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The popular view of archaeology often conjures images of Indiana Jones or spelunking through booby-trapped pyramids. Recently it has been dramatized and turned into television entertainment. This is not an accurate image. My personal experience confirms to me that it has deeper meaning. Archaeology is almost a social science—like piecing together the jigsaw puzzle of our collective past. Through Penn State's summer program, students work to ensure one less piece is lost, no matter how small.
As a recent graduate of 2015, with a major in History and minor in Anthropology, I concentrated my studies closely around the human race and its history. This path led me to join Penn State's archaeological field school under Dr. Jonathan Burns over the Summer of 2014, and later return as a staff member for the summer field school of 2015 under Penn State's Matson Museum director Dr. Claire Milner.
Penn State's graduate anthropology program has consistently ranked among the top 10 in the nation, which provides excellent opportunities for all students. The Summer archaeological field school is one unique facet that sets Penn State's programs apart from those at many other universities. These are multi-week, hands-on courses that provide students the opportunity to learn field techniques intrinsic to the profession while under the supervision of a professional archaeologist. Many universities lack such programs, and I was excited to welcome students from other campuses and universities during my two-year involvement. Whilst providing students with a unique developmental opportunity, the Summer field school also preserves local history. Much of this local historical record is known by few in the community and rarely publicized. However, this does not limit the inherent value found within these local sites.
Would you believe me if I said that bucolic Huntingdon County, specifically the small town of Shirleysburg, was more culturally diverse in 1755 A.D. than today? Fort Shirley began as a trading post for Native American agent George Croghan in 1754. I excavated here over the summer of 2014 under self-proclaimed local fort expert Dr. Jonathan Burns. The fort was fortified by provincial aid starting in 1755 and stayed active through 1758. It was a crucial frontier fort during the French and Indian War. The theatre spread across western Pennsylvania, with the French entrenched at Fort Duquesne (located where Pittsburgh is today). Although the French and English were the primary belligerents, both sides recruited heavily from Native American populations. Most of the Natives sided with the French; however one tribe, the Mingo Seneca, remained loyal to the British and lived adjacent to Fort Shirley in a village called Aughwick.
Croghan also owned slaves who worked around his establishment. This was not readily apparent in the preserved records; however, a copper Muslim charm was recovered in a test unit during a Summer field school. This is suggestive of an indentured servant or slave, possibly from the transatlantic slave trade. The inscription roughly translates to, "one god above all."
In another interesting unit, we recovered Native American beads at the bottom of a palisade posthole. It seems Native Americans worked alongside Europeans in erecting the wall around Croghan's post— a rare exception of a provincial fort showing evidence of a Native American presence, let alone cooperation. Fort Shirley symbolized a cultural melting pot in rural central Pennsylvania during the mid-1700's. Today, the location is half pasture, half backyard in a normal, homogenous small town.
Known locally for its springtime blossoms and as a quixotic locale to tie the knot, the grounds of the H.O. Smith Arboretum at Penn State are undoubtedly some of the most charming on campus. To look below the open arboretum fields, turning back the wheel of time to the mid 1800's, reveals the story of family after family carving out a living on their farmstead. Over the summer of 2015, I returned to the program as a staff member. Headed by Dr. Claire Milner, our project was to begin initial excavations of an old foundation discovered by grounds-crew. Though we desperately wished to find the outhouse for its rich deposit layers (seriously, these things are like historical garbage cans!), it remained elusive, so much of our time was spent excavating the foundation, cellar, and laying smaller test pits throughout the location.
We dubbed the site Foster Farmstead, after the first recorded family living there. We recovered hundreds of ceramic and glass shards, tobacco pipe fragments, horseshoes, buttons, faunal remains, and other artifacts. Studied on an individual level, one could ascertain only limited details. Yet viewed as a collection, lifeways become more apparent—like the diet habits over time, the family's social status and make-up, how the farmstead evolved, and other similar themes. Much of this analysis will happen in the lab at Penn State, but one find resonated within me immediately. As I was excavating a unit in the cellar, I uncovered a glass cat's eye marble. A short period later, we found the remnants of a leather child's shoe. It became clear we were unearthing someone's childhood. Here, lost for decades beneath bramble and bush, was the site where local lives once began.
My studies inspired and required me to be a dutiful advocate and ambassador for archaeology; and the one thing I noticed frequently when speaking to someone outside of the subject was that they found it interesting—archaeology, without the bombastic metal detector personalities, or death-defying treasure hunters, is interesting to the public. Without a bombshell find published in the newspaper or these knock off popularized television programs, archaeology receives relatively little coverage. This is unfortunate as archaeology is literally all around us.


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Shell Helix Ferrari Promotion
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How it works:
- Free one (1) miniature Ferrari toy car with the purchase of Shell Helix HX 7 (4L) or Shell Helix High Mileage*
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subset: commoncrawl


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Published in Devlok, Sunday Midday on June 22, 2010.
As school children, we were told how the wealth of the nation was drained by the British, which is why we had to fight for our independence. Today, when I read reports of the corruption in the Common Wealth Games in New Delhi, I realize India is still being drained of her wealth — this time not by the British, but by Indians.
I am told that for every four grains of rice that the government releases in times of drought, only one grain reaches the poor. Such is our distribution system. This time, even that one grain is not reaching the poor. It is rotting in warehouses. This is also drain of wealth of India, by Indians.
Poverty is fuelling rebellion, crime and separatist politics, in many parts of the nation, forcing our army to wage war against our own citizens, leading to even more drain of wealth of India, by Indians.
I guess we don't need to be British to drain India's wealth. We are quite capable of doing it ourselves. All we need to be is corrupt.
Why do we drain wealth? We drain wealth because we want wealth to come to us, and not go to others. Politicians need wealth to fund the democratic machinery. How else does one fund those ugly posters that dot the city of Mumbai celebrating the birthdays of obscure leaders? How else does one fund political rallies? How else does one buy votes?
In mythology, Yakshas are considered wealth hoarders. They are visualized as being fat, ugly and misshapen creatures — clearly a visualization by poor artisans. Beside them sit powerful bejewelled Yakshis (understandably so). They ride not animals like other gods. They ride humans. The king of Yakshas, Kubera, is called Nara-vahana, a reminder of how humans are slaves of wealth, and how in the quest for wealth humans enslave humans.
Kubera once lived in the south, in Lanka, but he was driven away by his half-brother, Ravana, leader of the Rakshasas. So he took refuge in the North, with Shiva, the hermit-god, who has no wealth.
Once, Kubera felt sorry for Shiva's son, Ganesha who loved to eat. "Let me feed you," said Kubera, "as clearly your father cannot afford to do so." Ganesha accepted Kubera's invitation, went to his house, and ate all that was offered. "I am still hungry," said the elephant-headed god. Kubera had to procure more food using the money in his treasury. Ganesha ate all that was served and kept asking for more. Finally Kubera fell at his feet and begged him to stop eating. "You are draining me dry," he cried. Ganesha then said with a smile, "Any attempt to satisfy hunger will never be successful. My father, Shiva, therefore seeks to outgrow it."
Ganesha watches the world in bewilderment as the hunger for wealth among people increases and few are interested in outgrowing it. One day, the heart of the hungry will stop beating and the body will be brought to the crematorium. During the funeral rituals, the pot carried by the son on his shoulders will be cracked by the priest to drain out the water, symbolic of all the wealth collected in a lifetime that cannot be claimed by the dead. Then, bereft of possessions, the dead will be cremated. Fire will consume the body and the ash that remains will bedeck Shiva's body.


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Superberry Snoot Buddy Budder
Regular price $16.00
Unsalted Peanuts + Strawberries + Blueberries + Blackberries + Honey.
* Refrigerate for a thicker consistency.
SUPERBERRY SNOOT - Peanuts have healthy fats, protein, antioxidants, Vitamin E, and manganese. Strawberries, Blackberries, and Blueberries are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Honey assists in alleviating allergies, soothes kennel cough, aid digestion, and boost energy levels.
- No hydrogenated oil, palm oil, high fructose corn syrup, stabilizers, xylitol, added sugar, or salt.
- Dogs love when you add it to a kong, toy, bone marrow, bully stick, lick pad, or lick mat. It helps with chewing and separation anxiety. Use during bath time or to distract during nail trimmings.
- Made in the USA


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Fall or autumn along Cabot trail on Cape Breton, one of the best spots to photograph fall pictures. Autumn is a wonderful time to visit the Province of Nova Scotia.
For Fall Pictures I recommend Cape Breton in the North. Looping around the northern tip of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, this charming trail is 185 miles or 298 km long and runs through the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.The area boasts world class hiking opportunities and is a mecca for photographers especially those hunting for spectacular Fall Pictures.
Make sure to see our selection of Fall and Autumn Pictures.


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Iccha Basnyat
DREAMS would like to congratulate Iccha Basnyat, assistant professor at national University of Singapore, for receiving the teaching excellence award 2014.
Who is Iccha Basnyat?
Iccha is an assistant professor in the Department of Communications and New Media, which is a part of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at National University of Singapore.
What award did she get?
National University of Singapore awarded teachers in sixteen departments the Teaching Excellence Award. This award is based on the evaluations of students, and has criteria like quality of lecturing, ways of delivering knowledge, and personal qualities. She had previously also won the Communications and New Media Outstanding Teacher Award in 2010/11.
What do students have to say about her?
Iccha's student Branden calls her "our rock of Gibraltar." "There has always been a feeling of being in very safe hands when under Dr. Iccha's supervision for any academic endeavor," says Branden.
DREAMS would like to wish Iccha all the best in her future career in teaching, and hope she continues to lead and inspire students.
Tags: Iccha Basnyat, National University Singapore, Teaching Excellence Award
Categorised in: People


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We are deeply encouraged by your support for our MainVest campaign. 46 investors raised over $25,000 to fund improvements to the interior space, and get assistance with a website design and marketing.
We can not deny that we have some significant challenges ahead with the overall economy, and the realities of social distancing over the next few months.
We are somewhat blessed, in that the earliest we expect to open is in September. This gives us time to adjust any procedures, orders, and staffing to meet the needs of our customers.
If you have not already, feel free to join our Facebook groups to follow the conversations. We're encouraged by the support of the folks in Haverhill. There are requests for different product lines and events. Folks are also celebrating the renovation of a landmark building in Washington Square.
Lee Properties have a lot of work to be done this summer. We've been working closely with them to get our plans for the interior space realized.
The exterior work has begun. The bricked up windows are cleared, and their replacement windows are ready for installation.
The interior is fully gutted. It will be a few months before finishing work can be completed.
We'll keep posting updates, of course.
Thank you, everyone for your support. We have a lot of work to do, to prove the faith and trust you've placed in us. We couldn't be more excited!


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It's fairly normal for many people to feel overworked in the run-up to Christmas – and I should know, being married to a teacher. However, you just know that things have come to a pretty pass when Santa himself succumbs to the strain.
Says who? Why, Norway's Aftenposten newspaper does, that's who. At least, they did on Thursday when they got Christmas off to a depressing start by "mistakenly" (what?) publishing Santa's obituary in the paper.
It was reported that the world's fastest pensioner had died at the age of 227 (presumably of natural clauses – ho, ho, ho) in Nordkapp on 3rd December, but Norway's second-largest organ was subsequently forced to retract the obit and issue an apology, so it looks like Christmas may now be back on again.
Just as well… my wife could really use the break.
If your face has ever been as red as Santa's (or the Aftenposten's small ads editor's) following the publication of an unintentionally embarrassing foreign-language text, you'll be pleased to know that Robertson Languages can help you stay on message in any language. Hit the red button or give us a call on 0118 934 6000 to find out how.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Everyone in the retail world wants to see if Ron Johnson can work his magic a third time.
For 15 years, he helped shape Target's cheap chic image. Then, he spent about a decade changing the way Americans shop for electronic gadgets at Apple.
Now, Johnson faces perhaps his biggest challenge yet as CEO of J.C. Penney: dust off one of the dowdiest brands in retailing to make it cool again. To do that, he's borrowing from Apple's uber-successful playbook.
During an hour-long interview in which he talked about how he planned to transform Penney, the 52-year-old mentioned Apple 19 times. Like he did at Apple, the 30-year retail industry veteran says he plans to change the shopping experience, shun heavy discounting and sell services along with products.
In an industry where the bargain is king, what's raising the most eyebrows is his plan to do away with the 590 sales Penney had last year. Johnson says the sales turn off customers who must play a waiting game to get deals. So, instead Penney will offer everyday pricing and much fewer sales.
The retailer also is shaking up its stores, adding areas in the middle of each location that will offer services much like the popular Apple Genius Bars that Johnson created. Penney is tight-lipped about what services will be offered, some industry watchers say food demonstrations or haircuts could be among them. The rest of the store will be divided into 100 specialty shops that will replace endless racks of clothes.
Despite his impressive resume and innovative ideas, overhauling Penney won't be easy. Department stores, as a whole, have lost market share to specialty retailers like H&M and Zara whose stores have "wow" factor. The group's market share in clothing and other areas fell to 31 percent last year from 57 percent in 1992.
And Penney, in particular, has struggled. The retailer's sales have slipped as its core middle-class customers have been among the hardest hit by the economic downturn, it has failed to attract younger customers with its stodgy image and its stores increasingly look uninviting compared to competitors.
Here are some excerpts from the interview at Penney's Plano, Texas, headquarters, in which Johnson talked about everything from the challenges Penney faces to what stores he shops at:
Q. Why Penney?
A. I chose J.C. Penney because I think it's the single biggest opportunity in American retailing. Inherently, department stores have significant advantages compared to all other retailers. Yet, our productivity is at the low end, and that just doesn't make sense.
Q. What was your first impression of Penney?
A. I would describe J.C. Penney as one of a handful of great American brands that seemed like it was dormant, that had been a great part of the fabric of America for almost a century but it just wasn't modern. It wasn't top of mind. Everybody can tell a story about their mom or their grandma or the old catalog days. But they don't have modern stories. Because we haven't been creative enough so we have to rethink everything.
Q. Who are the chain's competitors?
A. Our number one competitor is ourselves and our way of thinking, which is informed by decades of experience. It's not another store; it's not another format like the Internet. Our competition is ourselves and our best friend is our imagination.
Q. How did you come up with the new pricing strategy?
A. Pricing is actually a pretty simple and straight forward thing. Customers will not pay literally a penny more than the true value of the product. And as I have been watching the department stores for the past decade, I have been struck by the extraordinary amount of promotional activity, which to me, didn't feel like it was appropriate for a department store. My instinct was that it wasn't a good thing.
Q. Won't shoppers be turned off because they won't see the big markdowns?
A. I wouldn't assume they like the pricing strategy. I think they're insulted by it.
Q. Who are you targeting?
A. We are going after all Americans. We would like to be the store for everyone.
Q. What are your plans to make the shopping experience more exciting?
A. We are going to make the store a place people love to come— just to come. Because they can get support before they're ready to buy. They can get great support when they want to buy and they can come in after they buy. We'll transform the buying experience not unlike what we did at Apple.
Q. When will we start to see improvements?
A. You'll start to see the experience change month by month. Everyone thinks it's an overnight success but it never is. I was at Apple from 2000 to 2011, but it wasn't until 2004 that the iPod became an important part of people's lives. It wasn't until 2007 that Apple reinvented the phone. It wasn't until 2009 that Apple launched the iPad. But we look at it today and we feel Apple had always been beloved. It took time and this will take time as well.
Q. What ideals have you embraced from Steve Jobs?
A. The importance of doing everything you do to your very best. And that the journey is the reward. If you do things well one at a time, you end up in a really good place. Don't get ahead of yourself. Control the things you can.
Q. Other than Apple, which stores do you admire?
A. I admire lots of stores. Whole Foods is a great store. I just like their passion for food. It shows up in everything they do. It shows up in their packaging, their presentation and their employees. Starbucks. It truly has created a community. As I travel around the world, I just know that if I go to Starbucks I will have a great experience.
Q. You're dressed casually. Where do you shop?
A. I just dress to be comfortable. I shop at lots of stores. These are Levi 514s. I bought them at a Levi's store. I have a T-shirt. That's from Lacoste. I have a cashmere sweater. It came from Zegna. My socks are from Target. My shoes are from Tod's. We shop multiple places. But we do have a favorite store. That's what we're going to become.


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A perfect way for your little ones to tap into their creative potential this March, at Emaar's vibrant Downtown Dubai.
All through March, #MyDowntownDubai vibes will be heartened with a series of fun-filled workshops. Kids between the ages of 3 and 11 will have the opportunity to explore their craft skills and enhance their creative talents.
For some gooey fun, find your little ones a seat at the 'Slime Making Workshop' or if your child is a budding artist, take him or her to the '3D Art Sculpture' and 'Painting' Workshops. The 'Quilling Workshop' is a great place to churn out amazing paper crafts, or if the young creator is interested in getting his or her hands dirty, why not check out the 'Air Dry Clay Workshop'?
Heard of bendy pipe cleaners? They're all the rage in the craft world, so do check out the 'Pipe Cleaner Craft' workshops for some fuzzy fun. And there's so much excitement in store at the 'Glass Painting', 'Gardening', 'Portrait Cardboard' and 'Nail Woodworking' workshops.
Date: Until March 30, 2019 (Thursday, Friday & Saturday)
Time: 5pm to 10pm
Price: Complimentary for children aged 3 to 11
Where: Downtown Dubai:
Week 1 – Downtown Eats
Week 2 – Burj Plaza
Week 3 – Palace cafe
Week 4 – Downtown Eats
Week 5 – Burj Plaza
For further details:
Kelly Home | Nivine William


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Max. No. of passengers 8.
Duration: full day
This complete, all-day, private boat trip will not omit any of the magical places that the Kotor Bay provides to its visitors. Departure from the famous port of Porto Montenegro to the narrow passage of the Verige. You will have the opportunity to visit Prcanj, Kotor, Dobrota, Ljuta and then the famous town of Perast. Followed by the city of Risan and soon afterwards a new modern port Portonovi. Before returning to Tivat, we will also visit Herceg Novi, an old prison on the island of Mamula and finally the beautiful beach Rose.
The departure time is by arrangement, and there is a possibility of arriving at the desired location.
The tour includes visits, a break for swimming and lunch at the guest request.
The boats are equipped with shower, music, shade cover, amateur diving equipment and a sunbathing area.
Depart 9:30, Return 17:00
Price €850
Contact Us


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Organize Your Way to a Better Life
The course I attended today was provided by California Closets. I expected to see slide after slide of glamorous closets designed for magazines but it was so much more than that! The presenter delved into the psychology of clutter which I find fascinating. I have always believed clutter can negatively impact our lives but I'm quick to brush off the power it has when I hear others say something like "I'll never be organized" or "With an office that organized, they must not have important things to do" or some variation of that line of thinking.
There is an entire industry of professional organizers who are well versed in the positive effects organization provides and you may be surprised at how affordable their services can be. Following are some surprising things researchers say about clutter and organization:
Look around your home and work space and see where you can organize your way to a better life.
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Hi, I'm Jody Pear.
Welcome to my blog!


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Prepared to catch fish, I explained where the previous Friday's honey hole was located, we selected our spots, and began to cast. Before long it was FishOn! for Cody Bell. Bam! I followed and we were FishOn! double. Cody called that his Rainbow Trout was big enough to keep and so we paddled towards the middle. I wasn't paying attention and accidentally let my trout out of the net. Cody stocked the creel with his catch and challenged me to catch some supper, and catch we did. Cody ended up catching 18 fish for the day, and I caught 13.
We chose to keep four pretty, pretty rainbows. Cody cleaned and gutted them, and we were homeward bound. Now, I don't mind eating animals, but being the purveyor of their death has never appealed to me. As Cody pan-fried, in butter, those fillets, I kept looking at their heads. Great smells to the right, death to the left, and so it went, much like a good tennis match. We prepared rice, green beans, and corn bread (in bream shaped pones) to accompany our tasty fillets. They were tender, flaky, and oh so fresh--delicious, just delicious, and not much meat left on the bone!
Since dining on our trout, I dreamt: the headless fish was after me as I waded in a stream; fish heads ate my toes, and, of course returning to the crazy childhood dream, it was no longer safe to go to the potty. In the future, I do not know if I will practice catch and keep, but I do know, I'll keep on catching!


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Eliminate the head tossing and stress caused by bothersome insects on the trail. Based on the same design as the Crusader Fly Mask so you know it's comfortable, but lighter material for protection on the go. The Quiet Ride Fly Mask is made of soft, breathable nylon mesh and fastens quickly and securely over most any bridle without affecting your horse's vision. Stop worrying about flies on the trail and enjoy the ride!
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Today is the 9th anniversary of my Dad's passing.
I used to believe that someone's story ends with their last breath. Well, I was wrong.
My Dad's last chapter was still in progress even after he left this earth. On the anniversary of my Dad's passing, this blog closes in on how his story ends, and how my Mom's new chapter begins.
My Dad was a perfumer in the fragrance industry. His company's biggest account was Dial Soap, located at the time in Scottsdale, AZ, and he traveled out there on business a few times a year. I remember every time he would return home, he would say to my mom, "When we retire, we're moving to Arizona."
She would reply, "What's in Arizona besides cacti, cowboys, and tumbleweed?"
He'd always try to describe it's beauty, how clean and peaceful it was, but my mom wasn't having any of it.
Years (and many trips) later, Dial offered my Dad an amazing opportunity: they wanted him to develop, recruit and run the company's brand-new perfumery division. Intrigued, he ventured back out to Arizona to see what it was all about. When he returned home, he told my Mom that he was interested, but wouldn't make the decision until she was completely on board. At the time, I had just graduated from college and entered one of the worst job markets to date. I was struggling to find a job within my chosen major (along with thousands of other, equally hungry candidates).
In my defeated state, I ended up walking in on this very conversation between my parents. My mom turned to me and said, "Do you want to move to Arizona?" I was dumbfounded.
"Arizona? What's in Arizona?"
Dad suggested my Mom take a trip out there to see exactly what Arizona had to offer, and I tagged along. I was skeptical, but open-minded. I remember landing and looking out the window at the flat desert landscape. When we walked out of the airport on that hot June day, the smell of mesquite danced through the air and I felt warm. Not in a June, dry heat sort of way, but in a "this feels like my next great adventure" kinda way.
Within two days of touring The Valley of The Sun, my Mom and Dad wanted to look at houses. While they perused listings and open houses, I planted myself by the hotel pool to drown my unemployed sorrows in some frosty cocktails. After just a week of Arizona adventures, my parents decided to leave New York and start their next chapter in the desert sun.
My Dad had to move right away for his new job, so I opted to forego my job search on the east coast and venture out with him. My Mom stayed behind to sell the house in New York, but she made frequent trips out to Arizona to accompany my Dad to many open houses. They couldn't find anything they loved, so they took the plunge: building the house of their dreams from scratch. Since mom was still back east, she asked me to help decorate the house. I happily took on the job, creating a space that we would all start a new life in. I never did live in that house with them, but I visited often. It felt like home. It took eight long months for my mother to sell the house in New York. But once she arrived in Arizona, her and my Dad's dream house was ready.
My Mom and Dad were born and raised in New York, so moving across the country to a different landscape and a different climate, without knowing a soul, was a huge deal. However, they adapted to their new life immediately and never, EVER looked back. They happily opened their home to family, friends and Dad's colleagues. Many dinners were shared at their dining room table, pool parties became the norm, and, each night, the hot desert sun shined down on their gorgeous mountain view. If anyone dropped by for a visit, Dad always started the tour in the kitchen and pointed out the window: the one with a breathtaking view of the McDowell mountains. His script was always the same: "You see this view? This view is why I moved here."
He was so taken by that view. He and mom earned that view, and never took it for granted.
Mom and Dad traveled back to New York for holidays to visit my siblings and their grandchildren. No matter what time of year, or how long they stayed, they always looked forward to returning to their desert-loving life.
Ten years into their Arizona residency, my Dad became ill, and was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). CML is a disease in which the bone marrow makes too many white blood cells. Those living with CML become frail and weak and some days it's too much to even move. My Mom took such great care of my Dad, making sure he was getting the best care both at home and on those frequent hospital visits. Even after he went into remission, life slowed down for them both. My siblings and I felt it was time for them to move back east, but they chose to stay in their dream home with that gorgeous mountain view, living "the good life" as my dad put it.
After five years of fighting the good fight, my Dad passed on April 30th, 2010. He was on a trip back east with my Mom and, towards the end of their stay, his health failed. Life comes full circle, as he took his last breath in the place where it all began: New York. After his passing, my siblings and I thought our Mom would close up the life she and Dad had in AZ and move back east. But she didn't. She loved AZ as much as my Dad did. She enjoyed Arizona and continued to call it home for the next nine years. I believe it was because it was the last piece of the life she had with my Dad. Their dream house was how she kept the memories of him alive and was her way of keeping him close to her.
A few months ago, my Mom spoke to my siblings and I about her decision to sell the house and move back east. While we were all happy with her choice, we were also surprised, and I found myself feeling a sudden sadness for my Mom.
I felt sad that she was leaving a place she loved and the people she had met who made it feel like home.
I felt sad for the house her and my Dad built together and made memories in, that now had a 'for sale' sign outside
I felt sad for the view of mountains she would no longer have.
I felt sad because this was truly the last chapter of life as she knew it with my Dad.
However, when asked, my Mom didn't feel the same sadness. She was (and still is) looking forward to starting a new chapter in her life because she was ready for the change.
I, on the other hand, was not.
I had projected all this sadness on what my mom must be feeling, but instead, I was the one experiencing the grief. I was feeling all the feels about this decision and I needed to figure out why that was. What I came to realize was that by my mom closing this part of her life, the final chapter of my Dad's story was closing as well. The last phase of their life together. The remaining piece of the man I knew as my Dad.
There I was, right back in the mourning of my Dad's death. Coming to grips with the fact that my last great memory of him was in Arizona. In his home, sitting outside by the pool, with that gorgeous mountain view he proudly bragged about. Flashing back to memories of how much he loved life out there, and how he inspired me to find that "happy place." Here I am, nine years after his passing, and I can't help but wonder: do we ever stop grieving our beloveds who pass before us? I believe that when someone dies, especially a parent, we always have a vacancy in our lives that they once occupied. Whereas we carry on without them, the gorgeous view we once shared changes. We find a new view that presents itself. It might not be as special, or breathtaking, or familiar, but we accept it for what it is and find new things to love about it. Because, well, that's what it means to move on. The memories remain, but our view continues to change.
As my Mom closes the door of their Scottsdale home for the last time, today concludes the story of a man who lived the last twenty-five years of his life on his terms, with a magnificent view that reminded him (and me) to never settle for anything less than "the good life."
Janis Gaudelli is The Founder of The Daily Feels. She started this passion project to reveal the magic behind storytelling, and how truth-based narratives bring people together in the most heart-warming of ways. Fascinated by soul, depth, intellect, raw truths and rebellion with a cause. Often captivated by the awe of nature: star gazing, moon manifesting, sunset chasing, waves crashing, crickets singing. Fiercely curious about the inner-workings of the human psyche… she professionally studies human behavior for a living. Forever proud and grateful for being a mom to the force that fuels her life: her 7-year-old son, and greatest professor, Kellan.


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So, Stephanie, from Dispensing Happiness, has come up with a Real Challenge For Me this time. As hostess of the eleventh Retro Recipe Challenge, her chosen theme is "Your Mother Should Know" -- meaning you can use any recipe from any year before your mother was born. Thanks a bunch, I thought.
Ah, but I'm not one to shirk from a challenge, especially involving food. So, I called up my mother and inquired whether she remembered any recipes from her childhood. That was more than 80 years ago, folks. My mom was born in 1922.
Well, she did remember that her mother used to serve milk over toast during the Depression, but as for any specific thing, she drew a blank. In a moment of inspiration, however, she did recall that my grandmother had owned a cookbook that used to belong to her own mother: The White House Cookbook.
I was very excited to hear that, because, during some research into pre-1920s recipes, I had come across a fabulous food history website, called the Food Timeline. It's a great history-at-a-glance for food, recipes, and cookbooks, so I returned to the site to find that The White House Cookbook was available online, thanks to the folks at Michigan State University and their Historic American Cookbook Project. Check it out and you'll be amazed at what's available.
Now, The White House Cookbook is pretty entertaining. Not only does it contain recipes and cooking tips, but you can also learn about etiquette, food for the sick, how to get rid of cockroaches, managing state dinners, etc. I was hoping they had some recipe for gopher control, but I haven't found it yet.
One difficulty was which recipe to choose, while the other difficulty was how to translate a 'teacup' into a modern measuring tool. Times have sure changed. The rum omelette sounded good, but involved flaming a plate full of rum, so I felt, for safety reasons, that that wouldn't do.
Finally, because I love bread, I searched for a recipe that was familiar but that I hadn't made in a long time. I've been hungry lately for some good steamed brown bread, so that is what I chose. There are two versions, one with sweet milk and one with sour milk or buttermilk. Since I have buttermilk to consume, that was my choice.
So, without further ado, I now present steamed brown bread,
from White House Cook Book: A Selection of Choice Recipes Original and Selected, During a Period of Forty Years' Practical Housekeeping
By Mrs. F. L. Gillette
Chicago: R.S. Peale & Co., 1887
BOSTON BROWN BREAD (Sufficient for One Medium-Sized Loaf)
1 c. white flour
1 c. graham flour
1 c. corn meal
3/4 tsp. soda (2 teaspoons baking soda)
2 tsp. baking powder (omit)
1 tsp. salt
3/4 c. molasses
1-3/4 c. sweet milk (2 cups buttermilk)
Mix and sift the flour, corn meal, soda, baking powder, and salt. Add the molasses and milk and mix all thoroughly. Grease a can and a cover that fits the can tightly. Fill the can two-thirds full of the mixture and cover it. Place it in a steamer and steam for 3-1/2 (to 4) hours. Dry in a moderate oven for a few minutes before serving.
Changes for the buttermilk version are in blue. Interestingly enough, the basic recipe has remained nearly the same for over a hunded years and probably longer. I found a cooking textbook, published in 1884, that gave a very similar recipe with both milk variations.


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The hospitable manor awaits enthusiasts with its exciting exposition, which tells the story of the former owner of the manor and the first user of shale oil – Robert von Toll and his more famous nephew – the polar explorer Eduard von Toll (1858-1902), who went missing searching for the mysterious Sannikov Land. It is in his memory, that the Kukruse manor is named the Polar Manor.
We await you
During the winter time (15.09 – 30.04)
Friday – Sunday: 11.00 – 16.00
Monday – Thursday: open if reserved
Summer time (01.05 – 31.08)
Wednesday – Sunday: 10.00 – 17.00
Monday, Tuesday: closed.
Time travel to the past
An excursion with a guide, during which old-fashioned costumes are tried on; ink and pen is used for writing a letter, which is formed into an historical document and sealed with a real stamp. The excursion also visits the norther pole, where during a genuine polar adventure a snow war will be held and it is also possible to sleigh down a slope.
Educational Programme Photo Hunt in the Kukruse Manor Park
What is most important on a polar expedition? Attention, ability to notice details, draw conclusions, but also teamwork and discipline. That is what our photo hunt is focused on. The children are divided into teams and they are given pictures that are taken in our manor park during different season. The task of the team is to find them and take a new picture so that the whole team would be on it. The cooler the picture the better.
Adventure and fun trail "Visiting a Polar Bear"
The adventure trail "Visiting a Polar Bear" is a playful indoor track for children. The children who have been on the trail know exactly why polar bears don't eat penguins, why it is more cold in the south than in the north and what does the world look like, when its turned on its side. The children of course also know who are sled dogs and what are they good for. It is of course also possible to play all the snow games, meaning that it is possible to build a castle, have a snow fight and sleigh down a slope. If there is a real winter and snow outside, then it is possible to try to ride a kicksled.
Search for a code
Take out your smartphone and find the QR-codes hidden in the manor with questions and answers, solve the tasks given to you. This is the most fun way of learning, who was the master of the Kukruse manor, what is the Sannikov Land and how we know why mammoths have become extinct.
Puppetry School
Kukruse is a theatre-manor and the favourite form of theatre for children is the puppetry. This is why this is the right place to investigate, where puppetry began, what is the oldest theatre puppet and what types of puppets are there. It is possible to play with different puppets on the spot and learn to make theatrical makeup and to prepare the puppet.


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First official visit to New York by Theresa Villiers MP
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland , Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP has highlighted the vital role that the United States of America has played in supporting the Northern Ireland peace process. On her first official visit to New York she made introductory calls on key figures in Irish America who have retained a keen interest in Northern Ireland matters.
She said:
I welcome the commitment that successive US Governments and many Americans have given to Northern Ireland over the years. I am pleased to have this opportunity to highlight the progress that has been made in Northern Ireland and to set out my key priorities to rebalance the economy and to make Northern Ireland a safer place.
Notes for Editors
During her visit, the Secretary of State met representatives of the American-Ireland Fund, members of the New York Bar Association, and leading figures from the Irish-American political and business communities. During these meetings she gave an overview of her priorities in particular on working with the Northern Ireland Executive and the continuing co-operation with the Irish Government on a wide range of issues.
Ms Villiers was guest of honour at a lunch hosted by the UK Consul General, Danny Lopez. Guests included key American business leaders and entrepreneurs. Their discussion focused on the Northern Ireland Economy and the role of New York-based businesses, as well as an exploration of future plans and opportunities.


text: The Vanquish Coupé Zagato, twelfth model of the felicitous liaison between the Milanese Atelier and the British manufacturer, debuted at the Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance in May 2016. Born according to Andy Palmer's wishes - Aston Martin CEO - the car was assembled in a limited series of 99 units in the Gaydon plant. This ravishing GT blends Aston Martin'srefinement and mechanical potential with Zagato's design philosophy. The bodywork, all in carbon fibre, features a reduced number of split lines thanks to large one-piece panels, characteristic that sets apart collectibles from mass produced cars. The rear end sports round lights, an unmistakable Zagato styling detail, as is the double bubble roof.


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Better act quick!
Though not all our comic listings end on the same day, most of the largest and most popular listings are ending today so better make sure to put your bids in to avoid disappointment.
Some listings are still selling for under $1 so you'll get some amazing deals if you act quickly.
Bid on any of our comic books for sale here.


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Agile Lifecycles for Geographically Distributed Teams
Most of them start this way: someone takes a Scrum class, gets all excited. This is good. Then reality hits. Scrum is meant for collocated geographically cross-functional teams. Uh oh.
Almost all of these teams are separated by function: the developers are in one place, the testers are in another, the business analysts are in a third place, the project managers are in a fourth places, and if there are product owners (or what passes for product owners) they are often in a fifth location. It's not uncommon for every single function of the team to be separate from every other member of the team. So, the teams don't fit the Scrum criteria. Uh oh.
Since Scrum has so much brand recognition, these people think if they can't do Scrum, they can't do Agile. Nope, not so. What they need to do is start from the values and principles of the Agile Manifesto, and go from there. They create their own lifecycle, and their very own brand of Agile.
When I worked with one client, that client thought they could extend their iteration. Nope, if anything, that means you keep the iterations even shorter, because you need more frequent feedback when no one is in the same place. Well, there were words. And more words. But, if you start from the values, you see that short iterations are the way to go if you want to be agile. Otherwise, you get staged delivery, which is a lovely lifecycle, but not agile.
I'm blogging a series of examples. Please don't ask me why the people ended up in these locations. I have no idea. All I know is that's where the people are.
Example 1: Using a Project Manager With Iterations, Silo'd Teams
One IT organization has teams with developers in the Ukraine, testers in India, product managers and project managers in the UK, and enterprise architecture and corporate management in the eastern US.
This organization moved to two-week iterations. The developers were 3.5 hours ahead of the testers, which was not terrible. This organization had these problems:
- The product managers had to learn to be product owners and write stories that were small enough to finish inside one iteration.
- The enterprise architects had to stop dictating the architecture without features to hang off the architecture.
- The developers and testers had to learn to implement by feature so the architects could help the team see the evolving architecture.
This organization had a ton of command-and-control to start. The project managers needed to facilitate the teams, not control them. The architects needed to help the teams see how to organize the product, not to tell the developers what to do. The testers needed to not be order-takers, as in taking orders from the developers.
You might ask why the organization wanted to move to agile. Senior management wanted agile because the releases got longer and longer and longer, and could not accommodate change. Agile was a complete cultural shift. The two-week iterations, along with an agile roadmap of features helped a lot.
The pilot project team consisted of the developers, testers, a product manager, and a project manager. The team rejected the enterprise architect as a member of the team because the architect refused to write code.
Release planning: The project manager and the product manager do an initial cut at release planning as a strawman and presented it to the team. "Can you do this? What do you think?"
Iteration planning: The team does iteration planning together, making sure every story is either small, medium, or large, where a large story can be done by the entire team in fewer than three days. The team makes sure they get every started story to done at the end of the iteration.
Daily commitment: The team does a daily checkin, not a standup. They timebox the checkin to 15 minutes. They ask these questions:
- What did you complete and with whom yesterday? (reinforces the idea that people work together)
- What are you working on and with whom today?
- What are your impediments?
The project manager who acts as a servant leader, not a command/controller manages the impediments.
The pilot project has two experienced agile people: the project manager and a developer. Both act as servant leaders.
Measurements: burnup charts, impediment charts
The pilot team has been together for six months now, and is successful. This is not Scrum. It's not Kanban. It's agile and it's working. They are ready to start another project team, working by attraction.
Example 2: Using a Project Manager with Kanban, Silo'd Teams
This is a product development organization with developers in Italy, testers in India, more developers in New York, product owners and project managers in California.
This organization first tried iterations, but the team could never get to done. The problem was that the stories were too large. Normally I suggest smaller iterations, but one of the developers suggested they move to kanban.
The New York developers had a problem biting off more than they could chew. So nothing moved across their board. The Italy developers had a board where the work did move across the board. The teams took pictures of their boards every day and shared the work across a project-based wiki. That allowed the New York-based developers to see the work move across the Italy board. And, that encouraged the New Yorkers to call the Italians and ask some questions. That helped the New Yorkers to change the size of their work by working with the product owners.
Now, why did the New Yorkers have such trouble originally? Because the developers "knew better" than the product owners, so they changed the stories into architectural features when they had originally received them. (Now they don't. They leave the stories as real stories.)
Release planning: Management in California plan with agile roadmaps. They have features planned specifically week-by-week for the next 6 weeks, and have more of a quarter-by-quarter approach after that.
Iteration planning: No iteration planning because they are using kanban.
Daily commitment: No daily commitment needed because they use kanban. They do have a checkin a few times a week with each other as a technical team to make sure they don't create bottlenecks and that they respect the WIP (work in progress) limits.
At one point, both the New York and Italy developer teams created automated tests so that the testers could catch up and stay caught up with regression tests. They add a story like that every couple of weeks, and they are paying down their automated testing debt.
The Project manager keeps an eye on the WIP, work in progress. Project manager also shepherds the product owner into keeping the queue of incoming work full and properly ranked. The product owner is notorious for changing the incoming work queue all the time. Project manager makes sure the team does retrospectives and is a little unclear how to do them in such a distributed team. The project manager is not so sure their retrospectives are working, and has started an obstacle list, to make sure the team has transparency for their obstacles.
Measurements: cumulative flow, average time to release a feature into the product.
Example 3: Using a Project Manager with Iterations and Kanban and Silo'd Teams
Here, the developers were in Cambridge, MA, the product owners were in San Francisco, the testers were in Bangalore, and the project manager was always flying somewhere, because the project manager was shared among several projects. The developers knew about timeboxed iterations, so they used timeboxes. Senior management had made the decision to fire all the local testers and buy cheaper tester time over the developers' objections and move the testing to Bangalore. The Indian testers were very smart, and unfamiliar with the product, so the developers suggested the testers test feature by feature inside the iteration.
The project manager suggested they use cumulative flow diagrams and cycle time measurements to make sure the developers were not developing "too fast" for the testers. The developers, still smarting over the loss of "their testers" were at first, peeved about this. They then realized the truth of this statement, and developed this kanban board.
You can see in this board, that four items are waiting to go into system test. Uh oh. The developers are out-producing what the testers can take. This is precisely what a kanban board can show you.
The testers aren't stupid or slow. They are new. They cannot keep up with the developers. It's a fact of life, not a mystery of life. The developers have to act in some way to help the testers or the entire project will fail. The reason they are working in timeboxes as well as using kanban is that they have several contractual deliverables, that management, bless their tiny little hearts, committed to. The timebox allows the team or the product owners to meet with their customers and show them their progress. (They were deciding who would meet when I last worked with the team.) The kanban board help make the progress even more transparent.
Iteration planning: The product owner and the project manager jointly work on the agile feature roadmap, and the product owner owns the roadmap responsibility for it. The product owner owns and generates the backlog. The product owner and the agile project manager present a strawman iteration backlog to the team at the start of the iteration. They have had difficulty finding iteration planning time that allows everyone to be awake and functioning, bless the senior managers' little hearts.
Daily commitment: They do a handoff, asking each other what they completed that day and what the impediments are. If you have read Manage It!, you know I modified the three questions to "What did you complete, what are you planning to complete, what is in your way?"
Measurements: cumulative flow, average time to release a feature into the product. They are experimenting with burnup charts and impediment charts. They are still having trouble bringing the testers up to speed fast enough.
Yes, they do retrospectives at the end of each iteration. Yes, the product owners own the backlogs.
I'll summarize in the final part, the next entry.
(Want to learn to work more effectively on your geographically distributed team? Join Shane Hastie and me in a workshop April 17-18, 2012.)
Reference: Agile Lifecycles for Geographically Distributed Teams, Part 1, Agile Lifecycles for Geographically Distributed Teams, Part 2 & Agile Lifecycles for Geographically Distributed Teams, Part 3 from our JCG partner Johanna Rothman at the Managing Product Development blog.


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Today is a special day for so many reasons. First and foremost, Christians around the world are celebrating the birth of our Lord.
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us…and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6
He is known by many monikers, and as you continue along your journey, you may get to know him by all names. He has been my Wonderful Counselor for years — advising me to do what's right when it has been much easier to do wrong. I didn't always follow his trusted advice, and I learned a lesson from those choices each time. As my friend Charlene says, Nothing is ever wasted with our Lord.
He has also been my Great Physician and Healer. Living with a chronic illness can sometimes be debilitating, and it has been for me at times, but I see this cross as a gift. Because of it, I have learned to be more sensitive to those with illnesses we cannot see — like anxiety. I've lived with Crohn's Disease for 30 of my 47 years, and these past two or three have been the best years of my life. I still have my old mindset though — casing the places I go in search of the nearest restroom in case I have to make a mad dash. That will change in time. Knowing that I have been healed enough to live rather than exist has been liberating. I've been healed enough to realize my dream of encouraging others, teaching, and writing weekly messages that have traveled the globe. I have been healed enough to know that what God decides to give me is sufficient.
If you take nothing else from this message, know that God is enough. He is sufficient, and he provides all that we need in order to serve him. Even if it seems as though you don't have enough, you have enough. We run to him and fall on our knees often times seeking more. He knows what we need. He has already equipped us to be who we were meant to be. Perhaps we should ask the Wonderful Counselor for his advice on how we can be better stewards of what he has given us rather than asking for more. Maybe we could ask him to reveal other gifts that we have not yet tapped into. Perhaps this, too, is a mindset that we can all shore up by remembering The Lord's Prayer.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Merry Christmas, and may blessings abound! <3


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The 2008 season for the SEC was not one that most folks will hold dear. More teams ended up disappointed at the end than didn't. Even so, here's three games to file away for the history books.
October 4: Vanderbilt 14 - Auburn 13
When ESPN's College GameDay comes to an SEC game, it's barely news anymore. There are several weekends a year when the question is not if the guys are coming down this way, but rather which game they're going to.
But when they come to the campus at Vanderbilt, that's news.
The Commodores didn't disappoint either. QB Mackenzi Adams came off the bench to deliver a dramatic come-from-behind victory. It wasn't pretty, but afterwards Vandy sat at a 5-0 record for the first time since WWII. The victory also vaulted the Commodores to an unthinkably high No. 13 in the AP Poll.
This game would loom large at the end of the year too. Vanderbilt finished the regular season 6-6, putting VU in its first bowl since 1982. Auburn finished the season a disappointing 5-7 and missed a bowl for the first time since 1999. Switch the outcome and the Tigers send Tommy Tuberville out with a bowl appearance and Vanderbilt is still wondering when its bowl-less streak will end.
September 27: Alabama 41 - Georgia 30
This was supposed to be the game that reasserted Georgia as a national title contender. The preseason No. 1 team had fallen back a couple spots, but USC lost two days prior. Fellow preseason darlings Florida had also lost earlier in the day, leaving the driver's seat of the SEC East wide open.
Instead, it was bad day for Georgia. So bad that it caused Kyle at Dawg Sports to question the point of human existence. It was the day Alabama asserted itself to the conference and nation and the day that astute observers realized that injuries had left Georgia a lot less than what we all had thought it would be.
Whenever Bama announces its back (which is necessary about every four to five years it seems), it's big news. This game also effectively ended Georgia's two-year-old blackout event, which had appeared to be a budding tradition in Athens. No one saw it coming, and it took most of the rest of the season to fully understand its meaning.
December 2: Florida 31 - Alabama 20
Given that it determines the conference title, the SEC Championship Game is always one of the most important games of the season. This one also had the extra sizzle of it being No. 1 versus No. 2 and a de facto national semifinal.
The media played it up to be Alabama's power versus Florida's speed, but anyone who had seen the teams play knew Florida was plenty powerful and Alabama was plenty fast. Both proved it, but a dramatic final period allowed the Gators to pull ahead and win. It was Tim Tebow's first second half comeback win in six possible attempts.
The repercussions were enormous and evident. Urban Meyer's Gators went on to secure their second national title in three years. Nick Saban's Tide didn't end up being as "back" as their fans wanted, and they walked into a classic trap game against Utah in the Sugar Bowl. That's big.
Honorable Mention
September 27: Ole Miss 31 - Florida 30
Perhaps no game was discussed more throughout the 2008 season than Ole Miss' win over Florida. But how important was it really?
It didn't end up affecting either divisional race as the two winners combined to clinch at the earliest point ever. It didn't end up launching Ole Miss into its hot streak, as the Rebels lost their next two games. It also didn't prevent Florida from playing for and winning the national title.
It kept UF from running the table, but the Gators have never done that in a full-length season anyway. It did provide for Tebow's dramatic, plaque-inducing speech, and if you believe some Gator fans, that was the catalyst for Florida becoming the buzz saw it was from October on. That may have been internal motivation, but the takeoff didn't actually occur until the fourth quarter of the Florida-Arkansas game when the Gators' offensive line finally gelled.
It was dramatic and provided for plenty of discussion throughout the season, but within the SEC, it didn't matter much at all. It perhaps was most meaningful in Texas, Utah, and California, since the one-loss teams there felt they had as legit a claim to the title as the one Florida did. For the 47 other states though, this one ended up as nothing more than debate fodder.


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Other videos in this series:
Literary Agent Basics
Finding the Right Agent
Approaching An Agent
Notes from the Slushpile is a team blog maintained by eight friends who also happen to be children's authors at different stages of the publishing journey.
Comments are the heart and soul of the Slushpile community, thank you! We may periodically turn on comments approval when trolls appear.


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Showing Collections: 1 - 1 of 1
Ruth Bartholomew papers
Collection — Box: 1-20
Identifier: 13-3-83
The papers pertain to the career of Ruth Bartholomew as a librarian at the University of Buffalo. The bulk of the papers are in the form of an alphabetical file and date from 1922 to the early 1940s and pertain to the general administration of the Library. Some of the later papers pertain to her more specialized responsibilities in gifts and exchange, supplies and the bindery.
Dates: 1922-1963
Found in: University Archives


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The changing of the seasons
The changing of the seasons
It is the light that signals the changing of the seasons in Estonia.
In the deep winter the long darkness and human life is measured by the welcome candles outside cafés and restaurants. Slowly though, each day begins to bring more light and soon the days grow long and bright.
The low horizons of this flat and forested land makes the early spring sunshine blinding against the snow- it is almost as though a searchlight has come on in order to banish the winter darkness. The return of the sun is the promise of new warmth and by March and April the days are visibly lengthening from one sunrise to the next.
Gently the grip of the frost begins to let go. The workmen go onto the roofs to shovel the snow so that it does not turn to ice, though still the passer-by must be wary as the thaw drops icicles from the steep pitched gables of the Old Town.
The cafés begin to put out tables on the cobbles, not the elaborate terraces that come out when the leaves do, but still another sign of spring- albeit wrapped in warm woollen fleeces and blankets.
From the cinnamon of the Hoogvein or Gloog that we drank in the deep winter darkness, we might now venture a coffee without a shot of warming 'naps.' Now we now pick our way along the winding lanes in the clear light of the morning of the year.
Soon we will be drinking the cold beers or light wines of high summer.
Then there is no night at all- only the long twilight with buildings or trees picked out in sharp shadows against the luminous sky. James Oates
To learn more about this and similar topics


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Last Monday took place the 17th meeting of Working Group 41 (WG41) that is dealing on the new standard for Instrumental Odour Monitoring Systems (IOMS). This meeting was focusing on the statistics behind the Quality Assurance Level 1 (QAL1) of IOMSs. There are some aspects that make IOMS special as compared to other Automatic Measuring Systems (AMS) and one of these aspects is the cost of comparing the electronic signal of the IOMS with that of the reference method EN 13725.
One of the key issues addressed many times during the WG41 meetings is that of the number of samples that should be taken in order to make QAL1 checks viable for IOMS manufacturers. Dynamic Olfactometry comes at a cost and odour is not a substance, it is a class. The question is: how many samples should be taken in order to have a representative picture of the IOMS performance?


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Wedding Ceremony Participants
As most readers will be aware, there are a number of different roles which are traditionally part of a wedding procession and ceremony. These roles are typically fulfilled by close friends and relatives of the bride and groom. They each have their own functions, which help to to ensure that the ceremony proceeds gracefully. They also provide an opportunity for important friends and family members to take part in the ceremony. They are collectively referred to as the wedding ceremony participants, or wedding party, and it's considered a special honour to be chosen for one of these roles.
For this week's blog post, we'll be explaining some of the roles typically included in a wedding party. However, you should be aware that not every wedding ceremony needs to include all of these. If you're engaged to be married, have you given any thought to which of your nearest and dearest you'd choose to play these parts?
Parents of the Bride
Traditionally, the bride will be escorted down the aisle by her father at the very end of the wedding procession. Although this is usually done by the father alone, some brides may choose to have both their parents escort them, with one parent on each arm. In other cases, the bride's mother may lead the wedding procession.
The father of the bride usually gives a speech on the wedding day, however this takes place at the reception, not the wedding ceremony.
Maid of Honour
The maid of honour is a close friend or relative of the bride. She will support the bride in the weeks and months before the wedding. On the day of the ceremony, she is responsible for assisting the bride with her wardrobe, as well as anything else she needs help with. She will also be responsible for ensuring that the other bridesmaid's wardrobes are in order. By taking care of these matters, the maid of honour helps to ensure the wellbeing and happiness of the bride.
The maid of honour will walk ahead of the bride as part of the procession, following the bridesmaids. She may also be asked to sign the register as a witness.
The Best Man
As with the maid of honour, the best man is typically a close friend or relative of the groom. His most important role in the ceremony is to hold the wedding rings until they are needed. Where the ceremony includes a ring bearer, he may take the rings from the ring bearer when presented with them, or he may keep the actual rings safe while the ring bearer carries ornamental rings.
The best man usually walks ahead of the groom during the procession, and behind the ushers. He stands beside the groom during the ceremony. Like the maid of honour, the best man may be asked to sign the register as a witness. He will also give a speech at the reception, like the father of the bride.
The bridesmaid are friends or relatives of the bride, and they will assist the maid of honour in her duties. There can be any number of bridesmaids, but three to five is typical.
During the ceremony, the bridesmaids will form part of the procession, walking ahead of the maid of honour. They may follow the ushers, or walk arm-in-arm with them.
Sometimes referred to as groomsmen, the ushers will often be friends or family of the groom, but they may also be relatives or friends of the bride. The ushers' duties typically involve greeting and seating the guests. They may also assist a wedding photographer in coordinating group photographs and photographs of important guests. The number of ushers required will depend on the total number of guests at the wedding.
Unless the bride's mother is leading the procession, the ushers will often be the first to walk down the aisle. They may also lead the procession with the bridesmaids, walking arm-in-arm with them.
Flower Girl
The flower girl is traditionally a young girl, usually no older than eight. The flower girl walks ahead of the bride, scattering flower petals from an ornamental basket. This role can be a charming way to include a younger relative in the wedding ceremony. Although there is often only one flower girl, there can be more.
Ring Bearer
The ring bearer is traditionally a young boy. He carries the wedding rings down the aisle on a pillow. The maid of honour and the best man will take the rings from the pillow and hand them to the bride and groom. As mentioned above, the ring bearer may carry ornamental rings, with the actual rings being kept safe by the best man. As with the flower girl, this role can be a nice way of including a younger person in the ceremony.
The ring bearer will usually accompany the flower girl, walking just ahead of the bride during the wedding procession.
Bear in mind that while we've written about a typical wedding party, none of this is definitive. You don't need to include all of these participants, and you can certainly change the processional order to suit your preference. It's your wedding, after all!
Still looking for the perfect wedding invitations and stationery for your big day? Have a look at our full range of wedding invitations and stationery here: http://www.lovinginvitations.ie/product-category/wedding-invitations/


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Workers at a Renault-Nissan factory at Oragadam, Chennai, managed to steal two brand new Duster SUVs, and even sold one of the SUVs to a buyer for just Rs. 6 lakhs. In a perfect insider job, the workers managed to beat the automaker's security system with fake registration plates, two beat-up old vehicles and forged gate passes.
Both workers – Renault Nissan technicians P Marimuthu (28) alias Mohamed Asharaf of Kundrathur and M Arun Kumar (27) of Tondiarpet, have now been arrested by the Tamil Nadu police. The duo is said to have worked at the Renault-Nissan factory at Oragadam for over 7 years.
The investigating officer of the case from the Tamil Nadu police has made the following comments about the duo's modus operandi,
"Company officials discovered on January 22 that two newly-manufactured SUVs were missing. The vehicles, they found, were in the company yard till at least January 7, awaiting delivery to Renault Nissan showrooms. They knew that the security guards would only jot down the registration numbers and not take note of make of the vehicles when they left the parking lot. So they entered the premises in two worn-out vehicles, put the fake number plates on new SUVs and made away with them."
It's said that the duo's job at the Renault-Nissan factory was to test newly manufactured vehicles for manufacturing defects by test driving them outside the factory. This gave them access to brand new vehicles, and allowed them to carry out the scam.
Both the stolen Renault Duster SUVs have now been seized by the Tamil Nadu police. Both SUVs – one in brown and the other in silver, featured fake registration numbers: TN10AJ9283 and TN01AV2244. As a note of warning to readers, remember that cars going very cheap are often stolen ones. So, be very cautious while buying used cars from unknown sources.
Via TOI


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First-Time Players' Guide:
How much to spend on a racquet?
Courtesy of TENNIS Magazine | June 26, 2017
Racquets today can be broadly (and somewhat crudely) divided into two categories: Frames made primarily out of aluminum, and frames made primarily out of graphite.
Aluminum frames are usually sold pre-strung (i.e., with strings). They're a great choice if you're unsure you want to commit to playing long term or if you just want to whack a few balls around with friends. What's more, they're affordable: only about $30 in sporting goods stores.
But if you are looking to commit to the game – and plan to join a team and/or take lessons – go ahead and buy a racquet made out of graphite. A graphite frame's light weight and rigid construction make it much more powerful and accurate. And if you take care of it, it should last you for multiple years.
The prices of graphite frames range greatly, from about $60 to upward of $300. ADVERTISEMENT If you're on a budget, a great way to get value for your money is to go online or to your local pro shop and look for sales on older, discontinued models. Sometimes you can find an extremely nice racquet that's only a few years old for less than $100.
For more on the latest gear and tennis technology, visit TENNIS.com.


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1 Nether Void from Legends. Please see actual picture for exact condition. There are two kinds of S&H charges: INITIAL and ADDITIONAL. S&H is not negotiable. Links to Similar Cards. Important Info to Read. S&H is STILL non-negotiable. The item "1 Nether Void (#2025) Legends Black MtG Magic 93/94 Old School Rare 1x x1″ is in sale since Wednesday, December 11, 2019. This item is in the category "Toys & Hobbies\Collectible Card Games\Magic\ The Gathering\MTG Individual Cards". The seller is "danbock" and is located in Madison, Wisconsin. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Ages: All
- Trading Card Type: Magic: the Gathering
- Color: Black
- Regular or Foil: Regular
- Language: English
- Rarity: Rare
- Expansion Set: Legends


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Need dinner on the table in a pinch?
Need dinner on the table in a cinch?
Need dinner on the table in a lrinch?
Oh, you don't know what a lrinch is? Oh, wow! Well, it's an….um….it's this super……uuuh, they said it……well, it's …. OH HEY LOOK OVER THERE!
Weird, it's gone now. I guess you weren't fast enough.
Look, all I'm saying is that we all need a little lrinching in our lives from time to time. Whether it be with meals, in the home, or even in our soul innards.
Please don't admit me. This makes total sense in my head.
Tell you what. Make this soba noodle soup and you'll totes know what I mean. In less than half an hour, you'll be slurping up silky soba noodles, poached shrimp and little power-packed bites of edamame and red bell pepper, all beautifully bathing in a rustic broth.
It's so marvelous you'll do the lrinch.
Oh, that's right! It's a DANCE!
…thank you for being there for me during this.
Soba Noodle Soup with Veggies:
What it took for 2:
* 2 bundles soba noodles
* 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch slices
* 3 garlic cloves, minced
* 1-inch chunk of fresh ginger, minced
* 3 scallions, thinly sliced, divided
* 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
* 1/2 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
* 1 (14.5 oz) can low-sodium beef broth
* 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
* 1 cup frozen edamame, thawed
* 2 cups water
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high.
Add the garlic, ginger and scallions; saute 2 minutes, or until fragrant.
Add the beef broth, soy sauce and water. Bring to a boil. Add the soba noodles and cook roughly 5 minutes, until they slightly soften.
Toss in the red bell pepper and edamame. Cook 2 minutes.
Add the shrimp and cook 2 more minutes, or until opaque.
Ladle a good helping into a bowl and garnish with the remaining scallions.
You will not believe the taste. You just won't.


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ITHACA, NY—Citing a range of behavior that experts could only describe as "profoundly disturbed," a new study released by Cornell University's psychology department Thursday revealed that most otherwise normal people transform into complete psychotics when alone in the confines of their own homes.
The study, conducted in the households of millions of Americans over an 11-month period, states that from the moment the average person sets foot inside their front door, they begin exhibiting wildly unhinged mannerisms, including loudly talking to themselves; suddenly snapping their fingers for brief, three-to-five-second bursts for no reason whatsoever; and walking into their bathrooms, staring into the mirror, inflating their cheeks while making a grotesque face, and then leaving as if what they did was completely normal.
"Before we began, none of us could have guessed at the depths of psychosis the general public sinks into every day behind closed doors," the study's lead author, Dr. Peter Gibbon, told reporters. "Yet, as our research points out, even the most seemingly mentally healthy person devolves into fits of hysteria once in private, performing activities such as dancing in an entirely silent room and singing snippets of nonsensical songs that they've made up on the spot."
"If they did any of these activities in public, a coworker would more than likely be compelled to report the individual to human resources, who would in turn contact a local psychiatric hospital or mental health center," Gibbon added. "And a pedestrian would just assume the individual was a raving lunatic."
Of those subjects who were observed, the report noted that 45 percent tend to break up periods of prolonged silence with quick, random sounds like "Hup!" "Tketetata," and "Hello!" 63 percent would enter their kitchen, look into the refrigerator, close it, and go back to their living rooms without accomplishing anything—sometimes five times in a one-hour span—and 23 percent would create bizarre physical projects for themselves such as attempting to pick up a pen near their couch using only their toes.
In what could only in most cases be described as symptoms of severe obsessive-compulsive disorder and mania, nearly 95 percent of individuals, when alone in their houses, would spend three consecutive hours mindlessly scrolling through their smartphones, then looking at the same three websites on their computers, then bouncing back and forth between the same television channels, and then picking up their smartphones, thus setting the process into motion once again.
More than 500,000 individuals engaged in imaginary arguments in which they supplied lines of dialogue for their bosses or parents, and then proceeded to win the seemingly hallucinated verbal dispute point-by-point.
"We discovered that the private mannerisms of most people, if seen in public, would be considered nearly identical to the those of a person with a severe case of schizophrenia," Gibbon stated. "For example, if you were to witness someone on a subway car obsessively pulling their elbow skin to check its elasticity or see an individual randomly say to themselves, 'Okay, okay, I'll call her' to no one in particular, your immediate reaction would be to think, 'This person is insane and needs professional help.'"
Yet the researchers were quick to point out that by far the most mentally unstable individuals they encountered were pet owners, who, when alone, would reportedly walk amongst their animals entirely in the nude, talk to them as if they were humans by saying such things as "I don't want to go to the gym today, Corker," and would cover them in blankets for no discernible reason other than to indulge in their own sick curiosity.
"Many pet owners would lie naked in bed and let their cats walk on their bare bodies, an act that, if done in public, would merit that person's admission to a psychiatric treatment ward," the study's co-author Dr. Erica Crain said. "And though these people seemed to love their pets, they would also purposely frustrate them by poking their stomachs, squeezing their paws slightly harder than what would be deemed acceptable, or cornering them just to see what the pets' reaction would be."
"These are the actions of people with deep psychological problems," Crain added. "And based on all of our findings, from the tens of millions who, out of nowhere, made cluck sounds with their tongues, or, completely unprompted, tried out a Barack Obama impression, we have been forced to conclude that all human beings are utterly out of their minds."


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Minnesota woman missing; boyfriend arrested in Arkansas with burns on face
01/17/2018 4:29 pm PST
via KLRT:
EDINA, Minn. -- (KLRT/KMSP) -- Cristina Prodan, 27, went missing without a trace. Days later her boyfriend, 25-year-old Joseph Porter, was arrested more than 800 miles away.
He now sits in an Arkansas jail with apparent burns across his face.
Monday marked 10 days since anyone has seen Prodan. Her mother, Livia Prodan of Richfield, Minn., says she's now living through every mom's worst nightmare. The entire saga began as a Facebook relationship three months ago, with Porter moving from his native Arkansas to live with Cristina at her home in Edina.
Not long after Porter moved in, Livia Prodan began warning her daughter that Porter was simply using her for sex and money.
"She felt in love with him -- she wanted to get married," Livia Prodan said. "I told her, 'He doesn't love you, he just came to you to steal from you -- he's homeless, he doesn't work.'"
Ultimately Porter became abusive, violating a no-contact order Prodan filed against him in late December. Court record reveals a Hennepin County judge convicted Porter on Dec. 28 of a gross misdemeanor violation.
"He lied to her to take advantage of her," Livia Prodan said.
Soon after that, Prodan took him back in. She was reported missing only a few days later.
"The detective told me they're looking for the body," Livia Prodan said. "I don't know if they've found it or not ... Saturday, police came to me to ask for her dental insurance."
Porter was booked into the Pulaski County, Arkansas jail Jan. 10 on theft charges, while authorities continue their search for any sign of Cristina. Meanwhile, her family prepares for the worst.
FULL STORY: Minnesota woman missing: boyfriend arrested in central Arkansas - KLRT


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I recently enrolled in a clinical trial at Wake Forest Baptist Health. A phase I trial to test TeneoBio's TNB-383B. Before this, I spent several months on carfilzomib, dex, and cyclophosphamide. Test results and bone marrow biopsy indicated I was relapsing.
TNB-383B is a BCMA x CD3 T-cell engaging bispecifc antibody being studied in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least 3 prior lines of therapy.
TNB-383B is being developed by TeneoOne through Phase 1. AbbVie holds the exclusive right to acquire TeneoOne and lead subsequent global development and commercialization of TNB-383B.
AbbVie, Inc. "TNB-383B." AbbVie. Accessed November 24, 2020. https://www.abbvie.com/our-science/pipeline/tnb-383b.html.


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There's no worldwide database of locally elected officials. What if we tried to fix this by creating an adventure to scrape the world in 80 days?
The idea is a mixture between Gumball3000, 500 Startups, and Code for America. We would create teams for each country that people could join to gather (scrape) that country's data before the 80 day timer is up. Motorcycle, bike or ride a truck across the country, whatever needs to be done to scrape the data about local governance. Teams upload the data to the site and get points for speed, difficulty, and size. Pictures, videos, and stories add more points too. Winning teams go down in history as having participated in a global internet day of action, similar to the crowdsourced documentary Life in a Day, the International Day of Peace,or 350.org's global day of action "Moving Planet", Twestival, or any other of a number of synchronous global events.


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To see detailed h2h stats and predictions for Andrea Petkovic vs Serena Williams, see our Stevegtennis head to head prediction here.Serena Williams looks to move closer to her third Canadian Open title when she takes on Andrea Petkovic in tonight's headline match in Toronto. Check out the Williams vs Petkovic Head to Head. Serena is gearing up for one of the most important months of her career as she aims to secure her second Calendar Slam and fifth slam title in a row in a months time in New York. At a stunning 41-1 on the year, Serena is in the midst of the best year of her career at age 33 and shows no signs of letting up. While the occasional blip shows in her matches, she still looks unstoppable at her best with very few ready to challenge her unless she has a very bad match or her serve collapses. Plenty such occasions showed in France and Wmbledon but she would always show enough grit to recover. Petkovic, 0-4 against Serena, is now back solidly in the top 20 but has looked shaky so far in her few matches since beginning the North American swing. Carina Witthoeft and Francoise Abanda took Petkovic to three setters while Mona Barthel was victorious in one in Stanford last week. While it is unlikely to have any impact on who makes the final in general, the top half of the draw has seen 5 seeds out before the round of 16. Included in them were Lucie Safarova and Caroline Wozniacki while Ana Ivanovic remains the highest ranked possible opponent for the winner of this match before the final. Expect Serena to push on in this match, having avoided a scare against Flavia Pennetta in her opener.
For additional head to head predictions of Andrea Petkovic Serena Williams, you can see detailed H2H stats for Andrea Petkovic vs Serena Williams.
To see all our predictions for upcoming matches, based on our machine learning model analysing results since 1960, see our tennis predictions page here.


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CLOSING DATE: August 4, 2017
THE General Teaching Council for Scotland is seeking a Communications Intern to join its team in Edinburgh for a fixed term of one year.
Location: Clermiston, Edinburgh
Salary dependent on experience
35 hours per week initially for 12 months
Immediate start
Closing date: 4 August 2017, 5pm
About The General Teaching Council for Scotland
The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) is the independent professional body which promotes and regulates the teaching profession in Scotland. The principal statutory aims of GTCS are to contribute to improving the quality of teaching and learning and to maintain and improve teachers' professional standards.
The role
The post will primarily support online communications including web content management, social media, digital campaigns and marketing. It will also involve reporting/analysis of our activity across these channels.
Main responsibilities
- Create engaging content/copy for online publication (including social media);
- Add content to GTCS websites through the Content Management System;
- Assist in the maintenance and population of social media channels;
- Assist in the gathering and analysis of data captured through our website, social media and e-newsletter platforms;
- Analysis and reporting/analytics of media coverage;
- Assist in providing quality assurance processes for GTCS publications, including ensuring appropriate branding and styling;
- Support media management activities at Fitness to Teach hearings and through media enquiries;
- Promote the work of GTCS and develop its links with the profession and other key stakeholders through communications and marketing activity as required; and
- Support in the implementation of the GTCS annual Communications Plan and any other specific team projects as required.
Knowledge and experience
• Qualifications
Degree or equivalent qualification; and
Evidence of relevant professional learning.
• Skills and attributes
Excellent oral and written communication skills;
Strong interpersonal skills;
Ability to work effectively as a member of a team; and
Accuracy and attention to detail.
Please access the full job description from our website at:
Closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 4 August 2017.
Please submit a CV and brief covering letter by email to the contact below. All applications must be submitted by 5pm on the closing date. State (a) your availability and (b) relevant information on your skills/experience pertaining to the job spec.
Contact: Evelyn Wilkins
Phone: 0131 3146077
Email: email@example.com
Website: www.gtcs.org.uk
Contact: Evelyn Wilkins
Phone: 0131 3146077
Email: email@example.com
Website: http://www.gtcs.org.uk


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Goldbell – best truck rental
The best and most professional truck rental service in Singapore is Goldbell. The hire purchase Singapore offers for best 10ft lorry rental or 14ft lorry rental to tipper trucks or prime movers, Goldbell happens to be the best of the lot. With this provider, it is possible to rent a lorry that precisely meets up with your project needs that also comes with the flexible duration, applications as well as functionality.
Goldbell is a well-known name out there that provides for broad range of services for one and all across Singapore. It happens to be the best of the lot overall so check out the website to get to know more.


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There's an article about this at Baseball Prospectus that I recommend you read. The idea is that the Rays' massive improvement this year has to do with an incredible improvement in their run prevention, and that improvement can largely be credited to the changes they made on their defense.
Last year, the Rays won 66 games; this year, they've won 92 with eight games to play. Last year, they allowed 944 runs, this year, it's 632. As the BP article points out, the improvement they're going to make over last year in that category is historic. The acquisition of Matt Garza has something to do with that improvement, but the 2008 Rays are using a lot of the same pitchers they had last year. The big difference is that the 2007 Rays had the worst Defensive Efficiency of any team in BP's database, while the 2008 Rays had the best Defensive Efficiency in baseball.
That's incredible, and what's equally incredible is how little tinkering it took to get it done. Five of the eight principal Rays fielders this year were also among the eight main fielders in 2007.
The Rays dealt shortstop Brendan Harris and right fielder Delmon Young to the Twins for Garza and a far better defensive shortstop, Jason Bartlett. They moved Aki Iwamura from third to second, where he replaced B.J. Upton, Harris and Ty Wigginton, and replaced Iwamura at third with rookie Evan Longoria. Upton moved to center field full time, and Gabe Gross replaced Young in right. That's all--one major trade, one minor trade (with the Brewers for Gross), one promotion, and some position shuffling.
The Brewers have been similar, if less extreme, in that they've made serious gains in run prevention by making some relatively easy moves to improve their defense. They finished 25th in baseball in Defensive Efficiency in 2007 and allowed 776 runs; this year they're sixth and they've allowed 672 with just six games to play. All they did was sign Mike Cameron to a relatively cheap deal, move iron-gloved Ryan Braun from third to the outfield and Bill Hall from the outfield to third.
What both these examples show me is that once you have talent, sculpting it into a real ballclub is relatively easy. Braun had terrible hands at third, but he was a good athlete and a great hitter, so, poof, he became an outfielder. Upton was a great athlete and a good hitter who turned out to be a bad infielder, so the Rays addressed the problem by moving him to the outfield and using their excess of outfield talent to acquire a good defensive shortstop and a top-of-the-rotation starter. Suddenly, they'd fixed their problems--their players were finally in positions that suited them, and their glut of outfielders and attitude problems was gone.
And so when someone says, for the millionth time, that if the Bucs trade Jack Wilson they must get a shortstop or they mustn't get another third baseman or outfielder, don't listen to them. Yes, it's incredibly painful to have to watch Luis Rivas play baseball, but what the Pirates need isn't a shortstop, it's talent. I'd much rather see the Bucs acquire a couple of young arms for Wilson than a marginal shortstop who happens to be closer to the majors. Once the Bucs accumulate a ton of talent the way the Rays did, then they can acquire their Jason Bartlett.


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Blown Glass Candle Holder - Silver Lines
Create a warm ambiance and add a distinct style to your home with this hand blown tealight candle holder. Artfully created by skilled glass blowers in the heart of old Cairo, Egypt.
The art of glass blowing began in Egypt at least in the 3rd century A.D. based on a poem written on papyrus that describes the technique. Dandarah's home décor products are designed to be functional, while preserving the artisans' traditional techniques.
Fair trade, decorated by hand, hand painted with platinum. Pyrex glass. Accommodates one tea light, not included.
Approx. 10 cm x 10 cm / 4" x 4". Because each piece is handmade, shape and size can vary slightly. Hand wash with soft sponge. Handcrafted in Egypt.


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Washington D.C. Airport Shuttle Service
While at IAD airport tourists coming to the city can find airport shuttle transfers to hotels close by that works for any budget. From shared ride vans to taxicabs to private limo buses new travelers arriving to the area can find cheap ground transportation to most destinations throughout the nearby neighborhoods and Washington D.C. downtown area.
Travelers heading towards the IAD airport for a visit can take along our maps with the instructions from their email confirmation to better find their way around.
|Washington D.C. Airport Shuttles
|IAD airport transportation with AirportShuttles.com can get you to and from your destination and the airport with ease. Whether you're leaving or traveling to Washington D.C., at Dulles International Airport there is no shortage of options when it comes to getting around this bustling airport.
If you have a connection at the nearby airport it can be much easier to book your DCA airport transfer before you get there so that you can have a better chance of making your flight on time without all of the stress.
What is the distance from DCA to IAD Airport?
It is about 31 miles between these airports depending on traffic times and construction zones. The drive time is around 35 minutes if you take the George Washington Memorial Pkwy to VA-267 W route.
How much is a ride from Dulles Airport to Downtown Washington DC?
Depending on the vehicle you take sedans can cost you around $62 and limousines can start at $90 for this 29 mile ride (roughly 40 minute transfer).
Where do I get picked up at Washington D.C. Dulles Airport?
Ride Share pick ups are at the lowest level while private vehicle pick up is on the outer Main Terminal if you are on the Arrivals Level. If you are picking someone up from the airport then you would do so at the Baggage Claim Level in the Terminal.
To get from IAD to downtown Washington D.C. the easiest option may be an airport shuttle, which may also be one of the more cost effective options as well. Booking your shared ride Washington D.C. Hotel Shuttles in advance can make getting through the crowds at the airport easier. For travelers needing rides to the Port of Baltimore you can find a large variety of taxicabs or private vans available to get you to your destination.
GO Airport Shuttle has a variety of modes of transportation from shared ride to private van. Blacklane provides limo and sedan service if you are looking for a more luxurious option. You can find discount shuttle rates for George Mason University and the University of Maryland through our many local providers as well.
Walter E. Washington Convention Center is located near the airport for those needing shuttle rides to the convention center. The Washington D.C. surrounding neighborhoods are very large and consist of many diverse areas like the North Central consists of Dupont Circle, Shaw, Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights. You can book your airport transfer ahead of time to save yourself some time and stress.
Washington D.C. Hotel Shuttles
About Washington D.C. Dulles Airport
With some of the most impressive attractions in the country there is no shortage of things to do and see in the D.C. area. You can arrange your airport transportation to visit Union Station in Northeast Washington D.C. ahead of time where you'll find shopping and restaurants. In fact the area has over one hundred stores! If you are a history buff you won't want to miss downtown Washington D.C. where you can visit a wide variety of museums and monuments. This is where you'll find the White House and the National Mall.
From Dulles you could ride to Washington D.C. and take a picture sitting next to the Lincoln memorial, or popular Washington D.C. landmarks similar to the Washington monument. Visit the white House and tour across the available rooms and historical offices that have been restored.
IAD Contact Information:
D.C. airport transfers and tours
There are many places to visit while you are in D.C. that are spread out so taking a local shuttles to the hotel and then using hop on hop off bus tour around the city is ideal.
Shuttles to monuments in Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. is one of the most popular places to visit in the United States to learn about our history and the past. Here are a few places that you may have overlooked when planning your visit.


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When I was a kid in Texas, we didn't have computers, mobile phones or even color television. But we had books, which I loved because they took me to faraway places. My two favorite books back then were "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hogdson Burnett and "The Princess and Curdie" by George Macdonald. When my own kids started reading I became a big fan of Roald Dahl. My top authors now include Frank Cottrell Boyce and Eva Ibbotson.
Some things I like:
- eating popcorn and mint chocolate chip ice cream (not at the same time!)
- hiking in scenic places
- libraries - all those lovely books, which I can read for free
Some things I don't like:
- sitting still for very long (oops, not good for a writer)
- cleaning the kitchen floor
- having to remember what day it is, if I've got a story buzzing in my brain
What embarrassed me most as a kid:
- My feet. They were huge! I would tuck them under my desk at school because I was sure everyone was staring at them.