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In the good old days of Jaunty, Ubuntu had an asound.conf file that could be patched to increase the range of audio volume. This is no longer supported in Karmic. Instead, the PulseAudio volume control allows up to a 50% increase over the norm. Unfortunately, depending on how the .avi file was created, this may not be enough. One solution (there may be others) is to transcode the file into another, boosting the audio volume in the process. This article will provide instructions on how to do it with the transcode utility. It may also be possible to do it with mencoder or avidemux. I am uncertain of the syntax for those and if one of my readers does, please comment on it.
Transcode is available in the standard repositories. Install it from the command line (sudo apt-get install transcode) or use Synaptic. Here is the syntax of the command:
transcode -i input.avi – P 1 -s <desired gain> -N 0x55 -o output.avi
Let's clarify this a little. Input.avi and output.avi are the names of your input and output files. If your input name contains spaces you should rename it to something without spaces. Otherwise you will have to use the "escape" character "\" for the command to parse correctly. For example "My Rip.avi" would be entered as "My\ Rip.avi". This gets messy, so just rename the file.
0x55 is telling transcode that you want the output sound to be mp3 encoded. You can have other encodings if you so desire. Read the manual by entering man transcode on a command line for further information.
<desired gain> requires a little knowledge about decibels. Decibels follow a logarithmic scale. To double your volume you would enter a value of 3. A value of 6 would quadruple the volume. A value of 2 would result in an increase of about 60% Stay with low values, A value to high could damage your speakers, and sound distortion is likely. Replace <desired gain> with a value of your choosing.
That's it for now. Let's hope Ubuntu finally gets sound right in Lucid.


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Romance Half Cup
Style Code : 115330
The Romance Half Cup bra is made with sheer embroidered stretch tulle and sleek microfibre decorated with intricate guipure flowers. The half-cup style highlights a woman's natural curves for comfort and elegance. It features double spaghetti straps with guipure flower pattern. A sophisticated sheer bra for ultimate support and uplift.Available in the colours below

subset: commoncrawl


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Hello Hello
I know it has, yet again, been quite a while since I last posted. I am still baking and still adding new recipes when I can. My latest addition has been the delicious and fragrant Snickerdoodle. It wasn't until a few month ago that I even knew what a Snickerdoodle was… I always thought it was some American chocolate bar. These cookies though, are amazing! Soft, chewy with scrumptious cinnamon sugar. One of my new favourites for sure!
In other news, I will be jet setting off to a long awaited European Vacation next month!! Starting off in London, I will join my Contiki Tour and make my way to Paris, Bordeaux, San Sebastian and finish off in Barcelona. My plan is to eat, sightsee, eat, explore, eat, shop, drink and eat! I will be taking some cooking lessons in San Sebastian and if the opportunity arises I hope I can get in on some baking action is Beautiful Paris!! Who knows, maybe this trip will be the push I need to finally get me to move to France and become a Pastry Chef, but I digress.
Hope you all are well and keeping it sweet!


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Travelers on County Road 470, better known as Southwest 166th Street, or the taxiway for the George T. Lewis Airport in Cedar Key, might just slow down and look for the new route the road will take in early 2013.
That's the word out of the Levy County Commission meeting on Tuesday morning where the board approved a consultant agreement with Passero Associates LLC of Jacksonville. For renovations and upgrades at the airport.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Cedar Key Beacon, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
|ZIP Code:


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One word -- "veteran" -- describes more than 21 million Americans who share a proud record of military service and sacrifice.
There is no single term, however, to describe their demographics. The group encompasses many races and religions, men and women, young and old, healthy and injured, employed and unemployed.
It includes veterans now working toward a college degree and those retired from fulfilling careers, enabled by the G.I. Bill.
It contains those who served on battlefields and those who stayed stateside, protecting the peace or re-establishing it after wars, cold and hot.
We owe all of these special Americans much more than once-a-year, Veterans Day honors. We owe a constant commitment to protect them as they protected us.
For elderly veterans, that can mean ensuring that promised health care is accessible and that benefits are smoothly administered.
For new veterans just back from Afghanistan, it can mean expanding programs to help them find jobs and deal with post-traumatic stress.
As the nonprofit group IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) notes, returning troops also face long claims backlogs, a dearth of services geared to women, and the sometimes "predatory" practices of for-profit schools that mire veterans in debt.
The enormous diversity of obligations and needs poses challenges for Veterans Affairs. Studies indicate it is slowly easing claim backlogs, but much remains to be done.
Failure is not an option here. The country must deliver on the vital promises made to service men and women and the families who count on them.
According to 2011 Census data:
• 9.2 million veterans are 65 and older; 1.8 million are under 35.
• In Florida, veterans number 1.6 million.
• 9.1 million veterans from the ages of 18 to 64 were in the labor force last year.
• Veteran-owned firms included an estimated 2.4 million of the 27.1 million nonfarm businesses nationwide in 2007.
• 3.5 million veterans have service-connected disability ratings.
Veterans' issues did not get much attention in this year's national elections. They should have.
Today, we celebrate the tremendous contributions of veterans. But let us not forget what we owe them in return.
Our diverse veterans
One word -- "veteran" -- describes more than 21 million Americans who share a proud record of military service and sacrifice.


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Google's Android Robot Goes Under a Gross Surgery for the PSP Phone
The cute and cuddly green Android Robot isn't supposed to go through torture like this. In a commercial for the Xperia Play, the PSP Phone, the adorable robot gets human thumbs sewn onto him in a seedy back alley. Gross.


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We recommend SpyRemover Pro
How Often Should You Scan Your PC With Antivirus Software?
posted in : Antivirus FAQs Blog | comment : 0
One of the most frequently asked questions we get here at Top 10 Antivirus is, "how often should I scan my computer with an antivirus program?" While there is no simple, one word answer to this question, there are some guidelines you should follow.
For example, you should always run an antivirus scanner if your PC suddenly starts to experience performance issues. If it starts to crash or slowdown while performing normal tasks that it has never before had trouble with, then you may have a virus.
Or, if you've been seeing a lot of strange error messages lately, and there are a number of funny looking security alerts popping up on your system, then this could also be the early signs of a virus, in which case you need to scan your computer immediately with a good antivirus program.
The most important thing to know about these security alerts is that they could be fraudulent warnings created by the virus itself: while the alerts might look like they're from Windows, they're actually designed to lure users into buying a separate security program entirely. After buying this program, your computer might not even be fixed of its problems, and the virus might force you to subscribe to a program's expensive updates in order to be fully protected.
You may also notice warning signs like the infamous Google redirect virus, which redirects your Google search results to malicious websites. If you've noticed that Google – or any other website for that matter – has been acting strange lately, then you should definitely scan your computer with antivirus software.
For regular scans
If your computer has been performing normally, and has not been displaying any weird error messages or having performance issues, then you should still scan your system periodically with an antivirus program. Shoot for a target scan rate of once per week. You may even be able to set your program to do this automatically.
Many programs also offer users the choice between a full scan or essential scan. Which one should you choose? Well, the main difference between these two scans is their thoroughness: if you want to be completely sure that your PC is virus-free, then you should perform a full scan. This will take longer, but it will help put your mind at ease – particularly if your computer has already started to experience issues.
Meanwhile, an essential scan will look at the most important parts of your PC for viruses, malware, and other problems. If you don't have time to perform a full scan, and simply want to check if the vital parts of your PC are malware-free, then this is the best option for you. Just because the scan is called 'essentials' doesn't mean that it isn't thorough: often, these scans will look at your operating system files, downloads, documents, and program files, among other things, which are some of the most common places where viruses are found.
The bottom line
Ultimately, the best way to set your antivirus program is to perform a full scan once a week, preferably during a time when nobody else is using the computer (like during the middle of the night). This will keep your computer clean, healthy, and fast with as little maintenance as possible, which is something that every good antivirus program should be able to do.Tags: antivirus program faqs, antivirus software faqs, how often should i scan my computer


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Sat Sept 17th (TOMORROW) Bath and Body Works is having a The Sweetest Home Fragrance Event in store only. You can go HERE and on their facebook page and read all the details about it. Its from 11am to 3 pm.
*FREE GIFT with any Home Fragrance purchase!
Dont forget to print the Bath and Body Works coupon for a free mini candle with any $10 purchase. Buy any Home Frangrance and get a free gift and if its over $10 you can use the coupon to get a free mini candle too!


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Thanks for stopping by and reading our 2×2 Funds Review!
Is this company a 0.15 BTC Matrix-Based Cash Gifting Scam or actually a Legit Opportunity?
Lets dig a bit and see what this company is all about.
2×2 Funds Review
There is absolutely no information whatsoever on the 2×2 Funds website signifying who owns or runs the business.
The 2×2 Funds website domain, 2x2funds.info, was privately registered on February 4, 2017.
As I've always indicated in the past, if an MLM company is not willingly truthful about who is running or owns it, think long and hard about handing over any money.
2×2 Funds Review – The Product Line
2×2 Funds has no retailable products or services at all, with members only capable of marketing 2×2 Funds membership itself.
2×2 Funds Review – The Compensation Plan
2×2 Funds members gift bitcoin to one another through a 2×2 matrix.
Said 2×2 matrix puts a member at the top of a matrix, with two spots directly underneath them.
These two spots form the initial level of the matrix. The second level of the matrix is produced by dividing each of these first two spots into another two spots each (4 spots).
Both levels of the 2×2 matrix function as a separate cash gifting tier.
A 2×2 Funds member starts by signing up and gifting 0.05 BTC to the member who recruited them.
This payment qualifies the member to receive 0.05 BTC from two new members recruited into the initial level of their matrix.
Another gifting payment of 0.1 BTC is required in order to unlock the second level of the matrix. This payment again qualifies the member to receive 0.1 BTC from four members put into the second level of their matrix.
2×2 Funds membership is completed by a 0.05 BTC gifting payment to the member who recruited you.
Complete participation in the 2×2 Funds opportunity costs 0.15 BTC.
My Conclusion
2×2 Funds is a simple bitcoin gifting scheme.
A 2×2 Funds member signs up and gift funds to the member who recruited them. This payment qualifies the member to receive gifting payments from later recruited members.
Matrix-based cash gifting chiefly benefits the administrators who are running the scheme. This is due to the fact that the administrator owns one or more preloaded spots and the pass-up nature of the scheme.
Once Member recruitment predictably slows down, so will gifting payments within the scheme. This will prompt 2×2 Funds to fail, resulting in the mainstream of members losing money.
Aaron and Shara What Do You Suggest?
That being said, if you have never marketed online or offline before, finding people could be very difficult for you.
We know when we first started trying to make money online, we failed miserably and we had no idea how to recruit.
That is why, we first started out by learning how to become a good marketers, but in this business you don't have to be a good marketer at all!
This is the business where we learned how to make money online WITHOUT being great marketers
If you don't want to be in a business that requires you to host home parties or call all your friends and recruit your family to buy your stuff no worries.
We have the perfect business for you where you don't have to recruit, you don't have to own any product if you don't want to and oh did we mention it's ONLY $3 to start!!!
You will learn step by step on how to build a profitable business online WITHOUT having to market or recruit anyone else!
You will also get a one on one adviser to help you every step of the way.
Anyways, we hope you enjoyed the Review. Please comment below if you are part of this company as our readers would love to know how you are doing.
Also, if there are any products or companies out there you want us to review please let us know!
Follow Us on Social Media Below (We are a Real People :)):
Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel Here


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The gay pride flag is flying high over London for the first time, but spirits are low because of a scaled-back WorldPride celebration in the U.K. capital.
Pride London, the organizer of WorldPride, have announced that the parade planned for Saturday will be a "procession" without vehicles or floats, festivities will start and end earlier, and some events have been canceled, such as outdoor entertainment in the Soho neighborhood. Pride London officials said the cutbacks were due to lack of funds, citing the difficulty in finding sponsors in this economic climate.
Pride London has been criticized as mismanaging WorldPride, being hosted by London for the first time. A commentary by Nichi Hodgson in the New Statesman magazine this week refers to "the committee's incompetence and nonsensical hesitancy in admitting it needed funding help." Activist Peter Tatchell told London's Independent newspaper, "The sudden, drastic curtailment of the World Pride parade, rally, and street parties is a huge blow to London and its gay community. The promised extravaganza looks set to descend into a chaotic damp squib." Pride London's chairman has resigned in the wake of the cutbacks.
Still, Tatchell and other veterans of the first London pride parade, held in 1972, will lead the procession, Tatchell said.
Meanwhile, the rainbow flag is flying over the U.K. cabinet office in Whitehall, a London neighborhood that is home to several national government buildings. "Flying this iconic flag in the heart of Whitehall is a small but important emblem that the government and this country are behind equal rights," said Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who ordered that it be raised over the cabinet building. Clegg recently joined a campaign for civil marriage equality and also said that churches should be able to perform same-sex marriages, Pink News notes.
And U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, unable to accept WorldPride's World LGBT Award in person at a gala dinner last night, sent a video message to the gathering. She said, "Although I want once again to thank you for honoring me with this award, I really want to thank you for standing up for the rights of LGBT people everywhere." Watch below.


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Robert A. and Linda S. Farley of Carrollton announce the engagement of their daughter, Lisa Buss of Carrollton, to Dean C. Bernd of Smithfield, son of Peggy A. Bernd of Smithfield and the late Donald Bernd Jr.
The bride-to-be is a secretary at Isle of Wight Instrument Co. in Smithfield. The prospective bridegroom of a forklift operator at Gwaltney of Smithfield.
A Sept. 1 wedding is planned at Smithfield Assembly of God.


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If you are looking to do a home remodel or a home addition, YES Electric & Construction is both affordable and qualified to assist. Fully licensed, bonded, and insured in both General Contracting and Electrical, we will be happy to help you with your residential construction projects.YES Electric & Construction proudly serves the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and Silicon Valley. Homeowners from both regions have called upon us to do their construction projects, and everyone is happy with the results.
From simple jobs, like installing a new floor, to larger jobs, like full kitchen and bath remodels, we are here to help update your residence. Contact YES Electric and Construction for a free estimate, and we will do what we can to make your house dreams become a reality.
Call +1-844-560-7249 to schedule a free estimate for your residential property. New customers save 10% on labor when they hire YES Electric and Construction. New and existing customers can both save 15% on labor for cash payments. Plus, you can save 20% on labor for solar panel installation. YES Electric and Construction strives to be the most affordable, professional, and highest-rated team in the region.


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The Advanced Ski Mountaineering program is designed for the ski mountaineer looking to combine extensive advanced ski mountaineering techniques with an advanced climb and descent. On the first day we will cover steep snow climbing techniques, anchors, belaying, and various roped traveling methods. On the second day we will focus on an advanced ski descent while utilizing our new advanced climbing techniques.
Advanced Ski Mountaineering
Mount Hood, Three Sisters
Spring, Summer
$435 in groups of two or more
(Includes the cost of a 1 ride lift up Palmer Chair Lift on both days, when available.)
Trip Length:
2 days
Trip Dates:
Dates arranged on a custom basis.


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Quinlans Seafood Bars
Quinlan's Kerryfish, a family business, have Seafood bars Cork, Killarney, Tralee and Killorglin. If you enjoy fresh local seafood at affordable prices then be sure to visit us. We are open from 12 daily. Quinlan's Fish are unique in Ireland as we source all our Fresh Fish and Shellfish from our own boats and fish factory at Renard Point, Caherciveen.
Quinlan's Seafood Bars, situated in the heart of Cork, Killarney, Tralee and Killorglin, will tempt diners with fresh seasonal fish and seafood in a casually elegant setting
Where does the fish in our Seafood bars come from?
The fish menu is extensive and is based on what has been landed by our boats in Renard and Caherciveen. Fresh Hake, Cod, Haddock, Whiting and Plaice, from Dingle bay are available throughout the year.
Every day a range of specials depending on what is in season and has landed that morning is available.
Another passion at Quinlans is to introduce seafood lovers, to some of our lesser known species and yummy sustainable fish, such as, Gurnard, Ling, Pollack and John Dory. Not only are these fish delicious but also increased usage takes pressure of threatened species such as Cod.
Quinlan's Seafood Bars serve traditional Fish and Chips as well as shellfish specials and 'the catch of the day' direct from Quinlan's fishing boats in South Kerry. Select your location to view menu: Cork, Killarney, Tralee and Killorglin.


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Deals on products Ella Renfro likes
My Lists
My Likes
Black & Pearl Cat Eye Dahlia Sunglasses | Unique Vintage
Don Dahlia and you'll be divine! A stunning pair of black and ivory pearl dotted cat eye sunglasses! Lightweight plastic frames encase fabulously tinted 100% UV protective lenses, with a slight curved arm and comfort formed nose pads for a secure fit. It
Sparkly AB Pearl Cat Eye Sunglasses with Red Interior
Chrome Green Standard Neon Clock
Focused on bringing the fun and beauty of real neon into your home or business! This Chrome Green Standard Neon Clock gives a colorful edge with real neon lights. The Chrome Green Standard Neon Clock features a hand blown ring of real glass neon, generating 25 watts of light. The neon clocks have glass faces and feature black or chrome finished, multi-tiered art deco styles rims. This Chrome Green Standard Neon Clock features a chrome rim with a single ring of green neon. The quartz movement clock operates on one AA battery (not included). The neon light is powered by an AC adapter (included) that plugs directly into a wall outlet. Give your home the fabulous glow of real neon! Dimensions: 15" L x 15" W x 3" H; 3 lbs.
$3,110.00 $1,244.00
Metallic gabardine trench coat
- Burberry Prorsum magenta trench coat- Made in Italy- Buttoned epaulettes, storm and wind flaps, buttoned cuffs, belt loops, detachable belt, flap pockets, back vent, fully lined- Button fastenings through double-breasted front- 60% acetate, 19% polyamide, 17% polyester, 4% elastane; lining: 100% viscose- Specialist clean
$155.25 $69.00
Leather ballet flats
M Missoni mustard ballet flats- Heel measures approximately 10mm/ 0.5 inches- Leather- Dark-purple leather trim, leather and striped canvas lining, round toe- Slip on


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The Wrap Up: 'Avengers 2′ Set Photos Tweeted By Mark Ruffalo
ScreenCrush wraps up the latest in movies and TV you might have missed. Today, Mark Ruffalo tweets from the 'Avengers 2' set, 'Foxcatcher' finally nabs a release date, and Pierce Brosnan attempts a comeback with 'The Love Punch.'
- Mark Ruffalo arrived on the set of 'The Avengers: Age of Ultron' and started tweeting.
- '47 Meters Down' (aka 'Gravity' in the ocean) is in the works. [Coming Soon]
- Doug Liman will direct the sci-fi adaptation 'Railhead.' [THR]
- Watch the 'Godzilla' trailer recreated as a homemade video. [CineFix]
- David Foster Wallace's estate is not happy with the David Foster Wallace movie. [LA Times]
- The long-delayed 'Foxcatcher' finally has a release date. [Deadline]
- Lou Ferrigno will once again voice the Hulk in 'Avengers 2.' [Comic Book Movie]
- An animated version of the great comic 'Chew' is moving forward. [THR]
- Pierce Brosnan is a bumbling thief in the trailer for 'The Love Punch.'


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Blom Knives
Blom is the Old Norse word for Flower, and a natural choice as Trademark for a Flowerknife. Behind Blom is Stig Rath, the Inventor of the unique thumb-rest which makes the Flowerknife safer than other knives
We now offer 60-day payment plans on most knives over $349.
To take advantage, follow the steps below:
For more details, visit here.
Feel free to browse through over 10,000 products using the drop down menus above, type in a KeyWord in the search field or click to go directly to our NewsBlog, New Items Listing, or our Specials page.


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By a GenomeWeb staff reporter
NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – In today's issue of the journal Nature, two independent teams reported on their efforts to catalog gene expression patterns in different parts of the human brain over time.
...and receive Daily News bulletins.
Already have a GenomeWeb or 360Dx account?Login Now.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has released the results of a genetic ancestry analysis, the Boston Globe reports.
Retraction Watch's Ivan Oransky and Adam Marcus report that Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital have recommended that more than 30 papers from a former researcher be retracted.
Thomas Steitz, who won the 2009 chemistry Nobel Prize for his ribosome work, has died, the Washington Post reports.
In PLOS this week: mechanisms for genes implicated in coronary artery disease, rumen microbes and host genetics influence cow methane production, and more.
This webinar will present a method for RNA-seq expression analysis of FFPE-derived RNA samples that are too degraded for successful application of standard RNA-seq techniques.
This webinar will detail a comprehensive strategy that a lab has put in place to evaluate NGS oncology assays for genomic tumor profiling of plasma and tissue samples.
Privacy Policy. Terms & Conditions. Copyright © 2018 GenomeWeb LLC. All Rights Reserved.


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Wouldn't it be great if you could just walk up to your lender and say "Please lower my payments" or "Please restructure my mortgage"? That's basically how loan modification works—except for the walking up part. Sure, technically you can get a loan modification without help, but it won't be easy. The fact is that lenders are hard enough to deal with, and more so if you're on your own.
Lenders are difficult for two main reasons: first, you get different answers from different service reps every time you contact your lender; and second, they are not set up to help you unless you already know exactly what they want. To get the best loan modification deal, you need legal assistance. Read on to find out how a loan modification attorney can help you get real results from your bank.
1. They know your needs. A loan modification attorney will look at your case from a legal point of view. They know the right way to approach your lender, and they'll help you prepare your application for speedier processing. When you present your case, you'll be armed with all the supporting documents and the right negotiation techniques.
2. They get better deals. Lenders will take you more seriously when you have a professional by your side. Essentially, your loan modification attorney will be vouching for you. Because they can use legal information as leverage, the modifications they can get are much better than you can get on your own.
3. They have long-term relationships. A good loan modification attorney has established contacts with most of the major lenders. Combined with a good track record, this network helps them get better rates and gives them more options. Your lawyer can get you more attractive offers, such as a lower interest rate, principle balance reductions, or even an extension of your loan term.
4. They can buy you time. If you attempt a modification on your own, there's a good chance you'll be passed around from one department to another without really moving forward. And if you're already facing foreclosure, you can't afford to waste time. A lawyer can stop closure even while it's under way, giving you more time to recover your finances while they work on saving your home.
A loan modification is much like going to court: you can save your money and get a court-appointed lawyer, or you can invest in professional representation and get the best mortgage assistance. Mortgage modification won't happen overnight, but if with a capable lawyer, you can be sure you're in good hands.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Why Use An Attorney To Negotiate A Loan Modification?
2 comments:
- Jualan Barang said...
- August 25, 2009 at 10:16 AM
- Anonymous said...
Online home loans are almost always intended to be repaid over a long period, they are normally issued at low interest rates, unlike credit cards. So, if you carry large balances on your credit card, you must unravel in May struggle to meet all your monthly payments. Even if you make your minimum payment each month you will notice that your balances are falling away.
- September 5, 2009 at 2:18 AM
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That evening I used my MS Street & Trips mapping software to plan a route that would meet the Iron Butt requirements. I settled on a super slab trip: Columbia, SC to Asheville, NC to Knoxville, TN to Nashville, TN to Birmingham, AL to Jacksonville, AL to Atlanta, GA and back to Columbia. I considered three major factors when I did this planning: I wanted to be in Jacksonville, AL by 400P CST for the start of my daughters softball game. I wanted to be home before 12 midnight on the 14th. I wanted to avoid rush hour traffic in the big cities along my route. I settled on a 500A start time and figured on being at Jacksonville from 430P until 700P. Given the normal 5 hour trip from JSU to my home, I should be able to get home in time to get enough sleep to work the next day.
Oh yeah, about my motorcycle. I have a 1999 Kawasaki Concours, AKA, Suzy-Q. I have had the bike for two years. I had recently done a complete maintenance check on my bike at the same time that I changed the tires so I had no concerns about my bike being ready. My bike has been modified for long distance trips. I have changed the handlebars to give a more upright seating position, added a CB radio, CDplayer/AM/FM radio, a taller windshield for more wind and noise protection, a tail trunk for extra storage, and a Garmin Street Pilot GPS. Many of the items I added to my bike were inspired by or copied from work others had done and shared through the COG mailing list and/or publications. The only doubts I had about my trip were concerns about myself - was I tough enough?
I was excited about my trip and had a little trouble getting to sleep. I also woke up 1 hour earlier than planned and decide to go ahead and start. My wife was good enough to sign my witness statement and I left home at 3:50A EST. It was only 2 miles to my official start, a nearby BP station. I put in 4 gallons of gas. I also had my first glitch of the trip - the gas receipt did not have a time stamp on it. I quickly went inside and got the clerk to sign my receipt. Official start time was 3:55A, March 15, 2001.
The first 120 miles was on roads that I had often traveled and went very fast. My concerns were not to get a speeding ticket and not to hit any deer. Just after crossing the SC line, going west (really north) on I-26, the interstate makes a quick run up the slope of the Appalachian Plateau. This section of the road, which I think of as the Saluda Mountain grade, climbs steeply for 5 miles. I blasted up the grade, passing trucks and cars that were slowed by the climb. At the top of the climb, I could look back at South Carolina and see for 40 miles. It was an awesome sight at the end of what had been a beautiful and clear night. I drove into Asheville just as the sun came up. I had originally planned to use the excellent gas capacity of my Connie to make at least 200 miles between stops. However, I was HUNGRY. I stopped on the other side of Asheville for gas and a biscuit. I had traveled 166 miles, averaged 70 MPH.
One of the reasons I had picked my route was that the ride through the mountains on I-40 in North Carolina is especially scenic. This area is still wilderness and the road is often foggy and can be closed by rockslides. For my trip this morning, the air was clear and the traffic fast and I was soon in Tennessee. Shortly after entering Tennessee, I begin to encounter the morning traffic in Knoxville (a side effect of leaving early). I listened closely to my CB to see if I could learn about any traffic problems. Traffic near downtown Knoxville was completely stopped and I briefly considered trying I-640 around Knoxville. I studied the map on my GPS, trying to determine where I could turn. In the end I chickened out and stayed on the planned route. It took nearly 30 minutes to go the 5 or 6 miles I needed to get out of Knoxville. I dealt with the frustration by listening to the truckers tell the stories they save for just such an occasion. I am glad my kids don't listen to the CB! Once clear of Knoxville, I rushed down I-40 towards my next gas stop.
I had planned my second gas stop to be a mid-point between Asheville and Nashville. I stopped at Kingston, TN, which was a little earlier than planned, because I really had to go. I found an excellent gas station and store near the interstate and took a 15 minute break. It was upon leaving this stop that I had my first big challenge. My motorcycle does not have a cruise control. I had been using an o-ring as a throttle stop. I had rolled this o-ring away from the throttle grip as I had come off the highway for my gas. When I got back on the highway, and up to speed, I wanted to move the o-ring back over. It was gone! I had been riding for 2 years with this o-ring and never dropped it. Now I had 700+ mile to go and no cruise control/throttle stop. My wrist started hurting immediately - oh, the power of the mind. I pulled over at the next rest area to look for possible solutions. I found that I could use a large rubber band (a spare for the ones used to hold my GPS on its mount) doubled over a couple of times (quadrupled?) to hold the throttle open. In fact, the rubber band did a better job of holding the throttle open than the o-ring. I was going to live!
The ride Into Nashville was great. Central Tennessee is beautiful country and I spent my time cruising down I-40 looking at the rolling hills and farms along the interstate. I had planned to get through Nashville and then find a place to eat. I followed this plan to the letter and was soon ensconced in a booth at the local Waffle House with the morning newspaper. I spent 25 minutes on a leisurely lunch of bacon and eggs. I had been on the road nearly 7 hours. My speed average was near 68mph and my gas mileage was now over 34 mpg. Man, I must have really had the pedal to the metal toburn gas like that.
The trip from Nashville to Birmingham seemed long and boring. My butt and wrists were starting to get a little tender and I continuously changed position to stave off the aches and pains that I was feeling. One way I tried to pass the time was by comparing the road patterns off of the interstate to what I could see on my GPS. For miles I was mystified, as it seemed like nothing matched my GPS. I finally figured out why I was confused. My GPS was set so that the orientation of the map was always north. Since I was traveling south, everything I was looking for was on the other side of the road. I thought about this for several miles, finally accessing the options portion of my GPS to change the orientation to "track up". I tried this option for 20 or 30 miles but decided that I like the "north up" setting better. This way, the GPS looked just like the maps I had studied before starting my trip. I stopped for gas just before Birmingham, glad that this portion of the trip was over.
From Birmingham, I headed east on I-20, past the Talladega International Speedway, to the exit for Jacksonville State University (JSU). JSU is 25 miles north of I-20 and I had to go through some small towns before I got to the University. Leaving an hour early from home had put me in Jacksonville sooner than I needed to be. I took the time to get gas, a drink, and a couple of snacks before I headed for the ballpark. I recognized several people that I knew as I parked my bike and was getting a number of strange looks until I pulled off my helmet. Once the people there recognized who I was, I had to spend several minutes answering questions about my bike and my trip (real torture for me :o)). Another softball parent who lived nearby told me that rain was expected later that evening. I nonchalantly told him not to worry, I was prepared to ride in the rain (ignorance is bliss). The game went well and our team won (5-3 vs. Georgia State University). After spending a few minutes with my daughter, I headed for home. It was 555 CST and I had 320 miles to go.
I took the shortcut out of Jacksonville because it goes through the mountains and the roads are twisty. I had been on this route many time in my car but this was my first chance on my scooter. I had a great time on the deserted and twisty roads. By the time I got back to I-20, it was starting to get dark. As I crossed back into the Eastern Time Zone, traffic was light and speeds were high. I happen to enjoy driving on I-20 through Atlanta. I always get in the carpool (diamond) lane and try to drive just a little faster than traffic. Just a little faster than traffic in downtown Atlanta is normally well in excess of 80 mph! I blasted through town feeling great about my ride and my life in general. This general felling of well being was not too last.
Just past the I-285 beltway, on the east side of Atlanta, the rains begin. My Connie's fairing and windshield offer excellent weather protection so initially I did not even stop to put on my rain suit (I thought the rain was localized and I would get through it soon). This decision turned out to be a poor one. I was aiming for the truck stop at US 129, about 50 miles from Atlanta and had gotten within 20 miles of this stop when the bottom dropped out. I was still OK as far as weather protection, but it was awful trying to deal with the spray from the big trucks. This spray can completely block you vision which is scary in a car and terrifying on a motorcycle. I hurried to the gas stop so that I could get off of the highway and check the weather. I was thinking about finding a place to hole up until the weather cleared.
At the truck stop, I had a big cup of hot chocolate and took the opportunity to find out about the weather ahead. News was that it was raining steady but not heavy. I was only a couple of hours away from home and that short distance was all that separated me from an important personal achievement. I decided to press on. The rest of the ride was routine except for two unexpected discomforts. First, water was running down my forearms and into my gloves. Second, water was blowing up my pants leg, wetting the top of my socks, and wicking down into my boots. The water in my gloves was a little uncomfortable and I readjusted my sleeves to cover the cuffs of my gloves. The water in my boots, while feeling a little funny (squish, squish) was actually keeping my feet warm. I could live with both of these issues.
I made my final stop for a receipt in Columbia at 1145P EST. Gas and go and I was at home before midnight. I had traveled 1030 miles in 20 hours, riding through 5 states, riding both night and day, in good and bad weather, to become a member of the Iron Butt Association. Now I can rightfully say that I am one of "the world's toughest riders".
My first attempt at the BBG ride was made in May and aborted when I had problems with fuel being pumped out of the carburetor overflow hose. I discovered the problem about 300 miles into the ride and could not make roadside repairs. Since I had only gotten 90 miles to the last tank of gas, and I had spent 75 minutes working on my bike, I decided to head for home while my bike was still running. I had not planned to make another attempt for the BBG prize until the fall (heat!). Then Thursday, while checking the weather for a local ride, I found that the weekend forecast was great for motorcycle riding, i.e., dry weather with moderate temperatures. I pulled up the cities on my original BBG route and checked the weather along the route. The forecast was for dry weather with daytime highs in the 70's in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Incredible weather for the middle of July! I decided to go for the gold on Saturday morning.
I arranged for a friend who is a Notary to be my witness. He came over after work on Friday and certified my start mileage. I was up at 0530A Saturday and had two pieces of bread and some water for breakfast. My favorite gas station is near I-77, Exit 17, in Columbia, SC. I started North from there at 05:59:50 on 7/14/01 (Exxon seems to always have their equipment in good order). Interstate 77 through South and North Carolina is a boring ride. I just used the road to get to the part of my BBG route that I was excited about, the mountains. Mountain riding starts on I-77 as soon as you get to Virginia. There is a quick climb with some excellent views from overlooks along the way (Fancy Gap). My gas warning light came on a little earlier than I expected (mile 186 on my Kawasaki Voyager) but I was comfortable pressing on to my planned exit - I-77, Exit 14, VA. My bike took 5.15 (6.1 capacity) gallons of gas for the 197 miles traveled. Not to bad for averaging 76 mph.
I continued north on I-77 through Virginia and into West Virginia. I loved the part of this ride where I-77 is called the West Virginia Turnpike. Miles and miles of high speed (speed limit 70) sweepers with great views and little traffic. It is in the mountains where I identified what I really like about my motorcycle. Unlike the under powered cars and trucks that I have had, my motorcycle can accelerate up the hills. I used this characteristic to get away from cars that I encountered on this stretch of the road. My ride on the turnpike was all that I had hoped for except for interruptions caused by the three tollgates on this road. I was surprised by the first one since I did not remember any tollgates from a family trip to Niagara Falls in 1998. Luckily, I had put some money in my pocket at the first gas stop and I had the $1.25 required for a motorcycle. One motorcycle rider, in the gate next to mine, had his bike on the stand and was looking in his trunk for money. I think toll lanes are just too greasy to have to park and get off your bike so he had my sympathy. I stopped just north of Charleston, WV for more gas and some food. I was pleased with the 73 mph average I had maintained up to this point (363 miles, 5 hours 3 minutes).
Traffic was much heavier north of Charleston. I had a 10 miles dice with a green mini-van that was camped out in the show-off lane. She could have never stayed with me except for help from blocking traffic. I wonder if she would care if she knew she was pissing off one of the "World's Tughest Rders?" Crossing the Ohio River at the WV/OH line is always a treat. The river is tame and beautiful here. Except for the winters, I would love to live in a small city at this location, Marietta, OH. They call Marietta the steamboat capital of the Ohio River. My family and I had dinner on a old paddle boat during the same 1998 trip I had previously mentioned. Downtown in Marietta, near the river, is a monument dedicated to the original settlers of this area (not counting native Americans). I remember that the monument is at the location of the western most civilized settlement in America in 1796. Ohio sure doesn't seem like the wild, wild west now. Enough of the background, on with the trip.
The most traffic I encountered was near Akron, OH. Even then this was not a problem. The road was good and I could still travel near the speed limit. I stayed on I-77 to I-76 and then headed east. Thirty or 40 miles later and I was in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is one of the most scenic states in our nation. The views along I-80 when going over the Allegheny, Clarion, and Rust Rivers are incredible. Even this illiterate redneck can see why they call the Rust River the Rust River. The water and rocks were Clemson Orange. Speaking of Clemson, I am no longer a football fan, but there is enough sentiment left over from my youth to get a special thrill when I passed close to Penn State University. I hope to take a look at Happy Valley some day (and maybe meet some Nittany Lion cheerleaders - my favorite part of football). One of the moments we all dread came for me in Pennsylvania. I had been advised that the speed limit in PA was 65 mph but that patrol officers ignored everyone going 74 and under. So.....I was traveling along I-80 around 400P (remember, riding since 600A) and my ears were really hurting. I thought that I remembered seeing some riders without helmet, so I pulled mine off as I rode along. The combination of 70 degree temperatures, beautiful Pennsylvania scenery, and the wind in my hair was some of the best riding of my life. Like all good things, this came to an end. I ran through a PA State Patrol speed trap. My old model Escort gave one short quick beep as the trooper hit me with his radar gun. He immediately turned on his lights and started after me. Here I was, running 74 in a 65 zone, my GPS indicated maximum mph for my trip was 91.7 (see earlier reference to the WV Turnpike), and my radar detector was in plain site (I have heard that there is no mercy when you get caught speeding and you have a radar detector). I was surprised when he asked me about my helmet. I guess the surprise must have shown through when he told me that a helmet was required in PA. When he let me off with a warning, all of my warm and fuzzy feelings about the ride and the day returned. Reflecting back on the helmet issue, I have one of the new HJC jobs with the flip-up front. To save time, I did not remove the helmet a some of my stops. No wonder my ears were sore. My last Pennsylvania gas stop was in Drum's near the intersection of I-80 and I-81. The foreign store manager (Iranian?) asked me several questions about my bike. The last group of questions went like this: Where are you from? Answer:Columbia, SC. Wow, how long have you been riding? Answer:since 600A this morning. WOW! how much longer are you going to ride? Answer:I plan to ride all night. WOW!! where are you going? Answer:Columbia, SC. At this point I lost creditability.
My ride down I-81 in Pennsylvania was uneventful except for being on the lookout for speed traps around Harrisburg. I quickly found myself in Maryland where I had planned for a gas stop. I have been using MS Streets & Trips to plan my stops. My software indicated that gas was available on I-81 in Maryland at Exit 6. Highways signs leading up to the exit also said there were gas stations. I got off at the exit that routed me east. No gas stations for almost one mile. I turned around and went to the other side of the interstate. Nothing there either. This failure to find gas at Exit 6 was not a big issue except that I was tired and feeling time pressure. I hated wasting minutes and miles. I got back on I-81 and found gas at Exit 2. I had ridden 1050 miles in 15 hours and 45 minutes. The reality of the ride was that it was nearly 1000P and I had almost 500 miles to go. Adding in the cold (hell yes it was cold - and I didn't have enough clothes) weather with time and mileage issues caused me to seriously question my ability to function as a rational man, loving father, dedicated employee, etc. I decided to continue.
The next 300 miles were more about managing my comfort level than looking at the countryside. My biggest reservation about the BBG is the fact that you have to ride at night. Throw in strange roads, bad eyes, and a bug covered windshield and the riding can be stressful. Major league monkey butt had also set in. I tried several solutions, finally ended up sitting on an extra folded T-shirt, on top of my beaded seat cover, on top of a extra pair of pants. I won the auction for a sheepskin seat cover on Ebay last week. It should be in by Tuesday. I was wishing I had it now.
Riding got a little dangerous about 150 miles from home. I have never had a problem maintaining my ability to function when long hours are involved, but then I had never been tested like this. Near Statesville, NC, I found myself unable to stay in my lane. I knew I had to do something. I was too close to the finish and too worried about time to rest. That left coffee and/or drugs. I don't do drugs and I haven't had any coffee for 20 years (coffee gives me gas). I settled on the lesser of two evils and drank some coffee. The combination of the coffee and the anxiety about the wasted 25 minutes helped to focus mind. I started back down I-77, radio turned up as loud as it could go, and me singing at the top of my voice. I am sure that the noise will cause the fish to quit biting in Lake Norman (north of Charlotte) for a couple of weeks. I thought I was doing great when I got through Charlotte. Then I remembered that I had not seen the buildings downtown or the stadium. I took a look at the next couple of exit signs and the numbers were counting up to 30 instead of down to 1. Panic! I looked frantically at my GPS (Street Pilot). Thanks to Garmin for the narrative line at the top of map - mine said "heading south on I-85". I had taken a wrong turn at the I-77/I-85 interchange. At least I knew what to do to recover. I got back to I-77 with a net loss of 12 miles. I did not try to document the wrong turn because of concerns about time and my confidence that I had the mileage covered. This mistake served to eliminate any remaining stupor caused by lack of sleep and fatigue.
I sailed towards Columbia with enough confidence that I would make my time window that I did not feel the need for speed. I had a couple of hard moments in the last few miles. My gas warning light came on while I was still 30 miles from my last planned stop. I had figured the last gas stop right on the edge of my gas window. The extra miles in Charlotte put a real cramp in this plan. Additional uncertainty came from not knowing exactly how many miles I had lost in Charlotte. I decided to make an extra stop 12 miles from Columbia. I thought that the mileage to that point would equal 1500 (actual 1505). If anybody was watching me at the Blythewood, SC Exxon, then they probably thought I was training for a NASCAR pit stop. I put in 1.5 gallons of gas and hauled ass - quick! I made it to my gas station at Exit 17 in Columbia at 537A. Pulled up to the pump and inserted my charge card. The same pump I had used the previous morning and it wouldn't take my card (Exxon station suck - and I know, I said they were great earlier, but opinions change with the situation). I pressed the pay inside button and nothing happened. Then I noticed the clerk standing outside and asked her to start the pump. She said that I had to pre-pay. I am afraid I might have said a few cuss words then. I moved my bike to another pump and had the same result. Then, I ran to the window and gave her my card. First she checked my card to see if there were any problems. She said, "this card should have worked". I thought she was going to ask me to try again. By then, my butt was clenched so tight (as I tried to maintain my cool) that I believe that if my wife's Chihuahua had bit me on the ass, it would have broke his teeth. Well, I finally got the receipt and the gas, and on time too.
In conclusion, let me say that this was much harder than I thought it would be. My other experience (on the SS1000 ride I took in March) led me to believe that long distance motorcycle rides are mostly a mental test. Count that thought as my first July mistake (2nd was the missed turn). I rode 1535 miles in 23 hours and 40 minutes (GPS numbers). Speed average was 65 mph when stops are included. Average while not stopped was 71 mph. Top speed, as noted earlier was 91.7. I am not really sure when I did the top speed number other than I know it happened in WV, probably as I accelerated away from a toll gate. I seldom exceeded the speed limit plus 7 during the ride and the burst of speed was not necessary (but ain't it fun). I previously posted a note about my ride on some of the e-mail lists I follow. My closing statement was that I wasn't sure why I did the ride, but I was glad I did. Maybe some day I will understand me.
Andy Simons


text:
Calculate value of force:
A 100N force that makes an angle of 45º with the horizontal x axis is to be replaced by the two forces, a horizontal force F and a second force of 75N magnitude. Find out the value of force F.
Sol.: Given 100N force is resultant of 75N and F Newton forces, Draw Parallelogram with Q = 75N and
P = F Newton θ= 45° and α is not given.
We know that
Value of 'F' from equation(i) put in equation(ii), we get
Putting the value of a in equation (i), we get


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FAR too often, dessert is a case of the rich following the rich.
The kind of planning that goes into the rest of the meal, the careful thinking of how to balance every dish against every other dish, breaks down when it comes to deciding what to serve after the most substantial course. What comes last is usually just sweetness and heft.
An outright dessert like a creamy bread pudding, or a Valrhona chocolate cake, has its place, after a menu built on vegetables or fish. But in a meal that peaks with a meaty entree, like braised lamb shanks, I want something that plays to the brain cells as much as the taste buds.
I want something that takes advantage of that last bit of red wine left from the main course, like the big Spanish red I would serve with lamb. And I want something that takes time to appreciate, a last course you don't spoon up mindlessly like a crème brûlée but one that you can linger over and contemplate.
The obvious answer is a cheese platter with fruit, nut bread and a selection of cheeses in varying degrees of creaminess, sharpness, richness and pungency. But a separate cheese course is disruptive, either in a restaurant or in a home. And so over the years I've come up with a finale that combines the dessert and cheese courses on one plate.
What I've created are individual tarts with a brioche base and a filling of sautéed quince, Maytag blue cheese, walnuts and rosemary. They look rather rustic, but they couldn't be more sophisticated. Every bite is a contrast: the pungent cheese against the tangy fruit and crunchy nuts, the buttery dough with a savory edge from the herb and a faint sweetness from a hint of orange zest. Sensually and intellectually, they are far more satisfying than a chocolate cake. And unlike a crème brûlée, which reveals all its nuances in the very first mouthful, these tarts make you want to keep eating to see what new tastes and textures will come together.Continue reading the main story
They also meet the most important criterion for all my recipes: ingredients should be interchangeable.
I've served this dessert for years, but it is rarely the same from night to night. It's one reason I can have a guest come to my restaurant 300 times and never have exactly the same meal twice. Little changes make big differences in the end result.
The base is one of the most versatile doughs imaginable, rich with butter and eggs. Usually it's made into bread, or rolls, but here it is patted out into small hollowed rounds. The fruit in the filling can be quince alone, or apple, pear or persimmon, or a combination. The nuts can be walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts or almonds. You can use Maytag blue cheese, which goes particularly well with quince and does not turn grainy when exposed to heat, or try Vacherin or goat cheese.
Or you could go in another direction altogether and fill the tarts with sliced bananas and chocolate, or diced pineapple, with no cheese.
Instead of rosemary, you could substitute other herbs. Thyme works well if you're using goat cheese, for instance. Just be careful and not try to pronounce the herb flavor too much. The effect should be very subtle.
Because the tarts need to bake only 20 to 25 minutes, the diced fruit for the filling has to be sautéed briefly with butter and sugar. Then you crumble a little cheese over and sprinkle on bits of raw walnuts, which will toast as they bake. An egg wash brushed around the perimeter of the tarts adds shine and helps the nuts adhere. (I crumble them in my hand rather than chopping them so I don't wind up with that nut dust a knife produces.)
The last touch is to sprinkle sugar generously over the tarts, to produce a nice browned crust, and then the chopped rosemary. If you want the tarts to be more of a cheese course than a dessert, add a nice turn of black pepper right before they go into the oven.
The dough should be made well in advance, to let the gluten build up. You could do the brioche the night before, and assemble the tarts earlier in the day, then bake them right before you serve your main course. If you want to bake them in advance, you can reheat them just before serving, but first drizzle a little honey on top to give them a fresh shine.
And on the off chance no one has room for dessert, these tarts can even work for breakfast, as a substitute for a sweet roll. Try that with crème brûlée.
Time: 2 hours plus 5 hours' refrigeration
3 teaspoons active dry yeast
6 tablespoons warm milk
1 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons bread flour
6 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon plus 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped rosemary leaves
1 teaspoon finely chopped orange, lemon or lime zest
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 large eggs
1 cup (2 sticks) plus 5 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2 cups peeled and cubed quince, pear, apple or persimmon
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup crumbled Maytag blue cheese
1 large egg beaten with 2 teaspoons milk
1 cup raw walnuts or pecans
Honey, for reheating tarts.
1. To prepare dough: Place yeast in a small bowl, and pour in milk. Stir, and allow to sit several minutes. In bowl of mixer, combine all-purpose flour, bread flour, 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon rosemary and zest. Add yeast mixture, salt and 3 eggs. Mix with dough hook on low speed until mixture is cohesive. Add 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter. Continue mixing, scraping bowl frequently, until dough is smooth and pulls away from sides of bowl, about 20 minutes. Cover; refrigerate at least 5 hours.
2. Divide into 4 equal balls. Pat into flat rounds 4 inches across. Cover with plastic wrap; keep in a warm place for 45 minutes.
3. While dough rises, prepare quince: Place a small sauté pan over medium-low heat, and melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter. Add quince, and sauté until just tender. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cool.
4. To assemble: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place dough rounds on a baking sheet. With fingertips, press each to create a well in center and a rim on edge. Divide quince among tarts. Layer on blue cheese, letting it fill where it may. Brush tart edges with egg-milk mixture. Crush nuts in your hand over tarts, letting some fall onto edges. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons rosemary. Dust generously with remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, especially over edges.
5. Bake until edges and bottoms are golden brown (lift to check), rotating pan halfway for even baking, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. To reheat, drizzle with honey to give a little sheen.
Yield: 4 servings.Continue reading the main story


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Tag Archive
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Gluten Free Mexican Chocolate Cupcakes
Chocolate cupcakes are the best! But what about Gluten Free Mexican Chocolate Cupcakes? The Gluten Free (and Vegan) option is obvious, but what is Mexican Chocolate? You are in for a treat with these Chipotle-spiced Chocolate Cupcakes: Gluten Free Vegan Mexican Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe Chipotle Chocolate Cupcakes *½ cup superfine white rice flour *1/3 cup […]


text:
Before jumping to conclusions, a review of the facts re: sports and
equity can be found at The Chronicle of Higher Education's website re:
Miami University
In their report, in every category, males are given more than female
athletes in comparing participation rates, athletic scholarships,
recruiting budgets, and pay for coaches. While mens sports do generate
more revenues, they also consume 69% percent of the total revenues, yet
overall ending with a budget deficit. In comparing scholarship
allocation since 1995, there has only been a net change of 1% with
allocation for women's scholarships increasing from 31% to 32%.
Miami University ( http://www.muredhawks.com/index1.html ) still offers
many athletic opportunities for male students. These include: baseball,
basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, swim/diving, and
track & field. Female athletic opportunities include basketball, cross
country, field hockey, soccer, softball, synch. skating, swim/diving,
tennis, track & field, and volleyball. The Chron. of Higher Education
indicated 390 males and 313 females are participating in sports.
The complaint by the soccer, tennis, and wrestling players should be
focused on the manner in which the budget is divided. Review of the
facts indicate, even though the male teams are receiving the bulk of the
budget, it is not benefitting those teams that have been cut. However,
the cuts cannot be blamed on equity, afterall women athletes still
disproportionatley are not receiving their equitable share.
The USA Today (11/19/99) article is posted below:
"Male athletes sue university over Title IX
CINCINNATI - Miami University, its president,
trustees and athletics director are being sued by male athletes upset with
the school's attempt to comply with Title IX, a federal law designed to
equalize money spent on men's and women's sports...."
Sharon Hushka
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Jan 04 2000 - 12:33:32 EST


text:
Why did the creator of this wikia, remove chat, It's a easy way to talk to my online wikia friends on here, and I don't get to tweet them cause I may not see them on my timeline on twitter on my phone. So anyone whom removed chat, please I'm beggin y'all please put chat back on here, cause the other wikias that I have come upon have chat, and all I'm sayin and askin y'all is to think about puttin chat back on the wikia, so can y'all please think about, and I know twilight is over but I still once in a while I like to come on and chat with Dee, Alice, Kelly, Nerming, and Alice and Dorthony and Carlie and Ashley, okay? is that too much to ask, of y'all? please I mean this as a memember for this wikia, whom still is takin to get all of the ba…Read more >
So I know many users that I've chatted knew that I had 3 dogs, while I'm gonna tell y'all why this blog is going to my olddest dog my Blackie..
It was in June the first Firday of the month it was around 4:00 (NY Time) and my mom let Blackie out in the front yard and I was holding the door open, and mom called him, we both could tell he was havin a hard time walkin on the back leg, (he had right leg removed in Dec of 2011) and he had 3 legs, Mollie and Dakota were in their cages so we could let Blackie out,so my mom had me get her the muzzel to put over Blackie's mouth, so he won't bite her, so she put it on him before we let him out, and she was tryin to get him inside so she want to pick him up, and he almost bite her, casue he was in pain…Read more >
Well, since Dee did a voice message thing I thought I should, so I'm sorry that I talk,and tell if ya can't hear me or understand what I said,
so here y'all go....
http://vocaroo.com/i/s09rSL1wJXzuRead more >
I'm leaving the wikia, cause I never come on the wikia, cause of Twitter and Tumblr. Plus I've never get no comments on the blogs that I do take the time to make, cause no one comes to my blogs that I take the time to make, so if y'all need me tweet me or send me a question on tumblr user or not, or leave me a messange on my talk page and I'll try to relpy as soon as I can, come on the wikia.. Plus I'm a freshmen. And the frist week of March I won't be on the wikia or I may. Cause my mom and dad are going to Las Vages, so whatever.
Thoughts on my leaving leave a comment, and I'll try to relpy to ya.
Twihard • Talk • Contribs 00:31, February 10, 2013 (UTC)TwilightsagafanRead more >
I don't know if y'all twilight fans know this but the person who plays Charlie in all the twilight movies can sing, he's album is called Removed and I think Billy's has pure angel voice for singing, and I think that y'all should really listen to him. You can find he's CD on CDbaby and you can bu it also on iTunes.Read more >


text:
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See specifications for supported mobile platforms and click here for available apps.
Discover over 5,000 combinations of products which will fit the bill for any project. Click here for more details.


text:
|Japanese name
|ナニモン (Nanimon)
|Special Technique
|Poop Throw
Digivolution Line
Nanimon (ナニモン "Nanimon") is a mutant champion Digimon of the virus type. They are enigmatic beings said to just "appear" on the Digital World. Nanimon have a completely spherical body and extremely toned arms and legs; they also portray boots and gloves similar to those of luchadores. They know no shame and will use Poop Throw as a viable way to attack and possibly humiliate their opponents. Their names derive from the expression "何物", which translates into "What [is that] thing?" or "Who's that?".
[edit] Anime Appearances
[edit] Digimon Adventure
Nanimon was the training coach of some of Myotismon's minions, Sukamon, Chuumon and Vegiemon in this series. He was supposed to be making these digimon tougher to fight with Myotismon, but when Agumon and Palmon who snuck in dressed up gave signal, the other Digi-Destined came with digivolves partners and Nanimon along with his group fled.
[edit] Game Appearances
[edit] Digimon World
Nanimon is an obtainable partner digimon and you can also recruit one to the city in this game. You need to find Nanimon in 5 locations to recruit him. You only have to talk to him though, not battling is necessary, and Nanimon increases the amount of items you can hold at once as well.
Nanimon can be obtained as a partner from any rookie Digimon. For a Digimon to become Nanimon, they must be scolded until their happiness and discipline bars drop to 0; after that, the player must keep constantly scolding the Digimon until it evolves.
[edit] Digimon Digital Card Battle
Nanimon appears as a post-game tamer the player can face on various locations; the player has to beat him in Junk City before being able to see him at other locations. Its "Who are you?" deck is a possible translation of his Japanese name; its strategy consists of posing reckless moves and plenty of Jamming support skills. Beating him enough times grants the player a Grand Sevens card.
Nanimon is also a playable card. It is a rare speciality champion card with no support effect.
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Oh God, The Embarrassment: I Am Irrationally Afraid Tomorrow Will Be The End Of The World
A couple days ago, Amanda wrote about the number 13 and how 2013 is not actually as horrifying of a prospect as we make it out to be. She is correct. Rational and correct. I am, however, irrational and totally one of those crazy people who feels that tomorrow might actually be the last day on earth.
First of all, let me point out that I do, indeed, know tomorrow will be fine. I do! I swear. I am 23 years old, god dammit, I know better. Don't I?
Regardless, I can't help but feel really, really terrified of how the world is supposed to turn out, in general. I have yet to feel secure about the state of the earth — at least, not since I was a young child, but even then I had a huge fear of tornados and volcanos — and I am afraid of the entire world ending in this ridiculous cloud of smoke. Voila! No more. Bam. Like throwing a spice in Emeril's kitchen, something smacks us and we're gone.
I'm more realistic than that, however, because I do believe we have enough sustainability issues and problems with the general human race that eventually, we just won't be able to exist the way we do any longer. And I think that will happen in my lifetime, or my kids' lifetimes. But! I still have this very silly, very irrational fear that everyone I love will someday evaporate or turn into a zombie or something equally "goodbye"-less.
I write this from New York City, right now, which is not my normal home, so I am 100% extra afraid. But at the same time, being quite terrified has made it so that I am a little bit softer this week. Logically, I know I'll be seeing people next week or next month; nevertheless, I still am hugging a little tighter. I think I'll be ordering creme brulee soon, sitting back, watching BBC's End Day for a little while and taking a nap this afternoon to take my mind off of the fact that inside, my emotions are completely silly and about as valid as Warren Jeff's.
Photo: The Walking Dead


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The Putnam County Fairgrounds has a new, yet quite old, look. The main entrance gate was originally marked by a large stone gateway that has been dated back to the mid 1800's. Through generous donations, this gateway was rebuilt in time for the 2009 fair and to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Image Source: Putnam County Fair


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By Connie Berry
Sun editor
ALBANY — Two hundred Catholics from the Syracuse Diocese joined hundreds more from all the dioceses in New York State for Public Policy Day on March 8. The New York State Catholic Conference plans the event each year. Catholics came by bus and carpools, and they had a mission. This year there were seven policy concerns that Catholics wanted to address on behalf of the bishops of the state.
• Oppose the radical "Reproductive Health Act" abortion bill and support for alternatives to abortion.
• Support comprehensive conscience protection for individuals and institutions.
• Preserve Catholic schools.
• Protect the poor and those severely impacted by the economic turndown.
• Maintain the health care infrastructure and health care coverage for low- and moderate-income individuals.
• Support juvenile justice reform that results in a system that better serves youth and community.
• Oppose the redefinition of marriage.
The purpose of the day is to use the public forum to discuss issues that are close to the heart of Catholics, especially the state's bishops. This year's event began with Mass at the newly-renovated Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. The beautiful church was filled to capacity as Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York celebrated the Mass with his brother bishops on the altar. He began by saying that there was nothing more significant than coming together to begin the day with the liturgy.
"Thank you for your presence," Archbishop Dolan told everyone. "I speak for my brother bishops when I say that you are an inspiration to us."
He told all those gathered that the day offered them the opportunity to bring the light of the Gospel to the public square. Archbishop Dolan recognized them as, "Men and women who take their Catholic faith and American citizenship very seriously." Then in a lighter moment he added, "And we'd like to thank the school children who sacrificed a day off today."
Archbishop Dolan told a story during his homily about his seminary days and how he and his friends would be anxious over exams. One instructor decided to give the class the questions ahead of time. This, Archbishop Dolan explained, only made them realize that they would have no excuse for doing poorly on the test.
"That's what Jesus does," Archbishop Dolan said. "He gives us the questions. How did you treat the stranger? How did you treat those without a roof or those without a family or without clothes?"
The archbishop said that at an earlier meeting someone had asked why Catholic citizens don't appear to the have the clout or power that other groups have when it comes to the public square. Archbishop Dolan articulated a few of the reasons.
"First of all, I don't know if you're right. Secondly, belonging to the Catholic faith we don't use words like 'clout' or 'power' because we are here to serve others. Thirdly, maybe you have a point. We're always on the side of those without a voice. On the side of people who can't even vote — the person on death row, immigrants, children, the unborn. People who don't have a voice look to us."
After the Mass there was the opportunity for the high school students to listen to a few legislators during their lunch break. Bishop Terry LaValley of the Diocese of Ogdensburg spoke to the students as well. The legislators welcomed the students and thanked them for coming. Ironically both speakers attended Catholic high school and told the students they should recognize what a privilege it is to receive a Catholic education.
Bishop LaValley spoke to the students telling them, "Our Christian identity will not be immediately evident unless they see the deeds we do."
He told the students that keeping their faith "private" is a "comfortable delusion."
"If we live our faith from inside and out, we'll be able to set the trends, not just follow them," he told the students.
After lunch, several groups from the diocese went to the various legislator's offices to bring their attention to the Catholic issues at the forefront. While there were opportunities to meet with legislators, many of them were attending joint sessions leaving lobbyists to meet with aides in many instances. The newly-elected member of the Assembly 121st District Donald R. Miller's office was visited by a group that included students from Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School. Miller's district includes Cicero, Clay, Manlius, Pompey, LaFayette, Brewerton and North Syracuse. The Grimes students, all seniors, were well-versed on the Catholic position of the seven main issues. They met with one of Miller's aides, Dan Fitzpatrick, and gave him a sheet outlining the bishops' position on the seven issues. Fitzpatrick read the information during the meeting and said he thought Miller's stance would be right in line with the Catholic position.
William Hirsh, a Grimes student, addressed the juvenile justice reform issue, telling Fitzpatrick the current system is "broken and in need of repair." He urged the legislator to take a look at the way the detention centers are operating. "We are wasting resources that could be used to rehabilitate youth," Hirsh said.
Fitzpatrick told Hirsh that there is a youth center in Cicero, the CanTeen, which is a model program and the only one of its kind in Central New York. Hirsh said he knew of the program and that it had been very helpful for a friend of his who visited the CanTeen, a supervised drop-in site for teenagers.
Grimes senior Anthony Ruffo spoke out on the poor and supporting their needs.
"If we take away what helps the poor it reflects on our nation," Ruffo told Fitzpatrick.
Grimes' campus minister Doug Carney added that there is a moral obligation to look after the poor. "So we're looking to you. If they cutback Medicare who will suffer?" Carney asked.
Ruffo also spoke on behalf of preserving traditional marriage. "This goes to the first amendment," Ruffo said. "You shouldn't be forced to do something you don't agree with."
"The assemblyman is in complete agreement with you," Fitzpatrick said. "Marriage is a specific institution that belongs to a man and woman."
Bob Walters, diocesan director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry was the facilitator for the group, which also included representatives from Catholic Charities. The students were particularly interested in the issue of preserving Catholic schools. They urged Fitzpatrick to reimburse the Catholic schools for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) payroll tax which costs independent and religious schools around New York City around $7 million annually. Public schools are being reimbursed for their MTA costs. The state also owes religious and independent schools an estimatted $270 million in Mandated Services and Comprehensive Attendance Policy reimbursement.
"Can we pick that check up downstairs?" Carney asked.


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Words that start with intersemina
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If you've been around Santa Barbara High's J.R. Richards Gym lately, you've heard the cheers get really loud and seen the tears fill bright young eyes. It's been a special time at the old school. This weekend, two SBHS teams are poised to go as high and as far as they can possibly go — the Dons girls basketball team in the CIF State Finals, and the competition cheer squad in the USA (United Spirit Association) Nationals.
Hoop History
The Dons will face the Modesto Christian Crusaders in the Division III girls basketball championship game Friday, March 28, at 2 p.m., at Sleep Train Arena, home of the Sacramento Kings. Since the State CIF started pairing off the best teams from Southern and Northern California in 1981, this is the first time a Santa Barbara school will play for the ultimate title.
Two boys teams fell a game short — Dos Pueblos High losing a regional final to Servite in 1990 and Santa Barbara bested by L.A. Fremont in 1991. The Dons girls finally broke through the regional barrier last Saturday, scoring a 58-48 victory over Santa Margarita. They will take a 30-5 record and an 11-game winning streak into Friday's game.
Andrew Butcher cannot explain how this team has survived the pressure cooker of the post-season play-offs better than any other in the 32 years he has coached girls basketball at SBHS. "We're playing teams that are bigger than us and stronger than us," he said, "and I don't know how we're winning these games."
Maybe he would find it hard to write down a specific formula for success, but some qualities can be discerned.
TALENT: Amber Melgoza, a scintillating 5'9" sophomore, can score from anywhere, like Kobe Bryant when he was healthy. She averages 22.2 points a game, and she rang up 40, 38, and 34 points in recent play-off contests. Desiria Coleman, the team's only senior starter, is a rock-solid point guard; junior Jocelin Petatan is a dogged defender who plays bigger than her 5'6"; sophomore Jada Howard spearheads a press that piles up 17 steals a game; and 5'8" freshman Kimberly Gebhardt has an uncanny ability to come up with rebounds.
TOUGHNESS: Butcher describes Melgoza as "a great competitor to go along with her talent." During a recent game, he said, "She couldn't breathe, like she had asthma. 'I'm okay,' she said. I found out later that another player had hauled off and hit her in the stomach. Amber's response was to go on a scoring binge. They should be nice to her."
TOGETHERNESS: All 14 players on the Dons' roster are made to feel involved and important. "The kids on the bench can destroy a team," Butcher said. "Did you see the Duke bench [in Mercer's NCAA upset of the Blue Devils]? They looked scared and nervous. We're intent on playing with joy." The Dons picked up that theme from Angela Munoz, a player on the 1984 team, who sent Butcher a letter. "I read it to the team. She said to make sure the kids play with joy. Joy is our favorite player, our 15th man."
TEACHING: "We try to do all things correctly," Butcher said. "It's better if you don't get out of bed rather than go out and develop bad habits." His assistant coaches are Jess Martinez, whose 40 years of experience include head coaching at five different schools, and Carlina Gonzalez, a former Carpinteria player. "Carlina is great talking to the girls," Butcher said. "Communication is the main thing. It's more important than practice."
Butcher has been known to communicate in amusing ways. "Coach is a different guy," Petatan said. "He uses a lot of analogies. Once he told us he was in NASCAR and had to fix the tires in 10 seconds. I guess he was telling us every second counts."
Butcher's own high school basketball career could be measured in seconds. He made the varsity in his senior year (1975-76) at Santa Barbara and rode the bench. "I was the worst player who ever played for [coach Jack] Trigueiro," he said, "but I learned a lot about basketball."
He studied biology at UCSB and entered the erstwhile coaching minor program. He and a friend, Scott Blakey, started coaching the Dons in 1982. "They were desperate for somebody to coach girls," Butcher said. Blakey eventually moved on. Butcher, who earns income from property management, stayed, and he's still here, enjoying what he calls "the season that never ends."
By Paul Wellman


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The latest ESRB ratings have come in, and with it a few more Wii surprises for the coming months. A handful of the games have come as a surprise, though many Konami titles (particularly the Castlevania and Gradius series) were expected due to previous VC support. Regardless, retro fans will have a few more reasons to warm up their thumbs and enjoy some classic gaming through the Wii's Virtual Console very soon.
Below are a few notable VC titles:
ESRB Ratings for 2/21/07
- Excitebike - Wii, Rated E (Nintendo of America)
- Zombies Ate My Neighbors - Wii, Rated E10+ (Konami)
- Castlevania - Wii, Rated E (Konami)
- Gradius III - Wii, Rated E (Konami)
- *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Wii, Rated E (Konami)
Note: There are currently two games listed for Wii under the name TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). One is the current Ubisoft published TMNT game to go with the official movie, while the other one is shown above as simply "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turltes," published by Konami. This is the 1989 TMNT platformer, also published by Ultra/Konami.
We'll keep you updated with the latest in ESRB ratings, so be sure to check back on IGN Wii frequently for the next batch.


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(This particular post may be triggering to some people with a history of depression, abuse, or self-harm — please proceed with caution.)
My grandmother has been trying to teach me how to crochet for most of my life. I'd always thought it was just a lame thing that old ladies did to pass the time while watching their soap operas, and I'm terribly impatient, anyway, so I never had much success with it. I can't tell you how many times I heard her wail about not being around forever and that if I didn't learn, no one would be left to pass it down to the children she assumes I'm going to produce someday like her mother did to her, and her mother's mother and so on, so forth. Then both crochet and knitting had an explosion of popularity among the crafting community, specifically with people my own age who figured out how to parlay ancient doily patterns into more modern (and often nerdy) areas, and several friends of mine, like the beautiful Tiny Leviathan and award-winning Crystal of /knit, really managed to pique my interest. Without them, I doubt learning to crochet, knit, or otherwise transform yarn into something fancy using nothing but sticks would ever have made it onto my New Year's Bucket List.
Technically, I wouldn't be sitting here right now, either.
Fear and depression are, sadly, regular guests in my life. The past few weeks have been slowly adding on layer after overwhelming layer of stress, culminating in a sudden need to face one of my past traumas — admittedly one of the "minor" ones, if there is such a thing as a minor trauma, but still enough to send me into an awful spiral to rock bottom. I spent a whole day shuffling around the bedroom, barely able to drag myself to the computer to check emails. Most of the time I was laying in bed sobbing and thinking of how I should just file for divorce and allow The Husband to go on with his life, maybe find a wife who wouldn't be so sad all the time.
Then came the terrifying nothingness, the same state I was in all those years ago when I attempted suicide. I've tried to think of good ways to describe exactly what that kind of mental state feels like, as it isn't quite the near-hysterical sadness most people picture it to be, at least not for me. It's more like lucid dreaming, where nothing seems real and you're completely convinced that anything you do will be free of any consequence. Despair turns from a tumultuous ocean to still waters. You're still trapped on that vast, black sea with no end in sight, but you can't find a reason to scream or flail anymore. It almost feels as if your very existence is running out, like a reel of film nearing the end. This is how it's supposed to be. This is where the end comes.
I don't remember exactly what led me to pick up the crochet. One minute I was slumped against The Husband, listening to him ask me if we needed to go to the hospital so I could be put on watch. "I don't know," I said, and suddenly I was sitting at my desk with a skein of cheap white yarn and an aluminum crochet hook — I must have asked my mother for them at some point, since these aren't things I keep in my craft bin. The first of Naztazia's tutorials for beginner-level crochet was up on the screen and somehow my hands were following along. I counted each chain, each stitch. I kept counting until 3 in the morning, when I had half of a dishcloth finished and a completed TV series on Netflix. The next morning I got up and did it again. I finished the dishcloth, a horribly uneven thing with at least a handful of dropped stitches and haphazard tension towards the beginning. But the rows near the end… hey, they actually looked pretty good.
Everyone who saw it praised me. Several people with crochet experience were surprised at how comparatively well my first project turned out. The Husband held it in his hands for a few seconds, then hugged me tightly and told me he was proud of me. I was caught off-guard by this. Why would he be so proud of something so riddled with mistakes, something I knew for certain I could have done better?
"Because you're still here," he explained. "And because you accomplished something."
I've quickly determined that crocheting is an almost instant cure for any awful feelings I may be experiencing. Stitch, stitch, stitch — my hands are too busy to harm myself. My brain is keeping track of what row I'm on and how many I have left to go instead of how hopeless the future is. It's something I apparently do well, something I can be proud of, something that reminds me that yes, I am capable of things. Being able to touch and squeeze the soft yarn in my hands has a soothing effect, one that brings me back into the here-and-now when I start to drift, something not altogether dissimilar to the grounding therapy I was taught as a way to counter flashbacks from my PTSD. Leaving a project unfinished overnight ensures that I'll have a purpose, a goal for the next day. Even managing to add a single row is a step closer to accomplishing the whole, which is, in and of itself, an accomplishment. In just a few days I've gained new friends from the crochet and knitting communities, all of whom are incredibly welcoming and eager to share tips and tricks, and to encourage me so thoroughly I'm finding it impossible to feel bad when I make a mistake. It's empowering to know that if I mess up, I can just pull gently and undo a little bit of work. Sure, it means a little extra time spent to complete the project, but seeing a bad stitch corrected to a good one, and knowing that I was the one to improve upon it fills me with indescribable pride.
And maybe part of my newfound love of crochet is due to my grandmother after all. If you asked me to picture her in my head, it'd be with a crochet hook and yarn in her hands. As a small child I was always surrounded blankets, sweaters, hats, even doll clothes that she had painstakingly crocheted for me. Even as an adult, I've got at least one fuzzy scarf and a gorgeous Gothic Lolita-style capelet she made for me. My grandmother's house was always full of crocheted works in progress, and it was also a safe haven for me when things got bad at my house, especially after my parents divorced. I remember running for my life through our backyards with my biological father chasing me down, ready to beat me to a pulp (or worse) for some perceived slight. She heard the gate slam and knew what was happening. The back door was already open when I got there. I blew past her into the room I slept in when I stayed there. I grabbed a baseball bat from the closet and locked the door, eyes clenched shut and tears running down my face, waiting for the door to be kicked down, mentally practicing my swing for the kneecaps. Except the door never opened, not until I was the one to turn the knob. While I was hiding, my biological father had discovered that an extremely overweight five-foot-nothing old Mediterranean woman with two bad knees was a more formidable sparring opponent than any cage fighter out there. I moved in with my grandparents shortly afterwards, but the association between my grandmother's house and safety had already been chained onto the association between crochet and my grandmother's house. With every stitch, I feel like I'm back in my room there with the ancient avocado-green shag carpeting, those same four walls that served as my bastion of safety on so many occasions. Nothing and no one can get to me as long as I have the yarn in my hands. I am like my grandmother. I am unstoppable.
I called her yesterday to tell her I'd finally learned to crochet. The only other time I've heard her so happy was when I announced my engagement.
There's still a lot for me to learn. I've got a laundry list of projects I want to make, some of which will undoubtedly end up in my still-empty-and-badly-in-need-of-a-new-style Etsy store once I get a few more of the fancy stitches under my belt. But now I know for certain that I'll be around to practice them.


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October 21st 2018
Mixed Colours
Sale Price: £400.00Price outside EU: £333
Aleksandr Manamis medium weight woven, lowish crotch, striped trousers in shades of taupe, slightly cut-off style. Belt loops. Buttoned fly with placket, buttons with leather strengtheners. 2 side pockets. Single rear pocket on right side with patch flap, with raw edges and button fastening. Folded fabric, articulated knees. Stunning trousers in a brilliant woven fabric. 2-S, 3-M
- 49.5% Cotton 45.5% Wool 5% Nylon
- Mixed Colours
Copyright Corniche (Edinburgh) Ltd ©2018 | website by webwork-uk.com ltd


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Though technically started in 1902 when Michigan steamrolled Stanford 49–0 at the Tournament East-West Football Game in Pasadena, college football bowl games have been consistently played since 1916, with appellations that paid sole homage to such necessities as cotton, oranges, sugar, the sun and, of course, roses.
That stage is shared now. The first slate of this bowl season's games, which kicked off last weekend in Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Boise and New Orleans, celebrated a T-shirt manufacturer, trucking line, motor oil and potatoes.
Though ubiquitous now, the title and presenting sponsorship of these gridiron pageants dates back to 1983, when the Florida Citrus Growers renamed the Tangerine Bowl with their own, broader fruit-category moniker. Of the 35 bowl games to be played through Jan. 6, seven are sponsored by financial services–related businesses, another five by restaurant chains and five by automotive- or transportation-related brands. Two will bear the names of suppliers from the military-industrial complex.
In this testosterone-fueled world of football comes Belk, a 125-year-old family-owned Southern department-store chain with a predominantly female customer base. Not only are they unique in their target demographic but they are also the first general-merchandise retail chain, regional or national, to sponsor a bowl game.
And their game plan must be gaining yardage, as Saturday's Belk Bowl will be the retailer's third iteration and they have recently signed up for at least six more.


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Light Lunch at the Pret a Manger on Lands Lane in Leeds
Pret a Manger, 6 Lands Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6AW.
Initial Impressions
Pret a Manger is a chain of coffee shops specialising in natural food free from additives, especially those that are certified as organic, Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance or similar. The majority of the food is stated to be made fresh daily. They sell a variety of hot and cold food, including sandwiches, baguettes and salad wraps, sushi, soups, salads, cakes and a variety of sweet goods and desserts as well as hot and cold drinks and crisps.
This branch in Leeds, West Yorkshire, is on the corner of Lands Lane and Albion Place and has tables outside and, as well as the downstairs tables inside, has more seating available upstairs. It was visited on a Monday lunchtime and was very busy when entered, with only one table inside completely unoccupied and a number of the outside tables were also being used despite the cold, but by the time the shop was left the level of trade had died down substantially.
The food was purchased to eat in and any food bought to eat inside a Pret a Manger has VAT charged on it, but food bought to take out is VAT free. Food is selected from the hot and cold cabinets as appropriate, and then taken to the counter to pay for, where hot drinks and soups are ordered as well as anything from the croissantiere cabinet.
The Food
The drinks ordered were a regular Latte, which was served in a cardboard cup, and a 500ml bottle of Coca-Cola, which was served with a small plastic glass.
The first food item was the Wild Crayfish and Avocado Salad, which is served in a selaed cardboard box and contains wild crayfish, half a hand peeled and sliced avocado, fresh salad leaves and a small sealed pot of French dressing that can be added to taste. This meal usually comes with an included fork, but there wasn't one. In the store there are stands where plastic cutlery, as well as sugar and various condiments, can be collected, so this wasn't a problem, but it would have been had the salad been ordered to eat out.
The salad contained a lot of crayfish, so was quite good value for money as crayfish can be expensive. Everything in the salad was very fresh.
The second item selected was The New Yorker Bloomer, which is a sandwich in 7-grain bloomer bread containing salt beef, sliced gherkins, English mustard mayo and baby leaf spinach. As with the crayfish in the salad, there was a lot of salt beef in the sandwich and the English mustard mayo was neither too strong tasting nor too hot. Both the baby spinach leaves and the bread were very fresh.
My Review
The total price for the ordered food and drinks came to £12.59, which is on the high end for light lunches, but the quality of the food was above average. The lack of proper drinking containers for diners eating in - still getting disposable cardboard cups and plastic glasses instead of actual glasses or beakers, was a bit of a let down in comparison to some other coffee shops.
Neither the salad nor the sandwich had the salad leaves in them bulking out the meal; instead, there was a good quantity of the primary ingredient in each - the crayfish in the salad and the salt beef in the sandwich. Pret a Manger is a nice change from the normal sandwich shop, and a good choice if you are willing to spend a bit more on lunch.
Similar Places to Eat Out in Leeds
- The Pret a Manger on Bond Street in Leeds
This branch of Pret a Manger on Bond Street in Leeds serves a variety of fresh hot and cold food and drinks.
- The Pret a Manger on Infirmary Street in Leeds
Pret a Manger are a chain of coffee and light eating shops. This one is on Infirmary Street in Leeds.
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