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Second in a series
As I noted in my first installment of this series on reforming the housing finance system, there are no perfect choices ahead as private, public and quasi-public entities all confronted failures of different forms in the aftermath of the crisis. However, determining the role of the federal government in housing finance is the lynchpin to reform.
A number of criteria come to mind that should be used as benchmarks for assessing the level and extent of government intervention and subsidy in housing finance. The first is recognizing that the housing system is a critical sector of the general economy and that ensuring stability and liquidity is a desirable feature. The Federal Housing Administration's resurgence, tripling its market share from historical levels as private capital retreated during the crisis, shows the importance of the government's countercyclical role during economic stress. This suggests the government would need to maintain some direct role in providing a lifeline to housing at critical times.
From a social policy perspective, providing credit to low- and moderate-income and first-time home borrowers, veterans and other segments has been a major mission of the government since the Great Depression. That role expanded over the years and remains an area ripe for policy reassessment.
The FHA, due to its expansion during the crisis, is insuring loans to many borrowers who otherwise could access private markets, even today, for credit. The mechanism, timing and process for how the government modulates its entry and retreat from housing finance are today an ad hoc process and one that requires a detailed plan.
In an era requiring heightened fiscal discipline, minimizing taxpayer exposure to mortgage risks is essential. Related to this is the criteria that changes to the housing finance system must mitigate potential moral hazard by lenders and borrowers. Lastly, modernizing and strengthening underlying processes used to originate, securitize and service mortgages is essential.
There is no question other important criteria could be added to this list, but the ones called out here stand out as foundational to any successful plan. With these criteria in mind, what sort of role for government might be envisioned, realizing that multiple variations could deliver similar benefits?
Despite the many flaws in the existing housing finance system, there are a number of features that with some adaptation and integration with other segments could meet the above criteria. Most market observers and participants would agree that the FHA's current market share of about 30% needs to shrink back somewhere around its historical level of 10% to 15%. FHA's policy levers to achieve this include a combination of pricing, credit and lender policies, but standing in the way from the FHA achieving this objective are three factors.
First, no policy criteria have been established to identify what segment of the housing market is to be supported with a direct federal insurance subsidy going forward. Second, we have no clear idea of when to start any transition toward private capital. And lastly, the FHA is ill-equipped for the role of providing a countercyclical balance to housing and delivering and maintaining effective credit and pricing policies over varying economic cycles. Despite its best efforts, the agency has struggled with a ponderous bureaucracy that not only has stifled innovation, but limited its access to personnel and technologies essential to its crucial role.
Fundamentally, the federal government and the FHA specifically need to outline the market segments to be served directly by the government and augment that policy with a set of protocols describing the combination of pricing and policies it will use during stress events to fill in voids in the market. In addition, the FHA also needs to formulate an escape plan for when its involvement should subside. The lack of such a mechanism today is one of a number of factors preventing private capital to return. We could take a page from the Federal Reserve in its efforts to tie interest rate policies to target inflation and unemployment rates. Likewise signals from the housing market could be used to guide incremental policy responses by FHA (and, for that matter, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, or whatever succeeds the two government-sponsored enterprises) in reducing their housing finance footprint. For example, shadow inventory levels, home price trends and other metrics of housing stabilization could be used to direct policy more explicitly.
Achieving a countercyclical role for government like Option 2 in the Treasury Department's plan requires a level of performance beyond that which exists currently. The FHA in its current form would not be able to handle that role but it has a much better chance if it were moved out of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and combined with Ginnie Mae and the remnants of key operations of Fannie and Freddie after their wind-down. This new government corporation would have a better chance of attracting talent and resources, making adjustments to federal pay scale commensurate at least with the safety and soundness regulators, and would have less potential to be held hostage by Congressional and Administration politics as it has since its inception.
There will need to be some federal support for certain borrower segments that need a helping hand. That is an appropriate role for government, but in the last decades we expanded that mission well beyond reasonable bounds and with limited resources to understand the risks posed. That blind expansion has left the FHA's $1 trillion insurance fund underwater by billions of dollars. To ensure that taxpayers are protected, potential for moral hazard is mitigated and that those charged with overseeing this fund can effectively monitor and manage risks and innovate over time, the FHA's role and place in government must evolve and adapt to the complexities of the greatest housing system in the world.
My next post will focus on the issues surrounding government guarantees for the non-FHA/VA market segment. I'm avoiding referring to it as "conventional conforming" as I'm not sure that terminology will apply in a post-GSE world.
Clifford V. Rossi is the Executive-in-Residence and Tyser Teaching Fellow at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.


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Issue Brief: Top Actions the United States Should Take to Prepare for MERS-CoV and Other Emerging Infections
June 2015
Leading infectious disease, public health and emergency preparedness experts are calling for the United States to take additional steps to prepare for MERS-CoV and other emerging infections. Public health and healthcare systems cannot afford to become complacent in preparing for infectious disease threats. Trust for America's Health (TFAH), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and UPMC Center for Health Security are recommending system-wide preparedness for potential outbreaks.
MERS-CoV: A Novel Respiratory Virus Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a virus that causes serious respiratory illness, originating in Jordan and first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The virus is new to humans and can cause severe acute illness and death. There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment available, so prevention and early care is vital to containment. To date, most outbreaks have arisen within or through travel to the Arabian Peninsula. However, beginning in May 2015, a chain of transmission occurred in the Republic of Korea. Most of the infections in Korea could be linked to healthcare facilities that cared for ill patients. The recent significant outbreak in South Korea has highlighted the need for America's public health and healthcare systems to strengthen routine infection control and prevention capacity.
In 2014, the United States had two imported cases of MERS. These cases were both healthcare workers who had worked in Saudi Arabia and were quickly diagnosed and contained with no secondary transmission. United States health systems must be prepared for additional imported cases as Americans travel to the Arabian Peninsula.
Read more in the full Issue Brief.

subset: commoncrawl


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- All Brands
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Designer Carlo Corinto
A sharp aromatic green fragrance for the man who wants to make a remarkable first impression. Rouge Cologne by French brand Carlo Corinto is a casual scent features spicy and woody notes that have a distinct masculine scent that is sure to linger in her memories long after the first meeting. A unique blend of lavender and oak moss make the top which is followed by a heart of granny smith apple, pepper and nutmeg. A warm aromatic blend of Virginia cedar, amber and vanilla for the base. Rouge Cologne is a unique masculine scent that is a great choice for casual occasions but can also be used as a signature scent for everyday wear.
Year 1991
Age Group
Recommended Use Daytime, Evening
Fragrance Notes
Lavender, Oak Moss Granny Smith Apple, Nutmeg, Pepper Amber, Vanilla, Virginia Cedar
See more products by Carlo Corinto
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We do not sell knock-offs or imitations.


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Barbara Ferrier: Following her soul's desire to create art even when she was told her art wasn't 'good enough'.
Barbara is an artist who has followed her intuition and her calling to blend art with story-telling. Even though she was told that she wasn't naturally talented, and has faced some harsh critics over the years, she has stood firm in following her True You calling. She now blends her art with her love of story-telling through the Courageous Women Project, a series of portraits that profile women who have overcome adversity and are building strong communities to help others. Find out more about Barbara and her work at www.barbaraferrier.com
In this Real, Raw & Related conversation Barbra Ferrier shares how:
- She learned to follow her intuition and trust herself (and how you can too).
- An accident prompted her to follow her path (and how negative circumstances can work for you instead of against you).
- Focusing on the process vs the finished product allowed her to move forward in the face of judgement.
- All the experiences in her life have led her to what she's creating now.


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You may think Paul Rudd would make THE most perfect addition to One Direction - but the boys disagree.
Sad face.
This is the moment they told the Anchorman star he's not allowed to join the band, and their dead pan faces were pretty impressive.
The hit boyband filmed the series of promos with comedy genius Paul Rudd ahead of tonight's NBC Saturday Night Live.
Rudd will host the show with 1D performing - and they looked mightily excited.
But it's all an act, of COURSE they are excited. And so are we.
Rudd stood in the middle of the stylish fivesome and said: "A band I used to be in but was unceremoniously asked to leave."
The boys managed to keep a straight face and said: "Sorry Paul" and "no hard feelings".
Rudd added: "Well yeah there's hard feelings, there's hard feelings."
Poor Paul. Let's hope he regains his smile before the show.
After a few more takes, Rudd turned round and said: "Yeah I get it."
Harry Styles asked: "Get what?"
And Paul added: "The screaming, it makes sense now. Catch me."
And the boys did catch him, as he fainted gracefully backwards.
If these acting skills are anything to go by we may be seeing these boys branching out into the film business sooner than we thought.


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- Home
- Chopsticks
- Chopstick and Origami Crane Rest Set - White
Product Description
Do you know there is an ancient Japanese legend that promises anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane? Some stories believe you are granted eternal good luck, instead of just one wish, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. These ceramic crane rest are inspired by these childhood and traditional memories to put on the meal table as a functional purpose as well as beautiful design. Keep your eating utensils sanitary and off the table as well as enjoy the visual beauty of these cranes.
- Cranes: 2.25"Lx2"Wx1"H
- Chopstick: 9"L
Care: Dishwasher & Microwave Safe
Product Reviews
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Eva Longoria Talks ALMA Awards & Demi Lovato
Eva Longoria is excited about hosting the ALMA Awards with George Lopez – and she filled Para Todos in on what to expect from this year's ceremony!
Here's what the 36-year-old Desperate Housewives actress had to share:
On Latinos in media over the past year: "We've had a great musical year, with Pitbull, Enrique Iglesias, Demi Lovato and Shakira, everyone had such great music this year."
On what she's most excited about: "I always find it such a fun night! Some of the people that we're going to be having in the show…we have Demi Lovato performing her hit single "Skyscraper" in English and Spanish, which is so exciting because it was #1 on iTunes, she's one of our own and she came up with the idea to sing partly in Spanish, so we always love to honor that!"
On her co-host, George Lopez: "George is an amazing co-host – he is obviously the most recognized comedian in our community, so to be able to bring him on board every year not only provides for great entertainment but our chemistry has proven successful and we wanted to continue that relationship and that tone of the show."
Don't miss the ALMA Awards, which will air on Friday, September 16 at 8/7c on NBC!
Also pictured: Eva leaving Nobu restaurant on Wednesday (August 31) in West Hollywood.


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Pros: interesting characters
Cons: slow moving, unsatisfactory explanations, ending was a let down
Captain Abraham Idaho Cleveland, hero of the battle of Tau Retore against the Spiders, is completing his last duty before retiring from the Fleet. He's overseeing the deconstruction of the space station U-Star Coast City, which orbits an unusual purple sun. But things aren't right on the station. The crew haven't heard of the battle of Tau Retore, interference from the sun is disrupting communications with Fleet Command, and people are starting to see and hear things that aren't there.
I found this book really slow. While the mystery of whether or not Ida is lying about his hero status is kind of interesting, the book takes its time getting to the real mystery of what's up with the sun and the visions and the voices.
I liked Ida as a character. His confusion in the face of the missing files and his questioning of his own memories was really interesting. Serra was also interesting, though I was disappointed that nothing was explained concerning her psi abilities. I waffled on Carter, liking him at times and disliking him at others. I did, however find his black ops past horrifying when it was revealed.
One of the plot twists was very obvious and I was annoyed the characters didn't figure it out earlier.
While there are minor horror elements that show up towards the end, they're not particularly scary. And the long stretches between strange happenings means any tension generated has left by the time something new comes up.
The last 50 pages or so were quick to read, but by this point the explanations offered didn't clarify things as well as I'd have liked and I found the climax a real let down.
First off, I was very disappointed that there was no finale scene from Ida's point of view. Seeing the demise of the sun from the shuttle didn't have the impact that Ida's POV would have had as he helped pilot the spider in. Similarly, I would have loved a scene at the end from Serra's POV when she was using her psi powers. Since they were never really used elsewhere in the book they didn't feel real at the end, and all her moans and collapsing didn't help me feel any tension at the fear of her failing because I didn't understand the level of difficulty she faced.
I was left with a lot of questions. The most glaring is: How did the Fleet Command keep news of the Tau Retore battle quiet. It was a victory. People talk. Soldiers write their families, saying they're alive - and they won. The people from the planet who were evacuated would have talked. I found it easier to believe that Ida was insane than I did that a large number of people didn't mention this battle. Similarly, if Ida's so special as a captain that he was denied promotions so he could be kept on the front lines, how is his name unknown? Well, maybe that's understandable, given how many captains the fleet must have.
I rally didn't understand why the principle characters weren't taken right away. If they had to agree to come when their dead relatives spoke to them it implies that whole groups of soldiers all agreed at the same time, which I find hard to believe. It seemed like Izanami could take people she wanted, so why not the special ones who were specifically sent to her?
This question bothered me too: If the fleet had to send a piece of spider tech to Izanami so she could study it, why did they think she could defeat them? All they know about her is that she needs thousands of HUMAN souls to regain her strength and that she likes to eat HUMAN souls. What made them think she'd help them rather than just eat humans when she's free? And did they really mean to free her with no plan of containing her later?
Speaking of the spider, we're told so little about them that I was surprised that the spider and Ida were vaporized at the end. My initial thought when he decided to go in it was that it was a suicide mission, but then I thought, this is what the spiders do, surely they have some way of surviving their own main mode of attack. But no. Apparently not.
And how is Izanami alive? Is it because she started as an entity from subspace? How did she get to Earth in the first place (I know she arrived in an asteroid, but how did that asteroid become imbued with her essence/life force)? What happened to the others of her kind who invaded Earth with her? Why did her husband lock her away when he found her echo in the hellspace? Did he know she was now evil? Wasn't she eating human souls when she was on Earth? How did she (and the others of her kind) not depopulate the planet given her voracious appetite? Is her husband also still alive somewhere?
(The Japanese myth of Izanagi and Izanami explains why her husband traps her in the land of the dead, though I wonder why I had to look the legend up on wikipedia to understand part of the backstory of this novel.)


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Time: 6 h
Condition: 3
Difference in altitude: 1.830 m
Highest point: 2.400 m
Distance: 55 km
Suitable for E-MTB: NO
Technique: S1
Difficulty: red
Download the tour as pdf file
Download GPX filesIf you don't have an account yet, please contact us.
Start at the Berghotel to Bad Moos and on the sledge trail up on the Rotwandwiesen/Prati di Croda Rossa. On path nr. 18 down to the Kreuzbergpass/Passo Monte Croce and after ca. 1 km on the statal road take a right down to the Val Grande and Padola. Further on again on the statal road to Sega Digon, where taking a left starts the road to the Malga Silvella. From here leads a path in serpentines up at the Passo Silvella/Kniebergsattel. On the other side down to the Nemes Alm/malga Nemes. Until there you will find almost nobody and wonderful bike trails. Back to the Kreuzbergpass/Passo Monte Croce and passing the Camping to Moos/Moso and the Berghotel.
****s Berghotel - Fam. Holzer
Via Mt. Elmo 10, I-39030 Sesto (BZ) - Dolomites - South Tyrol - Italy
Tel. 0039 0474 710386 - Fax 0039 0474 710455
GPS: E 12° 22' 038" N 46° 41' 512" – 1.371m s.l.m.
Request Arrival Departure E-Mail next


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Gainesville Equality Youth Awarded $500
Gainesville Equality Youth provides a safe space for LGBT youth in the community to share and discuss issues related to their lives. This local organization builds community bonds, promotes community awareness of LGBT issues, provides social interaction with peers, and sustains opportunities for youth leadership and development. This Satch Grant will provide financial support for Gainesville Equality Youth to hold meetings for six months as they reinvigorate this local program.
Girls Place: Take Away Journal Awarded $500
This Satch Grant will provide the materials for 140 girls to reflect every day on their experiences through a "Take Away Journal" during Girls Place 2014 summer day camp. Reflection is an important component to personal development and offers girls the opportunity to create a deeper level of self-awareness within themselves and with their surroundings. This grass roots organization can adapt the needs of the girls and their families based on what the girls Take Away.
The Library Partnership: Fight for Your Money Program Awarded $500
The Library Partnership, which opened as a collaboration between Partnership for Strong Families, Casey Family Programs and the Alachua County Library District in 2009, strives to help families access the resources and support services they need which in turn strengthens families and communities. The "Fight for Your Money" program provides families with the tools they need to make good financial choices: Budgeting and Banking, Saving, Setting Financial Goals, Credit Repair and Investing. This Satch Grant will provide five families who have an income, have at least one child living in their home and have agreed to attend all sessions with utility assistance to be paid directly to GRU upon completion of the program.
Radiant Hands: Radiant Works Scholarship Awarded $500
The mission of Radiant Hands is to empower women in North Central Florida by providing them with spiritual, emotional and financial support with the goal of achieving independence. This Satch Grant will help fund the "Radiant Works Scholarship" which will provide students with the fee to pay for their General Education Exam. Acquiring a GED diploma will help these women advance in the workforce and perhaps enter into vocational training classes that were unobtainable without a diploma.


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The Chapel in the Oaks
- 9611 Siegen Lane Baton Rouge, LA 70810
- (225) 766-7000
The Chapel is a non-denominational church based on biblical principles and committed to proclaiming the life changing truth of Jesus Christ. Their mission is to see lives changed and communities transformed by the gospel of Christ. This South Baton Rouge location is geared towards serving families in suburban life, and providing a home base for families to receive biblical teaching, training, and fellowship.


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After proving his mettle as an actor through films like ISHAQZAADE, GUNDAY, 2 STATES, FINDING FANNY, Arjun Kapoor is all set to sweep you off your feet with his dancing skills now! The actor has put on dancing shoes for his upcoming film TEVAR, after impressing us with his action avatars.
In the newly released song, 'Main Toh Superman Salman Ka Fan', that introduces Arjun's character in the film, we get to witness a new side of his. Arjun grooves like never before in the song. It's a sheer delight to watch his flawless dancing moves. With this, it only goes on to prove how an all-rounder Arjun is!
If the first song of the film was so riveting, we wonder what all surprises are in store for the patrons in the coming days! Well let's wait and watch!
Also starring Sonakshi Sinha, TEVAR, a remake of Telugu film OKKADU, is directed by Amit Sharma and produced by Arjun's father Boney Kapoor. The film will hit the screens on January 9, 2015.
Stay updated with Bollywood on GLAMSHAM.COM's android app.Click here to INSTALL on your device.


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See more than a dozen Spiegel Online photos at HafenCity Photo Gallery: A New City Quarter for Hamburg, Europe's largest city construction project, to provide room for 12,000 people to live.
The HafenCity image below is taken from the Wikipedia:
Image via Wikipedia
A blog for house, home, real estate, real property, immovable property, households, realty.
Zillow Affordability Calculator - Change the Numbers to See What YOU Can Afford
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Friday, August 27, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
New home sales hit lowest level
Dina ElBoghdady writes at the Washington Post in New home sales hit lowest level:
"Sales of newly built homes dropped to their lowest level since the government started tracking the numbers more than four decades ago, with demand for home purchases down in all four regions of the country."Read the full story.
Posted by Andis Kaulins at 8/25/2010 09:12:00 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Housing Starts in July Lower than Expected
Instant View: July housing starts rise less than expected | Reuters: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"
Posted by Andis Kaulins at 8/17/2010 03:52:00 PM 0 comments
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Homes for Sale with Top Pools at the Zillow Blog
Homes for sale with top pools are found in an article at Zillow.com by Diane Tuman in the Zillow Blog at
10 Amazing Swimming Pools
Bring along a fat bank account or a willing banker.
10 Amazing Swimming Pools
Bring along a fat bank account or a willing banker.
Posted by Andis Kaulins at 8/15/2010 02:52:00 PM 0 comments
The Associated Press: Homes lost to foreclosure up 6 pct from last year
The Associated Press: Homes lost to foreclosure up 6 pct from last year: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"
Posted by Andis Kaulins at 8/15/2010 02:49:00 PM 0 comments
Former Groucho Marx home in Beverly Hills is for sale - Los Angeles Times
Former Groucho Marx home in Beverly Hills is for sale - Los Angeles Times: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"
Posted by Andis Kaulins at 8/15/2010 02:47:00 PM 0 comments
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Housing Bubble Graphs
Everyone talks about the housing bubble, but what is it really? See Housing Bubble Graphs: Charts of inflation-adjusted, historical home prices.
Posted by Andis Kaulins at 8/14/2010 05:12:00 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Buying a Property in the Baltics: BuyAssociation - the impartial buying guide
BuyAssociation - the impartial buying guide: Buying a Property in the Baltics
Posted by Andis Kaulins at 8/03/2010 11:13:00 PM 0 comments
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Find More Science Experiments
When the atoms in different kinds of molecules come together they can form a chemical bond. This happens when some of the electrons from each kind of atom have an attraction to each other so they stick together. In this experiment you will be able to see a chemical bond. Dye made from kool aid and vinegar will make a bond, or "stick" to the fabric of a cotton t-shirt.
Some chemical bonds are strong and the two substances really stick to each other. Some chemical bonds are weak. The chemical bond between kool-aid/vinegar and the t-shirt is weak. The vinegar added to the kool-aid is called a mordant. A mordant is a substance that helps dye stick to fabric. The kool-aid/vinegar dye will make a weak chemical bond so your shirt will fade over time. The chemical bond in a permanent dye is strong – shirts dyed with this kind of dye stay bright for a long time. After you practice with kool-aid, THEN try a more permanent dye.
NOTE: Even though the kool-aid/vinegar dye is weak…you should still do this OUTSIDE! The kool-aid/vinegar dye will stay on your fingers and especially your fingernails for a day or so unless you wash them really good. (So…it would also stay for awhile on your clothes or the carpet in your house!) My dog licked the bowl of blue kool-aid/vinegar dye and it turned her tongue blue. She also splashed some on her foot. The next day her tongue was not blue anymore put the fur on her paw was!
- T-shirt/Sock/Towel – Anything Made From Cotton
- Kool Aid Packets
- Several Bowls
- Spoon
- Water
- Vinegar
- Measuring Cups
- Rubber Bands
Science Experiment Idea: Try dying three identical shirts with kool aid using different amounts of vinegar. Which mixture made the darkest color? Which mixture lasted the longest? To investigate chemical reactions further – try some more experiments at home!
IndyPL Kids Science Experiment Posts about CHEMICAL REACTIONS:
Acids: Bouncing Egg
Acids: Folding Egg
Chemical Reaction: Exploding Ziploc
Chemical Reaction: Penny Cleaner
Chemical Reaction: Plastic Bottle Geyser
Chemical Reaction: Milk Play Dough
Chemical Reaction: Milk Glue
Nucleation: Mentos Volcano
Oxidation: Brown Apples
Website that give you good directions for Kool Aid Tie Dye:
- Try Science Kool Colors Experiment: Kool Aid Tie Dye
- More Kool Aid Tie Dye Recipes
Words to Know:
Atoms – The smallest, most basic unit of matter. An atom is made up of a nucleus surrounded by electrons.
Molecules – At least two atoms held together by a chemical bond.
Chemical Bonds – An attraction between atoms so that the atoms stick together. The attraction happens because the two kinds of atoms have opposite charges. Some kinds of chemical bonds are really strong and some are weak.
Mordant – a substance that is used to set dyes on fabric. It helps make the chemical link or bond so that the dye will not wash out.


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Comfort Inns Oakdale properties are provided below. Search for cheap and discount Comfort Inns hotel rooms in Oakdale, MN for your upcoming meeting or individual travels. We list the best Comfort Inns Oakdale hotels so you can review the Oakdale Comfort Inns hotel list below to find the perfect place.
Our website will list Oakdale, MN hotels & motels that have similar star rating to Comfort Inns.Need 5+ Rooms? Get group bids from hotels in Oakdale MN
How should we direct your call?


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The K2 Raygun is consistently one of our top selling snowboards and a multi-award winner. It's perfect for either a beginner or intermediate who wants to shred the whole mountain. It is torsionally forgiving thanks to the dual-orientated glass but also nice and poppy thanks to the carbon stringers. It has an easy to repair extruded base that requires little maintenance. The set back stance gives you a slightly longer nose which is super handy in the fresh stuff! If you want an all-mountain snowboard that is super fun to ride and easy to handle across the whole mountain then take a look at the Raygun.
UK Shipping
All items ordered online with us here at The Snowboard Shop are dispatched within 24 hours (except for orders placed on a Saturday which will be dispatched on the Monday).
Delivery options are as follows to the UK Mainland*:
We use Royal Mail or Courier (UPS / Parcelforce) depending on which delivery option you choose:
For purchases totalling over £50 standard delivery is free and you'll be given the option to upgrade to Express if you'd rather when you checkout.
Items sent via the Royal Mail will be sent on a 'Signed For' service (Standard Delivery) or Special Delivery (Express Delivery). Items sent through UPS / Parcelforce are sent on a 24 hours tracked service.
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If you are not based in the UK but have seen an item(s) on our website that you'd like to purchase then simply add them to your cart and select your Country when you checkout. [There are some Countries that we don't currently ship too]
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We can still potentially ship to you if you UK Non-Mainland (i.e. Northern Ireland). Please call us or email us if you the shipping costs are not clear. (Northern Ireland has it's own shipping drop-down when you check out).
For more information have a look at our Delivery & Returns
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PDL BioPharma to Present at the Oppenheimer 27th Annual Healthcare Conference
To access the live and subsequently archived webcast of the presentation, go to the company's website at http://www.pdl.com and go to "Presentations and Events." Please connect to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the presentation to allow for any software download that may be necessary. The archived webcast will be available for at least seven days following the presentation.
PDL seeks to provide a significant return for its shareholders by acquiring and managing a portfolio of companies, products, royalty agreements and debt facilities in the biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device industries. In late 2012, PDL began providing alternative sources of capital through royalty monetizations and debt facilities and in 2016, began making equity investments in commercial stage companies, the first being Noden Pharma DAC. PDL has committed over
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Name: Artisaki
Species: Zafara
Colour: Robot
Type: Cyborg
Age: late 20's
Occupation: Artist
Hobbies: Music and Visual Arts
Abilities: Synaesthesia (colour to sound and other way round)
Likes: aquariums, his petpet, colours blue and pink.
Dislikes: crowds, fluorescent yellow, meat.
Important notes: is mute
Personality: Lives in a world of his own, but sometimes wants to break the invisible wall that formed between him and others. He tries to do that and come to terms with his inner feelings through music and art. May act random, but it not aggressive. Respects others, but gets misunderstood.
He doesn't have any exceptional features… besides the fact that most of his body got replaced with synthetic parts. Which means he is more heavy than an average pet of his size, but the mechanisms responsible for this state also help him support that weight. Because of it, he rather stays away from the water. Being water proof is one thing – too heavy to float on the surface, is another. Some of his natural body parts were spared: being complicated and not damaged, it made no sense to replace them with artificial replicas. One of them are his palms, that although a bit enhanced, still have have flesh and skin and are sensitive to touch.
The reception of his look may be different depending on the part of Neopia he arrives. On Space Station where robot pets are no novelty a cyborg wouldn't make a difference, while in Meridell he could be taken as a foreign curiosity. Only well-versed craftsmen and scientists would probably notice the precision and advanced technology used to get Artisaki's body back to shape.
What does make him stand out, are his clothes. He doesn't bother much about the conventions. His life experience told him, that the community can create countless, weird rules and he sometimes gets very lost, trying to abide to all of them. So he decided to wear what he likes. He does not try to be original, because it is just another subjective term he cannot fully grasp. Sure, a newly designed mechanism can be original. But how can a story, jacket or music be judged as original or unoriginal?
Artisaki tries to both venture inside and express himself through art. His art is abstract and often hard to understand as much as he is. It may take time, insight or pure accident to reveal the true beauty of some works.
If he is lucky and feels like parting with his work, he sells some of his paintings to some weirdos or just, ekhm, eccentric rich Neopians.
Side note: Abstract Art seemed most fitting choice for this character, however, I am not much a fan of it myself. Not that I don't like it – I am just not interested on it. When pondering about Artisaki's character I went through some most famous works and I must say: "White on White" by Kazimir Malevich FTW!
His electronic music may also not come to everyone's taste. His housemates don't have anything against his musical experiments, as long as they don't occur late at night (which occasionally happens).
His interest and talent got him a job of a DJ in one of the Mystery Island's clubs. On the weekends he stays up till the morning, to earn just enough for the living. Good he doesn't have to pay the rent or else he would be eating from the club's trash bin.
To get a better picture of Artis' music, see the Inspirations section.
Artisaki can "hear" the colours. Each colour for him represents a sound, hues are tones and so the rainbow sings for him...
Many of his paintings are created out of this unusual sensation. For an average viewer they may not make sense, being too abstract only if you look at them with your eyes. But hearing them out would reveal their full beauty...
Inside a shell
There is a kind of distance between Artisaki and others. An invisible barrier which guards his personal world. Sometimes he feels it a safe bay that keeps him safe. However, there are moments when he wants to scream and break the wall. But something still limits him.
The outside world seems complicated or it may be just an enlarged reflection of the chaos inside him. Others constantly act and change their moods: they are happy, joyful ,excited, alarmed, start quarrelling, get irritated, mad, furious, turn sad and sink to melancholy to start over at any point. Artisaki wants to, but doesn't know when to step in. What are the feelings he carries inside and how to act according to them?
How to create a resonance with another being?
They keep on talking. Too many unnecessary words. They block the transmission. What are the feelings underneath?
The scarce symbols, simple sounds, pure behaviour.
This is Artisaki's choice and way.
To Be.
To Feel.
Loose Gears
Due to his artificial parts, Artisaki is slightly stronger and much more resistant to damage than an average pet. His body also doesn't get tired easily, which helps him working even up to late night hours without breaks, only if he has the right sugar supply. But his life is full of inconveniences too.
His casings are 100% waterproof. However, he cannot swim and would drown right away if pushed into deep water. That is quite inconvenient when you live on an island. Despite that, he enjoys watching the ocean, but keeps a safe distance from it.
His diet got very restrictive. He hates meat, he is intolerant to lactose and cannot even properly digest some foods. His meals are mostly smoothies and vitamin pills: he needs microelements for what is left of his bio-body and lots of sugar to keep him going.
His sight wasn't spared in the accident and has worsened too. His eyes get easily weary, giving him a blurry vision when he concentrates on something for too long (ex reading a book) ,they are sensitive to sharp light (not the best thing for a DJ) and his nocturnal vision is very poor (twilight approaches him earlier and everything get covered in darkness at night). He has to wear a special visor designed for him most of the time.
His palms, which still are mostly a feeling flesh, got more sensitive and he prefers to wear gloves to limit the sensations.
And generally, his poor social skil.ls together with the odd gift he possesses makes his life hard, even if he quickly got used to some inconveniences.
Name's origins
I created the name myself. I wanted it to sound like a Greek name, but I did not really base it on any real name in particular. First it was meant for a different kind of character, but in the end it fit what Artisaki is now perfectly. I must admit I fancy the layers this name has. Layers? Let me show you:
ART - isaki: fits his artistic soul.
ARTI – saki: As short for "Arthur", but also the beginning of word "Artificial".
Arti-SAKI: in Japanese SA can stand for "blossom" and KI for "hope". But it is also relevant in terms of Artisaki's story ;)
Artis – AKI: "bright" in Japanese.
If you read story of his past, you'll find out what other meaning I hid in the name ;)
Inspirations for the character
One of my direct inspirations for Artis' character was Daft Punk. After listening to "Homework" and "Discovery" (with the most enjoyable 68 minute-long "video clip" "Inserstella 5555") and watching Electroma I wanted a little robot on my own. At least on Neo :-P (but in the end decided to add some flesh&bones and make Artis a cyborg).
Klaus Schulze is fitting the theme. I've heard his music for the first time in an antiquarian bookshop and just had to ask the guy working there about this awesome synthesizer tune. He gave me with this "kids these days don't know good music" look and blandly answered my question.
We Are the Robots" by Kraftwerk – Hard not to mention here ;)
When writing about Saki's "music experiments" I still had in mind enduring some of Karlheinz Stockhausen's "Structures".
Last, but not the least of the musical inspirations is a song from an old CC (compact cassette, duh) I found in the attic. I still don't know the name of that nor the band, since it was unlabelled CC with radio streaming recorded on it. But i am still searching. Although it's more of a rock/punk song I loved the lyrics which tell about some mechanic being and digital technology "foreseeing the world" and of course the mendacious 'system' – something all punk songs have in common.
Of course watching some cyberpunk movies had its impact: from Ghost in the Shell to ...Robocop (and Robocop II). Amusingly, I can accept all sort robot/cyborg depictions in Japanese animation and manga (from biotic fighters in "Appleseed" to dumb cuties from "Chobits"), but even similar ideas in some western productions got on my nerves (I really wanted that brat from "A.I" to get processed and turned into something more useful, like cans of SPAM).
Shadows of the Past
Artisaki met with Lornea around the age of 27. They became friends and with a great luck they managed to get their own home. But was he always that lucky and what about all those years before he ended up in a cosy house at the Mystery Island? This story is supposed to cast some light on it.
Running had no sense now, the distance he made only made him loose his breath. Walking slowly to regain it back, he shuddered when visualizing a bucket of yellow paint before him. He liked yellow, he adored that light tones it was making, but this kind of fluorescent yellow had the most irritating high-pitched sound it existed. He tried to put the paint on the items that approached him slowly on the assembly line, just like everyday. He had gritted his teeth. He squinted but that only caused him to make mistakes and put the paint on unevenly. The torment lasted for less than an hour when he got up and his violent movement knocked down the paint. Now the whole floor was yelling, louder than the manager who marched in. This was to much to take, so he ran out of the factory. He knocked down the manager on the way, pushing him aside maybe with too much force, but what else could he do if the man was blocking his way? He left the ocean of yellow screaming madness behind, but now he realized he probably left his job too. They will not understand. What was in his mind did not matter against the undoubted fact that the manager fell down: you could see it, hear it, apply formulas and measure the speed at which he was falling and the pressure of his body against the factory's tiled floor. The zafara about to go to his little hut that stood across his parent's garden, where he had his own space under his guardian's supervision. They said he always caused him problems and they have to look over him, but in fact, since he moved to his own 4 walls, they seemed to avoid him as much as possible. A sudden impulse made him to take a different route, to his father's garage. The dogs, used to his scent, did not make a fuss when he was meddling with the lock, nor when he took the motorbike out. They only barked when startled and annoyed by the loud roar the awakened machine made, but went back to their kennels as soon as the roaring was nothing more than a faint buzzing in the distance.
It felt so good. The palette of evening sky sounded reverently, drawing everything to join it's performance till night puts the black curtain on the landscape. Tomorrow was supposed to be his 21st birthday. Not that it mattered, it only meant the got older and didn't wish for any present or celebration of that obvious, natural fact. But if he ever wanted a present, this was the best he could get, he thought. But his father would never give that to him. He was about to go to the fair tomorrow and show off his motorbike to whom he called "pals", making sure he won't run out of gas if they set up a race around the town. Thanks to it the young man could reach the main road. He focused on the middle of the horizon, speeding up so anything around that one point was a blur. So delightful, what a symphony! Make it faster, faster, synchronized, so grand!
A single false note suddenly broke free from the blurred choir on the right. He saw and heard it too late. Flying off the motorbike, ringing of angry chromatic bells accompanied by attack if vicious, sharp stones when he rolled down the cliff. And then it was so simple: just silence and darkness.
The room was full of laboratory equipments. He had no idea how they worked or what the purpose of each device was. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered. His attention was drawn to the limp body in the centre of all this machinery. It was quite a mess. Suddenly, a wave of emotions rushed to him and he could no longer focus on anything. All desires and intentions attacking at once. He screamed and woke up.
His eyelids felt heavy; he opened them slowly, but it didn't help much as his vision was blurred. The pain was crawling through his body like a slug, so dull and overwhelming, but still bearable. He heard some noises; a burgundy drops of ticking, yellow humming and a steel blue faint whistling. After a moment he realized he was making that whistling sound, with every breath. Probably in the first time in his life, he started panicking. He tried to move, but pain only got worse and blue whistling turned into coarse, dark green coughing. Violet footsteps – he heard them too late to move his head, if that was even possible and he fell asleep once again.
The bright light woke him up. This room was different, there weren't many machines standing here and it was much brighter. The window was half-open, letting some breeze in and he could feel it. So, he was alive. Someone put many thin tubes in his body and he could feel that too, it was not very comfortable. When he glared at the one attached to his left hand someone said I will remove them soon, just don't get the stupid idea to pull them out by yourself. There stood a neopet dressed in a navy suit. No, not a neopet – a faerie.
The faerie's name was Sakia and she turned out to be his saviour, caretaker and the dark type. About that, she once told him during one of her random monologues:There are several other types of faeries, as you know, and quite honestly I used to be angry I was not one of them. I saw earth faeries make plants grow. The water ones made sure the rivers flow as they should and the life inside them is blooming. Air faeries made wind blow when it was called for. The fire faeries could be quite destructive, but their flame was most desired during harsh, cold winter nights. I thought we, the dark ones, and the light faeries are in the same class, but one of them, her name was Sol, but that doesn't matter now – she proved me wrong. All of them could create. I was left in the shadows – and those don't even exist if there isn't something that casts them. But as you see, I found my way. And I'm doing fine with it, aren't I? Magic or science wouldn't do it alone, but if you combine two qualities... just look at the result! Of course, you are not my final project, just a testing stage. But a very successful one.
You didn't want to tell me anything about yourself or your past – that is fine. I did precise measurements, each inch of your skin is no mystery to me. I don't need you giving me imprecise reports on how you think you're doing. But seeing your thoughts is one thing I cannot do, not at this stage of my research. For all I have done for you, tell me. What do you think? Or at least, what do you feel right now? she stood with her arms crossed, looking at him expectantly. What should he had told her? He didn't know. Again, she broke the silence: I made all I could so you can produce sounds with your mouth apparatus. Are you going to speak at all?. He stood up, walked to her and reached for the pen that was sticking out of her pocket. Then took the notebook out of her hand. She never let anyone touch her notes, but this time she didn't resist. On a blank page, he wrote No sense.. She sighed I will leave that decision up to you. Just keep in mind, if you remain silent for long, the vocal chords I woven you will get out of shape. Not that I didn't warn you. She never threw out that page from her notebook.
I think my work ends here. Sakia watched him packing. It didn't take him long, since he had no personal belongings but the few necessary items she gave him. I don't know what kind of goodbye are you expecting. I say you were a great test subject. Do you intend to return home now?". He shook his head. His parents must have thought he was dead. Would a "ghost" returning home be a good or bad thing? He didn't know. He never fully understood, but once he overheard his mother yelling to his father I would like to have a normal child! Am I asking for too much?! and those words echoed in his mind till his 21st birthday. At this place the time flew differently. He didn't even know how long was he asleep and Sakia never told him that. Not that it matters now, but maybe tell me your name? So I can place it in the files, next to your number.. He handed her a small card which, written in capital letters, it said Artisaki. She blinked, recognizing the similarity, Arti like for artistic or artificial?, she asked with a smirk on her face, yet her eyes had an usually warm glow. Artisaki shrugged his arms. Did it matter? The name bears no meaning, when no one speaks it out.
Artisaki travelled far away from home and finally reached Mystery Island. All his belongings could fit into one bag.. He has learned more about performing and mixing music and finally free, he could also paint. Not just put the paint the assembly line junk, but create real paintings. That did not bring him fame and fortune, but he didn't care. The only problem was that he was not getting enough money from it. Wherever he stayed longer, he was getting into debts and to pay them back and survive he sometimes took other jobs, like painting someone's house.
From Discord to Resonance
This energetic girl got along with Arti just ok, which does not mean she understands him. But thread of agreement formed between them, maybe because Lornea breaks the limitations her own way trying to express her inner self despite of the outer XXL package. Living together brings many hilarious situation. Lornea is mostly bugged by the fact that Arti keeps so quiet (she really needs to find herself another chit-chat friend). It is undetermined who can take a better care of oneself_ the teenage who is an open book when it comes to emotions or the silent artists.
They both seem to fit the same category of a "quiet type", but each silence bears a different meaning. Maybe there is something about misfits fitting each other's companion. Theovious slowly grows desire to understand Artisaki's art and what's beyond it. But the artist's randomness is something too much to handle for the easily-stressed Theo. Still these two can be considered "best buddies" in some way or another. There's not really a huge choice for them left...
The moment Adagio was released I knew that is a fitting companion for Saki. The name sounds cute and is one of the noises the petpet makes. GiGi can play and repeat melodies, thus comes in handy when Arti works on a new music composition
Home49833 Harbour Lane, Mystery Island
He lives in a house located on Mystery Island. Normally, he couldn't have afforded it, but luckily he met Lornea: the Grundo girl discovered that a jewellery piece she hated most was made or ultra rare space mineral and this way they afforded a house. He has his own room with crazy design and all the colours of the rainbow. He sleeps and works there, so it's always an "artist's chaos" inside.
You can pay him a visit, I think he won't mind as long as you don't interrupt him while he's painting or composing. When you get inside, go upstairs and the first room on the left belongs to Arti.
drag and drop this link to the url bar to enter my classic neohome
The Association for the Betterment of Character Development
This project got me motivated to work in-depth on Artisaki and some of my other characters.
The project's page: http://www.neopets.com/~Biometric
Special TasksHere go the tasks that don't go with other section of the page I have planned out, so I put them as "extras".
Task 4: Death
How does your character feel about death? How does your character view their own death? Does this vary from their views on the death of others? Do their feelings towards death effect their life in any way?
Artisaki already experiences death, or at least it's first stage. As every young individual Artisaki wants to live to the fullest: play music, create more paintings, explore the world and learn. It's sometimes like that. Other times, when the world around him again seems too complicated and too violent, he withdraws to his shell-world. Then he fantasies how good it would be to escape the chaos, cut all the unnecessary bonds, break free from rules and limitations. Just to be. Get away from all doubts, slowly, peacefully sink into perfect harmony of light and sound.
Fortunately, he has good friends who can show him how that flawless calmness can be boring to death ;)
Task 9: Injuries
What injuries has your character had in the past?
Injuries? It was miracle of science and magic that patched him together. You can read about it in his story and see the aftermath of it in loose gears section.
Task 10: Jokes
What sort of sense of humour does your character have? Does your character prefer to make jokes or listen to them? What sort of jokes do they tend to make? What type of jokes do they prefer? Knock-knock, slapstick, sarcasm, social commentary, etc?
Oooh, Arti can do many funny things! But the humour there is unintentional. His understanding of jokes is very poor: he will either get puzzled, angry or not even notice the joke.
Task 11: Kids
What is your character's opinion on kids? How does your character feel about other people's children? What about the idea (or existence) of kids of their own? Does your character want to ever have children? Why or why not? Would your character ever adopt a child? Why or why not?
At one point Arti seems someone who likes kids: he never yells at them (well, he's muste anyway) and sometimes would join their play without resisting. On the other hand kids are annoying creatures and often don't understand what it means to leave someone alone, especially if he's working on something. In that case Saki can get very irritated and act impolite or even aggressive towards a child; although, without intention of harming it or causing pain, but to remove the annoying stimuli from his nearest environment.
Task 12: Love
How does your character view love?
If you say that love is that mixture of liking, caring, openness and wanting to share something with another (like something you feel for the very best friend or your family) then the poor, misunderstood Saki is capable of loving others. His problem is defining it. His problem is seeing love. His problem is others' problems with love, because the things they tell about it and way they act under its' influence make him puzzled.
Task 14:Night
How does your character feel about the night? What is their preferred activity at night? What time does your character generally go to sleep - and why at that time?
He spends plenty of night at the club where he works as a DJ. Besides that even when he has a nigh off, he often catches the wave of inspiration and creates till dawn surfin' on some sugar-packed energy drinks
Task 15: Opportunity
How does your character respond to new opportunities?
Reflecting on his life story so far, I would say Arti is one lucky (unwilling) opportunist. Unconsciously he was able to forge his disabilities into talents that helped him to get a job and meet some friends.
Task 16: Pets
How does your character feel about pets?
Saki is ok with pets, but he doesn't own a robo pet for no reason. His lifestyle makes it hard to care about a normal pet, moreover, he gets so occupied with his tasks, that he hardly remembers to satisfy his own needs. So at one point he isn't fit for the role, but on the other side there are things about petpets he likes. Most of them are simply-minded creatures, at least when compared to neopets. They use other means of communicating, but when you learn about their "language" you learn that these creatures are at least honest and straightforward about what they want or do.
Task 17: Questionnaire
1. How old are you?
2. What makes you special?
3. What is the most normal thing about you?
4. What is the last thing you ate?
5. What is the last thing you did prior to this questionnaire?
6. With whom did you last share a hug?
7. What's the most exciting thing you did yesterday?
8. What will you do after you finish this questionnaire?
9. Who do you want to talk to right now?
10. What are you wearing?
11. What's your favorite color?
12. What do you wish you were doing right now?
13. Do you like pie?
1. How old are you?
((Oh, sorry, but Artisaki doesn't speak and he's not always eager to communicate with others. Let's pretend we can hear his thoughts, or something? Ok, let's do it!))
1. Why it matters to you? I'm adult.
2. When some people use it, they mean a bad thing. Do you too? I am different. Others don't see or hear the things I do. Colours don't speak to them, music doesn't paint pictures before their eyes. Yes, this body of metal is different too. But I got used to it. Even like it.
3. I sleep, I eat, I use the bathroom, I breathe with my lungs, I sometimes feel cold or warmth running through my fingertips… that's all normal, right?
4. Protein smoothie, B16 pill, magnesium and a cup of green tea.
5. I listened to the traffic lights.
6. Theo.
7. I poked a squid. But just a bit. I didn't want to hurt it.
8. I have some idea for a new music piece. Painted it down already, now I need to start playing it. If it's good, I will record it.
9. No one. I don't talk. Don't want to.
10. These are some clothes I found at the donation shop. They have nice colors, I like how the short silently blends with trousers and the orange spots chirp all over them.
11. Out of so many choices… beige has a delicate tone. It may not fit my music, but it calms me down.
12. I think I do want start doing some music right now.
13. No, if you ask about tasting it. This question is dumb. I cannot even eat a pie. But I like cutting through it. I once chopped it into tiny pieces. But others got angry at me. I don't understand, they would have chopped and mashed it with their teeth anyway. I go now. Ciao.
Task 18: Robots
What's your character's opinion on robots? What about robots with emotions? What cyborgs? How does your character feel about the concept of a robot uprising? If robots are unknown to your character, how would they respond to the concept of robots, artificial emotions, cyborgs and robotic takeovers?
Over 60% of his body got replaced with artificial parts. No wonders others treat him like a robot sometimes, although he is not. Although, he sometimes thinks of the difference between a robot and living creature and if there's a difference at all or just different kind of materials used to construct each. He wonders if robots could feel emotions. If so, he was one, he thought.
Task 19: Scared
What scares your character? Are there any fears which your character has overcome? What are they most afraid of?
Until the accident his biggest fear and greatest desire that never came into realization was that he will remain forever lonely. There are moments were he seeks loneliness, but then comes a moment he panics that he might get forever lost in this little bubble he creates. Constantly torn between the two urges.
Besides that, he is scared of deep water of the obvious reason he would drown like a stone. He also has a strong hating of radiant fluorescent yellow color – he despises it so much he dreads the moment he might come in contact with it. Because of one simple task involving a dreadfully colored paint, his whole life has changed.
Task 21: Utopia
What is your character's idea of a perfect society? What are the laws, punishments, jobs, etc in this society? What prevents their utopia from existing? Is there anything that comes close in their reality?
The perfect world is filled with sounds and colors that together produce an enjoyable mix. As far as other intelligent beings are concerned, they shall not interfere with his life or works and when there is a need of interaction, they shall act according to clear and simple rules… but then Arti isn't really sure of that. Sometimes he feels drawn to this uncanny realm of emotions and contradictory actions. He needs simplicity, honesty, acceptance… but also love, commitment and enthusiasm which can't be defined by simple logic.
Task 22: Victory
How does your character react to success? How does your character respond to victory in team activities? What about personal victories? How does your character react when failing to achieve their goals or expectations?
The feeling of achieving something drags Artisaki to others and gives him new inspiration. Sometimes he will do something silly, sometimes he looks so unresponsive as if nothing happened. But he is always ready for a good party and his friends should be happy to have the best DJ on the island at their service ;) Good thing about him is that he never feels
Task 23: Wish
What is your character's greatest wish? Why? In what situations do they make a wish (wishing wells, shooting stars, birthday cakes, etc)? What sort of variety is there in those wishes, if any? If granted any three wishes what would they be?
Artisaki doesn't get the idea of superstitions, so he never makes a wish on any "special" occasion. I think that for now what he most wishes for is to untangle that mess hehas in his head and better understand others (and himself). Despite all the factors that make him so different from a regular person, he would like to have a loving family. But that's not a wish anymore, since it is coming true at his new home.
Task 25: X-Men
If your character could have any superpower what would it be? Why? What would they do with those powers? What well known power would be their least favorite (flight, super strength, telekinesis, fire manipulation, etc)?
I imagine Artisaki would like to have the power to read other's minds. But if he acquired it, he probably would quickly regret it if he discovered that there are plenty who have serious mess inside their heads. He would probably be lost which are his own thought and feelings and what belongs to those in whose minds he lurks and that would be driving him crazy. With that experience he would probably refuse to have any superpower or switch to something very simple and pragmatic, like underwater breathing.
Toy Shelf
LinksZafara Characters by others:
Other links:
CreditsLayout by me :)
Backgrounds: HERE


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How to Grill Buffalo Rib-Eye
As a source of meat, buffalo has significant advantages over beef. It is high in protein, extremely low in cholesterol -- 30 percent lower than beef -- and low in fat. A perfectly grilled buffalo rib-eye has a depth of flavor, a juicy heartiness and good clean mouth feel like no steak you've ever had before. Keep preparation quick and easy by using a simple spice rub of cracked black pepper, salt and garlic powder.
Video of the Day
Step 1
Scrub the grill grate to remove any rough debris. Brush the grate with oil.
Step 2
Preheat your grill. For charcoal grilling, arrange the briquettes on one side of the grill, light them, and wait for them to be completely covered in gray ash. For a gas grill, light one side on high for a minimum of 10 minutes.
Step 3
Brush the steaks lightly with oil.
Step 4
Combine e seasonings in a bowl, and rub the steaks with the mixture.
Step 5
Close the barbecue lid, and sear the steaks directly over the flame for two minutes. Open the lid, turn the steaks over with tongs, and sear for two more minutes.
Step 6
Move the steaks to the unheated side of the grill. Grill with the lid closed for four minutes per side for a rare steak; five minutes per side for a medium-rare steak.
Step 7
Remove the steaks from gril with you tongs, and leave them on a plate for three to four minutes. The internal temperature of the meat will continue to rise.


text:
Purchase vacation packages to the Caribbean Islands at your local travel agent or through online travel sites, such as CheapCaribbean.com, Expedia.com or AppleVacations.com. Many airlines, such as American Airlines and JetBlue, offer vacation packages to a number of destinations, including the Caribbean.Continue Reading
To purchase a vacation package online at CheapCaribbean.com, visit the home page, and mouse over the tabs to start your search. The site offers packages under a range of headings, including Top Deals, Destinations, All-Inclusive, Luxury and Cruises. Once you find a suitable deal and destination, enter your departure and destination airport and vacation dates in the boxes under Start Planning Your Vacation. Select your hotel from those available, and select flights. Proceed with your booking. Alternatively, telephone the number given on the website, or visit one of CheapCaribbean's offices in Dallas, Phoenix or Philadelphia to seek advice and make a reservation.
Expedia offers a range of online deals to the Caribbean Islands. Click a deal for further information, and complete the search box to view availability and prices. Select your flight and hotel, and proceed with your booking. Click Contact Us for further support and a contact telephone number. The AppleVacations, American Airline Vacations and JetBlue websites also offer search features for Caribbean vacation packages, along with online reservations and telephone help.Learn more about Geography


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HealthCare Sharing is exempt from Obamacare.
Members of Recognized Health Care Sharing Ministries are Exempt From the Requirement to Have Health Insurance.
THE ACA. The new health care reform legislation is called The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). It's more commonly referred to as 'Obamacare'.
INDIVIDUAL MANDATE. The ACA legislation contains many provisions that are complex and detailed about our nation's health care. Among these provisions is the 'individual mandate', the requirement that every American purchase health insurance. Under the law, you must purchase health insurance by March 31, 2014, be exempt from the law, or face a fine imposed and collected by the IRS.
BE EXEMPT. Members of recognized health care sharing ministries are exempt from the mandate to purchase health insurance by 2014 or face financial penalties. Enrollment with a recognized health care sharing ministry REMOVES your requirement under the healthcare mandate to purchase health insurance.
RECOGNITION. To maximize resources between ministries, in 2016 Solidarity HealthShare joined with Melita Christian Fellowship Hospital Aid Plan (Melita), a healthcare sharing ministry recognized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As a result, the members of Solidarity HealthShare have the security of being members of a recognized healthcare sharing ministry. Solidarity HealthShare is a healthcare sharing ministry of Melita which is the non-profit organization that facilitates the sharing of qualifying medical costs between members.
EXEMPTION ACTION POINT. PERSONAL TAXES The IRS has prepared tax forms where taxpayers claim exemption as a member of a healthcare sharing ministry. These forms are simple to fill out and fairly easy to understand.
Follow these basic steps:
Step 1: Calculate your 'Shared Responsibility Payment' on Form 8965
Step 2: Claim the months that you were a part of a healthcare sharing ministry as an exemption in Part III of Form 8965 using code 'D'.
Step 3: Report on line 61 of Form 1040 the 'Shared Responsibility Payment' which was calculated from Form 8965
Form 8965 just asks for the Code under which members are exempt. Members of a healthcare sharing ministry utilize a Code "D" exemption. On Form 8965, leave Parts I and II blank, and in Part III, members simply write in the letter "D" in the column titled "Exemption Type."
In the event an accountant or tax preparer asks for the name of the recognized HCSM through which members share medical bills, the formal name of our Health Care Sharing Ministry is: Melita Christian Fellowship Hospital Aid Plan, Solidarity HealthShare is a health care sharing ministry of that entity.
Obviously, you or your tax preparer will be able to access the Forms referenced above. Have questions? The Solidarity HealthShare team is here to help you! Contact us anytime.


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Some of you might know that this is a redo, this was actually the second cover I ever shot way back in the early days of Meytal drum covers.. well I'm older, wiser and this time I played the part right.Read More
Category: 1990's
I was debating if this would make an incredibly boring drum cover but then decided that fuck it. haha I like it. hopefully you will too!Read More
For those of you who might want to point out that this is a really simple song to drum to, let me just say that – yeah SO? 😀Read More
Heard this on the radio the other day and thought it was pretty weird that I hadn't covered this song yet, so I decide to fix that.Read More
One of my fav tool songs. I was planing on incorporating some drum pads as Roland USA are hooking it up, but didn't get to it in time for this shoot and had to be creative in that weird bridge part.Read More
an all time fav. this song makes me want to dance. which I did. the other day. this song IS the most danceable songs ever. it was soooo much fun! jumping, dancing. head banging- the whole deal. you GOT to try it out.Read More
I know I know for sure That life is beautiful around the world. One of my all-time favorite song and album!Read More
Make sure to watch 'till the end to catch my first on-camera stick break on the last note of the song! that's metal.Read More
Wow. Thinking back to my first drum cover, if you would have told me that one day I'll find myself on a mountain in British Columbia shooting a Tool cover, while working on my first album, while about to launch my instructional dvd/book/cd I would never in a million billion years have believed you.Read More
Someone suggested I cover this song on my FB page! And like most songs I cover, this song totally reminds me of being a teenager. I am the eternal child. And yet 30. Join me in this magical journey back in time. Yay for 90's kids. And everyone else… 🙂Read More
Seriously one of the prettiest drum parts ever. I'm not sure if you know this band, they're from the UK, pretty big in Europe I think!Read More
Let's not pretend that we have any idea what this song is about.Read More


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When Ramey Webb talks abut getting a few bites when he goes fishing … well, let's just say he's being literal.
Webb is a noodler. That means he sticks his hands into underwater holes and uses his fingers as bait.
The bites he gets? That's when a big catfish chomps down on his hand and won't let go.
"It's like grabbing an egg out from under a hen," said Webb, 39, who lives in Ludlow, Mo. "That big ol' catfish doesn't want you coming into her space, and she'll show it.
"I've got scars all over from where I've been bit. People say we're crazy, doing something like that.
"But to me, it's the ultimate rush. When I get ahold of a big catfish and have to wrestle her out of a hole, that's fun."
Webb enjoyed that "ultimate rush" recently when he won the Okie Noodling Tournament, a hand-fishing event that has garnered national attention.
He and 136 others hit the rivers and reservoirs of south-central Oklahoma in late June to fish around for holes in the banks where flathead catfish often retreat to nest. Webb apparently found the right place.
He found a rocky area, held his breath, and descended into the murky water of a lake (he won't say which one) as others held his feet. When he located a hole, he reached in and felt a big flathead chomp down on his hand.
He grabbed the catfish by the lip, pulled it out of the hole, then wrapped his legs around it. He got help from his friends in subduing the big fish, then celebrated his catch.
The flathead was later weighed at 69 pounds, 9 ounces — the biggest taken in the tournament.
"That fish twisted my thumb real bad, but that's part of it," Webb said. "When you're a noodler, you expect to get knocked around a little bit."
The win was especially satisfying for Webb. He comes from a long line of noodlers, and his father, Gary, was along for the fishing, even though he is in poor health.
Gary Webb was awarded a lifetime achievement award for his support of hand fishing and efforts to get it legalized in other states. He was a key player in getting Texas to approve noodling. And he has long lobbied the Missouri Department of Conservation to accept hand fishing in his home state.
But the agency has rejected those efforts, arguing that noodling's high success rate in removing large catfish from their nests could have a major impact on the population.
So for the time being, the Webbs and other Missourians have to travel to neighboring states such as Oklahoma, Kansas or Illinois, where noodling is legal.
Ramey Webb said almost 25 family members and friends traveled to the town of Pauls Valley, an hour south of Oklahoma City, for the annual noodling tournament. They celebrated a sport that has gained popularity since documentaries and reality series were aired starting in the early 2000s.
For Gary Webb, that following is gratifying. He is 70 years old and he has been noodling with family since he was 7.
"Every fish is different," Webb said. "They have different personalities.
"Some of them are just downright mean. I remember going into a hole after one fish, missing him and getting turned around. That fish charged out of that hole and took a bite out of my hindquarters that hurt like crazy.
"That might sound like a fish story, but I still have the scars."
Gary Webb knows his noodling days are numbered, but he takes heart in the fact that his son and others will carry on the family tradition.
"My daughter (Claudia) took a 71-pound flathead noodling," he said. "It's just something our family does."
To reach outdoors editor Brent Frazee, call 816-234-4319 or send email to email@example.com.


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The Willcox, a white-pillared Colonial Revival landmark on the National Historic Register, has been a permanent fixture in the resort town of Aiken, South Carolina since 1898. Starting with the inviting rocking chairs lining its pristine, white-columned front porch, The Willcox represents the casual glamour of a bygone era.
Guest rooms at The Willcox are comfortable retreats luxuriously appointed.
All are quiet and sumptuous with high ceilings, crown moldings, and restful, cloud-soft beds blanketed in cool, crisp linen. Most have crackling fireplaces, and each has its own character. The award winning Restaurant is a local favorite and a must for hotel guests.
Rejuvenation reigns supreme in the full service Salon & Spa. A salt water pool and small exercise room round out the amenities. A 2,000 acre surrounding park is laced with hiking trails and bridle paths. Golf and equestrian sports (polo, steeplechase, fox hunting) are available nearby, quaint shops and museums plus, the Thoroughbred Hall of Fame on the grounds of lovely Hopeland Gardens.
- 28 suites, each with period antiques, high ceilings, deep soaking tubs, featherbeds and pillows
- All suites & most guest rooms equipped with fireplaces
- Continental breakfast served daily
- Award-winning restaurant serving lunch, dinner, and bites menu daily
- Private and in-room dining available
- Lobby bar
- Nightly turn-down service
- Beautifully landscaped pool
- Exercise room and bicycles
- Business center
- Wireless high-speed internet access
- 24-hour concierge service
- Pet-friendly ($75 fee)
- Live music in the lobby Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings
- Award-winning salon and spa
- Sunday brunch
- #1 Resort Hotel in the South 2016, Travel + Leisure
- #2 South's Best Hotels 2018, Southern Living
- #2 Best Resort Hotel in the US 2016, Travel + Leisure
- #7 Best Hotel in the World 2016, Travel + Leisure
- "Top 55 Hotels in the World," Conde Nast Traveler, 2013 & 2015
- "Top 20 Best Hotels in the USA," Conde Nast Traveler, 2013, 2014, & 2015
- Executive Chef Regan Browell "Best Chefs in America" 2013, 2014, & 2015
- Greenleaders GOLD, TripAdvisor, 2014 & 2015
- Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, 2014 & 2015
- "World's Best Hotels," Travel & Leisure
- Gold List, "World's Best Hotels," Conde Nast Traveler, 2014
- "Top 10 Perfect Vacations," Conde Nast Traveler, 2014
- "Top 15 Business Travel Hotels in the World," Conde Nast Traveler, 2013
- "Top 50 Hotels in the World," Travel & Leisure
- "Top 10 Small Lodges in the USA," Travel & Leisure 2012 & 2013
- "Good Earth Keeping Award," South Carolina Hospitality Association, 2012
Experience the ultimate in Southern Living with one of our Southern Living Hotel Packages:
Southern Living Food -indulge in a package designed for serious foodies
Southern Living Home - get inspired with new knowledge of design, style, and architecture
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Southern Living Wedding - the perfect start to the planning process of life's most anticipated occassion
Call Us at
(803) 648-1898
Email Us at
Visit Us Online at
Southern Living Hotel Collection
2100 Lakeshore Dr
Birmingham, AL 35209-6721


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Our Bloggers
Adina Soclof: 4 posts
Adina Soclof works as a Parent Educator for Bellefaire Jewish Children's Bureau, facilitating "How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk" workshops as well as workshops based on "Siblings Without Rivalry." Adina also runs ParentingSimply.com and is available for speaking engagements.
Barbara J. Feldman: 5 posts
Barbara J. Feldman is a syndicated columnist and publisher of Surfnetparents.com and 51+ other sites. She has been creating websites since 1996, and her network of sites includes nearly a million pages of content, and attracts more than one million visits each month.
DAD4LIFE: 12 posts
DAD4LIFE blogs at Teen Boys and Dads.
Denny Hagel: 6 posts
Denny Hagel is a child advocate and parenting coach, devoting over 25 years to the success and well being of all children. She is the published author of over 125 articles on parenting, many of which have attracted international attention in over 24 countries.She has created the discussion group "Awakened Parenting Discussion Forum" on Face Book which now has over 600 members. She does on line coaching with parents and teachers who consult her on a regular basis. Denny collaborates with counselors, authors, coaches and others working in the parent coaching field. Denny Hagel is the author of the newly published "The Missing Secret to Parenting", "The C.P.R. Program for Parents & Teens: Conflict Prevention/Resolution Formula", "Mini-Me Syndrome" and two free e-booklets "Parenting Using the Law of Attraction" and "Becoming an Awakened Parent".
Guest Blogger: 199 posts
Are you a writer or a blogger? Do you have something to share with the world? Why not submit a guest blog post? You can write about any aspect of parenting and family, or anything that would be of interest to parents (which is just about anything!) Exceptional candidates who have contributed at least two guest posts, will be offered the opportunity to join our network of select Surfnetparents bloggers AND be able to blog regularly on their very own Surfnetparents blog.
Karyn Climans: 8 posts
Author: Karyn Climans
Liz Nolley Tillman: 3 posts
Liz also owns and operates "On The Hook", her own blog site at http://liznolleytillman.tumblr.com where she frequently reflects on the lessons she's learned from her transition from a Single-No-Dependents-40-Something to 'Married With Children'.
Tali Shenfield: 2 posts
Tali Shenfield is a Child Psychologist and a Clinical Director of Richmond Hill Psychology Center. She holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Toronto and is a member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario, Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, and Canadian Psychological Association. If you'd like more information about Dr. Shenfield, you can find it on her website


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Openreach have been working for the last few weeks to connect all premises in the Moy area to the new superfast fibre cable. Households and businesses will be able to choose broadband packages offering speeds of 40, 80 and even 300 Mbps. Compare this with existing speeds of between zero and 2Mbps!
Openreach will work their way along the main cable, connecting up groups of premises as they go. The first premises are due to be connected in mid to late October, and all premises should be connected by Christmas. It is therefore time for Moy residents to think about choosing a service provider for the new superfast service. Here's a simple guide :
At the moment your service provider for basic broadband is probably BT or Plusnet. They supplied the router you are using in your home. Once the new fibre cable is connected to your house, you will need to take out a contract with a service provider who can supply the new fibre to the premises broadband. For the time being there are only 2 companies who can do this : BT and Zen. They will supply new routers which can handle the superfast speeds.
Here are a couple of links to start you off. :
You will need to check the deal each company is offering and decide which one suits you best. Service providers constantly change the terms and prices of their packages so you should check carefully that you are getting the best deal. At the moment, both BT and Zen will supply the new router for free when you sign a contract with them.
The new service will be a little more expensive than the basic broadband deal you have now but the speed of your broadband will be far, far faster. However bear in mind that there is no compulsion to switch to the new service. Your existing basic broadband service will still be available through the existing phone line and you can keep using it as long as you like, and only switch to the new fibre to the premise service at your convenience.
Some of you Moy folk have been spotted parked outside Strathdearn Hall, using the wifi there to catch up on urgent business. Soon the tables will be turned. You'd better remember to enable the password on your new superfast router, or you might look out your window to find the rest of Strathdearn parked outside your house!


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For the best experience on the Abcam website please upgrade to a modern browser such as Google Chrome
Synthetic peptide within Human EpCAM aa 50-150. The exact sequence is proprietary.
Our RabMAb® technology is a patented hybridoma-based technology for making rabbit monoclonal antibodies. For details on our patents, please refer to RabMab® patents
This product is a recombinant rabbit monoclonal antibody.
Our Abpromise guarantee covers the use of ab124825 in the following tested applications.
The application notes include recommended starting dilutions; optimal dilutions/concentrations should be determined by the end user.
|1/1000 - 1/10000. Detects a band of approximately 39 kDa (predicted molecular weight: 35 kDa). Western blots of mouse and rat samples are negative.
|1/100 - 1/250. Perform heat mediated antigen retrieval before commencing with IHC staining protocol. Heat up to 98 degrees C, below boiling, and then let cool for 10-20 min.
Please note: All products are "FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY AND ARE NOT INTENDED FOR DIAGNOSTIC OR THERAPEUTIC USE"


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By Bemused of BD23
January 10 2017
With a masterstroke of timing Phil Daly brightened up a dull winter's day today by announcing that Bryan Redpath is to leave the Carnegie club at the end of the season to take up a position in non-banking. So good news then you would think?
It has been obvious to some supporters for quite a while that BR was not going to take the club any further than he has done up to now. With the second biggest budget in the Championship he has assembled a talented squad and then struggled to put lesser squads with tiny budgets to the sword. Word reached the terraces last season that all was not sweetness and light in the dressing room and that BR was a major factor in Sinfield's early retirement. Whilst we were powerless to do anything about it the board had clearly developed serious reservations about Redpath. With his contract expiring at the end of the season the board did not seek to negotiate a new one with BR. It is usual to have the Head Coach contracted before starting any negotiations with players for the following season. Clearly either BR was told his contract was not being renewed or he figured it out for himself and got himself another job.
So good news? Yes - BR is going. No - he is being replaced with Jimmy the shipjumper! Jimmy Lowes has been appointed Head Coach after he dropped us in it a couple of years ago when he pootled off as soon as a better offer came along.
The club has said that a new Director of Rugby will be appointed to work with JSJ. Is Gibson stepping down? If we have any aspirations to play in the Premiership then we should be appointing the best coach currently not coaching in the Premiership. Remember Exeter? Rob Baxter? Where are they now? We all know the answer.
So whilst I am relieved that we are parting company with BR, I am underwhelmed by the announcement of his replacement. It feels like 3 steps forwards and 3 steps back again.
Hey ho! The rollercoaster continues on it's merry way.
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Quote:bird lover
You could always make an exception !!!maybe now it will give squad a fillet, and we can improve our performances!! COYC!!!
Quote:bird lover
Ha ha ha Tom that's very funny !!!!!!! COYC!!!!


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Goatboy's Blog
Thursday, 7 August 2014
There can be a major drawback to testing and reviewing some new tech samples, gadgets and accessories, and it's not just knuckling down and writing the reviews, it's knowing WHEN to stop the testing and write them. The thing is, if you write them when you first use them, then the reviews will be full of excitement and positivity. But if you wait until you have been using the items for a few weeks, to really put them through their paces, you run the risk of shaking out all of that "brand new" magic (that wonder all new things have) and then you can unwittingly unleash all kinds of previously unseen and unknown gremlins, quirks and self imposed disappointments. The reason it is a major drawback, is because from that point onwards, all the reviews will lean way too far toward the "Hmm, it started off great and I really loved it, but now It's just infuriating me, and I would love to see it fly out of the window" camp! I guess that is the real true art of great reviewers; knowing WHEN to stop testing and thereby write the reviews at that perfect, sweet-spot moment, between those "honeymoon" and "Jump up and down on it and throw it out of the window" periods. Here endeth a lesson to myself! :-/
Friday, 14 June 2013
So, here it is, my new shiny blog! great :-) So, what too talk about? hmm. Well, I think I'll sleep on it and get back to you in the morning ;-)
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The work described in the previous Liquid Level Measurement post has been stimulated by the shortcomings of existing (electrical) systems form measuring tank levels in a boat. Existing systems use potentiometers and floaters and these items have a short lifetime when living in a water, or diesel fuel or waste environment.
With the three EXT. channels of the DrDAQ plus the scope channel it is possible to monitor and record as many critical on-board parameters and to read all of them at the same time on the on board PC display. An important feature is that all critical parameters can be equipped with alarms. A big shortcoming of Picolog is the small size display of the quantities monitored, but this problem can be easily overcome by using EXCEL to interrogate the DrDAQ with a Macro.
The original Macro for the Excel file has been written by Martin Berriman. I have modified it by adding a section to read the alarm status. The Excel file is enclosed and starts working as soon as it finds an active Picolog on the same PC.
Installation of the pneumatic liquid level measuring system requires some care. The pipe going from the "T" junction to the tank should start in a high place and then go down to the tank pipe, which should be at the lowest point of the system: this arrangement will avoid the rise of moisture in the pipe.


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Sign in to retrieve a saved callback list.
Scores based on 229 reviews
Invoice history based on 161 reviews.
S Ford Electrical is a professional and reliable electrical company based in Willingdon which has been trading since 2005, with 10 years previous experience in other specialist electrical areas.
We pride ourselves in accommodating to all your electrical needs, be it a specific lighting effect you are wanting or a update on your existing installation. We aim to provide an efficient, honest and prompt service adaptable to your needs at a competitive prices Emergency call outs are available. Fully qualified and insured to carried out all your electrical needs.
Eastbourne, Polegate, Hailsham, Bexhill-on-Sea, Pevensey, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Kent


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Located in Alaska's interior, Fairbanks is not only your gateway to Denali National Park and the Arctic Circle but is a fascinating destination on it's own. Rich in gold mining history, Native traditions, and spectacular scenery, Fairbanks offers quality activities and attractions that will keep any visitor pleasantly occupied for several days.
Here are my picks for the best visitor attractions and activities in Fairbanks, Alaska.
01 of 09
Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors CenterLocated in downtown Fairbanks along the Chena River, the Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center is a great place to start your visit. A "super" visitor information center, this facility includes spaces and representatives from major Alaska agencies, including the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Alaska Public Lands Information Center, and the Tanana Chiefs Cultural Program. If you are looking for a recreation guide or outfitter, you'll find plenty of information here. Along with brochures and maps galore, the Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center offers informative exhibits and films on local history and culture. Family-friendly workshops and special events are frequently on this facility's schedule.
02 of 09
Museum of the NorthLocated on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, the Museum of the North is filled with fascinating exhibits that illuminate Alaska's human and natural history. The Gallery of Alaska displays amazing artifacts that demonstrate the state's vast size and diversity, covering the history, geography, culture, and wildlife of each different region. Don't miss the chance to learn more about the northern lights by taking in "Dynamic Aurora," one of several films shown in the museum's Arnold Espe Auditorium. Art lovers will find much to appreciate at the Museum of the North. The Alaska Classics gallery features historic paintings focusing on the state's people and landscapes. Upstairs, the Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery displays works both ancient and contemporary. Along with a variety of other indoor and outdoor exhibits and experiences, this fabulous museum has a gift and book shop and a small cafe.
03 of 09
Riverboat DiscoveryThe Riverboat Discovery will take you down the Chena River to the Tanana River (and back). Much more than a scenic cruise, the Riverboat Discovery provides a 3.5-hour experience where you'll learn about the contemporary and traditional ways of life in Alaska. You'll view a live sled dog demonstration at a stop in front of the home and kennels of the late Susan Butcher. You'll learn about the harvest, preparation, smoking, and storage of salmon at an Athabaskan fish camp. Finally, you get the opportunity to get off the Riverboat Discovery and explore the Chena Indian Village, an Athabaskan settlement where you can get an up-close look at the gear, dwellings, and animals that are a part of their culture. Video screens and speakers assure that, no matter where you are seated on the stern-wheeler riverboat, you'll see and hear each presentation. At the Riverboat Discovery docking area you'll find an extensive gift shop offering Alaska souvenirs of all kinds.
04 of 09
View the Northern Lights
The aurora borealis, or northern lights, is an amazing natural phenomenon that results in curtains of light and color in the night sky at far north latitudes. Seen on most clear nights between September and April. Fairbanks is one of the best places in the United States for aurora viewing, with many hotels and tour companies providing services specifically for the comfort of night-time viewing. Viewing and photographing the northern lights is on many people's bucket list, and Fairbanks provides you a decent chance of experiencing this amazing phenomenon.Continue to 5 of 9 below.
05 of 09
El Dorado Gold MineThis fun gold mining experience begins and ends with a trip on a replica Tanana Valley Railroad train. During the narrated ride you'll be entertained and informed as you pass through a permafrost tunnel and past a miner's cabin and mining site. When you reach the El Dorado Gold Mine complex you'll get a chance to see large-scale placer mining in action, marveling as a pile of dirt is washed through the big sluice to reveal sparkling gold dust and nuggets. Hit by your own case of gold fever, you next get a chance to pan for gold, which you get to keep. The mining experience ends at their gift shop, where they'll happily weigh your bits of gold.
06 of 09
Gold Dredge No. 8 National Historic DistrictWhere El Dorado gives you a more personal view of gold mining in Alaska, a visit to Gold Dredge No. 8 provides a look at large-scale mechanized gold mining. In operation from 1928 to 1958, the massive Gold Dredge No. 8 chewed up the riverbed and washed out the gold. A tour of the historic dredge site, which includes mining equipment and structures, is typically taken as part of a packaged group tour and includes a meal.
07 of 09
View a Stretch of the Trans-Alaska PipelineThe Trans-Alaska pipeline, an amazing feat of engineering constructed during the 1970s, runs from the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, Alaska. You can view an above-ground portion of this pipeline, where it passes by Fairbanks, at an interpretive site located near milepost 8 on the Steese Highway.
08 of 09
Fairbanks Festivals & Special Events
Here are a few of the many special events and community festivals that are held throughout the year in Fairbanks:
Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race (February)
World Ice Art Championships (March)
Festival of Native Arts (April)
Fairbanks Summer Folk Fest (June)
World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (July)
Tanana Valley State Fair (August)Continue to 9 of 9 below.
09 of 09
Fun Things to Do Near Fairbanks
Fairbanks can also be your base from which to enjoy such major attractions as:
Denali National Park
Spectacular mountain and tundra scenery and abundant wildlife make Denali National Park Alaska's must-do attraction.
North Pole, Alaska
Located less than a half hour's drive from Fairbanks, the Alaska city of North Pole celebrates Santa and Christmas all year long.
Visit the Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle includes points above latitude 66° 33′ 44″. Many folks take advantage of the opportunity to cross into the Arctic Circle by taking a flightseeing or driving tour out of Fairbanks.