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Bin There, Done That
Seth Minter is The Bin-King: a grain-fed Kansas native who's bringing a bit of family history back to the world in the form of abandoned grain bins and farm silos that are relocated and repurposed for modern living.
These structures are perfect for any number of applications including BINdominiums and BINzebos, tiny homes, pool houses, workshops, storage rooms, man-caves, she-sheds, playhouses and so much more. Best of all, the Bin-King only sources quality bins and silos that are no longer being used – which helps everyone involved.
We Find 'Em
We Move 'Em
We Can Set 'Em Up
You Finish 'Em
So Whazzup With These Bins?
What is the standard service level?
As a standard service offering, the Bin-King will find a bin / silo that suits your project then disassemble, transport and deliver the disassembled unit to your specified destination.
Do you offer reassmembly on-site?
Absolutely! The Bin-King can reassemble your bin on site, provided there is a sufficient foundation in place (i.e. concrete slab, posts/pierings, etc.) Reassembly begins at $1100 for a standard 14′ diameter bin, which includes 1-day SkyTrack rental (or $750 if suitable heavy equipment is available for use on-site and no rental is required.) Additional costs may apply for especially hard to access areas.
What sizes bins / silos are available?
The standard bin is approximately 14ft diameter and 14ft tall, which is perfect for a backyard gazebo, pool house, playhouse, or storage shed. For larger applications, such as custom event venues, bars and dining rooms, meeting rooms, yoga studios (you get the picture) the Bin King can provide units up to 48-ft in diameter and/or 40-ft tall.
Do the bins have cool old names / logos?
Some do, some dont. We are constantly in the market for grain bins and farm silos, so we take what we can get. All of the bins have that cool 'patina' of aged galvanized metal for character, but its generally a run-what-cha-get sort of arrangement. Some have flaking paint, some have more rust than others, and ALL the bins look cool. But if you have any 'strong preferences' let us know on the contact form and we'll see what we can find.
Can you customize and build-out my bin?
Clients typically prefer to handle customization and build-out as a separate project with their preferred resources. However, The Bin-King can provide limited physical alterations during reassembly. Ask for details when you call or email.
What's the price and turn-time?
Prices start at $2650 for a standard 14′ diameter bin, delivered to Denton, Texas and ready for re-assembly. Delivery charges from Denton, TX to the destination are $2 per loaded mile. Delivery is generally available within 20-30 days of receiving the initial 25% deposit; but we strive to deliver as quickly as possible and will make every effort to accommodate your project schedule. If rush delivery is required, let's discuss your options.
How much on-site preparation is required?
For setup on-site, you need a poured concrete foundation of at least 20% more area than your bin diameter, or adequate support poles set in concrete. Specific requirements (spacing, total load, etc.) are always discussed in advance for on-site setups. Also, the closer we can get a large truck to the drop-point, the better.
How does this work financially?
For most projects, there will be a couple of conversations up front to be sure everyone's on the same page. Whenever you're ready to go, fire off a 25% deposit by check, and we'll slot you in the schedule as soon as it arrives in the mail. (Yes, we working on accepting credit cards.) The balance is due upon delivery, which is about as simple as it gets.
Current Bin Prices
Prices above include delivery to Denton, Texas, and ready for reassembly.
Final delivery charges from Denton, Texas to the destination location is $2 per loaded mile.
I remember helping my dad put up these bins in the 1970's. They hold so many memories of our family farm. It was bitter-sweet watching The Bin-King and his crew take them down, but being repurposed means these bins will continue making memories for many years to come. Enjoy as you watch them reconstructed for your project!
Linda in Kansas
We love to entertain, and as a bar and seating area, this bin will be the focal point of our entire backyard friends-n-family zone. A big shout-out to the Bin-King for doing business the old-fashioned way: open, honest and fair. If you're looking for something completely different and totally cool for your home or business makeover, a Bin-King bin is the answer.
Chad in Texas
Tell us about your project
The Bin-King estimates each project independently based on bin size, delivery location, customization, and foundation / structural requirements.
The Bin-King


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Students from Cortada Elementary School who joined us for the event to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument were eager to share their love of parks with us.
The students came to Eaton Canyon Park as part of the Every Kid in a Park initiative and were led on a hike before the event began. While seated at picnic tables with magic markers and paper, they talked about what they liked about their hike and about being in the great outdoors. They began drawing pictures of what they liked the best — a lizard, a bird, a tree with wild branches, the mountains.
We wrote "We Love Parks" on top of a sheet of paper and asked them to fill the page with their reasons why. They noted animals (more specifically, lizards), trees (more specifically, oak branches), plants, rocks, water, air. Their answers also included how they felt. "It's fun, "It's peaceful," "It's beautiful."
We asked for a group photo, then a short video. How enthusiastic were they? They started by saying "We love parks" then began chanting it.

subset: commoncrawl


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National Athletic Trainer's Month
In sports medicine, the health care team is comprised of many different specialist … combined to deliver optimum care for our athletes. March is National Athletic Trainers Month. In our clinic, we embrace the eclectic team approach, and have been lucky to work with one of the areas finest licensed athletic trainers: Shingo Matsubara, ATC, MA. This month we celebrated all of the ATC's we have worked with over the years, and many of my close friends and colleagues from previous sites/teams.
Shingo has gone on to work with one of the premier spinal cord injury units in southeast Michigan. He was an awesome clinician and helped hundreds of patients/athletes over the past month.
Change is growth.
Hats off to Shingo and all the other ATC's that work tirelessly with our athletes!


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https://www.rivieranayarit.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/logox300.jpg 0 0 1stonthelist https://www.rivieranayarit.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/logox300.jpg 1stonthelist2014-06-28 06:00:002014-06-28 06:00:00The Riviera Nayarit Reaffirms Its Status As The Leader In Clean Beaches
The Riviera Nayarit Reaffirms Its Status As The Leader In Clean Beaches
- With an additional four new Clean Beaches, two more re-certified beaches and another four that are still certified, the Riviera Nayarit takes the lead in clean beach destinations in Mexico with 10 out of a total of 31 certifications.
The Riviera Nayarit considerably increased its number of Certified Clean Beaches from six to 10, thanks to the four new beaches that were certified on June 26thby the Instituto Mexicano de Normalización y Certificación (IMNC by its acronym in Spanish).
This occurred during the 10th Clean Beach Conference that took places in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. The National Water Commission (Conagua, by its acronym in Spanish) led the inauguration, accompanied by other governments and branches having to do with the topic at hand.
The four new certified beaches include Palladium at Punta de Mita; Platanitos in Banderas Bay; Costa Capomo Becerros in Compostela and El Borrego in San Blas. These helped the Riviera Nayarit to take the lead, placing it at the top of the list of domestic destinations with certified clean beaches.
Los Muertos in Sayulita and Vallarta Norte II were also recertified during the event. The beaches at Nuevo Vallarta Sur, Nuevo Vallarta Norte I and Bucerías in Banderas Bay, as well as Chacala in Compostela, still retain their certification.
Pronatura Mexico also recertified the beach at Nuevo Vallarta Norte with the Blue Flag, awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). There are a total of 11 Blue Flag beaches in Mexico.
Within Mexico there are 31 Certified Clean Beaches divided among nine states, with Quintana Roo in second place with five. The Riviera Nayarit now boasts 32 percent of the clean beaches in the country.
These Clean Beach certifications are awarded based on the NMX-AA-120-SCFI-2006 guidelines established by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat by its acronym in Spanish).
These results have been made possible through the participation of three levels of government, a non-profit association and local businesses. They serve to strengthen the positioning of the Riviera Nayarit, making it more attractive to both domestic and international tourists.


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Pospori, A., Marques, C.A.F., Sáez-Rodríguez, D., Nielsen, K., Bang, O. and Webb, D.J. (2016). Sensitivity enhancement using annealed polymer optical fibre based sensors for pressure sensing applications. IN: Sixth European Workshop on Optical Fibre Sensors. Lewis, Elfed (ed.) SPIE Proceedings . IRL: SPIE.
Thermal annealing can be used to induce a permanent negative Bragg wavelength shift for polymer fibre grating sensors and it was originally used for multiplexing purposes. Recently, researchers showed that annealing can also provide additional benefits, such as strain and humidity sensitivity enhancement and augmented temperature operational range. The annealing process can change both the optical and mechanical properties of the fibre. In this paper, the annealing effects on the stress and force sensitivities of PMMA fibre Bragg grating sensors are investigated. The incentive for that investigation was an unexpected behaviour observed in an array of sensors which were used for liquid level monitoring. One sensor exhibited much lower pressure sensitivity and that was the only one that was not annealed. To further investigate the phenomenon, additional sensors were photo-inscribed and characterised with regard their stress and force sensitivities. Then, the fibres were annealed by placing them in hot water, controlling with that way the humidity factor. After annealing, stress and force sensitivities were measured again. The results show that the annealing can improve the stress and force sensitivity of the devices. This can provide better performing sensors for use in stress, force and pressure sensing applications.
|Publication DOI:
|College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > Aston Institute of Photonics Technology (AIPT)
College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > School of Informatics and Digital Engineering > Electrical and Electronic Engineering
|Additional Information:
|A. Pospori ; C. A. F. Marques ; D. Sáez-Rodríguez ; K. Nielsen ; O. Bang and D. J. Webb, "Sensitivity enhancement using annealed polymer optical-fibre-based sensors for pressure sensing applications", Proc. SPIE 9916, Sixth European Workshop on Optical Fibre Sensors, 99160E (May 30, 2016). Copyright 2016 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2236877 Funding: EU 7FP (FP7/2007-2013, REA grant agreement No. 608382) People Programme (Marie Curie Actions); and EU 7FP (projects PIEF-GA-2013-628604 and PIEF-GA-2011-302919) Marie Curie Intra European Fellowships.
|Event Title:
|6th European Workshop on Optical Fibre Sensors
|Event Type:
|Event Location:
|Event Dates:
|2016-05-31 - 2016-06-03
|Full Text Link:
http://proceedi ... ticleid=2525044
|Related URLs:
|PURE Output Type:
|Conference contribution
|Published Date:
|Accepted Date:
Pospori, A.
Marques, C.A.F.
Sáez-Rodríguez, D.
Nielsen, K.
Bang, O.
Webb, D.J. ( 0000-0002-5495-1296)


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Drug & Alcohol Rehab Centers In Connecticut
Find An Addiction Rehab In Connecticut Today
It is imperative that you call now for a free confidential assessment for drug & alcohol rehab centers in Connecticut. We are professionals who can help get you or a loved in the right facility depending upon your needs don't wait, call now!
- Drug Addiction Treatment Centers
- Alcohol Rehab Centers
- Substance Abuse Rehabs
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers
- Most Insurances Accepted
- Payment Assistance Available
Though Connecticut is a relatively small state in size, it has over 200 different rehab facilities. One of the greatest assets of Connecticut rehabs is their growing recognition of the link between substance abuse and mental disorders. The state's data shows that anywhere from 12% to 45% of people in the state deal with co-occurring disorders. For this reason, there's been a strong push for integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Facilities that offer this kind of care are called dual diagnosis rehabs. These facilities help people with underlying conditions ranging from low to high severity. The ultimate goal is to treat each person individually, gain an understanding of what factors contribute to substance abuse, and use that knowledge to prepare people for a life in recovery.
The majority of Connecticut rehabs are outpatient facilities, many of which offer medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence. But, the state has a larger portion of inpatient facilities than most. Inpatient or residential, treatment can often lead to greater success in recovery because of the reduced risk of relapse early on and the 24/7 access to intensive treatment. In general, though, the best treatment outcomes are correlated with more hours spent in treatment and recovery activities.
Select a Rehab Center by County
At the height of this opioid crisis, Connecticut and its citizens have struggled significantly. The state has some of the highest opioid prescribing rates, which has led to serious consequences. In 2014 there were 568 drug-related deaths in Connecticut, but that number jumped quickly to 729 deaths in 2015—of which 188 involved the extremely potent opioid, fentanyl. This year, there are a projected 888 drug-related deaths in the state.
Time to Make a Difference
Finding the right help for yourself or a loved one can be an overwhelming and stressful process. If you are feeling overwhelmed, please feel free to call our sponsored hotline. Start the road to recovery today!
Fairfield County
Hartford County
Litchfield County
Middlesex County
New Haven County
New London County
Tolland County
Windham County
Connecticut—Managing a Crisis with Progressive Prevention
Connecticut was recently awarded a large federal grant to fund prevention programs and behavioral healthcare services to fight back against this problem. The state is responding with drug take-back days to collect unwanted prescription drugs, policymakers have passed a law limiting the length of some opioid prescription, and a prescription monitoring system has been established. Intravenous drug users can access clean syringes, and naloxone distribution programs are working to save more lives from overdoses.
As its substance abuse problems deepen, Connecticut is strengthening its prevention and treatment efforts. There are quality treatment facilities in Connecticut that can help you or your loved one. Call us and we can help you in your search: 1-866-207-7436.
- Every year, almost 300,000 people in Connecticut are abusing or dependent upon drugs and/or alcohol.
- Only around 7% of people who need treatment for alcohol abuse attend a treatment facility.
- For those in need of treatment for illicit drug abuse, more than 20% of people in Connecticut receive it.
- Among people in treatment in Connecticut during 2015, over 35% reported heroin as their primary drug of abuse.
- Alcohol was reported as a primary substance of abuse for around 34% of treatment admissions that same year, and marijuana for 12%.
Sobriety in Connecticut
A Connecticut rehab will generally offer:
- Screenings for both substance abuse and mental health disorders
- Individual, group, and family counseling
- Relapse-prevention training
- Involvement with 12-step programs
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and anger management
- Intervention services
Connecticut's Substance Abuse Groups
- The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is the state's authority on recovery-oriented services. Their mission is to effectively serve Connecticut's behavioral health needs and promote health and wellness across the state.
- The DMHAS has a Community Services Division (CSD), working to integrate mental health and addiction services to better help those with co-occurring disorders. The Division is also involved in ensuring the quality of treatment facilities, overseeing new programs, connecting people to services, and managing the Community Call Line.
- Connecticut's Network of Care for Behavioral Health handles DMHAS' statewide services. The website is a place where residents can find resources about behavioral health care to inform them during their search for care.
- The Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery is a centralized recovery resource in the state, connecting people with Recovery Community Centers (RCC), recovery housing, employment services, and even telephone recovery support. The group unites people in recovery, family members and friends to advocate for recovery and educate the community.
- The Greater Hartford Harm Reduction Coalition (GHHRC) is an advocate for people in recovery and those struggling with substance abuse, seeking to reduce the harms associated with drug abuse in Connecticut. The group promotes harm reduction policies as well as offers harm reduction services like access to clean syringes and naloxone training and distribution.


text: > So here's the new patch, it replaces the previous one for Aluminium > PowerBooks, and is still against 2.6.9. I'll do something against 2.6.10 > when that one is out (it's a bit late to get that merged with Linus, > 2.6.10 is in freeze mode now) and I hope to get all of that in 2.6.11. > > .../... Ok, I already found a bug, occasional lockups on boot and when setting the backlight. I uploaded a new version at: http://gate.crashing.org/~benh/albook-ibookg4-sleep-2.diff Ben.


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"Masterfully crafted." - Vulture
"A stunning work of feverish imagining." - io9
"One of the best comics of the year, full of incredible depth of characterization, unexpected turns, difficult resolutions, and broad themes dealt with using pinpoint precision. It's one of the rare works that yields deeper meaning each time it's revisited, and where not a single panel of narrative is wasted: each development furthers a promise made to the reader that we are in the hands of a creator who is taking the questions he asks seriously." — The Comics Journal
This new Upgrade Soul Collector's Edition is a beautiful hardcover of the trailblazing science-fiction graphic novel, with a new essay and design files from Ezra, as well as a foreword by Darren Aronofsky and afterword by Karama Horne.
For their forty-fifth anniversary, Hank and Molly Nonnar decide to undergo an experimental rejuvenation procedure, but their hopes for youth are dashed when the couple is faced with the results: severely disfigured yet intellectually and physically superior duplicates of themselves. Can the original Hank and Molly coexist in the same world as their clones? In Upgrade Soul, McDuffie Award-winning creator Ezra Claytan Daniels asks probing questions about what shapes our identity: Is it the capability of our minds or the physicality of our bodies? Is a newer, better version of yourself still you?
Written & Illustrated by: Ezra Claytan Daniels


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Poker goes through cycles. Most everyone that plays now is not new to the game. They likely started in 2003 and have been playing ever since. For a while, No-Limit Holdem was the game of choice, after all, that's what was on ESPN. Players, new players, were TERRIBLE. Money was so easy to be made–both brick and mortar and online. But then, the perpetual losers quit playing. I mean, how long do you play something and lose over and over again until you quit. You either get better or quit. Instead of a chip party with money raining from the sky, No Limit Holdem became a grind. Then, along came Omaha.
I started playing a mix of Omaha and Holdem in 2008, but not on a regular basis. Now, that's the only game worth playing around here. The Holdem games are weak and small, while the Omaha games are a frenzy. For a while, Omaha was very, very beatable. The winning players that I knew won consistently. And then something happened–a very strange occurrence. Instead of getting better, players have gotten worse?!?! A LOT WORSE! Why? The more you do something, the better you should get, but this has not been the case with Omaha Poker. Theoretically, good players should win if the bad players get worse. However, this is not the case. Winning players that I know have a tougher time. Players have gotten so bad that, collectively, they beat the winning players. And they beat the hell out of them! Hmmm. I deal a lot of poker and I notice this a lot. Perhaps the winning players need to adapt? I have seen that former borderline players (slight winners or losers) have become the big winners in these games. Maybe players are just gambling more and the variance is higher, or maybe the "bad" players have invented a new style of play! Whatever it is, it's a head-scratching anomaly! With that being said, I cannot wait to play this Saturday!


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CSIS Events:
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The Ideology of Putinism: Is It Sustainable?
Report by Maria Snegovaya , Michael Kimmage , and Jade McGlynn — September 27, 2023
The End of Export Controls
Commentary by James Andrew Lewis — September 28, 2023
The Post-October 7 World
On October 7, 2022, U.S.-China relations were reshaped with export controls on military AI, shifting global semiconductor manufacturing and distribution and complicating the global economy. This report outlines U.S. allies' perspectives on the "new oil" in geopolitics.
Report by Gregory C. Allen — September 28, 2023
Secretary Antony J. Blinken's Keynote Remarks at the 8th Annual CSIS ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum
Transcript — September 25, 2023
Has the United Nations Failed Ukraine and the World?
Congressional Testimony by Natasha Hall
The Next Five Years of the DFC: Ten Recommendations to Revamp the Agency
Report by Erin L. Murphy , Daniel F. Runde , Romina Bandura , and Noam Unger
Modernizing Spectrum Allocation to Ensure U.S. Security in the Twenty-First Century
Report by James Andrew Lewis and Clete Johnson
On China is a leading resource for policymakers confronting a new era of great power competition, with innovative research, diverse viewpoints, and cutting-edge multimedia from across CSIS.
Spotlight on Energy
Resource Nationalism Is Not the United States' Biggest Minerals Problem
Raw material export bans are proliferating around the world. Can the United States harness this to its strategic advantage?
Commentary by Cy McGeady and Gracelin Baskaran — September 15, 2023
Prospects for U.S. Minerals Engagement with Africa
Commentary by Gracelin Baskaran — August 29, 2023
Conflict Minerals
Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz , Gracelin Baskaran , and Joseph Majkut — September 7, 2023
Building Larger and More Diverse Supply Chains for Energy Minerals
Report by Joseph Majkut , Jane Nakano , Maria J. Krol-Sinclair , Thomas Hale , and Sophie Coste — July 19, 2023
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Transatlantic Collaboration on the Energy TransitionHosted by Energy Security and Climate Change ProgramOctober 3, 2023 • 10:30 – 11:00 am EDTLive in 4 daysWebcast
Accelerating Progress in Reaching Global Immunization GoalsHosted by The CSIS Bipartisan Alliance for Global Health SecurityOctober 3, 2023 • 2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT
Executive Education Courses
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Decoding D.C.: Policy, Power, and PeopleCSIS Headquarters
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Report by Gregory C. Allen — September 28, 2023
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Report by Heather Williams , Jamie Kwong , Nicholas Adamopoulos , Suzanne Claeys , Joseph Rodgers , Doreen Horschig , Lachlan MacKenzie , Melissa Chan , and Jessica Link — June 28, 2023
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Contextualizing the National Security Concerns over China's Domestically Produced High-End Chip
Critical Questions by Matthew Schleich and William Alan Reinsch — September 26, 2023
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Blog Post by Kirti Gupta and Chris Borges — September 21, 2023
Looking South: A Conversation with GEN Laura Richardson on Security Challenges in Latin America
Transcript — August 4, 2023
Maritime Issues and Oceans
Tokyo and Canberra Orchestrate Efforts to Multilateralize the South China Sea
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Human Rights
Event Summary: Seafood Alliance for Legality and Traceability Forum
Blog Post by Mariana Aziz , Jenny Barker , Alexa Cole , and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) , Jennifer Kane , Sara Lewis , Tony Long , Farid Maruf , Jovice Mkuchu , Kate O'Rourke , Leo Pradela , Whitley Saumweber , Ian Urbina , Laura Van Voorhees — September 27, 2023


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The National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) is delighted to announce that The Monarch of the Glen by Sir Edwin Landseer (1802-73) will go on display in four venues across Scotland later this year. The iconic painting which was acquired for the nation in March after a four month fundraising campaign will go on show in Inverness, Perth, Paisley and Kirkcudbright.
The acquisition was made possible thanks to the enormous support from the public, The National Lottery, Art Fund, private trusts and foundations, Scottish Government acquisition grant funding and by a part gift by previous owners Diageo Scotland Ltd. The National Lottery and Scottish Government also gave additional funds to enable the painting to go on tour in Scotland.
The tour will begin in early October 2017 in Inverness and the painting will be on view for around 7 weeks at each venue.
The Monarch of the Glen is one of the most famous images associated with Scotland. Through its widespread use in commercial advertising and in popular culture, the picture has become instantly recognizable yet it remains an extremely powerful work of art and a rich source of debate about issues of history and identity. The tour forms part of the National Galleries on-going commitment to sharing its collection and working in partnership with communities across Scotland.
Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland said: "Thanks to the generosity of The National Lottery and the Scottish Government we are able to take this fantastic picture across the country to be enjoyed by as many people as possible. We want this tour of The Monarch of the Glen to be seen as a huge thank you for the overwhelming support that we received during the fundraising campaign and as a celebration that this amazing work of art now belongs to all the people of Scotland. We hope that it will be admired and debated by wide audiences across the country. "
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, said: "This tour will support people of all ages and backgrounds across Scotland to access and enjoy this iconic painting in their own communities, and will hopefully inspire those who see it to seek out further opportunities to engage in culture and the arts. I am pleased the Scottish Government was able to support both the acquisition of the painting, and its tour."
It was announced in November last year that NGS had entered into a partnership agreement with Diageo. Under the arrangement, Diageo agreed to gift half the estimated market value of the painting to allow NGS the opportunity to acquire the work for £4 million. After securing support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Art Fund, NGS launched a public fundraising campaign to help raise the final amount. Support for the public campaign came from around the world with donations received from Anchorage, Queensland, Los Angeles and Hong Kong and from across the UK from Thurso to Bath totalling over a quarter of a million pounds. An additional £100,000 from the NGS acquisition fund from Scottish Government and donations from private trusts and foundations enabled the £4 million target to be reached.
Referring to the Monarch of the Glen Tour starting in Inverness, Ian Murray, Chief Executive of High Life Highland who manage and operate Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, said: "We are very pleased to be working in partnership with the National Galleries of Scotland to support bringing this iconic painting to Inverness. The Monarch of the Glen is an immediately recognisable image to people in Scotland and across the world and we are delighted that residents and visitors to the Highlands have a chance to see the painting when it comes to Inverness in October."
Inverness Museum & Art Gallery
6 October – 18 November 2017


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I'm from New York state. New Paltz (where I received my BA in Theatre) was the first town in the state to recognize same-sex marriage as a right, a point of particular pride for me. This morning I got hammered for expressing an opinion that we should call it simply what it is, Marriage Equality, based on the following meme:
You want to call it Same Sex Marriage? That's okay, though the phrase cuts out Transgender relationships for what I think are obvious reasons. If you want to hold the line at calling it Gay Marriage, recall, please, that Gay is not a catch-all phrase for the LGBTQ community at large, and I will hold you accountable for leaving out anyone in the discussion.
I'm going there because that's where this discussion truly belongs. It takes us into territory that we are really only just starting to understand, but avoiding this aspect doesn't help my trans friends unless we treat every single person as a person REGARDLESS of their orientation.
Sexuality is a trait, just like skin, hair or eye color. You are born Jewish if your mother is Jewish, because being Jewish is a genetic heritage, but you choose to observe (or not) the tenets of Judaism. Christianity is a choice. And if you choose to discriminate based on gender identification because your chosen faith tells you to, that's still bigotry.
Those who want to withhold the right of marriage for SOME couples are choosing to do it on the basis of a TRAIT they do not believe exists. Being Gay is not a choice. You can't choose to have green eyes if you were born with blue. Sure, you can choose to cover up that trait with green contact lenses, but that doesn't change the fundamental fact that you still have blue eyes. And you can choose to marry someone of the opposite sex to reap the benefits obtained through marriage, but that doesn't make you straight.
Dark skin is not as easy to disguise, but it was (and still is, at some level) the basis of discrimination. Anti-miscegenation laws remained on the books until 1968. It took us 300 years (give or take a bit) for the Supreme Court to take that ugliness on and it's STILL a problem to this day, but at least now the courts have recognized the discrimination, even if our people haven't. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscegenation)
I'm thrilled that we've come as far as we have, but there's still a very long way to go before it becomes safe to say that we are all free to be with and love whomever we want and to share what we have in a legally binding way. All I am saying is that there should NEVER be references to sexual or gender orientation when discussing rights and the law. As the popular saying goes, you don't need a court system to give you rights. That's why they're called rights. I am arguing for equality under the law, regardless.
Marriage is a financial contract committed by people who want to share their lives and livelihoods with each other. In a more sarcastic mood, I would say that every couple has the same right to unhappiness that I have, but I truly know better.
We are starting to hear rhetoric that bothers the hell out of me because it sounds (on the surface) like the bigots have a hook. I want to take that hook away. Equality under the law is the only way to do that. Either everyone has the same rights to marriage or NOBODY does. That simple. Now this blog post, has sparked more, sometimes combative, conversation:
This one will probably get me hate mail from both sides, Gay Marriage
Blogging, in general, consists of opinion sometimes threaded with references to the articles that helped inspire the post in question. WordPress is easy to set-up and allows for free publication – vanity press for the 21st Century. The Cassie Times (this blog) also resides on WordPress. It costs me nothing to write, and you some time to read. It's where I try to keep my more complex posts, because I like the ability to include multiple references, and that ability sucks in Facebook.
The post in question is a purely op-ed piece, without references to anything concrete. Opinions are free and open, guaranteed by the First Amendment. I haven't read anything else. His comments about saying that being gay is a lifestyle choice tells me I'm pretty sure I'm not interested in the rest of his opinions, though he does raise several points.
This one in particular:
Why not have a ballot initiatve [sic] that says consenting adults can form a civil partnership that allows visitation rights, joint filing of taxes, parental custody, and coequel property ownership? GASP! But where would be the controversy in that? Then we wouldn't be able to scream about hatey hate mongers and stuff.
…would be fine except that civil partnerships that aren't for absolutely every person in the country are the definition of "Separate but Equal" and the moral equivalent of the Whites Only drinking fountain.
If you truly want to argue for civil unions, get yourself to your congressional representatives and argue your case for rewriting our laws or our constitution at the federal level, because anything else fails the test of Equality Under the Law.
State's Rights has been the traditional bastion of discrimination on the grounds of race, sex and every other separation you can name. Until we abandon its siren call, we will continue to harbor and encourage inequality on all levels of our society. Arguing for Civil Marriage for everyone without actually doing something about it means you keep a class of citizens in their separate place. No matter how you slice it, that's wrong.
Talking Points Memo: Georgia GOP Chair Warns That Straight People Will Enter Sham Gay Marriages For Benefits
People already get married to reap the benefits of medical insurance and tax shelters. That they are not same-sex is irrelevant. Her point is invalid, unless she wants to come up with a valid test for love. And, since love is often secondary to an arranged marriage (which still happens in this country, depending on the couple's ethnicity), that point's invalid, too.
I don't know about the rest of you and so can't say that this would be the case for anyone else, but considering the cost of a wedding anywhere, let alone the church-sanctioned variety, I'd think very long and hard before selecting a location or an officiant who did not want to perform my ceremony. Frankly, there's plenty of fish in the sea, including county clerks (ooh, government again) and justices of the peace who are more than happy to perform such ceremonies. If the priest or church doesn't want me, I'm pretty sure I don't want him, either.
And here's another thing:
The Raw Story: Baptist pastor tells ABC: Same sex marriage is 'the freedom God has given you'
Because not everyone with religious beliefs thinks same-sex marriage is a problem. And for that, I'm grateful.


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Programs FAQ
Q. Where can I register for TGIF WAA Events ?Please visit TGIF WAA Events Registration page in Wild Apricot to register.Q. Is there any registration priority for parent volunteers ?A. Some programs May allow priority registration for specific events. Please check the event details for specific events.Q. Do I need to Pre-Register for the upcoming TGIF program?A. All programs are by pre-registration only (unless noted otherwise). Pre-registration helps us in figuring out the venue of the program and also getting ready the material (if applicable). It helps us make the program a positive experience for the attendees. Everyone who pre-registers get priority seating and material.Q. Can I just show up if I don't pre-register and hope to fill up a no-show?A. Even if an event allows walk-in, we highly recommend that you pre-register for the program. You may try walk-in but there is a chance that we might not be able to provide you with material or a proper seat. Our pre-registered guests get priority over walk-in guests.Q. Can I register for more than one program?A. Yes, there is no limit on how many programs you can register for.Q. I missed the program registration deadline by a few hours. Can I still request a registration?A. We try to accommodate as many students as we can. Most of our workshops get filled very quickly. Most of the time it is not possible for us to register after the deadline has past. We close our forms on time. If the form is still open on website, feel free to fill it up.Q. I registered for an program that has not yet taken place but something has come up and my child will not be able to make it. What should I do now?A. Please request a cancellation by the date mentioned in the event announcement. If the program is not listed on the cancellation form (above link), it means you cannot cancel it through that form. TGIF has Program Participation Policies on no-show or not canceling by the specified date.Q. I registered for a previous program, but was not able to make it. Can I still register for the other programs?A. We encourage that you register for the program only if you intend and will be able to attend. For more information on no-shows, please refer to the Program Participation Policies. These policies are in place to encourage only serious registrants to register. In our programs; we have very limited spots. We do not want a spot to be lost to someone who did not even show up.Q. Can I come a few minutes late to the program?A. We start our programs on time. If you arrive late to the program, even though you had pre-registered, you might not get the material. If you are not on time we might have to give your copy to someone else who was on time. It is expensive to print the material; we do not want it to go to waste.Q. I am running a little late. Can I pick up my child from the event a few minutes late?A. We book the facilities for certain time. Every extra minute we stay at the facility we have to pay to the custodians. TGIF needs to defray this cost by passing it on to the members who pick up their children late. Please refer to the Program Participation Policies for more information.Q. Whom should I contact if I have questions about events that are not answered by this FAQ?A. Please find the contact information for a specific program on the program page. You can also find all the contact information here.


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Artdeco is a German cosmetics brand available at select Shoppers Drug Marts in Canada. I've been reading quite a bit about their Eyeshadow Base - a primer for eyeshadows, so I tracked down a Shoppers in Toronto that carries the line to check it, as well as their other products.
While I'm more than happy with my Urban Decay Primer Potion as an eye primer, I was intrigued by all the raving reviews of the Artdeco Eyeshadow Base. For the purpose of this review, I'll compare the two primers.
Here is some info about it:
The Eyeshadow Base with a soft, creamy consistency prevents the deposition of Eyeshadow in the eyelid crease and makes the powder eyeshadows highly long-lasting, intense and brilliant. The eyeshadow is being applied easier, distributed better and lasts longer. This way, little particles cannot become loose, making it ideal for contact lens wearers.
The base calms reddened eyelids with Bisabolol* and neutralizes the color of the eyelid. Vitamin E nourishes and protects the sensitive skin of the eyes.
*Bisabolol is a component of the essential oil extracted from German chamomile.
The Artdeco Eyeshadow Base comes in a tiny black plastic 5 mL container and costs $24 CDN. Urban Decay Primer Potion comes in a small, squeezable 0.02 oz tube and costs $20 CDN. They're roughly the same size, thought Artdeco is a little bit more expensive.
This little pot is filled right to the top with product. The instructions are clear that the lid should not be off for very long at all, as it will dry the product out. So you might suspect that this is a creamy, moist product. It's interesting that it's packaged like this if they're concerned with the product drying out. A squeezable or pumpable package would be much better at keeping the product from drying out. Also, squeezable/pumpable packaging would prevent contamination cause by avoiding having to dip your finger into the product.
The texture of Artdeco Eyeshadow Base is creamy, wax-like and not as stiff as it might first appear when the pot is opened. You don't need as much as I've got on my finger in the photo above to apply to both eyelids. You need about half of that. The Urban Decay Primer Potion has a more liquid consistency and you need about the same amount as the Artdeco Eyeshadow Base to cover your lids.
Artdeco Eyeshadow Base has a bit of glitter in it and I'm not sure why. It applies more or less sheer, apart from the glitter. In comparison, the Urban Decay Primer Potion has no shimmer or glitter to it - the original, that is. There are different versions of Primer Potion, and only the original is without colour/shimmer. The others have colour/shimmer and are designed to be worn as eyeshadow as well as eyeshadow primer.
Performance-wise, the Artdeco Eyeshadow Base does indeed intensify eyeshadows applied on top of it. See below for comparison swatches of eyeshadows applied on bare skin and eyeshadows applied over the Eyeshadow Base.
|Applied on bare skin,
|Applied over Artdeco Eyeshadow Base.
There's really no comparison between the two, is there? Wow. That's a fantastic change that the Artdeco Eyeshadow Base makes. The Urban Decay Primer Potion doesn't have that sort of dramatic effect on eyeshadows.
What about performance in terms of longevity? Well, that's where I was ultimately disappointed with Artdeco Eyeshadow Base. Where Urban Decay Primer Potion keeps my eyeshadow intact and crease-free for 12+ hours, with the Artdeco Eyeshadow Base, my eyeshadow is creasing after four hours. I tried it over about a week, reducing the amount I applied in case I was applying too much and with different eyeshadow textures (cream and powder) to see if that made any difference. Nothing worked, I had the beginnings of creasing after four hours each time, starting with my right eye and by six hours, there were those yucky folds in my shadow at my eye crease. It's frustrating since I couldn't find any reviews online saying the same thing. My eyelids are on the oily side so I definitely need a primer.
So the Artdeco Eyeshadow Base is great if you want more oomph out of your eyeshadow, but not if you have oily lids or are looking for a primer that'll keep your eyeshadow unfaded and uncreased all day. If your lids are normal or on the dry side, this primer would probably work well. I'll stick with my Urban Decay Primer Potion.
Grade: D


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I love to create cards and it seems people enjoy receiving them. You'll often find me amidst a stack of paper, glitter, stamps and inks playing with my supplies. If you would like to make an order, email me at cardsbycara AT hotmail DOT com
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Papertrey Create along with us: November 2016
Laurie Willison's use of vellum on her tags and used that as my jumping off point.
I was so excited that the new blog I found, Muse Christmas Visions, also had vellum as its theme and sponsored the 25 Days of Christmas Tags:
In case you are looking for some stamps or dies, I have some on sale:
Papertrey Stamps and dies:
Background Basics: Vines – stamp set ($30 from the vault) --> $15 lowered to $12
Background Basics: Geometrics ($30 from the vault) --> $15 lowered to $12
Embellishments Coordinating dies ($8) --> $4
Stitches and Swirls - stamp set ($48 from the vault) --> $24
Christmas Pointsettia dies ($8) > $5
Damask Designs stamp set ($48 from the vault) > $24
Background Basics: Wrought Iron[/b] ($36 from the valut) > $24
Everyday Button Bits - images only - stamps $10
From other companies:
Tim Holtz - Flights of Fancy $8
Altenew Wild Hibiscus brand new $15 missing top left stamp
Shipping available to Canada, US and International based on weight:
One sheet (Canada $1, US $2, International $3.50)
Two sheets (Canada $1.50, US $3, International $6)
Payment via Paypal.
All sets have minimal staining, if any, come with labels and are from a smoke free, pet free home. :)
8 comments:
- Jenni's Jems said...
Love how your musical paper peeps through the vellum!x
- November 20, 2016 at 11:51 PM
- Ardyth said...
Love the embossing - very festive! So glad you joined us at MCV this week!
- November 21, 2016 at 5:19 AM
- Diana K said...
So pretty, Cara! Love these tags.
- November 21, 2016 at 5:20 AM
- Marybeth said...
Two beautifully embossed Christmas tags, Cara!
- November 21, 2016 at 8:09 AM
- Michelle said...
Oh, I love these! The simple sentiment up front with the music behind. Perfect!
- November 22, 2016 at 4:09 AM
- Robyn Oliver said...
Fabulous simple tags Cara, great idea with the music background tag
- November 22, 2016 at 4:25 AM
- Chriss Blagrave said...
Love your use of the different vellum as overlays! The petite patterns are perfect for thr Merry and Bright sentiment!
Thanks for joining in at MCV this week!
- November 23, 2016 at 5:05 AM
- @JoyceCasaldi said...
Very cute tag and love the Christmas ones! Love how soft the layers make them look.
- February 22, 2017 at 11:21 PM


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Actuaries Applying Advanced Analytics in Non-Traditional Roles
Actuaries applying advanced analytics in non-traditional insurance roles are deploying their acumen to solve business problems.
As demonstrated in Part II of my Actuarial Review series about "the others," actuaries applying advanced analytics are working in various industries. ("The others" are members of the Casualty Actuarial Society who not working in traditional insurance industry actuarial roles.)
Part II features four actuaries applying advanced analytics in very exciting ways. It provides a window into the future of the actuarial profession. Increasingly, actuaries will be serving in roles beyond pricing and reserving. As technology moves forward, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence will become more commonplace, offering new potential roles to actuaries.
The article features:
Kevin Kuo, Software Engineer, RStudio After serving as a life actuary, Kuo applied predictive analytics for direct mail credit card acquisitions for Citibank. He's now working to enhance "R" software to offer big data and deep learning capabilities.
Aaron Fezatte, Strategy Manager, Expedia. Beginning his career as a P&C actuary for Liberty Mutual, he secured a job with Expedia to develop new ways to price and offer travel insurance.
Cathine Lam, Data Scientist, Economics & Actuarial Team, Metabiota. The former Milliman Inc. consultant works to track infectious diseases around the world and supports her company's software product. Insurance companies and government entities are key clients.
Frank Chang, Director of Insurance and Safety Analytics, Uber. Chang wrote for The Motley Fool and handled pricing for Esurance before working for Google and then joining a team at Uber. His multifold role includes applying analytics to encourage risk management and insure Uber drivers.
The first article about "the others," published in the September/October edition of Actuarial Review, was highly popular, attracting hundreds of visitors. This second and final article is a must read because it showcases how actuaries applying advanced analytics and forging new pathways for the profession.
During the past few years, I've written several articles about advanced analytics and the actuarial profession. If you would like to check them out, please visit the actuarial section of this blog. My next Actuarial Review article covers insurtech. Slated for early January, it explains how and why insurtech will be changing the insurance value chain – forever.


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As an aspiring blogger and author, I sometimes feel like giving up because my progress is slow. For this reason, I use self-help material to inspire me and keep me going.
I always note down quotes – from the self-help material – that encourage me to stay positive and believe that I will achieve my dreams.
Here are 17 of them.
- 'Everything you need to fulfill your destiny was with you at the moment before, during, and after your conception – so retreat to that knowledge now. Trust in the infinite wisdom that created you.' – Wayne Dyer, American author, philosopher, & Speaker.
- 'Don't worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?' – Rumi, Muslim Poet
- 'The universe is abundant with everything you want. It's not testing you. It's benevolently providing for you. But you are the orchestrator. You are the definer, and you do it through joyous anticipation. If there is an emotion that you want to foster, that would serve you very well. It is excited anticipation.' – Abraham Hicks
- 'I have often said a man's character is not judged after he celebrates victory but by what he does when his back is against the wall. So no matter how great the setback, how severe the failure, you never give up. You pick yourself up, you brush yourself off, you push forward, you move on, you adapt, you overcome. That is what I believe.' – John Cena, Wrestler & Actor
- 'A setback is nothing but a set up for a comeback.' – TD Jakes, Pastor & Author.
- 'Every worst thing that happened in my life resulted in the absolute best things.'- Ronda Rousey, Professional Wrestler
- 'Just because they have a head-start on you does not mean you cannot win the race. The race will be yours if you have faith in yourself and keep making progress on a daily basis.' – Robert Kiyosaki, Retire Rich Retire Young
- 'If you know how to build business and invest money, you can make so much money that your problem will be too much money.' – Robert Kiyosaki, Retire Rich Retire Young
- 'Good things need time to grow. If you don't give them time, they will never grow. Remember seasonal flowers come fast and go fast.' – Osho, Indian Godman
- 'God knows your needs, he won't let you down. He will make a way if you trust him. He always gives us strength and our heart's desire.'- Joel Osteen, Pastor & Author
- When you organize your life around the twin qualities of integrity and courage, every door will open.' – Wayne Dyer, American author, philosopher, & Speaker.
- 'No matter how many times you fail, if you continue to pray, you will find yourself free.' – Emmet Fox, New Thought Spiritual Leader
- 'Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing' – Saint Paul
- 'At the end of the day, my career from to 3LW to here, nothing's been easy, but if you just keep focusing on the positive and the wins, NOTHING CAN STOP YOU – Naturi Naughton, Actor (Tasha on Power TV Series).
- 'Every moment that I've had that put me through a struggle has actually made me stronger and made me a better artist.' – Naturi Naughton, Actor (Tasha on Power TV Series).
- 'You cannot let a fear of failure, comparison, or judgement, stop you from doing what's going to make you GREAT. You cannot succeed without the risk of failure, and you cannot succeed without the risk of criticism. You must go out and you must take these risks.' – Charlie Day, American Actor, Musician & Comedian.
- I don't dwell on the negative because if you do, then there's no progression. There's no forward movement. You got to always look on the bright side of things.' – Taraji Henson, Actor.
- A winner is a dreamer, who never gives up.' – Nelson Mandela
Which of the above quotes inspired you the most?
You are welcome to join my amazing facebook group: Unbounded Wisdom Community for insightful quotes


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Tag Archives: blog
Interview with Aline Smithson
Interview with Aline Smithson about her successful career and Internet usage in the photographic word.
The Asian photography, by Ch'ng Yaohong
© Ch'ng Yaohong Ch'ng Yaohong is a young photographer based in Singapore. In addition to photographing for his personal projects and for commission works, Ch'ng Yaohong is also the author of one of my favourite weblog, Asian Photography Blog, and it is easy to understand why. Ch'ng Yaohong site is about two of my great […]


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Applications are what power today's businesses. Zylink has been at the forefront of building and supporting web-based applications since 2000.
Successful applications require a delicate balance of client-side and server-side scripting. But to truly succeed, they require robust and reliable cloud services.
After 20 years, Zylink continues as a leader in the field of enterprise applications.
© 2020 Zylink   555 Anton Blvd., Suite 150, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 +1 818-745-1048 818.745.1048


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10i Commerce Services Pvt. Ltd, which runs the ShopX has now appointed Kriti Varun, Ex-Amazon Executive to head ShopX's Product Management function.
For his new role, Mr.Varun is appointed as the Vice President of Product Management and will be part of the leadership team and will be working closely with the ShopX co-founders Amit Sharma (CEO) and Apoorva Jois (COO).
Commenting on his new role, Varun Kriti said: "Building a scalable and viable business to tap into this opportunity requires significant innovation across every aspect of the business model ranging from front-end shopping experience to back-end supply chain and logistics. ShopX is innovating rapidly to build a viable business in this space, and I'm excited to join them in this journey."
Earlier, Varun Kirti worked as Principal Product Manager for Amazon India. Where, he was responsible for building India-specific product innovations to improve key customer inputs such as Pricing, Inventory, Affordability and Selection. Before that, he was senior engagement manager with McKinsey & Company, where he played an important role in building the consultancy's digital banking practice and has also worked with ITC in the past.
On hiring Mr.Varun, ShopX CEO Amit Sharma, said: "Kirti brings together rich general management and product management experience, and will play a pivotal role in executing ShopX's mission of making commerce accessible to everyone. This is an exciting time for ShopX as we are scaling up our retailer base rapidly with a sharp focus on unit economics and profitability. With our digital offline model, we have been able to offer a wide range of products across categories through our 45,000 plus retailer network."
Raising Funds from PE:
According to a report in The Hindu Business Line, ShopX is all set to raise $20 Million from PE Funds and expecting at least to offload 20 % stake in PE funds.
The new funds will be utilised to upgrade technology and enter new markets in North and East India with a target to reach 10 lakh retailers in the next three years.
In December last year, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani invested another $5 million (Rs 33.9 crore then) in the startup. The former UIDAI chairman had earlier invested $5 million in ShopX. Read more about Indian Startup Ecosystem.


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The Store
If you experience any problems placing your order online, please call 800-850-1776 to order by phone.
The Art of Mort Künstler / The Gallery Store / Limited Edition Prints / Civil War Prints /
Custom framing is available for this print. Please call 800-850-1776 or email firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.
Paper Prints
Reproduction technique: Fine offset lithography on neutral pH archival quality paper using the finest fade-resistant inks.
Each print is numbered and signed by the artist and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Size: 17 x 26-1/4 Overall Size: 23 x 31-1/4
Signed & Numbered Edition Size: 100
Signed Artists Proof Edition Size: 50
Mort Kunstler's Comments
When I finally decided to paint the Battle of New Market, I knew I wanted to incorporate a number of important visual elements into the painting. They included a terrible thunder storm, the VMI students participating in a valiant fashion, and a former Vice President of the United States as commanding General for the Confederates.
On visiting the Battlefield, I went step by step through the battle with Director Ed Merrill and Curator Keith Gibson. I was struck by the charm and beauty of the Bushong House on the Battlefield. If I came in close on the students near the house, they would simply be marching in parade ground precision past the building and I knew this would not make an interesting picture. However, in wandering around the Battlefield where General John C. Breckenridge had his command post, I realized I could do it all - show Breckenridge, show an artillery battery in action near the command position, utilize the lightning as a light source, show the students and feature the Bushong House in this one painting. I was sure this was the solution to the problem of how to say "New Market" to the viewer in a dramatic and interesting way.
With the torrential downpour, the main effect I was after was wetness. The rain would have washed the mud off men and horses as fast as they were being covered with it. I had also never seen a painting of anyone with the rubberized blankets in use at the time and decided to put one on General Breckenridge.
I find the difficulties of fighting a battle under these circumstances truly amazing. Imagine trying to keep track of the enemy, keep your powder dry and your weapons in working order, and control your horse with the lightning, thunder and gunfire.
These were some of the things I tried to capture in Thunder in the Valley. I hope I have succeeded.


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The Polestar 2 comes with a high performance-audio system that delivers rich sound throughout the cabin.
The Polestar 2 comes with a high performance-audio system that delivers rich sound throughout the cabin.
Specialised bass drivers and high-frequency tweeters deliver more accurate sound with less overall distortion. The Polestar 2's air woofer technology takes precision to a new level, producing a bass sound that's cleaner and less cluttered than ever.
The High Performance Audio system pumps 250 watts of power through eight speakers. Its front-mounted air woofer and full-range speaker deliver high-fidelity sound, regardless of where you're sitting.
There are full-range 150 mm speakers in each rear door. Mid-range 100 mm speakers in each front door. 19 mm tweeters in each front roof pillar. A full-range 100 mm speaker in the dash. And a 200 mm air woofer under the bonnet.
Part of the standard features
A definition of "standard" that's anything but. Browse the forward-thinking features included with every Polestar 2.Explore standard features


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The Effects of Light Pollution on Urban Birds
Tis the season for bird migrations in the Northern Hemisphere. You might see more northern birds flying through your neighborhoods and less of your regular local aviary. This is a perfect time to look into bird-finding tips, utilize your Smart Search on Birdseye so you can better identify these new-to-you species, and explore their migrating patterns.
However, each year the migration of birds is hindered by our growing metropolitan areas. Not only is habitat loss a serious issue to the health and nesting of birds, but light pollution is also becoming an issue. Light pollution is defined as the artificial light produced in cities and houses that brighten the dark night to the point of drowning out the stars, throwing off our human circadian rhythm (the mental clock that helps us sleep), and throwing off the migratory pattern of birds.
Most birds migrate during the evening, when the stars can help guide their path. However, as one study discovered, bright lights due to urban light pollution during the nighttime can cause migrating birds to circle and investigate the lit areas, spending more energy without making progress on their journey. This can be damaging to birds that are already expending energy while traveling hundreds of miles every night. Birds were also more likely to collide with light structures, according to the study, and selectively removing light pollution in some cities helped alleviate many of the issues for these migrating species.
However, the strange calling and circling phenomenon was apparent during a September 11th memorial service this year, Tribute in Light: where beams of light were projected into the sky to mimic the Twin Towers of the International Trade Center. These beams of light attracted the birds and, as one researcher noted: "This was a rare opportunity to witness the impact of powerful ground-based lights on nocturnally migrating birds."
A large group of volunteers was able to record the bird calls, count the number of species present, and utilize technology to better understand the density and movements of the birds present in the area. According to the results of this observed phenomenon:
"…densities of birds over lower Manhattan could reach 60 to 150 times the number that would typically be found in the area at that time. The concentrating effects of the intense light on the birds reached as high as 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). The impact on birds was consistent even on clear nights. (Many previous artificial-light studies focused on nights with poor visibility.) When the light beams were turned off, the birds dispersed within minutes to continue their migrations."
Unfortunately, these sorts of events aren't isolated to special spotlights in urban areas. Even in rural towns, bright lights can distract and harm migrating bird species. As our cities and suburban areas expand, the negative impact we have on local species continues to grow.
Luckily, there are some things we can do to help offset some of those negative impacts. It can be as simple as a light switch. Start by turning off any exterior lights on your house, and you can help birds in your area move on with their migrations. Additionally, working alongside your city and local organizations to help create "blackout times" can make your entire neighborhood more nocturnal and bird friendly. This is also known as creating a dark-sky destination for your town.
Making a city into a dark-sky destination can be as simple as utilizing trees to block out neighborhood lights, or placing street lamps with light shields at only important intersections. Two towns in Colorado, the Westcliffe and Silver Cliff neighborhoods, were able to do just that and are now actively fighting against light pollution while saving energy.
Around the globe, urban areas are springing up and growing at a rapid rate. Electricity has becoming a necessity for almost everyone, and light pollution is becoming a real hazard for the environment. In areas where light and electricity are limited or forbidden — such as in the towns in Colorado or even animal sanctuaries like the Galapagos or the Peruvian rainforests — nocturnal animals and migrating birds are able to thrive. If you want to do your part in helping migrating birds this season, simply turn out the lights!
About the author:
Avery T. Phillips is a freelance human being with too much to say. She loves nature and examining human interactions with the world. Comment or tweet her @a_taylorian with any questions or suggestions.


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Every iconic magazine has a central story to tell — a time and a place when it couldn't have existed otherwise and which it still draws on even as it has moved on. Playboy and the sexual revolution. National Geographic and the late-Victorian urge toward empire and exploration. Rolling Stone and the baby boomer rise of rock 'n' roll.
Over the years, Texas Monthly's basic story has always been how a dirt-poor, insular, segregated state of ranches and farms, a state with a far more resonant mythic presence than similar states around it, has been turning into a big-city, big-money, oil-and-art-and-microchip, multi-cultural anywheresville that clings to its favorite, cinematic self-images.
So the magazine's current themed issue ("Welcome to Big City, Texas!") devoted to the state's urban centers actually just foregrounds what every issue has detailed in some form, among the violent crime features, the listings for upscale barbecue joints and the photo essays on beautifully barren, Big Bend landscapes. Increasingly, the problem for the magazine has been balancing fawning Tex-celebrity profiles (if it can find one whose face on the cover will help sell copies) with any photogenic remnant of authentic cowboy life it can locate amid our cancerous freeways and suburbs.
Actually, in his essay, former editor Greg Curtis declares that Texas' rural past does remain with us. It's that "strain of country obstinacy and willful unenlightenment" he sees in a state government bent on dismantling our educational system and the vast array of social programs that have helped poor Texans become less desperate. (Unfortunately, a quibble: Curtis misplaces the 'mother ship' of Half-Price Books on Lovers Lane when it's on Northwest Highway.)
One of the smart things editor Jake Silverstein did was get Larry McMurtry to revisit his essential collection of Texas essays from 1968, In a Narrow Grave. For decades, when people I knew moved here, I'd hunt down a copy and give it to them as a welcome-to-Texas gift, the best, single-volume introduction to the state (before Lonesome Dove made McMurtry permanently well-known, the book was often out of print).
In particular, in McMurtry's rumination in this issue — "Horseman, Goodbye" — he revisits his Narrow Grave essay, "A Handful of Roses." It offered a drive-by tour of the state's cities — with what often are still-accurate snapshots/potshots. Austin is the favorite Texas town of non-Texans, he wrote, because it is the least Texas town — a line I thought was spot-on even when I lived there.
But it's his old essay's central thesis that McMurtry says remains indisputable: "Texas in the sixties still thought of itself as a frontier; its cities and their residents were not yet maturely urban. … My point, much reiterated, was that Texans in the main were not yet able to handle the pressures of urban life."
Many of its citizens have shaken off the frontier ethic and become mature urbanites. In response to this change, most of the cities have gone to the trouble to provide their better-informed residents some of the trappings of high culture. There are several excellent museums and an opera house or two. In addition, these cities have produced a number of locally grown artists who are good in various spheres. This is not a small thing.
We're not just hicks with money now, though there are still quite a few hicks, some of whom have money.
Over on FrontBurner, Glenn Hunter quotes McMurtry calling Dallas 'second-rate' — because that's the kind of remark that'll irritate readers into firing off comments and increasing page views.
But a little context is in order. McMurtry, as he says at the start of his essay, always loved Houston — it's where he set what he feels is his best novel, Terms of Endearment. It's where he spent 17 years as student, professor and bookseller: "I still think of Rice University as my intellectual home."
Dallas, he could always do without — as "A Handful of Roses" makes clear, more than forty years ago: "Wealth, violence and poverty are common throughout Texas, and why the combination should be scarier in Dallas than elsewhere I don't know. But it is: no place in Texas is quite so tense and so tight. Violence in Houston is extremely common, but there it lies close to the surface … Dallas is a city of underground men: the violence there lies deeper, and is under greater pressure."
You might not agree, but no one should be surprised at what he writes now.
But perhaps the smartest thing Silverstein did was get novelist Ben Fountain to write about his experiences as a naive, fresh-to-the-city, young lawyer caught up in the money-grabbing blizzard that was Dallas in our heady, savings-and-loan swindle days — and which, Fountain argues, became the felonious 'new normal' for our national economy. Fountain's story is striking — even at this distance in time, to see how hand-over-fist eager the mentality was, how eager the city's J. R. Ewing mentality was. It ends with his session answering questions from an FBI agent. Welcome to the big city.
Most of the essays about the state's different mega-centers pair off between boosterism and iconoclasm (Cecilia Balli, for instance, takes Austin to task for its self-infatuation as sophisticated and liberal, blind to its own longstanding, civic segregation.) But no city gets quite the treatment that Dallas does — with the one-two punch of Fountain's look-back-in-sorrow-and-anger along with Skip Hollandsworth and Jason Sheeler's report from the Rachofsky House and the 2012 Two x Two for AIDS and Art party. Together, we get Dallas at its international-art-glitziest and its most cynically cutthroat. Houston? Well, John Nova Lomax argues that the city should be the state capital.
For its part, Fort Worth receives an earnest recap of its origins from Sterry Butcher (with yet again, the worry of whither the old, supposedly noble frontier life?), plus Michael Ennis' history of how the Kimbell positively ignited Texas' culture and art-collecting. It also set off a battle of designer-name museums between Fort Worth and Dallas. Which brings up the tendency for both essays (and Bud Kennedy's sidebar on the designation "Dallas-Fort Worth") to sink into that "me, too!" attitude of the put-upon kid brother, trying to outdo his bigger sibling. It doesn't help Fort Worth's civic self-image or its great, distinctive merits when much of this stance can be summed up as "We're not Dallas!"
Perhaps ironically, though — or perhaps fittingly — this February issue's single, most potent illustration of How Far Texas Has Come does not appear in any article. Nor is it located in any specific Texas city. It's an ad for a retail website, a product line called Suddenly Fem, which judging from its site appears to be headquartered in Pennsylvania. The ad appears on p. 170 with an image of bosomy models (left). I spotted it mostly because Sterry Butcher's visit to the cutting-horse championship at the Will Rogers Coliseum took me to the page and kept me there long enough to notice something different.
Suddenly Fem claims to be "the #1 U.S. Fashion Line for Crossdressing Gentlemen."
Welcome, 21st Century Texas. It's not that crossdressing men didn't exist here forty years ago. It just says something that an ad for them can fill two-thirds of a page in Texas Monthly, probably for the first time.
And Suddenly Fem's clothing line doesn't feature a single cowgirl boot. Yes, I checked.
Photo of Dallas skyline outfront from Shutterstock


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Many medical malpractice lawsuits arise out of a doctor's failure to correctly diagnose a medical condition or illness. In some cases, a misdiagnosis results in improper medication or treatment, or a lack of treatment, and these can cause a worsening of the condition or even death in some cases. In most cases, you will need an experienced medical malpractice attorney to consult with an expert physician and determine whether you may have a claim. At Neumann Law Group, Kelly Neumann is an award-winning Detroit, Traverse City, and Grand Rapids misdiagnosis lawyer. Each year for the past several years, she has secured more than $3 million in personal injury cases.Holding a Doctor Liable for a Misdiagnosis
To prove that a misdiagnosis was medical malpractice, you will have to prove that there was a doctor-patient relationship, your doctor did not provide treatment according to the appropriate standard of care, your doctor's failure to meet the standard of care caused your injuries, and you incurred actual damages.
Generally, doctors make diagnoses by using a differential diagnosis method. This is a systematic approach in which a doctor makes a list of diagnoses, ordering them based on their probability. The doctor tests the likelihood of each diagnosis, sometimes by asking further questions about medical history, ordering more tests, or sending the patient to a specialist. In this manner, the doctor can rule out certain diagnoses, and ideally only the correct diagnosis is left at the end. When actionable misdiagnosis occurs, it is often because a doctor failed to include the correct diagnosis on the original list when a reasonably competent doctor would have included it, or the doctor failed to test the correct diagnosis appropriately. For example, based on a patient's age, a doctor may have ruled out a correct diagnosis of cancer without realizing he should seek an opinion from an oncologist.
A misdiagnosis must actually cause harm to a patient in order to be considered medical malpractice. For example, a patient would need to show that because of a misdiagnosis when the correct diagnosis was AIDS, he was forced to undergo more substantial treatment, or his family would need to show that the misdiagnosis caused his death.
In Michigan, you need to file a misdiagnosis claim within the statute of limitations provided for medical malpractice, or you likely will lose your ability to recover compensation. This means that you must file your lawsuit within two years of the misdiagnosis, or within six months of discovering the misdiagnosis if it was not discovered until later. Under no circumstances can you bring your case more than six years after the misdiagnosis.Enlist a Misdiagnosis Lawyer in Traverse City, Grand Rapids, or Detroit
Nobody expects to be harmed when they go to a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. If you have been hurt because of the negligence of a health care provider, the Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Traverse City misdiagnosis attorneys at Neumann Law Group may be able to help you recover the compensation you need and deserve. We represent injured individuals in Petoskey, Warren, Holland, Midland, Muskegon, Saginaw, Wyoming, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, and throughout the Upper Peninsula. Contact us at 800-525-NEUMANN or via our online form for a free consultation with an injury attorney. We also represent people in Massachusetts and California.


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There's no doubt that when you're planning a vacation, you want things to go as chaos-free as possible. Planning a vacation can be a full-time job in itself, especially if you wait too long or don't have all the important details ironed out ahead of time. Renting a car or a minivan may not seem like such a big deal, but if you don't rent the right type of vehicle for your needs and you don't reserve your rental car well in advance of your vacay, you could end up with major trouble on your hands. You could even lose money or precious vacation days trying to find alternative transportation at the last minute. Following is information on car and the different types of rental cars available.
Vacation time … finally! You thought it would never come. Seriously, how long has it been since your last vacation? A year, two years, five years? Recent statistics show that most people in the United States don't go away for nearly as many vacations as they'd like. That's why when you're planning on going away for vacation; you want things to go as smoothly as possible. And that's why planning all the important details is vital. Sure, you don't want to stress about every technicality. By the same token, however, you want to make certain that the big stuff is taken care of in order to avoid last-minute chaos. So, when it comes to your rental car, you need to decide ahead of time the right kind of car for your needs, and you need to book your rental car far enough in advance of your vacation to ensure your reservation is accurate. Whether you need a car, a minivan, or any other type of car rental in NJ, NY, CA or any other state, here are some tips on choosing the rental car that's right for your particular needs.


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No one forgets the moment when your doctor confirms your nightmare is a reality. You feel scared, alone and humiliated. You might start to doubt that you will ever be able to date again or enjoy intimacy. Although there is no cure for HIV/AIDS or herpes I or II, Levine & Blit can help you get back not only your dignity, but the justice you deserve!
From New York to California, it is a crime in most states to fail to disclose a known STD before having sexual contact. If you were unlawfully infected, you have the right to take legal action against the person that unlawfully infected you.
These matters are usually settled quickly and confidentially. However, sometimes a lawsuit may be required. Although many people are fearful that their name might become a matter of public record and associated with the disease, our firm understands the value of confidentiality. We have a proven track record of being able to file these cases and protect your identity at the same time.
Every case is different, and we recognize this is a highly sensitive issue. We will take the time to explain your options, and you can choose what works best for you.
Call (212) 967-3000 to discuss your case with your lawyer.
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Dr. Sharma completed his Masters in Biotechnology from School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India and worked with Dr. Swati Tiwari on in silico Entamoeba Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway categorization. With a research fellowship from CSIR, he obtained his Ph.D. in Microbial Genomics with Dr. Srikrishna Subramanian from Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH), Chandigarh, India. During his Ph.D., he sequenced 15 novel myxobacterial strains and did some interesting comparative genomic work in the field of myxobacterial biology. Later he worked with Prof. Mitchell Singer at the University of California, Davis to understand more about myxobacterial evolution using genomics, transcriptomics and molecular genetics. Dr. Sharma has joined IBAB on August 2019 to start his lab focused on plant microbiome and microbial genomics. He has been awarded INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship from Department of Science and Technology (DST), India for 2019-2024.
Further details are to be found at https://www.ibab.ac.in/research/gaurav-sharma


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Here's a piece of advice for you, guys: You don't need to be ashamed of your privilege—but you need to be aware of it.Read More
Robert Franken
Robert Franken, cofounder of Male Feminists Europe, started #men4equality, an initiative of speakers committing to not speaking at men-only events. He's a blogger and consultant who supports companies in regards to organizational culture, diversity and gender equality. Equality-consulting.com #HeForShe Germany


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Active Directory and Apache Kerberos authentication
This article uses Windows 2003R3 as a KDC, but the exact same setup works with Windows 2008 SP1. The only requirement in case of Windows 2008 is a sufficiently recent Samba installation. In my case, samba 3.4.0-pre1 has been used in both 2003 and 2008 environments.
In this short tutorial we'll set up Kerberos and Apache in a Windows 2003 Active Directory forest. It is required that you know your way around with Debian, Apache configuration and not much more ;)
Initial setup
In this article I'll explore how to set up an Apache web server on a Linux Debian box (squeeze testing as of 05/2009) with kerberos authentication integrated with Active Directory on Windows 2003R2. The domain name that I used for this test is: int.test. Three machines make up this small lab:
- Domain Controller and Kerberos KDC - Windows Server 2003R2 - pdc.int.test (172.16.11.12)
- Web Server - Debian Squeeze (as of 05/2009) - www.int.test (172.16.11.16)
- Client1 - Windows XP Professional - client1.int.test (172.16.11.252)
I'll assume that AD is already set up on pdc.int.test and that all the clients and the web server point to it as their DNS server. The first necessary step is to have the DNS zone and the corresponding reverse zone in place:
Once all the DNS business is taken care of (do not forget the reverse PTR pointers), the web server needs to be properly configured, starting with the installation of all the needed packages:
apt-get install apache2-mpm-prefork libapache2-mod-auth-kerb krb5-config krb5-clients krb5-user samba-client openntpd
Let's make sure that the clocks between the webserver and the DC are in sync. Edit /etc/openntpd/ntpd.conf _and verify that there is a single line containing the DC as ntp server: _server pdc.int.test. Check in /var/log/syslog that the synchronization took place [1] :
May 8 22:46:38 www ntpd[3422]: peer 172.16.11.152 now valid May 8 22:47:59 www ntpd[3422]: clock is now synced
Once time synchronization is taken care of (Kerberos is very sensible about reliable and synchronized clocks), we need to join the machine to the new Active Directory. First let's configure the underlying kerberos libraries in /etc/krb5.conf:
[libdefaults] default_realm = INT.TEST kdc_timesync = 1 ccache_type = 4 forwardable = true proxiable = true fcc-mit-ticketflags = true default_keytab_name = FILE:/etc/krb5.keytab [realms] int.test = { kdc = pdc.int.test master_kdc = pdc.int.test admin_server = pdc.int.test default_domain = int.test } [domain_realm] .int.test = INT.TEST int.test = INT.TEST
If everything is set up correctly, you should be able to authenticate to AD via kerberos:
www:~# kinit Administrator Password for email@example.com:
Double-check that your TGT is correctly set up:
www:~# klist Ticket cache: FILE:/tmp/krb5cc_0 Default principal: email@example.com Valid starting Expires Service principal 05/08/09 22:57:48 05/09/09 08:57:52 email@example.com renew until 05/09/09 22:57:48
Once Kerberos is in place we'll configure samba. The file _/etc/samba/smb.conf _should contain the following:
netbios name = www realm = INT.TEST security = ADS encrypt passwords = yes password server = pdc.int.test workgroup = INT
Let's join the domain [2]:
www:~# net ads join -U Administrator Using short domain name -- INTTEST Joined 'WWW' to realm 'int.test'`
Now that most of the groundwork is done and the web server joined the AD domain correctly, we need to get the service keys in a keytab to be used by apache. Note that most tutorials suggest to use ktpass.exe on windows. I find this approach much more complex and error-prone (i.e. something like ktpass -princ email@example.com -mapuser http-linux-server -crypto DES-CBC-MD5 -ptype KRB5_NT_PRINCIPAL -mapop set +desonly -pass password -out c:\server.keytab then copying the file to the linux box, etc.).
Thanks to samba this can be easier:
www:~# net ads keytab add HTTP -U administrator Processing principals to add... Enter administrator's password:
Now in _/etc/krb5.keytab _there are the service principals for HTTP/www.int.test. In order to verify it you can use the ktutil tool:
www:~# ktutil ktutil: rkt /etc/krb5.keytab ktutil: l slot KVNO Principal ---- ---- --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 19 firstname.lastname@example.com 2 19 email@example.com 3 19 email@example.com 4 19 email@example.com 5 19 firstname.lastname@example.com 6 19 firstname.lastname@example.com
We also need to give permission to apache to read this keytab file:
www:~# chmod 740 /etc/krb5.keytab www:~# chgrp www-data /etc/krb5.keytab
It's important to understand that the above solution only makes sense if apache is the only kerberized service. If more than apache is present it makes sense to have separated keytabs with appropriate permissions.
Make sure the mod_auth_kerb module is active with a2enmod auth_kerb.
<Location /secured> AuthType Kerberos AuthName Kerberos Login KrbMethodNegotiate On KrbMethodK5Passwd On KrbAuthRealms INT.TEST Krb5KeyTab /etc/krb5.keytab require valid-user </Location>
Make sure that the relative dir_ secured _exists and that it contains an ad hoc index.html so we can verify the successful authentication. Once the testing phase is completed, I tipically switch off the KrbMethodK5Passwd option, so users do not get promptet for authentication if for some reason the Kerberos authentication fails.
Set up the client
On the Windows XP Pro client (client1.int.test) we can test this kerberized Apache setup.
Mozilla Firefox is a bit simpler to set up. You need to add the domain int.test to the options network.negotiate-auth.trusted-uris and network.negotiate-auth.delegation-uris.
Once this is done, we just need to browse to the page where Kerberos authentication is forced: www.int.test/secured
Internet Explorer 8
Internet Explorer is a little bit more difficult to setup. With this I mean that there are a few more spots where things can go wrong. First you need to go in Tools, Internet Options, Advanced and all the way to the bottom you need to make sure that Enable Integrates Windows Authentication is active (it might require a restart):
You will also need to add *.int.test to the Intranet Zones. (Note that Integrated Windows Authentication does not work on home variants of Microsoft Operating Systems)
Under Tools, *Internet Options, Security, Custom Level *verify that Automatic logon only in Intranet zone is selected.
Once all these steps are taken care of you'll see the same HTML page as Firefox when going to http://www.int.test/secured
[1] You should make sure that the Domain Controller that has the PDC Emulator role in your domain synchronizes the time with an NTP box somewhere on the net or via a special time HW device.
[2] If you encounter a GSS error related to Stream modified, it might be due to a bug in the kerberos 1.7beta libs (It's been fixed in beta3)


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"It is not the fact of war that sets Hiroshima apart. Artifacts tell us that violent conflict appeared with the very first man. Our early ancestors having learned to make blades from flint and spears from wood used these tools not just for hunting but against their own kind. On every continent, the history of civilization is filled with war, whether driven by scarcity of grain or hunger for gold, compelled by nationalist fervor or religious zeal. Empires have risen and fallen. Peoples have been subjugated and liberated. And at each juncture, innocents have suffered, a countless toll, their names forgotten by time. The world war that reached its brutal end in Hiroshima and Nagasaki was fought among the wealthiest and most powerful of nations. Their civilizations had given the world great cities and magnificent art. Their thinkers had advanced ideas of justice and harmony and truth. And yet the war grew out of the same base instinct for domination or conquest that had caused conflicts among the simplest tribes, an old pattern amplified by new capabilities and without new constraints. … Every great religion promises a pathway to love and peace and righteousness, and yet no religion has been spared from believers who have claimed their faith as a license to kill. Nations arise telling a story that binds people together in sacrifice and cooperation, allowing for remarkable feats. But those same stories have so often been used to oppress and dehumanize those who are different."
"My fellow Americans: In a few days, we'll be commemorating V – J Day, the 40th anniversary of the end of the war in the Pacific, which brought to a close the most destructive and widespread conflagration in the history of mankind. Over 3 million American airmen, soldiers, sailors, and marines served in the Pacific and Asian theaters between 1941 – 1945. They endured some of the most savage combat of the war, from the frozen Aleutian Islands in the north to the jungles of Guadalcanal and the volcanic sands of Iwo Jima. Our fighting forces came back from the defeat at Pearl Harbor and slugged their way across the Pacific, island by island. General Douglas MacArthur wrote of the American fighting man in the Pacific: "He plods and groans, sweats and toils. He growls and curses. And at the end, he dies, unknown, uncomplaining, with faith in his heart, and on his lips, a prayer for victory." Well, the victory was won, and our freedom and way of life were preserved because of the courage and honor of those who put their lives on the line four decades ago. … Those brave Americans who fought in the Pacific four decades ago were fighting for a better world. They believed in America and often they gave the last full measure of devotion. One such man was Marine Lieutenant David Tucker Brown from Alexandria, Virginia. While in the Pacific, he wrote home: "I am more than ever convinced that this is Thomas Jefferson's war, the war of the common man against tyranny and pride. It is really a war for democracy and not for power or materialism." Well, Lieutenant Brown was later killed in action in Okinawa, one of so many brave and courageous young Americans who made the supreme sacrifice. I think if those brave men were with us today they'd be proud of what has been accomplished. At war's end, with victory in hand, we looked forward, not back. We lived up to our ideals, the ideals of heroes like Lieutenant David Tucker Brown. And we worked with our former enemies to build a new and better world, a world of freedom and opportunity. That's the America we're all so proud of. Until next week, thanks for listening, and God bless you."


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Paris (CIUP). The project is part of #Cite2020, an initiative by the Cite Internationale to develop 1,800 new housing units by 2020. Adding to the existing 40 residential buildings, the Fondation de Chine will introduce a contemporary interpretation of student housing to the campus.
Housing a variety of academic buildings and residences organized by nationality, the CIUP was founded in Paris in 1920 as a space for students and researchers. The private park and foundation were conceived as a place to cultivate multicultural intellectual conversation.
Over its almost century long development, it has been contributed to by notable architects such as Le Corbusier who designed the Pavillon Suisse (The Pavilion of Switzerland) in 1930 and collaborated with Lucio Costa in 1954 for the Maison du Brésil (Home of Brazil). Claude Parent granted his architectural vision to the Pavillon de l'Iran (Pavilion of Iran) in 1969, and in 1926 Willem Marinus Dudok designed the first residence, Collège Néerlandais (The Netherlands College).
According to the architects, the design of the Fondation de Chine will be a synthesis of modern Chinese culture rather than a display of any one particular architectural style. Including residences and a multipurpose hall, the building aims to be a venue for academic and artistic exchange. The project promotes the connectivity between indoor and outdoor space, seen in the stairs that cross the gardens. Chinese sculptor Sui Jianguo will consult on the landscape design of the project, which includes two interior gardens and a terrace garden.
The project will continue to be developed and completion is expected in the near future.
News Via: Atelier FCJZ.


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Mazda launches micro-mini tall Flairwagon in Japan
Mazda has added a new micro-mini tall wagon to its lineup in Japan with the release of the Mazda Flairwagon. Designed to seat four adults with plenty of headroom, the Flairwagon features sliding rear doors on both sides and a low rear step to provide easy ingress and egress in the tightest of parking spaces.
Mazda is offering the Flairwagon in three different models, along with an additional special edition IS Limited model that comes equipped with an idling stop system. The LS, XS and IS models are powered by a 660 DOHC VVT engine, while the TS model gets a 660 DOHC Turbo powerplant. All feature a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with auxiliary gearbox and qualify as super ultra-low emission vehicles (SU-LEV) in Japan.
Fuel economy figures range from 17.2 km/L (40.45 US mpg) for the TS Flairwagon, up to 22.2 km/L (52.22 US mpg) for the IS model. While the IS model is front-wheel drive (FWD) only, a choice of FWD and full-time 4WD is offered in the other models.
The cabin of the Flairwagon measures 1,365 mm (53.74 in) high and 2,070 mm (81.49 in) long, with the luggage compartment just 535 mm (21.06 in) off the ground for easy loading and unloading. Mazda says the split-dive down rear seat can be folded almost flat to create enough room for a 27-inch bike. There's also a passenger side under-seat box and an upper glove box that uses air from the air conditioner to function as a cold storage space.
Coming in Aqua Veil Blue Pearl Metallic, Bloom Pink Metallic, Silky Silver Metallic, Pearl White and Bluish Black Pearl, the Flairwagon ranges in price from 1,212,750 yen (approx. US$15,250) for the LS model, up to 1,499,400 yen (approx. US$18,855) for the TS model.
Source: Mazda