text:
Got a question about D.T.O.T.D.? Feedback about the game? Sponsor looking for a game? Got a brand you want aligning with contemporary youth culture by having the logo sprayed with zombie gibs?
Anyway, if you want to get in touch about the game for any reason, just fire off an email and we'll be sure to get round to reading it when we remember to check that email account ;)

subset: commoncrawl


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David Bowie: A career that shaped modern pop
- Published
David Bowie changed music forever. Throughout his career, he reinvented not just his sound but his persona over and over again.
He was a proudly progressive composer, drawing on any genre that came to mind - from the hippy folk of Space Oddity to the crunching industrial rock of 1995's Outside album and his ambitious, jazz-flecked swansong Blackstar, released just last week.
His style shifted with the sands, but he was always recognisably David Bowie. That powdery voice - vibrating off the back of his teeth - is unmistakable; while his impressionist lyrics had a constant theme - he was an outsider, an alien, a sexually ambiguous spectre.
A trained mime, he embraced the theatre of pop music - combining Japanese Kabuki theatre, the science fiction of Stanley Kubrick and a truck-load of eye-liner to create his first great character, Ziggy Stardust.
"I am an actor," he once said. "My whole professional life is an act."
From the sexually liberated vantage point of 2016, it is easy to forget how bizarre and outrageous Bowie seemed in the 1970s.
In a drab musical landscape he was fey, colourful and androgynous. And his eye-catching performance of Starman on Top Of The Pops in July 1972, one arm draped around guitarist Mick Ronson, seems tame now, but it was scandalous at the time.
"Next day, all hell broke loose in the playground," recalled singer Marc Almond. "Bowie was a queer and if you liked him, you must be queer, too".
For others, though, Bowie's admission of bisexuality was a lifeline.
"Until he turned up, it was a nightmare," said Ian McCulloch, lead singer of Echo and the Bunnymen.
"In 1972, I'd get girls on the bus saying to me, 'Eh, have you got lippy on?' or 'Are you a boy or a girl?'
"[He] made me feel cooler... it helped forge an identity and a perspective on things, helped us walk taller."
Also paying attention was a young Stephen Morrissey, who later recalled: "Manchester then was full of bootboys and skinheads and macho-macho thugs. I saw Bowie's appearance as the ultimate bravery.
"He was so important to me because his vocal melodies were so strong and his appearance was so confrontational."
The star later hired Mick Ronson to produce his third solo album, Your Arsenal - and got the chance to discuss sexual politics on tour with Bowie in 1995.
"David quietly tells me, 'You know, I've had so much sex and drugs that I can't believe I'm still alive,'" wrote Morrissey in his autobiography.
"And I loudly tell him, 'You know, I've had so little sex and drugs that I can't believe I'm still alive."
It wasn't just British musicians who were inspired by Bowie's boundary breaking. Madonna, who has single-handedly reinvented the modern arena concert, says Bowie taught her everything.
Here is the speech she gave while inducting Bowie to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
"Before I saw David Bowie live, I was just your normal, dysfunctional, rebellious teenager from the Midwest, and he has truly changed my life. It was the first rock concert that I ever saw and it was a major event in my life. I planned for months to go and see it. I was 15 years old, it was the end of the school year, and leading up to the week of the show, I begged my father and he said, 'I absolutely refuse, over my dead body, you're not going there, that's where horrible people hang out,' so of course I had to go.
"So my best friend spent the night at my house and when we thought everyone was asleep, we snuck out of my window, which was no mean feat, as I was wearing my highest platform shoes and a long black silk cape. Don't ask. We couldn't drive, so we hitch-hiked into Detroit and I don't know who was scarier... the drivers that picked us up, or us in our outfits. Anyway, we arrived and Kobal Hall and the place was packed and we fought our way to our seats. And the show began. And I don't think that I breathed for two hours.
"It was the most amazing show that I'd ever seen, not just because the music was great, but because it was great theatre. And here's this beautiful, androgynous man, just being so perverse... as David Byrne so beautifully put it... so unconventional, defying logic and basically blowing my mind. Anyway, I came home a changed woman, as you can see, and my father was not sleeping and he knew exactly where I went, and he grounded me for the rest of the summer.
"But it was worth every minute that I sat and suffered in my house that summer."
Bowie's innovative use of fashion, lighting, dance and imagery are an important part of his legacy - but that's not to underplay the influence of his music.
He had admirers in rock, punk, hip-hop and pop, while even classical composers like Philip Glass - who based two symphonies on Mr Bowie's albums Low and Heroes - were not immune to his charms.
Killers star Brandon Flowers attributes his musical career to Bowie, telling The Independent: "I still remember when I heard 'Changes' for the first time. I thought it was Bob Dylan because of the way he sings the verses. I found out it was Bowie and it was from this album called Hunky Dory.
"It's the most important record to me, ever. I appreciate that he's still able to write songs, because even when there's a rough album, there will always be that one song on there that grabs you. But Hunky Dory is the pinnacle - there's not one song I skip past."
U2 frontman Bono said his vocal style was inspired by Bowie - describing it to Rolling Stone magazine as going "beyond your 'man' voice into the feminine".
"It's not exaggerating to say what Elvis meant to America, David Bowie meant to the UK and Ireland," he added
U2 also owed a debt to Bowie's most experimental phase - the trilogy of records he recorded in Berlin with Brian Eno, predominantly instrumental and characterised by Eno's minimalist electronics.
The Irish band replicated Bowie's approach on their Achtung Baby album - recorded in the same studios (Hansa in Berlin) with Brian Eno in tow. It resurrected their career after the pompous, misfiring Rattle and Hum, and gave the band a second lease of life.
Bowie's Berlin cycle (Low, Heroes, Lodger) is probably his most influential. It's electronic soundscapes and dystopian lyrics led directly to Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures, while Radiohead have captured a similar sense of paranoia and alienation in their later albums.
Robert Smith of The Cure called Low "the greatest record ever made", saying his "whole perception of sound was changed" the first time he heard it.
"Everything on there, everything I heard was astonishing, really astonishing."
"David Bowie is easily the most influential and important artist to come out of the UK," noted Johnny Marr. "There are musicians who are influenced by him who don't even realise it.
"Ziggy Stardust and Hunky Dory liberated so many people from the straight sensibility in the suburbs. People who I grew up admiring, like Pete Shelley from the Buzzcocks or Ian Curtis, were hugely influenced by Bowie. No Bowie, no John Lydon - or lots of other people."
And the list goes on. Artists as diverse as Suede, Culture Club, Nine Inch Nails, Janelle Monae, Jay Z and the Arctic Monkeys have all cited Bowie as an influence.
But perhaps the musician's most obvious modern descendant is Lady Gaga. She has called Bowie her "alien prince," saying "Every morning I wake up and I think, 'What would Bowie do?'"
Crucially, she has applied Bowie's philosophy to her own creative vision - rather than slavishly recreating one of his sounds or personas.
"What I have in common with David Bowie is the way that I combine theatrics and the visual in all of my performances.
"The fashion and the imagery and what I am trying to say as an artist goes much further beyond the music… the intention for me is not to sound just like Bowie. It is to pull references from all these different people and create something fresh and new and futuristic and pop and different."
Bowie could hardly have put it better himself.


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About Atheist Republic
Cardinal George Pell is a free man after Australia's highest court overturned his conviction where he was sentenced to six years in jail.
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Youth pastor who impregnated teen wanted to hire hitman to kill pastor who reported him to the police.
Many priests who were credibly accused of sexual abuse just 'fled' to foreign countries and smoothly found work there.
Catholic charity founder, Jean Vanier, sexually abused six women according to the report prepared by the UK-based GCPS Consulting group.
Texas church has been expelled from Southern Baptist Convention because it hired sex offender as pastor.
Ohio priest who was arrested for child pornography has been also accused of participating in the prostitution of children.
After serious sex abuse scandals and allegations, the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy amid wave of potential lawsuits.
An Australian pastor, who ran the most prominent conversion therapy ministries, has been charged with sexual abuse of a minor.
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Clowns Without Borders USA (CWB) is strongly committed to protecting the privacy of visitors to our website and subscribers to our mailing lists. This privacy policy describes what information we gather from you, how we use that information and what we do to protect it. We hope that this privacy policy is straightforward and clear, but if you have any questions about it, please email us at email@example.com
In this policy, CWB refers to CWB staff, board members, cooperating attorneys, interns, volunteers and consultants, all of whom are bound by law or contract to keep information they receive as part of their assistance to CWB confidential.
Privacy Policy
Clowns Without Borders-USA (CWB) is genuinely concerned about the privacy of its users, and is committed to providing a secure and private environment for the free flow of information. The public areas of this site are open to all visitors to read, search, browse, and download, at no cost. Visitors need not register or give any personal identification to use the public areas. No software or hardware techniques are employed to covertly capture a user's name or email address.
Where visitors choose to provide the site with a name, email address or other information in order to request further information, CWB keeps all such response lists confidential and securely stored.
Personally identifiable information collected in any area of the website will not be sold, rented or exchanged with any other organization or entity unless the user is first notified and expressly agrees in advance.
CWB does not use any web bugs, or invisible graphics that enable tracking. CWB employs a simple "count" system that tells us how many visits the site receives in a given period, but no identities or individually identifiable information is gathered by this process. Our web servers automatically log standard information, including IP address, browser types, and access times. This information is used for internal research or analysis purposes only and not stored for long term uses.
All applicable laws are followed with respect to data collection from minors. No use of personal data collected on the website, other than those uses specified there, will be made. There will be no sharing of data collected from minors with any third parties at any time under any circumstances.
CWB may partner with or link to other organizations and companies to provide services to members, and their pages are governed by their own privacy policies. CWB will endeavor to influence these vendors toward appropriate practices in the area of user privacy, but cannot be held accountable for the policies or practices of these third parties. CWB recommends that visitors to any website examine the privacy policy posted on that site for their own protection.
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We're so pleased to welcome a new member to the BlogWorld team. Shane Ketterman will be taking over Conference Director duties, effective immediately. Shane, who helped to coordinate several conferences for Cisco, will be planning our educational content and helping to find the best speakers. As you know, we take our educational content seriously and we're confident Shane will continue to make sure our attendees receive a valuable experience.
Wait. What? A new Conference Director? But what about Deb?
Don't worry – I'm still with the BlogWorld team, but I'm moving over to head all community and social media efforts as the Director of Community. I'll also be behind the helm at all of our social networks and working on some fun campaigns and activities for our community. Oh and y'all aren't rid of me yet because I'm going to be working very closely with Shane as well.
Please meet Shane Ketterman
We came upon Shane quite by accident. He set up a call with Rick and I to pitch an idea he had for a new track for BlogWorld NY. At the time, we knew we were going to need a new Conference Director but weren't sure where to start looking. As soon as Shane mentioned his background with Cisco and how he used to coordinate some of the educational content there, Rick Skyped me to say, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Indeed I was and an impromptu interview ensued. After several phone calls, and interviews with other candidates, we confirmed our intitial hunch that Shane would be the best person for the job. We think you'll agree.
My friend Shane is no stranger to BlogWorld as he's attended our conference several years in a row and he's also been a speaker. Even more important, Shane is passionate about our conference and our community, something so important to us. Feel free to follow Shane on Twitter @shaneketterman or drop him a line at firstname.lastname@example.com – but do be gentle, we want him to stick around for a while.
We know you'll like Shane as much as we do. Won't you join us in welcoming him to the BlogWorld team?


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Migrants- Plomari
|Family Name:
|1917- 2011
|Father's Name:
|Grigorios (Plomari)
|Mother's Name:
|Pelagia Maistrelli (Plomari)
|Irini (Frantzoglou), Ioannis, Maria, Anastasia (Sideri), Sophia (Raftelli), Dimitrios, Ekaterina (Protonotarios)
|Year of Arrival in New Zealand:
|Ioannis Moutzouris (his brother)
|Zoe Karanikola (Patras)
|Pelagia, Ekaterina, Christos
|City of Residence:
|Geraldine, Christchurch and Wellington, New Zealand
|Small Business- Fish and Chips Shop (Geraldine)
Above: At his sister Ekaterina's wedding. L-R: Panagiotis himself; his brother-in-law, Konstantinos and his sister, Ekaterina; his brother, Ioannis and his brother-in-law, Nikolaos Sideris.
Above Right: With his wife, Zoe, at their wedding reception.
Above: With his wife, Zoe.
Above Right: With his daughter, Pelagia.
Above: Dancing a zeibekiko at a family function.
Above Right: Outside his sister's family home. L-R: his sister, Anastasia Sideris; his brother-in-law, Konstantinos Protonotarios; his sybethero, Emmanouil Sideris; Panagiotis himself; his sister Ekaterina Protonotariou; his sister, Anastasia and his brother, Ioannis. The children his daughter, Pelagia, his niece, Pelagia and Panagiotis.
Above: holidaying in Plomari. L-R: Panagiotis himself; his sister-in-law, Konstantina and his brother, Ioannis; his brother, Dimitrios; and his wife, Zoe.
Above Right: Walking through the streets of Plomari.
Above: As a champion in lawn bowls; Panagiotis played the sport from 1975 until 2003 and played for Geraldine, Christchurch and Wellington local bowls clubs. In this photograph, he was playing for Burnside Bowling Club.
Above Right: Playing backgammon "tavli" with his brother, Ioannis.


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Al, keep your nose out of WNY politics or I will expose your underbelly. You are a spineless fraud and you're going down with Skelos. Did you have fun at Andrews $50k party? You are such a low life parasite. It's all about money and you could care less about the people and republican principals. What are you going to do when I tell the people that you were the prime mover of Andrew's gay marriage bill so he could pound his chest as the most powerful governor the state has ever known and you could have access as a lobby for the big buck clients you extort.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, apparently the dispute comes from the fact that Mr. Paladino is backing primary challengers to GOP State Senators Mark Grisanti and George Maziarz, as is Erie County Conservative Party chairman Ralph Lorigo. Mr. Maziarz has been trying to remove Mr. Lorigo from his post, as is Joel Giambra, the former executive of Erie County.
According to our source, Mr. Lorigo asked Mr. D'Amato to intervene, particularly since Mr. Giambra works with Mr. D'Amato's high-profile lobbying firm, Park Strategies. Mr. D'Amato did try to bring peace to the warring factions, which is apparently what set Mr. Paladino off.
It is true that while Mr. D'Amato remains well-regarded in some circles of the party, he has been more bi-partisan than some Republicans would like in recent years as his lobbying business has grown, and he did support Mr. Cuomo over Mr. Paladino in 2010, but so did many, many others.


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"The Customer Success Difference."
Harry Labana – Chief Customer Officer
The Workspot Difference
From day one, Workspot has gone way beyond customer satisfaction, we're in the business of happy, successful customers who can easily achieve their growth objectives by adopting Workspot cloud desktop solutions.
We Measure Our Success On Yours
Our team takes on the responsibility for ensuring your Workspot solution is up and running, and from there we provide free, standard support services, including Workspot upgrades and maintenance.
"We're Successful When You're Successful."
Lisa Jeter – Customer Success Manager
"Two Subscription Model."
Richard Yoza – Customer Success Architect
Future-Proof Cloud Desktops
Whether you already have a Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud subscription or not, we'll get your Workspot implementation up and running fast and make sure it's future-proof. It's all part of our Go-Live Deployment Services.
Connecting to the Public Cloud
When you deploy Workspot cloud desktop and app solutions, Azure and Google Cloud become an extension of your network. You can use all the corporate resources and controls – authentication, policies, data and apps – you already have in place. We take care of getting your data center and your users connected.
"Configuring Network Connectivity."
Richard Yoza – Customer Success Architect
"Creating Templates."
Richard Yoza – Customer Success Architect
Creating Templates for Cloud Desktops
Do you already have a Windows 10 image? Never created one before? Either way we'll get your image into Azure or Google (or both!) and show you how it's done. We are in it together!


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Bloomberg analyst, Mike McGlone, speaking to Cointelegraph described Bitcoin (BTC) halving as a "non-event".
Cointelegraph interviewed Bloomberg's senior commodity strategist Mike McGlone to learn more about his Bitcoin bullishness. He emphasized that the work he does for Bloomberg Intelligence is objective and devoid of salesmanship:
"I'm Bloomberg Intelligence. They're all completely objective. And this does not reflect the views of Bloomberg at all. I'm completely objective in my outlook in the market. I don't make investment advice or recommend recommendations."
Bitcoin maximalist
McGlone has decades of experience as a commodities trader and has been really impressed with Bitcoin's robustness:
"The stock market had its biggest correction since the Great Depression, down 15 percent. I view that as quite significant that Bitcoin is weathering this storm yet. And the key thing I find about it, it's never stopped trading, never stopped, never halted, didn't have a third party guiding it. I view that as someone who's been trading commodities my whole life is very impressive."
He also added that his bullishness is exclusive to Bitcoin:
"I'm not bullish on anything else other than Bitcoin. I think the rest of the market is just a bunch of five thousand wannabes."
Halving is for amateurs
McGlone does not believe that the upcoming halving will have any impact on the Bitcoin price, since it is something that the market has already factored in:
"it's a non-event. Complete non-event, it's for amateurs. Since when do known knowns matter in markets?"
McGlone alludes to one of the main tenets of financial economics theory — the efficient markets hypothesis, which suggests that all the known information is already priced in.
Key resistance levels
As a Bloomberg analyst, McGlone is not allowed to discuss price targets. Nonetheless, he pointed out some key support and resistance levels:
"So I think the key resistance people are gonna be looking at is $10,000 and that's very doable. I would be very disappointed if it trades much below $5,000 support."
McGlone believes that all the fundamentals are "very positive".
McGlone's views may be perceived as contrarian by many in the crypto community. We are less than 20 days from the halving, and have not yet witnessed any major price movements.


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Dove Cameron and Thomas Doherty Are So Obnoxiously Cute Together, I Can't Even Deal
You know those couples on Instagram that make you think, "Ugh, they are SO cute together!" when you see their lovey-dovey photos? Yeah, that would be Dove Cameron and Thomas Doherty. The couple first met on the set of their Disney Channel original movie Descendants 2 in 2016, and it didn't take long for an offscreen relationship to blossom. The two went public with their romance the following year, and have been giving us adorable glimpses of their love on social media. Thomas even made a cute cameo in Dove's music video for "Out of Touch." Whether they're sharing a kiss on the red carpet or cuddling up on set, we can't help but swoon every time they post a photo. See some of their cutest moments ahead!


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Louisbourg Seafoods Applauds Government for Successful TPP Negotiations
06 Oct, 2015, 10:32 ET
LOUISBOURG, NS, Oct. 6, 2015 /CNW/ - Louisbourg Seafoods is excited that the Harper government has successfully concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.
Over the past two decades, the Cape Breton fishery has increasingly benefitted from international sales. Louisbourg Seafoods has been a leader in this regard-- selling to Europe, Asia and beyond. It is now one of Cape Breton's largest private-sector employers, providing 600 well-paid jobs in eastern Nova Scotia.
The TPP will help Loiusbourg Seafoods expand their business and global marketing opportunities even further. Louisbourg has a growing business in Japan, but has faced import duties of up to 15 percent. James Kennedy, co-founder and owner, said "Japan wants our products and with trade barriers being reduced or phased out, we'll be able to market more snow crab and shrimp. We're excited to have the opportunity." New markets such as Vietnam and Malaysia are equally attractive.
Said Kennedy, "There are 248 million people in those countries alone—and we're confident that once they taste the quality of Louisbourg's products we'll boost our sales and keep introducing Cape Breton to the world. That means more jobs for Cape Bretoners and more investment in our communities."
ABOUT THE COMPANY - Louisbourg Seafoods is a family-operated seafood business, founded in 1984. Owners James and Lori Kennedy have built a successful business as a large diversified fisher, processor, and international marketer of seafoods. The group employs upwards of 600 people in Eastern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. Louisbourg Seafoods is committed to the conservation and care of ocean species and habitat as members of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
SOURCE Louisbourg Seafoods
For further information: Dannie Hanson, Vice-President, Sustainability & Corporate Affairs, Louisbourg Seafoods Ltd., (C) 902-565-1088, [email protected], www.louisbourgseafoods.ca


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Stars: Andriy Ivanov and Zein Moreno
Doubting Thomas wasn't eligible for awards at the IFP Beat the Clock challenge this year because slow upload speeds meant it missed the deadline. If it had been, Zein Moreno would have had a solid shot for the Best Actress award, as her performance stayed with me throughout the remaining screenings and far beyond. I'm not quite sure that she's left yet! Really she's only in this film as a prop, to freak out the leading man in ways the other shock moments can't deliver, but she steals every scene she's in. He's some sort of paranormal investigator, booked into the San Carlos Hotel in downtown Phoenix to prove it has no ghosts. 'Haunted?' he says when he arrives. 'Yeah, right!' Andriy Ivanov isn't bad as Thomas Harper, though he could have been better. It's just that Moreno is outstanding as Annabelle, who's right there waiting for him to arrive and who greets him eerily by name. He gets more screen time than she does but she dominates the film, even when she's not in it.
|This film was a submission to one of the IFP Phoenix film challenges in 2013. Here's an index to my reviews of 2013 submissions.
To be fair, it's not all her, as this part was a gift. Annabelle's success is partly how her look is so neatly severe, how she says 'Mr Harper' like a hypnotic mantra and how she's framed so freakily in hallways that may or may not be in our world. Her appearing and disappearing act merely adds to the effect, as do cleverly accomplished shots like the one where the light plays on her face or the one where she's lit by candle in the dark. The pulsing soundtrack helps too, as does the apparent lack of anyone else in a 128 room hotel. Mostly, though, it's her and I'd very much like to see her in something else to see her range. She also isn't the only good thing about this film; in addition to all those aspects that helped her, there are other well timed shock moments and a beautifully shot ending. For a 48 hour film made by a cast and crew of four, this is pretty amazing stuff. That fact surely forgives the odd editing hiccup and camera issue. This isn't perfect by any means, but it's a gem of a competition entry.
Doubting Thomas can be viewed for free at Vimeo.


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Wanted to get in on Four Weeks of Felt (aka I Love Felt) last time? Well, here is your opportunity!
In Four Weeks of Felt, students will learn how to make felt in the wet-felting process.
We will make:
* a flat project (the ever-popular scarf!)
* a simple form that can be crafted into a cell-phone case or small purse or other nifty little object
* a larger, more complex form using a resist technique (either a larger purse or a vase/vessel, or a tea-cosy)
* jewelry, practical and decorative shapes and little objects (including felt sushi!)
Classes will be held in Fleurbain Tuesday nights, March 27 to April 17, 6:30-9pm. Cost of the four weeks, including all materials and taxes, is $160.
Instructor Natasha Henderson is a visual artist, painter, crafter of wool scarves, puppets, and cat-toys. She loves making things by hand and teaching others how to do so, too. She has years of experience teaching workshops in painting, felt-making, and other crafts. Her work (including felt scarves) can be seen in various galleries and shops, as well as being available online.
Please note class size is limited, so reserve your space today by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com.
We are close to McGill and Place des Arts metros, with plenty of street and paid parking nearby.
Tea's on!


text:
The UK Cabinet Office just published its latest list of civilian honours that recognise members of the public who are considered to have made a major contribution in fields such as arts, science, medicine, sport or government.
Unfortunately, according to the Guardian newspaper, when the New Year 2020 list was first published, late on the evening of Friday 27 December 2019, it included the home address, work address and full postcode of many the recipients, rather than just the general area where they are based.
The awards include the prestigious Companion of Honour; Knighthoods and Damehoods (awards similar to the US Presidential Medal of Freedom); and a range of other recognitions such as CBE, OBE and MBE – letters that you have probably seen written after the names of famous British people.
Being public awards, the Honours Lists are, of course, a matter of public record, and the full names of the recipients can be downloaded from the UK Government website.
The list usually gives a general idea where each recipient lives, limited to a region (e.g. East Sussex), a city (e.g. Edinburgh) or a postcode district in London (e.g. SW4).
But the Guardian says it was contacted by a reader who downloaded the list shortly after it first appeared, saw full addresses instead of general locations, and realised something was wrong.
The inadvertent leak has caused some consternation in official circles because the award winners include people involved in policing, defence, the judiciary and counter-terrorism.
The good news is that the offending document was replaced online very quickly – apparently within one to two hours – though we don't yet know how many people downloaded it in its original format.
The Cabinet Office has reported itself to the UK's data breach authority, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
The ICO, says the Guardian, has noted that: "In response to reports of a data breach involving the Cabinet Office and the new year honours list, the ICO will be making inquiries."
Featured image of Bath Star thanks to R. de Salis via Wikipedia.


text:
- Medical workers in Indonesia are grappling with the pressure of caring for Covid-19 patients while vaccinating the population, Edhie Rahmat of Project HOPE said.
- "The longer the pandemic lasts and the higher the caseload builds, will impact their workload and make them vulnerable to transmission and infection," he said.
- Indonesia's coronavirus cases have spiked in recent weeks following the Eid holiday in May, and only 4.6% of the country is fully vaccinated.
Medical workers in Indonesia are grappling with the pressure of caring for Covid-19 patients while quickly vaccinating the country's residents as infections increase, according to a global health and humanitarian relief organization.
"Health care workers in Indonesia are struggling with a double burden," said Edhie Rahmat, executive director for Indonesia at Project HOPE, short for Health Opportunities for People Everywhere.
First, they have to take care of both Covid patients and patients with other diseases. Second, they are "under pressure to rapidly cover a high number of populations that need to be vaccinated," he told CNBC in an email.
Get New England news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NECN newsletters.
Total infections crossed the 2 million threshold on Monday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. More than 55,594 people have died of Covid-19 in Indonesia. Meanwhile, around 8.9% of Indonesia's population has received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, and 4.6% of the country is fully vaccinated, according to Our World in Data.
"The longer the pandemic lasts and the higher the caseload builds, will impact their workload and make them vulnerable to transmission and infection," he said, noting that there are limited beds in intensive care units and a lack of good quality personal protective equipment in the country.
Nearly 980 health-care staff have died from Covid-19, according to data from LaporCovid-19.
Money Report
Medical workers are also at risk of developing mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, Rahmat said.
"Most health care workers in Indonesia do not have the experience to deal with long-term crisis situations like this," Project HOPE's emergency response specialist for Southeast Asia, Yogi Mahendra, said in a statement.
Increase in cases
Indonesia's coronavirus cases have spiked in recent weeks following the Eid holiday in May.
"Most Indonesians, regardless of their religion, enjoy this gathering and celebrate with lots of food, handshaking and talking," said Rahmat.
Authorities announced tighter restrictions in 29 infection hot spots this week, in a bid to contain the spread of the virus, Reuters reported.
In these so-called "red zones," religious activities at places of worship have been suspended, while restaurants, cafes and malls can only operate at 25% capacity, Reuters said.
The country's most populous island, Java, has been hit hardest by the second wave, Rahmat said.
He also noted that some vaccinated health-care workers have come down with Covid-19, pointing to a report from an official in the district of Kudus, who said 350 such cases have been detected.
"We also received a report of a midwife dying in the district next to Kudus and two doctors died in the same period in different districts," he said.
Even if medical workers have mild symptoms, they need to be isolated for 10 days and cannot work in the hospitals at a time when cases are "rocketing," he added.
"This is a serious issue and may ruin the health system," said Rahmat.


text: Celebration Continues… April 21, 2008 By Jerusalem 4 Comments with NEW ATTIC SALE additions at Storia HOME!! 1. Queen Candle, 2. Bloomin' Lovely, 3. Hippity Hop, 4. Bauble Nest, 5. Birthday Boy Candle 2, 6. Welcome Spring, 7. Feeling Fluffy, 8. Nest of Pins, 9. Happy Easter All the above items have been dramatically reduced (plus more!!) Help me clean out my attic and celebrate with some fun glittery goodies!


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If you want to work in a collaborative environment where opportunities are offered, skills are stretched and excellence is rewarded, you might be exactly what we're looking for. To find out more, check this page for upcoming opportunities or write to us.
Internship Opportunities
College students! Are you looking for a really fun internship where you can do meaningful things that make a difference – and NOT have to go get someone's coffee? Internship opportunities are available at Manotsav Foundation, year round, and we offer a robust program where you will learn more than you could ever imagine. Our people love what they do, and you will too.
Fellowship Program
Manotsav Foundation has announced the Research Fellowships Program 2019 to support researchers who want to tackle the most important questions in the area of mental health. We are excited to meet fellows that are hungry to learn, are highly spirited and motivated to go above and beyond for themselves.
Interested? Awesome! READ THIS FIRST, and then forward your areas of interest and your institute's requirements along with a resume (if you have one). If you don't have a resume, just put your work history in your cover letter so we have an idea of what you LIKE to do and CAN do. Your cover letter should tell us why you're the best student on the block that we would love to have!


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Help-Me-Park is an airport-approved Meet & Greet service for Gatwick that includes the airport access fee. Cars are stored in a nearby secure Park Mark-awarded car park.
Gatwick Help Me Park Meet and Greet serves both terminals at Gatwick Airport.
Call Help Me Park when you are 10 minutes away from the airport. Park your car in the drop off area for approved operators and meet the Help Me Park driver.
Call Help-Me-Park when you have collected all your luggage. Your car will then be brought to you at the airport terminal.
Help Me Park Meet and Greet is a meet and greet service, so you are met at Gatwick Airport's terminal.
Help Me Park Meet and Greet offers the following security features whilst your vehicle is stored.
No trailers permitted. No MWB or LWB vans or lorries accepted. No vehicles longer than 5.2m.
All vehicles must have valid Road Tax for the duration of stay, valid MOT, tyre treads of legal limit and enough engine fluids and fuel as the car is parked nearby off-airport.
This is a meet and greet service where you are met at the airport terminal.
Do you own a car park? If so, we'd like to hear from you.
We recommend using the directions provided and an up-to-date map.
For Sat Nav, use RH6 0NP for the South Terminal, and RH6 0PJ for the North Terminal.


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Campfire Stories: The Story of The Bible
September 1, 2019 (Sunday Morning)
Bible Text: | Jeff Jantzi
Let's face it, the Bible can be a difficult book to understand - especially parts of the Old Testament. But what if there was a way to understand the Bible that could help us make better sense of it? And what if we were to see the Bible not just as a collection of random stories, but as a collection of books and letters that all tell one unified story? That story being the story of Jesus and His redeeming work in the world?
Sermon Topics: old testament
Life Together: Our Shared Story
September 24, 2023
We all love a story. So what's the story of the church? And more importantly, what's the story God is wanting to tell through the church? Where do we fit?
Passage: Acts 2:42-47
Life Together: A Community of Love
September 17, 2023
We live in a lonely and hurting world. A world filled with people who refuse to let people into their lives. But what if letting people in is the way…
Passage: 1 John 3:11-24
Life Together: A Shared Identity
September 10, 2023
A lot of people think of 'church' as being a one or two hour event every Sunday and that's about it. But what does God think about when he thinks…
Passage: 1 Peter 2:4-10
'Be Transformed by the Renewing of your Mind'
September 3, 2023
What if transformation was less about trying harder but about surrendering more? Romans 12:1-2 invites us into a life where our hearts and minds are shaped, not by the noise…
Preacher : Josh Wang
Passage: Romans 12:1-2
In the Face of Opposition
August 27, 2023
Do you ever feel like if you are being faithful to God and obedient that life should be easy? Often it is the case that life is smoother when we…
Preacher : Dan Chook Reid
Passage: Nehemiah 4:1-9 and 15-20
Guarding the Heart
August 20, 2023
Guarding your heart and mind isn't just about protecting yourself; it's about preserving the essence of who you are meant to be and the path you walk. Join us for…
Preacher : Josh Wang
Passage: Proverbs 4:20-27
Good Works for God's Glory
August 13, 2023
Join our special guest, Pastor Dan Byrne, for this week's message on how we can have a platform to do good works, and as a result, bring glory to God.…
Preacher : Dan Byrne
Passage: Titus 3:1-8
God Has a Name: But I Do Not Excuse the Guilty
July 30, 2023
Many people think of God as being eager to punish them for their sin. This is not true! And yet, in Exodus 34:7, God is clear that He "does not…
Passage: Exodus 34:6-7
Many people assume God doesn't care about them or what happens to them in this life, and yet this is not how God describes himself. What does God being "abounding…
Passage: Exodus 34:6-7
God Has a Name: Slow to Anger
July 16, 2023
A lot of people think that God is quick tempered and eager to unleash his anger on people, but God described himself as "Slow to Anger". What does it mean…
Passage: Exodus 34:5-7


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Some evacuation notices were lifted while others remained in effect Tuesday for multiple communities throughout Southern California charred by the wildfires amid heavy downpours from a storm moving across the region.
Mandatory evacuation orders were lifted for about 180 homes in burn areas of Duarte, but rain-related parking restrictions were still in place.
Orders have also been issued for parts of Santa Barbara County, the Ojai area in Ventura County and canyon areas in the northeast San Fernando Valley. Voluntary evacuations were ordered for parts of Corona.
Forecasts downpours and flooding came to fruition Tuesday during first significant storm of the rainy season.
Homeowners in any recently burned area were advised to take precautionary measures, such as stacking sandbags and using K-rails, to divert the flow of water and any mud.
In Burbank, a mandatory evacuation order was issued Tuesday morning for Country Club Drive. All voluntary evacuation warnings were lifted early Wednesday.
The Burbank warnings applied to the following locations: All of Hamline Place; 925-1030 Groton Drive; 830-849 Stephen Road; 907-936 Irvine Drive; 2906 & 2934 Olney Place; 2934 Remy Place; 2949 Mystic View Place; 3430-3436 Brace Canyon Rd; 3301-3310 Brookshire Court; 3318, 3321 & 3322, 3422 Wedgewood Court; 3514-3519 Folkstone Court; 3529-3530 Castleman Lane.
An evacuation site is available in Burbank at McCambridge Recreation Center, 1515 N. Glenoaks Blvd.
The Corona Fire Department said Wednesday that the majority of the evacuations, which were issued Tuesday night for areas burned by the Canyon Fire, have been lifted.
The following neighborhoods have been impacted by mudflows and remain closed and under mandatory evacuation: San Ramon Drive & San Alvarado Circle. Road closures will remain in place for these areas.
The following neighborhoods have been deemed clear of hazards, and all evacuations and road closures have been lifted in these areas: Hidden Hills Way, Bulrush Circle, Elderberry Circle, Misty Ridge Lane, Wilderness Drive & Wilderness Circle, Canyon Crest Drive & Canyon Crest Circle, Diamond View Street, San Ponte Road, San Viscaya Circle, San Sebastian Circle, Oakridge Drive, San Almada Road.
An evacuation center is available by the Red Cross at Corona High School, 1150 W. 10th St.
Information for Corona residents is available through a city hotline: (951)817-5800 or online here.
Anyone in need of temporary shelter can call 951-817-5800. Temporary boarding for pets will be available at the Corona Animal Shelter, 1330 Magnolia Ave.
The city of Duarte on Tuesday morning lifted mandatory evacuation orders for homes in the Fish Fire burn area.
An evacuation center was closed after being established by the Red Cross at the Duarte Community Center.
Classes at Valley View Elementary School, 237 Mel Canyon Road, have been canceled Tuesday.
Rain-related parking restrictions remained in effect.
Long Beach is offering sand and sand bags for residents to help protect their homes. Officials note it is illegal to take sand directly from the beaches.
Sand is available to Long Beach residents, who are required to bring IDs, at the following locations: Fire Station 7, 2295 Elm Ave.; Fire Station 12, 1199 E. Artesia Blvd.; Fire Station 13, 2475 Adriatic Ave.; Fire Station 14, 5200 Eliot Ave.; Long Beach Public Works/Public Service Yard, 1651 San Francisco Ave., at Esther Street Gate (sand only, no bags available; open any time of day); Parking lot, 72nd Place and Ocean Boulevard (sand only, no bags available; open any time of day)
Empty sand bags are available at all neighborhood fire stations and at the Beach Operations building located at 2100 E. Ocean Boulevard (enter through Junipero Avenue).
In the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department rescinded mandatory evacuation orders for Kagel Canyon, Lopez Canyon and Little Tujunga Canyon areas at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Residents were still required to show identification on reopened roads.
The Creek Fire, which burned 15,619 acres, erupted about four miles east of Sylmar on Dec. 5 around 3:40 a.m. It destroyed 60 homes and damaged 55 others.
Late Tuesday, authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders for areas affected by the La Tuna Canyon Fire.
Residents living between the 8300 block of La Tuna Canyon Road and the 8800 block were evacuated, which affected about 23 homes.
Voluntary evacuations were issued for residents on the south end of La Tuna Canyon Road,
The Hansen Dam Equestrian Center, which has in the past been used to shelter evacuated animals, was closed for the rain.
Kagel, Lopez and Little Tujunga canyons were the first areas to be under mandatory evacuations amid mudslide concerns for multiple burned regions in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Evacuation orders were issued Sunday night for areas in Santa Barbara County which were affected by the Thomas, Whittier, Sherpa and Rey fires.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued for unincorporated county areas that include Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria including all areas north of Hwy 192, east of Cold Springs Road, and west of Hwy 150/the county line. Other areas include Romero Canyon, Tecolote Canyon, Eagle Canyon, Dos Pueblos Canyon, Gato Canyon, and the Whittier burn areas near Goleta.
A voluntary evacuation warning was issued for all areas south of Hwy 192 to the ocean and east of Hot Springs Road/Olive Mill Road to Hwy 150/the county line.
An evacuation center opened at Santa Barbara City College, 721 Cliff Dr.
More information on the Santa Barbara County evacuations and shelters is available here.
In the Ojai area, mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents of Matilija Canyon to North Fork and Wheeler Gorge. Residents were advised to leave immediately as significant rainfall was expected that could lead to mud and debris flows.
Highway 33 is closed in Ojai north of Fairview Road to Rose Valley Road, according to the CHP.
An alternate route is S/R 150 to S/R 126 to Interstate 5.
For many residents who live in that area, that road is one of two main routes in and out of town. The other is Highway 150.
"It's everything. We are very closed off if we don't have those roads," said Tammy Bernardi, a local business owner.
Voluntary evacuations were advised for Casitas Springs, Nye Road, La Conchita, and the area west of Thomas Aquinas College along Highway 150.
An evacuation center was set up at the gymnasium of Ventura City College, 4667 Telegraph Road.
The evacuation notices are being issued as Southern California faces a major rainstorm, following months of dry weather and raging brush fires that left hillsides stripped bare.
An evacuation shelter was opened at Westwood Recreation Center, 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles in anticipation of debris flow in areas near the Skirball Fire burn. The shelter can accommodate pets.
City News Service contributed to this report.


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Boosted Dual+ Extended V2
I've tried a plethora of different eboards during the years and no other board has a better controllability than Boosted. Every input you do on the remote, you know exactly how the board will react. This predictability is crucial when commuting. As far as reliability, I don't see any other boards other than DIY crossing the thousands of miles mark with so little maintenance required as on Boosted boards.
Boosted Dual+ Extended V2


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Navigating the NEW Documentation, Coding and Compliance
You have taken all the classes, but the rules have changed again! The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), ICD-10 phase 2 (5,400 code changes), phase 3 of Meaningful Use and phase 2 of HIPAA audits all go into effect in the fall of 2016. Stay informed with the upcoming changes for your practice. See how the new changes in the Medicare payments are tied to the cost and quality of patient care for hundreds of thousands of doctors and other clinicians. See how these changes are being implemented in all carriers of insurance reimbursement. These significant changes will impact the chiropractic office and the way you practice. Dr. Mario Fucinari, a Certified Insurance Consultant and Certified Medical Compliance Specialist will show you step-by-step procedures to implement the new policies and coding changes into your office.
Dr. Mario Fucinari, a Certified Insurance Consultant and a Certified Medical Compliance Specialist, will present the updated material in a manner that is easy to grasp for doctors, staff and billing personnel. You will take away procedures and knowledge that can be applied to your patients on Monday morning!
Dr. Mario Fucinari is uniquely qualified as a Certified Insurance Consultant, Certified Medical Compliance Specialist, Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician and a full-time practitioner. Dr. Fucinari has helped train doctors and staff over the last 27 years. He received his bachelor's degree from Wayne State University in Detroit and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1986. After graduating from Palmer College Davenport, Dr. Fucinari completed studies in chiropractic orthopedics and attained his certification as a chiropractic sports physician and a Certified Insurance Consultant. Dr. Fucinari is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Practitioners. He is the first chiropractor to attain the Medical Compliance Specialist Physician (MCS-P) designation. He currently practices full time in Decatur, Illinois. He is a national speaker for NCMIC and Foot Levelers. His colorful and outgoing personality guarantees an entertaining presentation, while his program will help provide up-to-the-minute information.


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Pizza night is a once a month affair around here and while my boys always stick to some version of your basic pepperoni and sausage, I always try to push the envelope and come up with a new flavor combination that I haven't seen before. This weekend I went for a butternut squash base and I'll have a hard time returning to my tomato sauce from here on out. I roasted the squash with some red onion and shallots and then pureed it with a little bit of milk, it makes for the creamiest most decadent tasting pizza base you could ever dream up. I topped it off with some smoked cheddar, a little broccolini and some chopped hazelnuts. I do encourage you to invest in a pizza stone if you don't have one and place it directly on the floor of your oven. Most conventional ovens have a hard time getting hot enough to get the crust nice and crispy. I liked this so much that I made another pizza today and I think I'll toss the leftover sauce with a little pasta tomorrow for dinner. What's your favorite pizza combination?
Be sure to check out the bottom of the post for a little music to enjoy with your pizza!
- for the pizza dough
- 1 package (2¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 cup ice-cold water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 5¼ to 5½ cups bread flour
- For the sauce and pizza:
- 1 medium butternut squash (about 1½ pounds)
- ½ medium red onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup milk
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups smoked cheddar or your favorite cheese, shredded
- 1 bunch broccolini, trimmed
- ½ cup hazelnuts, chopped
- For the dough:
- In a small bowl, stir yeast into warm water, add the honey and let sit for 5 minutes until yeast starts to bubble and foam.
- Ina another bowl, mix cold water and salt until dissolved; stir in oil.
- In a heavy-duty standing mixer with a dough hook, place 5¼ cups flour in a large bowl. Stir the yeast mixture again to blend, then add to flour along with cold-water mixture. Beat with the dough hook on low speed until mixture is smooth and not sticky, 10-12 minutes. If dough remains sticky, add 2 more tablespoons flour and beat 2 minutes longer; if still sticky, add another 1 to 2 tablespoons flour and beat until nonsticky and smooth.
- Scrape dough onto a lightly floured board; cut in half. With floured hands, pick up one portion of dough; pull opposite edges together toward center and pinch to seal. Repeat all around circumference to form a smooth, tight ball. Place each portion in a 1-gallon plastic bag. Squeeze out air and seal bag, allowing enough room for ball to double. Chill at least 10 hours or up to 3 days.
- hours before you want make the pizza, remove the dough from the fridge and let come to room temperature. (I usually take mine out in the morning and just leave it to rise on the counter until I'm ready to use it.
- Make the sauce:
- Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees. Using a large, sharp knife, trim the ends of the squash and cut it in half lengthwise. Peel with a vegetable peeler. With a spoon, scoop out the seeds and discard. On a baking sheet toss the butternut squash and onion with the olive oil, chili flakes and salt. Roast until the squash is tender, about 40 minutes, tossing occasionally.
- Transfer squash to a food processor or high-speed blender. Add apple cider vinegar, and milk and process until smooth adding a little more milk if needed to thin as necessary. Taste, and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- In a small bowl, toss the broccolini with a teaspoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Assemble the pizza:
- When you're ready to bake the pizza, heat the oven to 500 degrees.
- Roll or stretch out the dough to a 12-inch round. If you are having trouble stretching your dough, roll it out, let it rest for 5-10 minutes and then try it again. Allowing it to rest relaxes the glutton in the dough and makes it easier to roll out. I like to roll out my dough on parchment paper so it's easy to transfer it to the oven. You can also sprinkle a baking sheet or pizza peel with cornmeal to avoid sticking.
- Spread a thin layer of the butternut squash sauce on top of the dough. Sprinkle ¼ of the cheese over the top of the pizza. Top with the broccolini and sprinkle with the hazelnuts. Bake the pizza for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are brown and the cheese is bubbly
What better to go with pizza than a cold beer and a little country music? I've been really enjoying the new HBO series True Detective and love the opening song by the Handsome Family. It 's a haunting song that evokes the darker side of life.
This song by Marcus Mumford and Oscar Isaac is from the Coen Brothers film Inside Llewyn Davis is a lovely version of a folk classic.
Murder by Death is a new band for me and I love the combination of the cello for their slightly gothic take on country music. Adam Turla's vocals bring to mind a modern Johnny Cash.


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A San Francisco woman is battling life-threatening injuries after falling 15 – 20 feet from a wall overlooking a city BART station this afternoon, according to police Sgt. Michael Andraychak.
The 51-year-old woman was reportedly standing on a high wall surrounding the Civic Center BART station when she lost her balance, Andraychak said.
Her fall was reported around 4 p.m.
According to Andraychak the woman was unconscious when she was transported to San Francisco General Hospital.
Want more news, sent to your inbox every day? Then how about subscribing to our email newsletter? Here's why we think you should. Come on, give it a try.


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A wedding will not be complete without wedding gowns. No matter the budget, one thing remains to be constant: and that's the dress you wear as you enter a new chapter in your life. Getting married is an important life decision. It is crucial that in your heart, mind and body, you are ready and prepared for it. If all things are prepared and purchased except for the wedding gown, you should find one right away. Choosing that perfect wedding gown is not easy; do not underestimate it because it can be very daunting at the end of the day.
While it's often hard to look for the perfect wedding gown, this doesn't mean that you need to scour the whole of Singapore just to find one. There are many bridal shops here in Singapore and there is definitely at least one wedding dress shop that can give you what you want. But before looking for that shop, it is important that have certain criteria by which you will judge gowns when you shop. By setting criteria, you can find the perfect gown easily. So, what are the guidelines? Take a look at this:
The Season
Few people realize that the season can affect how they wear their bridal gown. Always consider the season: if you are getting married on a summer day, better choose gowns with light materials. Aside from that, you should pick the perfect bridal in singapore with the gown that has minimal layers and beading. This can cause a hot and sticky feeling. You will not be comfortable and it will really show in your face and some photographs. If you are getting married on a cold day, better choose wedding gowns with heavy fabrics that can give you warmth. You can consider taffeta, wraps, cashmere, cardigans and other similar fabrics.
Natural Setting
"Nature" here refers to the theme of the wedding. If you decided to have a traditional wedding, for example, you should wear the appropriate, traditional wedding gowns. For example, if you decided to have a traditional Japanese wedding, you should choose a silk kimono. If you want to incorporate other Western styles, you can do so. You can still walk stylishly and fashionably.
The Venue
You should also dress according to the venue. If you chose to hold your wedding in a church or hotel, of course you need to dress formally. If you chose to hold your wedding at a beach or garden, you should find something that is fitted for an outdoor affair.
Once you are familiar with the criteria for choosing wedding gowns, you will discover the one that is perfect for you in no time. If you found it, you should fit it so the bridal shop can make alterations to make it look better on you. But if you haven't found the right one yet, there are many things that you can do-design your own gown and have it sewed for you or you can look in the internet and order online. But don't be too engrossed with your gown because you have to find dresses for your entourage too and, of course, a suit for your soon-to-be-husband.
Regardless of what you choose, the important thing here is you are happy.


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In 1662, the print makers of the Cabinet du Roi were organized to create an engraved record of the celebrations held by Louis XIV. Five years later, the charge was expanded to include an engraved record of every painting and sculpture owned by the King, along with his gardens, buildings, and the interior decoration of the residences.
The most spectacular work of the time was that of Charles Le Brun (1619-1690) who was Louis XIV's principal painter and leader of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture. Among his many projects was the decoration of the Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors), Le Grand Escalier (Grand Stairway), and other rooms, vaults, and niches at Versailles.
Beginning in 1723, the artist Jean-Baptiste Massé (1687-1767) undertook the project of copying the ceiling decoration of the Hall of Mirrors and accompanying rooms at Versailles, for the purpose of making a series of reproductive engravings. Massé was given special permission to build scaffolding in the apartments and spent over eight years at the ceiling carefully copying Le Brun's designs. A number of engravers worked over twenty years to prepare and then, print the series of plates.
Completed in 1752, La grande galerie de Versailles et les deux salons qui l'accompagnent was published with 56 massive engravings on 52 plates. Two prints from this set are reproduced here. In the central oval on the print above, we see Louis XIV on his throne, Minerva on the left, and an allegorical figure of Eloquence (according to François Charpentier) kneeling on the right. The caption might be translated Protection Accorded the Fine Arts.
In The Reformation of Justice, 1667 (below), the central scene includes Louis XIV holding a book and scepter with Justice on the left, judges on the right, and La Chicane below his feet. For an extended reading of these and the other scenes in the Hall of Mirrors, see http://www.galeriedesglaces-versailles.fr/html/11/collection/galerie.html
See also:
Charles Le Brun (1619-1690), Recueil de divers desseins de fontaines et de frises maritimes, inventez …([Paris, 1693?]) Marquand Library (SAX): Rare Books Oversize NA9400 .L49f
Tapisseries du roy: ou sont representez les quatre elemens et les quatre saisons : avec les devises qui les accompagnent et leur explication (Paris: Chez Sebastien Mabre-Cramoisy … , 1679) Marquand Library (SAX): Rare Books Oversize NK3000 .L46f
Charles Le Brun (1619-1690), Grand escalier du chateau de Versailles, dit Escalier des ambassadeurs (Paris: L. Surugue, [1725]) Marquand Library (SAX): Rare Books Oversize NA1046 .L49e


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D Biographies of Committee Members and Staff DANIEL N. BAKER, Chair, is director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder and is a professor of astrophysical and planetary sciences and a professor of physics there. His primary research interest is the study of plasma physical and energetic particle phenomena in planetary mag- netospheres and in Earthâs vicinity. He conducts research in space instrument design, space physics data analysis, and magnetospheric modeling. Dr. Baker has published over 700 papers in the refereed literature and has edited six books on topics in space physics. He is a fellow of the American Geophysical Union, the International Academy of Astronautics, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He currently is an investiga- tor on several NASA space missions, including the MESSENGER mission to Mercury, the Magnetospheric Multi- Scale (MMS) mission, the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission, and the Canadian ORBITALS mission. He has won numerous awards for his research efforts and for his management activities, including recognition by the Institute for Scientific Information as being âhighly citedâ in space research. Dr. Baker was chosen as a 2007 winner of the University of Coloradoâs Robert L. Stearns Award for outstanding research, service, and teaching. He currently serves on several national and international scientific committees and on advisory panels of the U.S. Air Force and other federal agencies. He was a member of the Panel on Atmosphere-Ionosphere-Magnetosphere of the National Research Councilâs (NRCâs) 2003 solar and space physics decadal survey and he was a member of the 2006 decadal review of the U.S. National Space Weather Program. ROBERTA BALSTAD is a senior research scientist at Columbia University and a senior fellow with the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Columbia University. Dr. Balstad has published extensively on science policy, information technology and scientific research, remote sensing applications and policy, and the role of the social sciences in understanding global environmental change. Before joining Columbia University, Dr. Balstad was the director of the Division of Social and Economic Sciences at the National Science Foundation, the founder and first executive director of the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA), and president of CIESIN. She is chair of the NRC U.S. National Committee for CODATA, a member of the Com- mittee on a Survey of the Scientific Use of the Radio Spectrum, and a member of the U.S. National Committee for the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. Dr. Balstad was chair of the NRC Steering Committee on Space Applications and Commercialization. 125
126 SEVERE SPACE WEATHER EVENTSâUNDERSTANDING SOCIETAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS J. MICHAEL BODEAU has 28 years of experience in the satellite industry and is currently a technical fellow at Northrop Grumman Space Technology. During his career, he has supported the system engineering and detailed design of commercial telecommunication satellites, meteorological satellites, NASA great observatories, and government satellites. His expertise covers the various impacts space weather has on satellite performance and in-orbit anomaly resolution. He has briefed NASA, the U.S. Air Force, NOAA, and other agencies, as well as com- mercial satellite operators and insurers, on space weather impacts and mitigation. Mr. Bodeau has made multiple presentations to the space weather community on the needs of satellite designers, led a satellite industry splinter group at the October 2002 NASA-sponsored Radiation Belt Model Workshop, and has worked with the space science community to generate new plasma climatology models for GEO satellite design based on 15 years of accumulated in-orbit environment data. EUGENE CAMERON is manager of Global Support Flight Dispatch for United Airlines and is responsible for coordinating policies and procedures for United Airlinesâ International Flight Dispatch Operations. Mr. Cameron has been instrumental in the development of cross-polar operations between North America and Asia. He has been associated with the flight dispatch operations of United during his entire career and is active on several International Air Transport Association (IATA) working groups, along with various international air traffic working groups, in the development of new international routes and procedures. Mr. Cameron was the first airline representative to work with the Space Environment Center in 1999 and 2000 to coordinate information exchanges concerning space weather effects on commercial flights in the polar region. JOSEPH F. FENNELL holds the position of distinguished scientist in the Space Science Application Laboratory at the Aerospace Corporation. Dr. Fennellâs recent research has included studies of magnetic storm and radiation belt processes, high-altitude plasma sheet, ring current composition studies, and magnetospheric boundary regions. Dr. Fennell has been involved in the development, fabrication, testing, and flight of many different particle instru- ments, ranging from auroral and magnetospheric plasma instruments to medium- and high-energy electron and ion sensors. His most recent instrumentation efforts have involved the energetic particle and energetic ion composition measurements on the CRRES, POLAR, and Cluster satellites. Dr. Fennell was a member of the NRC Commit- tee on Solar-Terrestrial Research, and he served on the Panel on Solar Wind-Magnetospheric Interactions of the Committee on Solar and Space Physics: A Community Assessment and Strategy for the Future. He is a member of the NRC Committee on Solar and Space Physics. GENENE M. FISHER is a senior policy fellow at the Policy Program of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and a visiting assistant professor of physics at North Carolina State University. Her policy research interests include space weather and atmospheric policy, federal funding of science research, and the interaction between the federal government, scientific community, and private sector. Dr. Fisherâs work focuses on policy research and analyses to improve how decisions are made by space weather scientists, end users, and policy makers regarding the impact of space weather on present and future technologies. KEVIN F. FORBES is an associate professor of economics and chair of the Business and Economics Depart- ment at the Catholic University of America, where he teaches courses in microeconomics, industrial organization, and econometrics. He is an active participant in Stanford Universityâs Energy Modeling Forum in which energy experts from government, industry, universities, and other research organizations meet to study important energy and environmental issues of common interest. With the support of the National Science Foundation, he has also written and lectured on the effects of geomagnetic storms on the electricity market. He has recently coauthored a study that examines space weather effects on electricity market outcomes in 12 power grids. PAUL M. KINTNER is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Cornell University. Dr. Kintnerâs research focuses on investigating the interaction of radio signals, both natural and man-made, with Earthâs iono- sphere or magnetosphere. Dr. Kintnerâs studies include the propagation of electromagnetic signals (such as VLF signals initiated by lightning or navigational stations), the amplification of both natural and man-made signals
APPENDIX D 127 in space, the acceleration of ionospheric plasma by waves to form the radiation belts, and the effect of the space environment on the propagation of radio signals, specifically GPS signals. Dr. Kintner is an experimentalist who acquires electric field and magnetic field measurements from sounding rockets and satellites as well as ground- based measurements using arrays of GPS receivers. He has served on the Arecibo Scientific Advisory Committee, and he chaired the Geospace Mission Definition Team, NASAâs Management Operations Working Group, and the Living With a Star-Science Architecture committee. He is a former chair of the NASA Sun-Earth Connections Advisory Subcommittee. He was a member of the NRC Committee on Solar and Space Physics. LOUIS G. LEFFLER retired in June 2006 after a 47-year career in the electric power industry. He was a manager of critical infrastructure protection with the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), where he helped electric utilities develop policy and practices to ensure protection of the nationâs electric infrastructure against such hazards as geomagnetic disturbances created by space weather. He also helped develop tools to assist power system operators and reliability coordinators to help ensure bulk electric system reliability. Prior to joining NERC, he worked for the Public Service Electric and Gas Company of New Jersey, and his assignments included working with fossil power production, power station engineering (fossil and nuclear), and power system operations. He was chief engineer of a 1300-MW power station and general manager of system operations. As project manager for the General Agreement on Parallel Paths, he assisted in shaping policy and practices intended to ensure reli- able and equitable use of the interconnected transmission systems of the eastern United States and Canada. Mr. Leffler was involved in studying the March 1989 geomagnetic storm, and he was a presenter at the Space Weather Industry Day in Washington, D.C., in May 2006. He is a registered professional engineer and licensed steam plant engineer in New Jersey. WILLIAM S. LEWIS is principal scientist with the Space Research and Engineering Division of the Southwest Research Institute. Dr. Lewisâ primary research interest is in the area of auroral physics. He has co-authored papers on Jupiterâs x-ray and far-ultraviolet aurora, Earthâs proton aurora, Europaâs sputter-produced atmosphere, and the Cassini Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) investigation. He is currently involved in studies using data obtained with the far-ultraviolet imaging system on the IMAGE spacecraft, with particular emphasis on the proton aurora. Dr. Lewis has been involved in the preparation of several NRC documents. As consultant to the Solar and Space Physics Survey Committee, he worked with the committee and NRC staff on the preparation of the first decadal survey in solar and space physics, The Sun to the Earthâand Beyond. He has also worked closely with the NRC Committee on Solar and Space Physics on the Plasma Physics of the Local Cosmos report and on a popular booklet based on the decadal survey report. Dr. Lewis is a member of the American Geophysical Union and chaired the Web site committee of the AGU Space Physics and Aeronomy section (1998-2000). He was a member of the NRC Committee on Solar and Space Physics and of the Workshop Organizing Committee on Solar System Radiation Environment and NASAâs Vision for Space Exploration. JOSEPH B. REAGAN is a technology and senior management consultant. He retired in 1996 after a 37-year career at Lockheed Martin Corporation that included serving as vice president and general manager of the Palo Alto Research Laboratories and as a corporate vice president. His primary area of interest is technology development, and he has a broad range of experience in developing technologies in the sensor, software, cryogenics, instrumenta- tion, materials and electro-optical areas. Dr. Reagan spent 25 years of his early career in the study of space radia- tion and its impact on space systems, the ionosphere, and the atmosphere. He was involved with the first satellite measurements of the aurora borealis in 1960 and led more than 20 space experiments during his career. He was a principal advisor on space radiation effects to Lockheed military and civil space programs. Dr. Reagan is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and has received numerous awards for his achievements. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1998 and chaired the Aerospace Engineering section from 2005 to 2007. He also served as vice chair of the NRC Naval Studies Board from 2000 to 2004. ARTHUR A. SMALL III is an associate professor in the Department of Meteorology at Pennsylvania State Uni- versity. Dr. Small, an economist, conducts research that focuses on how variations in weather and climate create
128 SEVERE SPACE WEATHER EVENTSâUNDERSTANDING SOCIETAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS economic and financial risks, and on the means to manage these risks effectively. He also applies tools and con- cepts from quantitative finance to analyze markets for energy products, emissions, and weather derivatives. One of his objectives is to develop models of weather risk that can be integrated with financial models to create tools for derivative pricing, asset valuation, trading, and risk management. Dr. Smallâs research results have appeared in publications that include the Journal of Political Economy, Review of Economics and Statistics, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, and the BE Press Topics in Economic Analysis and Policy. He has served as an editorial reviewer for numerous scholarly publications and currently serves on the editorial council for the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. THOMAS A. STANSELL heads Stansell Consulting, which he founded in 1999. Previously he was a vice president at Leica Geosystems, where he was involved in technology development and strategic relationships. Mr. Stansell is a pioneer of satellite navigation and has served the satellite navigation community for more than 43 years. Mr. Stansell began his career in 1960 when he joined the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Navy Navigation Satellite System development program. He led teams that developed the first integrated micro- computer-based satellite navigation receiver and the first microcomputer-based Doppler survey instrument, also called Geoceiver, the primary instrument employed by the Defense Mapping Agency for nearly two decades. In the 1980s he led the transition of Magnavoxâs commercial satellite navigation and positioning technologies and products from Transit (the first operational satellite positioning system) to the Global Positioning System (GPS). He also led the development of miniature GPS survey receivers, pioneered precise and real-time GPS control of earth-moving machinery, and received patents for multipath mitigation techniques. Mr. Stansell is the recipient of the 1996 Institute of Navigation (ION) Weems Award, the 2000 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Position and Navigation Symposium (PLANS) Kershner Award, the 2002 GPS Joint Program Office Navstar Award, and the ION Satellite Divisionâs 2004 Johannes Kepler Award. He is a member of the âGPS Worldâ and âInside GNSSâ editorial advisory boards and was elected a fellow of the ION in 1999. Mr. Stansell holds several GPS-related patents, and currently he is serving as the ION western regional vice president. LEONARD STRACHAN, JR., is an astrophysicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Dr. Strachan is a co-investigator with the Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer (UVCS) team on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission. His research involves using space-based ultraviolet spectroscopy to understand the physical properties of the solar corona. These measurements are important for understanding the processes that drive both steady and dynamic solar wind. His previous experience includes participating in the instrument development, science operations, and data analysis for the Spartan 201 Space Shuttle experiment. Dr. Strachan has been a member of the NASA Solar and Heliospheric Management and Operations Working Group and the NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap Committee. Most recently he served on the NRC Committee on Solar and Space Physics and on the ad hoc Workshop Organizing Committee on Solar System Radiation Environment and NASAâs Vision for Space Exploration. Staff SANDRA J. GRAHAM has been a senior program officer at the Space Studies Board since 1994. During that time Dr. Graham has directed a large number of major studies, many of them focused on space research in biological and physical sciences and technology. More recent studies include an assessment of servicing options for the Hubble Space Telescope, reviews of the NASA roadmaps for space sciences and the International Space Station, and a review of NASAâs Space Communications Program while on loan to the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board. Before receiving her Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Duke University in 1990, she carried out research focused primarily on topics in bioinorganic chemistry, such as the exchange mechanisms and reaction chemistry of biological metal complexes and their analogs. From 1990 to 1994, she held the position of senior scientist at the Bionetics Corporation, where she worked in the science branch of the Microgravity Science and Applications Division at NASA Headquarters.
APPENDIX D 129 THERESA M. FISHER is a program associate with SSB. During her 25 years with the Academies, she has held positions in the executive, editorial, and contract offices of the National Academy of Engineering and positions with several NRC boards, including the Energy Engineering Board, the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, the Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, and the Marine Board. CATHERINE A. GRUBER is an assistant editor with SSB. She joined SSB as a senior program assistant in 1995. Ms. Gruber first came to the NRC in 1988 as a senior secretary for the Computer Science and Telecommunications Board and has worked as an outreach assistant for the NAS-Smithsonian Institutionâs National Science Resources Center. She was a research assistant (chemist) in the National Institute of Mental Healthâs Laboratory of Cell Biology for 2 years. She has a B.A. in natural science from St. Maryâs College of Maryland. VICTORIA SWISHER joined the Space Studies Board in December 2006 as a research associate. She recently received a B.A. in astronomy from Swarthmore College. She has presented the results of her research at the 2005 and 2006 American Astronomical Society (AAS) meetings and at various Keck Northeast Astronomy Consortium (KNAC) undergraduate research conferences. Her most recent research focused on laboratory astrophysics and involved studying the x-rays of plasma, culminating in a senior thesis entitled âModeling UV and X-ray Spectra from the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment.â


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And here's my layout:
I loved the sweet inspiration photo and the idea of sprinkling letters over the background. Of the evidence items I used: sprinkle letters over your page, butterflies, paint and string. Of the testimony: this is partly a story about my own childhood memories of blowing dandelions, I also sprinkled the journaling across the page. Close-ups of each page:
These photos of my son blowing dandelions were just perfect for the colour palette. As you can see I was very inspired by the inspiration photo. The background paper is BasicGrey Basics ledger paper (one of my all time favorite collections). First, the dandelions were white embossed. Then I stamped letters (I used the letters from my son's name and from the word 'maskros'=dandelion) using Ranger Archival Vermillion ink, which is waterproof (a necessity for the following steps). The circles were stamped with Archival ink Chrome Yellow. Next step was to apply gesso on top of the background using an old plastic card, and then green paint as grass. I 'hacked' the page a bit with the plastic card to create grass texture. When this was dry, I misted the bottom of the pages and a bit here and there with a mixture of Weathered Wood and Tumbled Glass reinker, mixed with water and Perfect Pearls. When that had dried, more circles were stamped using Archival French Ultramarine ink, and some meaningful text stamps, with both the blue ink and with black ink. Yellow splotches were stamped here and there to add a bit more of the yellow.
I just loved the butterflies with the strings on the inspiration photo. Different butterflies were stamped with Stazon on modeling film, and then coloured on the other side with alcohol inks (Sailboat Blue, Stonewashed, Sunshine Yellow, Citrus, Raisin). I love modeling film, it is so cool. Each butterfly was heated and then molded to look like they are fluttering across the page. I glued a piece of string to each one and attached some with staples and the rest with Glossy Accents.
Some more close-ups:
Journaling: 'When I was little, I used to love to blow dandelions, and we often made a wish too. There were tons of them in the park close to our house. We also used to make necklaces from the 'stems' which are hollow and can be threaded together. However, they gave off a brown liquid that had a tendency to stain clothing. There are a lot of dandelions on the grass where we live and I taught you how to blow away the seeds. You think its lots of fun and we do it almost daily at the moment. A little bit of everyday magic.'
Thank you for looking and have a fabulous weekend!
Supplies: Hero Arts: Silhouette Burst H5312, Silhouette Spray G5311, Dandelion G4917, Sketch Circle B4343, Be Happy Every Day C2707, Three Artistic Butterflies LP215, Earth Flowers CL428, Antique Engravings CL383; Darkroom Door Essentials 1 Collection; Crafty Individuals dandelions; Reprint splatter stamps; My Favorite Things Where Flowers Bloom, Pearls of Wisdom; Artistic Outpost Playtime; Ranger Archival ink: French Ultramarine, Vermillion, Chrome Yellow; Distress Ink reinker Weathered Wood, Tumbled Glass; Perfect Pearls, Stazon Jet Black; Ranger Seafoam White embossing powder; Alcohol inks: Sailboat Blue, Stonewashed, Sunshine Yellow, Citrus, Raisin, Red Pepper; Stamper's Anonymous clear modeling film; string; MME patterned paper; baker's twine; Authentique stickers; October Afternoon letter stickers.


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Satellite EPIRB (emergency beacon) should ensure the transmission of alarm signals of distress on satellites in polar orbits.
- There should be a check of the ARB is provided without using the satellite system.
- The power source should have sufficient capacity to ensure the operation of the satellite ARB for at least 48 hours.
- The satellite EPIRB should be included for storage devices unchangeable part of a distress message using a non-volatile memory.


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The activities of Philosophy for Children New Zealand (P4CNZ) are:
- Professional development programmes for teachers
- Organisation of conferences and workshops
- Development of materials for philosophy for children
- Participation in the objectives and activities of the Federation of Australasian Philosophy in Schools Associations (FAPSA), of which P4CNZ is an associate.
Members of P4CNZ have access to:
- Locally produced materials to support philosophical inquiry in the classroom. These are designed for use by trained facilitators of the "community of inquiry", and are recommended for use only by those who have attended a P4CNZ introductory workshop. Please note – these resources DO NOT constitute an introduction to practice in P4C.
- Introductions to selected topics in philosophy
- Access to articles from past volumes of the Australasian P4C journal "Critical and Creative Thinking".
- A "Taster Pack" of three activities for use with students of different ages, for those who join prior to completing a workshop. These will be emailed to you when your membership is confirmed, after receipt of of your membership fee.
- New Zealand-based members will receive links to filmed keynote talk from out 2014 conference (not available publicly).
Membership Costs
Individual membership $25 per year
School membership
- Small school $50 per year
- Medium sized school $75 per year
- Large school $100 per year


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Version 9.7.0-8 firmware for the AvediaServer has been released.
This release introduces new features and resolves some issues. Please refer to the Release Notes for full details.
New Feature Highlights
- Email notification on failover
- Acknowledge message using basic remote keys
- Default Channel on Portal Load with simple navigation
- Select default auto start app
- Moment of Exclusivity – UX Improvements
- Image transitions
- Added triggers to public API
Smart Control
- Display current mode in Smart Control
Site Manager
- AvediaCare app add product feature license control
The release notes can be found in the Downloads section of the Exterity website (for registered Exterity partners with a login on our main website).
Please contact Exterity Support to gain access to version 9.7.0-8 firmware.


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We're wet. I know, April showers bring May flowers but enough is enough.
Our critters are walking around flooded pastures, our driveway is slick with mud and potholes Wait, this doesn't sound like a good promotional piece for visiting Maine does it? Let me start over…
The gods have given us ample reason to sit in front of our planning notebooks, big white boards and computers these last couple of weeks. We took advantage of the we weather to attend the Governor's Conference on Tourism in Augusta. Held in the Civic Center, about 500 of us looked around while we listened to statistics, best practices and lots of advice (OK, maybe we were looking more than actively listening). In our defense, these gatherings are about networking, right? After Steve and I got over the surprise that we're no longer the "young ones" in the room, we enjoyed catching up with folks we've known for decades in the Office of Tourism, from the Arts Commission and so many of the lodging and experience providers we've come to love from all over the state. Because Maine is so geographically huge, we often only connect in realtime during these sanctioned gatherings before "the season" kicks into gear. My favorite takeaways were the Maine Wine Trail and Wilbur's of Maine Chocolate Confections who gave bags of chocolate covered almonds as parting gifts…the very definition of sweeet!
While Steve attended a session on Search Engine Optimization, I went to the State Library and museum for an update on Maine's Bicentennial plans for 2020. The packed room was full of eager participants but the majority of details still feel rather vague. If everything works out, there will be tall ships in Belfast and Bucksport (5 minutes and 12 minutes from the campground), a statewide beanhole bean suppah (every community in Maine will hold a public supper on the same night) and lots more that still exist in the "fingers' crossed stage". As I learn more, I'll share but if you're really interested, it would be a great idea to follow the progress on the official website and all the rest of the social media outlets. In the meantime, I dropped into a rabbit hole to give you more information about the importance of beans in Maine's history…the hole was too deep so I climbed back out but you might want to click over to the Maine Folklife Center for a little more information and make it a point to listen to the Good Old State of Maine song recording .
I didn't sit down today to give you a blow by blow report of our time in Augusta but it's turning out that way. We left Searsport for the tourism conference early because of a snow storm and because of the extra half hour, I got a chance to indulge in a favorite practice: hunting through the racks at Goodwill. Although I'm pleased to say that the expedition led to a couple of great linen tunics, the real pleasure was waiting for me at the door. You know how it is when you're standing in a line that doesn't move quickly and you scan your environment with no particular attention? Well I noticed Leo standing by the exit and without really thinking about it, my mind slipped him into the box of "oh, he's not quite right" and that was it. But after I checked out I found myself right in front of him and when I smiled and said hello, he returned my greeting with a spark of happiness that caused me to pause and chat. Leo spoke with charm and I could have easily spent the day with him. A native of Augusta, he was fluent in English, French, Greek and Italian because he grew up in the tenement housing of the textile mills. The necklace he wore was made of bear claws and seeds and hand carved wooden beads. He has since lost the majority of his eyesight but even without being able to see, he carved the wooden feather on his walking stick to the point that it's almost transparent and wood burned it by heating a nail in the fireplace during the winter. In our short time together Leo told me about earning a living by guiding sportsmen in the Northern woods. He told of places where the lumber jacks had abandoned camp during the recession and left the cast iron pots still sitting on ancient ashes. He spoke of salmon and moose and bear with the same facility I talk of campsites and reservations. He and his wife have lived off the grid their entire lives and he showed me the horsetail brush he made to brush out the gunpowder from his rifle. I'm not making this up. Leo was the diamond of my day and that 15 minute chance encounter has enriched my life…I wish the same for you.


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2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class diesel review
The new C-Class is really rather brilliant, a fact we established when we drove the C 200 petrol that came. However this here is the big one, the car that is going to cause a lot of worry for the competition and earn a lot of money for Mercedes-Benz. Meet the C 220 CDI.
What's new
This is a very similar car to the C 200, and from the outside you'll be hard pressed to find any differences. In fact the first challenge is identifying whether you're looking at a C-Class or an S-Class. They really do look very similar and the trick here is zooming out a bit and looking at the scale of the design - if it looks elegant but massive it's an S, just plain elegant and you're looking at a C.
At first glance, the C-Class looks almost exactly like an S-Class
I personally love the way the new C looks; commanding yet elegant which is exactly what any Merc should be. Right from the big grille and striking full LED lamps which are a segment first to the lovely curve over the rear haunches that end in a subtle lip spoiler, this car looks excellent. The rear bumper smartly hides the exhaust pipes away when you walk up to the car but you can see them when you're following the car on the road.
Exhaust pipes are almost entirely hidden away behind the bumper but can be seen when following the car on the road
Cabin is built with some fantastic materials and is one of the best aspects of this car
What really bowled me over are the interiors. They are strongly reminiscent of the S-Class and that is high praise for any car, let alone an entry level Mercedes. Right from the theme of the design to the colour palette to the gorgeous Burmester speakers, it feels just like being in an S-Class. There's plenty of wood everywhere and the centre console is dominated by a large and crisp high resolution display. The seats are wide and comfy while the rear bench is also comfortably reclined. Rear knee-room has definitely improved over the old car and is on par with its rivals, but it's still no Skoda. I would say that it is decent at best and is one of the few faults I found with this car. The boot is shallow but deep and has a space saver strapped to the floor that eats a considerable amount of space. However having been stuck on the highway overnight, when we had a puncture in one of this car's immediate rivals, I think the peace of mind of having a spare is worth the lost boot space.
What's it like to drive
An 8 second run to 100, loads of in-gear shove and a top speed of just over 220kmph is all the performance you need. The 2143cc in-line four diesel produces 170PS and the 400Nm is sent to the rear wheels via a 7-speed torque convertor. It's the torque that defines the experience and the car pulls hard enough in the lower gears to firmly push you back into the seats. Alternately, 100kmph in seventh has the engine relaxed at around 1,500rpm which results in a phenomenal 23.7kmpl highway figure which then stays impressively high at 15.4kmpl in the city. We've often complained that this motor is a bit too loud in the lower MFA cars but Mercedes has done an excellent job with sound deadening here. You still hear it and are aware that you're driving a diesel but it's much more refined and NVH levels are quite good even at high speeds with not too much wind and road noise seeping into the cabin. With the performance and economy on offer, you can cruise effortlessly at some serious speeds all day long.
2.2-litre diesel continues but feels more refined here than in the MFA cars
A two-pin plug complements the standard 12-volt charging socket
Being a Mercedes, you'd expect the C-Class to ride like the wheels are sprung on squishy pillows. Well those days are gone. Today cars with the three-point star are all about the balance between ride and handling. Ride quality is comfortable but with the ever present hint of firmness. It's all fine until you hit a pothole without too much caution which will cause the suspension to thud quite loudly. Overall all though, comfort levels are quite high in most situations. Handling again sits in the middle ground - the car feels planted and eager but still displays some softness at the rear.
Still, I found the car quite enjoyable to flog up the Ghats with understeer setting in only when pushed very hard. The electric steering is quick, direct and weights up nicely as you go faster. The car has a toggle switch called Agility Control that allows you to switch between driving modes - Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and a configurable Individual. These modes affect steering weight, throttle response, air-conditioning and Sport Plus mode allows a small shimmy at the rear before the electric nannies cut in. Yelling Fight the Power while trying to get sideways won't happen because you cannot fully switch off traction control, even through the COMAND menu. And that's a bit of a shame because there's more than enough torque to make things interesting.
What's the verdict?
The verdict is that this is an excellent car for all the right reasons. It looks smashing and rear space aside I think this has a nicer cabin than even an E-Class. The car is quite comfortable and can also be rather entertaining when you're in the mood. But most of all, the design and luxury really spoil you. It's in the details like the crisp audio system that plays anything from USB to SD cards to streaming Bluetooth and doesn't require you to pay extra for a silly cable to connect a thumb drive to the system. Then there's the lovely circular air-vents that slot back into the centre position with an oddly satisfying click. Just like in the S-Class, you can select the interior light colour and intensity but only with a smaller range of choices. Rear passengers have a choice of either a 12V power socket or a standard two-pin plug socket, another segment first. The car comes with a reverse camera and push button start but I simply cannot understand why there is no keyless entry. You still have to use the key to open or lock the car and all these luxury brands really need to take a lesson from Hyundai or Ford in this respect.
The C 220 CDI , like its petrol sibling, is initially available only as a CBU but in two variants. It is priced at Rs 39.9 lakh for the Style variant and Rs 42.9 lakh for the Avantgarde, ex-Delhi. Still, for your money, you get a fine luxury automobile.
Images by Makrand Baokar
Starts Rs 55 Lakhs
Starts Rs 4.98 Lakhs
24.95 Kmpl
Starts Rs 31.99 Lakhs
15.10 Kmpl