISPA won't protect us from cyber threats, but it will violate our 4th Amendment right to privacy.
It lets the government spy on you without a warrant. (read more)
It makes it so you can't even find out about it after the fact. (read more)
It makes it so companies can't be sued when they do illegal things with your data. (read more)
It allows corporations to cyber-attack each other and individuals outside of the law. (read more)
It makes every privacy policy on the web a moot point, and violates the 4th amendment. (read more)


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Lisbon Airport scooter rental - rental rates. Cheap prices for scooter rental in Lisbon Airport. Rent a scooter in Lisbon Airport.
Our Lisbon Airport rental fleet consists of new moped - BMW, Triumph, Vespa, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Aprilia, Piaggio. Easy online booking available online instantly to hire a scooter in Lisbon Airport - Unlimited mileage, GPS, scooter riding equipment, cross-border rental.
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1. Select the preferred scooter rental model in Lisbon Airport on the page below.
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3. To secure your scooter rental booking in Lisbon Airport simply enter your email and continue to checkout.
Our courteous staff is always at your disposal to assist you with your scooter rental in Lisbon Airport.


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Mulch madness: Trashy debris sparks suit
Heard the one about the termite-infested Lousiana mulch? According to one alarmist email, trees ravaged by Katrina "were turned into mulch and the state is trying to get rid of tons and tons" of the stuff. "So it will be showing up in Home Depot and Lowe's at dirt-cheap prices, with one huge problem: Formosan termites...These termites can eat a house in no time at all."
In reality, as snopes.com– the urban-legend-debunking website– goes on to explain, this is an unlikely scenario: Louisiana's Department of Agriculture and Forestry "imposed a quarantine on several parishes back in October 2005 specifically to prevent the accidental movement of Formosan termites to other areas."
Even so, the email does include one good tip: "Tell your [home-owning] friends to avoid cheap mulch and know where it came from." That's a tip that could have saved Virginia and Raj Paul a major consumer headache that's gone on for almost two years now.
The Pauls hired Albemarle Super Wash and Lawn Maintenance to spread 20 cubic yards of mulch at their Still Meadow Avenue home in April 2004– mulch they claim they were told would be dark, double-shredded, and match the mulch on their neighbor's adjoining lawn. Instead, as attested to in writing by Waynesboro Nurseries and Snow's Garden Center, the mulch was full of "excessive trash" and "debris."
Specifically, according to Corbin Snow, there were shards of metal and glass, caution tape, and 12- to 18-inch pieces of tree stumps and limbs. The Pauls took pictures of other items they claim came with the mulch: plastic in three different colors, twine, rope, hose, a candy wrapper, cloth, rubber, metal cans, and chunks of wood.
When I wrote about the debacle ["Mystery mulch," June 10, 2004], I asked Albemarle Super Wash owner Andrew King how the debris could have ended up in what he had advertised as "dark double-shredded mulch." He didn't know, he replied, but would ask the supplier.
Turns out "the supplier" was the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority (RSWA)– aka the Ivy landfill. King volunteered that to me when I called last week to ask why he's still billing the Pauls, when his suit against them for nonpayment was dismissed in Albemarle County General District Court. According to the Pauls, the mulch's trashy origins also came out in court.
On its website, RSWA claims that it "produces a top-grade mulch product by recycling waste wood that is brought to the [landfill]. Stumps, brush, untreated pallets and other usable organic debris, which would otherwise be landfilled, are now being ground into mulch. Magnets remove nails and other metal fragments to further refine" the mulch. Judging by what landed on the Pauls' front lawn, however, they may have missed a few.
In his November 10, 2004 opinion, General District Court Judge William Barkley ruled that because "the quality of the mulch delivered was a breach of the agreement," the Pauls did not have to pay King's $695 bill ($195 for what his flyer billed as "homeowner's grade" mulch and $400 to spread it). Barkley didn't stop there; he also ordered King to reimburse the Pauls for "the reasonable cost of the removal of the mulch [and] purchase and spreading of the new mulch," which Waynesboro Nurseries estimated would cost $1,125.
King appealed, and the matter has been in limbo in the County Circuit Court ever since. A court date was set for October 6, 2005, but, according to Virginia Paul, King's lawyer couldn't make it, and a new date was supposed to be set. The Pauls are waiting to hear the new date; they're also waiting for their money. Meanwhile, King continues to bill them, and has added $867 worth of interest to the original $695.
Asked why he intends to appeal the court's decision, King replied, "It's the principle of the thing." What principle that would be, however, he didn't say.
Do you have a consumer problem or question? Email the Fearless Consumer or write her at Box 4553, Charlottesville 22905.


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Victorino, Middlebrooks nearing return to Sox
BOSTON -- Within the next week, the Red Sox could have their entire starting nine together for the first time this season.
Right fielder Shane Victorino, who took Sunday off after opening his rehab assignment on Saturday, will continue for Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday and Tuesday.
Victorino could be back in Boston's lineup as soon as Wednesday, for the middle game of a three-game series against the Yankees.
Third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who has been down since April 5 with a right calf strain, will start his assignment for Pawtucket on Monday. He will take Tuesday off and then play again on Wednesday and Thursday. Middlebrooks could be back in Boston's lineup by Friday in Toronto.
Most recently, Middlebrooks had been sidelined with the flu. But he was able to get in a good workout on Sunday.
The return of Victorino will create a tough roster decision, considering the logjam in the outfield. One possibility would be optioning Jackie Bradley Jr. back to Pawtucket. Otherwise, a move would have to be made involving Mike Carp or Daniel Nava.
"Those [discussions] have been ongoing," said manager John Farrell. "Those talks aren't going to initiate when [Victorino's] deemed ready to come back to us. We've looked at every available combination of outfielders that are here with us, and ultimately there will be a roster decision made. We'll get to that in the coming week."


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Estimate your VA home loan affordability, monthly payment and more using our interactive VA loan calculators.
Establishing a payment that can fit your budget is a cornerstone of the home buying process. We make it easy with this unique VA Mortgage Calculator.
Tell us about your income and expenses to find out how much house you can afford with our easy-to-use VA Affordability Calculator.
Use this calculator to find the VA loan limit in your county and determine how much you can borrow with $0 down.
Get step-by-step help through the process with your dedicated Loan Specialist.
Go at your own pace with our convenient online prequalification tool.