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Simply elegant in looks, this Air Kilgore Apron Oxford pair of shoes will spruce up your monotonous style. It features soft nappa leather upper ensuring it's durable construction and infused with Nike AIR technology for providing your feet ample comfort. This sleek oxford has classic lace-up fastening style to the front with blind eyelets to add a dash of elegance to your formal style. It is fully leather lined with padded sock liner and durable rubber sole with injected rubber tread that enhances the durability factor a bit more. The leather stacked heel will add a bit of raise to your height while the apron-toe stitching and textured rubber outsole gives it an appealing look.
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From the Field's Purrrfect Deluxe Gift Set is a must for every feline! Available in a durable, reusable vinyl bag with handle and zipper.
Purrrfect Deluxe Gift Set contains:
From the Field makes all natural and holistic healthy toys for happy cats. Each cat toy is made with strong and durable hemp fiber material and filled with organic catnip.
Click here for more Catnip and other natural From the Field products.
Review Rating: 4.5
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer: From the Field
Shipping Weight: 0.41
The reviews below are presented for informational purposes only and are not intended as an endorsement of any product. The information is not intended to be a substitute for visits to your local veterinarian. Instead, these testimonials offer the reader information and opinions written by pet owners and/or veterinarians concerning animal health and products that they have used.
(based on 11 reviews)
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Kitties loved it, but licked dye off
By Westward
from Southern Colorado
About Me Long-time Pet Owner
Comments about From the Field Purrrfect Deluxe Cat Toy Gift Set:
My kitties LOVED these mice the second they came out of the bag, even more so than most toys. One of my cats immediately grabbed the catnip filled mouse with all four paws, rolled over and proceeded to lick the mouse to "death". He slobbered all over it, which is normal with catnip for this cat. But I noticed that within a few minutes, the dye used as a stamp on the mouse "face" that makes the eyes, whiskers and nose of the mouse, was wet and had turned into a wet blurry spot of dye. I hope the dye was non-toxic! He was totally fine, and seemed no worse for the ware, and was happy to keep licking, but I tossed them for worries about dye ingestion. These mice would be PERFECT without dye stamps. Kitties don't need those anyway. They have great imaginations. We love the catnip and the cork ball, and would love mice with no dye.
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The purrfect gift
By Kitty Convert
from Austin Tx
I purchased 2 , one for each friend that got a new kitty member of the family and already had a mature cat. These are good because they will entertain both the older and younger member of the family
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
My cats love this!
By Angela D.
from Texas
I purchased this gift set for my three cats for Christmas. It arrived a couple of weeks prior and I had to hide the box it was packaged in because they kept playing with it! :) My cats are 12 years, 11 years and 9 months old. All three love everything in this set. I only put it out sometimes and don't leave the items out all of the time because they get a little crazy. LoL
Purrfect deluxe cat toy gift set
By LouiseRavert
from Fredericksburg, VA
My cats love to toss it around, play with it, roll on it. To them, it was pure enjoyment.
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
PURRFECT for ANY AGE
By Riv's Mom
from New York
Be creative-my 18+ year old and I found all parts of this gift package entertaining-even just smelling the plastic carrying case-AS LONG AS SHE DOESN'T GRAB TO EAT THE PLASTIC : ) Just know your particular furkit and be careful-THEY ARE QUITE INTELLIGENT-SPECIALLY OUR GIRL!!!
The mice were a hit!!!
By jkl
from Des Moines, IA
The catnip mice were quite the hit with our girls from the moment I took them out of the package!
Great Gift!
By Krittermom
from Baltimore, MD
This is one of three gifts that I bought for my boss's cats!
Mt cats woke up and moved!!!!!!
By NikkiBikki
from Michigan
My cats don't play.They are fat and lazy and when I presented the hemp catnip they had movements I had never seen. We as a family have never laughed so hard as we watch them roll and jump all over the place. Thank you for a quality product.
Fun for us all!
By marymargaret
from central california
My kitties love to play..They will play with these cloth mice and toss them all around the house.I am glad I bought 2 because they enjoy their "soccer" games..
Images shared by marymargaret
My mouse needs hugs
Tags: Using Product, Why you need 2 or more
Skeeter and his mouse need some alone time!
Tags: Using Product
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
Fun useful adored gift
By JMI
from Boulder, CO
A neat kit! It looks good. Well designed. Our cats REALLY like these mice - they love the catnip and I feel good knowing this toy is made of natural hemp. The cats are so cute playing with this and the mice last a long time. The enclosed spray is really versatile, can be used with other toys, surfaces.
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I have hated the parquet floor in our entryway since the day we moved in. I have thought about replacing them, but with kids and animals constantly coming in and out I didn't want to spend the money just yet. A few weeks ago, I was hanging out on fb, when these gorgeous floors from Country Living Magazine popped up…it was fate!
I love the look of painted floors, but it was terrifying to me! Well, I wanted to have them finished in time for Debbiedoo's Copy Cat Challenge…thank you so much for the swift kick in the rear, Debbie! I didn't even know where to begin. So, in true Jessica fashion, I winged it.
Do you see this hideousness I have been living with for years? Doesn't it make you want to hug me and tell me how sorry you are that I had to endure this tragedy?
I really, really could have used a hug yesterday. I sanded the floor, then painted it, then sanded it again, then painted it. It felt neverending.
Then I painted the entire floor a creamy color and started stenciling the small parquet squares. I hated it! I thought…what have I done??? Then I rolled up my sleeves and painted the whole thing again. I decided that I wanted the squares to be much bigger…like the size of 4 little squares together, so I hand painted…every. single. one.
And sanded them again. I finally got the beachy worn look that I wanted, and I am one happy mama!
And just a quick shout out, I have the coolest husband on the planet…he just lets me do my thing even when it scares him to death!!!
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Skip the Line: Hampton Court Palace Tickets
See where King Henry VIII wooed his many wives with fast-track entry to Hampton Court Palace. Even better, by purchasing your ticket ahead of time you'll jump the queue. Don't waste time waiting in lines on vacation!
Hampton Court has a designated Family Room, where parents and young children are invited to take a rest from the bustle of the palace. The play equipment is suitable for children aged under five. Family Trails guiding children around the palace are available at the Information Center.
The palace is pushchair friendly and a lift is available if you'd like to access the upper floor without using the stairs.
Hampton Court is just half an hour from Central London by direct train and is a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon out of the city!
At least three hours is recommended for your visit to Hampton Court.
Do you want to visit more Royal sites?
Upgrade to the Royal Palaces Pass, including the Tower of London, Hampton Court and Kensington Palace. Your pass comprehends one visit to each attraction and is valid for two years. You'll have plenty of time to explore the stories and intrigues at each site at your leisure, as part of you own itinerary.
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- 10:00am to 4:30pm, last admission 3:30pm
The Gardens are open all year round from 7:00am to dusk
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Hampton Court Palace
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Skip the Line: Hampton Court Palace Tickets
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Royal Palaces Pass
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Royal Palaces Pass including: Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace.
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Hampton Court Palace, London
- Entry to Hampton Court Palace
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities (optional)
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Things to See and Do:
The Other Boleyn Girl dresses
Dresses worn by Scarlet Johannson and Natalie Portman in the recent Hollywood blockbuster 'The Other Boleyn Girl' are currently on display until August 26, 2008.
The Young Henry VII exhibition
Be among the first to visit this fascinating new exhibition. It explores the stereotypes that have over shadowed the true characters and stories of Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey and Katherine of Aragon for centuries. Historic paintings from the Royal Collection, together with audio-visual and hands-on displays, will help you explore and discover a very different King Henry VIII.
The Georgian Rooms:
Shown today as they were in 1737 during the final visit of the royal court the Georgian Rooms present a more relaxed, informal and domestic side of palace life.
The Wolsey Rooms:
A permanent interactive exhibition revealing the relationship between Henry VIII, Katherine of Aragon and Cardinal Wolsey during the 1520's at Hampton Court Palace.
Mantegna's Triumph of Caesar:
Andrea Mantegna's Triumphs of Caesar are considered to be one of the most important works of the Italian Renaissance.
Palace Gardens:
There are over 60 acres of gardens to explore at Hampton Court including the Maze, the Great Vine and the recently restored Privy Garden.
Courtyards and Cloisters:
The buildings of Hampton Court Palace cover 6 acres and there are many courtyards and cloisters to explore.
Henry VIII'S State Apartments:
Henry VIII was Hampton Court's first royal owner, and his magnificent public rooms still survive today.
The Tudor Kitchens:
If you can stand the heat, come into the new Tudor kitchens! Real smells, sounds and huge roasting fires will give you a taste of Tudor life.
The King's Apartments:
King William III's Apartments are some of the finest and most important Baroque state apartments in the world.
The Queen's State Apartments:
These rooms took 30 years to complete and represent a wide range of styles. Some of the most spectacular interiors in the palace can be found here.
Costumed Guides
Every day there are free tours and presentations by costumed guides in the State Apartments. Learn about life at court and the colorful characters who lived here.
Traveler Reviews
Reviewed by: Karen Y, Australia, September 2015
Hampton Court Place is great - with many 10 minutes plays by capable actors made the visit very entertaining. There is so much to see there - allow a full day - a wonderful way to learn the history. The gardens are spectacular.
Reviewed by: Randal, USA, August 2015
We got there early and it wasn't crowded---easy to get around quickly. It was terrific! Much to see and hear!


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met this guy i talked to on the espn board, TheFinFanMan. we had one hell of a time tailgating.
there is a great area for tailgating, big grassy spots with asphalt on each side. TFFM gave us hi parking sticker and we drove right up to the stadium. ( i woder what the security checks are like now)
met AJ and one other guy i met on the boards, Phinfan107. both were upstanding characters. i went to the second colts game, which they lost. that game and the fact our flight bach was cancelled and i got home at 1:00 AM made things a little drab, but i'm ready to go again. and miadphan13 is right, there's not a bad seat in the house. although if you get nosebleed seats binoculars are fantastic.


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Luciferin derivatives as luminogenic substrates provide the basis for a new paradigm in enzyme assay design that brings the advantages of bioluminescence—superior sensitivity, resistance to interference, and ease of use—to the enzymology researcher. Here we highlight our wide selection of bioluminescent enzyme substrates for proteases, metabolic enzymes and ß-galactosidase.
Promega Notes 100, 22–26.
Poncho L. Meisenheimer1, Martha A. O'Brien2, and James J. Cali2
1Promega Biosciences, Inc., 2Promega Corporation
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We offer a range of services to help you succeed using Promega technologies. From product training to set up of automated systems and development of custom applications—our scientific support goes beyond the basics.
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- Kyra Gaunt
- New York, NY
- United States
Speaker, Author, Entrepreneur, Assoc.Professor, Kyraocity Works
This conversation is closed.
How did you first learn to be black or African or what was your earliest memory of learning about blackness/Africaness as different?
As a member of several social innovation communities, as a professor who teaches courses on the evolution and expressions of racism, and as a person of African descent in the United States (African American), I've been traveling around the world since becoming a TED Fellow and even before that asking people of all backgrounds, who did you first learn about racial differences between blacks and others, between Africans and others. The personal narratives people share have rocked my world.
A white woman from West Virginia who hated whites because the only people who ever loved her, kissed her, touched her with care, where two black woman her white father, a Vet caring for 4 girls alone after being abandoned by his wife. He had contracted them to raise her and her sisters. They had to leave in the midst of night to escape social services in the midst of the U.S. race riots of 1965-66. They moved to Ohio where people hated West Virginians (the politics of class among whites was surely at work her as well as the politics of state immigrations and unemployment at the time).
She remembered thinking "I can change my walk or my accent, if I wanted to." But the black women who were my caretakers while my dad worked could not change their skin color. That was her earliest memory as a white person. And she said that interpretation of life made her hate white people til she was well into her forties.
We met at a workshop I gave called AGREE TO BE OFFENDED (AND STAY CONNECTED) on racism as a resource in 2008 at the Conference for Global Transformation in San Francisco. I gave a workshop to 52 people from 3 continents and trained people in rethinking the social construct of race and difference that plagues all nations and groups on some level.
I could use any group here, but I think it's particularly enlightening to examine blackness and Africanness as member of the TED community and other social innovation settings where members of these communities are rarely prominent.
Misha Newman
Apr 30 2012: Let me start of by saying I'm a white 20 year old from London. Now I'm really struggling to understand what you mean by "blackness" and "learn to be black or African". As far as I'm aware there isn't some defining thing that makes people black other than their skin colour (which is not exactly something that can be learned). If I follow your logic about learning to be black, surly a person who doesn't have black skin could "learn to be black" too no? Or what about a black child who has been adopted by a white family and raised in a white community. Are they somehow, not black? Or if there is such a thing as Africaness and blackness is there also such a thing as Europeaness or whiteness? I thought the answer to all that was of-course not, till this post...
- +2
For a minute I thought that perhaps you meant black or African culture. But even from that perspective your statements don't make sense to me because black people or even just the black people who live on the continent of Africa don't all subscribe to one culture so you couldn't define one culture as "the black culture" or "the African culture". Black people have many cultures and communities there is no one all encompassing black community or culture (as far I'm aware). Besides not being involved in a specific community/culture can't strip of your race. When I had thought that through to it's conclusion I really didn't have any more ideas about what the hell you could mean.
As far as I'm aware (perhaps I'm due a lesson) there is no such thing as "blackness" or "Africaness" (apparently the spell check agrees with me lol) but here I am in a thread full of people who apparently disagree with me. But who am I a white kid to tell a black person (and a professor of racism at that) that there is no such thing as "blackness". Hopefully you will be able to explain what you mean a little better or maybe where my reasoning went wrong.
I hope no one was offended by my ignorance I am honestly just here to learn.
Apr 30 2012: I think that if you do not realize that there is a thing in this country called being "black" or "African American" then you won't understand. People grow up being considered and considering themselves to be "black". I think Krya is asking about when the realization of this distinction came into people's consciousness. It's not about definitions; it's about identity. Yes, you could ask the exact same question of a "white" person. When i was 3, I was not white in my mind. That came later. I don't remember the first time I realized that I was white, but it probably had to do with not being black (or another color). There are things associated with being a particular color and I'm guessing that more emphasis in a person's personality and behavior is associated with being black than with white. One made up example would be, if I can dunk a basketball, it's because I'm tall and worked on my leg strength a lot. If a black person can dunk a basketball, it's because he's black. I think that's what is meant by "learning" to be black--learning what is expected of a black person.
May 1 2012: Misha, Bob I think you both can be right!
The thing here is that when you post some topic on TED conversations you have to know that you have audiences from all around the globe ! different cultures, different histories, and even different type of racism.
So for some, it is when they learnt to be colored, for others it is where they came from, or when they learnt to be different or maybe think different...May 19 2012: Your response is very interesting to me thank you.
"There are things associated with being a particular colour... emphasis in a person's personality and behaviour... One made up example would be... If a black person can dunk a basketball, it's because he's black."
All of this to me sounds like you are describing racial stereotypes and what you describe as "being black" is actually just a collection of commonly held stereotypes. I was always told that all stereotypes are bad, even the "positive" ones. Stereotypes that sound like they might be good say X people are good at Y also imply that that people who are not X are not good at Y. If you don't see how this can cause problems in a society think about the example stereotype "men are smart" and how it implys that women are not, it was not too long ago that women were not aloud to vote partly because too many people actually believed this. Not only this but a stereotype holds a quality about someone hostage until they prove the stereotype (this creates the positive feedback loop that lets stereotypes exist in the first place). So in my example above a person can no longer be considered X if they are not good at Y even if they are X. Or using your example about basketball which hopefully you will accept can be summarized as black people are good at basketball. This basicly implies that a person is not black unless he is good at basketball. But what about the black kid who doesn't like basketball can he no longer identify himself as black? Of course not a persons race is just there regardless of their identity and you cant hold it hostage with your stereotypes.
To be honest I'm kinda sad that anybody let alone an educated person would reinforce those racial stereotypes I don't think it reflects well on you nor the society you live in if this is a popular perspective.
Question: If I were to fit all the "black" stereotypes that you have or "leaned to be black" as you put it but my skin is white what am I?
Hassye Natou
May 19 2012: Misha, true :) there are so many different cultures and communities on the continent and i totally agree with you on the other points you made , I'm 19 and I'm here to learn as well so yeah :) Shouldn't having the nationality of any country on the continent make you African regardless of racial background? and I am African btw .I mean the USA has their own definition of what it is to be "black"/of African descent & that would apply there and in places like South Africa but for the rest of the continent I don't think that is the question i mean all of us are pretty much black :P expect for the North and the white minorites all over the continent and those of asian descent & to me my South Indian neighbour is "black" too and so are some brazilians, australian aborigines, some latinos etc that doesnt make them Africans does it?
- +1
I mean for example some hispanics they might be of African descent but they have their own Latin culture and do not relate to the continent at all so why is it that being black means being "African" (and im talking not only about ancestry only but language and culture)...to think that there is an "African culture" per se (as if there was one Asian culture in Asia) just goes to show that you are one of those peop think Africa is just a big country with Somalia as its largest province and where everybody is Bantu for eg. and looks Bantu and speak the same language and have the same traditions.which coming from a West African country i think is wrong, and just there alone there isn't one "culture" because of the different ethnicities although in the USA a Fulani will probably be the same as a someone from Sudan.Of course with globalisation and as time passes,the societies homogenise for the better i think :) but anw if there was just one African idendity or culture i dont think Rwanda would have happend or Darfur even or so many other horrifying conflits based on ethnic differnces.
Ngi Tantoh
Apr 28 2012: Learning to be black has been a major issue in Africa since the colonial era.my home village in Cameroon in 1840s share a bad memories about the whites colonialists because the whole village were trapped in a carve and burnt to arshes.The site today is a touristic destination for anthropologists.Racism today is primativity.It is funny that must civilised and developed nations are the ones practicing this evil racial discrimination.The blacks or Africans are friendly to all human beings not depending on religion,culture or color of your skin.
- +1
Apr 30 2012: I don't know much about where you say that you came from, but if you are insinuating that no kind of racial bigotry existed on the continent of Africa until the ancestors of those who are now in "civilized" or "developed" nations came en masse, I think that's one of those glorifying the noble savage kinds of arguments. In other words, I doubt it. But that's also not what Krya's question was. I could probably make the same point at every other post here. So, I'll leave it at that.
Sorry for your ancestor's loss and it's repercussions for you today. I don't actually know anything about my ancestors from as far back as the 1840s (or even much more recent time). For all I know, my ancestor's fled the destruction of their village and no record of it happening even exists. That stuff has happened everywhere in the world.
Ngi Tantoh
Apr 30 2012: Dear Bob,I am a national of Cameroon.A country located in central Afrca.
- +1
We are better-off today in some domains than in previous centuries not because of those who love the path of less resistance but those who lay down their lives to make a difference through their purpose. The world is made up of two distinct groups of persons; those who know too little to be thoughtful and those who know too much to be passive and indifferent to the state of the world and mankind per time. Where do you belong?Ngi Tanto Didimus Political science student,university of Buea.
Don Ruch
Apr 28 2012: Being a white boy raised in a predominantly white community I had no idea there was any diffrence in race. It wasnt untill my horribly racist father called my attention to the diffrence by using the N-word. I was shocked and embarrassed. I have made it a point to live my life diffrently and more intelligently. Racism is ignorance , nothing more or less.Apr 22 2012: I love that folks are sharing personally. Go deeper. Keep your eye and mind on that earliest memory and ask yourself this: how did that earliest memory shape your path in life? Your understanding of your own difference or sameness from some norm or otherness? This conversation is NOT about blackness or Africanness per se. It's about using that notion to examine how a piece of the world go that way from a myriad of points of views and learned/lived experiences. Race/racism was invented by one person or institution. We all play a daily role with our memories and the assumptions we live by from them (as if they are the same for others) and the decisions we made then or make now from them.
- +1
Stay on topic. Just your earliest memory and what you notice about yourself and your life (vs. others out there). I should share soon. But wanted to hear from others first.Apr 22 2012: Hi Kyra,
Great question, that I imagine will create a lot of good introspection:>) I totally agree with your comment... "Racism is anything, in my book, that separates us from the remarkable oneness of humanity (anything else is an illusion)."
My mom was an unconditionally loving person who respected everyone. My dad was a racist, prejudice, angry, abusive man, who believed that white christians were the only "good" people in our world. Those were the stories I was born into, in a state that was predominently white when I was a little person 60+ years ago.
When I started 1st grade, at age 6, I took the public bus to and from school, and had to wait for it on the corner of the main st of the "city". The first black person I ever saw, was a man who was always around the area. He was "older" (a little bit of white hair), he had very kind eyes and a little smile on his face. He was HUGE (in my perception as a little child), and he called himself "Snowball". I don't remember him ever really having a conversation with anyone, but he seemed to notice and acknowledge people with a nod of his head and a smile. I saw him a lot, he smiled and nodded to me, so I felt like we knew each other. He was intriguing, in my mind at that time...well...he still IS! As an adult, I wish I knew his story. I wish I could talk to him now and REALLY know him.
Fast forward to high school..1960....there was one black family in the area who all went to a different school. That was my experience with any people of different ethnic origin until I started traveling as a young adult. Now, this area has a diverse group of people from many different cultures, and it's GREAT! My father's probably turning over in his grave...LOL!!!
I believe those of different ethnic origins, or different in any way, offer an opportunity to learn what we would not learn in any other way. Those who are racist/prejudice are simply denying themselves a beautiful, wonderful opportunity to connect:>)
Apr 22 2012: What if no one is "racist" like some thing they embody or that is IN them. What if we all are on a racial spectrum of understanding or misunderstanding. Calling someone racist is off-putting, distancing and stops us from hearing their humanity. There is nothing wrong. There was nothing "wrong" with your dad. He was doing what he thought he learned was right. And surely he had beautiful experiences in his life...you are here! You would not be here without him. Yes?
Who is the real separatist? Them or us, those who think we are above them. Listening is the greatest gift we can give those we are offended by (with limits of course). That's my take.
Apr 22 2012: I believe "racist" is a name given to those who do not accept people who may be different. It seems like it is generally information passed down, as it was with my father. I agree that there was nothing "wrong" with my dad. He got information from HIS parents, and played out the same "scene". He was a person who didn't think or feel about his beliefs, or actions. He was usually coming from a knee jerk/survival mode, and in my perception, frightened of the life experience. Staying in his "protective mode", with his belief that he was "right", probably gave him a certain sense of security with his life experience. As an observer, however, his sense of security seemed superficial and fleeting.
Yes...that is true...I would not be here without him, and I'm also aware of the great gift he gave me with his teaching. I was lucky to have parents from opposite polarities...an unconditionally loving mother and frightened abusive father. I observed, and knew I had a choice regarding how I wanted to "BE" in our world:>)
We ALL have the ability to be "separatists" at any given time. I never felt "above" anyone, but rather saw/see us all on a different life journey, and in that respect, I totally agree with you that listening is the greatest gift we can give others AND ourselves. If we feel "offended", that feeling in our "self" offers the opportunity to explore that which offends, and how/why it impacts us as individuals....do we not?Apr 22 2012: - American movies!
- Yes, I grew up watching American movies and that's when I first knew about it, I am an African and lived most of my life in the middle east and we don't feel much of blackness here. And I don't get to see many "white" until I was in a holiday in 2008 in east Asia. And I was playing pool with some guy from US and once he knew I am African he asked me about my opinion on Obama! Until that moment I felt its fine. But what surprised me later is that I asked him : why did you asked me about Obama "specifically"??.
And until now I have no idea of why I did what I did ??!!
Apr 22 2012: What have your learned about what it means to be "black" or "African" from movies or from Asian interactions or from not being assigned that categorization until late?
Apr 22 2012: What I meant to say is that I was "unknowingly" being defensive...even though I didn't experience it much and that he asked me that question because I was African not black!
But for me, even on the time I go through few incidents I start to feel sad for "them" rather than me, it is definitely so terrible for their minds not being able to evolve enough to cope up with 21st century...
And then I feel sympathy rather than hate.
Speaking about movies, this is one of my favorite : "American history X"Apr 22 2012: Hi Kyra, A good question. I am white from the white world of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada where I grew up in the sixties. My first memory of blackness was probably from movies like Gone With The Wind. I moved to Toronto in 1968 where many black people live. Had it not been for the racially charged media coverage i consumed I would not have differentiated at all. As it was, I used to think there were differences of consequence. In some cases such as my St. Kits friends I found sterling character and only saw cultural differences. Other black people were as anglo as me. They mostly did not feel the sting of racism. Of course, once bitten is to never forget and I concede, I cannot know.
Now we know that the genetic difference is almost non existent so what was that all about?
In my experience there is no difference in the range of character traits which is really the big deal. My mixed marriage friends have wonderful children who should never have to be confused about what race they are. There are so-called black, anglo Asian and what ever people in my village Kyra. My daughter has dated four so-called races and I only cared about their character. Not that I got any say. Race is hardly a useful classification and although it is unlikely, my preference is that the out dated concept dies away.
Apr 22 2012: This is great that you offer your sharing. I want to get people to stick to the question. There is something absolutely brilliant that emerges if we don't go past sharing vividly and deeply about the first time and notice for ourselves what we got trained in from that earliest memory or moment that may still be impacting us today inadvertantly (I don't want that to happen ever again so I avoid that) or by somehow thinking we are past or above the impact of racial perceptions and perceived differences. The media feeds it to us daily. Even I have biases against not only whites but blacks because of it that go unchecked unless I really notice my indifference to thinking it's me, too.
Apr 22 2012: Ahh, but my perception is any mention of race is some what charged. Sorry for straying off topic.
My earliest memory eh. I was not sure if it was this, Gone Withe Wind or something else but what I recall is seeing an early black and white TV show that only featured black people. I was some where between 7 and 10 years old and had only known white people and only seen them on TV. I cannot recall if my parents were there or there was some narration but I do know I came away with a sense of difference. My middle class, white parents were markedly anti racist but in those early years we no doubt felt we were in general, more privileged. Divisions along racial lines were building in my young mind. I knew it was a good question. You have me thinking and I'm not quite past it. However, I am not so worried about my lingering and errant racial thoughts as much as I am about the errant ones on other matters that have still to be discovered.Apr 22 2012: Kyra
Actually, I'm neither a white person, nor a black person. I come from Asia. Since I was small kid, there are many tourists to my hometown from Afria. People, especially old ones are more likely to aviod them because of fear, I think it's more than skin colour, media portrals of race stereotype is also an important reason. But, as for younger people, most of them do not care races (at least friends around me the same viewpoint). And, the most popular English teacher in our school is a black uncle, he is very nice, we all love him very much! Once, a girl in class said want to marry him. Maybe what I said it not that related to your question... I just want to say something from another positive aspect.
Apr 22 2012: NOtice that I never said I was excluding anyone above. Notice how we exclude ourselves from the discourse of discussions when no one said "Not you!" I've love to hear more about your story. What happened when the girl in class said I want to marry you? What was the reaction and where in Asia. BE SPECIFIC and as personal to your experience as you can. The more specific we are the more universal it seems believe it or not.
Apr 22 2012: The first time I notice about blackness when I was in grade 1 or 2, I just looked at him for a long time, didn't know how to behave due to the difficulty of communication, but he was tall and kind and gave me a hurry smile. It's a pity I said nothing to him. As for that girl, we all very very admire her because of her bravery. (my hometown is in south China.)
Comment deleted
Kyra Gaunt
Apr 22 2012: Thanks Ken. Why do you ask about males? Are your responding to your earlier memory? I don't think there are any thoughts that are genetically conditioned to one sex or another of the human species. Racism is anything, in my book, that separates us from the remarkable oneness of humanity (anything else is an illusion)
- +2
Apr 22 2012: I deleted them as they might be construed as too depressing to other Tedders who might want to add a positive post and be put off,i'm not that great at structuring my posts properly so,confusion is the norm with me.
Thanks Kyra I'll look out for your book.
Apr 22 2012: Poo poo. You are not alone in what you shared and no one would construe it as odd here, imho. Delete buttons should be removed from this conversation. Acceptance and hearing where we each are coming from. That is your experience. Ain't nothing wrong with it. But it cannot grow in a vacuum with no light or interaction. humans are meant to share and grow from the process.Apr 23 2012: "Oneness" I had not thought of that word. It is yours, but my sentiments exactly.May 1 2012: I had honestly skimmed over your diacussion here, because I could really not be mistaken for anything other than either Caucasian-American or White European. But my earliest memory of this difference in blackness came to me in a memory, today,so your question must have been on my mind.
It was fairly early Fifties, so I was about 10 or so, and my father was having one of those parties where he would invite a mix of neighbours and office co-workers, and I remember once the discussion led to Truman's desegregation of the army. Blacks were being, or had been recently, integrated into units in Korea, and this one guest was really really upset by this. It seemed like he felt that it would lead to our troops fighting each other more than the enemy.
What I remember most about that night was that my father was normally a man who always was putting people at ease and never wanted to say anything to upset people (my mom had no such restraint!). But on this night, I remember my father telling this man, "why can't a black man fight for his country? You are saying it would be easier for you to fight at my side, me - who isn't even from this country, than a man who was here and whose family was here for generations, just because he's black. That doesn't make sense at all."
Not being raised in a neighbourhood with any African Americans in it, it was the first time I can recall even having to think about this division.
I don't know if that has any real bearing or relevance, but thanks for the memory. I was actually quite proud of my dad, because usually he was just trying to hard to assimilate himself this was one of the rare times he stood up to anybody.Apr 29 2012: Great question. But I find it hard to answer. Seems like I just always knew what I was/am. There was never a significant moment that made me realize I was Black.Apr 28 2012: It seems to me that people in America confuse colour and race. Black is a colour. African is a race. The words are used interchangeably in America. For example, is Obama black? No , he is mixed race. Using colour makes one myopic and sometimes can cloud your racial origin . Tiger Woods is not black , to identify him by his colour is to cancel his Thai ancestry. Using race makes you think about your origin rather than lumping yourself under some administrative categorisation such as the word black.What do you think ?
Apr 30 2012: I think there is a lot of legitimacy to this argument. To me, there is a lot more than skin color that distinguishes the outer appearance of a typical 'African of origin' person--shape of nose, color and texture of hair, certain musculature, etc. Anyway, I think the major significance has much to do with the history of peoples, particularly in this country. I think one will just be confused until one takes a course on the history of the United States and gets some knowledge of the history of the world more broadly. I think it is legitimate to say that there are races and ethnic groups that still have some degree of integrity that traces back hundreds of years. So, we certainly can decide to label a person with one parent white and one parent black as black or not. It is arbitrary, but also traditional.May 1 2012: I agree Kameel and Bob,
"Using colour makes one myopic and sometimes can cloud your racial origin". Perhaps that is why the term "people of color" has been adopted by many Americans. By "Americans", I assume you mean everyone from the Arctic Ocean down to the tip of Argentina? Yes, I can see exactly how "lumping" labels can be confusing.
The topic is:
"How did you first learn to be black or African or what was your earliest memory of learning about blackness/Africaness as different?" Would you care to share your stories that are on topic?Apr 27 2012: Hi Kyra, 15 years ago I adopted a Vietnamese boy and a couple of years later a girl. I am white European and live in a predominantly white community. I was curious and attentive on how color or race would affect my children's life in society. The first time it came up, they were 5 and it wasn't them or the other kids that raised it: it was their parents who were asking their 5 year olds "who these chinks were". A year later, we visited Vietnam and on arrival, my son had his face glued to the taxi window. "look dad", he said, "these people are all like me!". He paused and added, "now you'll be the one that will be teased."Apr 27 2012: The first time I remember being aware that people came in different colors was my first day of kindergarten. I climbed into the car when my mom came and picked me up and started rambling about my day. One of the first things that came out of my mouth was "Mom! There's a little brown boy in my class!"
I don't remember attributing any value to this observation. I just thought it was neat. We became friends and he was my first crush. If I was aware of any negative attitudes towards blackness it was only through preventative anti-racism messages on TV and in school.
I'm not sure if things would have been different if I lived in a more multicultural location or if I just was lucky enough to be brought up in a relatively tolerant place but racism is not something I have experienced first hand. Ever :)Apr 22 2012: PS An early interaction can be when you were 4 or 40 depending on your circumstance.Apr 22 2012: Sorry if what I was trying to do didn't do it the way I really intended. There is NOTHING you could say that wouldn't add to the conversation. But I am REALLY interested in your earliest memories and what you can see for yourself and share with others...esp. your earliest memory with living people not mediated ideas of people but any will do. TV still today is not really a true representation of people.Apr 22 2012: My earliest memory of learning about my blackness was in elementary school in rural Alabama, I was maybe 9 or 10.
You see, I was born into a military family and we traveled frequently. I grew up with Whites, Blacks, Hispanic, mixed...you name it and I never knew or realized or possibly even thought about the fact that I was different except that my hair was not a straight as my best friend's. My parents were not really political or religious, so I never heard about my African American heritage except for Black history month. But when I moved to Alabama my world changed. I was no longer just a normal kid. I was different, special, and unique. High yellow and white girl was something I heard on a daily basis, I was ridiculed and picked on because I was different. You see I went to an all black school, where I was the lightest person in the school with long hair and a strange accent.
To me...I was just me...average. But from the moment I stepped into that school, my reality changed. I learned about the power of color and the separation it causes even within my own race. I experienced my first dose of racism from my own people.Apr 21 2012: I really wish this simple idea, asking one question (what is your earliest memory of learning about race or blackness or Africaneness) was common in your circle at school or work, in your social networks of innovation or your social networks of exchange and transaction. For instance what if you ask your dry cleaner, your day laborer or contractor, or your administrative assistant not to mention your boss?
Watching Seth Godin's video on standing out reminded me that spreading and sharing the question and the answers in your own communities matters. http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/seth_godin_on_sliced_bread.html


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HG2 A hedonist's guide to... The UK's best-selling luxury city guide.
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Verbier lays claim to the largest ski area in Switzerland and technically it is. It is part of the Four Valleys ski area with 104 lifts and 485km of pistes that stretch from Bruson and Verbier at one end, through to Veysonnaz and Thyon at the other. However if you are expecting an area like the Trois Vallees, Les Portes du Soleil or the Milky Way then you will be disappointed. The links are awkward and people tend to come to Verbier and remain in the main ski area above the village. It is not a resort for clocking up mile after mile of piste skiing all accessed by comfortable 4-person chairlifts with weather hoods and soft seats. So why is it talked about in such revered tones then? Quite simply it has some of the best lift-accessible off piste in the world and if you like steep mogul fields and testing black itinerary runs then this is the place for you. The skiing is tough and challenging.
Verbier also has a sophisticated après ski scene with the jet set of Europe flocking to its clubs, bars and restaurants. This is where the Geneva, Moscow and Paris elite come to party. You will see royalty, pop stars, Saudi Arabian billionaires and young entrepreneurs. There is little discreet old money here like in St Moritz, Villars or Gstaad; people come here to spend and be seen. Amoung the celebrities who visit are James Blunt, Sir Richard Branson, Jamie Oliver, Hugh Grant, Jemima Khan, Prince Andrew, Jason Strathan and not forgetting Posh and Becks. Victoria Beckham infamously came to Verbier after allegations about David's private life and sat in the Garbo restaurant. She was photographed by the tabloid press through the window sitting quietly on her own.
At lunch some people eat lobster at Le Cristal restaurant at Ruinettes, while a few paces away you will see ski bums sitting out side on the steps in the cold munching on sandwiches they hastily made at breakfast. The two groups happily exist side by side. Verbier has a vibrant seasonaires scene and the resort is a magnet for the ski bums of Europe who come to shred the powder and party like it is going out of fashion. There is a large British clientele, though it is shrinking, and the resort is now actively targeting other nationalities.
The lift system has been upgraded in recent years though expect long queues at the bottom of the main lift, The Medran, during high season. Up the mountain it is very efficient with new cable cars and high-speed chairlifts installed in recent years. The accommodation in Verbier consists mainly of chalets that are spread out on the south-facing plateau starting at an altitude of 1,490m and, despite its rapid growth in recent decades, the resort still retains a village feel and atmosphere.
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Comments On Aug 31, 2015:Great levers! I love the feel and adjustability of them.
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Comments On Mar 03, 2015:I finally coughed up the cash for the full asv set up for my cr after dealing with bending regular style levers and I can say they are definitely worth the money no more replacing levers and if you do some how manage to wreck these they have a 6 year warranty and the added adjust ability is awesome the clutch lever and perch also gives you added leverage making a one finger clutch pull a breeze after using these I can say I will never use anything else.
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Comments On Nov 11, 2014:Made my clutch pull a lot easier! plus I don't have to worry about breaking a lever anymore
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Comments On Nov 10, 2014:Will this lever fit into a stock perch on my bike? 2012 kx250f or you guys sell the perch to
TECH NOTE: This lever will work with the stock perch.
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Comments On Sep 27, 2014:I ride mx and offroad. I'm tired of having to replace the oem lever after crashes. The ASV works well and looks good. Thanks RMATVMC.
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Comments On Feb 10, 2014:Looks ,Works and feels like a Quality lever.
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Comments On Dec 04, 2013:I bought on for the reason that it has not only adjustment for pull but also how far your lever can be from the grips. I run Harescrambles and wanted to alleviate some of the arm pump without buying a recluse clutch like everyone else. It does great but make sure you don't just set it up for comfort since what really matters is getting it set up for the best pull you can to eliminate stalling from incorrect adjustment.
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Comments On Jun 21, 2013:already had ASV lever, but used the stock perch. That worked ok, but didn't have a rubber boot, and it collected dirt ez. This complete unit is magic compared to the lever only. Makes clutch pull way easier, and the on the fly adjustments are sweet!
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Comments On Apr 13, 2013:bought it for my 13 kx450f wow does it have a lighter feel. it feels lighter to pull and alot smoother. the adjustment for the hand size is amazing. already got to test its durability by a sharp rut turn that i ended up laying the bike down and no breakage bent where its supposed to and back to original with no different feel not even a scratch on the lever. A stock lever would have bent or snapped. SOLD FOR LIFE ON THESE LEVERS!
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Comments On Feb 15, 2013:This lever looks and works great only think is in my second crash I did crack part of it not but but enough to notice. I thought they were unbreakable? But still functions fine and has been used months after the crack.
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Hi everyone!
I'm new to the forum and also quite new to welding. I just picked up a Miller 211 last month so that I can do my own welding work on my motorcycle....don't worry, I only weld stuff that isn't life threatening as of now (i.e. brackets and things like that).
I love the welder, but I'm not sure if I'm using it right. I'm using it with my 110v socket right now; don't have 220 in the garage yet. And using 75/25 gas that the guy at the welding shop hooked me up with when I got the welder.
Anyway, the Auto-set function doesn't seem to work for me. I have the wire size correct on the knob and metal thickness is correct, but when I go to weld it seems the wire speed is just way too fast. I can feel the wire pushing into the metal and the gun kicking back. So I've just been using the machine without the autoset, which I'm totally fine with doing. I open up the machine to find recommended settings for the piece based on my 110v and wire size, but all the recommended settings seem to be putting my wire speed too high too. When I use the recommended setting, again I feel like the gun is kicking back at me. So I usually turn the wirespeed down about 2-3 numbers and it feels good and looks good (to me at least). I'm just worried that I'm doing something wrong or have something setup wrong. I was told that wire speed dictates penetration, so if I'm turning down my wire speed, I worry that I'm not getting the penetration I'm supposed to. Any thoughts on this?
Also, a buddy of mine has the same welder at his shop that has 220v setup. I had to go down there to weld some 5/8 round stock to some 3/16 plate because I didn't think my 110v setup was up to the task. He had it on autoset and it felt the way it should, unlike when I use autoset on mine.
Do you think its an issue with my power?
Also, last question I swear, how do I know if I'm getting enough penetration and if my weld will survive? I make sure the welds are not too narrow or tall and I check the toes to see if they appear to go into the pieces. also for some welds I use a hammer and whack it a few good times to see if it will budge or crack the weld (not sure if this is effective in any way or just dumb). Any tips for non-destructive checking of my welds?
I'm not sure if I'm providing enough info for answers, so if I'm too vague about something, please let me know. Looking forward to learning and sharing on this forum.
Thanks ya'll!
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11-10-2013, 10:38 PM #1Junior Member
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New Guy: Questions about my Miller 211
What size wire are you running? ...BobBob Wright, Grandson of Tee Nee Boat Trailer Founder
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11-11-2013, 05:00 AM #3Member
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Is the material you are welding clean? How about where the ground is clamped?
Did you trim the wire to about 1/4 inch stick out before every start?
Are you holding the gun not more that 20 degrees from perpendicular and 3/8 to 1/2 inch off the material when you pull the trigger?
My guess is the answer to one or more of these questions is no.
11-11-2013, 07:58 AM #4Senior Member
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Auto set doesn't work very well for most users. The chart in the inside of the door is merely guidelines. You need to fine tune the settings after doing some practice beads.
New Guy: Questions about my Miller 211
And don't forget the guidelines inside have different settings for 120/220 voltages.
11-11-2013, 10:45 AM #6Senior Member
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And increased wire speed will increase current to the point where the machine can't keep up and the wire stubs into the work.
11-11-2013, 10:48 AM #7Junior Member
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The material I'm welding is clean, I smooth it out with a flap disc and then make sure all the paint and other crap is off it with a wire brush on the angle grinder.
I trim the wire before every start. I'm not certain if its 1/4 inch but it's certainly somewhere around that range; it's not too long.
I keep my angle around 0-15 degrees from perpendicular and about that 1/2 inch off the material as was suggested in the manual with the welder
I'm running .030 wire in the machine. The ground is usually clamped very close to where I'm laying the weld down on the piece (also, I make sure the ground is clean and has good contact).
Thanks for the help with the diagnosis everyone. I feel like the welder maybe isn't getting enough power, so I called an electrician to see how much it would cost to put a 220v socket in my garage. Hopefully that doesn't cost me an arm and a leg; spent all my money on the welding stuff!
Take it to your bud's shop and run them side by side.
He will certainly have 120v power to compare.
Run yours on his 240v power.Ed Conley
Passport Plus w/Spool Gun
Miller 125c Plasma 120v
O/A set
SO 2020 Bender
You can call me Bacchus
Also remember that the setting you are using is a sticker on the front panel, not a meter giving you the reading of the true output. With that you could have every machine a little different. I've had mine about 3 years and find I usually run the wire speed on mine about 1 to 1.5 above the graph setting. You just have to run it and learn were it weld like it should."The only source of knowledge is experience." Albert Einstein


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Parking and Traffic Alert – Saturday, November 9th
DURHAM, N.C. – Fans traveling to the Duke University campus on Saturday, November 9th for the Duke and North Carolina State Football game at 4:00 PM should be aware of the following parking and traffic alerts. In addition to the football game, Duke Athletics will host a Swimming and Diving Meet vs. William and Mary pre-game at 11:00 AM in the Taishoff Aquatics Pavilion. Please review the information below for both the football game and the swimming and diving meet. Please leave extra time in your travels to avoid delays. For a full parking and traffic map and directions to disability, Iron Duke, and general public parking areas - visit www.goduke.com/gameday and review the Football A-Z Game Day guide or the Swimming and Diving A-Z Game Day guide.
• General Public Parking for Swimming and Diving Meet Fans - Fans attending the Duke Swimming and Diving Meet vs. William and Mary can find general public parking on a first come, first serve basis in the Duke Football General Public Parking Lots – Chemistry and Jogging Trail. The parking lots will open at 7:00 AM and there is a $10 charge to park – CASH ONLY. For directions to these general public lots as well as a parking/traffic map, please visit www.goduke.com/gameday and click on the Football A-Z Guide and scroll down to Parking Information.
• Disability Parking for Swimming & Diving Meet – Guests needing disability parking for the Swimming and Diving Meet should see the attendant at the entrance to Whitford Drive. Disability parking access for the Swimming and Diving meet will be available on Whitford Drive from 8:00 AM until 11:00 AM. After 11:00 AM disability parking for Swimming and Diving will be available in the Blue Zone disability parking lots. There will be a $10 charge – CASH ONLY to park after 11:00 AM in the Blue Zone Lots. An ADA accessible van will be available from these lots to take guests to the Taishoff Aquatic Pavilion and back to the parking area. To request the van upon arrival or for pick-up, please call 919.668.5777 or find a parking staff member in the area.
For directions to the Whitford Drive or Blue Zone disability parking lots as well as a parking/traffic map, please visit www.goduke.com/gameday and click on the Football A-Z Guide and scroll down to Parking Information.
• Early Lot Opening Times for General Public Parking for Football – Due to expected attendance for Saturday, November 9th, the Chemistry and Jogging Trail General Public Park and Walk lots for football will open at 7:00 AM on Saturday. The remainder of the General Public Park and Walk and Courtesy Shuttle Lots will open at 11:00 AM. The courtesy shuttles will begin from designated lots at 11:00 AM as well and run until 1 hour post-game. There are no scheduled changes to RV/OV parking operations. Please visit www.goduke.com/gameday and click on the Football A-Z Guide and scroll down to parking information to review shuttle lots, routes, and RV/OV parking information.
• Jogging Trail Lot Impact – The jogging trail lot will serve as a lay down area for on-going road construction on Duke University Road and NC 751/Cameron Boulevard. There will be a minimal loss of parking spaces in the Jogging Trail Lot, however the lot will open and operate as usual on game day.
• Small Circuit Lot Construction Impact – Due to construction of a retention pond on campus, there is a loss of approximately 30 parking spaces in the Small Circuit Lot. The loss in spaces will decrease the RV/OV capacity in this lot from 40 RV/OVs to 30 RV/OVs. Access routes to the parking positions will also be impacted. Please follow the directions of the parking and traffic staff on duty.
• Football Traffic Checkpoints – Iron Duke Football Parking Permit checkpoints are set-up on the roads surrounding the Iron Duke Football parking. The checkpoints will be active on Saturday, November 9th from 11:00 AM until 4:30 PM. All Iron Duke Football Parking Permit holders will need to have their Iron Duke Parking Permit visible as they approach campus. Iron Duke Parking Permit holders need to show their parking permit for access at these checkpoints and also for access into their designated lot. Those guests to campus without an Iron Duke Football parking permit will be directed around campus to the General Public Parking Lots. The roads on the interior of campus are small and the separation of Iron Duke Football Parking Permit Traffic and General Public Parking Traffic allows for more efficient ingress. Checkpoints are located at the following intersections:
- Intersection of Science Drive and NC 751/Cameron Blvd.
- Intersection of Towerview Drive and Erwin Road
- Intersection of Chapel Drive and Duke University Road
- Intersection of NC 751/Cameron Blvd and Duke University Road
• DU Road Closure – For all Duke Football home games, Duke University Road is closed between Anderson Street and NC 751/Cameron Boulevard to all traffic except Iron Duke Parking Permit holders. The closure on Saturday, November 9th will begin at 11:00 AM and re-open to all traffic at 4:30 PM. The road will close again from approximately 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
• Towerview Drive Closure between Card Gym Lot and Towerview Roundabout – Towerview Drive will be closed from the Card Gym Lot to the Towerview Drive Roundabout from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The road will close again from approximately 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Fans entering campus at these times should plan their access routes accordingly knowing that vehicles cannot pass through this section of Towerview Drive.
• Main Street Now Open - Main Street in Durham is now open from Buchanan Boulevard to Swift Avenue/Broad Street.
• I-40/I-440 Construction – The I-40/I-440 area of South Raleigh will have travel lanes closed for months at a time starting Fall 2013. The complete rebuild could take up to three (3) years to complete. At this time all construction is occurring in the overnight and will have no impact on Duke Football game days. As more information is received from the NCDOT, it will be updated in our weekly parking/traffic alerts. For more information on the project including updates, lane closures, alternate routes and additional project information from the NCDOT, please refer to www.ncdot.gov/projects/I40-440Rebuild.


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Offering the ultimate combination of organsised and overflow storage with enough hydration for over 3 hours out on the trail, the hardcore mule features camelbaks latest dynamic suspension harness to maximise stability and comfort while riding. Featuring an easy access padded top pocket for a media player or headtorch battery pack, tear resisitant hypalon compression anchors and a splash guard to underline its go-anywhere style.
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AMES, Iowa — On game film, before every snap, the scoreboard is shown to show the basics — down and distance and the time of game.
It also happens to show the score.
As Iowa State senior running back Jeff Woody watched the Cyclones' film of its 2011 game with Northern Iowa, in preparation for Saturday's 7 p.m. season opener against the Panthers at Jack Trice Stadium, there was something that stood out.
"It (the film) shows the scoreboard and there are a lot of times where it says the Panthers have a higher number than the Cyclones do and that is something you can't get around," Woody said.
ISU rallied to score twice in the final five minutes to edge UNI, 20-19, in that game, but the Cyclones haven't forgotten how tough it was. Or the time before that against the Panthers. Or the time before that.
"When you play UNI and watch the film on UNI, you know ... there is absolutely nothing easy about it," added Woody.
Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads is anxious to play Saturday, maybe not so much to play the talented Panthers, but anxious to discover how 11 potential new starters will perform.
Rhoads is 4-0 in season openers as the Cyclones' head coach, but this will be his most inexperienced team.
ISU returns no starting wide receivers, will have two new starting offensive linemen and just one returning starter among its front seven on defense
Asked what are some of the major differences of his current team and the first team he coached in 2009, Rhoads didn't have to search for an answer.
"Probably more unknowns, first of all, with this team," Rhoads said. "More unknowns with this team because we have so many players with a lack of snaps under their belt.
"We didn't know that '09 team as well, but we had a pretty good idea of what we had.
"When this Saturday arrives we will get some questions answered about our football team."
Despite having nearly 30 practices behind them, Rhoads said the Cyclones aren't quite ready to face a UNI team featuring Sawyer Kollmorgen and David Johnson on offense, and a Panther defense led by a stout linebacker group and a very talented backfield on defense.
More than 6,000 Cyclone faithful flocked to a fan fest Sunday and the No. 1 question asked of Rhaods is whether he was ready to play UNI.
"I said no I am not," Rhoads said of his response to the fans. "We still have a number of practices left and we are going to take advantage of every single one of them.
OFFENSIVE LINE CHANGES: Senior strong guard Ethan Tuftee, who has the Cyclones' second longest streak of starts behind center Tom Farniok's 26, will have his snapped at 15.
Sophomore Jamison Lalk was listed ahead of Tuftee in a depth chart released by Iowa State Monday.
Rhoads said Tuftee is expected to play against UNI, but he has been slowed by a charlie horse above his knee during fall camp and has missed several practice opportunities
"It's more that Ethan has missed some days," Rhoads added.
At quick guard, redshirt freshman Daniel Burton has jumped ahead of Oni Omoile, who was No. 1 coming out of spring.
BATTLE AT KICKER: Incumbent starter Edwin Arceo who was 37 of 40 on PATs and 12 of 18 on field goals is continuing to be pushed by redshirt freshman Cole Netten.
That doesn't figure to change anytime soon.
"It will extend to game day," Rhoads said. "Anytime you begin to think you have answers in a situation like that somebody drops off in their performance.
"I want to feel great about who it is I'm putting out there and the reason I made that decision. So, yep, she's going to keep going, that battle, for the rest of the week."
SATURDAY NIGHT HEAT: The forecasted high for Saturday is going to be near 100 degrees after an uncharacteristic cool August, but Rhoads doesn't see that being an issue.
"We got a little burst of it last week so it's not like this week it is completely new to us," he said. "The positive of a month like this is our first two opponents, which extends over a three week time period, have been practicing in the same exact weather."
©2013 Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (Waterloo, Iowa)
Distributed by MCT Information Services


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I installed latexdiff to track changes. The first question is where to give the command (latexdiff old.tex new.tex > diff.tex). I saw on the internet that it can be done in the Command/DOS environment. But then I get the error that the file new.tex cannot be found in the directory. I have checked where the other packages are located which is downloaded and which are working. And I have downloaded Perl. What am I doing wrong?
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This story was updated Dec. 12, 2012. An explanation follows.
If Congress fails to reach an agreement to avert the automatic spending cuts to the federal budget by Jan. 2, Robert Klein says he is mentally prepared to be out of a job.
Klein, an information technology contractor who works at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, is one of about 300,000 employees in Maryland who work either directly or indirectly for the federal government.
As the so-called "fiscal cliff" looms — brought on by the across-the-board expiration of Bush-era tax cuts and $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts — federal workers are worried how their jobs and income will be impacted.
If the automatic cuts are triggered by the failure of Congress and the White House to reach a deal, an estimated 12,600 federal jobs in the state could be cut, said U.S. Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Dist. 5) of Mechanicsville.
Klein knows his job could be one of them, although he, like other federal workers, has not heard anything definitive.
"Personally as for my job, I'm 70. I've already retired twice," said Klein, a Wheaton resident. "If they cut me, I'll just retire a third time."
Others are less fortunate, he said.
"There's going to be a lot of pain for a lot of people, and the only question is will the burden of the pain be fair?" Klein said. "It wouldn't be fair that just the lower-income [people] bear the pain."
For the past two years, federal salaries have been frozen, and federal workers should not be asked to contribute any more than they have toward deficit reduction, Hoyer said.
But workers are concerned not only that the automatic cuts might occur, but that a bad deal will be reached between the White House and congressional Republicans to avert them, said Carl Goldman, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 26, which represents about 2,000 federal workers in the state.
AFSCME and other unions representing federal workers have organized members to call their congressional representatives to support the federal workers in the negotiations.
"We're sort of caught between a rock and a hard place," Goldman said. "On the one hand, there could be no agreement and cuts occur and that would be bad, or there could be a bad agreement and people would be hurt by that also," Goldman said. "It's one of the reasons why our position is to not just get an agreement, because a bad agreement could be worse than no agreement."
While federal agency officials have contingency plans in place in case the automatic cuts take effect, those officials have not told their employees or the public how they would be handled, Goldman said.
"The agencies are keeping that very close," he said.
The union had wanted to negotiate in case the agencies planned to furlough or lay off workers, but agency personnel officials have refused to discuss the matter, he said, adding, "Nobody really knows."
Eric Whitenton, 54, a general engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, said some of the federal workers at NIST are worried about the looming fiscal cliff, but they do not talk about it routinely.
"We've seen this enough times that we know it can drag out to the last possible nanosecond," Whitenton said.
NIST officials have not told the workers how the cuts there would be handled either. "We still don't know the details," he said, adding that job cuts are always a possibility.
The fact that automatic cuts across the board could be the only way to reduce federal spending is disappointing, he said.
"As a country, we should be grown-ups and able to say 'Cut this, spend this,'" he said.
House Republicans pressed for the automatic cuts in the last round of debate in 2011 over raising the nation's debt ceiling limit.
"It's nonsense," said William Little, 62, of the automatic spending cuts. Little, a veteran who works for the Drug Enforcement Administration and was walking to a medical appointment Tuesday at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, said Congress was relying on automatic cuts instead of making smart choices about where to target cuts.
While both Democrats and Republicans have agreed that tax cuts on the middle class should be extended, House Speaker John Boehner, an Ohio Republican, has said the tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 also should be extended. He would like to see the deficit reduced through closing some tax loopholes and spending cuts. House Republicans passed a measure that extended a federal pay freeze and 10 percent reduction in the federal work force.
"Washington doesn't have a taxing problem, it has a spending problem," said Maryland GOP spokesman David Ferguson. The fact Maryland has so many people who work for the federal government shows that spending needs to be controlled, he said.
President Barack Obama campaigned on extending the middle-class tax cut but returning to the higher tax rates under President Bill Clinton for those making more than $250,000. Obama also met with business leaders Wednesday at the White House to reportedly make the case that the federal budget should have a balance of higher revenues and spending cuts.
The White House released a report Thursday saying a failure to extend the tax cuts for those making less than $250,000 annually would increase taxes for 2.2 million Maryland families.
Hoyer and other Maryland Democrats say cutting the federal deficit should not be on the backs of federal workers, who already contributed more than $103 billion toward deficit reduction through the pay freeze and by agreeing that new hires would contribute more to their pensions.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D) of Baltimore called for a deal to be reached by Dec. 16 so that federal workers were not going into the holidays with uncertainty about their futures.
Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D) of Pikesville said it was important that Congress recognize the savings already achieved through the pay freeze and to not expect more from federal workers.
Julia Caviston, a cell biology research fellow at NIH, held her 5-year-old daughter's hand as she walked through the gates of the NIH complex in Bethesda, said she and her colleagues haven't really talked about the fiscal cliff. They spend their days hunched over their microscopes and leave politics out of the workplace, she said.
"It's not been made clear to us if our jobs are at risk," she said. "It's common sense that they would be to some extent."
An earlier version of the story had an incorrect estimate of the number of jobs that could be impacted by the sequestration.


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631 search results for Dark Knight Rises
Everything you need to know about Christopher Nolan's take on Batman, the upcoming movie, etc.
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Type: Event | Date: Friday, Jul 20, 2012The main players are all back for this third (and final) installment in the revamped Batman franchise featuring Bale and Nolan.
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Type: Article | Date: Tuesday, Aug 13, 2013Anne Hathaway, Matthew McConaughey and Jessica Chastain lead all-star cast
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Type: Article | Date: Friday, Jul 20, 2012Movie theater at center of largest mass shooting in U.S. history
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Type: Post | Date: Sunday, May 3, 2015What does this mean for "The Force Beckons"?


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Home > Outdoor Living > Firepits & Patio Heaters > Outdoor Gel Fireplaces > Landmann USA Northwoods Outdoor Fireplace
Landmann USA Northwoods Outdoor Fireplace
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Flyboy will be open for local action this Saturday with tee times at 9am and 10am. There will be no course fee, however, your donations are greatly appreciated, and help keep the course alive! Lillian will also fix lunch for $5.00 (ham sandwich, chips, brownie, and a drink.) If anyone wants to run side action have at it. Please respond to this thread with desired tee time, 9 or 10 am, and lunch request. Park uphill in front of the orchard on your right just after you pass the basket on the post by the driveway. Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces out here!
Kelly, Wayne, & Lillian


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A participant of the gothic music festival Wave Gothic Festival in a fancy costume poses for a photograph as she walks in Leipzig, central Germany, Saturday, May 18, 2018. About 20,000 members of the scene from all over the world are expected to attend the gothic and 'dark' culture festival until May 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Pope Francis arrives to meets with faithful of the ecclesiastic movements on the occasion of a Pentecost vigil in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, May 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
First lady Michelle Obama hugs Jenika Headley-Greene as Obama hands out diplomas during the graduation ceremony for Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet High School, Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Russian riot police officers clash with CSKA Moscow soccer fans celebrating their team's Russian Premier League Championship title, in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 18, 2013, (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
Opposition activists carry the Ukrainian national flag during an acton of protest against the current regime in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 18, 2013. AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Sri Lankan government soldiers march in a war victory parade in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, May 18, 2013. The military parade is being held to commemorate the 4th year anniversary of the government's victory over Tamil Tiger rebels. In 2009, the Tamil Tigers admitted defeat in their 25-year war with the Sri Lankan government that left more than 70,000 people dead. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
MotoGP rider Dani Pedrosa of Spain powers his Honda in a curve during a free practice session of the French Grand Prix in Le Mans, western France, Saturday, May 18, 2013. (AP Photo/David Vincent)
Actress Paz Vega poses for photographers as she arrives for the screening of the film Jimmy P. Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
May 18, 2013 - Cookie Swain (left) portrays Felicia Lee Thornton Shover as she talks with Barbara Christensen during the second annual Armed Forces Day costume tour at Elmwood Cemetery. Felicia Lee, who is buried at Elmwood, was a cousin of Robert E. Lee who ran a lucrative mule shipping business which she used to help smuggle medicine and supplies to Confederate troops during the Civil War. To assist in her spying she befriended the notorious General W.T. Sherman, a relationship she carried only to further her efforts to aid Southern troops, but which led her family to disown her and for her nickname, the Tenneessee Traitor, to follow her for the rest of her life. Eight actors with The Elmwood Players portrayed prominent figures in the history of warfare all of whom were laid to rest at Elmwood. (Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal)
Hundreds attended the annual Memphis in May BBQ Cookoff at Tom Lee park. Justin A. Shaw/The Commercial Appeal
Robert Stolarick of Memphis Hoggystyle does the centipede during "The Cracker Games", while attending the Memphis in May BBQ Cookoff. Justin A. Shaw/The Commercial Appeal
May 18, 2013 - The 39th Annual A'Fair in Hernando was held Saturday in the Hernando Courthouse Square. Presented by the Hernando Optimist Club, the festival included over 200 arts, crafts and food vendors centered on Historic Hernando Square, featuring artisans, live music and children's activities. Caroline Morris, 19, of Hernando, admires Folk Artist Billy Moore's art. (Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal)
May 18, 2013 - Team members of Sweet Swine O' Mine celebrate for becoming the Grand Champions of the 2013 Memphis in May World Class BBQ Cooking Contest. This is the 37th Annual Memphis in May and the 36th Annual BBQ Cookoff. (Justin A. Shaw/Special to The Commercial Appeal)


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|Depth Percentage:
The height of a gemstone, measured from the culet to the table, divided by the width of the gemstone. The depth percentage is critical to creating brilliance and fire in a diamond, and a gemstone with a depth percentage too low or too high will lack sparkle.
For more information, read our education on Diamond Cut Grading.
See also: Culet, Table, Table Percentage, Depth, Brilliance.


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An Interview With Jose Orlando Padrón, Chairman, Padrón Cigars Inc.
The patriarch and founder of Padrón Cigars Inc. has been making cigars since 1964.
James Suckling
From the Print Edition:
Antonio Banderas, Nov/Dec 2005
(continued from page 2)
European editor James Suckling sat down with Jose Orlando and his son Jorge, the company president (who also answered questions), in their factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, and spoke about the past, present and future of their cigars. The interview was conducted in Spanish and then translated.
James Suckling: Why has Padrón Cigars been so successful?
Padrón: We have the smoker's trust. We've had clients for 40 years. When you are congratulated by those who smoke your cigars then you know that you are doing things right.
Q: I remember your 40th anniversary party in Miami last December, and you mentioned the hammer you had in your office. Can you tell me about this?
A: When I arrived in Miami, I was receiving $60 at the refuge. I felt like a beggar. I had been through a great deal in Spain and I told myself I have to find a way to make a living. There was this woman in Miami that told me "I will give you a hand," and I said, "help me buy a lawnmower so that I can cut grass." We bought a lawnmower that cost $59. At the end of the next week, I repaid her. In time, I put together all the equipment for garden work. In the mornings—5 a.m.—I would go to work until noon. The sun was so strong I would stop, and go back to work again at 6 p.m. I started saving a bit of money. At the time, a friend of mine from Cuba who was distributing food at the refuge gave me a hammer because he knew I was doing the odd carpentry job. I was a gardener during the day and a carpenter at night. That little hammer is a keepsake. It's something to show my sons and everybody else. To make them aware of the sacrifices I had to make in order to get to this point.
Q: So you worked two jobs to put together enough money to start your cigar factory?
A: Yes, I managed to put together $600, and I rented a space. It was very small. I still have the first electricity bill for $52. I was a big smoker in Cuba. I loved cigars. This is something you carry in your blood. I was born in the middle of all that, and that is why I love it so much. When I arrived in Miami the only tobacco here was the so-called Philippine kind. It cost six or seven cents. You cannot imagine what I went through to smoke a good cigar.
Then I said I am going to build a cigar factory in Miami, because Cubans here would miss Cuba, but not Cuban cigars, if I made a good smoke. I accomplished this and the reason is I had my clients behind me.
Q: What do you think of the cigar market in the United States now?
A: The market can be maintained, but we have to be careful with this new boom. It could go down. Everybody seems to have started producing more cigars, but that's something Padrón hasn't done, and that's why we are still around due to the previous experience we had. We didn't do that during the last boom in the mid-1990s.
Q: So you think there is now a mini-boom?
A: There is a mini-boom now, and the time will come when the market will be saturated with inexpensive cigars.
Q: Like it's happened before?
A: Yes, like before.
Q: How is this mini-boom possible when it is so difficult for smokers nowadays? They have no place to smoke.
A: It could be a mini-boom due to manufacturers increasing production and storing stock. Nobody knows how much is stored away. There could be 50 or 100 million cigars that haven't been sold. This is not Padrón's situation because we produce and sell them immediately. In our case we never have cigars in stock. We produce our cigars and the smoker immediately enjoys our cigars. We are always in touch with the market. This is very important. If a smoker complains about a cigar we say: send it to us to check out what happened, if it was the roller or whatever happened.
Q: So some big companies cannot respond to the market properly?
A: Look what happened before to the factories with big stocks. What happened after the boom [last time] was that there were over 10 million cigars in Nicaragua, at 10 cents a cigar. It's not convenient to mention who bought them.
Q: Your cigars are always difficult to find in the market, especially the Aniversary. Why?
A: The answer is simple; we produce 15 or 20 percent of our production for the Anniversary. We have had problems with production sometimes. For example, last month we took a 15-day vacation and there was a negative impact on production levels. However, our system is to prioritize quality over quantity. Our biggest production was in 1981, when we sold 6 million cigars. I don't think we will ever produce more than this figure. If we get to 6 million, that's where we stop.
Q: Why can't you produce more?
A: Because it's very difficult. You would need more rollers, more tobacco, and [you get] more problems.
Q: So a lot of the problem is the infrastructure?
A: Exactly, and we have no need for that. What we have to do is maintain what we now have. We have to make sure that the smoker is satisfied.
Q: Isn't the trend nowadays for tobacco companies to launch new products and new brands all the time?
A: Exactly, and saturate the store shelves. We buy raw material for what we are doing, for four, five or six years. What other factories do is they launch new brands every year. Just think of one factory that has 20 brands. How many sizes will it have for each brand? I will say it's a lie to anybody that tells me that they can make more than three blends in one factory. Not even a fortune-teller could invent so many different brands. The client pays for this.
Q: But why is it so difficult to make lots of different brands in one factory?
A: The problem is that you have to have enough raw materials to maintain the blend. That's the most important thing.
Q: This is the problem now in Cuba, right? There are factories making 10, 15 brands? There are also brands that are manufactured in several factories. Isn't that very difficult?
A: Each factory should produce a maximum of four brands each. To have a factory produce more than four brands would turn it into a factoría, a place that produces dresses, shirts, clothes. The difference between a factory and a factoría is that a factory has to guarantee the raw material to maintain a stable blend. A clothes factoría needs to promote its merchandise and keep up to date with fashion trends. They are totally different, one from the other. Just imagine, a factory that makes 1 million cigars will need, for each brand, a minimum of 450 quintales [22.8 short tons] of tobacco.
Q: Is that for a year?
A: Forget about the time, we're saying for the production of 1 million cigars. Imagine, just multiply 30 million cigars by 450 to know how many quintales must be in stock!
Q: Is that why Padrón never makes more than one brand?
A: Exactly. It's very important to be serious and professional in this business. Seriousness means that when a client smokes a cigar it should always smoke the same, taste the same, and have the same qualities. When a factory produces many different brands, it will have to be changing the blends all the time. Sometimes factories will have perfect blends but other times not.
Q: But don't you think that in 20 years Padrón's blends and flavors have changed?
A: Yes, they have changed. Of course. Initially I changed them because of Nicaragua. But listen: cigar production must be taken seriously, that is what I was taught and what I want my sons to learn. When a client talks to you it should be to congratulate you, not to say "This cigar is awful." What we have to maintain is the smoker's trust, that Padrón will never fail them.
Q: You did that during the problem with the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. No?
A: Yes, during the war there was an American embargo on Nicaragua from 1985 to 1990, and I had to reduce our production from 5 million to 2 million cigars because I was more interested in maintaining my blend, and my smokers' trust, than in making money. At the time of the war, there was no raw material available. We were in bad shape.
Q: You also made cigars in Honduras at the time?
A: Yes, Honduras. [Padrón still owns and operates the small cigar factory in Danlí, Honduras.] There was no tobacco here in Nicaragua after the war. There was not even electricity!
Q: Incredible. I know you don't wish to add brands, but don't you have plans to produce more products like the Anniversary?
A: Yes, of course, because we have to give the clients new products. But not all the time.
Q: How do you distribute your cigars in the United States?
A: We distribute directly to shops. We do not have a sales force.
Q: Do some clients have priority over others?
A: No, there are no priorities. All of our clients are equally important.
Q: What do you think of your cigar prices? Anniversarys are pricey, don't you think?
A: This cigar is for smokers who can afford to pay for it, but our regular line, I think, is the cheapest in the market. It's been years since our last price increase.
Jorge Padrón: I would like to mention the number of times people have asked us why our traditional line, which we sell for $2 to $6 per cigar, is so cheap. When we started selling cigars to shops during the Dallas trade show in 1993, a lot of people didn't buy our cigars because of the price. They thought that if they were that cheap it was because they were not good. Nowadays, we have maintained the price and the smoker understands that he or she is buying for the taste not the price. You get smokers who want to pay $4 for the best cigar in this price range and that is Padrón 3000. There are other smokers that can afford to pay more and buy the Anniversary. The important thing is that we have cigars for all segments of the market.
Q: When you began making cigars, you wanted to produce a substitute to the Cuban cigar, however, your cigars are completely different from Cuban cigars.
A: What we have done is something never done before. Cuban cigars have something we don't have here: a different climate, sun and soil. This does not mean that all Cuban farms are good, just as it is here. There are several farms we have not used for two or three years because they have not been fertilized properly and tobacco doesn't grow with the quality that is required. The same happens in Cuba. I'm sure they must have eliminated many farms throughout the years due to problems with tobacco quality. You have to look after the soil. You have to feed the soil. If you don't feed the soil then you get weak, famished plants. You saw with your [own] eyes last year's tobacco harvest, the size of the leaf, the quality. That is the most important thing.
Q: Then, have you created a replacement for Cuban cigars?
A: No, I haven't. Cuba will always be Cuba. What we are trying to do is equal, not surpass, Cuba. We will never be able to outdo Cuban cigars.
Q: What do you think of tobacco in Nicaragua nowadays? Do you think quality is the same as before the Sandinistas?
A: Many farms have lost quality—first during the war, later because of blue mold. The blue mold was Nicaragua's tragedy. I ran a test here in 1989. Ridomil [a fungicide used against blue mold] came to Nicaragua at that time. I saw that blue mold spread to part of the tobacco one morning, so I started spreading the Ridomil all around. I processed this tobacco quickly and started smoking it. After this, I was smoking a pipe for six months because it burnt my mouth completely! I told my harvesters that I would not buy any tobacco from them if they used Ridomil. There are other products that can be used and are not that aggressive. I know I am on top of this because I have to look after my smokers, but I don't know if everybody else does the same.
Q: So you do see a big change in Nicaraguan tobacco?
A: It has changed a great deal. There are many farms that are still good but many others have lost their quality.
Q: Why are Nicaraguan cigars so much in fashion now?
A: My opinion is because of what Padrón has done.
Q: Couldn't it be because there is a trend to produce stronger cigars and Nicaragua has strong tobacco?
A: Do you want to know when a cigar is the strongest? Just leave it raw, and it will be very strong. Don't process it; just leave it, and you will be throwing up soon enough.
Q: So strong is not the best cigar then?
A: I would say the best is to smoke a nice cigar. Sometimes I get people asking for strong ones, and I think that if the blend is right, it's not necessary that it be too strong.
Jorge Padrón: I say it's best if it is balanced.
Q: But now you see a lot of cigars that are mainly the strong kind.
A: Anybody can make a strong cigar. The important thing is to achieve the correct balance, a balance between strength and flavor. That is the difficult thing. Not everybody can achieve this. We had that idea in mind when we launched the 1926 line.
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