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Building a team to do something we have never done before….
"Change is constant and the pace is getting quicker" is the common wisdom and I haven't seen anything that disproves it. This means that organisations and teams need to change and evolve constantly. As internal and external forces act on them or their area of operations change, they have to react. Often organisations need to do something new or different to get the organisation to grow, service new or different customers, deal with staff changes etc. etc. This cycle of change means that there needs to be a constant focus on improving operations and also building the team to make sure it is capable of delivering what is needed.
Sometimes the shift in focus is even bigger than that. New products, new services, new technology or new markets mean that the organisation needs to do things differently or do something new. So how do you build a team to do something that you have never done before?
As ever, sport provides some interesting parallels that we can use. Football is the obvious choice but I would like to look at the approach being taken to win the oldest sporting trophy in the world, one that we have never won before: the America's Cup.
As in other team sports, sailing a yacht is very much a group activity that takes skill, practice, fitness and passion to succeed at. Overarching all of those things are teamwork and communications. It is perfectly possible for a better led, less fit but stronger team to beat one that has "better" people in it. That is not to say that other attempts to win the cup haven't focused on teamwork. They have but they have started in a different place than the current team: they have recruited the most capable sailors possible and tried to build them in to a team.
Numerous times in my career I have heard or read job ads that talk about "we only hire the best", "you need to be outstanding in your field", "I want the best sales and marketing director!" etc. etc. And how many times have we known someone like that moving on quite quickly? Leaders underestimate the damage that can be caused by recruiting an extreme "alpha-male" ego in to an organisation. Yes, there will be some disruption whoever gets recruited as that is what happens in the team lifecycle. There will need to be some team building done in all cases but successful teams contain members who are willing to join in for the benefit of the organisation. However, "rock stars" often aren't as there is little in it for them: they are utterly focused on getting what they need to do done – often to the detriment of others.
Sir Ben Ainsley, one of our most decorated Olympians, is choosing to do something different. He has realised that teamwork is vital so he has looked for sailors that are "good enough" or "fit enough" to work with but who also work well together. He has taken the approach that the whole team, including himself, are on a journey together and that they will all improve and succeed or fail together.
All the news from the team is here: http://land-rover-bar.americascup.com/
We will find out next year whether his team will finally bring the cup back to the UK after over 130 years of trying.


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Will you be at AWS re:Invent 2018? 2nd Watch is sponsoring the event, and we want to see you! Stop by booth #2440 to speak with a cloud solutions expert or pre-schedule your meeting with us today.
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See you in Vegas!
-Nicole Maus, Marketing Manager

subset: commoncrawl


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Tackling dance music is unlike any other form of musical analysis. Instead of examining the philosophical topics broached or the complexity and strength of the musical composition, one aspect of dance music remains most important: is it danceable? Does it have a strong beat? Does the artist bring a unique voice to the endless torrent of copycat dance music flooding the airwaves of the world? On song after song, Buraka Som Sistema's debut LP Black Diamond clearly answers a resounding "yes" to all of these questions. Black Diamond is a dance music opus, the Portuguese answer to France's Daft Punk and Justice, a perfect blend of African, Carribean, and European techno, all placed inside a genre gaining immense popularity in Portugal: kuduro.
For the uninitiated, kuduro actually comes from Angola. It began by mixing African rhythms with genres such as soca and calypso, then later incorporating European stylings, as European music began to make more of an impact on Angolan musicians. Rather than being a world music genre that rejects Western tradition, it is an amalgamation of Western dance music and African percussion rhythms.
Given that Portugal colonized Angola during their period of imperialism, a large number of Portugal's immigrants are from Angola. Settling in suburbs of Lisbon, they brought this musical style to Portugal. Now many Portuguese DJs and MCs are starting to specialize in the genre, adding a larger European influence to the blend. MC Kalaf and the production trio of Lil' John (not to be confused with Lil' Jon), Riot and Conductor rose to fame with their hit "Yah!", which appears on Black Diamond. Gaining acceptance and support from artists such as M.I.A., they frequently tour Europe and made their way to the Coachella festival in California this year. In 2008, they won the MTV Europe Music award for Best Portuguese Act.
Riding on all of this steam, Buraka Som Sistema released this relentlessly energetic and uptempo album in America, hoping to make a splash. As hardly any of the album is in English, there will be a language barrier to cross, but the beats here are so strong that at least hipsters should catch on. The album begins with four of its strongest, most danceable songs, including "Kalemba (Wegue Wegue)", which topped the charts in Portugal and peaked at #6 in the UK, and "Sound of Kuduro", where M.I.A. carries the chorus. All four songs are at nearly the same exact tempo ("Aqui Para Voces" is slightly slower than the other three), but manage to carry very different moods. "Sound of Kuduro" is angry, defiant, and rebellious. With M.I.A. headlining, these emotions come across clearly, even if the verses are in Portuguese. The song, which wants to define kuduro, makes kuduro seem like the sounds of the underground, an image that could connect with many in the Western music world. "Aqui Para Voces", on the other hand, is something slightly less aggressive, although still full of energy and speed.
As all of the songs buzz, crackle, and distort themselves, the album feels like the playlist of an underground radio station. As it continues, it gets more and more experimental. "Kurum" uses strange, tribal samples to carry the vocal melodies, while the beat and instrumental melodies combine to create a blend of Basshunter, Daft Punk, and Vybz Kartel. "IC19" puts a definite groove to undeniably techno melodies, allowing for more styles of dance than jumpstyle. Meanwhile, "Skank and Move" epitomizes the album's hip-hop and Caribbean influences, with British rapper Kano providing the album with its only purely English track. "General" begins playing like a track straight out of an Amadou and Mariam album. They released perhaps the best African pop album of 2008, Welcome to Mali. After their initial definition and establishment of the kuduro sound, Buraka Som Sistema decides to exploit all of their influences by bringing them out for a track.
The two-part "New Africas" goes completely against convention. This is easily the most experimental section of the album. It proves that Buraka Som Sistema can make music to listen to, not just to dance to. In fact, without the aid of hallucinogenic drugs, no one can dance to the constantly shifting tempos and frenetic rhythms. It also closes the album, perhaps giving a sign of things to come. The end of the second part builds in typical techno fashion. But just at the point of climax, the album ends – proof that the party never stops with Buraka.
With the perfect mesh of club bangers, sonic experiments, and songs that fall just in between these two extremes, Black Diamond has everything a successful dance album needs. The language barrier will undoubtedly and unfortunately hinder the trio in much of America, but it seems that their ride to stardom in Europe has only just begun. It may be a bit premature, but if anything beats this for best dance album released in America in 2009, it had best reinvent the wheel.


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- Audi Tunes
- >
- Audi S7 Tune
Audi S7 Tune
Performance Tunes for the Audi S7
Unlock your Audi's power potential by tuning with our OBD flash option! Unleash the power of your S7 with our tunes and turn it into a new beast!
Gain ~70-110+ WHP with our simple flash tuning!
This tune REQUIRES the use of a Shinji Tuned flash device.
Existing customers who already have this item in their possession may choose the option to exclude the purchase of another device.
New customers should select the "Add Flash Device". Once a tune and device are purchased, the flash device will be shipped to your mailing address. Upon receiving the device, please save a back up copy of your ECU's ROM and email it to us as an attachment, please include your order number, name, car make and model in both the file name and email title.
Once the file is received, we will send you the tuned file within 48 working hours, then simply flash the tune to your car and enjoy your newly unlocked power!


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Hi guys
I get a number of mails from you all every day. And this is in addition to numerous comments on all the blog posts. Mails range from ones asking for advice on specific stocks to ones asking about gifting foreign trips to wives!! 🙂
But unfortunately, I am unable to give timely replies to all your mails. Sometimes, the mails just get buried in 'read mails folder' of my inbox. There shouldn't be any excuse for not giving timely replies but the fact is that I still have a day job and need to juggle between the job and this small adventure called Stable Investor. 🙂
I received a follow up mail from a lady reader (Sa####) about how I was trying to act pricey and not replying to her previous mail. First of all… my apologies to her. I understand that it is frustrating if one does not respond to one's genuine concerns. But honestly, this and many such slip-ups are neither intentional nor an act of posing like a big gun. Its simply because of reasons given in previous paragraph. And I wanted the readers to know the truth.
I just want to finish by saying that I am just a regular guy like you all and am trying to act not only as a guide but also as a friend. I know what it means to be messed up with your finances, not being able to pay the bills, cutting down on expenditures, etc. I have gone through all that.
I would feel satisfied if Stable Investor is adding value (or rather bringing sanity) to your financial life.
And I would appreciate You if…
…you would join Stable Investor on Facebook by clicking the image below and LIKING the Facebook page:
Its faster & easier for me to respond to your Facebook messages and comments. Also, you will get loads of interesting stock market and wealth building related updates on a daily basis.
I hope you understand
A Stable Investor


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Friday, September 25, 2015
Frugal Friday: Money Saving Weekly Recap
I took my daughter to her scheduled dentist appointment this week and got her two baby teeth pulled. The poor thing HURT for a day afterwards and when I looked at the teeth they pulled I saw why. I had never seen baby teeth with roots that long. No wonder the poor thing couldn't get them to come loose/out. Half of the tooth was rooted in!
We stopped off afterwards and made an appointment with the orthodontist. Found out that orthodontist work isn't covered by her insurance, so we're going to be paying a possible 7 to 8 thousand out for braces if she needs them. I'll be sending up a lot of prayers till her appointment at the beginning of October that the braces aren't necessary.
When the gal told me that insurance didn't cover braces, I think waiting for the inevitable argument from another dissatisfied person, I sighed and just asked if they took payments. She said yes they did and gave me some details on the other arrangements they could make and then complimented me on being so calm about it.
I just shrugged and gave a half grin saying that by this point I'm numb when it comes to dental bills. What can you do if the work needs to be done?
And so we'll go in and see how that all works out in a few weeks. Fingers crossed.
Anyway, I did get some money saving things done this week!
1. I've remembered about 1/2 the time this week to turn off the heat in my kid's rooms when they are at school during the day. I know that sounds like a really not great average, but this is the coldest September we've had in a few years, so I feel proud of myself for remembering at all as I get back into the swing of things around here.
2. I fixed the other arm of our loveseat (seen up top). The right arm, admittedly, didn't come out as well as the left arm did, but I had to kind of force the material to do what I needed it to on the right arm instead of following the contours of the arm like I did on the left. Mainly because I REALLY needed any extra material I could scab off of my lowly 1 yard remnant so I could fix some really nasty flaking leather that was on the back couch cushion. By doing the arm the way I did I managed to stretch the fabric as far as I needed it to go (barely...I think I had about 1/16 of an inch to spare. I was proud of myself *laugh*) and everything is fixed. That, to me is the important thing. The patch on the back couch cushion is obvious when you see it, but hey if you cover it with an afghan or quilt you'll never know it's there (see can't see it up there in that picture can you ;).
3. I went to the store today and by combining sales and coupons (and actually going to multiple stores, which is a rarity for me anymore) I was able to stick to my weekly grocery budget but was able to get a flat of evaporated milk, various flavors of Jello, some canned pork, 10 more lbs of margarine (this will hopefully, if my calculations are good, between what I already bought and this 10 lbs, last us six to eight months), 10 cans of green beans and 6 cans of various condensed soups as well as steaks (steaks are kind of a luxury item anymore). All within my normal grocery budget. When I was at Carrs and the total started at 157.00, I got a bit petrified that I'd done my math wrong only to watch the amount go down when they hit total. By the time my coupons were applied and discounts taken my total was 84.00. Times like that I feel good and really feel like I earned my home keeping "pay" as it were.
I even looked up at our local bulk store to find that their gas was a lot cheaper than elsewhere (2.69 at Three Bears on the Palmer Wasilla folks!) and I realized when I saw the price in town that even with my gas rewards I wasn't going to get cheaper than that, so I stopped off there on the way home and got gas.
4. By limiting my trips and trying to combine errands I was able to make 1/2 tank of gas last two weeks.
5. I watched "Wartime Farm" on You Tube over the last week and thoroughly enjoyed it! It's kind of like "The 1940's House" only it's based on three people living in British wartime farm conditions for a year. It was fascinating watching it and seeing what kind of resourcefulness the farmers had to employ to see them through the war years and beyond. I added the companion book to the series to my Amazon cart to hopefully buy later. Times like this I love having a laptop as I put it on the counters and watched the series (8 one hour episodes in length) while I baked or did the dishes. I'm seriously thinking about watching some of the other series such as "Victorian Farm" in the coming weeks.
I was also able, by doing a little research, to find some Women's Institute booklets on Amazon (the woman in "The Wartime Farm" used WI booklets a lot and I was really intrigued by them) for free download. I'm hoping to read through them soon.
6. I made cookies this week. Still have to make bread, but I'm planning on waking up early tomorrow to get that done and work on some housework (like ironing and sewing) while the kids are still asleep. IF they actually sleep normal hours and wake up normally, which with my kids...it ain't likely, but I can hope.
7. I dropped off three more loads of things to the used store. Still have a bunch more to go, but I'm making progress. I don't know if it's really a "money saving" thing to do, but I still feel good that those clothes will go to people who will need them and the people who run the thrift store are really nice and I'm happy to help support their church and charities.
8. I made a big pot of mulled apple cider oatmeal and ate it for my breakfasts all this week. A cheap breakfast, yes, but I've really been enjoying it.
9. I made a batch of home made Bisquick/Master Mix as I was running low. I love that stuff for pancakes mostly, but it's worth keeping around for sure!
10. I edited my October shopping list some more to add a few things and remove some things I've been able to buy beforehand with my weekly grocery money. I feel really good watching the list get smaller as I pinch pennies to get some of the things beforehand with what I normally spend for the week.
And there you are folks. Some ways I saved money this week. How did you do?
9 comments:
What an amazing job you've done fixing your love seat. It looks pretty good from the picture you took!ReplyDelete
I LOVE the all of the series that Ruth, Peter and Alex have made. There is so much info to glean from them! Ruth is such a firecrack, but I have to say my favourite is Peter. Ever notice he is always the one doing the hard labour? Poor Peter...he's just so lovable!Replies
Yeah, you can tell poor Peter's soap runs out first too. He's out of shaving soap and soap faster than Alex is, probably due to the fact that he's always the one knee deep in muck with tons of weight on his back *laugh*.Delete
I often wonder if Alex has some type of back problems you don't see on screen as Peter never once complains about doing the heavy lifting. Alex makes light of using Peter as a work horse, but it makes me wonder a bit :).
I am loving your blog! My husband is also self employed in an industry that is slowly dying, and I am having to make every penny squeal. You are inspiring me to stay on task. You might like to watch Coal House At War on You Tube. It is similar to 1940's House and Wartime Kitchen. Thanks for your great posts!ReplyDelete
Awesome! Thanks for the kind words and recommend on Coal House At War. I'm off to check that out right now :).ReplyDelete
I wouldn't just take the word of the orthodontist office that braces aren't covered without checking directly with the insurance company itself. Typically ortho coverage isn't great, but it's something. I would also try doing some price comparisons between the orthodontists you have there. But I will tell you that in one case I do wish I had talked to people who had used the orthodontist office, because I very much regret one place we used. But best of all will be if she doesn't need it at all!ReplyDeleteReplies
I called the insurance company and they backed up what the orthodontist had told me. Not fun. I also called around and got four different price estimates (just in general as we don't have her results yet of course) and they all gave me the same ballpark figures.Delete
Unfortunately, one thing we pay through the nose for in Alaska is medical and dental care. It's insane what it costs. But, nothing to be done about it.
And thank you for the advice on talking to people and I will be sure to do just that. I tend to trust my instincts anymore, so I'm waiting to meet the orthodontist. I've been to enough therapists with my son that I have learned to have a heck of a radar when it comes to people and if I get a bad vibe we will not be going there.
Well, that's a bummer. Between my two kids and myself, we've been through 6 rounds of orthodontics in the last 10 years or so. Because my husband and I changed jobs a couple of times (this was also in three different states :)), we did get to collect insurance a few different times, but the max was $1800. The one orthodontist that I didn't like tended to blame the kids any time anything happened. Said kid was following all the rules she was supposed to, so it really made me angry. It turned out she had a faulty appliance, and once that was replaced, she never broke anything again. At the next orthodontist, something came off, and we went in and I was all ready to be mama bear, but the girl said, oh we made so and so adjustment, so it's probably just that the wire became too short. Totally different attitude. Anyway, I hope all goes well! It would be so awesome if she doesn't need them.Delete
Oh yes I'm really hoping she doesn't need them. Fingers and toes crossed on that one.ReplyDelete
I had a similar experience with a pediatric dentist in the area with my daughter years ago. It was her first dental appointment and this guy put her in a nearly full body lock while cleaning her teeth, jamming sunglasses onto her face and then proceeded to tell me children should only drink water, period (she drank milk and 1/2 and 1/2 water and juice at the time) because it would rot out her teeth and they should only have this many meals and one snack a day. Period.
I'm glad my husband didn't go with me to that appointment or I think said dentist would have gotten a black eye. As was, as soon as we were out of the office, the tears were dried and mama stopped wanting to go back in and kill someone, we never went back.
Like you our new dentist is like night and day. He's been SO good with my son, going so far as to clean his teeth with him sitting on a counter if he felt more comfortable there and he's very patient with my daughter who tends to go full drama mode as soon as there's anything dental or medical involved (comes from having to have too many medical tests a few years ago before we found out about her cyclical vomiting syndrome).
I'm sorry you got to experience so many orthodontist visits over the years. I'm really hoping my daughter's visit is the only one we have to have for a while.
Oh the loveseat project has really gone well for you. Great job! And thanks for the mention of War Time Farm. I was unaware of that series and will enjoy watching.ReplyDelete


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- Company Announcement Date:
- September 29, 2021
- FDA Publish Date:
- September 30, 2021
- Product Type:
- Food & Beverages
- Reason for Announcement:
Undeclared wheat
- Company Name:
- B&G Foods Inc.
- Brand Name:
- Product Description:
Taco Seasoning Blend
Company Announcement
B&G Foods announced today it is voluntarily recalling 3,867 cases of 23 oz. Tone's Taco Seasoning Blend, with "best by" dates of SEPT 03 24 and SEPT 06 24, due to the presence of undeclared wheat. A portion of the individual containers within those cases were mistakenly labeled on the back with the back labels for Tone's Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend, which does not list wheat as an allergen. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat run the risk of serious or life- threatening allergic reaction if the recalled product is consumed. There is no health risk associated with this product for individuals without an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat.
This recall affects only the following product, which may have been distributed in Sam's Club stores nationwide and through the Sam's Club website:
|Consumer UPC #
|Best By Dates
|Tone's Taco
Seasoning Blend
(The UPC is located on the bottom
of the back label and references
the incorrect product.)
|23 oz. (1.43 LB)
(The "best by" date is
located on the bottom of
the side of the container.)
This recall does not apply to any other "best by" dates, sizes or varieties of Tone's brand products.
No allergic reactions or consumer complaints related to this matter have been reported to date. This recall was initiated in cooperation with the FDA.
It was determined that 3,867 cases of Tone's Taco Seasoning Blend, which contain wheat, may contain some individual containers which are mistakenly labeled on the back as Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend, which does not declare wheat. The product name appears on the top of the front and back label. Containers labeled as Tone's Taco Seasoning Blend on both the front and back of the container correctly declare the presence of wheat. Containers labeled as Tone's Taco Seasoning Blend on the front and Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend on the back do not list wheat as an allergen. Therefore, B&G Foods is issuing this recall for Tone's Taco Seasoning Blend with the particular UPC and "best by" dates listed above.
Consumers who have purchased the recalled product can return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of the product. Consumers seeking a refund or additional information may also contact B&G Foods by calling 800.247.5251 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern time or by submitting an online contact at https://tones.com/contactExternal Link Disclaimer.
Read the full report here.
As published on Healthyexaminer.com.


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Here's another one that was sent to me by Javier over at Box From Japan – thanks! Box From Japan is a subscription service – you can get a box sent to you every month with some great noodles within! This one looks really fancy – the whole thing is shiny and gold! Let's have a look inside!
Here's detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Contains pork and fish. To prepare, add in vegetable sachet. Add boiling water to fill line and cover for 5 minutes. Add in soup base and stir well. Garnish with nori (seaweed). Enjoy!
Detail of the lid (click to enlarge).
The noodle block.
The soup base sachet.
Has a sweet pork scent to it.
The vegetable and meat sachet.
Wow – pork and nice big pieces of vegetables.
A sachet of nori.
A nice big piece!
Finished (click to enlarge). Added hard boiled egg. The noodles are absolutely excellent – nice and chewy but not tough. They're perfectly hydrated and of a good, thick gauge. The broth is really good too – a soy sauce flavor with a little sweetness and a beautiful oiliness. The piece of seaweed is an excellent plus as well as the garnish pack which included pork, bamboo shoot and spring onion of which all were excellent. A beautiful bowl of instant ramen. 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. JAN bar code 4901990334112.
Maruchan-seimen 4-taste Variety Packs (8pacs)
A TV commercial for the Maruchan Seimen bowls. Here's the 'making of video as well.


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Citing instances of recent violence in UP, Shiv Sena cautioned that attempts were being made to communally polarise Maharashtra also.
Mumbai: In a blistering attack on NCP chief Sharad Pawar, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday said his politics was "dangerous" for Maharashtra and claimed it was disrupting the harmony in society.
It does not befit a former chief minister to pose hurdles in the police probe in the Bhima-Koregaon violence, the Shiv Sena said, and asked who Pawar was trying to save by pointing fingers at the probe into the incident.
After the Pune Police recently arrested five people in connection with the January 1 caste violence at Bhima-Koregaon in that district, Pawar alleged that the government was branding some "progressive" people as "Naxalites" for organising the 'Elgar Parishad'.
Citing instances of recent violence at some places in Uttar Pradesh, the Shiv Sena cautioned that attempts were being made to communally polarise Maharashtra as well.
"Sharad Pawar's politics is dangerous for the state," it said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.
The Shiv Sena sought to know if Pawar, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar and others had taken it upon themselves to mislead the course of investigation into the Bhima-Koregaon incident.
"On what grounds does Sharad Pawar say that those caught by the police for instigating riots in Bhima-Koregaon did not actually do so?" the Marathi daily asked.
It does not befit Pawar, who had served as the chief minister of Maharashtra multiple times, to create obstacles in path of the police and question its investigation, it said.
"Who is Pawar trying to save by saying the police has caught the wrong people?" it further asked.
"When Maharashtra was burning due to the Bhima- Koregaon incident, Pawar, instead of coming in front of cameras and asking people to maintain peace, created a delusion that Hindutva organisations were behind it," it said.
Pawar was expected to come on the streets and calm down people, the publication said.
"What Pawar does is his outlook. However, his politics is disrupting the harmony of society," the Sena said.
On June 10, at a function marking the NCP's 19th anniversary and culmination of the party's "hallabol" campaign in Pune, Pawar had said, "Some progressive people in Pune came together and organised the Elgar Parishad. Now, the government is arresting some of them and branding them Naxalites."
"Everyone knows who were behind the Bhima-Koregaon (violence) but instead of arresting them, those who have no connection, have been arrested and this is called the misuse of power," the former Union minister had said.


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CityRoom is following an epic travel adventure as two extremely experienced and talented photo journalists honor the US Park Services' Centennial Celebration by visiting all 59 National Parks during 2016. Stefanie Payne and Jonathan Irish are traveling from the Caribbean to Samoa to Alaska and around the lower 48, join me and live vicariously through the words and photos created by these two adventurers. Subscribe to their newsletter and follow their journey: http://TheGreatestRoadTrip.com.
Article by Stefanie Payne. First published on The Greatest Road Trip.
Seeing an Old Friend in a New Light: Shenandoah National Park
When we arrived to Shenandoah National Park in February, it was very much a world without color. A
This version of Shenandoah was a new world to us. We had been living in the DC area for almost eight years and the park was our regular respite from the busy city life – the outdoors that we craved so much. I had photographed the park many, many times in all seasons. We knew the trails in spring when the air was still cold at night and we would make our first forage into the mountains to setup a tent. We knew the trails in summer when we joined the throngs of DC folk on the way up to Old Rag Mountain in desperate need to breathe fresh air and gaze upon the wooded valley below. And we knew the park in the fall when the autumn colors exploded in the brightest yellows, oranges, and reds. But for some reason, we had never explored the park in winter. Until this year.
With fresh eyes we hiked new trails. Our first hike was Mary's Rock Trail, located in the aptly named
We found life in the frozen wonderland. Deer fed on tufts of grass poking out of the snow at Big Meadows. Downy Woodpeckers, the smallest American woodpecker, flew from tree to tree and eluded our cameras but not our ears. Fresh tracks in the snow of animals big and small gave away their presence but not their location. If you stood still enough, the forest came alive.
Experiencing Shenandoah in the winter was like getting to know an old friend in a new way. We had spent eight years together, walked through three seasons upon her trails, drives, and overlooks. Yet we never knew the beauty she possessed in the crisp air of winter. It was not only a surprise, but also a pure delight. For this reason, we are presenting all the images in black and white….a form of photography which is also an old friend and one that fits very well in this colorless, winter world of Shenandoah National Park during February.
9 parks down, just 50 more to go!
The Visitor Center was closed when we were there due to weather, so no hiking stick medallions from Shenandoah for us at this time!
If you drive to, say, Shenandoah National Park, or the Great Smoky Mountains, you'll get some appreciation for the scale and beauty of the outdoors. When you walk into it, then you see it in a completely different way. You discover it in a much slower, more majestic sort of way.
— Bill Bryson
Quotable Images
Fact Box
199,000 acres | 40% of the area designated as wilderness | Appalachian Trail connection
Official name: Shenandoah National Park
Established: May 22, 1926
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia
How the park got its name: The name "Shenandoah" is an American Indian word meaning "Daughter of the Stars." Natives used the area for hunting and shelter. Miners and loggers used it to harvest valuable resources. Soldiers used it as a fighting ground. Shenandoah is the name of a river, mountain, valley, county, and many other things, so, the origin of the National Park name is unclear. Daughter of the Stars. That's beautiful.
Iconic site in the park: A climb to the top of Old Rag Mountain is undoubtedly the most popular, and the most difficult hike in the park. It certainly isn't for everyone. But for those of you ready to take on the challenge, you will find yourself in the clouds. The circuit hike is about 9 miles, with significant elevation change, and strenuous rock scrambles. This hike takes 7-8, and sometimes longer depending on how many people are out there—waiting in line to pass through scrambles is par for the course. In our experience, hitting Old Rag on a weekday and/or during off-season is a much more pleasing experience.
Accessible adventure: The Skyline Drive scenic byway is one of the most beautiful drives in the United States at any time of the year. The picturesque 105-mile road travels through Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains where 75 overlooks welcome visitors to take in panoramic views of the Shenandoah wilderness. Stops along the way bring you to trailheads where you can explore the forests, waterfalls, rocky areas, and hopefully have a wildlife sighting. It's a pretty amazing place in terms of wildlife – there are black bears, deer, woodpeckers, owls, raccoons, skunk, fox, coyotes and wild turkeys, just to name a few of the types of animals you might run into out there.
Big adventure: One of the best ways to go big in Shenandoah is to hit the pavement on a bicycle and traverse the entire length of Skyline drive. With 105-miles of twists, turns, and incredible views throughout, it is truly one of the great rides in the U.S. As this is also a very popular drive, this adventure is suited for experienced riders who know how to navigate and coexist among traffic. There are a couple of outfits in the area who offer multi-day guided bike excursions if you want to hit the road with some additional support.
Did you know?
Appalachian Trail marker in Shenandoah National Park.
Skyline Drive rides the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains for 105 miles through Shenandoah National Park, and joins the Blue Ridge Parkway which connects Shenandoah to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC. As an aside, this is the same ridge that was walked by American Indians and early settlers of Virginia.
Shenandoah is without a doubt one of the coolest leaf-peeping spots in the United States when fall foliage changes color each year. Until we took to the road, we hit the park to capture autumn leaf pics every single year.
In 1964, the U.S. Congress passed a law known as the Wilderness Act, from which a National Wilderness Preservation System was created to provide an "enduring resource of wilderness" for present and future generations. Forty percent of Shenandoah is designated as a wilderness area, representing one of the largest wilderness areas in the eastern United States.
Rapidan Camp, within the park, was the summer White House of President Herbert Hoover.
101 miles of the 2,184-mile Appalachian Trail is located in Shenandoah National Park.
"In every part of the country, local and state and federal authorities are engaged in preserving and developing our heritage of natural resources; and in this work they are also conserving our priceless heritage of human values by giving to hundreds of thousands of men the opportunity of making an honest living. I saw this work in progress when I was here two years ago. I have seen it in progress in many other parts of the land; and so I can say, from first-hand evidence, that the product of the labor of the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps, who have opened the Shenandoah National Park and other parks to the use and enjoyment of our citizens, is as significant as though instead of working for the Government they had been working in a mill or in a factory. They have a right to be as proud of their labor here as if they had been engaged in private employment.
— President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, from his dedication of Shenandoah National Park in 1936
Shenandoah National Park Map
A special thanks to National Geographic, Fujifilm, and Airstream for making this project possible.
#CityRoomTravel #Tourism #Virginia #BlueRidgeMountains #StefaniePayne #JonathanIrish #Adventure #ShenandoahNationalPark


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In a new report, Morgan Stanley identifies Korea as "the new safe haven" for investors:
From Crisis Prone to Increasingly Resilient: Korea has been in the eye of every economic storm we have seen in Asia over the last two decades. However, 2008 proved to be a watershed year, as regulations were implemented to foster stability in its economy. Whether compared with its own history or with that of other countries in AXJ, Korea now stands out as a safe haven for investors, especially amid global macro uncertainty.
Disciplined Investment and Healthy Corporate Balance Sheet: Korean corporates have turned more disciplined on capex since the Asian financial crisis in 1997. Lack of overinvestment means there should not be any overcapacity issues in the economy.
Not Externally Vulnerable Anymore: Korea is running a record-high current account surplus, supported by its strong export competitiveness. It has more than sufficient foreign reserves to cushion it against external liquidity shocks. It has also received the least amount of ''hot money' inflows in the region since 2009.
No Need to Worry about Asset Prices in Korea: Unlike the rest of the region, Korea is not seeing any risk of a property bubble. It is probably one of the very few economies in AXJ that could even see upside in its property prices in the next three years rather than the possible correction we may expect in other countries.
There Will Be No Policy Dilemma this Time: We believe the Bank of Korea will not be forced to hike interest rates this time as it did in 1997 and 2008. Its accommodative stance can remain in place for longer, in our view. Meanwhile, Korea's fiscal position remains solid, and local government debt is not yet an issue.
Despite the big vote of confidence in the Korean economy, Morgan Stanley economists Sharon Lam and Jason Liu say they are not ignoring the risks the country faces.
"Household leverage is high, but we think it is overstated – Korean household assets are also much stronger than before, and they did not participate in the QE liquidity party," write Lam and Liu in the report. "Korea has seen the largest amount of bond investment inflow in AXJ since 2008, but we are not worried about risk of massive unwinding, because foreign ownership is still low and we believe the holders are mainly long-term investors, not speculators."


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Is that the greatest miracle of the year? Look at that! The water has suddenly started running out of this tree, turning the old mulberry tree in a village in Montenegro into a gushing spring. Now learn what's behing this very rare and strange phenomenon in the video below:
Similar phenomena have previously occurred in Cameroun, India and Futo.


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If you would like to help victims of the fire, please visit our list of suggestions here.
A five-alarm fire erupted at 3112 Mission St. shortly after 2 p.m. on Saturday, sending up a plume of smoke that could be seen around the city and affecting some six buildings around 29th and Mission streets. Firefighters said they had searched a number of buildings and had not found any victims.
No major injuries to residents were reported, though two bystanders were treated for smoke inhalation. Some 58 tenants were displaced, 24 of whom sought temporary shelter in the Salvation Army. The rest were housed with family or friends.
Several of the displaced were formerly homeless, and one family had been displaced by the 2015 fire on Mission and 22nd streets. Nine businesses were suffered either fire or water damage.
— Mission Local (@MLNow) June 18, 2016
Firefighters advised anyone who lives within a five block radius the area to shelter in place and to shut their windows due to heavy smoke. Anybody in the affected buildings was asked to meet at the Bank of America on Mission Street near the intersection with 29th Street.
Fire department spokesperson Jonathan Baxter said the fire appeared to have originated near the back of the corner building at 29th and Mission — a three-story building with four apartments above a bar, the 3300 Club — though that was not yet confirmed.
Mayor Ed Lee arrived on the scene shortly before 5 p.m. to reassure the affected residents that the city would do all it could to help them recover. Lee said he would invoke the Good Samaritan — which allows landlords to take in tenants at below-market-rates through a deal with the city — to help shelter the victims. He also said corporations like Airbnb could help shelter residents, though he did not say how.
Joseph Williams, a resident of the Graywood Hotel — a single-room occupancy hotel at 3308 Mission St. — said he saw the fire erupt. He and another resident, he said, were one of the first to notice it.
"It was the wiring, we believe. We opened the fuse box and smoke started coming out. We seen flames coming out of the fuse box and then we seen the gas main starting to catch on fire," Williams said.
Firefighters have not yet indicated a cause of the fire.
Williams, who was homeless before entering the SRO 30 days ago, was displaced along with his wife and child. He said sprinklers in the building did not activate.
"One of the main things we're concerned about is that the mayor's here but that the owner of the building's still not here," Williams said.
A building manager, who declined to give his name, said the building's owner was out of the country.
Another resident of the same building, Kimberley Walley, has lived there with her husband for some five years, and has also been homeless before.
"They told us they will help us find a shelter, and I hope they do. I've been homeless, and now that I'm able to pay my rent on a daily basis I don't want to go back to that," Walley said. "We have nowhere to go. I pray that they do help us, because otherwise we will be out in the streets."
Kathy Castro, a bartender at the 3300 Club, said that somebody shouted to her that the building was on fire and that she got everyone in the bar — some seven people — out.
"I got all the customers out, shut off the electricity, gave the keys to firefighters," she said. "I looked up and it was at the very end of our building, it was a lot of black smoke."
Castro said that was soon as everyone was out, the wind shifted and "that was the horrible part."
"It took over and it went right down the street," she said, referring to the fire going between buildings southbound on Mission Street.
"There were firetrucks all of the sudden," said Nabeel Youssef, the owner of Good Frikin Chicken across from the building on 29th Street. "And then everything blows up."
A worker at Good Frikin Chicken, Bassent Gamea, said that there was an explosion in the apartments above the 3300 Club. "I heard the explosion was really loud, and then I saw flames," she said, adding that she saw two residents evacuated.
One of those residents, 81-year-old Nancy Lopez, said she "didn't know what was going on" until she heard the fire alarms and a neighbor came and told her to evacuate. She left the building and then realized that her cat was still inside.
"I was trying to get my cat but they didn't let me [go back inside]," she said, adding that her cat is named "Kitty Babe."
Her granddaughter, Nola Medina, said she was worried about the pet but more concerned with her grandmother.
"I'm worried about her cat, but I'm glad that my grandmother's safe," she said.
81-year old resident of 29/mission building engulfed in smoke was safely evacuated but says her cat is still inside pic.twitter.com/MjvlD1aWs9
— Mission Local (@MLNow) June 18, 2016
Hillary Ronen, chief of staff for Supervisor David Campos, told the displaced residents waiting for news in a Safeway parking lot that a shelter was being set up tonight at the Salvation Army on Valencia Street near 22nd. She also said that Campos's office would help them with finding housing and "any needs that you have."
"Our office will be here to help you with the whole process from here forward," she said.
Theresa Keane, the owner of the 3300 Club, said it was the businesses's 60th anniversary this year. Her family doesn't own the building, she said, but family members have owned and worked in the bar for three generations.
"We pray nobody gets hurt and that we can go back to work eventually," she said.
Fire @ 29/Mission has not been contained. Shelters are being erected for evacuees residents advised to close windows pic.twitter.com/PagQDJ8UjF
— Mission Local (@MLNow) June 18, 2016
Update 5:30 p.m.
Assistant Chief Tom Siragusa said six buildings with eight addresses were affected and that 150 firefighters responded.
"We do have areas within the building that continue to flare up," he said. "We're going to be here for a while."
Siragusa speculated that the fire may have spread so rapidly because of the prevailing wind and some broken windows in the burning buildings adding oxygen to the fire.
"We haven't had a fifth alarm in some time," Siragusa said. The last was September 4, 2014, according to spokesperson Jonathan Baxter — a discount store on Mission Street between 22nd and 23rd streets.
Rashawn Murray, the daughter of a resident in one of the affected buildings, said her mother had moved in 30 days ago after being homeless for three years.
"My heart is aching for her and everyone who is standing out here," Murray said.
Update 6:05 p.m.
The Red Cross is assisting displaced tenants in finding temporary shelter, and will send many of them to the Salvation Army's Mission Corps Community Center, where displaced residents of the fire at Mission and 22nd streets were also sheltered in the weeks following that fire.
In fact, Jose Hernandez, one of the displaced residents from Saturday's fire, was also a victim of the fire at Mission and 22nd streets.
"I was working, my girlfriend was at home, she called me and she was all frustrated and I told her it's not a big deal," said Hernandez. "I didn't realize how big this fire was. When I saw the smoke [I] panicked…My family lost everything at 22nd and Mission. This is like deja vu. I can't believe this is happening to me again, but what can I do? I never give up."
Hernandez had been living at 29th and Mission for about three months.
Luis Herrera, along with his wife and three children are among the displaced. Herrera said he was sleeping when his wife and a daughter returned from a shopping trip when they saw the smoke, but he himself was asleep.
"I couldn't believe that was our building on fire," said Herrera's daughter Genesis.
Herrera had tried to put the fire out with water before the evacuation.
"We have nowhere to go," he said.
Update 6:50 p.m.
Firefighters reported that the fire had been contained. Nonetheless, firefighting activity continued and they predicted the area would likely remain closed to vehicle traffic until Sunday morning, and closed to pedestrian traffic until late into the night.
All 40 displaced residents would reportedly be transferred to a shelter temporarily.
Update 7:51 p.m.
A spokesperson for Mayor Lee said the mayor would be meeting with affected businesses on Monday to discuss possible assistance through a small business fund, though details were not immediately available.
Red Cross staff said the displaced tenants are expected to only be sheltered at the Salvation Army for 24 hours, though where they would be sent thereafter is unclear.
In response to a number of inquiries from residents about cats and dogs in the building, fire department spokesperson Jonathan Baxter said that firefighters had a list of pets they would be on the lookout for, but none had yet been found.
Asked about the frequency of residential fires in the Mission, Assistant Chief Tom Siragusa acknowledged that "the Mission has been hit hard with building fires," but said he did not believe them to be related or connected.
Editor's Note: The best way to help victims of the fire is through cash donations to either the Red Cross or to the Salvation Army, according to city officials. There is also a gofundme campaign set up here via former supervisorial candidate and Frisco Five hunger striker Edwin Lindo.
If you cannot donate cash and would like to give clothing, toiletries, or other items, a reporter from 48 Hills who has been with displaced residents has put together a list of items that families are requesting.
If you can provide long-term housing to victims of the fire, please contact the Human Services Agency or Supervisor David Campos.


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Leading UK Railfreight operator, GB Railfreight and their industry partner Porterbrook have unveiled a specially repainted freight locomotive painted with the blue and white colours of the National Health Service. The unveiling was timed to be part of the weekly celebrations to thank frontline workers in our health and social care sector.
GB Railfreight, one of the UK's largest rail freight operators, decided to mark the fifth, now weekly 'clap,' by repainting one of its freight locomotives and unveiling it at 8pm just as millions of people across the UK were stepping outside their front doors to thank the frontline workers who are putting their lives on the line to save countless others across our hospital and care homes.
The repainting of 66731 was co-funded by the locomotive's owner and long-term GB Railfreight partner, Porterbrook. The painting was undertaken by Arlington Fleet Services, Eastleigh.
GBRf staff joined in with the clapping as the newly decorated locomotive was unveiled to express their gratitude to all those working to keep us safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
GB Railfreight is playing its part in supporting the UK's COVID-19 response by helping to keep essential services running across the country. GBRf services are playing a vital role in ensuring the continuation of supplies and trains are running from ports such as London Gateway, Southampton, Felixstowe and Teesport to distribution centres across the country. These flows are ensuring that warehouses remain stocked, and supermarkets as well as other essential retailers remain supplied.
John Smith, Managing Director of GB Railfreight said:
"Thank you to all NHS staff and carers across the country for the hard work you have been doing to keep us safe. Across the UK you are seeing week in, week out, an outpouring of love and affection of our frontline staff and we are taking a minute today to say our thanks on behalf of GB Railfreight and the rail industry.
"The unveiling of this locomotive is our way of saying thanks for all you are doing. We are inspired by you and wanted to say thank you in the usual GBRf way, by painting one of our regular Class 66 which will be travelling the lengths and breadths of the country to keep our economy moving during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Now it will also carry our message of thanks to all our carers."
Mary Grant, Porterbrook CEO, said:
"We are delighted to support GB Railfreight in thanking NHS staff and carers for all that they do at this unprecedented time in our nation's life. Porterbrook is also hugely grateful to all the front-line railway staff, including John's team, who are the unsung heroes in keeping Britain's economy moving."
Stuart Jones has also sent us this picture of Rail Operations Group 47813 (Jack Frost) which is carrying a 'Thank you NHS' message.


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First screens from Telltales' Game of Thrones leak
A batch of screens from Telltales' Game of Thrones game have leaked ahead of an official release.
The images depict Cersei, Tyrion and Jamie Lannister, Margaery Tyrell and Ramsay Bolton, amongst others.
The images originally leaked via the Lifelower Twitter account, which have since been removed.
Telltales first episode of the six-part series, Game of Thrones: Iron From Ice, is due some time this year.


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An old wooden advertising premium ruler from HARVEY's BAKERIES of Rochester & Dover, New Hampshire. Their motto was "IT'S A GOOD RULE TO EAT HARVEY'S BREAD & PASTRIES". It is printed on both sides and in mint condition.
An old unused advertising premium pencil from WONDER BREAD.
There are three different old advertising match pack covers: One from WARD'S SOFT BUN BREAD / WARD'S SILVER QUEEN CAKE, one is from A & P BREAD, and one is from BOND BREAD / BOND BONS FINE CAKES. The first two have no matches. All three have some wear.
There are two different advertising premium sewing kits. One is from WONDER BREAD and the other is from STROEHMANN BREAD. Both appear to be complete and both are excellent to near mint condition.
There is an advertising premium rain bonnet from WONDER BREAD and HOSTESS CAKE. It is in near mint condition.
Lastly there is a NISSEN BREAD ad character sticker. It has some wrinkling.
To judge the sizes the ruler measures 12" long.
Click on image to zoom.


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Okay, I am so enamored with this game, and this is the furthest I've EVER gotten into a game on my own. My husband did admit to sneaking on while I was sleeping New Year's Day and leveling me so I could move forward faster.
I've been dragging my heels. I want to take my time! But he wants me to see the big emotional payoffs at the end.
So I played all New Year's Eve, and at midnight we toasted, and my husband totally played cheesy music that made me laugh. We usually stay home on New Year's because of all of the drunk drivers. So I put in six hours of play time I think?
Anywho, pictures!
This, my dears, is the first major glitch I've run into. Usually, if I bump this button throwing a stone to get a baddie's attention it turns off immediately.
This time, it didn't and made it very difficult to fight!
Sidequest to get Poppi QTPi! No pictures so I don't spoil you, but I will say she's amazing. We actually got the expansion pack for the 30,000 ether crystals so I could upgrade her immediately! I'll admit something horrid… I've been letting my husband farm Tora Tora for ether crystals and upgrades. I am THE WORST at this game. He watched me trying for a while, and now when he has down time waiting for me to start playing he plays Tora Tora for me. Isn't he the sweetest? *smile*
My best Chain Attack yet, with four orbs! This number is SO PRETTY. *smile*
This room is just SO PRETTY!
Mor Ardain by the world tree? Le gasp! How it gets there is a spoiler, but I will tell you if you go back to Mor Ardain while it's there you get a unique conversation with the Emperor.
It wouldn't be a Tetsuya Takahashi game without epic battles and mecha, now would it? Also included, mind twists!
I have a friend who could SO be Pandoria. I'm sending her some of my screen captures soon. *smile*
Just some more Pandy…
And one of the better one liner hits that made me laugh!
Love this game SO MUCH. If you have a Nintendo Switch, go for it! The combat is a little complex at first, but quickly becomes second nature and has the satisfying feel of a puzzle game like Bejeweled, which is an odd thing to say, but getting the combos and time down is so satisfying! *smile* And if you're terrible at it, don't worry! You can still scrape by until you get better!


text: Arigead wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Hello All, > I'm living in the land that mobile phone coverage forgot and > thinking of how to improve my sorry situation. Before I go down the > route of putting a GSM Antenna on top of the house and having a cable > connected to my FreeRunner I thought I'd check out the other 2 GSM > operators in my area and see what the signal strength is for them. Now > my Nokia phone will not permit me to connect to a non vodafone signal so > I've no idea how strong it is using the nokia. > > I'm not using the FR as a daily phone as yet but thought I could simply > use an AT command to do a quick check on the various signal strengths. I > tried "AT+WS46=?" but it has not come back to me and just hangs there. > Does anybody, with better knowledge of AT commands then me, know of a > likely command or if this is even possible. > > I was hoping that if I could find a stronger signal in my area I'd just > change operator. AT+COPS=? will list the visible providers, but not their signal strengths.


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Black Gate has published a rave review of Chasing the Dragon! Here's a snippet (you can click through to read the whole review):
A tight, focused narrative…Chasing the Dragon is unlike any other novel I've read, and easily one of my favorite reads of 2016. It is definitely worth checking out if you like fantasy, horror, stories about the darker side of things (cuz heroin addiction is pretty dark) and deep, unique character work.
Still haven't read this Thriller Award-nominated and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated book? Grab a copy today!


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Periosteal Releasing Incision (PRI)
Learning Module
Surgical Planning and Procedures
Surgical Planning and Procedures
Like many other treatments, implant treatment is a complex therapy.
Many participants may be involved including the dentist, surgeon, prosthodontist, dental nurses and, of course, the patient. It is not enough that the team should be very skilled in performing the treatment, but patients, too, must take responsibility for their part in the treatment.
This module will describe how the dental team prepares patients to participate in implant surgery and instructs them on how to behave before and after the surgery to avoid complications and negative side effects.
This includes preoperative information including instructions for oral hygiene procedures and medication as well as postoperative care and the postoperative medication regime.
After completing this ITI Academy Module, you should be able to…


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Wednesday, October 17, 2012
caramel chex
6 comments:
Send some to your Brother in Law - it's his favorite!ReplyDelete
Hello long lost friend! Hope you're doing well. First of all, that looks delicious :) I couldn't find your email so I'm just posting here! Check out our latest blog post...we nominated you for an award that helps new/small blogs get to know other bloggers and gain more followers. Yay! http://domesticdivasintraining.blogspot.com/2012/11/our-first-blog-award.htmlReplyDeleteReplies
Hi Friend! I'm loving your blog. :) Mine has taken a back seat as life has gotten a little hectic & my creative ambitions seem to ebb and flow very randomly too. None-the-less, THANK YOU for the nomination and chance to get to meet more bloggers. I really do enjoy sharing creative ideas and connecting with like-minded ladies. This might just be the motivation I needed to get back in the game. I hope life is treating you well. Assuming I do get back to blogging in the near future- we should talk about doing guest posts for each other, maybe?!Delete
Hope all is well...? We miss your posts!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 11, 2013 at 11:40 AM
I've made this as well, but I used crispix instead. My family loved it! New holiday staple in our house.ReplyDelete
Looks really tasty) will be nice for breakfast. https://luxurycleaningny.comReplyDelete


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Felice Arena
Full Professor of Ocean Engineering
Personal information
Felice Arena (male) is Full Professor in Ocean Engineering at Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria and Director of the Natural Ocean Engineering Laboratory. His fields of interest for the research activity include: nonlinear sea waves; short-term and long-term statistics of ocean waves; random forces of sea waves on either coastal or offshore structures; new devices for absorption of wave energy, either to protect a coast or to produce electrical power. He has published more than 200 papers in international journals, books and conference proceedings. He has advised over ninety undergraduate and MS graduate students. He mentored 17 graduated PhD students and has been advising 3 PhD students in Ocean Engineering. He also mentored 8 Post-Doc students. He is Member of the Scientific Committee for the Structures, Safety And Reliability Symposium at the "Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OOAE) Division" by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has served in the scientific committees of many national and international conferences. He is Senior Member, in the PIANC, of the Working Group "Renewable Energy for Maritime Ports" (since 2012). He has been participating to EERA, European Energy Research Alliance, Joint Programme On Marine Renewable Energy. He is Associate Editor of the "Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering", Transactions of the ASME. He is in the Editorial Board of: "Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics", printed by Elsevier, and "Mathematical Problems in Ingeneering". He is Chair of the Ph.D. in 'Ocean Engineering, Materials and Structures' at UNIRC, since 2003. He won the "OMAE 2011 SSR Best Paper Award", by American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME (USA), OMAE, for the paper "Space-Time Extremes in Sea Storms". He has participated in about 10 research projects. The most important projects, in Italy, supported by Italian Ministry of Environment and by Ministry of Education, University and Research (in the National Operational Programme PON for Research and Competitiveness), for a total amount of about 30 millions of euro. He is scientific Coordinator of the project "Large multipurpose platforms for exploiting renewable energy in open seas", supported by Marie Curie action FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IRSES. He was the scientific responsible of the UNIRC activities in the TEN-T Project 2013-IT-92050-S "Study for the development of the green mobility in the port of Civitavecchia through the implementation of the pilot technology REWEC3".


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Jul 2, 2010
Jul 2, 2010
Gold dives to $1,200 as funds bail on best
Jul 2, 2010
Jul 2, 2010
(Reuters) - Gold bullion plunged nearly 4 percent to below $1,200 an ounce on Thursday as a major technical break and an early equities sell-off triggered heavy fund selling, fueling the biggest one-day decline in five months.
Disappointing U.S. and Chinese economic indicators drove a major slide in oil, copper and some stock markets. The dollar fell to a seven-month low against the yen, and bullion got caught in the downdraft as investors cashed in profits in the best-performing major asset of the second quarter.
Silver and platinum group metals also tumbled as signs of a slowing economic recovery and lackluster U.S. auto sales hurt the investment appeal of industrial metals.
"What you are seeing is clearly a nervous feeling about all assets, whether they be tangible or intangible, paper or not. The overall mood is bearish and metals may not be the safe haven that you can just bank on," said Scott Meyers, senior analyst at New York-based Pioneer Futures.
Spot gold hit a near one-month low of $1,197.25 an ounce. It was last at $1,197.85 an ounce at 3:12 p.m. EDT, against $1,241.35 late in New York on Wednesday. It gained 11.7 percent in the March-June quarter.
U.S. gold futures for August delivery settled down $39.20, or 3.2 percent, at $1,206.70 an ounce.
Gold held firm in the last two days in the face of heavy losses in the stock markets. However, gold's eventual decline versus the S&P 500 index on Thursday was similar to a pattern in May, when the market succumbed to liquidation by funds who needed to cover margin calls in weaker markets.
"Gold has been caught up in commodity liquidation after poor data and as equities (fall)," said Simon Weeks, head of precious metals at the Bank of Nova Scotia.
"Usual story -- selling first as people need cash... and then further down the road, the gold as a currency demand will kick in."
In another repeat of mid-May market action, gold traded in close tandem with the U.S. dollar on Thursday, maintaining a link that was strongest at the height of the European debt crisis in May, when the two were generally rising.
The decline accelerated after prices broke cleanly below the five-month rising channel in place since February, and could be set for further losses after dropping below the 50-day moving average at $1,212.64 and the psychological $1,200 mark.
A sharp retreat of the relative strength index (RSI) also signaled bullion investors are taking profits in an overbought market, analysts said. Open interest in COMEX futures had risen to a record high on Wednesday.
"You have too many people who are bullish on gold, and too many cooks spoil a broth. So, some of the weaker hands are getting washed out here," said Adam Hewison, president of Maryland-based MarketClub.com.
U.S. equity markets logged a fourth straight day of declines after data showed slower-than-expected manufacturing growth in June and a sharp drop in May pending home sales. Eyes now turn to Friday's non-farm payroll data. .N
Among other precious metals, silver was at $17.80 against $18.55 on Wednesday.
Platinum group metals markets are digesting news of flat U.S. auto sales in June, as major automakers said they saw no sign of the definitive second-half recovery the battered industry had expected early in the year.
Platinum was at $1,498.50 an ounce against $1,531.50. Palladium was at $428.50 against $442.
(Additional reporting by Jan Harvey in London; Editing by David Gregorio)
© Thomson Reuters 2023 All rights reserved.


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I advise people who desire, above all things, to have a comfortable time
in the world to be good conservatives. Do as other people do, think as
other people think, swim with the current--that is the way to glide
pleasantly down the stream of life. But mark, O you lovers of inglorious
ease, the men who are remembered with honor after they are dead do not
do so! They sometimes _breast_ the current, and often have a hard time
of it, with the water splashing back in their faces, and the easy-going
crowd jeering at them as they pant against the tide.
This valiant, stalwart Puritan, Major Robert Pike, of Salisbury,
Massachusetts, who was born in 1616, the year in which Shakespeare died,
is a case in point. Salisbury, in the early day, was one of the frontier
towns of Massachusetts, lying north of the Merrimac River, and close to
the Atlantic Ocean. For fifty years it was a kind of outpost of that
part of the State. It lay right in the path by which the Indians of
Maine and Canada were accustomed to slink down along the coast, often
traveling on the sands of the beaches, and burst upon the settlements.
During a long lifetime Major Pike was a magistrate and personage in that
town, one of the leading spirits, upon whom the defense of the frontier
chiefly devolved.
Others were as brave as he in fighting Indians. Many a man could acquit
himself valiantly in battle who would not have the courage to differ
from the public opinion of his community. But on several occasions, when
Massachusetts was wrong, Major Pike was right; and he had the courage
sometimes to resist the current of opinion when it was swollen into a
raging torrent. He opposed, for example, the persecution of the Quakers,
which is such a blot upon the records both of New England and old
England. We can imagine what it must have cost to go against this policy
by a single incident, which occurred in the year 1659 in Robert Pike's
own town of Salisbury.
On a certain day in August, Thomas Macy was caught in a violent storm of
rain, and hurried home drenched to the skin. He found in his house four
wayfarers, who had also come in for shelter. His wife being sick in bed,
no one had seen or spoken to them. They asked him how far it was to
Casco Bay. From their dress and demeanor he thought they might be
Quakers, and, as it was unlawful to harbor persons of that sect, he
asked them to go on their way, since he feared to give offense in
entertaining them. As soon as the worst of the storm was over, they
left, and he never saw them again. They were in his house about three
quarters of an hour, during which he said very little to them, having
himself come home wet, and found his wife sick.
He was summoned to Boston, forty miles distant, to answer for this
offense. Being unable to walk, and not rich enough to buy a horse, he
wrote to the General Court, relating the circumstances, and explaining
his non-appearance. He was fined thirty shillings, and ordered to be
admonished by the governor. He paid his fine, received his reprimand,
and removed to the island of Nantucket, of which he was the first
settler, and for some time the only white inhabitant.
During this period of Quaker persecution, Major Pike led the opposition
to it in Salisbury, until, at length, William Penn prevailed upon
Charles II. to put an end to it in all his dominions. If the history of
that period had not been so carefully recorded in official documents, we
could scarcely believe to what a point the principle of authority was
then carried. One of the laws which Robert Pike dared openly to oppose
made it a misdemeanor for any one to exhort on Sunday who had not been
regularly ordained. He declared that the men who voted for that law had
broken their oaths, for they had sworn on taking their seats to enact
nothing against the just liberty of Englishmen. For saying this he was
pronounced guilty of "defaming" the legislature, and he was sentenced to
be disfranchised, disabled from holding any public office, bound to good
behavior, and fined twenty marks, equal to about two hundred dollars in
our present currency.
Petitions were presented to the legislature asking the remission of the
severe sentence. But even this was regarded as a criminal offense, and
proceedings were instituted against every signer. A few acknowledged
that the signing was an offense, and asked the forgiveness of the court,
but all the rest were required to give bonds for their appearance to
Another curious incident shows the rigor of the government of that day.
According to the Puritan law, Sunday began at sunset on Saturday
evening, and ended at sunset on Sunday evening. During the March thaw of
1680, Major Pike had occasion to go to Boston, then a journey of two
days. Fearing that the roads were about to break up, he determined to
start on Sunday evening, get across the Merrimac, which was then a
matter of difficulty during the melting of the ice, and make an early
start from the other side of the river on Monday morning. The gallant
major being, of course, a member of the church, and very religious, went
to church twice that Sunday. Now, as to what followed, I will quote the
testimony of an eye-witness, his traveling companion:--
"I do further testify that, though it was pretty late ere Mr. Burrows
(the clergyman) ended his afternoon's exercise, yet did the major stay
in his daughter's house till repetition of both forenoon and afternoon
sermons was over, and the duties of the day concluded with prayer; and,
after a little stay, to be sure the sun was down, then we mounted, and
not till then. The sun did indeed set in a cloud, and after we were
mounted, I do remember the major spake of lightening up where the sun
set; but I saw no sun."
A personal enemy of the major's brought a charge against him of
violating the holy day by starting on his journey _before_ the setting
of the sun. The case was brought for trial, and several witnesses were
examined. The accuser testified that "he did see Major Robert Pike ride
by his house toward the ferry upon the Lord's day when the sun was about
half an hour high." Another witness confirmed this. Another testified:--
"The sun did indeed set in a cloud, and, a little after the major was
mounted, there appeared a light where the sun went down, which soon
vanished again, possibly half a quarter of an hour."
Nevertheless, there were two witnesses who declared that the sun was not
down when the major mounted, and so this worthy gentleman, then
sixty-four years of age, a man of honorable renown in the commonwealth,
was convicted of "profaning the Sabbath," fined ten shillings, and
condemned to pay costs and fees, which were eight shillings more. He
paid his fine, and was probably more careful during the rest of his life
to mount on Sunday evenings by the almanac.
The special glory of this man's life was his steadfast and brave
opposition to the witchcraft mania of 1692. This deplorable madness was
in New England a mere transitory panic, from which the people quickly
recovered; but while it lasted it almost silenced opposition, and it
required genuine heroism to lift a voice against it. No country of
Europe was free from the delusion during that century, and some of its
wisest men were carried away by it. The eminent judge, Sir William
Blackstone, in his "Commentaries," published in 1765, used this
"To deny the existence of witchcraft is to flatly contradict the
revealed word of God, and the thing itself is a truth to which every
nation has in its turn borne testimony."
This was the conviction of that age, and hundreds of persons were
executed for practicing witchcraft. In Massachusetts, while the mania
lasted, fear blanched every face and haunted every house.
It was the more perilous to oppose the trials because there was a
mingling of personal malevolence in the fell business, and an individual
who objected was in danger of being himself accused. No station, no age,
no merit, was a sufficient protection. Mary Bradbury, seventy-five years
of age, the wife of one of the leading men of Salisbury, a woman of
singular excellence and dignity of character, was among the convicted.
She was a neighbor of Major Pike's, and a life-long friend.
In the height of the panic he addressed to one of the judges an argument
against the trials for witchcraft which is one of the most ingenious
pieces of writing to be found among the documents of that age. The
peculiarity of it is that the author argues on purely Biblical grounds;
for he accepted the whole Bible as authoritative, and all its parts as
equally authoritative, from Genesis to Revelation. His main point was
that witchcraft, whatever it may be, cannot be certainly proved against
any one. The eye, he said, may be deceived; the ear may be; and all the
senses. The devil himself may take the shape and likeness of a person or
thing, when it is not that person or thing. The truth on the subject, he
held, lay out of the range of mortal ken.
"And therefore," he adds, "I humbly conceive that, in such a difficulty,
it may be more safe, for the present, to let a guilty person live till
further discovery than to put an innocent person to death."
Happily this mania speedily passed, and troubled New England no more.
Robert Pike lived many years longer, and died in 1706, when he was
nearly ninety-one years of age. He was a farmer, and gained a
considerable estate, the whole of which he gave away to his heirs before
his death. The house in which he lived is still standing in the town of
Salisbury, and belongs to his descendants; for on that healthy coast
men, families, and houses decay very slowly. James S. Pike, one of his
descendants, the well-remembered "J. S. P." of the "Tribune's" earlier
day, and now an honored citizen of Maine, has recently written a little
book about this ancient hero who assisted to set his fellow-citizens
right when they were going wrong.


text:
Persta Stop Check Valve Protects Pulrose Power Station From £1m Repair
The problem
In common with many power stations built in the early 2000s, Pulrose CCGT plant was designed as a base load plant. Subsequently the commercial environment forced the operations team to two shift half the plant. Whilst there were a number of engineering problems that had to be addressed initially, some problems emerged after many years of operating the plant in two shifted mode. One of these problems was that the main steam stop valve and non-return steam valves were wearing and leaking allowing steam to leak into the off line boiler, causing condensation and stress corrosion cracking. This damage to the boiler resulted in a £1M repair.
Valves & More October 2014
Once again AVS are running the popular and successful Valves & More seminar at Hora and Persta. The next seminar will on the 21st and 22nd of October, 2014
AVS help Marchwood CCGT Power Station save £200,000 per year
The problem for James Brown, the Mechanical Engineer at Marchwood Power Station, was that the desuperheater valves installed would fail on average once a year leading to plant unavailability with all the obvious associated costs and some less obvious engineering issues.
Paul Holland appointed as Regional Sales Manager for Northern UK
Advanced Valve Solutions continue to develop the management team in the UK with the appointment of Paul Holland. Paul has joined AVS with responsibility for sales across Northern UK. He joins AVS from Budenberg Gauge Company where he was Sales and Marketing Director. Paul is a Mechanical Engineer, having trained with Rolls Royce, and has many years experience in both sales and marketing in the UK and Internationally.


text:
Why do some cops expect 10-7 discounts?
To discount or not to discount... that is the meal question... whether 'tis nobler to suffer full price for supper or to risk tarnishing LEOs reputations by demanding half price
So the other day around lunch-thirty, I'm off duty in plain clothes in a neighboring jurisdiction. I'm standing in line at the local taco-in-a-sack joint, waiting for the beefed up patrol officer in front of me to finish placing his order.
After ordering a plethora of tacos and burritos, the teenage cashier "rings" him up and you would have thought she just committed a felonious act. The next series of events lasted a good 10 minutes.
The next thing I see and hear is: "Um... you guys give us discounts."
The poor young girl is thrown for a loop and says, "Do you have a coupon?"
Now the officer is visibly irritated and says, "Officers get a discount."
Although no one in the entire restaurant knew I was also an officer, my face turned dark red in embarrassment of my profession and I started to sweat a little. I'm standing there, quite hungry as is the rest of the beginning-to-get-quite-lengthy line behind me while this officer is insisting on saving three dollars and thirty one cents.
The visibly-confused girl says, "Hang on." She wanders to the back of the kitchen and disappears. An eternity later, the manager appears from the abyss, swipes his employee card and gives the kind officer his 50 percent off which he had quite clearly been expecting.
I couldn't decide if I wanted to just walk up and pay for the Officer's meal to get him out of the way or punch him for embarrassing law enforcement. Everyone in the line was — to put it mildly — rather unhappy with him.
Let's dissect and discuss. First of all, if a business owner feels — out of the kindness of his heart — to discount an officer's meal including mine, I am very grateful, and follow it up with, 'Thank you very much, you don't have to do that." But by no means do I expect any special treatment or favors. If I can't afford the meal I'm about to purchase I have no business ordering it. We don't give "discounts" when enforcing the law and doing our job and I don't expect any from anyone else doing theirs.
Most restaurants, even national chain restaurants, are franchised and owned by a local business owner. He is working hard to make a living, just like the rest of us. He has employees to pay and overhead to purchase. The fact that he/she wants to thank public servants by discounting their meals is a very kind gesture, not a requirement.
And this wouldn't be the first time I witnessed this behavior either. How bout the officer that comes in and orders for his whole family and get it "to go", or the off duty officer that "whips" out his badge and demands a discount? Such instances are a disgrace to the uniform in my opinion.
I've been told that cops back in 1965 just displayed their badges for freebie meals, movies, bar tabs — you name it.
But for God's sake, this is 2012, not 1965!
I appreciate when people show their gratitude for us laying our lives on the line day in and day out, but I also know I signed up to do it, and don't expect a free taco because of it.
I wish I would have been in uniform that day, standing behind officer meathead, because to prove a point, I would have order my Enchirito and my Taco Elite, paid full price, and probably paid for the guy standing behind me for the preceding 15 minutes.
Perhaps in so doing I might save some dignity for law enforcement in the community.
Or maybe one day, when I retire, I will own a restaurant, and of course I will take care of the officer's on the beat, and make sure they get fed at a discounted price. But god help the officer that comes into my business and starts demanding anything from the teenager working the cash register, because after I have a little discussion with him/her and explain that it costs me money to help him out, his boss may get to listen to my discontent about his officer's expectation in my restaurant over a complimentary meal too.
So let's hear some opinions on this ...rip me a new one if you want to, or have my back on it. Either way, here's your chance to sound off.
Stay safe and happy lunch break.
- Tags
- Patrol Issues


text:
Peso climbs on strong Q3 GDP growth
THE PESO rose on better-than-expected gross domestic product data. — BW FILE PHOTO
THE PESO strengthened versus the greenback on Tuesday amid upbeat sentiment on the Philippine economy following better-than-expected growth in the third quarter.
The local unit ended trading at P50.091 per dollar on Tuesday, gaining 6.9 centavos from its P50.16 close on Monday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.
This is the currency's strongest close since it ended trading at P49.95 on Sept. 17, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.
The peso opened Tuesday's session at P50.12 per dollar, stronger than its previous day's close. Its weakest showing was at P50.18, while its intraday best was at P49.925 versus the greenback.
Dollars exchanged increased to $1.385 billion on Tuesday from $933.2 million.
A trader said the stronger- than-expected economic growth posted in the previous quarter supported the peso.
"The latest reading also set the year-to-date growth at 4.9%, firming expectations that full-year 2021 economic growth will likely fall within the government's 4% to 5% forecast range," the trader said in an e-mail.
Gross domestic product expanded by 7.1% year on year in the third quarter, slower than the 12% growth in the April to June period, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Tuesday. Still, it was stronger than the 4.7% median estimate in a BusinessWorld poll of 18 analysts held last week.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ricafort said local stock market gains also fueled positive market sentiment.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 45.45 points or by 0.61% to end trading at 7,441.67 on Tuesday.
The wider all shares index likewise gained by 20.97 or 0.46% to close at 4,531.86.
For Wednesday, the trader gave a forecast range of P50 to P50.25, while Mr. Ricafort expects the local unit to move within P49.97 to P50.17 per dollar. — L.W.T. Noble


text:
Blake Shelton Joins Elite Group With 10 Million Albums Sold
Blake Shelton has another plaque to add to his already large collection. The singer was recently surprised backstage at New York's Barclays Center by Warner Music Nashville executives and members of the RIAA, who gifted him a new ornament for his wall to commemorate 10 million albums sold.
The "A Guy With the Girl" singer is one of only five male country artists who have amassed 10 million or more in album sales in the last 15 years.
Shelton's star power continues to rise, as he can be seen in the homes throughout America each week with his recurring role as a coach on The Voice. This hasn't always been the case for the singer, who says it was a long journey to his first CMA award.
In a recent interview with the CMA, Shelton recalls his Male Vocalist of the Year win in 2010. "It's about 34 years worth of steps right there for me," he said in 2010 during his acceptance speech. "This is a really big deal for me."
"I really honestly thought that my chance for awards and things like that had passed," he admits, remembering his big win from six years ago. "I was thankful for the time that I was having in the music industry and having hits on the radio. I just didn't think that I was ever going to be one of those artists that earned a trophy like that and I already accepted that years before it ever happened. So, the fact that it happened that late in my career made it that much more exciting and I think I was able to appreciate that moment."
Shelton's latest album, If I'm Honest, was released in May.
Every Blake Shelton Single Ranked in Order
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani's Love Song


text:
Ban use of polythene for upcoming elections campaigns – President
President Maithripala Sirisena instructed the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to ban the use of polythene during the upcoming election campaigns.
The President also instructed authorities to strictly enforce the laws against the people who violate the above mentioned ban on use of polythene.
President Sirisena furthermore briefed the Central Environmental Authority to inform the parties concerned about the matter calling a press briefing.
He gave these instructions during a meeting on streamlining waste management in local government bodies, held at the Presidential Secretariat, yesterday (14).
The President emphasized that under any circumstance the process of finding solutions for waste management could not be postponed and instructed relevant authorities to inform him speedily if there is any issue in this regard.
During this meeting it was also discussed regarding the progress made by already implemented waste management projects including the progress of purchasing tractors, following of guidelines for waste management and action plans at the national level for the solid waste management.
Discussions were also held regarding the current status of implementing cabinet decision regarding the management of using polythene and plastic.
Attention was also drawn regarding the establishment of a proper method for clinical waste management at hospitals and for electronic waste management.
Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Faizer Mustapha, Mr. Austin Fernando, Secretary to the President, Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government, Secretary to the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development and others participated in this meeting.
(President's Media)
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
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- World's leading tech companies deeply criticize Sri Lanka's Online Safety Bill October 2, 2023
- Sri Lanka Government says No more emergency purchases of medicines October 2, 2023
- IMF unveils 16-point plan to address governance challenges in Sri Lanka October 2, 2023
- Corrupt elements use Parliament, Finance Ministry to evade taxes October 2, 2023


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The London Marathon – When I became a QPR fan
If you are running the London marathon today then, I'm jealous! But I'd like to wish you the best of luck and hope you have a really good run. Good luck to all those running or watching the London Marathon today.
I still harbour ambitions to do one more marathon, but for the moment I will remain on the side of the road encouraging support. I've been really good this year and gradually built up my distance again, but once again I'm injured and probably out for 2 or 3 months.
If I can stay injury free for a few years, then I may try once more, but I'm getting old and decrepit so it gets less likely each year. Nothing's impossible though, as I could always enter the wheelchair race! I was a good 1/2 marathon runner, but could never transfer that form to the full distance, so I respect anybody that can.
Bit like trading
I think Running a marathon is a bit like trading. You start full of optimism, you try really hard and feel good about it, maybe you get off to a good start. Then you realise that it's not actually as easy as putting one foot in front of the other and takes a bit of an effort and a fair bit of pain. Some people realise it's a lot of effort and drop out. You often consider it yourself, then push on and finally get in the zone. At this point, you really start to really enjoy it. Eventually, you cross the finish line and feel it really was actually worth the gargantuan effort and start wondering, what next? Those that never reached the finish line console themselves by saying you probably didn't do it. LOL!
The thing I remember around the marathon is the endless preparation and those tough days during the winter when you really wondered if you had gone mad. But there was nothing comparable to crossing that finish line. This is why I'd love to do it again.
I first ran the London marathon 'seriously' for a running club in 1993. I was pretty much at the peak of my abilities at that age and demolished the first 20 miles of the course. That's where you traditionally hit 'the wall' and that's exactly what happened to me. So the final 6 miles were not so impressive. I never got used to that feeling and always preferred the half marathon which I could time to perfection. Later that year I ran my fastest ever 10k, 10m and half marathon and actually got seeded in the Great South Run, as the 117th fastest 10-mile runner. The following year a trip to Houston would pretty much change everything in my life and my running gradually took a back seat from that point onwards.
How I ended up becoming a QPR fan for the London Marathon
My life is punctuated with some funny and, quite frankly, unbelievable moments. A few years after my regular running had declined, I was working for Compaq when the London marathon committee decided to add some spice to the race by getting representatives from each club to run in a 'football challenge'. Each team would be ranked by how quickly they finished.
Not all clubs were as enthusiastic as each other and some were scrambling around to find competitors. The company I was working for at that time was sponsoring Queens Park Rangers and the club didn't have an entrant. Step in Peter to bail out the club and sponsor. I was sort of pressganged into it, as I was the only person who had ever done any 'serious' running.
I only had about five months notice to get my fitness levels up to an acceptable standard, which was quite an ask. So I would turn up very early in the morning at the office, go for a long run around Richmond Park, have a shower and then work for the day. By the evening I may go for another run. Training for long distance running is all about learning to run on tired legs.
I also got roped into helping out with the PR for the London marathon. So I ended up in photo shoots and press interviews for the 'football challenge'. I even got interviewed by Radio five live! I remember it well as QPR were struggling to avoid relegation and when asked as a 'QPR fan' about the situation, I said I would run the marathon the same way QPR would avoid relegation. Off to a slow start, but would pick up speed by the end!
I managed to make it to the start, without injury but wasn't really fit enough to run the way I did when I was at a club. But still managed to get round OK. I learnt that running for charity and with no time pressure, really allowed me to enjoy the day. Which I didn't when I ran it competitively. There are always two sides to this race.
The trading market
The London marathon is not a big trading market but it can throw up the unexpected. In 2005 you could have backed the women's runner in running at 1.50 at 22 miles while firmly in the lead thanks to an unusual situation. It's worth laying low or backing high when you have sports that are difficult to model. Athletics is one of the sports.
Once again, good luck to anybody running today!
Category: Featured