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Our Mission
At Equitation Science International, our mission is to educate horse riders and handlers in equitation science to enable efficiency and safety in all horse/interactions. Equitation Science is an emerging field that explains why horses behave as they do, their biomechanical patterns and limitations and on this template, how we can modify horse behaviour. It explains what is likely to work and what is unlikely to work in horse training, and how we can communicate more effectively with horses. Equitation Science is not an ideology but rather a body of knowledge that provides evidence-based 'first principles' that ensure safety, efficiency, best-practice welfare and ultimately sustainability. It informs all disciplines and ideologies of horse training and horse sports in a non-partisan way, and privileges horse welfare as the top priority. The Diploma of Equitation Science is a horse training and coaching qualification that provides a full understanding of horse training and enables the most effective pathways to all equestrian disciplines and activities.
Our Vision
We strive to modernise horse training with the latest scientific data on the natural behaviour of horses, their learning processes, human and equine biomechanics, handler and rider effects, and attachment.
When horse training is aligned with these elements, it becomes optimally successful and safe, thus greatly improving horse welfare in the equestrian sport.
We aim to use the most effective teaching techniques to disperse this information around the world and, in doing so, liberate horses and riders from the trappings of tradition, mythology and hearsay.
"The best thing we can do, as horse owners, is ask ourselves if our practices really are the best for our horses and educate ourselves to find out."
Prof Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney
Our Team
Dr Andrew McLean – CEO, Trainer, Coach
Manuela McLean – Trainer, Coach
Sophie Wyllie – Business Manager, Enrolment Officer
Helen Godfrey – Course Coordinator, Student Tutor
Angi Shernthaner – Administration
Dr Andrew McLean
Dr Andrew McLean, PhD (Equine Cognition & Learning), BSc (Zoology), Dip Ed
Co-Director, Equitation Science International
Winner of the highest Australian science award, the Eureka Prize for Science, Andrew McLean is in great demand as a trainer, coach and speaker. In addition to establishing the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre, he has written 5 books, including an international best seller, and authored 35 peer-reviewed journal articles.
An accredited coach for more than 30 years, Andrew's own riding achievements include winner of the advanced section of the famous Gawler Three-Day-Event, representing Australia in Horse Trials, short-listed for the World Championships, competitor at State and National events in FEI level Dressage and Eventing, and Show Jumping to Grand Prix level. He also held a racehorse owner/trainer licence, and raced bareback in Australia and New Zealand in the 1970's and 1980's.
Andrew continues to conduct demonstrations at universities and conferences around the world, including in Australia, Europe, South Africa, the United States, Canada and New Zealand. Prestigiously awarded an Honorary Fellow of the International Society for Equitation Science for his ongoing contribution to equitation science, he was instrumental in hosting the 1st International Equitation Science Symposium, held at the AEBC in 2005. ISES conferences continue today throughout the world.
Andrew also began training elephants in Nepal in 2007, which led to the establishment of the not-for-profit HELP Foundation (Human Elephant Learning Program), of which he is now Senior Vice President. This cooperative project focusses on the optimal management, welfare and training of elephants in Asia using innovative training techniques based on learning theory and the elimination of punishment.
Download CV (includes list of publications)
Manuela McLean
Manuela McLean, NCAS Level 2 (Dressage Specialist), BSc (Biology), Dip Ed
Co-Director, Equitation Science International
Highly sought after as a National Coach in Dressage, Manuela McLean regularly conducts clinics within Australia and internationally, including in New Zealand, England, Scotland, Netherlands, South Africa and Canada. She also teaches private lessons and clinics at the AEBC in Clonbinane, VIC and at Bassinghall in Tuerong, VIC.
Manuela's reputation for her pursuit of excellence precedes her. Having competed to FEI level in Dressage and Advanced Three-Day-Eventing, Manuela complements her teaching by keeping up-to-date with the latest scientific knowledge at conferences such as ISES and the Global Dressage Forum. With a particular interest in biomechanics of horse and rider, she imparts this knowledge during her lessons to pupils of all ages and levels.
Manuela co-developed the AEBC training system and, in 2002, co-authored 'Horse Training the McLean Way'. Since then, Andrew and Manuela have released 'Academic Horse Training', along with a series of three DVDs. Manuela has also written numerous articles on training, focussing particularly on teaching children and their ponies. She plans to write a book for children on how to train the perfect pony.
Evidence of her abilities, one of Manuela's recent achievements was coaching and training Paralympian Joann Formosa and her stallion, Worldwide PB, to gold medal victory at the 2012 London Paralympics. In just six months, Manuela trained Worldwide PB to be a competitive Paralympic mount responsive to verbal and postural cues. Worldwide PB learned to respond to the lightest of aids and, together, he and Joann achieved Paralympic success.
Sophie Wyllie
Sophie Wyllie, BComm, Dip MA
Business Manager, Equitation Science International
Given her first pony at the age of two and having grown up in the McLean household, Sophie has been immersed in the horse world all her life. Now a keen show jumper, Sophie first excelled in Eventing up to 1*. In 2015, she won the Shepparton World Cup Amateur Series Champion on her Warmblood x Thoroughbred mare, Da Lyla. She has now sold Da Lyla to a junior rider and currently competes a new youngster, Ruby II in showjumping. Sophie enjoys riding and competing as a hobby, and leaves the professional horse training to the rest of her family while she manages the business side of things.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Communications and a Diploma in Marketing and Communications in 2009 from RMIT, Sophie worked in advertising, then transitioned into management at the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre, before building and now managing Equitation Science International. Passionate about following in the footsteps of her parents to create more sustainable horse-human relationships, Sophie brings a highly organised, capable and personable approach to her role as Business Manager.
As her siblings pursue the path of horse training, Sophie is driven to work with and educate people. Her vision for Equitation Science International is to enable others to understand how horses learn and, thus, improve training, communication and, ultimately, horse welfare. For Sophie, it is a pleasure to work alongside like-minded people who are working towards creating a better connection between themselves and their horses, while managing the day-to-day activities of one of Australia's leading training centres.
Helen Godfrey
Helen Godfrey, BAgrSc, Dip Ed, NCAS Level 1 (Non-Jumping), NCAS Level 1 (General)
Course Coordinator, Equitation Science International
As a professional educator, Helen Godfrey has been a driving force behind the development of ESI's Diploma of Equitation Science, turning decades of Dr Andrew McLean's research, competition and coaching experience into clear, accredited curriculum. With numerous qualifications herself, including NCAS Level I (Non-Jumping) and (General), Helen is devoted to teaching others, particularly in the area of coaching.
A student of Manuela McLean for more than 20 years and a graduate of Equitation Science International, Helen came on board during the centre's establishment and, since then, has been heavily involved in structuring its courses. As Course Coordinator, Helen also works alongside clinicians, such as Dr Andrew McLean, to monitor student assessments and provide support during practical exercises at the centre.
A coach with her own small client base, Helen sees the positive implications of learning theory for horse and rider firsthand. Not only does learning theory promote horse welfare, but it's a logical and sequential framework for both learning and problem solving, in turn producing more confident riders. In her role at Equitation Science International, Helen aims to share this education with more horse professionals and enthusiasts.


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By: Diva Jenna Ujiye
I have not watched the Academy Awards in about 6 years, as I haven't had cable and I usually spend my Sunday evenings at home! This year my friend Kate Johnston, who is the manager of the Livery in Goderich, mentioned to me that there was a Livery fundraiser Oscar Night at the Parkhouse in Goderich and that it was a formal dress-up night. If you haven't noticed, I hate to miss out on getting dressed up, so I told her I would be there!
I realized that all I had for formal wear were my prom dresses and a couple of other dresses that were very tight. So I went with the larger of the tight dresses! I arrived at the Parkhouse at around 7:30 and our Hosts Ben Scholton and Ian Doyle had already started the evening commentary. I really felt like a star myself! The ticket price of $15.00 included a glass of sparkling wine, tons of door prizes and ½ price appetizers. I hadn't had dinner, so I ordered a BLTC (Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Cheese) sandwhich… I know it doesn't sound glamourous, but it sure hit the spot for me!
We were each given ballots to put our votes in on all of the awards. I had seen 4 of the movies, so I had to do some "educated" guesses. There were prizes for best dressed, male and female and of course a prize was given to the person who scored highest on the awards list. The awards were fun, but I would have to say my favourite part was the photo booth. As you can see from the pictures we had a lot of fun! I hope the Livery has more entertaining nights such as these and it was great to spend the night with friends at the Parkhouse!
The Livery hosts the Goderich Little Theatre, The Livery Film Fest and Live! at the Livery. If you are looking to see a great theatre production, one is starting on March 15. I'll Be Back Back Before Midnight" Written by Peter Colley and Directed by Nina Reynolds, sounds to me like it is going to be a great murder mystery show! So if you are looking for information on more great events visit www.thelivery.ca

subset: commoncrawl


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FOOD Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed extension of country-of-origin (COO) labelling requirements.
The study concluded it would cost Australians $120 million each year to extend COO labelling to canned or packaged food with two or less principal whole fruit or vegetable products.
However, the study reported that only 10% of consumers would appreciate the extra information.
"This benefit to consumers would be outweighed by the costs to industry, which would harm the competitiveness of affected Australian-made goods in domestic and global markets," said Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Christopher Pyne. As a result, Pyne said the Government would not support the extension of COO labelling.
Australian Food & Grocery Council CEODick Wells told FOOD Magazine, "The difficulty is consumers say one thing and they'll do another.
"They say they will give a preference to Australian-origin food but buying practice doesn't bare that out.
"The concern was we were going to continue to put additional costs back into the food supply chain without any capacity to get an increased price at the retail end.
"So all it would do is raise the cost of processors and ultimately growers."


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"When I started Northwest Medical in 1983, my goal was to provide the best service available. Today my goal is still the same. Whether in rural Alaska or Downtown Portland, we tailor our service to meet the needs of our clients. I am committed to being flexible and innovative in order to provide the best respiratory care possible.
Jack Hopkins, Founder
Notice of Privacy Practices
This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.
If you have any questions about this Notice please contact our Privacy Officer.
This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health information. "Protected health information" is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services.
We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices. We may change the terms of our notice, at any time. The new notice will be effective for all protected health information that we maintain at that time. Upon your request, we will provide you with any revised Notice of Privacy Practices by calling the office and requesting that a revised copy be sent to you in the mail or asking for one at the time of your next appointment.
Understanding Your Health Record/Information
Each time you visit a healthcare provider, a record of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains your symptoms, examination and test results, diagnoses, treatment, and a plan for future care or treatment. This information, often referred to as your health or medical record, serves as a:
Understanding what is in your record and how your health information is used helps you to:
Your Health Information Rights
Although your health record is the physical property of the healthcare practitioner or facility that compiled it, the information belongs to you. You have the right to:
Our Responsibilities
This organization is required to:
We will not use or disclose your health information without your authorization, except as described in this notice.
We will use your health information for treatment, to obtain payment and for regular healthcare operations.
This notice was published and becomes effective on September 23, 2013.


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This was a great accompaniment to the Pumpkin Pie I made for Thanksgiving dinner and easy to transport! We thought they tasted the best served warm but they are also good cold and would be a nice addition to an appetizer table.
Mini Apple Pies
10-12 mini pies
1 vegan pie crust (rolled out - or you can make your own favorite crust)
4 cups of small diced apples (3-4)
6 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup sugar (or less)
2 heaping teaspoons of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
2-3 tablespoons soy margarine (chilled)
melted soy margarine, enough to brush each pie
Cut up to 4 cups of apples into small 1/2" bits. Mix apples with the flour, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir until all the apple bits are nicely coated.
Unroll piecrust (or rollout your homemade) and cut circles out (10-12), a wide mouth mason jar ring works well. (use left over pie crust for little strips on top of filling).
Prepare your muffin tins then line with the piecrust circles. Fill each crust with apple mixture and push the crusts down the rest of the way. Fill until slightly mounded.
Put a dab of the soy margarine on each mini pie. Cover with left over dough in strips or little shapes.
Brush with melted soy margarine and bake at 400 degrees for 18 – 20 minutes. Keep an eye on them – maybe check at around 12 minutes.


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from $0
per person per night
Zaburi Beach Resort is an exclusive barefoot luxury getaway beach resort located on 45 acres of lush tropical indigenous Palm forest with a 500 m private white sandy beach on the pristine shores of Lake Malawi.
Zaburi is located in the Republic of Malawi , in Southern Africa also known as the "warm heart of Africa " because of its remarkably warm and friendly people.
Zaburi is designed with the purpose to relax , rejuvenate and recharge its guests through its unique location on 17hectares of lush green tropical palm forests leading to a 500 meter pristine sandy beach on the warm waters of Lake Malawi.
The resort has a thoughtful Eco friendly design making use of as much of the natural surroundings as building material for one of a kind unique designs of its 15 Rustic African Chic Chalets, which blend an authentic African living experience with modern amenities such as in and out door showers, mini fridges, flat screen TV's as well as free WiFi in public areas such as restaurant and lounge.
The state of the art restaurant is famous for its offering of organic tantalizing authentic African dishes as well as more western style dishes for the not so adventurous palate and world famous weekend "Zaburi Barbeques" featuring the catch of the day fresh from the nearby fishing village.
For the outdoor lovers, the Resort offers both motorised and non motorised water sports such as jet skis , power boats , kayaks, other water sports and sunset cruises on traditional sailboats and a floating bar and day trips to the local game park located an hour's drive away .
But if you fancy your skills against the local village sides the resort also has a full size soccer pitch and beach volleyball as well as a mini driving range for the golf enthusiasts.
Evening entertainment feature i, sun downer cocktails from an array of local tropical fruits intimate bonfires and a sheesha bar for the real Malawi experience that most tourists who come to Malawi absolutely look forward to.
On select occasions and with the permission of other guests our in house DJ is known to throw down an eclectic mix of current and old school music across all genres at the club house overlooking the lake.
from $0
per person per night
|Zaburi Beach Resort – Zaburi Beach
|Space offered
|Entire place to yourselves
1 × Double bed
|Check in
|Check out
|Meal plans
Accommodation only
|Living space
|42 m2
| Cancellation
Flexible: Full refund up until 48 hours prior to check-in, except fees.
a) Cancellations made between 0 and 2 full days prior to local check-in time, or no show, guests will be charged 30% of total booking value.
b) Cancellations made 3 or more full days prior to local check-in time, guests will receive a full refund of their deposit, except fees.
c) In the event of a premature departure or cancellation, the nights not spent 24 hours thereafter are not charged.


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FUZEliers support young coders at TNMOC
Post this page to popular social media
A team of 'FUZEliers' sponsored by FUZE Technologies is ready every weekend to welcome young and budding computer programmers at The National Museum of Computing to show them how to code using the FUZE platform to explore the huge potential of computing.
The FUZEliers will be introducing young coders to the FUZE, a purpose-built, computer to make teaching and learning programming easy and fun. It is an electronics workstation powered by a Raspberry Pi and programmed using the ever-popular BASIC language. Youngsters will be encouraged to develop their logical thinking in a fun way by programming robots and other devices linked to the FUZE to give them a real sense of the power of computing.
Any young visitor can drop in and be guided by a team of student FUZEliers. No previous experience is necessary. By the end of a short session, they will have learnt some key commands, written their first real programs and could be controlling a robot arm. . Tim Reynolds, Chair of The National Museum of Computing, said: "In its straightforward approach and use of BASIC, FUZE is a modern take on the BBC Micro, the machine which introduced so many of today's British computer scientists to computing. FUZE brings together programming and electronics in a fun way that shows just how far computing has come and hints at the future that lies before us. As an educational tool in the context of a museum of computing that looks to the future, it's a great fit."
Jon Silvera, Managing Director of FUZE, said: "We are delighted that FUZE units will be available for young TNMOC visitors. Working with the museum to give more young people the opportunity to discover how much fun learning these important skills can be is very important to us."
In the 1980s, the language of BASIC opened doors for thousands of would-be programmers in bedrooms and living rooms across Britain. That legacy lives on and, with today's FUZE platform, young coders at TNMOC can stretch their imaginations and develop their coding skills in a friendly, supportive and safe environment.
FUZE is already very popular with school groups that visit TNMOC. Tim Reynolds continued: "Because of its robustness and simplicity, FUZE is very suited for use in public environments such as this Museum and schools. We like to start kids coding here and encourage them to continue what they have learned at home. In the past, parents have even asked where they can buy a BBC Micro – now we can point them to FUZE, which is available in the TNMOC shop. It needs no internet connection and can therefore provide a safe environment of which parents can be confident."
"The FUZE also makes a very interesting artefact for the Museum. It's a direct descendant of the 1980's BBC Micro and provides a very valuable tool in explaining to youngsters the development and potential future for computing."
FUZE, developed by UK-based FUZE Technologies Ltd, has been created by computer enthusiasts and has been designed to help schools meet elements of the National Curriculum.
See www.fuze.co.uk for more about FUZE.
Notes To Editors
About The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing, located on Bletchley Park, is an independent charity housing the world's largest collection of functional historic computers, including the rebuilt Colossus, the world's first electronic computer, and the WITCH, the world's oldest working digital computer. The Museum enables visitors to follow the development of computing from the ultra-secret pioneering efforts of the 1940s through the large systems and mainframes of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, and the rise of personal computing in the 1980s and beyond.
A pledge by an individual benefactor of £1 million if matched funding is found means that every pound or dollar donated to the Museum will count double. Previous funders of the Museum have included Bletchley Park Capital Partners, Bloomberg, CreateOnline, Ceravision, InsightSoftware.com, Ocado Technology, FUZE, 4Links, Google UK, IBM, NPL, HP Labs, and BCS.
The whole Museum is currently open to the public on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon, spring and summer Bank Holidays and increasingly during school holidays. Colossus and Tunny galleries are open almost every day. Guided tours are available at 2pm on Tuesdays. There are often additional opening times for the public -- see the website or the iPhone app for updates. Educational and corporate groups are very welcome and may be on any day or evening by prior arrangement.
For more information, see www.tnmoc.org and follow @tnmoc on Twitter and The National Museum of Computing on Facebook and Google+. A TNMOC iPhone App is also now available from the iPhone App Store.
Media Contact
Stephen Fleming for TNMOC
01635 299116
Support us
The Museum has not received government or Lottery funding, so your help is needed.
Become a member »
Make a donation »
Become a volunteer »
Sponsor us »


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第一节(共 5 小题;每小题 I.5 分,满分 7.5 分) 听下面 5 段对话。每段对话后有一个小题,从题中所给的 A、B、C 三个选项中选出最佳 选项,并标在试卷的相应位置。听完每段对话后,你都有 10 秒钟的时间来回来有关小题和阅 读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。 1. What day is it today? A. It's Tuesday. B. It's Wednesday. C. It's Thursday. 2. What did the woman ask Tom to do? A. Type the papers. B. Write the papers. C. Check the papers. 3. Where does this conversation probably take place? A. At a wedding party. B. At a birthday party. C. At a get-together. 4. What is the man doing probably? A. Mending the computer. B. Finding some information. C. Waiting for the woman. 5. What's the relationship between the speakers? A. Father and daughter. B. Teacher and student. C. M anager a nd w orker. 第二节(共 15 小题:每小题 15 分,满分 22.5 分) 请听下面 5 段对话。每段对话后有几个小题,从题中所给出的 A、B、C 三个选项种选出 最佳选项,并标在试卷的相应位置。听每段对话前,你将有时间阅读各个小题,每小题 5 秒 钟;听完后,各小题给出 5 秒钟的作答时间。每段对话读两遍。 听第 6 段材料,回答第 6、7 题。 6. Who went on a package holiday? A. Tony and Betty. B. Tony and Julia. C. Julia and Betty. 7. How did the man like the holiday? A. Comfortable. B. Disappointing. C. Wonderful. 听第 7 段材料,回答第 8 至 10 题。 8. Where was the boy playing? A. On the road. B. Near the road. 9. At what time did the accident happen? A. 4:15. B. 5:15. 10. What caused the accident? A. The traffic jam. B. The bad weather.
C. In the car.. C. 6:15. C. The speeding car.
听第 8 段材料,回答第 11 至 l3 题。 11. Why does the man complain about his job? A. Because he gets bored with his job. B. Because he lacks a technician to help him. C. Because he works in different countries.
12. What do we know about the man? A. He gets on well with his assistant. B. He doesn't like the project. C. He works with some foreigners. 13. What will the man probably do? A. Keep doing his job. B. Find a better job. 听第 9 段材料,回答第 14 至 l6 题。 14. What is the rent of the apartment near the park? A. $ 400. B. $ 350. 15. What is th e cheapest two-bedroom apartment like? A. It's rather noisy. B. It's very quiet. 16. Which apartment do they prefer? A. The one next to the supermarket. B. The one near University Avenue. C. The one on Fifteenth Avenue. 听第 10 段材料,回答第 17 至 20 题。 17. Where can you most probably hear the talk? A. In an office. B. In a lab. 18. How many parts are there in each chapter? A. Three. B. One. 19. Are there any detailed instructions for the activities? A. Yes, there are. B. No, there aren't. 20. What's the main idea of the talk? A. An introduction of the wo rkbook. B. Instructions for the experiments. C. Suggestions for the activities.
C. Ask for an assistant.
C. $ 415. C. It's not furnished.
C. At a conference. C. Two. C. We don't know.
第二部分:英语知识运用(共两节,满分45分) 第一节:单项填空(共15小题;每小题1分,满分15分) 21. ― Sorry I'm late. I got stuck in traffic. ― _________. You're here now. Come in and sit down. A. You are welcome B. Never mind C. I have no idea
D. That's right
22. ________ freezing snow, which is still heavy, will come to ________ end this weekend. A. The; an B. A; an C. The; the D. A; the 23. The weathe r turned out to be fine yesterday. I ________the trouble to carry my umbrella with me. A. should have taken B. could have taken C. mustn't have taken D. needn't have taken 24. ________ a little money, Jane was able to buy her mother a lovely new watch. A. To save B. Saving C. Having Saved D. Saved 25. We hadn't been out for long, _________ she felt sick. A. as B. while C. after D. before 26. ― Remember the first time we met, Jim?
― Of course I do. You _______ in the library. A. have read B. had read C. were reading D. read 27. To our ______, the result of the experiment is much better than we expected. A. relief B. regrets C. disappointment D. sorrow 28. ---What shall we do with our project, stop or continue, sir? ---________ and try to finish it _______. A. Go ahead with it; ahead of time B. Go on doing it; before time C. Go on to do it; ahead of time D. Continue to do it; before the time 29. A healthy life is frequently thought to be _____ with the open countryside and home-grown food. A. tied B. associated C. involved D. related 30. Anyone who has spent time with children the difference in the way boys and girls similar situations. A. aware of; respond B. is aware of; respond C. aware; respond to D. is aware of; respond to 31. Wherever he goes, he readily _______ to new circumstances. A. accompanies B. accounts C. accomplishes D. accommodates 32. Last week, only two people came to look at the house, ____ planning to buy it. A. neither of them B. none of them C. none of whom D. neither of whom 33. --- Have you finished the report? --- No. I ______ it all this week. A. will do B. had done C. have been doing D. have done 34. That art center is _______ used to be a factory, ______ millions of tractors were produced. A. where; where B. what; where C. what; which D. where; which 35. When first____ to the market, these products enjoyed great success. A. being introduced B. having introduced C. introduced D. introducing
第二节:完型填空(共 20 小题;每小题 1 分,满分 20 分) Long long ago, there was a small village. This village had a 36 tradition. At the beginning of every year, any boy who had reached the age of 18 was given land and money to build a home. The boy had to 37 his home before winter. If his home failed to endure the cold weather in winter, the villagers could not 38 him in any way. One 39 , Paul and Marc reached their 18. They 40 their land and money and decided to search nearby villages for ideas on building their homes. In each village, they found the nicest 41 and talked to the owners. Each owner gladly offered 42 . After Marc saw several homes, he 43 the best ideas and went back to his own land. Paul, 44 , continued collecting more ideas. Soon he had so many great ideas that he began to 45 some of them. But he always believed he could find even better ideas in the next village. Marc began building his home. He had several false starts, 46 his home gradually rose from his land. By fall, Marc had finished his home. It wasn't perfect, but it was strong and he could 47 it later. Paul enjoyed all the beautiful homes and 48 with home owners. The first snow came and Paul, realizing he was running out of time, 49 back to his land. He built the best home he could in the time he had, but it was 50 . The first winter storm destroyed his home
and he froze to 51 . The villagers mourned for him. Marc 52 the winter. Each year, Marc searched for other good ideas he could use to make his own home look better. He became a leader in the village, 53 a family, and lived a happy, content life. We all build and improve our own mental homes. It's 54 and fun for us to search for ideas from other mental home owners, but we only improve our own mental home if we actually 55 the best ideas. 36. A. hopeful B. strange C. literary D. cultural 37. A. find B. make C. buy D. complete 38. A. encourage B. help C. scold D. persuade 39. A. winter B. summer C. spring ` D. autumn 40. A. received B. exchanged C. recognized D. advised 41. A. girls B. jobs C. presents D. houses 42. A. rooms B. drinks C. advic e D. attention 43. A. gathered B. expected C. created D. understood 44. A. similarly B. finally C. furthermore D. however 45. A. believe B. forget C. replace D. doubt 46. A. because B. although C. so D. but 47. A. repair B. rebuild C. improve D. sell 48. A. achievements B. conversations C. struggles D. arguments 49. A. rushed B. drove C. flew D. moved 50. A. funny B. weak C. small D. amazing 51. A. death B. blindness C. sadness D. illness 52. A. experienced B. loved C. spent D. survived 53. A. brought B. earned C. raised D. contacted 54. A. easy B. slow C. dangerous D. special 55. A. realize B. bring C. apply D. collect 第三部分:阅读理解(共 20 小题;每小题 2 分,满分 40 分) 第一节 阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(ABCD)中,选出最佳选项,并涂在答题卡上。 A If you do not use your arms or your legs for some time, they become weak; when you start using them again, they slowly become strong again. Everybody knows that. Yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in the same way. When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by using it. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong. If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is his fault. But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents are to blame, and few of us know that it is just his own fault. Have you ever found that some people can't read or write but they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write and they have to remember things; they cannot write them down in a little notebook. They have to remember days, names, songs and stories; so their memory is the whole time being exercised. So if you want to have a good memory, learn from the people: practise remembering.
56. If you do not use your arms or legs for some time, ______. A. you can't use them any more B. they will become stronger C. they become weak but they slowly become strong again D. they become weak and won't become strong until you use them again 57. Some people can't read or write, but they usually have better memories, because ______. A. they can't write everything in a little notebook B. they have to use their memories all the time C. they have saved much trouble D. they have saved much time to remember things 58. The main reason for one's poor memory is that ______ A. he does not use his arms or legs for some time B. he can't read or write C. his father or mother may have a poor memory D. his memory is not often used 59. Give the best title for this passage. A. How To Have A Good Memory B. Don't Stop Using Y our Arms Or Legs C. Strong Arms And Good Memories D. Learn From The People B Astronauts on shorter shuttle missions often work very long days. Tasks are scheduled so tightly that break times are often used to finish the day's work. This type of schedule is far too demanding for long missions on the International Space Station (ISS). ISS crewmembers usually live in space for at least a quarter of a year. They work five days on and two days off to mimic the normal way they do things on Earth as much as possible. Weekends give the crew valuable time to rest and do a few hours of housework. They can communicate with family and friends by email, internet phone and through private video conferences. While astronauts cannot go to a baseball game or a movie in orbit, there are many familiar activities that they can still enjoy. Before a mission, the family and friends of each ISS crewmember put together a collection of family photos, messages, videos and reading material for the astronauts to look at when they will be floating 370 kilometers above the Earth. During their mission, the crew also receives care packages with CDs, books, magazines, photos and letters. And as from early 2010, the internet became available on the ISS, giving astronauts the chance to do some "web surfing" in their personal time. Besides relaxing with these more common entertainments, astronauts can simply enjoy the experience of living in space. Many astronauts say that one of the most relaxing things to do in space is to look out the window and stare at the universe and the Earth. Both the shuttle and the ISS circle the planet several times each day, and every moment offers a new view of the Earth's vast land mass and oceans. 60. What does the word "mimic" in Paragraph 1 probably mean? A. copy B. find C. change D. lose 61. Which of the following best describes the families of the astronauts on the ISS? A. They are impatient and annoyed. B. They are worried and upset. C. They are caring and thoughtful. D. They are excited and curious. 62. In the final paragraph, the author shows that astronauts ________. A. love to see the Earth from space B. find living in space a bit boring and tiring
C. regard space life as common D. get more pleasure in space than on the Earth 63. The passage mainly discusses how astronauts ________. A. work for longer missions in space B. spend their free time in space C. observe the Earth from space D. connect with people on the Earth C Much of the water we use comes from snow. Melting snow provides water for rivers, electric power centers and agricultural crops. In the western United States, mountain snow provides up to 75% of all surface water supplies. Snowfall helps to protect plants and some wild animals from cold, winter weather. Fresh snow is made largely of air trapped among the snow crystals. Because the air has trouble moving, the movement of heat is greatly reduced. Snow also is known to influence the movement of sound waves. When there is fresh snow on the ground, the surface of the snow takes in, or absorbs, sound waves. However, snow can become hard and flat as it becomes older or if there have been strong winds. Then the snow's surface will help to send back sound waves. Under these conditions, sounds may seem clearer and travel farther. Generally, the color of snow and ice appears white. This is because the light we see from the sun is white. Most natural materials take in some sunlight. This gives them their color. However, when light travels from air to snow, some light is sent back, or reflected. Snow crystals have many surfaces to reflect sunlight. Yet the snow does take in a little sunlight. It is this light that gives snow its white appearance . Sometimes, snow or ice may appear to be blue. The blue light is the product of a long travel path through the snow or ice. In simple terms, think of snow or ice as a filter. A filter is designed to reject some substances, while permitting others to pass through. In the case of snow, all the light makes it through if the snow is only a centimeter thick. If it is a meter or more thick, however, blue light often can be seen. 64. How many functions of snow are discussed in the passage? A. One B. Two C. Three D. Four 65. Why does snowfall help to protect plants from cold? A. Because snow crystals contain heat. B. Because snow crystals have air in them. C. Because snow crystals are easy to blow away. D. Because snow crystals send out heat when melting. 66. It can be inferred that ______. A. hard snow is better in protecting wild animals than fresh snow B. fresh snow is better in sending sound waves than hard snow C. fresh snow is better in taking in sound waves than hard snow D. hard snow provides less water than fresh snow 67. The color of snow and ice appears white because snow crystals________. A. send back none of the sunlight B. send back all of the sunlight C. take in most of the sunlight D. take in some of the sunlight D As any housewives who has tried to keep order at the dinner table knows, there is far more to
a family meal than food. Sociologist Michael Lewis has been studying 50 families to find out just how much more. Lewis carried out his study by videotaping the families while they ate ordinary meals in their own homes. They found that parents with small families talk actively with each other and their children. But as the number of children gets larger, conversation gives way to the parents' efforts to control the loud noise they make. That can have an important effect on the children. "In general the more question-asking the parents do, the higher the children's IQ scores," Lewis says. "And the more children there are, the less question-asking there is." The study also provides an explanation for why middle children often seem to have a harder time in life than their siblings. Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most to talk about, and the youngest, who needs the most attention. "Middle children are invisible," says Lewis. "When you see someone get up from the table and walk around during dinner, chances are it's the middle child." There is, however, one thing that stops all conversation and prevents anyone from having attention: "When the TV is on," Lewis says, "dinner is nothing." 68. The writer's purpose in writing the text is to _________. A. show the relationship between parents and children B. teach parents ways to keep order at the dinner table C. report on the f indings of a study D. give information about family problems 69. By saying "Middle children are invisible" in paragraph 3, Lewis means that middle children _________. A. have to help their parents to serve dinner B. get the least attention from the family C. are often not allowed to come to the dinner table D. find it hard to get along well with other children 70. Which of the following statements would the writer agree to? A. Parents should talk to each of their children frequently. B. It is a good idea to have the TV on during dinner. C. It is important to have the right food for children. D. Elder children should help the younger ones at dinner. 第二节 根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多 余选项。 Curiosity is an important characteristic of a genius. You can't find an intellectual giant who is not a curious person. 71 This is necessary if you are to have a curious mind. Some things you know and believe might be wrong, and you should be prepared to accept things you don't know or you don't quite agree on. 72 If you just accept the world as it is, you will certainly lose your "curiosity". Try to discover what is beneath(在…下面) the surfaces of things around you. Ask questions from time to time. A sure way to discover what is beneath the surface is by asking questions: What is that? Why does it make that way? How does it work? And so on. 73 See learning as something that is fun. If you see learning as a burden, it will just make the
burden heavier. But if you can find learning interesting, it will open another door. 74 Read different kinds of reading materials. Don't spend too much time on just one subject. 75 It will introduce you to other possibilities that may interest you. A. Search for ideas to write about. B. So make an effort to enjoy the learning process. C. Discuss your ideas with other people. D. Feed your mind with interesting facts about different subjects. E. Keep an open mind. F. It is the simplest way for curious people to increase their knowledge. G. Try to look into the things. 第 II 卷(非选择题,共 35 分) 第一节短文改错(共 10 小题;每小题 1 分,满分 10 分) 文中共有 10 处语言错误,每句中最多有两处。错误涉及―个单词的增加、删除或修改。增加: 在缺词处加―个漏字符号(/\),并在其下面写出该加的词。 删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。 修改:在错的词下划一横线,并在该词下面写出修改后的词。 注意:1 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;2 只允许修改 10 处,多者(从第 11 处起)不记分。 Dear Katherine, How exciting I am to hear you are coming to visit me the next Friday. Fortunately, I won't be able to meet you at the airport although I have classes in the afternoon. You won't find difficult to get to the city center. The bus left the airport every 30 minute and will take you right to the International Hotel. My class will be over by then or I will pick you up there. I will take you to a hot-pot restaurant for dinner and we'll talk with our plan for the weekend over dinner. Having a pleasant trip and see you on Friday. Sincerely yours, Zhang Lin
第二节:书面表达:( 25 分) 假定你是李华,你班同学决定为小明举办生日聚会。请你写信邀请外教 Susan 参加,要点 包括: 1. 时间:周五晚 8 点至 9 点 2. 地点:学生俱乐部 3. 内容:生日歌、蛋糕、游戏等 4. 要求:备小礼物 注意:1. 词数 100 左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯; 3. 答案必须写在答题卡相应的位置 Hi Susan, We're throwing a surprise party for Xiaoming's birthday. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ______ ____________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ Yours, Li Hua
短文改错: 1. exciting―excited 4. although 改为 because / as 7. minute 改为 minutes 作文 2. the next day 去掉 the 5. find 后面加 it 3. Fortunately 改为 Unfortunately 6. left 改为 leaves 10. having 改为 have
8. or 改为 and
9.with 改成 about


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See also: štifle
Alternative forms[edit]
From Middle English stiflen, from Old Norse stífla ("to dam, choke, stop up"), from stífla ("dam"), from Proto-Germanic *stīfilaz, *stīfilą ("prop, pole, support"), from Proto-Indo-European *steip-, *steib- ("stake, picket"). Cognate with Icelandic stífla ("to dam up, jam, block"), Norwegian stivla ("to dam up, choke, stop"), Low German stipel ("support wood").
stifle (plural stifles)
- A hind knee of various mammals, especially horses.
- (veterinary medicine) A bone disease of this region.
a hind knee of various mammals, especially horses
bone disease of this region
stifle (third-person singular simple present stifles, present participle stifling, simple past and past participle stifled)
- (transitive) To interrupt or cut off.
- (transitive) To repress, keep in or hold back.
- Waterland
- I desire only to have things fairly represented as they really are; no evidence smothered or stifled.
- 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 15, in The Mirror and the Lamp:
- Edward Churchill still attended to his work in a hopeless mechanical manner like a sleep-walker who walks safely on a well-known round. But his Roman collar galled him, his cossack stifled him, his biretta was as uncomfortable as a merry-andrew's cap and bells.
- 2011 October 29, Neil Johnston, "Norwich 3-3 Blackburn", in BBC Sport:
- In fact, there was no suggestion of that, although Wolves deployed men behind the ball to stifle the league leaders in a first-half that proved very frustrating for City.
- The army stifled the rebellion.
- Waterland
- (transitive) To smother or suffocate.
- John Dryden
- Stifled with kisses, a sweet death he dies.
- Jonathan Swift
- I took my leave, being half stifled with the closeness of the room.
- The heat was stifling the children.
- John Dryden
- (intransitive) To feel smothered etc.
- The heat felt stifling.
- (intransitive) To die of suffocation.
- Two firemen tragically stifled in yesterday's fire when trying to rescue an old lady from her bedroom.
- (transitive) To treat a silkworm cocoon with steam as part of the process of silk production.
- (to die of suffocation): See also Thesaurus:die
- (To repress or hold back): hinder, restrain, suppress, throttle
to interrupt or cut off
to repress, keep in or hold back
to smother or suffocate
to feel smothered
to die of suffocation
- "stifle" in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old Norse
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English 1-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Veterinary medicine
- English verbs
- English transitive verbs
- English terms with quotations
- English terms with usage examples
- English intransitive verbs
- en:Animal body parts
- en:Horses


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Total $0.00
Summit Hotel Properties Completes Acquisition of 181-Room Courtyard by Marriott Charlotte City Center for $56.3 Million
June 16, 2017 8:39am
AUSTIN, Texas, June 16, 2017 -- Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. (NYSE: INN) (the "Company") announced today that on June 9, 2017, it completed the acquisition of the 181-guestroom Courtyard by Marriott Charlotte City Center (the "Hotel") for a total purchase price of $56.3 million and entered into a management agreement with OTO Development, LLC.
"The acquisition of the Courtyard by Marriott Charlotte City Center represents a continuation of our capital allocation strategy by acquiring an exceptionally well-located hotel in a strong market, funded partially through the recycling of capital from the sale of a non-core asset. This marks our entrance into the Charlotte market, which has been one of the more dynamic hotel markets over the past three years and boasted the highest office employment growth in the country over the last twelve months," said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel P. Hansen. "Since our equity raise last month, we have now closed or signed contracts to purchase over $300 million in high-quality, premium-branded hotels that have significant upside and meet our investment criteria," commented Mr. Hansen.
The Company estimates a capitalization rate of 8.3 percent based on management's current estimate of the hotel's net operating income during the first year of ownership. The Company estimates that the hotel will contribute approximately $2.7 million of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") for the remainder of 2017. For the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, the Hotel had revenue per available room ("RevPAR") of $129 and delivered an EBITDA margin of 54.7 percent, which compares favorably to the Company's total portfolio RevPAR and hotel EBITDA margin of $114 and 37.8 percent, respectively, for the comparable period.
The Hotel's guestrooms and public space were recently renovated, and the Company plans to invest approximately $0.8 million into redesigning the bar and Bistro area that will enhance the guest experience.
Located in the heart of Charlotte's uptown financial and entertainment district, the Hotel is ideal for both business and leisure travelers. The Hotel offers interior access to the Bank of America corporate headquarters, is situated across the street from Wells Fargo's east coast operations headquarters and located just blocks from the Charlotte Convention Center, NASCAR Hall of Fame, EpiCentre, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, and Harvey Gantt Center. Other nearby attractions include Spectrum Arena, home of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, and Charlotte Motor Speedway, in addition to an array of museums and cultural attractions.
In addition, on June 2, 2017, the Company completed the sale of the 90-guestroom Courtyard El Paso Airport located in El Paso, Texas for $11.2 million. The hotel was sold to a buyer unaffiliated with Hospitality Investors Trust, Inc. (formerly known as American Realty Capital Hospitality Trust, Inc.) and completes the Company's previously announced transaction to sell 26 hotels.
Tags: summit hotel properties,
courtyard by marriott charlotte city center,
courtyard el paso airport,
courtyard charlotte city center,
oto development
Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. is a publicly-traded real estate investment trust focused on owning premium-branded hotels with efficient operating models primarily in the upscale segment of the lodging industry. As of June 15, 2017, the Company's portfolio consisted of 76 hotels with a total of 10,796 guestrooms located in 22 states.
For additional information, please visit the Company's website, www.shpreit.com and follow the Company on Twitter at @SummitHotel_INN.
Contact: Adam Wudel, Vice President - Finance
(512) 538-2325
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "potential," "intend," "expect," "seek," "anticipate," "estimate," "approximately," "believe," "could," "project," "predict," "forecast," "continue," "plan," "likely," "would," or other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and can include future expectations, future plans and strategies, financial and operating projections or other forward-looking information. Examples of forward-looking statements include the following: the Company's ability to realize embedded growth from the deployment of renovation capital; projections of the Company's revenues and expenses, capital expenditures or other financial items; descriptions of the Company's plans or objectives for future operations, acquisitions, dispositions, financings or services; forecasts of the Company's future financial performance and potential increases in average daily rate, occupancy, RevPAR, room supply and demand, FFO and AFFO; the Company's outlook with respect to pro forma RevPAR, pro forma RevPAR growth, RevPAR, RevPAR growth, AFFO, AFFO per diluted unit and renovation capital deployed; and descriptions of assumptions underlying or relating to any of the foregoing expectations regarding the timing of their occurrence. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, not all of which are known to the Company and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the state of the U.S. economy, supply and demand in the hotel industry and other factors as are described in greater detail in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Unless legally required, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For information about the Company's business and financial results, please refer to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC, and its quarterly and other periodic filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no duty to update the statements in this release to conform the statements to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations.
Summit Hotel Properties Completes Sale of Six Hotels for $135 Million
OTO Development Breaks Ground on Hyatt Place National Harbor in Prince George's County, Maryland
OTO Development Appoints Denise Beers-Kiepper as Vice President of Human Resources
Summit Hotel Properties Completes Acquisition of the Residence Inn by Marriott Boston Watertown
OTO Development Acquires Florida's Best Western Key Ambassador Resort Inn
Summit Hotel Properties Opens New Build Hyatt House Hotel Across From Orlando Universal Resort™
OTO Wins Hilton Developer of the Year Award -- for 2nd Consecutive Year
Hilton Garden Inn Greenville Unveils Multi-Million Dollar Renovation Led by General Manager Barrett Alexander
OTO Development Opens the 121-Room Hilton Garden Inn Annapolis Downtown
OTO Development Opens New 290-Room AC Hotel by Marriott New York Times Square in Midtown Manhattan
Summit Hotel Properties Completes $164 Million, 4-Hotel Portfolio Acquisition
Summit Hotel Properties EVP & CFO Greg Dowell to Retire in 2018; Jonathan Stanner, Current EVP and Chief Investment Officer, to Succeed
Summit Hotel Properties to Acquire Four Hotels Totaling 652 Guestrooms for $164 Million, or Approximately $252,000 Per Key
OTO Development Unveils Plans for 219-Room AC Hotel by Marriott in Bethesda, Maryland
Frontier Development Breaks Ground on Homewood Suites by Hilton in Largo, Maryland with Completion Slated for Late 2018
Developed and Operated by OTO Development, AC Hotel San Francisco Airport/Oyster Point Waterfront Opens
OTO Development Opens New 168-Key SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Belmont, California
OTO Development Makes Inc. 5000 List – for the 6th Time
OTO Development Adds 7 Properties to Managed Portfolio
Summit Hotel Properties to Acquire Five-Hotel Portfolio from Xenia for $163 Million
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October is Vegan MoFo
It's Vegan MoFo time again. I'm a little excited for the challenge this time.
Last November, going mostly vegan was a little daunting. I discovered the difficulties of creating truly vegan meals. There really are eggs or dairy in so many foods that you would not suspect. On the other hand, it's really not that difficult to cook vegan, or at least be more "vegan-ish". There are so many resources out there for putting together a perfectly healthy and satisfying vegan diet, many more than there were just a few years ago. It's easier than ever, but it still requires a good deal of determination and will-power. Although I didn't stick to a vegan diet, I learned so much, and adopted plenty of good habits.
Since the last MoFo, I have become less dependent on fake meat products. They are still a staple in our home, but less so. I will tell you, however, that I've never had better finger nails than when I was chowing down on wheat-gluten, whey and soy protein regularly! I can't tell you that I've adopted the vegan diet. Or even a fully vegetarian diet. But each day that I eliminate meat or dairy from my meals, be it by choice or by chance, I know I have improved my health and longevity. If we could all just be a little more vegan-ish, a little more frequently, we might all live a little longer and happier.
I'm not going to preach to you about any animal rights. I have hunt-and-gather heritage, married into a vegetarian Hindu family, and love all animals very much, including my babycakes Mistypants. For me, it really comes down to the science of the body. Eating animal products is just not good for the body. The fats just do all sorts of nasty things to your cells, that in turn, do nasty things to your health.
|Misty wonders what it would be like to go vegan. She doesn't even like vegetables!
If you're thinking about being a little bit more vegan, for whatever reason, check back here often this month. I have a ton of vegan recipes already in the index, and I'll be creating more all month. I try to keep it simple, satisfying and interesting. Fake meats like Gardein chick'n or Smart Dogs fill in when I don't have enough time to cook. Bigger meals might be more intense, but usually leave leftovers that are great for reheating later.
Here are some recipes to get you started:
My new favorite salad to accompany pasta: Fennel and Apple Salad
A hearty soup that makes great leftovers: Lentil Soup with Leeks and Carrots
Satisfying Protein and Pasta: Crispy Chik'n with Wild Mushrooms
If you want to invest in a cookbook to get you started, a great one is How To Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman. It teaches you all the basic techniques and gives vegan variations. I started with The Conscious Cook by Tal Ronnen, and found it quite interesting to read through all the information he gives aside from recipes. The recipes tended to have too many fancy hard-to-find ingredients like pea shoots and dulse, but I did get some really great ideas from it. The Chick'n Piccata is my go-to recipe, totally vegan, and my husband requests it all the time.
Happy Vegan MoFo everyone!


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Taken at the Nissan/NISMO area at Le Mans over the weekend.
Some of you guys got reasonably upset over my header on an post of mine that got shared to FP earlier. I apologize if it was found to be "baitey", but it's just a title I made out of how I remember the situation being. I honestly thought those people were done. I hope you guys accept this image of a R34 that was on display at Le Mans as part of my apology.


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Industry Has a Program
By WALTER WEISENBURGER, Executive Vice President, National Association of Manufacturers
Delivered at the National Association of Manufacturers Second Congress of American Industry, New York City,December 9, 1943
Vital Speeches of the Day, Vol. X, pp. 173-178.
AMERICA'S infant, but most prolific industry, is postwar planning. The National Association of Manufacturers' agenda for a Better America, however, is not economic planning in the collectivist sense.
As against the inspired wisdom of a few gifted individuals who feel themselves qualified to think for a whole nation, this program of industry expresses the basic facts of our common American experience.
It is a program—action, not just planning!—a simple pattern setting forth the rules of the game and a national attitude within the framework of which 137 million people can revive the quaint old American custom of planning and working for themselves.
Ours is a program to win the victory by establishing fully, the principles for which we fight.
It isn't up to us to say what we're fighting for; we can get that direct from the boys at the front.
Succinctly a private says, "So I can be myself again."
A tank driver: "So I can live as my father lived."
A military policeman: "I'm not fighting for any particular blueprint, except the blueprint of freedom."
A nineteen year old soldier: "I'm not fighting for medals, but to go back to the 'pursuit of happiness'."
More realistically, an engineer corporal adds: "I'm fighting to get this damned war over with so I can go back home."
The best seven-word summary of the sentiment of the 200 boys who gave opinions, was given by an Army doctor: "I'm fighting to help keep America American."
And that is, in a nutshell, the whole story of what they're fighting for. Though not an enemy remain alive, there will be no victory for us if the war ends with the American way of life a casualty.
We deem it an act of patriotism, therefore, to offer at this time this program for a Better American economy, reflecting as it does, long arduous work of many committees, many members, many advisors.
This presentation does not contain any discussion of such
major immediate problems as termination, reconversion, reserves, and plant disposal. Those are dealt with elsewhere in the program of this convention.
Industry is seeking to furnish leadership that a free, self-respecting people will accept. It is not just for business, except as business is a part of American life. It is a program for a better America in which all can share—labor, agriculture, the trades, the professions—all the people.
With that preface of purpose, I, as your Executive Vice President, want to discuss with you the fundamentals of this program concerning which our President, Mr. Crawford, spoke so eloquently at lunch. You will hear next from Mr. Prentis, and Mr. Adams and Mr. Harrison will tell how this N.A.M. program for 1944 is going to be carried to the public through the National Industrial Information Committee. Now for the essentials:—
Emphasis on People
One of the prime essentials to remember always is that we live in a representative democracy.
There's nothing wrong with democracy, so long as the emphasis is on the first syllable, "democ"—"the people"—and not on the last syllable, "cracy."
There's nothing wrong with the business leadership in that democracy, so long as it emphasizes what the people want. The people want—
1. Higher living standards;
2. Economic security;
3. Opportunity for jobs;
4. Economic justice; and
5. Personal freedom.
Those too are the objectives of management's program.
We hold that these deep rooted desires of free men can only be achieved by striving in national unity for the highest results from a voluntary cooperative society, the basis of which is a free, competitive enterprise system.
This is no yearning for the "good old days." The man who advances into the future while looking backwards over his shoulder makes a tempting target.
We're not looking backward—like Lot's wife—either to the thundering twenties or the dismal thirties.
Least of all are we trying to "freeze the present"—preserve the "status quo"—which is simply Latin for the hell of a fix we've gotten into through bureaucratic planning.
Sure, we want the errors of the past corrected, but we want, as well, the victories of the past carried on to still greater results.
We can't make private enterprise better by throwing it out the window. Nor can better America be achieved in a hybrid economy—half private, half collectivism
A half slave and half free system won't provide postwar jobs.
And make no mistake about it, the first thing the people will want in a post-war world will be jobs.
Returning fighters won't care much about settling down to Jobs of tatting, leaf-raking, or odd-job-boon-doggling.
They'll take their post-war jobs as they took their wartime jobs—straight.
They certainly have earned their way on the battle fronts of the world—and they will want to do the same on the production fronts of peace.
But where do honest-to-Pete jobs come from? From a supposedly benevolent government? From a dreamy program to share the wealth without producing it? Whenever we set out to dream up jobs for job's sake, we get into the realm of the mystic, and end up with very real debt, but very unreal employment.
Real jobs don't come out of economic seances, from ouija boards or table-tilting. They can't be pulled, like pretty little bunnies, out of hats—even out of hats that are in the political ring. Only in "make-believe land" do storks bring babies, and only in fairyland do "Blue Eagles" bring jobs. In this very real world, jobs, like babies, are born as the result of perfectly natural processes. And I said born—not made. When you try to manufacture a man, you get a robot —not a living thing. And similarly when you try to manufacture a job for the job's sake and not through and for productive causes, you get the form but not the substance.
Learning to Test Theory
This promise-weary generation is learning to reject mumbo-jumbo economics. Theory is no longer enough. With scientists, we insist that a theory must be proved.
Industry has proved a theory; it has taken jobs, mixed them with freedom and produced opportunity.
There was a time when just jobs weren't enough in this country. The American working man always had before him the incentive of being able to go into business for himself. That once distinguished the American business system from any other economic system in the world. This opportunity has almost vanished in the last decade.
Back in the roaring twenties, which was supposed to have been the age of big business when the little David businessman had no chance against the Goliath corporations, 36,000 Joe Doakeses a year were able to go into business for themselves and make a go of it. In the decade that followed—the decade of the Common Man, but of uncommon taxes and federal deficits, 6,000 common men a year who had businesses lost them. The small businessman is certainly not the remembered man of that era. The normal annual increase in employables of about 600,000 cannot be met with 6,000 a year fewer employers.
The chance for a small business to live, to grow bigger and to become a bigger employer has got to be restored if the employment problem is to be settled satisfactorily. You can, as demonstrated, so kill off private employers in this country that there is nothing left but government employment.
In 1939 there were 190,000 manufacturing establishments in the United States employing 8 million workers. Ninetynine and a half per cent were employers of less than a thousand workers. Parenthetically, it is interesting that 75% of the N.A.M. members are employers of less than 500 workers, and more than 50% are employers of less than two hundred.
No matter how much ambition stirs in the breast of man to get along, to get a job opening onto a better job, and finally into his own business, he has no chance of fulfilling his desires in a government-run W.P.A. society.
In the lush days of manna from the Potomac a small town ran out of people who were in need of largess. All had jobs except the village half-wit. They finally set him to polishing an old brass Revolutionary cannon in the public square at $20 a week. He carried his own whistle in his pocket, to blow before he went to work, at lunch and when he quit. After four or five weeks of polishing, he appeared before the selectmen of the village to resign. "What do you want to quit for?" asked the Mayor. "Well," said the half-wit, "this is the best job I ever had, but I've saved up enough money to buy a brass cannon! So 1 am going into business for myself."
But! To get back to real jobs—they are born of the aspirations and ambitions of mankind. They are a means of satisfying our craving for bread and breeches and better mousetraps.
You won't find jobs, as we understand them, among the Polynesians or the Ubangi.
You'll find jobs where men's horizons are expanding—where they are building something better for the future—where they want something they haven't got, and intend to get it, "come hell or high water."
Genuine jobs are a means to an end; they are never the end itself. J Any job that is not born of a desire for the useful goods or services that job can produce, is a fake.
The world has known jobs, created after a fashion, and men fed, after a fashion, by slavery. The slave philosophy is collectivism. You produce—they collect.
There are some who say that the answer is 64 million post-war jobs and an annual income of 150 billions.
Personally, I don't agree. The above figure contemplates that all of those who have come from the homes and retirement will be retained in peace and that 10 million returning service people will be added to what is already the highest employment peak in history.
Exceeding our best peacetime employment by 12 1/2 millions is a goal that a nationally stimulated enterprise system eventually can reach. But is it good business, when we're trying to attain post-war recovery, to load the system with a goal that is 24% higher than the best employment year in our history?
Is it possible that the 64 million job mark is being deliberately advocated by those who want government intervention?
It is more conservative and realistic to place the job load at 56 millions, which is of itself 24% larger than the best peace time year of 1929. This figure represents somewhat more than the normal growth of employment in the nation. It would seem wiser to make that the recovery goal first.
Or, it would be wiser to start with the problem instead of the answer. Industry can't employ people for the mere sake of giving jobs. The problem is production, not jobs. This nation—factories, farmers, distributors, services—would have to produce half as much again goods and services than it did in 1929 to reach the 56 million goal.
Whatever post-war job goal is used it must be based on production and not on trick multiplication of jobs by mirrors.
And no matter how you approach it, it is well to remember that much of what management plans cannot come to fullest fruition the day after peace is declared. There will be a transition period of many vexing and temporary problems getting back to peace production.
We must not be diverted from our goal by a little bad road. If we do we'll probably end up on the rougher detours we've been on for the last decade.
In the long run a fully operating free enterprise system as outlined in this program is the only guarantee of real jobs in post-war.
Business should be careful not to promise anything it can't do, and be sure to do everything it promises. Then we can ask the people to go along with us—to keep their chins up—to fight through whatever difficulties the transition may bring, to get back on the real beam of a Better America, instead of a deficit future.
In America we must have full employment based on a political system of free men. In voluntary cooperation of these free men for the common good, lies Jobs, Freedom, and Opportunity for the future.
The war has proved that the capitalistic system has what it takes to win.
The Real Source of Jobs
Our economic system is not a gang of "big shots" or an organization of "stuffed shifts." It is simply all the ways whereby we all earn a living.
It is not perfect. Human beings are not perfect. And this program points out the mistakes of management along with those of everybody else. We believe, however, that through the years the credit side is one of which Americans can be proud.
True, we are said to have one-third of our population under-privileged. But that is by comparison with our own high standards of living, not with those of other countries. "If capitalism," says Professor Frank P. Graham of Princeton, "were allowed to repeat this performance (from 1870 to 1930) for another fifty years, it would do away with anything that according to present standards could be called poverty."
We can make enterprise freer, within the rights of society, more fully competitive, and more truly enterprising—all of which should make it more productive.
The test of good government, of good management, of good labor, should be—do their actions help production? The National Association of Manufacturers' plan is built around more and more production as the only source of jobs, high standards of living, and real security.
How do we get more and more production?
The N.A.M. program prescribes five conditions for more? production:
1. Encouragement of risk capital to provide tools for production.
2. Revision of tax structure to stimulate production.
3. Labor and Management cooperation for maximum production.
4. Adequate social security for workers from production.
5. Freedom from bureaucratic control to permit production.
Encourage Risk Capital
The entire enterprise system is nothing but an elaborate system of bringing men and money together to get something we want. Jobs are the public's first need. To have jobs you must first have employers—to have employers you must first have capital.
Factories and equipment, and ships and shops and shuttles do not "just happen." Some one must plan them; some one with vision and daring must bring them into existence.
Saving and investment lead the march of industrial progress. But the savings that are buried in a sock create no new machines, or jobs. Only those that are used to put men to work in building needed productive equipment render that vital service to society. It is that useful application of savings that we call investment.
Investment offers the one solution to that age-old problem: how to eat your cake and have it too. When you invest your money, you save it and at the same time spend it. Only you spend it, not for immediate pleasure, but for productive capital equipment and jobs.
Quite obviously the investor does not think of himself as a philanthropist. He invests to feather his own nest. Just as obviously, the farmer who feeds the hungry does not think of himself as a great humanitarian. He produces food, not as an act of charity, but to have something to sell, so that he may buy the things he wants. No more does the worker, who clothes and shelters us, do it as a good Samaritan. He is interested in his wages and what he can buy for them.
That's the nice thing about our social and economic set-up here in America. Every one concentrates on getting what he wants for himself, but finds that the only way he can do it is by providing others with things they want enough to be willing to buy and pay for. We don't have to be philanthropists. We can be selfish as all hell and still find that; unless we can fool the police, we can't get something without giving something in return. Each can prosper best as others prosper with him.
The first step to post-war jobs is an overhauling of the investment laws to attract savings on the assumption that free enterprise is good and that private job-making should be encouraged. Congress should try to make the machinery of investment run better, and not clutter up the picture with fear-making excessive regulations.
Government Capital
The government leaners at this point will say, "Why not let the government supply the capital?" Where would government get the money—from taxes or borrowings? From the people?
It is estimated that the American people will end the war with savings of 120 billions of dollars; and, that the government will end it 300 billions in the hole.
Under those circumstances, shall we leave it to the government to supply the funds for domestic capital expansion? What funds, I ask you? The government can't spend that 300 billion dollar debt:—that will already be spent. Where can the government get funds for investment? Only from you and me. It will have to be some of that 120 billions we are supposed to have in our hip pockets. But, doesn't that belong to Us? What right has the government to tax or borrow it away from us, and invest it? Is government smarter than its people? Why can't we do our own investing? We used to be players in this game—not just kibitzers.
Revision of Tax Structure
Does our tax structure encourage investment, when it increases all the risks, and absorbs all the profits? Investment is the life blood of economic progress. Then, why not treat it with a little consideration? The doctors use some sense with their blood donors; they take only a pint at a time, and the donor recovers. The tax collectors aren't so far-sighted. They try to take it all at once. And if they succeed, there isn't any donor left.
Of course, we know that high taxes are necessary during war. But even during war, some incentive should be left for investment. Going "all out" for war does not require that we be "all in" as soon as the war ends.
One of the great danger points in our economy is that profits are being taxed away before they can become the seed for more production.
If the tax laws were written for the purpose of making private enterprise unworkable, they couldn't do a more devastating job.
Because corporations have a politically soulless status and don't vote, there seems to be no public conscience as to how heavily they're taxed. Let us not forget that back of the corporations are frugal-minded citizens—stockholders. When corporations are taxed 80 per cent, real people are taxed 80 per cent, and then for good measure those same people are taxed again on the remaining 20% that's distributed as dividends.
The assumption is that all stockholders are rich—and therefore fair prey of the sock-the-rich boys.
But all stockholders are not wealthy.
One-third of the stockholders are in the less than $5,000 income bracket.
That third is being taxed, not the 20 per cent the withholding tax calls for, but 80 per cent plus the 20 per cent on whatever they get as dividends.
But the stockholder, rich or poor, is not the real victim of corporation taxes, at all.
That consumer—which includes all of us—does very definitely get soaked—and not just the walleted wealthy, but every last one of us. Corporations are really just tax collectors from their customers because taxes are a cost of doing business—government re-negotiators to the contrary, nothwithstanding, however, but.
So John Q. Public, in the role of consumer, pays most of the corporate taxes in higher prices.
High prices hold sales down and when sales are held down, production is lower, and when production drops employment falls off.
But the war has got to be paid for, and high priced government must live in its accustomed style if it has to borrow money to do so.
Forgive me for such practical realism, but has it ever occurred to the taxing agencies and Congress that lower tax rates on business will lead to a larger volume of business, and result in not only more jobs but a greater volume of business upon which even a lower rate will give the government more revenue?
The most stimulating thing that could happen to business in the post-war period would be a reduction of taxes.
But taxation is not the only brake on investment in job-supplying and wealth-creating capital equipment. We have a Securities Act that hangs as a sword over the head of the would-be enterpriser. We have a questionnaire system that saps his time and talent, and makes him the "tired—and mired—businessman." We have a Labor Relations Act that gives the workers a club and goads them into using it against any one who dares to go into business and furnish jobs and useful goods.
Management-Labor Cooperation
The time-tested formula of industry out of which our high standard of living has been built is, better articles cheaper for more people.
With high-priced government and rising unit labor costs, that's going to be a tough formula to maintain. How can we do it?
Not by lowering wage rates, because that would reduce the income of consumers and damage our markets.
Not by reducing the rewards for saving and investment, because that would choke the flow of capital and expansion.
Not by limiting the rewards of business enterprise, because that would restrict the important function of creating new jobs and providing wealth for all.
How then are prices to be reduced? Simply by an increase in individual productive efficiency.
More production requires an increased measure of cooperation between management and labor which brings me to the third necessity of post-war—"Better teamwork between management and labor."
Labor makes its primary contribution to a Better America when it recognizes that Labor's own welfare demands an increasing output of industry and never a -lower output. Labor as producer benefits through more wages for more work. Labor, too, as consumer benefits by lower prices.
From this it follows that any labor policy which interferes with full cooperation for full production is in the long run inimical to labor's own interests. It is a short-sighted labor policy which strives to limit output, which resorts to slow down tactics, or to featherbedding rules that call for the employment of more men than a job requires, or stresses the rights of seniority instead of promotion for merit.
Labor is not exempt from the rule that any one contributor to the production process who sets out to grab more than his proper share thereby hampers production and so ultimately becomes his own enemy.
Shortsighted Manufacturer
But how about short-sighted management? That's possible too, Isn't it?
Too true!
But there'd better not be any in the critical days that lie ahead.
Short-sighted management can—and sometimes has—tried to make its profits by short-changing its workers. That just wont' do! Any time wages fall below what the workers produce markets dry up and management is left holding the sack of unsold inventories.
When we pay that management is offering a plan for competitive enterprise we mean just that—no monoplies, no fixing of prices.
We want all the competition we can get.
We want free and open markets—no special privilege and no special protection.
Management can't go down to Washington seeking regulatory laws for his competitor or price-fixing for his industry and still be considered an advocate of the fully competitive business system.
Price rigging always means small markets, and enterprise does not fully succeed with restricted markets.
Management too must put its house in order, and by the character and spirit of its labor policies create a relationship with its employees which is built on mutual respect and good will.
Where collective bargaining is entered into, it should be carried on in good faith.
Sound employment relations policies should be adopted and administered fairly, uniformly, and without discrimination throughout the entire organization.
We'd better realize, also, that we have some social responsibilities. If it's going to be left to us to control the forces of production, we'd better control them so that they are kept busy in the service of the American people. Keeping the heels turning when it happens to suit us, won't be quite enough. We'd better keep them turning all the time, America isn't going to be run for the benefit of business. We ad better run business for the benefit of America. If there is any benefit in industry, government should recognize it too.
The great uncertainty—the fear uppermost in the minds of managers, investors, workers, all of, us—is what will be the post-war attitude of government toward private enterprise. Nothing could give more encouragement—nothing could build greater confidence for the future—than a forthright rededication by Washington to the private enterprise philosophy which made this country great.
Working for Security
Businessmen believe that economic security is attainable. Security—the fourth point in our post-war program—is a prime and natural human objective.
It is not promises; it is real things that can come only from real production. Social security programs don't increase he total amount of security—they only monkey with the way it is divided up. In such tampering, we had better be sure that we do not reduce the total amount of security we have available to divide. Because then, if nobody has enough we will have to get out the lash and compel production under compulsory methods. The basis of personal security in America in the past has been personal productivity and individual self-reliance. And we had best not destroy that sound security in our wishful thinking about "freedom from want."
We realize that there are those who, through no fault of their own, are unable to provide for their own needs. In a country as productive as America, they should not have to suffer. Nor should any American who has been a useful and productive member of the community during his active years have to look forward to an old age of poverty or pauperism.
The N.A.M. is on record as favoring existing Social Security laws, with a closer approach to soundness in their financial set-up. And we are on record in favor of extending the benefits of these laws in various directions, and as far as may be feasible.
Only, let's not forget that it costs money. Let's make it possible for those who are productive to produce enough to take care of the unproductive without impoverishing themselves.
In this coming century of the Common Man, when "all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins" let's be sure we do not make man too common by stripping him of his dignity, throttling his ambitions and robbing him of his future. We all want the age of the Common Man, but we don't want him to age too fast or get too common.
Freedom of Enterprise
Freedom within the law—individual and economic—is the fifth plank in our program for a Better America.
Nowhere in the American scheme of things do we find any direct or implied authority for a federal government to dictate what shall be produced, or how, or by whom—no authorty to subsidize either the productiveness or the unproductiveless of any individual—no authority to decide who shall consume what others produce—to undertake "economic planning" which substitutes compulsion for individual freedom—to make the government responsible for the economic welfare of individuals.
Freedom of enterprise, and other American liberties which cannot survive without it, are being threatened by control and restriction by uncontrolled and unrestricted bureaucrats.
This country grew great through jobs, freedom and opportunity, not through restrictions and controls. Freedom is both the Alpha and Omega of this program, which offers full employment for employables at steady wages;
—which offers a full and unfettered opportunity for every American to seek his own advancement;
—which offers an economic order which effectively combines the two basic facts that we are all motivated by self-interest, and are all at the same time mutually interdependent;
—which establishes full and voluntary cooperation between industry, agriculture, labor, and all other productive groups;
—which offers freedom—which includes freedom to fail as well as freedom to succeed. In a free system, success can never be guaranteed. But in no other system is it worth the having.
Post-war recovery is an economic job. You gentlemen of industry are the practical, first-handed, bench-made economists of this country. And you must be economic statesmen, too.
There won't be any bands playing, or any flags flying, or any E Pennant awards in the hard work of turning the successes of our arms into real victory. But it's an essential part of the victory job!
You can't afford to be any more laggard in the unsung battles of peace than you were in the more spectacular waging of war.
Congress most seriously needs your help in the stupendous task of legislating a basis for the future. Each Congressman wants the viewpoint of the manufacturers in his district. None
of them want to hinder; all want to help employment. But they're dependent upon you to advise fairly and frequently with them, not just in opposition but with plus suggestions.
One of the prime purposes of this Better America program is to inspire and equip management with a specific and corrective viewpoint. The program goes definitely into what to do to correct the legislative hindrances to capital formation ; on how to get revenue without killing enterprise; on how to help labor without sponsoring class conflict; on how to lift the confusion and stifling load of bureaucracy from business.
Remember Kipling's famous lines:
"Nations have passed away and left no traces.
And history gives the naked cause of it —
|One single, simple reason in all cases;
They fell because their people were not fit."
You men of management are fit, America is fit, its people are fit.
You men of affairs may not be smooth-tongued wizards, but you have experience and accomplishment and the people's faith on your side.
With manufacturers everywhere stirred ana inspired through this program, there is no cause for pessimism, negativism or defeatism in this nation.
The N.A.M.'s program for a Better America in your hands can cause a vibrant resurgence of faith and progress in America.
Because it is founded on the ideals of the American people, industry's agenda for post-war is good; it will appeal to the innate common sense of all Americans.
What we need is an age of common sense. Common sense has never failed us yet when we've used it.


text: Hi, I am having trouble setting up SSL on a website. I have followed the SSL setup instructions, pretty straight forward, and verified that my certificate is working correctly using various cert checkers online. The problem is that when I try to access https://mydomain.com.au i get redirected to the apache test page. When I try to access any specific page ( https://mydomain.com.au/anypage ) I get a Forbidden error. My server has been setup using "The Perfect Server - CentOS 6.4 x86_64". The only log error I can find is in ssl_error_log: "client denied by server configuration: /var/www/mydomain.com.au/web" Any ideas? Thanks, Dave.


text:
I've been away from the Model-3 emulation community for a while, but then when i updated to the latest SVN, i noticed that most of my ROMs now seem to be broken? Only Scud Race work fine now.
Daytona USA 2 Power Edition give me "error 'epr-20985.bin' (CRC32 0xb139481d) not found in 'dayto2pe.zip' for game 'dayto2pe'
So how do i make it work now?


text:
Your basket is empty.
Appearance: Matt black, ivory white or grey beige with articulated neck.
Design: 1929. Arne Jacobsen. Reissued by &Tradition.
Material: Lacquered aluminium shade with steel frame.
Cable: 3 metre fabric colour coded cord with off/on switch.
Size: Base D 19.5cm. W 58cm. H 51.5cm.
Bulb: E14 max 40 Watt / 7 Watt CFL. Not included.
Please note: This light is classified as made-to-order and as such is non-refundable.
10 - 15 working days.
All mainland UK £9.95.
Non mainland UK by quotation.
For further information refer to
Rume terms and conditions.


text:
I've long admired Crafty Chica's stuff and her newest book (of many!) is fabulous. It's called Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life. It's full of stories of life lessons learned and truly great craft projects including decorated white chocolate skulls for Day of the Dead, making an Empowerment box using silver embossing tin (oooh, I breathed), great paper lights, photo charms made using stained glass solder wire I'm eager to try out, even a list of crafty movies to learn from. All the projects are useful, cheerful and bright. Definitely take a look at this book.
· comments [0] · 04-22-2006 · categories:books · craft ·


text:
by Noah Bosworth, head route-setter, MSU Climbing Wall
Climbers work together to create a bigger, better wall.
Some of you may have heard that the MSU climbing wall is undergoing an expansion. Well, the rumors are true.
The MSU climbing wall will indeed be fully renovated.
The current space will be redesigned and expanded with improved walls, upgraded flooring, and new holds, creating a modernized version of a space that already plays an important roll on campus.
Here's a bit of history. The original MSU climbing wall took shape over a decade ago in a dark corner of Romney Gym. It wasn't long before a growing population of student climbers required more space, so they pushed for expansion.
By the fall of 2008, MSU architecture students designed and constructed a climbing wall in a repurposed racquetball court in the Marga Hosaeus Fitness Center. This larger, more accessible location provided new services, such as instructional courses and events.
Anticipating future growth, students and faculty advisors recently continued the expansion effort. For years, the passion to improve the current climbing wall passed from one class of climbers to the next. There were meetings and student polls, small victories and defeats, and more than a few ASMSU sessions interrupted by swarms of climbers. This persistence culminated in a student body referendum in the spring of 2017, which included an updated expansion plan. The referendum saw the highest-ever voter-turnout rate, and students voted overwhelmingly to approve the construction of a new 2,000-square-foot climbing wall.
The planning and design process for the new wall has been guided first and foremost by a desire to maintain the spirit of the current space, which is a central pillar for the MSU climbing community, as well as a place where students can expand their personal potential. The new wall will incorporate user education as a key functional component, allowing the expansion of instructional courses, the introduction of for-credit classes, and the development of hands-on safety-education resources.
Meanwhile, the larger size and updated terrain of the new facility will create a diverse and relaxed environment for students of all abilities and skill levels to build a community while staying active.
New construction focuses on joining the current space with the racquetball court next door. By expanding into the neighboring racquetball court, the design team was able to include a variety of low-angle and slab features, while integrating steeper terrain and top-roping stations. The addition of a designated training area creates a more functional climbing wall, one that can meet the needs of novices and experts alike.
The new and improved wall is expected to open by fall 2018. Keep an eye out for new classes and educational opportunities, or just come by with your friends to check out the new wall. Construction will take several months, meaning the current wall will be closing some time this spring.
Until then, the wall is fully operational and the annual Prince and Princess of Plastic event will be held February 24 as a celebration of the little racquetball court where so many friendships and memories have been made.
For more info, visit our Facebook page.


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Our friends from Colorado came to visit last weekend. The weather was beautiful! We took a hike in Dinosaur State Park in Glen Rose. The girls were fascinated by the dinosaur footprints in the Paluxy River:
The park is lovely, and we hiked from the river up onto a ridge:
I'm afraid Boomer wasn't a very congenial host. He likes the girls, but really wasn't impressed by the two canine visitors. He kept a wary eye on them: