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2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS
A slew of concept cars roll onto car show stands each year, but few earn the distinction of instant hit. The Mercedes-Benz "Vision CLS" prototype was just that kind of car. When it appeared at Frankfurt two years ago, it was one of those rare projects that evoke immediate public acclaim, and Mercedes had little choice but to respond to the clamor and turn it into a striking new addition to the stable of the three-pointed star: the CLS.
The Mercedes-Benz CLS is based on the E-Class platform, but only about 35 percent of the car's components are shared with other models. There's a little SL thrown in and the rest is pulled from the company's extensive parts bins, but this is no cobbled-together "special" conspired one late night by a desperate marketing department. The CLS is not only a prime example of the company's technical acumen, but it has the looks to elevate it onto any list of the most beguiling Mercedes-Benzes ever crafted.
Let's dispel, from the start, any dispute over the car's nomenclature: Sedan, coupe, who cares what a car is called as long as it's appealing and fulfills its promise? In those respects, the CLS allows no equivocation: This swoop-roofed four-door coupe might use its handsome face to draw the eye and inflame our passions, but don't imagine the good looks render moot the qualities that make the CLS a thoroughly modern motorcar. That's not the way Mercedes builds its vehicles, no matter how pretty the wrapping. The company uses every new model to widen the application of its technology, refining systems on the run so as to ensure that the element of "newness" reflects a better automotive experience.
This extends to every layer of the CLS. Even the paint is special. Using nano-technology, the clearcoat layer was impregnated with huge numbers of tiny ceramic particles, increasing resistance to scratches, says Mercedes, by 300 percent over conventional finishes. This virtually self-healing paint covers sheet steel (70 percent of which is galvanized) that includes high-strength alloys (47.5 percent by weight) and a so-called "dual-phase" steel, used around the bumpers and suspension mounts as well as various other areas of the underbody, that was developed for high dynamic strength and resistance to extreme load forces.
The car's structure follows the current Mercedes method for all of its passenger cars, attaching separate front and rear modules to the main body structure. This both simplifies the production process and allows most accident repairs to be completed without the need for such extreme measures as welding in new components or structures. Extensive use of lightweight aluminum alloys and complex plastics are used to help keep the overall weight just below 4,000 pounds. It's also an aerodynamically efficient car despite its size, boasting a coefficient of drag of just 0.31. Helping it slip more easily through the air is a new plastic-clad underbody in place of the former PVC underbody protection. This new approach is more resistant to damage and also reduces under-body turbulence for improved high-speed stability and a quieter ride.
Lower and sitting on a wider track, the chassis is suspended by a front four-link setup that borrows heavily from the E-Class, while the rear multi-link suspension owes its heritage to the SL's axle. Airmatic DC air suspension is standard, of course, along with Sensotronic brakes, ABS, Brake Assist and ESP. In this age of egregiously overpowered automobiles (Mercedes is not innocent of this wretchedly wonderful excess), the 5.0-liter V8 is not a rocket, but it can take the big coupe to 62 mph somewhere between six and seven seconds, depending on how much more expensive you want to make the next visit to the gas station.
A new, standard seven-speed automatic transmission was designed to improve acceleration and mid-range power, lower consumption (EPA figures: 16 City/22 Highway) and increases shift comfo
Model Lineup
The CLS500 ($64,900) is powered by Mercedes' familiar 306-horsepower 5-liter V8, but torque is sent to the rear wheels through a new seven-speed automatic transmission.
For those who want more muscle, extrovert styling and a tauter suspension, the high-performance CLS55 AMG ($86,600) is definitely worth the extra money. Its 5.5-liter supercharged V8 boasts an output of 469 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. It's mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox.
Options include the Lighting package with bi-xenon headlamps, active curve lighting and headlamp washers ($1,220); AMG Sport with steering wheel shift buttons, AMG body cladding, AMG-style 18-inch wheels with larger 255/40 radials up front and 285/35s in back ($4,950); and Premium, with active ventilated and multicontour seats with heating, DVD Nav system, 6-disc CD changer, harman/kardon audio, power rear-window sunshade ($3,650). Naturally, we prefer all of these options.
We've now reached, with destination charge ($720) and gas guzzler tax ($1,300), just over $76,000 and have started to wonder if that curvaceous bodywork and bespoke-level interior is worth the financial reach. We suggest that the decision not be made with a calculator but with your guts, not with rational gray matter but with red-blooded emotion. If the CLS doesn't cause the aesthetic bone in your body to quiver, then there are plenty of other Mercedes-Benzes to satisfy your more mundane expectations.
It seems a shame to dissect the CLS styling into a series of elements, but the words "sleek" and "cut" come to mind when your eyes sweep across the low-slung bodylines. Its "coupe-ness" emanates from the rapidly descending slope of the C-pillar, which blends into muscled flanks pulled taut by the pronounced shoulder line that sweeps back from the rounded form of the front wheel arch. Frameless side windows and large door surfaces give the car a tall-waisted stance that helps from a dynamic arch from front to rear, as though the car has been stretched by the wind. It's hard to believe that a tilt/sliding glass sunroof will fit within the arching roofline, but it does.
A variation on the distinctive noses of recent Mercedes, the front end of the CLS thrusts visually forward with prominent grille slats, a deeply wedged hood and fenders that dive steeply into the distinctive headlamp cluster. At the rear, the deep bumper forms a coupe's characteristically muscular butt, braced by two chromed exhaust pipes.
The CLS55 AMG can be identified by deeper front and rear aprons, sculpted door sills and staggered-width 19-inch AMG five-spoke wheels. Ride height of the CLS55 AMG is nearly a half-inch lower.
Interior Features
Climbing into the cockpit might have been an letdown after the visual pleasure of the exterior, but there's just more goodness inside. The CLS has probably the most inviting interior yet from Mercedes-Benz, looking like it was fashioned in the bespoke halls of its Maybach luxury line.
All four seats are covered in leather. The front seats are 10-way power adjustable with three-position memory. The view forward is dominated by an expanse of burr walnut that stretches almost from pillar to pillar. Finished in a silk matt to differentiate it from the high-gloss finish of the usual Mercedes interior trim, its surface is broken by recessed center air vents, the control panel for the standard Thermotronic automatic four-zone climate control and the main instrument cluster, which, along with each dial, was given a chrome surround. The gauges themselves were covered by a special mineral glass for optimum readability.
The fit and finish is impeccable and looks custom-tailored down to the arrangement of the breaklines indicating the modular assembly of the dashboard. Note how the front passenger airbag door's lines blend perfectly into the upward sweep of the walnut panel. Neat and elegant. Note how the center console carries the chrome and walnut design themes through to the rear compartment in the chrome rings surrounding the transmission shift lever and rear Thermotronic control/air vents and the walnut trim covering the rear console storage compartments. And note how the curve of the center rear console is reflected in the reverse curve of the outboard armrest.
If there's one quibble, it must be with the rear seats, which become unfriendly to those who are much more than six feet tall because of the slope of the roof. As part of our familiarization with the CLS, we were chaffeured across Rome so that we might see how the rich and famous do it. Our six-foot frame felt no discomfort on the winding city streets and would have tolerated a long run to the Amalfi Coast if the opportunity arose. Outward sightlines were, of course, compromised by the shallow quarter windows, but if you're pretending, as we did, that we were glitterati escaping a horde of paparazzi, this was a good thing.
Driving Impressions
It would be easy to sum up the new Mercedes-Benz CLS as an excellent handler, quiet around town, its air suspension scoffing at whatever the road has in mind. We haven't a problem summing up the driving experience in a few rosy cliches: works in the canyons as well as at the opera, or blends beauty and brawn like Angelina Jolie. That sort of stuff. But that would miss the point about owning a Mercedes. It would be blind to one of the many reasons they cost more than most other cars. And that is, the true beauty is in the details.
For instance, it wouldn't do for unpleasant noises to disturb the high speeds at which the CLS is so comfortable. So you'll find such touches as plastic elements in front of the front wheel arches to improve airflow across the front axle links, aerodynamic cladding on the rear axle spring links, and mini-spoilers in front of each wheel to reduce dynamic pressures at the tires and improve airflow around the wheels. Even the windshield wiper system received a dose of new technology. The dual-wiper arms were refined in the wind tunnel, are thus known as "aero wipers," and feature a new mounting system and integrated spoiler for better wiping and less noise.
The ultimate in comfort, however, is knowing you're likely to survive an accident in a new Mercedes-Benz. The technology offered in both passive and active safety systems is astounding in its complexity as well as in its application. The list goes on and on, but here goes: dual front airbags with multi-stage deployment; head protection curtains; roll-over sensor; front and rear side airbags; front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and seatbelt force limiters; electrohydraulic brake system with Brake Assist; Tele Aid emergency calling and communication system; low tire pressure warning system; Electronic Stability Program.
There are, arguably, two areas of driver/machine interface that could be sources of debate: brake feel and throttle sensitivity. Two systems that once relied on cables and levers and tubes of boiling fluid are now electronic agreements between sensors and servos, "optimizing" the driver's flex of ankle and stomp of foot. Pedal feel, for both brakes and throttle, is now tempered by computer, and the "feedback" from these pedals is governed by algorithm, permitting this, forbidding that. This wonderful technology leads to such good things as better fuel mileage and shorter stopping distances, but it also takes some getting used to in order to drive the CLS as smoothly as it looks.
We tried to expose the seven-speed automatic as maybe having one too many gears just to show up the guys down the autobahn, but it behaved more than acceptably, even in full automatic mode. Being empowered to explore the envelope, we got cozy with the manual shift program and the steering wheel-mounted shift buttons. In this mode, the gear is held from the lowest acceptable rpm all the way to redline or during kickdown, and this is the most irresponsible and fun way to reach the car's self-imposed limit of 250 km/h (just over 155 mph).
The Mercedes-Benz CLS is as pleasurable to drive as it is to gaze upon. It's at once a modern product of the wind tunnel and an evocation of the aero-inspired French school of automotive design from the 1930s. Mercedes says it should sell about 30,000 models wordwide, with the majority in America. Buyers might otherwise have opted for the Lexus GS 430, Jaguar XJ8, 5 and 6 Series BMWs, Audi A6, perhaps even Cadillac. A few final questions: Has Mercedes reversed the recent slide from the top of the quality surveys? Will this beauty be of the temperamental sort? Or will it be the fulfillment of every car lover's dreams?
New Car Test Drive correspondent Greg Brown is based in Southern California.
|Model Line Overview
|Model lineup:
|Mercedes-Benz CLS500 ($64,900); Mercedes-Benz CLS55 AMG ($86,600)
|302-hp 5.0-liter V8; 469-hp 5.5-liter supercharged V8
|7-speed automatic; 5-speed automatic
|Safety equipment (standard):
|Electronic Stability Program, ABS, Brake Assist, roll-over sensor, dual front airbags multi-stage deployment, seatbelts with pre-tensioners and seatbelt force limiters, front and rear side-impact airbags and head protection curtains, low-tire pressure warning system, Tele Aid emergency calling and communication system
|Safety equipment (optional):
|Basic warranty:
|4 years/50,000 miles
|Assembled in:
|Sindelfingen, Germany
|Specifications As Tested
|Model tested (MSPR):
|Mercedes-Benz CLS500 ($64,900)
|Standard equipment:
|four-zone climate control, 10-way power adjustable front seats with 3-position memory, multifunction steering wheel, electric adjustable tilt and telescoping steering column, cruise control, 10-speaker audio system with AM/FM/single-disc CD, leather upholstery, hand-polished wood trim, power windows with express up and down, auto-dimming rear/driver side mirrors with right-side park assist, infrared remote central locking system with user-recognition, integrated garage door opener, power tilt/sliding glass sunroof, blue-tinted glass, floor mats, navigation pre-wiring, Mercedes-Benz maintenance system
|Options as tested (MSPR):
|Lighting Package: bi-xenon with active curve lighting and headlamp washers ($1,220); AMG Sport Package: steering wheel with shift buttons, AMG body cladding, 18-inch AMG wheels ($4,950); Premium Package: active ventilated and multicontour seats with heating, DVD Navigation, 6-disc CD changer, harman/kardon auto, power rear-window sunshade ($3,650)
|Destination charge:
|Gas guzzler tax:
|Price as tested (MSPR):
|rear-wheel drive
|5.0-liter sohc 24-valve V8
|Horsepower (lb.-ft @ rpm):
|302 @ 5600
|Torque (lb.-ft @ rpm):
|339 @ 2700-4250
|7-speed automatic
|EPA fuel economy, city/hwy:
|16/22 mpg
|112.4 in.
|193.4/73.7/54.7 in.
|Track, f/r:
|62.7/63.1 in.
|Turning circle:
|36.7 ft.
|Seating Capacity:
|Head/hip/leg room, f:
|36.9/58.0/na in.
|Head/hip/leg room, m:
|Head/hip/leg room, r:
|36.1/57.6/na in.
|Cargo volume:
|Towing capacity:
|Suspension, f:
|independent four-link, AIRMATIC DC full air suspension with level control, anti-dive
|Suspension, r:
|independent multi-link, AIRMATIC DC full air suspension system with level control, anti-squat and anti-dive
|Ground clearance:
|Curb weigth:
|3990 lbs.
|245/40R18 front, 275/35R18 rear
|Brakes, f/r:
|Sensotronic Brake Control, front and rear discs, internally ventilated, ABS, Brake Assist, ESP
|Fuel capacity:
|21.1 gal.
|Unless otherwise indicated, specifications refer to test vehicle. All prices are manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSPR) effective as of September 29, 2005.Prices do not include manufacturer's destination and delivery charges. N/A: Information not available or not applicable. Manufacturer Info Sources: 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES - www.mbusa.com


text:
Claystruder 1.1 by unfold
Its a slightly improved version of the one we use for printing our initial ceramics objects. I made some parts stronger, fixed some errors and enlarged the part where the top section of the syringe sits so that it would fit more brands of syringes. The design is based on the Frostruder by Zach Hoeken from Makerbot but uses one double action solenoid valve instead of two single action ones.
It is important to note that it was never designed with elegance or easy printability in mind, its just a quick and dirty prototype.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Helpful suggestions and criticism
Elabo's website is intended to offer you benefits in an efficient manner, and to be fun to use. If you have any helpful suggestions as to how we might expand or improve the website, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would welcome your participation in the on-going development of our Internet services.
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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
In the wake of the Gaza flotilla incident, anti-Israel activists around the world have worked to boost their message that the Gaza Strip is the most destitute place on earth, where famine and plague rule.
But remarks by Palestinians living in Gaza to international media outlets covering the aid flotilla story paint a very different picture.
"There is no starvation in Gaza. No one has died of hunger," Khalil Hamada, a senior official at Gaza's Ministry of Justice, told London's Daily Telegraph. Sticking to the Hamas party line, he then went on to criticize Israel's embargo as "inhumane" and "brutal."
Since much of the international media ignores Palestinians when they admit Israel isn't so bad, Israel itself tried to counter the misinformation regarding the Gaza embargo by publishing figures showing how much aid enters the territory.
According to figures released by Israel's Foreign Ministry, in the first quarter of 2010 (January-March), 94,500 tons of supplies passed through Israel's border crossings with Gaza. That aid included 40,000 tons of wheat (equal to 53 million loaves of bread), 2,760 tones of rice (or 69 million servings), 1,987 tons of clothes (the equivalent of 3.6 million pairs of jeans), and 553 tons of milk powder and baby food.
And it's not just essential goods Israel provides. During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan late last year, Israel brought 11,000 head of cattle into Gaza, enough for 8.8 million meals of beef.
The problem is that most of these goods never reach average average Gazans. It is a long-time policy of the Palestinian and wider Arab leadership to maintain a victim or "refugee" status among average Palestinians.
Gaza resident Zaed Khadar acknowledged as much in an interview with Germany's Der Spiegel:
"People who are not in with Hamas don't see any of the relief goods or the gifts of money. Hamas supporters get prefabricated housing, furnishings and paid work. We get nothing."
Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates
For Information & Reservations:
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text:
Mark, This leaves out huge swaths of possible site users who either do not have sound cards or who cannot hear or hear well. Good idea though, it would not require someone who would beneffit from the audio to do extra work or to be ghettoed. On May 3, 2006, at 6:56 AM, Mark | Carbon Chip wrote: Has anyone done anything with Flash in conjunction with images? I started some work on a Flash system which automatically played a Captcha audio file that correlated with the Captcha image. I mention Flash, not wishing to incur any wrath :), but just as an augmentation to image based Captchas. Obviously user control isn't there, and to hear the audio again, the user would have to refresh the page, and invariably have a different character sequence read to them, but possible advantages are: 1. Augmentation only, would add to image Captcha method. 2. Lack of Flash player should not impair the procedure. 3. Flash may have a benefit over serving up audio files, in that another application would not need to be opened (eg if .MP3 served instead). 4. Very customisable - would not need to run a server side script to process and stitch audio files together - Flash could handle this, and different voice libraries (of higher/lower quality) could easily be added as required. Drawbacks: 1. Surprise to user - no control, unless directed to a separate page and informed of what is going to happen. 2. Plug-in dependent. I hadn't seen any type of open source server-side audio manipulation tool, and guessed that it would be quite server intensive and require privileges that many site owners would not have, hence Flash. Mark -----Original Message----- From: firstname.lastname@example.com [mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com] On Behalf Of David Poehlman Sent: 03 May 2006 11:30 To: Patrick Lauke Cc: WAI Interest Group Subject: Re: Text-based Captchas I found a really interesting one at: http://www.usps.gov where you change your mailing adddress. If you go to change address, they have a link that will provide you with the string in the clear. On May 3, 2006, at 4:39 AM, Patrick Lauke wrote: > Matthew Smith > Appropriate links are here: > <http://www.smiffysplace.com/blog/archives/169-php-text-captcha> Although the question are fairly simple, entailing nothing more than "common knowledge", it's still possible that some geniune user may not know the answer to them. More generally, users may actually be confused by finding any sort of question not related to the task they're trying to achieve (I want to book a flight, why is it asking me who the President of the US is?), so this may require a careful bit of preamble/legend, perhaps. But regardless, nice one. P ________________________________ Patrick H. Lauke Web Editor / University of Salford http://www.salford.ac.uk ________________________________ Web Standards Project (WaSP) Accessibility Task Force http://webstandards.org/ ________________________________Received on Wednesday, 3 May 2006 11:09:57 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 13 October 2015 16:21:34 UTC


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Figure 2.7 KnowledgeWorks Forward Chaining History
This is obtained by choosing
KnowledgeWorks >
FC History
. If you have just run the tutorial a window will appear of which the left column contains the entry
. These are all the contexts (rule groups) the forward chaining engine has executed (in this case only one). On the right is a detailed breakdown of what happened in each cycle within this context. You will see the rule names listed down the left, and the cycle numbers along the top. The boxes indicate which rules fired. In the last cycle, you will see a black box indicating that the rule
fired, and a outlined box for the rule
. This means that the rule
could have fired, but that
was preferred.
Look at the definition for
(find the source using the Rule Browser) and notice that it contains
:priority 15
. This means that the
rule has higher priority than the
rule (which has the default value of
), and so was preferred. Other methods of conflict resolution are also available.


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The water at a Sicilian phosphorous gypsum stack was so contaminated, no one knew how to purify it – until Ulrich Bäuerle designed his unique treatment plant.
One look at the chemical analysis of the water at the phosphorous gypsum stack in Gela, Sicily, and most water technologists would have cringed in horror: This polluted water showed high salinity combined with elevated concentrations of different heavy metals, phosphoric acid, fluorides and radioactive elements.
Ulrich Bäuerle did not cringe. He saw a challenge and an opportunity. His company, Clear Water Technologies (CWT) of Grafenrheinfeld near Frankfurt, Germany, specialises in difficult water cleaning projects.
"You have to understand the chemistry," says Ulrich Bäuerle. "Most people would look at the water and say it was impossible to purify, but we and our partner company Servizi Technologici per l'Ecologia Srl Uninominale (STE) used our experience and tried one thing and then another until it worked."
"Most people would look at the water and say it was impossible to purify, but we and our partner STE tried one thing and then another until it worked."
Ulrich Bäuerle, Clear Water Technologies
Used in the production of phosphoric acid for fertilizer (see tab "Phosphate: A need to feed"), phosphate often contains naturally radioactive elements, like many other natural rocks. Making phosphoric acid leaves phosphorous gypsum, a by-product. Its disposal in a landfill over time contaminates the accumulated rainwater, says Ulrich Bäuerle.
The phosphoric acid production plant in question operated during the second half of the twentieth century and was closed down in the 1990s for industrial and market reasons. The problems related to the phosphorous gypsum landfill in Sicily, however, remained.
This problem is not unique to Gela. Sites that process phosphate rock to produce fertiliser are present on all continents. According to a 2012 Greenpeace study, the problem is growing fast, since increased mining of phosphates to meet increased demand for fertiliser has meant that the quality of the rock is getting worse. Around 110 million tonnes of phosphorous gypsum is produced every year.
The leachate water at the phosphorous gypsum stack contains heavy metals and radioactive isotopes of uranium, lead, polonium, radium and potassium, emitting alpha, beta and gamma radiation.
A growing problem
The pollution at Gela is a big enough problem to interest the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which says there are 15 million tonnes of material in the 55-hectare, 20-metre-deep phosphorous gypsum stack. In spite of retaining walls that run deep into the clay below, there is still a risk of radiation getting into the groundwater, so surface water is pumped into two huge artificial lakes alongside the site.
In 2010, the IAEA dedicated significant effort into determining how to measure the risk posed by the site and how to deal with the radioactivity in the stack itself. The leachate water generally contains heavy metals and radioactive isotopes of uranium, lead, polonium, radium and potassium, emitting alpha, beta and gamma radiation.
That is where most water engineers gave up, but not Ulrich Bäuerle. He had to build a pilot plant and demonstrated his water treatment solution to a committee of experts, with each of the stages of the process being examined by two independent laboratories.
At the plant operated by CWT's Italian partners STE, the first stage – designed by Ulrich Bäuerle and built by STE – is chemical pre-treatment. The second stage, built by CWT for STE, treats the remaining water physically.
"The pre-treatment removes the bulk of salts, heavy metals, phosphorous and fluoride," explains Ulrich Bäuerle, "while the second stage removes the rest of the dissolved salts and other solubles."
Explosive growth of algae
The pre-treatment involves chemical processes to transform dissolved pollutants into solid particles. These can be separated from the water using some filter clothes in a big chamber filter press. Because biological contamination can create problems in the subsequent process steps, the chemical treatment has to be adapted according to the quantity of algae and bacteria present in the holding ponds.
"What emerges from the pre-treatment is white sludge in solid panels, which can turn a bit green if there are a lot of algae," says Ulrich Bäuerle. "The pre-treatment removes most of all problematic ingredients that would prevent the membrane treatment in the second stage from working well. What emerges is clear water, but with all the soluble and partially radioactive salts still in it."
The solid sludge is returned back to the stack.
How it works
Meanwhile, the water continues on to the treatment plant, which is neatly packed inside a pair of sea containers. That is a speciality of CWT: its plants are assembled in Grafenrheinfeld in standard shipping containers and can be transported and installed quickly wherever they are needed. In the case of Gela, installation of the insulated and air-conditioned containers took just six weeks.
While much of what happens in the treatment plant is secret, Ulrich Bäuerle explains the basic flow (see illustration).
The first filter in the container is a porous membrane –a physical filter that is so fine, it removes suspended solids as well as bacteria and viruses. The water then undergoes reverse osmosis (RO), in which it is forced through three membrane stages. At each stage, the concentrate of pollutants and chemicals will be returned to an earlier stage so that it can be retreated. Ulrich Bäuerle monitors plant operation from his office in Germany using a web-based control interface. He can thus recommend adjustments to the on-site engineer.
99.9 percent removed
At the end of the process, all suspended solids and 99.9 percent of the salts will have been removed. The 13,000 kilogrammes/hour of surface water will have become 10,000 kilogrammes/hour of pure water, 2,500 kilogrammes/hour of RO-concentrate and approximately 710 kilogrammes/hour of chamber filter-press sludge. The concentrate goes back to the stack, with new and patented re-infiltration technology supplied by German IEG Technologie GmbH that avoids a water short circuit, ensuring even distribution of the concentrate across the gypsum volume.
The water is now clean enough to meet the discharge limits set by the environmental authorities and is fed into a nearby stream.
One treatment plant turned out not to be enough, however. Now two identical plants work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a total capacity of 600 cubic metres of water per day.
This was a challenge for CWT. Although it always deals with difficult water, this was a step further than anyone had gone before.
"There are around 20 other locations around the world that face the same problems," says Ulrich Bäuerle, "and until now, nobody has known how to deal with them. Now we want to take [our solution] elsewhere, and we can adapt this experience for use on other equally difficult but different problem sites."
"There are around 20 other locations around the world that face the same problems. Until now, nobody has known how to deal with them."
Ulrich Bäuerle, Clear Water Technologies
Story by Michael Lawton
Photos by Maurizio Camagna
Illustration by Valja Infodesign
We need phosphate to feed our increasing world population. "You have to mine it – that is the only way to get it," says Brian Birky, interim Executive Director of the Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute. The institute is one of the world's top centres of phosphate expertise.
"We need phosphate to feed our increasing world population. Mining is the only way to get it."
Brian Birky, Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute.
There was a time when Florida produced a quarter of all the world's phosphate fertiliser. Mining began there about a century ago. "They just had pickaxes and mules," says Brian Birky, "and so they could only get at the easy, high-quality deposits." Now, the ore that is left is of poorer quality and Florida has fallen behind other mining areas, such as Morocco.
"There has been a lot of research to find out what the safe levels are in terms of environmental impact and public health," he says. Levels of contamination vary widely from site to site throughout the world.
"Here in Florida," says Brian Birky, "we are in the upper quartile for uranium, but the lowest quartile for cadmium." Now, phosphate is mined and processed with a greater awareness of the risk of contamination. Brian Birky admits there is no way to avoid pollution. "You have to tailor best practices to get the levels as low as is practical, and the levels we have are levels we can live well with," he says.
The Clear Water Technologies (CWT) purification process requires 26 different stainless steel multi-stage and end suction pumps, as well as 10 digital dosing pumps for the 10 all-important chemical injection points. CWT Director Ulrich Bäuerle says he chose Grundfos as its full-line supplier because he knew the pumps would run reliably in continuous operation. He was also pleased with the service.
"For the second plant, the lead time was reduced from 16 to 12 weeks," he says. "Sixteen weeks was already short, but Grundfos was able to deliver at 12. The last pump was delivered to the site where it was built directly in to the container."
Grundfos pump types supplied to CWT:


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full size
Product Details
What makes our Italian cashmere so special? Not only do we insist on using the best yarn out there, but each season we develop completely custom colors that you'll find only at J.Crew (we work hand in hand with a centuries-old Italian mill to ensure that each shade has just the right depth, saturation and brightness). This feather-light cardigan has a check that was specially developed as a new take on our favorite dot designs. The small size of the motif gives it a subtle feel (we think of it as a no-pattern pattern) that makes it easy to wear with the matching shell without feeling like you've overdosed on graphics.
Size & Fit Details


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Cinemapocalypse Episode 101 - Best of 2011
Yes kids, it's true. I've decided to hop back on the mic and let my voice be heard. To all those who listened to my show on CBS Radio with Kevin "BDK" McCarthy, I thank you, but it's time for a new chapter in my movie reviewing life. Along with my buddy Dave and producer Disco, we've concocted a plan to bring you a new, crazier and completely uncensored podcast each and every week. After weeks of planning, we can finally share what we've done. Sure, it's a little rough around the edges (the first few minutes were actually supposed to be a test run and we liked it so much we just kept going) and the sound quality is pretty rough (we definitely need another mic), but give us a break. It's the first show. Introducing to all the world: Cinemapocalypse.


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Leaders' Emotional Cues May Predict Acts of Terror or Political Agg...
Analysis of speeches delivered by government, activist and terrorist leaders found that leaders' expressions of anger, contempt and disgust spiked immediately before their group committed an act of violence.
Among leaders of groups that committed aggressive acts, there was a significant increase in expressions of anger, contempt and disgust from 3 to 6 months prior to the group committing an act of violence. For nonviolent groups, expressions of anger, contempt and disgust decreased from 3 to 6 months prior to the group staging an act of peaceful resistance.
That combination seems to be a recipe for hatred that leads to violence...
Anger, contempt and disgust may be particularly important drivers of violent behavior because they are often expressed in response to moral violations, says Matsumoto, and when an individual feels these emotions about a person or group, they often feel that their opponent is unchangeable and inherently bad. [emphasis mine]
We should be on the lookout for this combination expressed against atheists.
Views: 281
Yes. Turn up the propganda, whip up the hostile atmosphere and then strike. I'm sure Lao Tse, Machiavelli and a lot of others have described this. I wonder who will be the first to turn on us?
Excellent article! I had read somewhere else that "disgust" was a dominant trait for right wingers. Makes sense when you consider the roots of homophobia, bigotry, xenophobia have a strong "disgust" component
On disgust and political affiliation
I'd like to redefine "degrading, defiling, and unnatural" behaviors rather than merely ignoring the role moral role of disgust reactions. Rape, for example, elicits disgust for me. Masturbation to porn isn't disgusting, just kind of sad and pathetic because it's lonely. We can reexamine the enculturation imposed on top of our instincts for disgust.
Thanks for the link.
My own reactions to political events that are inconsistent with my views, tend to be frustration, sometimes bewilderment, and always a compulsion to discuss evidence and logic.
When my right-wing cousin encounters events inconsistent with his views, his response seems to be repulsion, brooding anger, and a desire to eliminate the opposition.
Given that Romney already holds many in contempt (his 47% remark), he's pre-loaded for using the presidency as a tool of violence.
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Solution to your Sleeping Problem, Foods to Combat Insomnia
In order to stay alert, healthy and feel fresh every day, you need a good night's sleep. But, unfortunately most of us are not able to get that and as a result falling prey to a number of diseases. This inability to get sleep in night is termed as insomnia. Not getting sleep for one or two nights is fine that could be a result of some personal or professional tensions at times. But, if…Read More


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Accounts Payable (Non-Student)
The accounts payable department is responsible for processing disbursements and issuing checks (with the exception of Payroll) to all vendors for services and supplies provided to Mansfield University, as well as travel reimbursements to all employees. Payments are made in accordance with established Spending Guidelines for Public Funds as well as Travel Procedures and Purchasing Card Policies and Procedures where applicable. Payments are processed every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, except during holidays.
NOTE: Questions regarding STUDENT BILLING and REFUND CHECKS should be directed to the Student Registration and Financial Services.
Vendor payments - Mansfield University requires all vendors to have a completed W-9 form on file before payment can be made. Vendors will be contacted if A/P receives an invoice for payment but cannot process due to lack of a W-9. Periodic updates may be requested to insure the vendor file has current information.
Vendor ACH Option - Vendors have the choice of receiving payment via ACH instead by check. This option improves processing time and the vendor will have their payment in their bank account faster than with the traditional check method. Sign up for ACH payment today!
Payments to a foreign country vendor require special processing based on IRS regulation. Please contact the Accounts Payable department at least 90 days prior to payment being needed in order to have all appropriate and necessary documentation on file for payment.
Any individuals, sole proprietors or partnerships who have provided
services for the university during any calendar year will receive a
1099-MISC by January 31 of the corresponding calendar year if the total amount was at least $600 per IRS rules. Questions
relating to the issuance of these forms should be directed to Denise Hopkins and/or Vicky Wyman.
Timely payments are important to maintain good vendor relations. Our general payment guidelines are as follows:
What Form/ Method Do I Use to Make or Request a Payment?
Please refer to the "What Form/ Method Do I Use to Make or Request a Payment?" document for a comprehensive listing of the types of expenditures that may be reimbursed by the university and the forms/methods necessary to request payments to vendors, university personnel, and students. The document provides links to the appropriate spending guideline and/or university policies.
Travel reimbursements are processed following PASSHE's and Mansfield University's Travel Policies/ Procedures. Please see the Travel page for more information and the forms needed to be completed before and after travel.
A Miscellaneous Request for Reimbursement (MRR) can only be used to make a payment when the use of a Purchase Requisition (PR), or purchasing card is not possible. Use of an MRR is NOT TO BE USED to request reimbursement for subscriptions, memberships, contracted services or any travel related expenses. Before submitting a MRR, the original itemized receipt(s) needs to be attached and all necessary signatures obtained to ensure accurate and timely payment.
- Misc Request for Reimbursement (MRR)
- Vendor W-9
- Travel Forms
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- Miscellaneous Deposit Form
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- Accounts Payable - SAP Procedures (PR, PO, MIGO, etc)
- Purchasing Card Policy & Procedures
- Travel Procedures


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Mayor's Office of Information Services[Record group 60-19-1]
Agency home page.
- Alternative/Former Names
- Philadelphia Computing Center
Mayor's Office on Information Management
Agency Function
- The Mayor's Office of Information Services (MOIS) works in partnership with City agencies to deploy information systems that support and enhance City government operations. MOIS provides these systems through a secure, networked, and state-of-the-art computer architecture maintained by skilled information systems professionals. MOIS coordinates the City's Information Technology activities by providing centralized planning, information systems standards, project management, and computer training and support.
MOIS operates the City's Central Data Center, the City network (CityNet), the Computer Training Center and the Computer Operations Support Center.
- Agency History
- The computer operations of the City originated in the Data Processing Unit (later entitled the Management Information Services Bureau) of the Office of the Director of Finance. This unit was transferred first to the Managing Director's Office and then to the Office of the Mayor in approximately 1983. While in the Mayor's office, the bureau was initially entitled the Mayor's Office on Information Management (MOIM). On 11 June 1986, by Executive Order 8-86, Mayor W. Wilson Goode reconstituted the office as the Philadelphia Computing Center. In September 1993, by Executive Order 11-93, the name was changed again to the Mayor's Office of Information Services (MOIS). The Chief Information Officer is appointed by the Mayor and is responsible for the OfficeÕs operations.
- Archival Records
- 60-19-1.1 Annual Reports (FY 1987- FY 1991)
- Current Records
- Unavailable
Click on a folder or file to return to that level...
PhILS Home
City Agencies
Current Agency Information Sheet. (Text-only version of this page)
Send your comments to firstname.lastname@example.com
Last updated on November 8, 2000


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Sometimes, you just need someone to blame.
And this week…that someone is LeBron James.
A guy in Michigan told the policeman who pulled him over for DUI that LeBron's decision to go to the Miami Heat was the reason he was drunk. No lie.
Of course, since he was drunk, he kinda got the facts wrong. He thought LeBron was with the Boston Celtics — instead of the Cleveland Cavaliers — but it was still upsetting, so that was why he drank too much.
It was clearly LeBron's fault.
Which got me to thinking — we can all milk this situation for a couple of more weeks.
I mean, LeBron milked his announcement — which should have taken all of 30 seconds — into an hour television special. And the ESPY Awards were able to milk it yet again into a hilarious sketch on Wednesday night's show.
Why shouldn't we all blame LeBron for something this week?
Can't pay your rent? It's LeBron's fault. Miss a work deadline? LeBron made me do it. Cheat on your wife? Did you see what LeBron did? I had to, man.
Use your brain. Throw the blame.
It's LeBron's fault.


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Mike Parker gives gratitude to Lenoir County Commissioners for supporting Second Amendment rights.
I am about a month late with this thank you note. Still, being late is better than never saying thank you.
On Feb. 18, the Lenoir County Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution in support of individuals to keep and bear arms under our nation�s Second Amendment.
One of the most historically ignorant arguments offered in favor of gun control is that the Second Amendment is authorizing an official state group, such as the National Guard, to �keep and bear arms.� After all, the amendment says, �A well-regulated Militia,� doesn�t it?
One of the reasons the Second Amendment was added to the constitution � in what we call �The Bill of Rights� � is because some states refused to ratify the U.S. Constitution until they were assured that a declaration of basic rights was going to be added.
Please notice that prohibitions against Congress making laws restricting freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and the freedom of the people to peacefully assemble comprise the First Amendment.
What did those who framed our constitution place in the second place?
�A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.�
When James Madison wrote in favor of adopting the U.S. Constitution in Federalist 46, he made this comment that informs his thinking about the Second Amendment. One of the fears of the states revolved around a standing federal army. Madison said the federal government could only field between 25,000 to 30,000 in its army at that time.
Madison then observed: �To these would be opposed a militia amounting to near half a million of citizens with arms in their hands, officered by men chosen from among themselves, fighting for their common liberties, and united and conducted by governments possessing their affections and confidence.�
Madison�s implication is clear � privately armed citizens could stand in the way of any federal coup that attempted to threaten their liberties. These militias of private citizens would form at the local and state levels.
Another implication: People free to bear arms are citizens. Those not free to bear arms are subjects.
One key issue the resolution points out is that those who have no respect for the law in general are not going to respect gun laws. The only people who obey guns laws are law-abiding citizens. I wonder how many guns used in crimes were obtained legally by those who perpetrated crimes.
In the case of the Sandy Hook school massacre, if the allegations are true, Adam Lanza murdered his mother Nancy, stole her guns, and committed 26 more murders at the school. The 20-year-old could not have purchased the weapons on his own. He obviously had no respect for the laws of the state, of the nation or even of human nature.
As of 2009, the United States had a population of 307 million. As of 2010, roughly 300 million fire arms are in the hands of 100 million gun owners.
According to the FBI, around 16,272 murders occurred in the United States. Of that total, 67 percent (10,886) involved a firearm. The proposition �fewer guns equal fewer murders� seems to make sense until �
We consider data from a 2000 survey published in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology that shows each year civilians use guns to defend themselves or others 989,883 times.
We seldom hear about the positive side of gun ownership. Quantifying how many times guns stop crime is nearly impossible. We rarely hear about the shooters stopped because an armed, off-duty police officer or someone with a concealed carry permit was on the scene.
I am thankful our commissioners stood side-by-side in their defense of our Second Amendment rights. Regardless of party affiliation and political philosophy, all the commissioners understand the need to support and defend our basic state and federal constitutional rights.
Mike Parker is a columnist for The Free Press. You can reach him at email@example.com or in care of this newspaper.


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Re: No Wrapscan
This is a wonderful product.
But please add a few more vi options. In particular, :set nows. I've had that set since the early 1980s and it's confusing me completely not having it.
Everything about ViEmu: news, support, general discussion...
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This is a wonderful product.
But please add a few more vi options. In particular, :set nows. I've had that set since the early 1980s and it's confusing me completely not having it.
Cliff, thanks for the praises. I'll have a look at including that for 2.1, which I'm preparing right now, and I'll let you know.
Thanks a lot for the feedback,
Cliff, I've uploaded 2.0.44 with :set [no]wrapscan ([no]ws) support:
Let me know if it doesn't work as expected.
Best regards,
YAY, thanks.
Off to test it.
Seems to work fine.
Many thanks,
Thanks for letting me know!
- Jon
First let me say that you're my hero! VI is still the best editor on the planet (notwithstanding Emacs heretics who will be purged in fire and blood! ;-) and now being able to use VI commands within VS2005 is just... words fail me as to my euhoria!
Aaaanyway, there seems to be a teeny problem with wrapscan: it doesn't enter #region.
Say I do a simple /search for a pattern and then skip through them with 'n', it will stop when it finds a #region containing the pattern, but a) will not enter it and b) will just stop there and 'n' won't continue.
Funnily enough backwards works partially: 'N' will not enter the region either, but will at least wrap through the document from pattern to pattern, starting at the bottom again, if needs be.
[EDIT: forgot to mention this is 2.0.53]
Last edited by Marakai (2007-01-24 23:50:02)
Thanks a lot for the compliments and for the feedback. I'll have a look at it and try to fix it somehow. It should certainly open up the #region. What language are you working in? It might have something to do with the problem.
I think I won't be able to look at this before next week, but I'll come back to you as soon as I have a chance to look at it (and it shouldn't be too tough to fix).
Best regards and thanks,
Thanks for the quick reply. I'm using C#.
Thanks for letting me know, I'll get back to you as soon as I have some more info.
The "search-not-entering-folded-region" bug has been fixed in 2.0.61, details here:
Beauty! Just installed it, will test in a bit.
Currently installed 3 official extensions. Copyright © 2003–2009 PunBB.
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From yoga retreats in Mexico to grand tours of India, dozens of women-only travel companies have made it possible for women to be in their own element while exploring the world. Not every woman has weeks of vacation time at her disposal or the money to travel overseas, though. Luckily, there are plenty of short, affordable women-only tours in the U.S. that promise empowerment, relaxation, and adventure for a fraction of the cost—and time commitment—that other more far-flung trips require.
Luxury Spa Getaway in Upstate New York
Provider: The Women's Travel Club
Length: Four days
Price: $1,599
The great prices The Women's Travel Club offers for luxury spa getaways (thanks to group discounts) may be what gets you to book a trip with the company, but it's the camaraderie with other like-minded women that past clients say you'll value most once the trip is over. "I have found the groups are comprised of intelligent, motivated women who truly enjoy travel," says Chestnut Ridge, New York, native Eunice Stern, who's been on three Women's Travel Club trips. "If the groups were not small and made up of the type of person they are I would not continue to travel with this organization."
The Women's Travel Club, which has been running trips since 1992, has made spa trips part of its repertoire for years, including visits to some of the country's top destination spas like Red Mountain Spa in Utah and Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires. This March, the Club is planning its first trip to The Lodge at Turning Stone in Verona, New York.
During your three-night stay at the AAA Four Diamond resort, you'll be given full access to the Turning Stone's spa facilities and classes along with a $345 credit for treatments and a $300 KN Karen Neuburger gift bag. With your group, you'll also partake in several Native American arts classes with members of the Oneida Indian Nation, the tribe that operates Turning Stone.
Trip planning
This trip runs March 27 to 30. The $1,599 price covers suite accommodations, daily $124 meal allowance, $345 spa credit and use of spa facilities, native arts classes, and transfers from the Syracuse airport. Airfare and a $35 Women's Travel Club membership fee are extra, but you must be a member for at least three months to avoid a vacation surcharge. Both KN Karen Neuburger and The Women's Travel Club will donate $100 each per booking to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Hiking in Zion and Bryce National Parks
Provider: Adventures in Good Company
Length: Four days
Price: $975
Pampering is nice, but sometimes a girl just wants to get outside and go on a kick-ass adventure. Women high on energy but short on time should look at some of the trips operated by Adventures in Good Company, a women-only tour operator that runs affordable active trips around the world.
"The company plans amazing adventures for low prices, and I trust them," says elementary school teacher Sydelle Hoffman, who's been on five trips with the outfitter so far. "Every trip has been well-planned, balanced (time with group vs. time alone), and enjoyable because the guides really knew the areas we were exploring. I enjoy the very small group interaction of women of all ages from across the continent."
One of Hoffman's favorite vacations was a weeklong hiking trip in Utah's national parks. This year, Adventures in Good Company has created a modified four-day version of that popular tour. Using the Zion Lodge in Zion National Park as your base, you'll go on four- to six-hour day hikes in Zion or Bryce National Park each day, logging about 25 total miles of trail.
Some of the hiking is strenuous, but the views make the effort worth it. "The Angels Landing trail [in Zion] is probably one of the most spectacular hikes I have done in a national park," says wilderness guide and Company Founder Marian Marbury. "The high point is this flat area with a gorgeous view that indeed looks like a good place for angels to land. Another highlight is Bryce Canyon National Park. The brightly colored hoodoos (rock spires) provide a unique and colorful landscape that literally took my breath away the first time I saw them."
Trip planning
This tour starts November 14 and is inclusive of accommodations, all meals, ground transportation, entrance fees, and guides. It starts and ends at the Las Vegas airport.
Shop Like a Local in Manhattan
Provider: Shop Gotham
Length: Half day
Price: $36 to $63
Some people come to New York for theater and the arts; others come to see the sights, to eat at trendy restaurants, or to explore the city's diverse neighborhoods. But for many women, New York's legendary shopping is the main (or even sole) draw.
New York might be a shopper's paradise, but finding good deals on fashionable designs can be a challenge. If you're a Manhattan neophyte, it's easy to wind up wasting your time lost in massive department stores, pondering why anyone would want to spend $50,000 on a dress made of feathers or a diamond-encrusted cell phone.
That's where Shop Gotham comes in. Owned by New Yorker Marla Hander, the company runs two- to three-hour walking tours of some of the city's top shopping districts, including SoHo and the Garment Center. "Insider" guides lead shoppers to hidden boutiques, showrooms, and sample sales where it's possible to nab designer accoutrements discounted by as much as 50 percent. The tours are co-ed, but the vast majority of people who sign up are women.
"Each tour offers something different," says Hander. "In the Garment Center for instance—be it the showrooms or the sample sales we visit—the discounts are a minimum of 50 percent off current-season goods. Visits are to a combination of wholesale showrooms, which give us exclusive access. In SoHo, the discounts are from retail stores (12 specially chosen boutiques) and they run from 10 to 20 percent off. However, we also know and head for the worthwhile sales in the area." Tours include a bit of historical and architectural insight as well.
Trip planning
The two-hour SoHo tour ($36) runs Fridays through Sundays and the three-hour Garment Center tour ($63) runs Wednesdays and Fridays from September through June. Private, custom tours can be arranged with advance notice. Tours include guides and shopping discounts. All other travel expenses including accommodations and transportation are extra. Rates for three-star hotels in Midtown Manhattan in mid-February start around $147 per night. If you're flying to the city, you should check rates at all three New York area airports.
Kayaking with Orcas in the San Juan Islands
Provider: Adventure Associates
Length: Three days
Price: $495
Orca whales, bald eagles, harbor seals, and great blue herons are just a few of the majestic species you can hope to encounter on Adventure Associates' three-day women-only kayaking trips in Washington's San Juan Islands. Adventure Associates has been running women-only adventure tours around the world for 20 years (about half its trips are women-only), but its San Juan kayak excursions are among its most popular, with numerous departures scheduled throughout the spring and summer months.
Alice Gifford of the Seattle-based outdoor outfitter describes a typical morning like this: "Imagine waking up to a crisp dawn inside your cozy tent. After breakfast, we carry our sturdy double-kayaks to the cove and slip off into the still morning water. Harbor seals soak in the sun on exposed rocks and lift their heads to see who enters their sleepy domain. As the current picks up and the ebbing tide gets stronger, porpoises play farther offshore. And if we're lucky, we'll hear a big … PSHWSHH! A male orca whale with a six-foot high dorsal fin is approaching with five or six others behind him. We have had spectacular shows: spy hopping (raising head and body out of the water to have a look around), tail slaps, and even a few breaches. They move quickly, but the water-level experience is like no other."
Based out of a forested camp on the main San Juan Island, you'll learn and practice sea kayaking skills and then venture out each day in hopes of observing some of the Puget Sound's resident orca whales, as well other marine mammals and birds—close and personal. In the evening you'll be able to relax, talk, and eat dinner together.
"For most people, encountering the orca whales of Puget Sound is the biggest draw and the biggest highlight," says Gifford. "However what they often bring home with them is a renewed sense of self, a spirit of rejuvenation and lifelong friendships."
Marthalee Galeota of Seattle, who's been on the women-only kayaking trip with Adventure Associates, agrees: "There is a unique opportunity for camaraderie, conversation, and challenging oneself in a safe and wholesome way. The inner strength of each of us became more apparent—I liked exploring that strength in myself and appreciated a more core connection with other women."
Trip planning
Departure dates are scheduled throughout May, June, July, and August. The $495 trip price covers kayaking and camping equipment and fees, guides, meals, and transfers to and from the base camp. Trips meet at the Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal on San Juan Island. You can reach the island by taking a ferry from Anacortes on the mainland. One-way fares are currently $10.95 per adult, but will go up in the summer months. The closest airport, Seattle-Tacoma, is a 95-mile drive from Anacortes.
Golfing in Coastal California
Provider: Serendipity Traveler
Length: Five days
Price: $1,395
Good news for those who want an active women-only vacation without roughing it: You now have more options, thanks to Serendipity Traveler, a relatively new women's travel company that specializes in small-group luxury getaways. To ensure travelers don't feel like they're on a package tour, company founder Peggy Coonley creates each itinerary and accompanies each of the dozen or so trips Serendipity Traveler provides throughout the year, which range from gastronomy and exploring Tuscany to yoga retreats on Dominica.
"Peggy is a terrific travel planner and organizer," says past Serendipity Traveler client Leslie Sands, a psychotherapist from Massachusetts. "She cares deeply about the women she is traveling with and will do whatever she needs to, to insure that you have a wonderful travel experience."
There are several shorter outings on the company's 2008 calendar, including a new golf trip to California's Monterey Peninsula and Carmel Valley, home to some of the country's finest courses.
"I have collaborated with the local golf pros in Pebble Beach and Carmel Valley to choose courses that will be exciting for varying levels of play and experience," says Coonley. You'll play a different course on each full day of the trip, including the Robert Muir Graves-designed course at Poppy Hills, and the newly restored Pete Dye-designed golf course at Carmel Valley Ranch. A variety of other activities are planned so you can experience the surrounding area, such as a wine tasting at a local vineyard, a Big Sur coastal outing, and a gallery stroll in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Trip planning
This trip runs May 1 to 5. Rates include upscale shared accommodations at Quail Lodge, continental breakfast, lunch at the Lodge at Pebble Beach, and specified additional activities. The trip also includes round-trip transfers from the Monterey Peninsula airport. Airfare and greens fees are extra.
Hiking and Kayaking in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Provider: Wildside Adventures for Women
Length: Four days
Price: $390
After falling in love with backpacking during her six-month journey along the Appalachian Trail in 1996, Melody Blaney started leading wilderness trips for both men and women. In 2001, however, she came to the conclusion that many of her female clients had better experiences in women-only groups, so she co-founded Wildside Adventures for Women with fellow outdoorswoman Patti Landovek.
"It was amazing to me the difference between the dynamics on the co-ed trips and the women-only trips," says Blaney. "Women were much more relaxed and would take risks or challenge themselves in ways they wouldn't do if men were present."
The company now annually runs about 30 two- to five-day backpacking, kayaking, and biking trips around the U.S. designed to help women become comfortable in the outdoors without having to spend a lot of money. "My goal when we started this business was to get women (especially those who can't always afford the high-end trips that are out there) outdoors and exposed to something new," says Blaney. "My ultimate goal is to provide them with the skills they need to go solo or share their skills with a friend."
This June, Melody and Patti will be running a new trip in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains that entails hiking to the summit of Grandfather Mountain, the highest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and kayaking the French Broad River. "From Calloway Peak on Grandfather Mountain we will have incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range. The kayaking portion of this trip will offer us the opportunity to float through the Biltmore estate and to observe wildlife along the way."
Trip planning
This trip starts June 12 in Weaverville, North Carolina. Rates include accommodations, kayaking equipment, two dinners, entrance fees, and guides. Transportation to Weaverville and other meals are extra. The town is a 30-minute drive from the Asheville, North Carolina, airport.
Rafting and Yoga in Utah and Idaho
Provider: Holiday Expeditions
Length: Four days
Price: $915
On its women-only summer retreats, the adventure tour outfitter Holiday Expeditions promises whitewater rafting, yoga and meditation, and chocolate at every meal. Running co-ed rafting and biking trips in the West since 1966, the company led its first female-only rafting trip in 1994. Over the years, Holiday Expeditions added spiritual activities and top-notch cooking into its women's trips, and made the decision to keep groups small and the guides all female.
The concept has worked so well the company expanded its women-only offerings and earned a loyal following of repeat travelers. "Holiday Expeditions has my vote for value, safety, memorable highlights, and diversity, in addition to the best of the best food on any trip I've ever been on," says Salt Lake City grandmother Sandy Dain, who's been on six trips so far.
Rafting is certainly a big part of the experience, but so is learning stress reduction techniques and bonding as a group. Each morning at the campsite on the river bank, you'll practice Hatha Yoga and meditation together. In the evenings, instructors will give and teach massage and other relaxation practices. "These trips provide a safe place to come together, create bonds, share experiences, and enjoy the serenity of the river," says Karen Johnson of Holiday Expeditions. "From the very first meeting the women [going on the women-only trips] bond almost immediately, whereas with a regular trip you usually have families and various smaller groups that take a while to come together."
In 2008, the company plans to run women's trips on the San Juan and Green Rivers in Utah and the Lower Salmon in Idaho. "The San Juan trip in June is the mellowest of the three—low on whitewater but huge in scenic wonderment, hiking, and Indian ruins," says Johnson. "The July trip is the Green River through Lodore Canyon in Dinosaur National Monument. This trip offers intermediate whitewater, plenty of hiking, wildlife, waterfalls and off-river exploration. The August trip is in Idaho on the Lower Salmon, which has the most whitewater and large sandy beaches perfect for yoga and sleeping under the stars."
Trip planning
The San Juan River trip starts June 10, the Lodore Canyon trip starts July 17, and the Lower Salmon starts August 2. Rates include rafting equipment, all meals, ground transportation during the trip, guides, and certified yoga and meditation instructors. You can rent sleeping bags and tents or bring your own. Travel from the trip base is extra. If you're flying, the airport in Salt Lake City is the closet to the departure points for the San Juan River (Blanding, Utah, 310 miles) and Lodore Canyon (Vernal, Utah, 180 miles) trips. For the Lower Salmon, you can fly to the airport in Lewiston, Idaho, a 72-mile drive from the trip start point in Grangeville, Idaho.
Photography Workshop in Savannah, Georgia
Provider: Radiant Vista
Length: Four-and-a-half days
Price: $895 (hotel extra)
With its massive live oak trees draped in Spanish moss, antebellum mansions, hidden gardens, and atmospheric cemeteries, Savannah, Georgia, poses countless opportunities for photographers to capture great shots. It's also a comfortable place for novice female shutterbugs to hone their skills: The old city is easy to get around, the locals are generally friendly and never in a big hurry, and, this April, teachers from Radiant Vista will be running a women-only photography workshop there.
An online "creative community" founded by professional photographers to help educate others about photography, Radiant Vista leads multi-day courses in locations around the U.S. This Savannah class will be their first women-only workshop. "In past workshops we've seen women 'holding back' because of what is perceived as the sometimes competitive nature of men in [the classes]," says instructor Marti Jeffers. "We hope to provide an environment where competition is temporarily shelved in the spirit of community, cooperation, and inspiration for such women who are aspiring to improve their photographic skills, make new friends, and have fun with their photography."
The class is intended to provide a solid foundation for women advancing to digital SLR photography from automatic digital or film cameras. Through lectures, class critiques, and one-on-one attention, you'll learn the technical aspects of using your camera in manual mode and learn techniques for creating quality compositions.
Trip planning
This workshop is scheduled for April 23 to 27. Costs cover course instruction. You must bring your own digital SLR camera. Accommodations, meals, and transportation are extra. The workshop is held at the Promenade Hotel, where workshop students will be offered discount rates. Regular rates in late April are about $199 per night. The Savannah/Hilton Head airport is about a 15-minute drive from downtown.
Learn to Surf in La Jolla, California
Provider: Surf Diva
Length: Two days
Price: $150 (hotel extra)
Eleven years ago, avid surfer Izzy Tihanyi and her twin sister Coco opened the first women's surf school, Surf Diva in La Jolla, California, after being inundated by requests for lessons from female friends and acquaintances. "Taking a lesson [at a co-ed surf school] back then was very intimidating for women, who often found themselves being the only woman in a group of mainly teenage boys," says Izzy Tihanyi. "I think guys just want to get in the water and give it a try. Women want to know the safety basics so that they feel more comfortable in the water, too. They also don't want to be judged or feel too competitive."
Surf Diva has since been joined by numerous other women's surf schools around the world, but remains at the forefront, running private, weekend, and weeklong clinics year-round in La Jolla, as well as Costa Rica surf vacations. The company also has its own line of women's surf gear and apparel.
Attending a two-day weekend clinic with Surf Diva is a good way for beginners to get started. "The conditions in La Jolla are perfect for beginner to intermediate surfers," says Tihanyi. After a discussion about equipment and safety, you'll practice basic techniques on the beach with instructors before moving out to the water. "Once everyone is completely comfortable and confident, the large group is divided into smaller groups and an instructor is assigned to each group, for closer attention," says Tihanyi. You'll try catching waves on your own and one-on-one with an instructor over the next day and a half, gradually working up to more challenging waves and techniques as your confidence grows.
After taking a class with a co-ed surf school that left her "feeling like a drag," Patricia Blake, a doctor from Florida, found that a weekend clinic with Surf Diva was just what she needed to feel self-assured in the water. "I think women feel empowered and emboldened when learning around women," says Blake, who was up and riding waves on her first day with Surf Diva and has since returned to the company with friends for more lessons and weeklong surf vacations.
Trip planning
Two-day clinics run almost every Saturday and Sunday as long as there are at least three participants. Prices include a rental surfboard and wetsuit and instruction. Accommodations and transportation are extra. Prices for stays at the nearby Hotel La Jolla start around $129 per night. La Jolla is a 25-minute drive from the San Diego airport.
Mount Rushmore and the Badlands
Provider: Women Traveling Together
Length: Five days
Price: $1,620
For more than 10 years, Women Traveling Together has worked to create a travel business that feels more like a wide circle of friends who vacation together than a corporation. The tour company has hundreds of members (although membership is not required to go on a trip) and runs dozens of trips each year, ranging from dog-sledding adventures in Minnesota to European Christmas Market tours. While the focus of each trip varies greatly, all share small group size, attentive group leaders, use of carefully selected accommodations, and a good balance of activities.
This summer, Women Traveling Together is planning a new trip to a beautiful but often overlooked part of the country: South Dakota. "This trip is a slice of Americana that many of us have never seen nor experienced," says company Founder Debra Asberry, who got the idea to plan a trip centered around Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills region of South Dakota.
"We've designed a tour that includes Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument (also a mountain carving still in the making), Wind Cave National Park, Badlands National Park, a stay at a resort in Custer State Park, and a visit to a woolly mammoth fossil excavation site," says Asberry. You'll tour each site as a group and have some free time for hiking, horse-back riding, and other activities.
Trip planning
This trip departs August 11. The full tour price is $1,695, but if you pay the $45 Women Traveling Together annual member fee, the price comes down to $1,620. Even if you're not interested in other member benefits, you'll save $30 by joining. The trip cost covers accommodations, airport transfers from the Rapid City airport and ground transportation, admission fees and sightseeing, some meals, and a tour leader.
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Wrigleyville: Past, Present, and Future
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WSI High Priest
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Deep in the heart of Dixie
Posts: 5,276
Originally Posted by
The one thing about Wrigley that I loved was that it was a great place to watch the Bears, hardly missed a game there from 1959 to 1962. You were right on top of the action as they put up those temp seats in right field and the field was really squeezed in running north to south. The end zones were only 8 yards instead of the normal 10.
Hope I didn't bore anyone to death but I do have some fond memories of the dump and thought I would pass them along.
Not boring at all. I mentioned the Clovis Indians in the thread about BP. I wouldn't doubt if that glazed a few eyeballs. I was wondering. Did you happen to go to the Bears/Steelers game on Dec. 6, 1959? Bears QB Ed Brown had a hot hand in the first half but the Steelers mounted a furious comeback in the second half and fell short 27-21.
Originally Posted by
Not bored at all and btw I hope you had a nice one today. Now my turn to put some to sleep.
Mid to late 60's my mother worked near belmont and clark so my father would pick her up from work. Sometimes I would go with him. On occasion if traffic was good my dad would stop at Henrys across from cubs park to get a shake. Sometimes we used to just drive around the park, when games werent being played. On occasion there were houses on waveland or sheffield for sale and the old man used to always say "Who the hell would want to live across the street from this park". I asked how much those houses cost, he said maybe 20-25k but he wouldnt give them 10. A keen eye for real estate the old man had.
The Lincoln Park neighborhood got the gentrificiation ball rolling on the lakefront north side in the late 60's. I seem to recall a Lerner newspaper article around 1973 that quoted a real estate agent saying it was only the beginning of the trend. He complained that he hadn't been ready for the initial wave but he would now be primed to take advantage in the future. In 1966 there was another Lerner paper article that stated if you had a home anywhere east of Western Ave your property values were sure to drop. My how things have changed. Most folks were like your dad and just didn't see it coming. This was in an era when middle class families were rocketing to the suburbs, and that is what most people were seeing. Decline almost everywhere.
Originally Posted by
Nice read, but Koufax had only nine saves in his career, odds are none of them were at Wiggley.
Typical Cub fans, they just don't know the game of baseball.
I was thinking it was a hypothetical written by someone weak in baseball history.
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BDAG/HALOT Bundle
by 7 authors•
Brill, University of Chicago Press 2000–2002
Dynamic Pricing is not available for this product.
The Logos Bible Software edition of A Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. and Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament provides you with lexical information at the click of the button. BDAG and HALOT integrate seamlessly with the rest of your resources. For example, all Scripture references within BDAG and HALOT appear on mouseover and are linked to the Greek and Hebrew texts and English translations in your library. What's more, you can customize your library to automatically open BDAG or HALOT whenever you double-click on a Greek or Hebrew word in any of your resources.
For example, suppose you're studying the Beatitudes in Matthew 5—looking at an English Bible translation and the Greek original side-by-side in Logos—and you want more information on the word μακαριος which is translated "blessed" in the NASB. Right-click on it in the Greek text and select the BDAG lexicon. After reading the entry on μακαριος you can dig deeper into concept of blessedness and its relationship to various Greek words. A search for "blessed" across the entire BDAG lexicon results in 93 occurrences in 58 articles—a wealth of lexical information all available in English instantly as you study!
Perhaps you'd rather narrow the results to occurrences of blessed in extended definitions or formal equivalents only. This excludes occurrences within translation equivalents (e.g., translated quotations from classical sources) and gives a more manageable list of 15 occurrences within 13 articles. Suppose you'd like to find other occurrences of μακαριος in examples the authors have pulled from biblical and extrabiblical sources. What other contexts and translations are given for this word within BDAG? Logos Bible Software can give you the answer in seconds!
Key Features Included in HALOT
- Widely recognized as the standard modern dictionary for Biblical Hebrew
- Contains the exact reproduction of the character and paragraph formatting of the print edition
- Search in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, English and transliterations
- Every "see also" cross-reference to other articles in the dictionary has been made a hyperlink to that article
- Biblical references hyperlink to biblical texts
- All abbreviations are presented as hotspots, activating window pop-ups with the full expansion of the abbreviation
- An indispensable tool for scholars and students in the fields of Biblical Studies, Dead Sea Scrolls, Judaic Studies, Semitic Languages, and Ancient Near East
Key Features Included in BDAG
- Described as an "invaluable reference work" (Classical Philology) and "a tool indispensable for the study of early Christian literature" (Religious Studies Review)
- Contains the new updated American edition of Walter Bauer's Wörterbuch zu den Schriften des Neuen Testaments
- Thanks to Frederick W. Danker's broad knowledge of Greco-Roman literature, as well as papyri and epigraphs, the new BDAG provides a more panoramic view of the world of Jesus and the New Testament
- Incorporates new research, new information, and analyses while rendering translations into contemporary English
- The Logos version of this resource offers unprecedented search capabilities customized to this reference work
Praise for the BDAG/HALOT Bundle
It is without doubt the best tool of its kind that exists in any language, and the present edition is decidedly superior to the earlier ones.
—Jerker Blomqvist, Department of Classics, Lund University
Viewable on screen in the same familiar layout as the print edition—in a fully searchable format that incorporates additional features unique to the [electronic] version. . . . An excellent alternative format with distinct advantages that many will prefer to the print version.
—Michael W. Holmes, in Religious Studies Review, on the Logos edition of BDAG
It goes without saying that all scholars and students of early Christianity will profit from BDAG and will want to own a copy of this fine new edition.
—Review of Biblical Literature, October 2002
Any reader familiar with the second edition (BAGD - 1979...) will notice an immediate and sharp improvement in semantic clarity and presentation in this third edition.
—Review of Biblical Literature, October 2002
This is a beautiful, user-friendly book, and the editor and the publisher deserve to be congratulated on its production. In physical appearance as well as content it marks a change in the tradition of Bauer lexicons.
—Review of Biblical Literature, October 2002
Like its predecessor, Danker will be enormously helpful to students and scholars working with the NT.
—Review of Biblical Literature, October 2002
It is without doubt the best tool of its kind that exists in any language, and the present edition is decidedly superior to the earlier ones.
—Bryn Mawr Classical Review, June 2001
In all, an excellent alternative format with distinct advantages that many will prefer to the print version.
—Religious Studies Review, April 2003
This writer highly recommends one spending the extra cost of adding BDAG to the Scholar's Library. This combination will enhance an already valuable resource.
—Southwestern Journal of Theology, Fall 2003
Product Details
- Title: BDAG/HALOT Bundle
- Authors: Walter Bauer, L. Koehler, W. Baumgartner, M. E. J. Richardson, J. J. Stamm
- Volumes: 6
- Pages: 3,202
- Scripture references appear on mouseover and are linked to the Greek and Hebrew texts and English translations
The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament
- Authors: L. Koehler, W. Baumgartner, M. E. J. Richardson, J. J. Stamm
- Publisher: Brill
- Publication Date: 2000
- Volumes: 5
- Pages: 2,094
The electronic edition of the dictionary published by Brill Academic Publishers, using Logos Bible Software, contains not only the information available in the print edition of HAL, but also provides additional features that enhance its usefulness considerably.
The functionality of the digital format includes the exact reproduction of the character and paragraph formatting of the print edition. Additional functionality includes article-based navigation and extensive, language-aware, searching of Hebrew and related languages, e.g. full-text, Boolean, and proximity searches. Furthermore, every 'see also' cross-reference to other articles in the dictionary has been made a hyperlink. Biblical references hyperlink to biblical texts. As an aid to the reader, all abbreviations are presented as hotspots, activating window pop-ups with the full expansion of the abbreviation. HAL is fully compatible with over 9,000 additional Bibles and reference books in Logos.
Readership: The electronic version of HAL is an indispensable tool for scholars and students in the fields of Biblical Studies, Dead Sea Scrolls, Judaic Studies, Semitic Languages and Ancient Near East
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature Third Edition
- Author: Walter Bauer
- Editor: Frederick William Danker
- Edition: 3rd
- Publisher: University of Chicago Press
- Publication Date: 2000
- Pages: 1,108
Perhaps the single most important lexical innovation of Danker's edition is its inclusion of extended definitions for Greek terms. For instance, a key meaning of episkopos was defined in the second American edition as overseer; Danker defines it as "one who has the responsibility of safeguarding or seeing to it that something is done in the correct way, guardian." Such extended definitions give a fuller sense of the word in question, which will help avoid both anachronisms and confusion among users of the lexicon who may not be native speakers of English.


text:
Motivated by expected deep cuts to agriculture programs by Congress' 'super committee,' in recent weeks, farm/commodity groups and congressional committees have produced a steady stream of agriculture program proposals. The proposals cover a gamut of policy ideas.
For more coverage, see here and here.
Comparing and contrasting the proposals was difficult until a study (see here) was authored by Carl Zulauf, an Ohio State University economist. On Oct. 20, shortly after the American Farmland Trust-requested study was released, Zulauf spoke with Delta Farm Press about the programs' differences and commonalities, crop insurance and "shallow loss." Among his comments:
On how Zulauf was approached to do the study and how long it took…
"The study was due to a direct request from American Farmland Trust. If that hadn't happened, I likely have done something similar in the course of my work for Ohio State (University).
"In terms of preparing the report, I read as much of the publically-available information from the various proposals' authors as I could find or others sent me. I couldn't find any public information for a couple of proposals.
"Also, on Oct. 6, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report that provided descriptions of the proposals. That came out as I was writing my report. The CRS report contained some information I hadn't seen before."
On Zulauf's comparison of the different reports…
"After thinking about it – and there's quite a difference between the proposals in presentation and parameters – I had to decide what perspectives to put into the paper. The final conclusion was there had to be different perspectives or comparisons.
"The first involves the specifics of each proposal, at least as much as you can get on a single page. There's real value in allowing people to see the proposals in a compact form. If you stretch them across pages and pages, the comparisons can be hard to follow."
See Table 1A here.
"It turned out the proposals can be grouped into two types. That lent to compiling two tables of the specifics. The first are proposals with very specific parameters on how they'd design a farm program. Many of these are revenue-type programs but the National Farmers Union farmer-owned reserve proposal also fits here.
"Then there are the proposals that take a more general approach. For example, the proposal by American Farm Bureau, which discusses more broadly what they want the policy to do. The (Obama) administration's proposal also leans that way."
See Table 1B here.
"After putting those two tables together, I thought it would be useful to produce a table that looks at the current provisions or specifics of crop revenue insurance, ACRE and SURE. I didn't want to assume everyone knows what they are – and there's an element in the debate that refers back to existing policy. To be fully informed, you need to understand how current policy works.
See Table 2 here.
"Further, I thought 'this is a lot of information. There's a need to look at the big picture instead of the specifics of the proposals.' That led to the (following) table. Certainly, more elements could be added to this table but I thought these would be of interest to readers.
See Farm Safety Net Proposals table here.
"Basically, I tried to do three comparisons that are linked: One is the specifics of the various proposals; the second is the specific parameters of current programs; the third is broader policy concepts like 'is it a revenue program or a shallow loss program? Is it coordinated with crop insurance?'"
On Zulauf's thoughts once his study was completed…
"I was surprised at the commonality of the proposals despite coming from widely different groups. These groups are diverse and span the context of agriculture. You'd think there would be a truly wide variety of proposals.
"The variety comes at the specifics. But when you look at the proposals from a broader perspective, the commonalities are obvious.
"Out of the 10 proposals (see Table 2), the big majority have an individual crop orientation, a multiple-year benchmark (meaning a key parameter is averaged over several years), farm losses required to receive payments, no fixed-price or revenue benchmark.
"This says that the orientation of policy in the broad scheme contains a lot of commonality.
"Another thing that struck me is these proposals are radically different from proposals you'd have heard even four years ago.
"The notion of 'shallow loss' – was that even mentioned (in the 2008 farm bill debate)? It was, but very little.
"Also, the notion of crop insurance being an integral part of the farm safety net. That's an idea that was in its infancy in 2008.
"These are major changes in people's perspectives of the farm safety net.
"Another thing is that only two of the 10 proposals mention retaining direct payments. And one of them would cut those payments by 50 percent. Four years ago, would you have thought a majority of farm group proposals would have eliminated direct payments?"
Anything new that the majority of proposals contain that is likely to pass?
"I study two main areas: policy and futures and options markets. I've discovered trying to predict outcomes in either of those areas is very difficult.
"So, I don't think I'd look at these proposals and say 'this is what will happen.' That depends on the budget, on other issues. Legislators are willing to negotiate overall, or certainly most, aspects of policy.
"However, I see these proposals as a marketplace of ideas. And the market is a reasonable forecaster.
"What people are talking about is a good indicator of what might happen. But I emphasize the word 'might.'
"From that perspective, what is the policy direction these proposals are suggesting? Taken as a group, you'd tend to say that we're moving towards some sort of a revenue program that addresses 'shallow' and multi-year losses and is coordinated with crop insurance."
Shallow loss
Is the term 'shallow loss' being used the same across all the proposals?
"Not to be academic, but it depends on what kind of definition you bring to 'shallow loss.' To my knowledge, there is no common, standard definition.
"However, at the broad level, I think they're talking about the same thing. That is: the share of losses not covered by crop insurance. To illustrate, a common insurance coverage is 75 percent, which makes the deductible 25 percent. That 25 percent would be the 'shallow loss.'
"A friend of mine prefers 'uninsured loss' instead of 'shallow loss.'
"When you get to the proposals' specifics, you see divergence.
"I provide a range of loss covered and it shows some significant disagreements on the specifics (see Table 1A). For example, the National Corn Grower Association's proposal would cover losses from 5 to 15 percent. The ARRM (Aggregate Risk and Revenue Management)proposal would be at 10 to 25 percent. There's a big difference between 5 and 25 percent – not just on the coverage a farmer would have but on the cost to the federal budget.
"One thing going on here is that these proposals come from different commodity groups. Producers of different commodities buy different levels of insurance coverage."
More on crop insurance in the proposals…
"While some proposals provide specific suggestions (see Table 1B), most address crop insurance broadly by saying 'we want to minimize overlap and the programs need to be coordinated. For example, we want the new shallow loss program to work in concert with crop insurance so there's a wise use of public dollars that will be cost-effective and provide the most assistance to farmers.'
"The implication is that crop insurance is now an integral part of the farm safety net. Philosophically, that's a major shift in farm bill discussions. There was a bit of this discussion concerning the ACRE proposal in 2008. Now, though, it's front-and-center."
Regional differences
Differences between plans originating in the South versus those from farther north...
"When I look at the ongoing policy discussion, I think it's important to keep the 'historical evolutionary time path' in mind. Midwestern crops – corn, other feed grains, soybeans, wheat, etc. – all began to experience significant price increases around 2005. Thus, they've been above the traditional target prices and loan rates for longer than the crops in the South.
"So, Midwestern crop producers have had more experience – more learning, if you will – under a different price and revenue structure. That has colored the debate because they're looking at the world through different experience. Clearly, higher and more volatile prices are part of the current picture.
"For example, if price is at the loan rate, the program is partly covering your risk of lower prices. That has to impact what type of crop insurance you buy.
"However, when price is above the target prices, the program doesn't function in a way to help you manage risk. As a result, you'll look at crop insurance differently.
"I think the South looks at crop insurance differently than the Midwest because they've had different experiences. The Midwest has had longer to deal with risk when prices are above the loan and target prices. That has to account for some of the differences – including typically lower levels of insurance coverage in the South – between the two regions."
Anything else?
"I would like to reiterate that the paper is trying to help readers think about these proposals in a historical perspective. Hopefully it helps tell us about the broad directional shift of farm policy.
"It's very easy to talk about the specifics of proposals. That's understandable because that's what determines the budget.
"But looking at it more broadly, these proposals, as a group, have a lot in common and are substantively different than the traditional farm safety net."


text:
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text:
Kate Winslet
She may have missed out on the "Best Actress Award" but Kate was still a winner in this flowing mint Valentino gown which she accessorized well with Chopard jewelry. The goddess inspired dress was low-key and so was her simple upstyle.
Jennifer Hudson
Ms Hudson had the biggest night of her life as the winner of the "Best Supporting Actress Award" from her role in "Dreamgirls". She wore a sassy auburn Oscar de la Renta gown with a silver mini coat and her jewellery was from Fred Leighton. Her tresses were pinned off to one side and left down in waves for a soft finish.
Cate Blanchett
She may have missed out on her Oscar but Cate looked stunning in her shimmering Giorgio Armani Privé, one-shoulder Swarovski crystal mesh gown. A simple upstyle finished off her look and allowed the beauty to show off her glistening earrings and stunning facial features.
Reese Witherspoon
Reese worked the red carpet in the gorgeous purple ruffled gown by Olivier Theyskens for Nina Ricci and with jewels from Van Cleef and Arpels. Her blonde hair was styled into a long and simple 'do worthy of finishing off such a great ensemble.
Queen Latifah
A simple look for a simply stunning star. Queen's black Carmen Marc Valvo dress added lots of texture to her look and was coordinated brilliantly with her simple, straight caramel colored locks.
Nicole Kidman
The bow may have been a bit much, but there's no denying that this red number from Nicole was one of the most attention grabbing of the night! When you've got a dress this eye catching, a simple hairstyle is all you need and Nicole did a great job with her stylishly sleek locks.