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I spend so much time listening to it that I might as well share some thoughts on it.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Partly this is because I have stopped buying music.
My attentions have turned to the more creative, from a personal point of view, art of photography.
This means I have stopped becoming a music consumer.
I never thought I would reach this stage.
Looking out, in my basement from my computer den, I see rows and rows of CDs and LPs, all lovingly accumulated over the years since I was 15.
Most have been converted to MP3s or FLACs, played now over my computer network in my bedroom, usually just before I go to sleep.
Or at work over the tinny speakers attached to my computer.
Or in the car over the not quite so tinny car speakers.
Occasionally, between recorded radio plays. Has music really become so peripheral to my life? Perhaps it has. Yet it still holds strength. Last weekend, driving back from Holliday, MO, after an afternoon photographing sunflowers, I played the third album I ever bought, the first Roxy Music album, over and over again. Music bought when I was fifteen. I loved it. Those old songs, heard so many times since, still move me. They cast me back into the absolute beginnings of my life yet hold true to the life I life today. How can this be? How can something I loved while still living with my parents, while still a virgin, while still terrified of the unknown future ahead of me, still be meaningful today?
I don't know. Perhaps this, more than anything, is a testament to the power of music.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
The Big Express
But now I revisit and find a vastly increased level of functionality and ease-of-use.
So let's go again.
"The Big Express" is an XTC album dating from the early 1980s. A period of mind-wobbling productivity for the band, pushing out reams of exquisitely crafted pop songs that sent critics into ecstasies and the general public into a swoon of indifference.
During a brief period in the mid 1980s, I scooped up almost all the current and older XTC albums (perversely skipping Go2) and feel immediately in love with two songs from "The Big Express". The opener, a choppy mid-period Beatles-style guitar driven rumination on lack of awareness that managed to bridge the (admittedly narrow) gap between The Beatles and The Jam. And a little way into the running order, "This World Over", a gloomy meditation on a post-nuclear world with twinges of Police sonics, but a typically entrancing melody.
The rest of the record I failed to take on board.
For years.
Until this weekend, when, undoubtedly stimulated by the multiple listens I have recently given Bowie's excellent new "The Next Day", a record itself stuffed with beautifully crafted songs, I listened again to "The Big Express".
What a great record it is. Full of invention and energy, subversively constructed songs that defy clichés and an overall feel of a band at the height of its powers. Where, to be truthful, XTC was for most of its now sadly truncated career.
The revisit affirmed my love of "Wake Up" and "This World Over", but other songs, "I Bought Myself A Liarbird", "I Remember The Sun" in particular, are all reshuffling that great mental list of tunes, noteworthy or not.
That's what I wanted to say on the Ape House forum, but this will do just as well.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Long time gone
This stays up for archival purposes, but I am in reality long time gone from here.
Find me here.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Be Here Now
Looking back on what I wrote all those years ago (yes, it is years), most of it still makes sense and my opinions haven't really changed, so I feel pleased about that.
Blogger has changed so much, though, that it is almost like starting over!
Friday, June 16, 2006
Then along came the CD with its supposedly miraculously large dynamic range and scratch-free reproduction. Again, those same best-sellers were pushed onto that format, complete with a price premium to match those 'half-speed remasters', and what did we find? A very variable result, with some recordings well-mastered even from the earliest days (I have excellent CD versions of Wire's Pink Flag, and Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus dating from those early days), but many sounding somewhat lifeless compared to LPs. a few sounding downright bad.
So began the CD remaster. Some in the 1980s, a lot more in the 1990s and 2000s. In some cases, they really do sound a lot better than their precursors. In others, marginally so. Some sound merely as if they have been remixed to boost the bass, some sound genuinely opened up with more detail coming through. But it is all a matter of degree. And, in a movement of sweet irony, much of this music is recompressed, reduced in sonic quality and recycled as mp3, WMA or iTunes. Portability easily trumps fidelity in most people's estimation.
Now we are moving into DVD audio and SACD, allowing 5:1 and more remixes for home theaters and supposedly even greater fidelity. In strict signal terms, yes, the greater bandwidth of these new formats allows for even greater fidelity to the original source. But for most of us, it doesn't matter at all.
For me the best thing about CDs was the removal of all those scratches and hisses. I was never such as audiophile that I really cared that much about the sonic imperfections of the earlier CDs. Certainly I can hear the improvements in the remasters. Sure they are nice, but they don't really alter whatever artistic value I get from the music. Two speakers, mostly just headphones, are all I am ever going to want for music reproduction so the multichannel enhancements are essentially meaningless. In truth, I'm not even sure the jump from mono to stereo was really that significant. I prefer to spend my cash on seeking out some fresh and new music rather than buying yet another copy of Dark Side Of The Moon.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
What's The Story?
Tomorrow never knows what it doesn't know too soon
I was cycling through Forest Park this morning on my way work, my mind wandering as it usually does at that time. This time I was thinking about music, and specifically the Oasis of 'What's the story (Morning Glory)?". Part of this relates to my weekend experience of reminding myself how far and how low this band fell after the release of "Morning Glory".
But there was more at work here than that. It's about one full year since I finished my college course on the music of The Beatles, and I was thinking of that band as well. Oasis and The Beatles are tightly connected - the lyric quoted above directly refers to The Beatles' song "Tomorrow Never Knows", and this is just one of myriad Oasis borrowings and references.
Oasis manage to transcend this obvious fixation by never actually sounding like The Beatles. The guitar roar and Liam Gallagher's whine place the band far closer to, say, the Sex Pistols sonically. For their first two albums, the band certainly squeezed out enough inspiration from this clash (no pun intended) to produce some truly catchy and unforgettable rock. But then it all fell apart, and the interesting thing about this is how slight the musical change was.
Post-"Morning Glory", Oasis is not that different in sound and style from pre-, but what once sounded fresh and exciting becomes dull, uninspired and sometimes even turgid. It's difficult to analyse exactly why. Certainly, songs became over-extended or relied one time too many on familiar sounding riffs and melodies. But something intangible was lost - best described as inspiration in both composition and performance - once the original band fragmented, even as the sound remained largely the same. Playing "Morning Glory" and "Be Here Now" back to back is perhaps the most effective demonstration I can think of recordings that rise to art and fall to over-confident mediocrity.
The Beatles, although not as consistently great as their reputation suggests, nonetheless never experienced such a tipping point. During the lifetime of that band, a lifetime well exceeded by Oasis, The Beatles produced about twice as much music and remained vital to the end.
I think this is a clue as why I have been so let-down by Oasis. The sound of this band is just about as close to the perfect sound that I have ever heard; their early songs as close to perfection as I could hope for. But this amounts to about two albums worth plus a collection of worthy singles. They should have broken up there and then and kept my fond memories and impressions intact.
The Beatles managed to do just that - break up before their decline (and the solo work demonstrates just how far they could have fallen).
I guess it really is all about timing.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Raw Power
Elvis has been so assimilated that it takes a spin of his Sun Records recordings to remind you of how intensely powerfully he could rock, as well as reminding you as well as anything how a burning, brilliant star can be dulled and quenched by commerce.
But throughout the history of the form, a few rock artists have ducked expectations and produced music that is simply out of time and place. One such recording is Iggy & The Stooges Raw Power.
I bought this record when it first came out, all the way back in 1974. I'm glad I did, because that record has essentially ceased to exist. There is a CD, but this is a remixed version. A very worthwhile version, to be sure, and definitely worth having, but it is not the same.
The remix, by Iggy Pop himself, is entirely understandable. The original sound of the record is incredibly monochromatic. Guitars and vocals are merged into each other. The rhythm section churns underneath like a quicksand. It could have been recorded directly from a cheap transistor radio.
Nonetheless, this compressed sludge of a sound is perhaps the greatest hard rock/heavy metal you are ever going to hear.
The Stooges are (rightfully) touted as the first true punk band, in the 1970s meaning of the term, and everything you hear in punk music from that date onward has its roots in that sound. All the masterpieces made by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Buzzcocks or The Ramones are unthinkable without The Stooges, and Raw Power is surpassed by no one.
Whichever recording you hear, you are going to be pinned against the wall by the first cut, Search and Destroy, and you won't slide down to the floor until the final, the most appropriately named Death Trip.
Not a long time to hang suspended for sure, about 30 minutes, but you might not be quite be the same ever again.
Raw Power was made by a band in the throes of dissolution, with nothing to lose and nothing to spend. The extraordinary dense mix is attributed to the use of an ultra-cheap, practically lo-fi, recording studio. David Bowie attempted to apply to 1970s-style clarity to the original recording and failed spectacularly. Iggy Pop simply cranked all the meters into the red for the remix and let the sludge bleed through unadorned.
Raw Power is in no sense a pretty record, despite a peerless heavy metal ballad in Gimme Danger, and it is best listened to when you are in a really foul mood. For however bad you might feel, you are not going to match Pop for sheer piss. When a song such as Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell is one of the lighter tunes, you know you are in deep. Deep as a song such as the highly ambivalent Penetration will take you.
It's a great ride.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
City of Ruins
The record is a good one. I have never been a great lover of the Springsteen sound, but he sings well here and the E-Street Band plays well. The production is guitar heavy, which I like, but the drums are mixed too loud and too trebly. If I have any problem with the record, it is that it tries too hard to be a heartfelt epic. The lyrics are mostly generalities and are pretty obvious ones at that. That need not necessarily be a problem, but 15 songs in much the same vein is too much. Musically, too, it relies often on r&b and gospel derived forms that have regrettably also become somewhat clichéd.
I think Springsteen made this record too soon. Perhaps he felt he had to at the time, and there is no lack of sincerity in his approach. Memorials made soon after any event are notoriously difficult to pull off, because what seems earnest at one time can become overly sentimental and even mawkish later on (witness Elton John's almost unlistenable today Candle In The Wind for Princess Diana). I don't think anything on The Rising will suffer that fate, but should Springsteen return to the subject today, I think he would make a better record.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Fog Tropes
So when I first came across Ingram Marshall's Fog Tropes on a compilation of various pieces put together by John Adams , I was intrigued. One listen, and I fell in love .
I subsequently acquired an equally entrancing early version of the work, also conducted by John Adams on Ingram's own New Albion CD ( NA002CD) featuring the work along with Gradual Requiem and Gambuh I.
Ingram is an assured master of the ambient soundscape. His work often resembles that of Brian Eno with whom he shares a strong structural underpinning for even their most ethereal works. But, unlike Eno, Marshall is more apt to make use of conventional 'classical' instrumentation, albeit in a heavily electronically treated form.
A brass sextet plays an important role in Fog Tropes, providing melodic and coloristic counterpoint to the wailing of the also electronically treated fog horns. He also introduces voice, again in a strictly coloristic mode, to give a human touch to the electronic fog. It does so admirably.
In some ways Fog Tropes resembles the famous Ives' Unanswered Question. There is a low register, relatively unvarying, foghorn-derived bass over which brass and voice pass repeated musical phrases. But it is more multitextured than the Ives' piece and consequently has a different feel. If Ingram was trying to paint a sound portrait of a fog bank he succeeds admirably, but the work has a resonance that goes way beyond those pictorial associations.
I often compare it to the Eno work, Ambient 4: On Land, and it shares many qualities with the pieces on that album. But unlike the Eno works, there is a sense of progression, climax and resolution that separates it from the more static ambient pieces. Fog Tropes tells a story as well as representing a state of nature, and that gives it one extra level of meaning.
A wonderful work.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Brian Eno
Most of it is drivel. Drivel because it lacks any originality, strength of form or focus. Music such as this deserves to remain in the background and never come forward. The vast number of interchangeably bad ambient albums, usually with pictures of nature on the cover and psuedo-spiritual titles, almost beggars imagination. But then again, what is different here from the vast number of horrendously bad pop albums? In short, nothing.
But although the style has been ill-served by the majority of its practitioners, at its best ambient music is as fine as any music. It is striking how many serious composers in the latter part of the 20th century have embraced elements of the style, perhaps none more successfully than the American composer Ingram Marshall whose 'Fog Tropes' I regard as one of the masterpieces of the genre.
But Marshall can wait for consideration at another time. I wanted to use this article to highlight the contribution of Brian Eno to the form.
Eno is undoubtedly the grand master and main mover of all that is good in ambient music. In a way he was well placed to do this, emerging out of both the experimental (the Portsmouth Sinfonia) and rock (Roxy Music) musical environments on the early 1970s. Comfortably embracing cultural divides, Eno brought a new sensibility to music making that led to a series of masterpieces in the late 1970s.
According to the accounts of the time, Eno conceived of the concept of a low volume, essentially environmental, music as a result of being confined to bed following an illness and being unable (literally) to reach the volume control of the stereo in his room. Forced to listen to what I believe was a classical work at sub-optimal volume, Eno realised that the music, which of course blended into the environmental sounds of his room, had taken on a new character and feel. It had become ambient.
Eno's primary instrumental skill is with the synthesizer and tape recorder, both instruments that are ideally suited for the generation of sounds that resemble and integrate the low level environmental noise that we constantly hear, and rearrange it into music. This is precisely what he did.
Begininng first with a looped and essentially minimalist sampling treatment of a classical work on the album 'Discrete Music', he moved onto his first true masterpiece of ambient music, "Music For Airports'.
"Music For Airports" is such an important record that anyone who loves music should have it in their collection. A series of four meditative pieces based on piano, voice and synthesizer, this is perhaps one of the most beautiful sets of music put on tape. It is best played at low (i.e. ambient volume) but the four sections are constructed so artfully that it can be played and analysed at normal volume with equal satisfaction. This is music that washes the soul clean.
Eno followed "Music For Airports" with a series of equally delightful ambient recordings, either on his own or in collaboration, most notably with Harold Budd on "The Plateaux Of Mirror" and "The Pearl". My personal favorite remains "Ambient 4: On Land", a series of short soundscapes based around impressions derived from real and evocative places. Some of these, such as "Lizard Point", I have actually visited, and it is quite extraordinary how well Eno's music matches the emotional aura of that beautiful rocky seashore.
Perhaps it is familarity with these works that has reduced my patience for the less-inspired workaday efforts of the host of other practitioners of the form. I think, too, that without the knowledge of Eno's work I would have been inclined to dismiss ambient music altogether as just another example of wishy-washy New Age thinking. And that would be unfair. For the best ambient music is simply amongst the best music.


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Instagram is a famous online mobile application and mainly used for sharing videos and photos. Instagram is now following the footsteps of Twitter and Face book, which become a very popular social media tool in these days. Originally, this tool has developed for people and allows them to easily upload and share photos with friends by using this Instagram application. Now, this social media tool becomes a top list of daily enjoyments for many people. There are more than 300 million Instagram uses available in the worldwide. They are approximately 30 million photos uploaded per day. However, the Instagram account is free to set up, so there are so many low barriers to entry.
Actually, this Instagram act as a medium for people and allow them for easy sharing of photos and video contents 24 hours per day. Today, there are hundreds of businesses using this tool in order to increase the brand awareness of their products and services. This tool also helps them to increase their brand recognition. You can also run the successful competitions, promotions and giveaways by using Instagram. By understanding the fundamentals of marketing on Instagram, you allow the competition to succeed. Even many small businesses are marketing the success with this Instagram platform. Due to its visual nature, the Instagram appears to be specifically popular with the product based business.
Grow your small business using Instagram
Nowadays, many businesses are product based that achieves success using Instagram. This is because; the Instagram application allows for sharing photos of products, so people use these products. By posting the attractive photographs and images, the Instagram users would be attracted to and use hashtags. Now, there are thousands of people following the Instagram accounts that include bloggers, media personalities and social media stars and so on. In order to increase the business exposure, they can use the hashtags and also spend more time on doing the hashtags research. These hashtags are simply the normal tags that allow you add in a caption of a photo that you upload. To create a hash tag, you need to use # symbol at the front of a tag and also add some keywords without spaces after the hash symbol.
Ideal tips for using Instagram for your business
Instagram is a free photo sharing social media site that allows the users to download photos, process them via digital filter and also share them with other users they are connected to. Right from the beginning, the Instagram has been wildly successful and already have more than 1 million users. To use this reliable social media platform, first of all you have to register. To register your business, you must have a location page. In order to make the location page for your business, you must develop an account. Once you setup your account, you can start to build a presence on Instagram by using the effective strategies. However, this platform allows you to share photos on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Flickr and Tumblr.
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May 2018

subset: commoncrawl


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Webinar Overview
August 9th at 8:00am PDT / 11:00am EDT / 4:00pm BST
The healthcare industry, especially traditional care providers, are experiencing one of the most disruptive periods in memory. As with any other business, the healthcare executives find themselves in the constant pursuit of providing more to their constituency, while needing to drive down operating costs. This has led a growing number of business leaders to recognize a greater need to utilize technologies and approaches that have taken over the way other industries do their work - in particular the use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA).
This webinar, co-presented by Pat Geary - Blue Prism, A.J. Hanna - Symphony Ventures, and Michael Grace of Dignity Health, will explore how to maximize your RPA program to realize meaningful transformation in your business.
During this 60-minute webinar you'll learn more about:
- RPA in healthcare today. Where we are seeing RPA being utilized in the industry effectively.
- Real-world learning and advice. Learn what really works - including high-potential process choice and improvement, establishing internal alignment and taking your program to the next level, whether you are looking to implement automation across the back-, middle- and/or front-office.
- What's next? What's on the horizon for automation in Healthcare.
Who should attend?
For those in the Healthcare space eager to better understand how RPA and Intelligent Automation can transform their processes for improved speed, accuracy and quality this webinar offers a practical, non-technical view of how these tools can be leveraged to drive innovation across your business.
Michael Grace
Sr. Director Non Clinical Applications - Enterprise Healthcare IT Services
Pat Geary
Chief Evangelist
A.J. Hanna
VP Client Advocacy


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A bouncy little set from Angela Clemmons – a record that's got a bit more beats at the bottom than some of her previous outings – but in a way that seems to only make things sound even groovier overall! There's a number of catchy groovers that help the set take off right from the start – tunes that are playful, and maybe a bit aimed at the charts – yet which still let Angie soar on those magnificent vocals of hers. Titles include "One Night Baby", "Miracles", "Love Life", "BYOB", "Nothing Can Stop My Love", "I Could Love You Better", and "Rock & A Hard Place". CD features two bonus tracks – "BYOB (12" mix)" and "This Is Love (inst)". ~ Dusty Groove
Tremendous work from bassist/percussionist Juma Sultan – a wealth of wonderful tracks from the loft jazz years of the 70s! Sultan's a player who doesn't always get his due on record – especially during this formative generation – so the release is a much-needed look at his mighty talents back in the day – and a picture of a very underground level of American jazz that goes deeper than even some of the more-recorded avant players of the time! Most of the tunes are quite spiritual, and feature a shifting lineup that really keeps things fresh – players who include Sultan on bass, percussion, and flute – plus Ali Abuwi on drums, flute, and oboe; Kasa Allah and Earl Cross on piano, Art Bennett on tenor, Talib Kibwe on flute and oboe, Paul Williams on guitar, and Ora Borman and Charlotte Richardson on vocals. Titles include "Darn My Socks", "She Made Me Feel Like Glory (parts 1 & 2)", "Sundance & Hand Clapping (parts 1 & 2)", "AMS", and "Shake Your Money Maker". ~ Dusty Groove
A really compelling blend of sounds – and a set that's billed as a hip hop album, but which is way way more than that – more a wonderful hybrid of global styles, all wrapped up with the crispness of the contemporary Brazilian underground! The set begins with a number that's straight out Afro Funk, the rolls into tracks that really run the gamut – a hip hop number or two, other African styles, and most especially, some of those cool genre-defying moments that we've really come to love from Brazil in recent years. Criolo's vocals are wonderful, especially when he's singing – with a warmth that takes us back to singers of the samba soul generation – and titles include "Bogota", "Mario", "Subirusdoistiozin", "Linha De Frente", "Lion Man", "Sucrilhos", and "Samba Sambei". ~ Dusty Groove.


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UAE details plans for first Arab Mars mission
The United Arab Emirates unveils plans for first Arab mission to Mars, designed to inspire young Arab scientists and bring hope to region rife with conflict and despair. Mana Rabiee reports.
It's an ambitious plan. The UAE wants to send an unmanned probe to Mars by 2021 ... the Arab world's first ever mission to another planet. It would launch in the summer of 2020 and take nine months to journey to the red planet, making the UAE one of only nine countries with a Mars space program. Ruler Of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum says the project can bring hope to a young generation of Arabs living in a conflicted region. (SOUNDBITE) (English) VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UAE AND RULER OF DUBAI, SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM, SAYING: "This mission to Mars is really for the hope of the Arab world and sending them a message to say: 'You can be better, you can improve your country, you can reach where you want." If successful, the so-called "Hope Probe" would reach Mars just in time for the UAE's 50th anniversary of independence. The mission would mostly gather data on the Martian climate and atmosphere and would be shared freely with the global scientific community.


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On Fri, 31 Oct 2003, Afternoon wrote: > On Thursday, October 30, 2003, at 09:31 PM, Ian Hickson wrote: > > How would bookmarks simplify the solutions to the problems you posed > earlier, e.g. grouping into threes? It wouldn't. Like I said at the start of this thread -- I've thought of many solutions, none were any good. I'm sure there is a solution that is easy to specify and easy to use. I was just showing some of the ideas I'd considered. > Why would bookmarks stop you from getting into the same problem of > having to specify lots of different conditions to stop a set? They wouldn't. One advantage of "bookmarks" is that they can be specified pretty easily using just one property, three keywords, and one pseud-element, with no new selector syntax and no attempt at reinventing XPointer. It should therefore also be reasonably easy to implement. The disadvantage is that it doesn't come out as very easy to implement, and can very easily fall apart with odd effects if the cascade introduces an unexpected value. I don't have a good solution. I'm hoping someone can find one. -- Ian Hickson )\._.,--....,'``. fL U+1047E /, _.. \ _\ ;`._ ,. http://index.hixie.ch/ `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.'Received on Friday, 31 October 2003 04:47:16 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Monday, 2 May 2016 14:27:09 UTC


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And, Japan is actually, ACTUALLY getting a bit colder. But still, for a Norwegian such as myself, I still won't admit that it's cold, just colder. Ah, the winter pride of a Norwegian when in warmer climates. I have found the perfect winter jacket, that will keep me warm not only here in Tokyo, but also nice and toasty when I get back to Norway! ...But I can't afford it. Maybe I can get it as an early Christmas present, anyone? *COUGHCOUGH*
I haven't done much lately. School, being home, going out with Emilie~
The end of the semester is slowly (?) coming to a close. And with that, my stay here in Japan will be over. I have started thinking about plane tickets home, what stuff I should pack or throw away, how long I should stay after uni ends... Sigh. There's so much to think about! And when I do get home, where do I go from there? First of all I need to get a job as quickly as possible, so I can get my own place! But what kind of job? And where would I live? Oslo? Trondheim? Northern parts of Norway out in the middle of nowhere?
The latter is seriously concidered, btw. I would love to live in a small house with a pet, and lots of room to use for hobbies. But, I don't have a driver's license so I will be stuck in said house..
One thing is for sure; I'm never ever ever going back to Bergen.
Some pictures from November~
Click on the pictures to make them bigger!
|New boots from GLAD NEWS. I luv em.
|From Waseda University Festival.
|The traditional Christmas Colonel from KFC in Shimokitazawa
|Class on ancient kanjis
|Party Hard at Bar PSY with Emilie and Eva!
|Kabuki with my culture class. Beautiful scene curtain!
|Evening at Takanobaba
|Illumination outside Shinjuku Station
|Autumn has finally come to Waseda University :)


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Sunday, March 29, 2015
Every few weeks my son and daughter-in-law take me on an adventure!
It might be just going to the supermarket or running some little errand that needs to be taken care of but believe me - it's never a routine trip.
There is something special that happens every time.
Just spending time with them is special!
The other day the plan was to go to a fairly new Wegman's in the area. It's huge, has a large variety of prepared foods and in many instances the price is "right."
As we were riding along in my son's gorgeous new Mercedes-Benz he said that he wanted to stop at the dealership to have his car washed and vacuumed.
OK, fine - that would give me the opportunity to see and experience the new Mercedes-Benz of Burlington dealership I have been reading about.
As soon as we drove in someone was there to greet my son and find out what service he needed.
Ok, great.
My first impression of the place - it did not look like they were selling cars - it just looked like a very impressive place to leisurely shop for shirts, jackets and various gift items.
But, the best is yet to come!
While the customer is waiting to have their car serviced, they are invited to the Coffee Bar for coffee or a cappuccino. You can also choose to have a manicure at the Nail Bar!
Guess what? You know the answer... I chose to have a delicious cappuccino and my nails done. The coffee was so good that it didn't even need any sugar!
.@milliegarfield enjoying the Nail and Ospina Coffee Bar at @MBofBurlington pic.twitter.com/mWMMLGg9dh— Steve Garfield (@stevegarfield) March 28, 2015
I'm so happy that my son had to have his car serviced.
You know what - I think he planned the whole thing so his mother could have that special and delightful experience!
What a special day for you. LOve it. Next you need to post the manicure. It seems that photos of one's manicure is all the rage in selfies these days.
Hi Millie,
What a FUN Day! and plus Steve and Carol who could ask for more???
Your Kids make their visit a real Adventure.
Steve is very creative and I Love the way the photos are divided in the same block
What a FUN Day! and plus Steve and Carol who could ask for more???
Your Kids make their visit a real Adventure.
Steve is very creative and I Love the way the photos are divided in the same block
This is certainly a good reason to own a Mercedes - or raise a son who owns one. I love the idea of a cappuccino and a manicure while the car is getting done. What a wonderful day out!Post a Comment


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Thursday, March 10, 2016
What I Watched in February
5 comments:
- Nick Rentz said...
I think I tried watching Solarbabies on Comet, but I changed the channel. There was something about Electric Boogaloo that put me off.
- Thursday, March 10, 2016
- Steven Millan said...
The fanboys that hate THE WITCH just don't get it,for had this dark and brutal film been directed by Rob Zombie or had Ryan Reynolds in his Deadpool gear they'd be all over it like flies,otherwise THE WITCH is pretty much our gain(as well as one of 2016's best films).
- Friday, March 11, 2016
- Brian Lindsey said...
Glad to see you liked FURY, Rod -- easily the best WWII film since SAVING PRIVATE RYAN.
I was surprised that so many people pissed on this movie yet loved the inferior AMERICAN SNIPER... Apparently they didn't like its "morally ambiguous" take on U.S. soldiers fighting what was supposedly the "Good War". (In reality, one doesn't have to dig very deep to find numerous cases of American troops not exactly behaving like paragons of chivalry in the ETO.)
Morality aside, the suspense-filled duel with that lone Tiger tank is fantastic. (The "Fury" crew were very lucky!)
- Friday, March 11, 2016
- Rod Barnett said...
Nick - I'd give Electric Boogaloo another chance. I can understand the feeling that the two guys behind Cannon's rise we not always likable but the story of their company is worth seeing. More maybe you didn't like the style of the doc?
Steven - Yeah, any time a horror film is hyped the fanboys gotta whine. And anytime a horror film is slow the fanboys gotta whine. And anytime a horror film is thoughtful fanboys gotta whine. I sense a pattern here.
Brian - FURY was very well done and I loved how it was a modern, more reality based take on the classic WWII films of yesteryear. The only problems I had with it involve the moments when it is too 'Hollywood' for its own good. Those moments would be the sudden shelling that kills the young girl and then leaves her body easily viewable in the rubble and the mercy shown by the German soldier to the tank survivor. Those seem like missteps.
- Saturday, March 12, 2016
- Brian Lindsey said...
I agree with you about the missteps in FURY. (I, too, would give it an "8" rating.)
Here's another nit-pick: The final battle.
It's very well done, but I couldn't help but think that if only the SS troops had a few hand-held "panzerfaut" anti-tank rockets, the fight would have been very short indeed -- with the American tankers quickly turned into crispy critters.
Thing is, there's a brief sequence before the battle showing the SS guys marching towards the crossroads... and some of them are carrying panzerfausts. But when it comes time for the fight, those weapons are nowhere to be seen.
Still, a first-rate film.
- Sunday, March 13, 2016


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You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Smaug' tag.
The desolation of Smaug is indeed cause for celebration as the old worm lies dead amid the smoldering ruins of Esgaroth. The burglar Bilbo Baggins proved his quality to the once doubting company of Dwarves by outwitting the Dragon and discovering his weakness — an unprotected patch under his left breast. Fatally pierced by the Bowman's arrow, the treasure of Erebor was restored to its rightful owners. The Dwarves had their revenge at last!
While news of the dragon's demise spread, it was fitting for the thirteen dwarves and their burglar to celebrate. With the city in ruins, the celebration would be sparse. But our dear Hobbit is nothing if not resourceful, and also very fond of parties. He rallied the younger Dwarves Kili and Fili and off they went on another mission — this time to look for provisions for the party amid the ruins of the town. Kili and Fili wished there might be more than roasted coneys on the menu — they talked of the sweet seedcakes that were part of every Dwarf family celebration. Because of his heroism, the townsfolk took pity upon Bilbo and offered him what little they could find left of their provisions. He inquired whether there might be any ingredients to bake a tasety treat, as they had been on their journey for a very long time and he was yearning for some of the comforts of his home back in the Shire. One of the dear old women of the city brought him to the rubble that had been her home and offered whatever he might find there. As luck would have it, Bilbo managed to scrounge up a bit of this and a dab of that and unearthed a few pots while he was at it. Kili and Fili came running — Kili was carrying a goat and Fili had a chicken in one hand and two eggs in the other! It seemed like their wish would be granted as they watched Bilbo work his magic, though there would not be enough to share with all the rest. After baking it on the open fire Bilbo cut it into four sections — not three. Kili and Fili protested that if he cut the cake into three pieces they would each have more. But Bilbo had another plan. Taking his slice and the fourth with it, he led the young Dwarves back to the camp with Kili and Fili protesting the whole distance. But once they arrived, they witnessed the legendary Hobbit hospitality as Bilbo offered the fourth piece to Thorin, their leader. If anyone else should enjoy this sweet revenge, it was he.
"Seedcake for Gimli" The recipe is a bit like a scone in a pan. In my version I substituted Chia seeds. I'd been wondering what to do with them and I don't care for caraway which is in the original! I also added a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to the wet ingredients before adding the dry. I baked mine in a 10 inch cast iron skillet. I cannot vouch for the recipe's 45 minute cooking time because my oven is not heating properly, but at 350 degrees in my oven I only needed 20 minutes but that could be due to the cast iron. Definitely use the middle rack as suggested so it doesn't burn on the bottom. I am not sure if the recipe is meant to be slightly thinner than a biscuit dough, then it would have taken longer. The only other thing I did differently is not sift the flour. Give it a try! I'm going to have it for breakfast with a bit of yogurt!
The women of Lake-town who survived the wrath of the dragon Smaug and saw his defeat at the hand of Bard the Bowman, set about making their new city a place to rival any other settlement of men in Middle-earth. While the men were focused on construction, the women made sure they were well-fed. Re-building an entire town would not be easy nor swift, but the NEW Lake-town, or Esgaroth, as it would be named, would be far less flamable! This feature was perhaps a bit late in coming, since there was no more threat of immolation from gold-hoarding dragons.
Nonetheless, the residents wanted to attract new businesses, and, of course, tourism was bound to pick up once the bones of Smaug were recovered from the bottom of the lake and re-assembled for viewing. A museum celebrating the heroism of Bard the Bowman would be built and the dragon's bones placed on exhibit. One could envision future festivals celebrating the great victory over Smaug with dragon kite flying contests, dragon boat rides, and flaming sword-swallowers on parade down the main street. Perhaps the wizard Mithrandir would join them and offer up some of his famous fireworks!
Once the city was in good enough shape to promote itself as a destination — "Visit Esgaroth! We're no longer flammable!" — would be the focus for the marketing campaign — a farmers' and artists' market was established on the lake shore. Many vendors offered dragon-themed wares, such as replicas of the arrow that slew Smaug, wall hangings featuring the dragon breathing fire over the city, and deep-fried "dragon on a stick."
These novelties were a necessary part of the tourism industry, but they were not the reason for the market's eventual fame. The Esgaroth Public Market became known throughout the realms of Middle-earth for its regional cuisine! The women had preserved some of the former town's heritage by serving traditional foods that were handed down to them over generations of mothers of Lake-town. Many recipes included varieties of fresh fish from the lake. And in summer, the bounty of the gardens came to the Market in dishes featuring fresh tomatoes, peppers, spinach, onions, carrots, spices and herbs.
While recipes of this era have not survived, one can imagine such a dish as we will call Lake-town Market Salad. Since it would have been poor stewardship to waste any of the harvest, one way to use up the odds and ends was to combine them with grains or noodles to create a one-dish meal. Lake-town Market Salad was not as famous as other, more sophisticated, dishes, but it has a regional flare that reminds one of the rustic way of life back in the third age of men.
Lake-town Market Salad2 cups cooked risotto 1 each small Yellow, Orange and Red Bell Peppers 2 Green Tomatoes 2 Ripe Tomatoes 1 small Shallot or Onion Black olives (or green if you prefer) 1 can of black beans (or other variety or combination of beans) Fresh basil, oregano, and parsley to taste 1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar 1 Tbl Olive Oil Salt, Pepper to taste Cook risotto according to package directions, drain, and set aside to cool. Dice the vegetables and add to the risotto with the herbs and spices. Drizzle with olive oil and red wine vinegar. Stir. Place in refrigerator to cool one hour before serving. A dollop of sour cream or ricotta cheese on top is a nice addition, or add cubed ham and shredded cheese for a anti-pasto. This "salad" is also good served hot – after mixing (omit the olive oil and vinegar), heat it on the stove top or put it into the oven. Grate cheese over it to get nice and melty. You could also put this mixture into a nice broth — either chicken or beef — and make a soup or stew! Add tobasco or red pepper flakes for those who like it with some kick! *Disclaimer — this recipe is not on the Middle-earth Recipes site. It is my own creation, in honor of Mr. Bilbo and Mr. Frodo's birthdays today, September 22, 2012.
Apologies to Middle-earth Recipes, but this one is not posted on their site. Its a little something I concocted that seemed to require a Middle-earth identity.
Easy as (meat) pie to make! All you need is:
2 sheets of refrigerated puff pastry dough, thawed
1 pound of ground beef (chicken or turkey would work too)
1 cup Salsa
1- 1/2 cups Monterey Jack Cheese or a Mexican Blend
1 cup Spicy Black Bean Dip (Trader Joe's preferred)
1 pint Sour cream (for topping)
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions as garnish
One regular size muffin tin for 12 muffins
Cooking spray
Roll out the puff pastry dough to about half of its "out of the box" thickness. Cut six equal squares from each of the two sheets of dough. They don't need to be exact, but should be about 3 inches square in size so they drape over the outside rim of the muffin tins.
Spray the tins with a light coat of cooking spray. Place the dough squares into regular size muffin tins and without stretching too much gently shape the dough into the tin to form a well for the meat to fill.
Brown your ground meat and drain the grease from it. (The best way to do this is to layer paper towels on a plate and spoon the meat onto the paper to soak up the excess oils.)
Mix the spicy bean dip into the meat to hold it together and to give it flavor. If you want to add other seasonings, be my guest!
Fill each pastry-lined muffin tin with a couple of tablespoons of the meat/bean mixture.
Cover each one with one tablespoon of chunky salsa (if it is too liquid it will make the pastry mushy.)
Top with about 1/8 cup of grated cheese
Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until golden brown
Cool just a bit, then add a dollop of sour cream and a few sprinkles of green onion
This should make 12, maybe a few more, depending on how well you are able to get the pastry dough to cooperate!
If you happen to own a tamed dragon, then you know how they can be very handy in the kitchen!
- They can re-light your pilot when the gas stove goes out.
- You don't need a torch to create a lovely carmelized sugar on top of your Crème brûlée
- Meringue toppings on your pies will have just the right touch of brown
- They will roast the skins right off of those poblano peppers when making chiles rellenos
- And it goes without saying they're mighty handy around a campfire for making s'mores!


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How to Make Relief Prints
Poster Child's Guide to relief printing!
A relief print is made by creating a low relief on a flat surface, then coating that surface with ink and pressing paper (or some other medium) to the inked surface to create a reverse image of the relief carving.
There are many different ways to do this, but I will show you a method that works well for me.
First, choose an image. I find it helpful to start the modern way, with a "thinking machine", especially if your going to include text.
Here is the image I choose with the text added-
Then you'll need to reverse it:
Of course, you can just work directly on the surface instead. A handy way of reversing text if your not using a computer is to write it out on a scrap piece of paper, then flip the paper over and look at it while holding it up to a light source. This will give you the reverse image.
The next step is to choose a surface. You can print on anything that can be carved and will take ink, so don't shy away from experimenting with different surfaces. I've tried wax, wood, vinyl, MDF and STD board as well as commercially made lino blocks and speedball stamp blocks. The commercially made surfaces are a joy to work with, but quite expensive.
As a result, dollar store hot-plates are my surface of choice. They are like MDF board as they are also pressed pulp and glue, but they are softer and more convenient to get ahold of. They definitely have their shortcomings though. The soft material will lose small sections of detail quite easily and the powdery pulp gets into the ink, causing print blemishes. The worst part is the plastic coating, however. It comes off in little sections and will get stuck on your brayer and on your plate. They can drive you mad. So you may want to try and remove it all before hand, but it's devilishly hard to peel off.
So with your surface chosen, you need to transfer your image onto it. An opaque projector works best for this, but you can also attempt to draw it, a zerox transfer, or glue your image to the surface. If you draw it, use permanent marker, because it will try to rub off of the plastic coating as you work. (Unless of course, you are more patient than me, and took the time to peel it off ahead of time)
Ok, now you carve! I use speedball linozips, personally. You can use a wide range of tools, including a dremel. (Next to get on my tool list)
Keep going….
Now you need to roll up your block in ink. Use a palette knife or something to spoon a bit of ink onto a clean, flat surface that you will use to roll the brayer up with ink. I use a vinyl tile. The ink I use is speedball block ink. (The Brayer is the roller dealie. You can also brush on the ink, but I've never tried it. The Japanese used that method alot.)
We recommend checking out some animal stencils to help with your project. A deer stencil is one of our favorites and most popuular designs.
Roll the ink out until you have a nice even coating on the brayer. Not too heavy now…
Then roll your brayer onto your block.
Continue until your block is fully inked.
Press your paper onto the block. I use a drywall sander with a piece of paper attached instead of sandpaper. The official name for such a tool is a "Baren". You can use also use the back of a wooden spoon, a Japanese baren, a commercially made baren, another brayer, your hands, or your feet for extra pressure.
If your so lucky as to have access to a press, you can also use that, you son of a bitch.
Et, voila!
This first print kinda sucks. They often do, and so are called "proofs". A proof is a special time to check if the print is how you want it, and to make any changes.
Now you make more prints. As many prints as you can handle. You can lie them flat to dry, but hanging them will save you space.
There are some more popular stencils to check out that might help with your craft project. Our tree design is easy to work with, the dragon stencil is another popular template. For a more feminine touch, the mermaid would also work great.
you can also watch a little TV, why not?
….Ah… "little TV".
Now you put them up !
Sorry that took me awhile… Hope you like it my guide on relief printing and all that goes with!


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<+Quetzalcoatl> in my mind, we r obligat'd 2 b the best we can b, 4 r
<+bersinger> Quetzalcoatl, neither does the world revolve around your neoconservative ideals that mask their narcissistic arrogance in a shroud of "hey everyone agrees with me right?"-barrier of mentality projection
<+Quetzalcoatl> bersinger: stopped reading after neoconservative
<+lanpc> CHARGING UP PHASORS
* Moon[Snow]{Celicia} offers SockH a sacrifice.
<+Lacquer> NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
<+Lacquer> SHIT
<+Lacquer> FUCK
<+Kimnd> Oh, oh, funny story time!
<+Kimnd> WHAT
<+Kimnd> WHAT HAPPENED
<+Kimnd> AHHHHHHHHH
<+Kimnd> Is it done/
<+Kimnd> Is. It. Done.
<+Kimnd> DUDE
<+Kimnd> ARUGH
<Callisto> Whenever it's a private chat with someone, I always make an MGS joke
<Soprano_Chorus[Sarah]> SNAKE?
<Soprano_Chorus[Sarah]> SNAAKE?
<Kimnd> a what?
<Soprano_Chorus[Sarah]> SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!
<Callisto> Anon, what happened? Anon? ANOOOOOOOOOOON
<Soprano_Chorus[Sarah]> Metal Gear Solid jokes.
<Callisto> You're pretty good, Soprano.
<BlargWoot> No, that happens to me when I talk on chat on any game. XD
<OrangeRain> I remember when I joined Club Penguin.
<Rochambo> oh man
<Rochambo> I remember when I played
<Rochambo> Runescape too
<OrangeRain> Yeah
<Moon_Shooter> The Matrix is all about doubt too.
<Allyra> (You mean when it was playable?)
<Rochambo> thug lyf
<Rochambo> thug lyf
<Rochambo> err
<MQQSE> I've still got the Ghostly Robes or whatever on Runescape @_@
<Rochambo> ignore that
<OrangeRain> I know the date I joined Club Penguin...
<Goopi> hardly on topic
<Allyra> (>That rule)
<Rochambo> noice
<OrangeRain> Take it to _ot!
<Moon_Shooter> Why are we talking about Runescape and Club Penguin of all things?
<Rochambo> like I said they should seriously just make this place how it used to be
<Rochambo> ot is dead yo
<Moon_Shooter> Like, seriously.
* YoursTruly facehooves
<OrangeRain> Rochambo, continue discussion there is what I meant
<Goopi> it will be less dead if people would take their OT discussions there
<+jonjetjon[k]> hmmmmmm, maybe i'll check it out, i thought this was the on topic server for chatting about tulpae, but that hasn't always proved true
<+Moon[Snow]{Celicia}> ...still usable though right?
<+Moon[Snow]{Celicia}> Also, DJFlix, is lucid mode that thing that Octaviapus wrote about?
<+DJFlix> i guess
<+DJFlix> i dont know, shit
<+DJFlix> what did he write about
<+Moon[Snow]{Celicia}> Well, what do /you/ call Lucid Mode?
<+Slifar1> Eh? There's another Tulpa IRC?
Slifar1 is now known as Slifar[Galfor]
<+lanpc> He just wrote about deep meditation leading to the border between sleep and awake
<@SockH> The Channel I'm using at the moment is called #plurality-lounge on the SynIRC server
<+lanpc> Lucid mode is literally going lucid
<@SockH> It's a general multiplicity channel.
<+Slifar[Galfor]> Ooooooh them!
<+DJFlix> there is #tulpa.talk , one i just made
<+Moon[Snow]{Celicia}> Mind giving us all a bit on how to get over to SynIRC? or do they like... tell you on the website?
<+jonjetjon[k]> oh well, sometimes there are good conversations on this cannel, but for now i'm leaving
jonjetjon[k] (~firstname.lastname@example.com) left IRC. (Quit: Leaving)
<Anon> Hello?
<Niichan> Yes
<Niichan> Here
<Niichan> Sup
<Anon> I pointed out that the channel was devolving to shitposting
<Anon> But Tess is not active on these channels atm
<Anon> Wat
<Anon> So she can't make obvious decisions
<Anon> I just have to wait for an active mod :/
<Niichan> If this continues I'm either going to raise hell or just /part
<Anon> I left
<Anon> And Yes said
<Anon> That there is still a no off topic rule
<Niichan> Not that I've seen
<Anon> *Tess said
<Anon> (Anon) There wasn't a change? Then why is everyone there ot?
<Anon> (Tesseract) Probably because none of the moderators are online.


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DC Avanti Overview
DC Avanti First Indian Sports Cars to land in April
April 13, 2015: Sports cars have always fascinated the car lovers across the world and Indian car enthusiasts are not an exception to it. The craze of sports car lovers in India can be witnessed from the fact that they are ready to pay any price for buying a sports car of their choice. But because as these cars are developed in International markets and the excise duty to import these cars is very high Indian car enthusiasts have just to drop the idea of buying their favorite car and feel happy by driving the available luxurious cars in Indian car market. But now the lovers of sports cars in India will not have to wait much as one of the domestic car makers DC is finally going to make their dream of driving a sports car come true. Codenamed as DC Avanti is the first Indian Sports car which has been developed completely in India and that also by Indian manufacturer.
The car has been developed on the same platform on which famous cars like Ferrari and Lamborghini are developed. Empowered with 2.0 litre, 4 cylinder turbo-charged petrol engine, Avanti will touch the mark of 100 kmph within the span of 6 seconds followed by top speed of 250 kmph. Developed in sleek aerodynamic design Avanti is perfect match of power and performance that will grab the attention of commuters on Indian roads. With ground clearance of 170mm, Avanti has length of 4,550 mm, height of 1,200 mm and width of 1,965mm. The origin of Avanti is an illustration that Indian manufacturers have succeeded in attaining the levels that are determined by International manufacturers. The first Indian Sports car is expected to make its debut in Indian car market on April 16, 2015.
DC Avanti Looks
DC Avanti VariantsWrite Review
DC Avanti Performance
DC Avanti Engine
Mechanically Avanit is energized with 2.0 litre turbo-charged petrol engine. The four cylinder DOHC engine has displacement capacity of 2000cc boosting the power of 250 bhp and torque of 340Nm. The engine is reported to be mated with six speed gearbox for smooth gear transmission. The sports car is reported to cross the mark of 100 kmph in the gap of six seconds followed by top notch of 250 kmph.
DC AvantiPrice
DC Avanti Expert Review
Please wait a second...


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The Chesapeake Light Craft Skerry - Five Years Later
It's nice to put a few years between the launch of a new design and the associated excitement and swirl of press releases, and look back at how a given design has landed after a few hundred are built. Privately, one of the things I always liked about my Skerry design was that it wasn't the result of focus group testing or marketing research. It was a boat I imagined I would enjoy rowing and sailing, so I built one. People liked it, and we made it a Chesapeake Light Craft kit offering. I'm pretty sure that the more whimsical the creation, the more elegant the result.
There were a couple of things I was thinking about when I drew the Skerry's lines. The first was the tendency of stitch-and-glue boats, most especially those designed on computers, to have excessively fine ends. I really like the plywood boats designed by the Atkins, père and fils. In plan view, the ends of their boats are filled out nicely above the waterline, which adds a lot of volume to the hull without making it tubby or blunt. Those boats (built on molds) aren't hard to build, so if the lay of the planks is carefully thought out they should work as stitch-and-glue boats, too. This took some fooling around in the computer, a blunt instrument if ever there was one.
The other consideration was ease of construction, and minimizing the amount of carpentry to be done. The rails are the only solid wood in the boat aside from the spars and tiller. Everything else is plywood. This means that builders can prefabricate almost every piece, and then assemble the hull like a giant airplane model. The jigsaw puzzle approach took a lot of careful thought and drafting work but has proved itself in hundreds of hulls.
There was a prototype that didn't make it. It had the same overall dimensions and plan view, 15'0" long and 4'6" wide, but with a wider bottom and more freeboard. This would have made a terrific little sailboat, powerful and voluminous. But I wanted something that was more easily driven with oars, so I redrew the hull with a narrower waterline and a lower sheer. In the process, the boat took on a Scandinavian look, especially in the sharp flare of the sides. You can find photos of small Norwegian faerings that look a great deal like the Skerry, with their wide strakes and swoopy sheer. "Skerry" is an old Norse word that, among other things, means "small boat."
Picking up on the Scandinavian theme, I chose a very simple sprit rig that copied the proportions of the sprit rigs seen on faerings. The spars are short so the whole bundle of sticks can be stored inside the boat. The rig is nevertheless powerful for its size. Skerry #1 was sailed with a loose-footed sail for a few months. It was obvious, however, that although the loose-footed sail was convenient for rowing and rigging, there was a big performance cost on almost all points of sail. I made up a taller mast and added a boom to the same sail, and it felt like I had added 40% to the sail area.
The rig has been criticized, though never by anyone who's actually sailed the boat. Armchair observers of the published sail plan complained that the sail was too small, the boom too high, and the peak too low.
First, as to size, it's important to remember how light the Skerry is: only 95 pounds, 30 pounds less than a Laser dinghy. There are kayaks that weigh that much. The loaded hull sits on a waterplane that measures 12'3" x 3'6", a skinny, easily-driven shape. 56 square feet of sail works out to a sail area-displacement ratio similar to a Laser. The Skerry jumps right up to hull speed if there's any wind at all, and when the whitecaps are up, the crew doesn't have to exhaust themselves keeping the Skerry upright. As a casual day sailer, this is desirable. The lower peak echoes the shapes of the classic faering sails, and for the same reason: it keeps the center of effort low and the spars short.
I set the boom up high so that the boat can be rowed when the sail is set. This has been a universally praised attribute of the Skerry. The ability to jump to the oars to maneuver away from shore or around an obstacle is critical, I believe. In many small boats, the rig clutters the boat up so badly that you can't row when you really need to.
Rowing was essential to the design brief and the Skerry glides right along with 8-foot oars, thanks to the narrow waterline and low wetted surface afforded by the flat bottom. I can and have rowed the Skerry all day long. Don't forget a bit of foam to plug up the daggerboard trunk.
There have been over 250 built, an astonishing number for a traditional small craft. Many builders have sent in reports of camp-cruising along wild shores, something the Skerry is well suited to. About the only thing I don't like about the design is the interruption of the interior by the center seat and daggerboard case, which precludes sleeping aboard. A few builders are experimenting with open interiors and lee boards, a modification I endorse, although I expect there to be a performance cost.
(One clever builder turned his Skerry into a take-apart, by incorporating two bulkheads in the center and sawing the boat in half after it was assembled. It bolts back together at the bulkheads. He stores the boat in his 15th-floor apartment in downtown Chicago, transporting it to the street in the freight elevator for adventures under sail and oar on the Great Lakes.)
Most of the Skerries have been built from kits (See the "Build Your Own Skerry" - Time Lapse animation). In 2006 I was able to make ready a plans-only option and that has proved popular. I expect to see a lot of interesting modifications in the plans-built boats.
Two builders are currently building Skerries with gunter-sloop rigs of my design. I'm waiting on a performance report before making that an option in the kit and plans. I suspect those boats will be very fast but also a little tender and not nearly so relaxing for an afternoon's sail.
John C. Harris
Chesapeake Light Craft
Annapolis, June 2006
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Smash into You by Shelly Crane
Expected Release Date: August 13, 2013
Source: eARC* via InkSlinger PR
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Jude has spent the whole twenty one years of his life running. From what, he wasn't quite sure. His mother tried to keep him safe; a low profile, a constant move on the horizon, a week's pay always stashed away. She tried to instill in him that he was special somehow, though would never elaborate. He never felt different. He was so completely normal and vanilla that he wondered if it had all been in her head. But then she was murdered and all he saw was a running silhouette of a man as his mother said three final words to him. Three words that changed his whole being.
Never stop running…
Now he's semi-settled into a big town. The college is huge and easy to blend into. It's been three months since he had to move because 'Biloxi', as he calls the man who killed his mother, found him once more.
Then Marley, an eighteen year old girl who is as infuriating as she is blissfully ignorant of her gorgeousness, smashes into his car with hers. Then smashes into his life as he realizes that whatever it is he has that Biloxi wants, she has it, too. And now, they're after them both.
About the Author
Her own books happen by accident and she revels in the writing and imagination process. She doesn't go anywhere without her notepad for fear of an idea creeping up and not being able to write it down immediately, even in the middle of the night, where her best ideas are born.


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June 2013
28 June 2013
International Artists Dive Headfirst into Science
The South Australian Museum is set to be the hot source of discussion and debate about art and science as it unravels the latest selection of artworks chosen as finalists in the 2013 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize.
Judges' votes are in and more than 100 superb finalist artworks chosen. They explore themes across all scientific disciplines and the natural world.
The works will be on display at the South Australian Museum from 20 July — 8 September, before going on tour to the National Archives in Canberra.
Now in its 11th year, the name of the prize has been changed from the 'Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize' to the 'Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize' to better reflect its mission to encourage artists and audiences to engage with science and the global issues that face us.View
20 June 2013
Experts: Meet our Bat Man
There are many instances in which the services of the South Australian Museum's resident "bat man" are called upon.
Technical officer Terry Reardon has been studying the nocturnal creatures for many years, in habitats from local parklands to the jungles of Papua New Guinea.
When heading out of the Science Centre in the "batmobile", Mr Reardon takes with him sophisticated technology like ultrasonic bat detectors, thermal cameras and marine radar to research bats.View
14 June 2013
Catch of the day in Borneo uncovers new species
In their hunt for the right specimens to study, our scientists venture far from our Adelaide laboratories and collaborate with people from all walks of life.
An ongoing project investigating the biodiversity of parasites on sharks and stingrays has seen two talented researchers travel as far as Borneo to work with local fishermen in finding the freshest and most accurate samples. Our researchers — Parasitology Collection Manager Dr Leslie Chisholm and Head of Biological Sciences Associate Professor Ian Whittington — were invited to be a part of the study because of their specialist knowledge in monogenean parasites.
New species of both the host animals and the parasites have been discovered during the project and the data have been useful for services such as helping public aquaria control worm infections, improving the health of animals on display.View


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By Jim Walsh
One of the favorite activities of Gilbert residents is a hike up South Mountain, which looms over a sprawling quilt of red-tile roofed suburban neighborhoods.
South Mountain Park plays a major role in the quality of life of residents who use it regularly and the region as a whole, attracting an estimated 3 million visitors a year.
"People don't move out here for the cul-de-sacs. They move out here for the beauty,'' said Laurel Arndt, an avid bicyclist and hiker who has lived in the area for more than 30 years.
After many years of little change, the park is now on the verge of a substantial update as it heads toward its 100th anniversary in 2024. A $23-million project will bring more parking at trailheads, better restrooms and improved ramadas during a five-year period starting this spring.
Another phase of improvements is expected to stem from the South Mountain Trail and Preserve Master Plan.
"It's the biggest change we've ever had in South Mountain Park,'' said Phoenix City Council member Sal DiCiccio, a strong advocate for open space. "It's going to be an amazing change for hikers and bikers.''
DiCiccio's district includes not only South Mountain Park, but also Papago Park and the Echo Canyon Trail at Camelback Mountain. He said the city is investing in the preserve system—one of its most important assets.
"You look at our quality of life, it's fundamental to our community,'' he said.
The plan's purpose is to serve as guide to improving a 51-mile maze of popular, but sometimes confusing trails. It seems likely that some unrecognized "spider'' trails created by wayward hikers and bikers will be recognized and upgraded to create a more cohesive system. Other spider trails will be closed and restored.
"These huge plans will merge nicely together,'' said Inger Erickson, director of the Parks and Recreation Department. "At the same time that we are improving access, they are getting better signage, better sustainable paths.''
"Obviously, you have to have a starting point. You have to have amenities to direct people to a place,'' she said. "We are trying to get people on the path and get rid of those spider trails.''
The most heavily used trailhead is Pima Canyon, near 48th Street and The Arizona Grand Resort. Erickson described that trailhead as "over-loved.''
A plan to expand parking and to make other trailhead improvements is already generating controversy among neighbors concerned about more noise, pollution and destruction of the desert.
The new trail marking system will improve safety, making it less likely that people get lost and more likely that they will be found in the event of emergencies, Erickson said.
Emergencies and mountain rescues occur less often at South Mountain Park than other parts of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve system, such as Echo Canyon in Camelback Mountain or Piestewa Peak in north Phoenix, Erickson said.
But that doesn't mean tragedies don't occur occasionally.
Although most injuries are broken ankles and twisted knees, two people died in the park within the past year, including a woman who got lost near Telegraph Pass, Erickson said.
The marking system envisioned by Erickson goes well beyond simple metal poles with trail names stenciled on them.
It will combine conventional signs and maps with Quick Response codes, commonly known as QR codes. Visitors will be able to take pictures of the code with their smartphones, which will deliver text on a website.
The system will give Phoenix parks another way to deliver safety tips, such as warning people about the dangers of heat stroke or telling them to stay on the trails. Visitors would obtain directions and other information to help them decide on their route.
The Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative, last approved by voters in 2008 and in effect for 30 years, will pay for the improvements. The initiative sets aside one cent of sales taxes for every $10 of purchases, with 40 percent of those funds dedicated to land acquisition and development of the preserves, including trails, trailheads and signage.
Arndt, a land use planner with the Sonoran Institute, has been attending the hearings on the trail master plan. She said the improvements are overdue, with some trails and facilities in poor condition, and vital to the area's quality of life. She wonders whether the city can pull off all the changes in the massive, 16,000-acre park with a limited staff.
Better signage will help the park serve its preservation mission by discouraging use of destructive spider trails and restoring them to a more natural state, she said.
"It's the 80-20 rule,'' she said, with 80 percent of hikers and bikers following the trail and the inevitable 20 percent looking for destructive shortcuts.
"The good news is that they have gotten the message loud and clear that they need to do some trail management,'' Arndt said.
Rather than new trails, "what we need is better definement and management of the trails we have now,'' she said.
Brad Anders, also an avid bicyclis, praised any effort to create a coherent trail system and to reduce confusion among park visitors. He realizes the system is mainly intended to help occasional visitors, rather than regulars like himself, who sometimes end up assisting rangers.
"Not everything was planned. A lot of it happened over time,'' he said. "They are trying to get back to a coherent plan.''
He said the trail system's problems were apparent when he encountered some German tourists who were lost.
"They were trying to figure out where to go and we were trying to help them know where to go,'' Anders said.
Mark Schmisseur, an avid bicyclist and hiker, said he tries to help lost hikers all the time. He said signage is usually available at trailheads but is very scarce at some interior locations. The problem is aggravated further by criss-crossing trails.
Schmisseur said he appreciates the city considering feedback from park users before installing the new facilities.
"I am excited about it. We use it extensively. We welcome the improvements,'' Schmisseur said.


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Sustained professional learning opportunities are needed to help science teachers teach new science standards, according to a new report
K-12 science teachers are often left to deal with a lack of coherent and sustained professional learning opportunities that researchers say are needed to support science teachers inside and outside of the classroom, particularly as they strive to teach new science standards.
As researchers' and teachers' understanding of how best to learn and teach science evolves and curricula are redesigned, many teachers are left without the experience needed to enhance the science and engineering courses they teach, according to a Jan. 20 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
This issue is particularly pronounced in elementary schools and in schools that serve a high percentage of low-income students.
Science teachers' professional learning occurs in a range of settings, both in and outside of schools, including teacher-organized and teacher-led study groups, coaching from more experienced teachers, and professional development programs that are often at summer institutes. Professional learning in online environments and through social networking holds promise, although evidence from research and practice on the outcomes and value of these modes is limited.


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Sherlock Holmes is the ultimate legendary detective and it is hard to find students who do not know at least one story about him. Just like all the stories in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series, The Boscombe Valley Mystery offers exciting research and discussion possibilities for the language class. If you are looking for meaningful texts which contextualise new vocabulary, dialogues and grammar in action as well as providing cultural and historical background, your most obvious and popular choice will be a Sherlock Holmes story.
The Boscombe Valley Mystery is the third story published in the Helbling Readers Red Series after The Hound of the Baskervilles (Level 1) and The Red-headed League (Level 2). The Boscombe Valley Mystery is also a Level 2 reader, adapted by Geraldine Sweeney and illustrated by Agilulfo Russo.
Take our project ideas to the classroom, share them with your students and get them to read and research this story. You will need a projector, a laptop and an Internet connection to be able to look at the web resources.
- Look for Boscombe Valley on Google Maps. Can you find it?
- Now look for Herefordshire county and the town of Ross-on-Wye. What is the Wye?
- Where is the county and where is the town?
- Look at pictures of these places and describe geographical features of them.
- What do the images make you feel like? Can you imagine a mystery set in these places?
We read about two families in this story, the McCarthy and the Turner family. They are both rich families living in big houses. The story is set in 1891, the beginning of the last decade of the Victorian Era. What were houses like? How did these families live? Do some research and compare homes you know with the households in the story.
- When was the Victorian Era? How did it get its name?
- How were these Victorian homes located? Were they in the centre of towns or in the countryside?
- How many servants did a rich family have? What were the roles of these servants?
- How many rooms did an average Victorian home have? Did they have bathrooms?
- What was a farmhouse? Who lived there?
Web resources
- For the students:
- For the teacher:
When you think of Sherlock, you probably visualise of his cap and coat. The famous deerstalker cap is not described in any of the stories, but it was added by the illustrator, Sidney Paget in the original edition in The Strand Magazine, where the stories were serialised.
- Look at the original illustrations on the British Library website.
- Now look at this coloured illustration from the Helbling Reader.
- Watch the trailer of the modern BBC adaptation of the Sherlock stories.
Now describe his style. You can search the Internet for Sherlock style tips. Pay attention to the details:
- The shirt: What colour and material is it?
- The suit: Is it sporty or elegant?
- The coat: Is it a long or a short coat? Is it wool or cotton? Is the collar turned up or down? What is a cloak?
- The cap: It is a deerstalker cap. What are deerstalker caps used for?
'Sherlock Holmes was a different person when he was following a trail like this. To many people, Holmes was a quiet and logical detective.' (The Boscombe Valley Mystery, Helbling Red Reader, page 37)
Detectives are usually logical, they follow trails. These are just two examples to describe what detective are like and what they do. Just like in every job, detectives also use a special language to express themselves.
Read these quotes from the reader and point out the words which are typical 'detective' words.
- 'This case is very interesting.'
- 'You see, observation is an important part of my job.'
- 'It is possible that it can help the investigation.'
- 'You mustn't always believe obvious facts.'
- 'I think it is very likely.'
- 'Holmes measured the boots very carefully from seven or eight different points.'
- 'He took out a magnifying glass and lay on his cloak to look at the ground talking to himself all the time.'
- 'I solved the mystery.'
When you are reading the story, look for more examples of 'detective talk'.
Check out our other resources about Sherlock Holmes and detectives. You will find resources to improve your students' thinking skills, you can learn about London and explore the world of detectives.
- Interactive Virtual Field Trip to the Sherlock Holmes Exhibition in London
- Detective Stories Special: Sherlock Holmes, Meet Richard MacAndrew, Book Lists
- Reading the streets of London
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are not only colleagues but they are also good friends. Read our post about literary friendships and do our friendship quiz.
Read more about serialisations in our post:
Here is an extra research tip for your students.
- This story appears in one of the contemporary modernised adaptations of the stories by BBC starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Can your students find the TV adaptation which uses The Boscombe Valley Mystery?


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After Spain won the EUFA Euro Soccer Tournament July 1 with a 4-0 win over Italy sports fans have their eyes on soccer.
The tournament takes place every four years in the odd years in between the World Cup and features 16 nations from Europe in a nearly month-long tournament.
Many of the games were shown during the day on ESPN and broadcast online, making the games accessible to an American audience.
With the Oklahoma City Thunder making a deep run into the NBA Finals and overtaking the state with Thunder-mania, many Oklahomans are just now catching on to Euro 2012, with the finals that took place July 1.
Michael Doutey, an aspiring sports journalist, said he found himself watching many of the games.
Doutey said before the tournament started he wasn't a big fan of soccer, but fell in love with the intensity of the "world's game".
"Shootouts are one of my favorite parts of sports," Doutey said of the England versus Italy match on June 24.
Italy won the shootout 4-2 in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Days later, on June 27, another shootout took place between Portugal and Spain in the semifinals, with Spain winning 4-2.
Doutey said he used to think soccer was boring and that maybe he would watch a little during the World Cup, another tournament that takes place every four years, but never got too excited about it.
"I'm really enjoying these games though," Doutey said.
The tournament was hosted by both the Ukraine and Poland.
Student Paul Lloyd said he watched Euro 2012, but is looking forward to watching the United States women play in the Olympics this summer.
"I love Alex Morgan," Lloyd said, speaking of the United States' striker.
Lloyd plays on two indoor soccer teams in his free time and tries to keep up with professional and international soccer as best he can.
"I'm usually pretty familiar with teams who are pretty good, like Italy, Germany and Spain, but I don't pick a favorite team or anything," Lloyd said.
Olympic soccer begins July 25. One game to be held in high anticipation will be the womens United States verses France game, as it is the first game of the Olympics in which the Americans will be playing.
The United States men failed to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.
To contact Mitchell Richards, email email@example.com.


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https://www.cogendo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/cogendo1.png?9a13a9 0 0 Rob Wheatley https://www.cogendo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/cogendo1.png?9a13a9 Rob Wheatley2012-03-12 18:29:492012-12-13 15:30:38Where have we been?
Where have we been?
It's been a busy few weeks here in Cogendo HQ. So much so we're guilty of not keeping our blog up to date. To make amends, here's a quick high level round-up of the latest functionality to go live in PerformanceHub.
- Matrix Management Support – yeah, this was a biggie!
- Interim reviews
- Weekly dashboard reminder emails for people with outstanding items
- Many new alerts to keep your process moving
- Interactive organisation charts, employee location and job titles
- Detailed HR performance report with graphs and statistics galore
- Much improved sort, filter and find functionality for HR
- Completely revamped interactive objectives cascade view
- Minimum number of objectives config
Much more to come over the next few weeks. If you want to subscribe to our updates newsletter, drop us a mail at firstname.lastname@example.com and we'll happily add you to the list.


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As many of you might be conscious, I am pregnant and will probably be going out on maternity depart shortly after the final day of courses. My last day in the office is that this Friday, Could 5th. I'll return on an element-time basis on the end of August and return full time in October. Per Segerback of Sweden was an engineer at Ericsson and he can no longer be anyplace around wireless indicators. The story is from a Standard Science article. Ericsson tried to protect his car, residence, and so on. Almost all folks in his laboratory also grew to become ailing, but not as unhealthy as he did. If that may occur to 1 individual, it might probably occur to others, it can't be denied. Promoting helps fund our journalism and preserve it actually unbiased. It helps to build our international editorial crew, from struggle correspondents to, commentators to critics.
This article was written to tell those that admire what we do not to start out a bunch of criticism from those of you who don't have a clue. Even if you're not keen on bulking up or becoming a bodybuilder, you probably need to preserve the muscle tissue you might have. As a norm, it is usually simpler to lose muscle than it's to gain it. Fat, however, will be gained very easily. This is at the moment, in fashionable city societies. Amongst our hominid ancestors, this case was in all probability reversed to a sure extent.… Read More


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Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks and wide receiver Marqise Lee will both practice this week.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks and wide receiver Marqise Lee will practice this week, reports John Oehser of Jaguars.com.
Both will begin practicing on a limited basis Wednesday.
Marks will practice for the first time since he sustained a torn ACL in his right knee during the Jaguars' 2014 season finale on Dec. 28.
Lee hasn't practiced since training camp after sustaining a hamstring injury on Aug. 5.
Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley said Lee would be more likely than Marks to play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
"He made really good strides last week so we'll see," Bradley told ESPN. "Hopefully he gets a chance to practice on Wednesday and we'll see how he does during the week."
The Jaguars and Dolphins will meet Sunday in Jacksonville at 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS.
• Panthers rally around Kuechly, beat Jaguars 20-9 in opener
- Alex Nieves


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Photo: cdn.richestlifestyle.comReading Time: 1 minute
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) recorded a 4.8% rise in the number of passengers handled in March 2016 compared to March 2015, with a total of 6 million passengers.
Aircraft movements were also up by 2.2% year-over-year to 35,060. HKIA management described March growth as "steady"; indeed, January 2016 saw a much larger 16% growth.
Bucking a regional trend for shrinking cargo volumes, HKIA also saw a "mild" increase in cargo volumes in March compared to the previous year. Mach cargo volume rose to 368,000 tonnes, up 1.1% year-over-year. Cargo growth came principally from the India and Australasian markets, which saw up to 5% growth in export demand.
Executive Director Airport Operations C K Ng said HKIA was concentrating on developing smart airport technologies to enhance operational efficiency and passenger experience. One example he cited is HKIA's Self Bag Drop service, which has so far been adopted by Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines.
"This new service enables passengers to cut processing time by half compared to queuing at traditional check-in counters," said Ng.
Overall, for the first quarter 2016, HKIA handled 17.6 million passengers and saw 102,880 aircraft movements. These figures indicated 7.5% and 4% rises in each, compared to 1Q 2015 respectively.


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That line always puts a smile on our faces. It had to be one of the biggest phrases that was used during our childhood. Good times, good times. But anyways, thanks for stopping by again today to check out all the cool and crazy things that we have to say here on our blog.
Today we'd like to keep it simple and straight to the point. What has been your favorite version of Link? Is it the 8-bit cutie we have all grown to love? What about the first ever 3D Link from Ocarina of Time? Or for some of you, maybe it's the cartoon rendition of Link that most of us pretend never happened. Leave a comment down below and explain who your favorite Link has been and why. I asked Chris earlier today and he clearly let me know that Young Link from Ocarina of Time is his favorite. I would personally have to go with Link from Twilight Princess, but that's just me.
Also we would like to note that last week's ChrisCrossMail had some technical difficulties and we did not get a chance to properly film it. So after you're done answering who your favorite Link is, feel free to ask us any Zelda related question also, it may just appear in our next ChrisCrossMail. Also don't forget to scroll all the way below to vote on our most recent poll. With all that being said, you have just been ChrisCrossed!
Also if you still haven't checked out our ridiculous challenge video from our Sonic Month then check it below.


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If you are seeking to inject more capital into your business, start one from scratch or simply buy furniture and fixtings for your business, you probably have contemplated securing some form of financing from a lender. If you are seeking for a business loan for whatever reason, there are two options you have at your disposal. You can go for a secured or unsecured type of loan. Generally, a secured loan is backed by some form of security/collateral while an unsecured one does not require you to have any security prior to approval. That said, the basis of this article is to look at unsecured loans as well as outline their merits and demerits.
An overview of unsecured loans
The undeniable fact is that the plethora of lenders offering unsecured form of credit won't ask you for collateral prior to approval. However, to qualify, they insist that you need to meet credit as well as income requirements. The amount of money an individual can avail under an unsecured loan is dependent on their credit rating or even the size of their business.
Merits of unsecured loans
There is no risk to your personal or business property
The beauty of unsecured loans has to do with the fact that there is no risk to your personal or business property in the event that you default. In other words, you also don't need to have collateral to avail this type of loan.
Simpler application process
Owing to the fact that there are many lenders other than banks that offer unsecured loans, the application process for unsecured loans is quite simple. In fact, it is possible for you to get an unsecured loan from a peer to peer lender online from the comfort of your office or even home without an inch. In most cases, qualifying for an unsecured loan is dependent on how much income you receive on a monthly basis as well as on your credit rating.
Bankruptcy relief
In the case your business files for bankruptcy, it is important to note that a law court might actually discharge unsecured loans but the same cannot be said of secured loans.
Demerits of unsecured loans
Default could lead to worsening of your credit score
The fact that there is no collateral to lose does not mean that if you default on an unsecured loan you go scot free. The truth of the matter is that the lender might actually come after you and even place lien on your property. Additionally, defaults could mean further worsening of your credit score which essentially means that your chances of availing credit in the future is greatly diminished.
High interest rates
Unlike secured loans, unsecured loans attract very high interest rates especially considering the absence of collateral. Lenders charge high interest rates as a way of mitigating the risks on their side. As a borrower, you will end up repaying more than a person under a secured loan would.
Small loan amounts
If you are looking for a huge loan, you will not get it under an unsecured loan. Due to the high risk as a result of lack of collateral, lenders are unwilling to extend huge amounts of money because they stand to lose a lot in the event of a default.
In conclusion, there is no denying that unsecured loans have both merits and demerits. It's incumbent upon you to weigh the pros and cons and make an informed decision prior to applying for one.


text: For children and teens, playing sports has many benefits. In addition to promoting physical activity, team sports teach young athletes about discipline and teamwork. However, playing sports also puts children at risk of getting injured. According to the National Center for Sports Safety, over 3.5 million kids under the age of 14 receive medical treatment for sports-related injuries each year. Read more


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IU Kokomo athletes, students, salute faculty and staff at appreciation night basketball game
That is Joann Kaiser's philosophy of teaching, one shared by her fellow faculty at Indiana University Kokomo.
Tuesday, February 5, the campus' student athletes hosted faculty and staff appreciation night, at the Cougar men's basketball game, to thank the professors, advisors, admissions counselors, maintenance workers, administrative assistants, and other faculty and staff who care about their success.
Kaiser, lecturer in communication arts, received a special honor — the Student Government Association's Outstanding Educator Award — which is chosen by a student committee, based on student nominations. Interim Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke and Mary Olk, student body vice president, presented the award at halftime.
"I was honored to learn I had received this award," Kaiser said. "It was a great boost to me to know the students appreciate what I do. They're they reason I do what I do. I enjoy getting to know my students, and helping them develop a love of learning."
Kaiser leads a freshman learning community, and teaches communication and theater classes. She began her career at IU Kokomo as an adjunct faculty member in 1988, and has been a full-time lecturer for four years.
Olk said the award is given each semester to honor those "who go above and beyond the call of duty, and who exceed expectations."
While faculty may receive honors within their departments or IU, she said, "I think it means something different when it comes from the students. This is a way of giving back for all the work they do for us."
Kaiser was not the only faculty or staff member honored, though. Throughout the game, Dean Hockney, the Voice of the Cougars, read tributes to many of them, written by student athletes. They praised not only professors, but advisors, assistants, and physical plant workers, thanking them for helping with goal setting, being "encouraging and motivating," teaching "in a fun, relatable-to-life-type way," being "positive and understanding," making writing more enjoyable, and demonstrating work ethic.
Sarah Sarber, dean of students, said it was important for the athletic department to recognize those who help them achieve their goals, not only as athletes, but also as students.
"This night was a way to thank our faculty and staff for their support," she said.
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.


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Western Australia DST
Daylight Saving Time Bill
A larger share of the voters rejected daylight savings time than in 1992, the last time the question was put to a vote, The Sunday Times of Perth reported.
|PERTH Australia: Western Australians turned down daylight savings time for the fourth time since 1975 in a referendum on 16 May 2009.
In 2006 a Private Members Bill was passed though the Western Australia Parliament to introduce daylight Saving Time. Details are:
Daylight Saving Bill 2006
Bill No. 174
Synopsis The purpose of this Bill is to introduce daylight saving to the State of Western Australia.
The Bill proposes to introduce an initial period of daylight saving on 1 December 2006 with the finishing date of 25 March 2007.
The Bill has a 'sunset clause' which allows for a review to be undertaken by Parliament, and presented to both Houses by 31 July 2009.
Private Members Bill introduced by Mr John Biase D'Orazio
Status Legislative Assembly Second Reading 25/10/2006
This Act comes into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.


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Karbonn has listed a new smartphone in the company website of India, the A8 Plus. There is no details about its pricing and availability details yet.
According to the company, the Karbonn A8 Plus features a 3.5-inch (320*480 pixels) display, measures 116*62*10.3 mm and weighs 118 gms. It packs a 1300mAh Li-ion battery, that is rated for 5 hrs of talk-time and up to 250 hrs of standby time.
The A8 Plus comes in black and white variant colours, houses a 2-megapixel rear camera with flash. The 2G smartphone is equipped with 256MB of RAM and the 512MB internal storage is further expandable with up to 32GB of microSD card.
Connectivity options include in the phone as WiFi, Bluetooth, micro-USB and FM Radio.


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Viewers' Choice for Miss International 2008
- Misses Guadeloupe, Latvia, Norway, and United Kingdom previously competed at Miss World 2007 in Sanya, China. Please note: Miss United Kingdom, Nieve Jennings represented Scotland in the Miss World 2007 pageant. Miss Jennings placed 3rd in the Miss World Sports competition and 2nd in the Miss World Talent competition (preliminary competitions that guaranteed contestants semifinalists spots if won).
- Two other delegates also competed against each other one of the big four beauty pageants - Misses Ethiopia and Liberia. Both delegates competed in Miss Earth 2007 in Manila, Philippines.
- The shortest delegate in the pageant is Miss Hong Kong International, Sire Ma. Miss Ma stands at 5'3.5". The tallest delegate is Miss Canada International, Elena Semikina. Miss Semikina who is 25 years and hails from Toronto stands 6'1".
Miss Colombia International continues to be in first
The Viewers' Choice poll for Miss International 2008 has been open for weeks. Miss Colombia International continues to be in first, with 203 votes. Can she continue the lead?
Pageant Beauties' Current Top 15 favorites: Canada, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Norway, United Kingdom, Republic of Congo, Japan, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Aruba, USA, Poland, Norway, and Macau
Oct 19: Visit to Yokohama City, Welcome Party at Grand Pacific le Daiba
Oct 20: Press Conference, Grand Pacific le Daiba
Oct 21: Contestants travel to Kyoto. Sightseeing
Oct 22: Parade, Festival of Ages wearing National Costumes, Grand Prince Kyoto
Oct 23: Miss International Forum
Oct 24: Rehearsal
Oct 25: Election of 2009 Miss International Japan and Miss World Japan, Grand Prince Kyoto. Farewell Party
Oct 26: Contestants travel to Macau.
Oct 27: Orientation and rehearsals.
Oct 28: Press Conference at Venetian Macau; Government Visit
Oct 29: Golf Tournament
Oct 30: Promo shootings in Hong Kong
Oct 31: Promo shootings in Hong Kong
Nov 01: Tour of Macau World Heritage Sites. Ambassador Consulates dinner
Nov 02: Miss International Forum II
Nov 03: Rehearsals
Nov 04: Sponsor Event
Nov 05, 06: Rehearsals
Nov 07: Dress Rehearsals
Nov 08: Miss International 2008 Finals
Nov 09: Contestants return to Tokyo
Nov 10: Departures. Winners stay in Tokyo
Nov 14: Winners travel to Macau
Nov 16: Macau Grand Prix
Nov 19: Winners return home
Although unconfirmed yet, the Miss Photogenic award will be chosen by photographers maybe on October 28, during the Macau press conference.
- This year's pageant will be excepted to break last year's record of 61 delegates. Sixty-seven delegates are excepted to compete in Macau, making this year one of the most competitive Miss International pageant.
- Macau hosts the pageant with Japan for the first time. The Miss Macau pageant also returned after a 11 year hiatus. The winner, Florence Loi will compete in Miss International 2008 representing Macau and Miss Chinese International 2009, also representing Macau. The last time Miss Macau competed at Miss International was not 1997 though. Macau last competed in 2005, with Miss Zheng Ma representing the country. She was chosen by Macau organizers and was not an official Miss Macau pageant winner.
- Estonia debuts in this year's pageant; sending Miss Kardi Nogu, a 20 year old from Saaremaa in hoping to become the first ever Miss International from Estonia.
- Belgium returns after 12 years, Hawaii competes separately (not to be confused with Miss USA International) after being absent for 4 years; Bahamas and Sweden return since 2005.
- Martinique and Norway also return to the pageant stage since last competing in 2006.
- The pageant will be broadcasted live for the first time on Hong Kong television station TVB. TVB will co-host the event with Macau and Japanese organizers. The pageant will therefore be distributed to other countries around the world, since TVB has many markets and stations around the world.
- A top 15 list is excepted to be announced during the final night. The annual press conference to select the Miss Photogenic wnner (selected by photographers) is excepted to be held soon.


text: Hallelujah! This article by Dustin McKissin featured in INC. Magazine throws a flag on standardized testing and emphasizes the importance of bringing early entrepreneurship experiences to our youngest students. Instead of robotically preparing kids for a test, could we be incorporating our content areas with entrepreneurial experiences? Mr. MiKissen also emphasizes that it is not teachers that are to blame, and many would welcome a change like this. What are we doing?


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Kay's Naturals Better Balance Protein Chips Crispy Parmesan Description:
From a Trusted Name in Natural Snacks
It's a World of Extremes Out There!
Better Balance snacks help you maintain balance without giving up satisfying treats. Get Energized with Better Balance Non-Gluten Snacks.
Free Of Trans Fat. Disclaimer These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Product Features :
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 oz
Servings Per Container: 2
Gluten Free: Yes
Wheat Free: Yes
Kosher: Yes
Size: 1.2 OZ
Pack of: 6
Product Selling Unit : Case
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