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We already looked at the major inaccuracies with mainstream media coverage of Pope Benedict XVI's comments on condoms. But there are a few other points that are worth sharing. USA Today religion reporter Cathy Grossman nailed it. In her first post on the matter, she wrote:
Pope Benedict's unexpected citing of a rare exception to the church's no-condoms teaching makes no change in Catholicism's teachings on contraception. And he reiterates his controversial comments from his visit to Africa that condoms are not the answer to combating HIV/AIDs.
I just read the Vatican spokesman's clarifying remarks on the matter and he pretty much says just that. You can read that statement here.
But there was one angle that we didn't really explore in yesterday's discussion. The whole brouhaha began because L'Osservatore Romano -- Vatican City's daily newspaper -- violated the embargo on the new interview book of Benedict. They published Italian-language passages, which angered many folks who have been keeping the embargo. Official launch for the book was supposed to be on Tuesday.
I think there's probably a fascinating story about just what in the heck is going on with L'Osservatore. At best, it's known for praising American pop culture (The Simpsons! The Blues Brothers!). But sometimes its news judgment is lacking, to say the least. In this case, part of the media firestorm was due to L'Osservatore's flawed translation of what Benedict had said. For instance, by now everyone realizes that Benedict was apparently giving a particular statement about a male prostitute. But in L'Osservatore, they had him talking about female prostitutes. Tom Heneghan at Reuters tried to make sense of that mess in "Grammar experts needed for pope comment on condoms":
The problem is that the pope gave the interview in his native German, which is not 100% clear on this issue. The key phrase about condom use reads in the English translation: "There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be the first step in the direction of a moralisation."
He explains how different languages have different rules for gender (in the language sense). Benedict used a word with a masculine
casegender. But, of course, the weirdness is that L'Osservatore translated it so as to give the impression he was singling out female prostitutes. Why does this matter?
The difference isn't just grammatical. If Pope Benedict means only male prostitutes, he is speaking about gay sex, which cannot lead to procreation. The Church rejects artificial methods that block procreation, such as condoms and contraceptive pills. Since that doesn't apply between two men, a condom could be condoned even though the Church thinks homosexual sex is wrong anyway.
But if he means male or female prostitutes, then he is allowing condum use for a sex act that could possibly led to pregnancy, i.e. when a male visits a female prostitute. From there, it's only a short step to condoning it in a marriage where the man is HIV-positive. And then the question will arise, why not allow condoms for heterosexuals who aren't infected?
Since he rules out artificial birth control in another chapter, a good grammarian would have to conclude from the context that Benedict does indeed mean masculine gender here in the sexual sense. I'm curious to see how the Vatican explains that its own newspaper used the feminine. Maybe a long essay about Italian grammar?
I'll be posting later this week about the Vatican and press management, but it seems like the Vatican should explain just what was going on with L'Osservatore. The translation is one thing but the broken embargo is another. It's hard to criticize the mainstream media for ignorance when L'Osservatore was the first to flout the embargo, mistranslate the Pope's actual words, and provide no context. It's not that -- contra the implication above -- L'Osservatore is "The Vatican Newspaper," but there is a relationship between the Vatican and the paper.
In related news, one same-sex attracted GetReligion reader shared his personal experience with Catholic counseling on the issue Benedict addressed here. And here's another interesting read about how media representation of Catholic teaching about contraception in general has been flawed for a long time. Jimmy Akin at National Catholic Register also has a post on that point.
George Weigel, who wrote the forward to the book in question, diagnoses the "false assumption(s) beneath the latest round of media condomania": that the Church's teaching on sexual morality is a policy position that can change, like tax rates; that all papal statements of whatever sort are equal; and that a change in Catholic teaching would ever be announced in an interview ("It will perhaps come as a blow to the self-esteem of the fourth estate to recognize an elementary fact of Catholic life, but the truth of the matter is that no pope with his wits about him would use the vehicle of an interview with a journalist to discuss a new initiative, lay out a pastoral program, or explicate a development of doctrine.").
And the biggest problem, he says, is the media obsession with "the notion of Salvation by Latex." He points out that in the last media maelstrom over condoms for AIDS, the media mostly forgot to discuss the efficacy of abstinence and fidelity:
What humane purpose is served by this media obsession with condoms? What happens to the press's vaunted willingness to challenge conventional wisdom when the issue at hand is anything touching on sexual license? It seems to disappear. And one fears that a lot of people are seriously hurt -- and die -- as at least an indirect result. Consciences indeed need to be examined in the matter of condoms, Catholics, and AIDS. But the consciences in question are those of the press.
So even if most readers just went for the headline and will forever be confused about the matter, the press can't help but be aware at how many of them flubbed the story. How should they handle it now? Run corrections and clarifications on the same front-page the other stories ran? Examine their consciences, as Weigel suggests? Or what?


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Overnight, the Houston area is expecting a cold front and more rain which could bring some extra challenges for runners.
The full marathon and half marathon is scheduled for Sunday. The full marathon race will start at Minute Maid Park in downtown Houston, runs through Rice and West University and then passes along the Galleria, Tanglewood and Memorial Park and finishes up back in downtown in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Kevin Vidrine's said this will be his first marathon. He said the mileage has been on his mind a lot, but the pending bad weather may make things worse.
"The wind will make it a lot tougher," said Vidrine. "The rain I'm a little unsure of. Probably pretty cold and miserable being that it will be wet."
More than 25,000 runners signed up to run the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon. The Houston Marathon committee's executive director, Wade Morehead, said safety is their number one priority. He said they'll be monitoring the weather throughout the night before.
"If there were a situation where there were lightning strikes in the area, we would communicate with the necessary agencies and delay the start," said Morehead. "Cancellation is not a possibility in our minds right now based on the weather forecast we're showing."
Fore Vidrine, he said he'll be here rain or shine unless told otherwise.
Ever since the race started in 1972, officials said not once has it been postponed or canceled.
Copyright 2013 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

subset: commoncrawl


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Understanding the role of alcohol in contemporary British society is key to targeting the harms it can cause. This conference presents some of the latest developments in alcohol research. It will address issues such as:
Why alcohol harms are unevenly spread across different social groups.
How policy interventions impact on different communities.
Methods for the identification and prevention of harmful drinking.
The role of science in developing alcohol policy.
Speakers include Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Professor Keith Humphreys and Baroness Finlay of Llandaff.
The conference will be of interest to academics, journalists, policymakers, service providers, and anyone interested in understanding the key debates in alcohol research today.
Book before 10th January 2013 for early bird delegate rate.
Find more information here.


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Thanks for the info. I would definately be interested in any mods you come up with, I recently purchased 4 arduino mini pro boards for about $3.50 each on e-bay. Please keep me informed.
Thanks again.
Scotch TL901 Laminator PCB etching heat modifications
Watch and Discuss the latest show here
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8 P | 10.61 MiB
single link (rar password: javpop.com)
8 P | 10.61 MiB
single link (rar password: javpop.com)
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Global Commercial Shredders Market 2018 Research Reports emphasizes on key industry analysis, market size, growth and extensive industry dynamics with respect to with respect to drivers, restraints, opportunities, pricing structure and latest trends in the industry.
Request for the sample report here:
In the introductory part, Commercial Shredders Market Research Report offers optimum market insights of the Commercial Shredders industry, which comprises definitions and a diverse range of statements, Commercial Shredders market chain structure and pricing analysis. The global Commercial Shredders market analysis further provides pioneering landscape of market along with market expansion history and key development involved in the industry. The report also features comprehensive research study for high growth potential industries professional survey with market analysis.
Top Manufacture analysis of Global Commercial Shredders Market:
Global Commercial Shredders Market Segmentation:
By Type
By Applications
Service Industry
Geographical segmentation of Commercial Shredders Market involves the regional outlook which further covers United States, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia and India.
As the report proceeds further, it covers the analysis of key market participants paired with development plans and policies, production techniques, price structure of the Commercial Shredders market. The report also identifies the other essential elements such as product overview, supply chain relationship, raw material supply and demand statistics, expected developments, profit and consumption ratio.
Inquire before buying here:
The report encompasses 15 chapters to precisely capture the Global Commercial Shredders Market:
Chapter 1, to characterize Commercial Shredders market structure, product scope, industry survey, business opportunities, market restraint, industry driving force;
Chapter 2, to analyze the top key players of the Commercial Shredders, with sales, revenue, and cost structure of Commercial Shredders, in 2017 and 2018;
Chapter 3, to evaluate the aspiring situation among the key players, with sales, revenue, and market share in 2017 along with 2018;
Chapter 4, to provide the Commercial Shredders market in terms of region, with sales, revenue and market share for each region from 2013 to 2018;
Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, to identify the regional and country analysis with respect to sales, revenue and Commercial Shredders market share;
Chapter 10 and 11, to showcase the Commercial Shredders market segmentation by type and application, in terms of sales, market size and growth rate of each segment, from 2013 till 2018;
Chapter 12, Comprises Commercial Shredders market forecast, market segmentation including region, type and application in terms of sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2025;
Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to unveil Commercial Shredders sales channel, distributers, traders, dealers, research findings, conclusion, appendix and data source;
We also provide report customization services according to your special requirements. We would be glad to assist you!


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It's been almost 6 months since I picked up the Samsung T929 (Memoir), the first subsidized 8 megapixel cameraphone in the US, and I'm overdue for a review :)
Over the years, I have tested a plethora of 5 megapixel devices – the i-mobile 902, the Nokia N95/N95-3/N95-4, the Sony Ericsson K850i, the Nokia N82, the Motorola ZN5 (ZINE), the Nokia N96, the Nokia N85, the Nokia N79, and more recently the Nokia N97…
There are now several 8 megapixel cameraphones available from Samsung (Pixon, Memoir, INNOV8, Omnia HD), LG (Renoir, Viewty Smart), Sony Ericsson (C905, W995), and Nokia (N86 8MP) – not to mention upcoming 12 megapixel units.
I'm getting a Nokia N86 8MP review unit soon, but so far I've only played with the Samsung i8510 (INNOV8), the Samsung i8910 (Omnia HD), and of course the Memoir.
For over 4 months I used it as my primary imaging device, and 1000+ pictures later, I have to say that the Memoir features the best camera I have ever enjoyed on any phone – and by a wide margin!
Continue reading "Samsung T929 (Memoir) camera"


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What do you think? What steps are you taking to make sustainable food choices?
Reducing meat and dairy consumption, eating fewer fatty and sugary foods, and wasting less food are the three changes to consumption habits that will have the biggest impact on making diets more sustainable, says a new report.
The Sustainable Development Commission was asked by the UK government's Department for Environment, Food, Rural Affairs to map out evidence on sustainable diets and look at synergies and tensions between public health, the environment, social inequalities, and economic stability.
It points out that no one, universal definition of a sustainable diet exists, but that this must be addressed for the government to meet its goal of a sustainable, secure and healthy food supply. Until now, the healthy eating element has been centre stage.
For the full article, click here. And to read the report, click here.
Protected: Agenda
3 years ago


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Magic Mirror
Magic Mirror - online casino
Do you love to lose yourself in other worlds? Then this fantasy game will fulfil your every desire! Breathtaking animation together with a background of extraordinary sounds transport you into a world full of magic.
How To Play
Magic Mirror is a 5-reel/10-line game. Stakes range from €0.10 to €20.00.
Clicking on the SPIN button starts the game after deducting the stake. The AUTOSTART button (lower left-hand side) can automatically start games using the same stake.
Malfunction voids all plays and pays.
There are a total of ten paylines. Each payline is calculated after the reels have come to a stop. All wins are paid in accordance with the pay table. All pays are for wins on lines played on consecutive reels read left to right. The highest win will be paid for each payline. Coinciding wins on different paylines are added together to give the final result.
All wins and winning combinations are shown in the pay table.
WILDCARD Symbol
The wildcard symbol (MAGIC MIRROR) substitutes any symbol to create the highest win on a payline. Here, MAGIC MIRROR is additionally marked with WILD.
Scatter Symbol
MAGIC MIRROR is also the scatter symbol and is exempt from the payline rule. MAGIC MIRRORs can win independently of their position on the reels; only the number of MAGIC MIRROR symbols counts for a win.
Scatter wins are paid in addition to other winning lines.
Free games
In addition to the cash winnings from the pay table, up to 50 free games can be won with three MAGIC MIRRORs.
At the beginning of the free games a special symbol is automatically selected, which, in the event of a winduring the free games, expands to cover all positions on the reels.
Stakes do not have to be paid for the free games. Your effective bet for these free games is your actual bet when you won the free games. The resulting winnings will be shown in the pay table.
- Choosing the betting stake
The stake per line can be set using the -/+ buttons on the stake coin; the maximum stake (maximum bet per line, maximum lines) can be selected by using the MAX BET button. The total stake is deducted from the DEPOSIT account and displayed under BETS.
Starting the Game
- Single Start
On clicking the SPIN button the reels start to spin and a single game begins.
By clicking the AUTO START button the automatic start mode is called up. The games begin to start automatically, one after the other. AUTO START is stopped by clicking the button again.
The number of games to be played using AUTO START can be set using the ◄/► buttons. The current number of online casino game still to be played will be displayed between the ◄/► buttons.
Calculating the Reel Positions
Winnings are paid out according to the pay table. The pay table can be called up by clicking on the PAYTABLE button. All pay-lines are individually calculated. Only the highest win per line counts. Wins on different lines, as well as Scatter wins, are added together to give the final result.
- The Reels come to a standstill
- On Winning
- Gamble
- Collect The COLLECT button cashes in your winnings. The winnings are booked to the WINS counter and then credited to the DEPOSIT account.
The reels automatically stop one after the other from left to right.
On winning, apart from simply cashing in the winnings, there are two possibilities to gamble (the card gamble and the ladder gamble).
The card gamble is chosen by clicking the GAMBLE button marked with club symbol, and the ladder gamble is selected by clicking the GAMBLE button marked with a ladder symbol.
Risk Possibilities
- Card Gamble
- Ladder Gamble
- Partial Collect
- Collect
- Pay Table
With the card gamble you bet on the colour of the next card. You can bet on red or black with the corresponding buttons. Winnings are doubled if the colour of the card drawn matches your choice. This is possible until a maximum of € 140.00 (or currency equivalent).
With the risk ladder gamble you click on the GAMBLE button (with ladder symbol), and either step up the ladder or land on the '0' step. This is possible until a maximum of € 140.00 (or currency equivalent).
By clicking the COLLECT HALF button the stake for the card gamble will be halved or, in the case of the ladder gamble, lowered by one step, and the saved stake will be booked as winnings.
The COLLECT button cashes in your winnings. The winnings are booked to the WINS counter and then credited to the DEPOSIT account.
By clicking on the PAYTABLE button the pay table is called up. Clicking the button again returns you back to the game. The pay table displays the winnings for the current stake.


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Skyscrapers, apartment complexes, stadiums, night clubs, factories, stores. Each day, millions of people safely live, work, and play in these buildings due to the measures engineers take to protect them from fire. Although these engineers perform a largely invisible task, their role is vital.
Fire protection engineers are in high demand, well paid, and make the world a safer place. A career in fire protection also provides the opportunity for world travel and work in a variety of environments.
Bob Burkland, Owner, Healey Fire Protection, Inc.
Experts in the behavior of materials subjected to fire, they evaluate architectural and structural elements for such properties as flammability, smoke, and toxicity.
Because their work is so important, engineers with knowledge of fire can find employment in a wide variety of industries in this rapidly growing global field. They can work in fire protection consulting firms, large fire departments, fire equipment and systems manufacturing, research and testing laboratories, the insurance industry, forensic investigations, government agencies (including the Department of Defense and NASA), hospitals and health care facilities, and the entertainment industry.
Lawrence Technological University's Graduate Certificate in Fire Engineering is the only program of its kind in Michigan. The certificate combines coursework on the fundamentals of fire engineering with in-depth study of fire behavior, fire testing methods for materials, fire modeling as a tool for enhancing structural integrity and predicting failure probability, and fire safety in structural analysis and building design.
At LTU, you'll have access to state-of-the-art equipment and labs such as the Center for Innovative Materials Research, which features a fire chamber that can reach a temperature of 2300°F, and the Structural Testing Center, which features a cone calorimeter, smoke density chamber, radiant panel flame-spread apparatus, and a gas analyzer. You'll also have the opportunity to participate in realworld research with professors who are actively involved in materials research and are familiar with building codes and standards for structural performance under elevated temperatures. Faculty members have received grants for testing the component flammability of U.S. Army vehicles and determining the structural strength of concrete under fire conditions.
Another benefit is Lawrence Tech's signature "theory and practice" approach to learning. You'll enjoy small classes taught by professors with industry-relevant experience. LTU also provides the flexibility demanded by busy professionals, with convenient evening classes.
|GCFE Courses:
|Cr. Hrs.
|Fundamentals of Fire Engineering (Every Fall)
|Fire Dynamics (Every Fall)
|Fire Testing Methods for Materials (Every Fall)
|Fire Modeling (Every Spring)
|Structural Analysis and Design for Fire Safety (Every Spring)
|Total Credit Hours
Admission into the Graduate Certificate in Fire Engineering program is competitive and requires the demonstration of high potential for success based on the following:
- A bachelor's degree in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, architectural engineering, or a closely related discipline from an ABET-accredited college or university. Individuals with an undergraduate degree in a non-engineering field may be admitted to the program, but may be required to take additional coursework.
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
- Application for Graduate Admission
- Official transcripts of all college work
- Professional resume
Applicants who do not meet all requirements may be admitted on a provisional basis upon review of the Engineering Graduate Admission Committee.
For more information, contact Lawrence Tech's Office of Admissions at 800.225.5588 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
For specific questions about the Graduate Certificate in Fire Engineering program, call the program director Keith Kowalkowski at 248.204.2583.


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MCUA Supports CFPB Efforts to Delay Credit Insurance Prohibition
The Missouri Credit Union Association (MCUA) filed a letter strongly supporting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposal to delay the June 1, 2013 effective date of the prohibition on creditors financing of mortgage credit insurance premiums.The letter was filed on May 24, 2013.
The Mortgage Loan Originator Compensation Rule Supplementary Information is unclear as to whether adding any monthly charge for credit insurance to the loan balance—a common practice for credit unions whose data processing systems add the insurance premium amount to the loan balance on a monthly basis—is prohibited. Changing these systems would be all but impossible before the June 1, 2013 effective date in the current final rule.
In addition to the proposal to delay the effective date of the provision, the CFPB will issue a second, more substantive proposal in June, which is expected to seek public comment on both the scope of the prohibition and its new effective date. The proposal may also contain clarifications on the rule's applicability to transactions other than those in which a lump-sum premium/fee is added to the loan amount at closing.
MCUA reinforced its appreciation to the CFPB for it's willingness to listen to the views of credit unions and work with them on this issue.
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What is an ASD? An Overview for Adults
Autism is a lifelong developmental disorder that affects the way a person communicates and relates to other people. The range and intensity of disability varies widely, but all individuals affected by autism have difficulty with communication, learning and social skills. There is no definitive cause or cure, but specialized interventions can give individuals affected by autism the tools they need to lead full and productive lives.
Discussion Forums for Adults with ASD
Ability Online is a free Internet community where adults can meet others who are living with the same challenges and make friends from all over the world. Adults with autism are invited to join the Geneva Centre for Autism Adults Forum.
For more information or to register, please see http://www.abilityonline.org/
For more information or to register, please see http://www.abilityonline.org/
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Veteran Strategist Polet to Lead CEO Summit
Our facilitator for the CEO Summit is David Polet, director of Voice of Customer for CUNA Mutual Group. Since 2009, Polet has worked in the Voice of Customer area since 2009, becoming director in 2012. Beyond overseeing the execution of research, he is responsible for bringing the voice of customers, both credit unions and members, to CUNA Mutual Group. He is also in charge of facilitating a number of credit union advisory panels with credit union leaders and CUNA Mutual Group business leaders as well as helping to bring CUNA Mutual Group's research to credit unions through white papers and speaking engagements.
Polet joined CUNA Mutual Group in 2007 as a project manager in the sales and marketing areas. He worked on a number of product, sales and marketing related projects. In 2008, he won the CUNA Mutual Group's Values in Practice Award, which spotlights extraordinary employees who consistently exceed results and demonstrate corporate values. Outside of work, he participates in leadership positions within the Madison community.
Prior to joining CUNA Mutual Group, Polet was in implementation services for Epic Systems in Madison, Wis., from 2003 to 2007. He handled project management and project coordination for large-scale medical software implementations. Along with a bachelor's degree from Calvin College, he has earned a master's degree from The Catholic University of America, as well as a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2000.
The CEO Summit offers great facilitation and work sessions. If you'd like to bring another person from your credit union, we'd love for them to attend. Can't make it? Send your COO or the person responsible for setting and implementing your credit union's strategic goals.
CEO Summit starts on July 9, 2013 at 7 a.m., and it ends on July 10, at 9 p.m. It will be held in the luxurious Camden on the Lake, which is located at 2359 Bittersweet Road in Lake Ozark.
The Missouri Credit Union Association (MCUA) is offering tiered pricing for eligible credit unions, and is available on the event page.
Visit the event page to register today!
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Regular price
Who doesn't love a bit of ethnic? We're crazy for these modern Kilim flatwoven rugs. There are everywhere, with modern interpretations offering bold, graphic patterns in everything from pastel shades to neon and even monochrome.
is a hand embroidered kilim. It has the blue color as sign of royalty. Its colors comfort you and so your guests. Your rooms will look just great by placing the Blue Berber kilim. It can be placed on the floor or hanged on the wall as a background. It is known for the good quality of wool that makes it last longer and resist the cold and the heat.
Dimensions : 154 cm x 257 cm = 5.0 ft x 8.4 ft to be exact
Ref# MAS18-37
Shipping methods : Fedex, DHL " Door to Door " for your convenience 2-3 Business days after handling time anywhere in USA.. and Canada … Europe … AsiaAll our shipments are insured for lost.—Store sales and Wholesale offers—————You have limited budget ? enjoy 10% offuse this 10% coupon + free shipping : WELOVEYOUCUSTOMER All wholesale offers Will have free shipping , bellow is wholesale % offers list.15% off , Minimum order to qualify is 2000$ , Coupon : WHOLESALERUGS1525% Minimum order to qualify is 4000$ , Coupon: WHOLESALERUGS2530% Minimum order to qualify is 7000$ , Coupon: WHOLESALERUGS3035% Minimum order to qualify is 10000$, Coupon: WHOLESALERUGS3545% Minimum order to qualify is 20000$, Coupon: WHOLESALERUG45——— Store Policy——————We gladly accept exchanges 1 day of delivery,We Accept exchange for another item of the same value. In case you want a more expensive item customer must pay the differenceWe don't accept returns or cancellations—Contact us——Urgent matter :firstname.lastname@example.com : US 607 241 510whatsap : +212662243355 Moroccan or + 1607 241 5120 US
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You register for the webinar here. Legacy's usually take place on a Wednesday, and because of the different time zones, although they hold them during the North American afternoon, that translates into 7pm for me. They send you a special link, which you click on at the start time, and a webinar usually lasts about 1 1/2 hours. It is in their (free) archive on the web and can be watched again and again as many times as you like FOR A WEEK. Then it goes into their paid archive and you have to be a member of their special site at familytreewebinars.com.
Here are some of the topics in April:
by Thomas MacEntee. 4/2
Get Organized Using the FamilyRoots Organizer Color Coding System
by Mary Hill. 4/9
Using Probate Records to Solve Genealogical Problems
by Linda Geiger. 4/11
Genealogy Evidence and Online Family Trees
by Karen Clifford. 4/16
The Homestead Act of 1862
by Thomas MacEntee. 4/23
Google Glass and Family History
by Devin Ashby. 4/30
The ones in May:
50 Year View — What I've Learned Climbing My Family Tree
by Tom Kemp. 5/7
Photo Apps for Android, iPhones or iPads
by Maureen Taylor. 5/14
I Had My DNA Tested — Now What?
By Ugo Perego. 5/21
Using Tax Lists to Solve Genealogical Problems
by Linda Geiger. 5/28
and a link to a PDF which you can download which tells you all the Legacy webinars during the year: HERE


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For Claudia Purita, "One Woman" isn't just a catchy name for her vineyard. It's her way of life.
"I'm in the field pruning and leaf-pulling, tying, whatever needs to be done," Claudia said. Aside from the help she gets from her daughter Gabriella Purita, who manages the business end, and one field hand, Claudia handles everything from planting to bottling on her own. "I know every single vine by heart," she said.
Claudia has been working this way since she planted the first of her 35,000 vines in 2004, and she hasn't slowed yet. "I start at 6 or 7 o'clock in the morning, and I work continuously, until I cannot see in the vineyard, and then I go and work in the cellar."
"She does not stop," Gabriella said. "We had a huge snowstorm, and she had pneumonia and was is in a snowsuit outside working the vineyard the whole day."
Claudia moved to the U.S. from Filadelfia, Italy, in 1990. "I didn't want to leave Italy," she said, "but when you fall in love, you just follow your heart." After working in the restaurant industry with her husband, Frank, for several years, she decided to get back to her roots, literally. The Puritas bought their 28-acre potato farm in Southold and Claudia began growing grapes. "We fell in love with this piece of land, because it reminded me of home," she said.
Having grown up on a farm, Claudia learned about farming and making wine from her father. "We used to grow everything, and everything that came to our dinner table was produced by us—from bread to wine," she said. "I remember working the vineyard and seeing how my dad used to do it, but it wasn't commercial scale like I'm doing here. But as big as it is, it's not too big, because I'm doing everything myself."
Unfortunately, growing grapes on Long Island is a bit different than in Italy, and Claudia lost her first crop to disease. "It was my first few years and I was growing the same way that we grew on my dad's farm," she said, "but I wasn't aware of what was involved with the humidity we have over here." Not one to quit, Claudia made the necessary adjustments and released her first successful vintage in 2007, but the weather wasn't finished with her just yet.
"Dealing with Mother Nature is not always an easy task," Claudia said. A hailstorm destroyed a second crop in 2009, and then she lost another two-thirds of a crop in 2011 from Hurricane Irene. "We're dealing with Mother Nature, so there's nothing we can do," she said. "We can do whatever we can to prepare and prevent, but storms like Sandy or Irene—we cannot stop them."
Despite the challenges, Claudia has managed to grow One Woman Vineyard into a successful, award-winning winery, and she's done so in a sustainable fashion. "I don't use herbicide in my vineyard, and I try to be as sustainable as nature will allow me to be," she said. "I try to protect the land and the water to help us live a better life."
"We use more organic practices," Gabriella said. "We try not to use any super harsh chemicals and all of our vines are tended to by hand."
Gabriella takes care of the business end of things, and she's just as dedicated as her mother. "It's beyond obsession," she said. "I handle, quite literally, every aspect after the wine is bottled." In addition to running the tasting room, she also manages sales and marketing, events and the vineyard's website. "With her story, it's hard not to want to help her."
Gabriella is still in school for business, but learned how to manage things at a young age. "My parents were always in the restaurant industry," she said. "So, I've been very lucky to observe all of the ins and outs."
While Claudia and Gabriella manage different aspects of the business, they share the same dedication, modesty, and passion for their work. "I think the spotlight should be on the wine," Claudia said. "My reward is when I see people really enjoy a glass of my wine. I see that smile, and I want some more."
For more information about One Woman Wines & Vineyards at 5195 Old North Road in Southold, call
631-765-1200, or visit www.onewomanwines.com.


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I was amazed when I visited the beautiful function venue, Eensgezind, just outside Durbanville. This venue is surrounded by water and green scenes of nature. Ananda and Wilhana made me feel right at home with their warm hospitality when we discussed the re-design of the Eensgezind website.They both wanted the Eensgezind website to portray not only the information needed, but to display it with a design that will catch the eye with a bit of French flair. Not a wonder that Eensgezind has been voted the number 1 reception venue in the Western Cape by the ABIA Awards.Visit the Eensgezind website at www.eensgezind.co.za.
Also watch this space for their mouth-watering menus to be blogged about, soon.
Tags: website re-design, websites, web development, graphic design
Clients | Websites
Xplore Studio designed and printed posters for a nursery school based in Durbanville.
It was so much fun to play around with colourful kids art!
Contact Xplore Studio for any of your graphic design needs, such as posters, flyers, brochures, vouchers, invitations etc.
Tags: graphic design, posters, menu, day planner
Graphic Design
Tent Calendar SpecialPut your name on your client's desk 365 days of the year!Includes 500 full colour calendarsProfessional, custom design and printing includedWe also do:Logos, branding, graphic design, websites, online marketing and printingContact email@example.com for this special offer
Advertising | Promotions
Stephane recently approached Xplore Studio to design and develop a new logo and website for Spirit Bride Ministries.Throughout the project we shared in Stephane's journey of hope and commitment. The end product being a joyfull celebration of our God's unwaivering love for all his children.Pay www.spiritbride.co.za a visit and Share in Stephane's dreams of joy.
Tags: logo, website, design
Clients | Corporate Identity | Websites
The name, "I Just Love It", says it all. Once you see the unique paintings and sketches created by Lindi Scholts, you would just love it!
Lindi specializes in custom made painting on canvasses and also pastel sketches from photos. Lindi amaze me with her passion for life, warm personality and energy that can be seen from a distance. Her talent not only stops there, she makes the most beautiful crocheting beanies for babies, kids and adults.
Lindi approached Xplore Studio to design a logo for her business as well as a website for her products. We could easily portray her designs, since she knew exactly what she wanted. The website was developed so that she can upload her latest product details and photographs.
Have a look at the I Just Love It website at www.ijustloveit.co.za and join her facebook page here for regular updates.
Graphic Design | Websites
For more info visit our website, www.xplorestudio.co.za and read our blog for some of our latest work.
Recently, we have done a lot of outsourced contract work which aren't on our portfolio, but can be shown on request.
If you are interested in future project updates, please sign on to our newsletter or like our Facebook page here.
I've met Danie van Niekerk when attending a photography course at La Rochelle School of Photography. Danie specializes in customized one-on-one training programmes, using your own camera. While training, Danie mentioned he wanted to update his existing website. (read our article on when a redesign is necessary on your website)
Xplore Studio managed to come up with a unique design which stand out amongst typical other websites. Danie further made our lives easier by presenting us with extraordinary images to work with. Go have a look at the newly designed website at www.larochelle.co.za and seriously consider a life-changing photography course with Danie. Contact details available at www.larochelle.co.za
It was so much fun working on the website for Baa Baa Black Sheep! Apart from the divine cupcakes we've been treated with, specially baked by Adel Canning herself, designing and developing a custom made website for Baa Baa Black Sheep was exciting from the beginning to the end.Adel and her mom seems to have many hidden talents. From cupcakes (yum-yum) to making unique and beautiful decor items, linen, clothing and accessories for children. Xplore Studio helped in designing and developing a website that displays all the different products they offer. By simply adding the items to your shopping basket and following a few steps, you are a few clicks away in treating your little one with something special and beautiful.Be sure to view their website at www.baabaablacksheep.co.za and their facebook page because these girls are going to make a huge success of their business!
Xplore Studio has designed double-sided business cards for Glynn Moolman from BioFitBody.
Glynn, a registered biokineticist started his own business last year and we have also helped him with the design of his logo and website.
Please contact us, to "xplore" any of your design needs for your business.
Kerry-Lyn approached Xplore Studio to help her with a very basic, but still professional looking website for her photography business. We've added in a little flair with the damask background, but kept the focus on the photographs which displays in a faded effect on the page. The logo is set in an elegant font which can be used as a watermark on her photos, as well as on her business cards. Kerry-Lyn is based in Durbanville and focuses on photos of sport, wildlife, flora, landscapes, travel, macro, décor and family.Please visit her website at www.kerrylynphotography.co.za
Please send your queries or any info directly to firstname.lastname@example.com and we will contact you as soon as possible.
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Backbeat (1994)
Stephen Dorff, Sheryl Lee, Ian Hart
The Beatles' early days as a struggling bar band are depicted in this fact-based drama, which tells the little-known story of original member Stuart Sutcliffe (Stephen Dorff). A close friend of John Lennon, Sutcliffe acts as the band's original bassist, accompanying them on their early gigs in Liverpool and Hamburg, Germany. The friendship becomes strained, however, when Sutcliffe falls in love with a German art student and starts to question his commitment to the band. With Sutcliffe's story taking center stage, the stories of the more famous Beatles largely fade into the background. The exception is John Lennon, thanks to a fierce performance by Ian Hart, who had previously portrayed the musician in the more intimate and provocative The Hours and the Times. While Backbeat does provide a new perspective on the band's beginning, and numerous opportunities for a group of modern rock musicians to recreate the band's energetic early performances, it never makes Sutcliffe's story seem more than a footnote to musical history.


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Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Rodgers left to rue Carroll departure
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admitted he would never have let Andy Carroll join West Ham had he known the Merseysiders would not get a replacement, following his side's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal.
Rodgers did not have an orthodox forward on the bench for Sunday afternoon's home defeat by Arsenal and is now left to consider moves for the likes of Michael Owen, who is out of contract, and Didier Drogba, whose contract situation at Shanghai Shenhua could allow him to sign for another club.
"No," said Rodgers when asked whether he would have let Carroll leave, then "very" when quizzed about how confident he was of getting in a replacement. And for the likes of Owen and Drogba? "I can't say no. Any player I believe can improve the squad, I will look at," he said.
Sunday's result condemned Liverpool to their worst start to a season since 1962-63. It was hardly the best way to mark Bill Shankly's 99th birthday, although Rodgers tried to put on a brave face.
"I am not here to cry," he said. "Whatever has happened, I wouldn't change it for the world. I am very proud to manage this club. I have made it my life."
With Fabio Borini and Daniel Agger failing to take decent chances, Liverpool were ripe for a counter-attack. The sucker punch duly arrived when Santi Cazorla led a break that ended with Lukas Podolski driving home the Gunners' first goal of the season.
Liverpool briefly threatened a reply after half-time, but ran out of ideas and the excellent Cazorla profited from Pepe Reina's mistake to wrap up victory.
"Everybody understood quickly Cazorla would not need six months to settle," said Gunners boss Wenger. "Lukas Podolski is deadly when he gets a chance. I am pleased for them."
Wenger also confirmed he was hopeful Jack Wilshere would be fit to make a comeback within a month after over a year out with an ankle injury.
"Jack is looking very good in training. We will give him a month. Then he should start to play," he said.


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No. 1 LSU Blitzes Auburn, Sets Up Bama Showdown
LSU Sports Interactive
BATON ROUGE -- In front of the second-largest crowd in Tiger Stadium history, No. 1 LSU scored three touchdowns in a span of 2:24 early in the third quarter to double its 21-3 halftime advantage and earn its biggest victory in the 46-game history with No. 19 Auburn, 45-10, on Saturday.
The announced crowd of 93,098 witnessed another dominating performance by the home team, as LSU (8-0, 5-0 SEC) was led by starting quarterback Jarrett Lee who finished 14-of-20 passing for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman running back Kenny Hilliard added two touchdowns while wide receiver Rueben Randle caught five passes for 106 yards including two long touchdowns.
Michael Ford led LSU with 82 yards rushing on 12 attempts while Hilliard totaled 65 yards and became the sixth LSU player to score a rushing TD this season.
Wearing its Nike Pro Combat all-white uniform, LSU outgained Auburn, 393-248, improved its turnover margin to plus-15 in 2011 and improved to 8-0 for the first time since 1973.
LSU will take a week off before traveling to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face No. 2 Alabama on Nov. 5, the first regular-season matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2 since 2006. The game time should be announced this Monday.
In a series known for close games, this one was an exception. LSU never trailed and Auburn rarely threatened the vaunted LSU defense which had 10 tackles for loss including six sacks and forced two turnovers with an interception returned for a touchdown.
LSU's next-largest margin in the history of the series that dates to 1901 was 28 points, 35-7 in 1972.
Auburn (5-3, 3-2 SEC) was led by sophomore quarterback Clint Moseley who was 12-of-20 passing for 145 yards. His lone interception was returned for a touchdown by LSU cornerback Ron Brooks to cap the third-quarter onslaught.
Moseley was sacked six times for minus-44 yards. Of Auburn's 248 total yards, 106 came in the fourth quarter while the game was out of reach.
Running back Michael Dyer had a team-high 60 yards rushing on 12 carries. Onterio McCalebb added 32 yards rushing with a touchdown and three catches for 38 yards. The rest of the Auburn team combined for 27 net yards rushing.
Playing without three sophomores -- starting running back Spencer Ware, starting cornerback Tyrann Mathieu and top reserve corner Tharold Simon -- who served a suspension, the Tigers barely blinked.
LSU took the opening kickoff for only the second time in eight games. Lee guided the Tigers offense to a flawless opening drive that included a 23-yard pass to Odell Beckham Jr. to the Auburn 23. A 10-yard connection to Randle setup the Tigers ground attack, as Ford gained 10 yards in two carries and put the Tigers at the 9-yard line after he was brought down by the face mask.
Behind guard Will Blackwell and tackle Chris Faulk, Hilliard scored his first touchdown with a powerful 9-yard run, and LSU led 7-0 with 11:13 remaining in the opening quarter.
Auburn countered with a drive into LSU territory, as Moseley eluded pressure from defensive end Lavar Edwards and dumped off a pass to McCalebb, who rolled off 25 yards along the rigth sideline to the Auburn 43. Dyer gained eight yards on a pair of carries to cross midfield, but defensive end Barkevious Mingo came untouched from the left side for a 6-yard sack that forced Auburn to punt.
With Blue and then Hilliard lined up at running back, LSU gained a first down on its next drive, but two of Lee's three incomplete passes in the first half led to Brad Wing's first punt.
Auburn's lone scoring drive of the half was aided by a late-hit personal foul on Eric Reid when McCalebb took a handoff from backup quarterback Kiehl Frazier and escaped containment for a 20-yard scamper. The elusive running back gained 10 more on a reverse to the LSU 21 before Moseley found wide receiver DeAngelo Benton for 12 yards to the 9.
LSU would allow no further advancement, as Mingo again raced untouched and chased down Moseley for a 15-yard sack. After an offsides penalty on LSU, safety Derrick Bryant added a 7-yard sack on third-and-goal from the 19. Cody Parkey's 42-yard field goal attempt was true, and Auburn was on the board trailing 7-3 with 1:26 left in the first quarter. The points were the first allowed by LSU in the first quarter since the Mississippi State game on Thursday, Sept. 15.
The teams traded four punts and managed only two first downs before LSU again cracked the scoreboard with long touchdown passes on consecutive drives.
With Jefferson under center for his second series of the second quarter, LSU got a break when the quarterback was hit by Ford on a fake handoff and dropped the ball in the backfield. After recovering, Jefferson was tackled by his face mask to give LSU a first down at the Auburn 45.
Two plays later, Jefferson backed away from pressure and lofted a perfect 42-yard touchdown pass to Randle, who had juked cornerback Demetruce McNeal near the line of scrimmage and outran safety Robenson Therezie down the right sideline. Randle caught the pass in stride at the 18 and went unchallenged into the endzone.
With 5:00 left in the half, LSU increased its lead to 14-3.
Auburn had a chance on LSU's side of the field again when the homestanding Tigers had only 10 men on the field when they allowed a 25-yard catch and run by Trovon Reed. A late hit on Brooks put Auburn at the LSU 38.
However, LSU again stiffened on its end of the field, as Edwards pressured Moseley and linebacker Tahj Jones broke up a pass on a first-down wheel route. Cornerback Morris Claiborne made a one-on-one tackle on second down, then Brooks and Edwards blitzed to foil a screen pass and keep Auburn out of field goal range.
With LSU at its 14 and only 3:06 remaining before the half, Lee took over at quarterback. A 10-yard run by Hilliard opened up the LSU attack, allowing Lee room to connect with Beckham Jr. for 13 and 6 yards to the LSU 46. A pass interference call on third down helped LSU gain a first down to the Auburn 48. On third-and-8 from the 46, Lee lofted another perfect pass that Randle ran underneath at the 5 for his second touchdown in the final five minutes of the half.
LSU took a 21-3 lead to the lockerroom, as Jefferson and Lee combined for 11-of-14 passing for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
The scoring didn't stop when LSU returned from the break. The Tigers scored on the next three times they touched the ball, including 10-yard catch and dive to the pylon by Russell Shepard with 9:51 left in the third quarter. A 27-yard catch by tight end Chase Clement and a 23-yard run by Ford setup Shepard's second touchdown catch in as many weeks.
LSU led 28-3 when its special teams setup another touchdown. Auburn returner Tre Mason was separated from the ball by Reid and Jarvis Landry at the Auburn 22. Jones recovered for LSU to setup the short-field score.
Hilliard rolled for 25 yards to the 6-yard line on a counter and scored his second touchdown of the game from the 1. LSU extended its lead to 35-3 with 8:12 remaining in the third quarter.
On the ensuing possession, Auburn was faced with second-and-11 from its 22. Rather than blitz Moseley from the right side of the formation, Brooks -- who started in place of Mathieu -- dropped into coverage, cut in front of Benton at the 28, intercepted the pass and ran untouched for his first career touchdown.
LSU led 42-3 with 7:27 remaining in the quarter.
LSU tacked on a 36-yard field goal by Drew Alleman with 13:56 left in the game, while Auburn scored its only touchdown of the game with 2:22 to play -- a 2-yard run by McCalebb.
The victory set the stage for LSU's first No. 1 vs. No. 2 meeting in the regular season. Below is the history of the matchup of the AP poll's top two teams:
|No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the AP Poll
|Dec. 5, 2009
|No. 2 Alabama def. No. 1 Florida
|Jan. 8, 2009
|No. 1 Florida def. No. 2 Oklahoma
|BCS Title
|Dec. 6, 2008
|No. 2 Florida def. No. 1 Alabama
|Jan. 7, 2008
|No. 2 LSU def. No. 1 Ohio State
|BCS Title
|Jan. 8, 2007
|No. 2 Florida def. No. 1 Ohio State
|BCS Title
|Nov. 18, 2006
|No. 1 Ohio State def. No. 2 Michigan
|Sept. 9, 2006
|No. 1 Ohio State def. No. 2 Texas
|Jan. 4, 2006
|No. 2 Texas def. No. 1 Southern Cal
|Jan. 4, 2005
|No. 1 USC def. No. 2 Oklahoma
|Jan. 3, 2003
|No. 2 Ohio State def. No. 1 Miami (Fla.)
|Jan. 4, 2000
|No. 1 Florida State def. No. 2 Virginia Tech
|Jan. 4, 1999
|No. 1 Tennessee def. No. 2 Florida State
|Nov. 30, 1996
|No. 2 Florida State def. No. 1 Florida
|Jan. 2, 1996
|No. 1 Nebraska def. No. 2 Florida
|Jan. 1, 1994
|No. 1 Florida State def. No. 2 Nebraska
|Nov. 13, 1993
|No. 2 Notre Dame def. No. 1 Florida State
|Jan. 1, 1993
|No. 2 Alabama def. No. 1 Miami (Fla.)
|Nov. 16, 1991
|No. 2 Miami (Fla.) def. No. 1 Florida State
|Sept. 16, 1989
|No. 1 Notre Dame def. No. 2 Michigan
|Nov. 26, 1988
|No. 1 Notre Dame def. No. 2 USC
|Jan. 1, 1988
|No. 2 Miami (Fla.) def. No. 1 Oklahoma
|Nov. 21, 1987
|No. 2 Oklahoma def. No. 1 Nebraska
|Jan. 2, 1987
|No. 2 Penn State def. No. 1 Miami (Fla.)
|Sept. 27, 1986
|No. 2 Miami (Fla.) def. No. 1 Oklahoma
|Oct. 19, 1985
|No. 1 Iowa def. No. 2 Michigan
|Jan. 1, 1983
|No. 2 Penn State def. No. 1 Georgia
|Sept. 26, 1981
|No. 1 USC def. No. 2 Oklahoma
|Jan. 1, 1979
|No. 2 Alabama def. No. 1 Penn State
|Jan. 1, 1972
|No. 1 Nebraska def. No. 2 Alabama
|Nov. 25, 1971
|No. 1 Nebraska def. No. 2 Oklahoma
|Dec. 6, 1969
|No. 1 Texas def. No. 2 Arkansas
|Jan. 1, 1969
|No. 1 Ohio State def. No. 2 USC
|Sept. 28, 1968
|No. 1 Purdue def. No. 2 Notre Dame
|Nov. 19, 1966
|No. 1 Notre Dame tied No. 2 Michigan State
|Jan. 1, 1964
|No. 1 Texas def. No. 2 Navy
|Oct. 12, 1963
|No. 2 Texas def. No. 1 Oklahoma
|Jan. 1, 1963
|No. 1 USC def. No. 2 Wisconsin
|Nov. 9, 1946
|No. 1 Army tied No. 2 Notre Dame
|Dec. 1, 1945
|No. 1 Army def. No. 2 Navy
|Nov. 10, 1945
|No. 1 Army def. No. 2 Notre Dame
|Dec. 2, 1944
|No. 1 Army def. No. 2 Navy
|Nov. 20, 1943
|No. 1 Notre Dame def. No. 2 Iowa Pre-Flight
|Oct. 9, 1943
|No. 1 Notre Dame def. No. 2 Michigan


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About internships: it's all about the employer this summerJanuary 28, 2010 at 6:24 pm | Posted in Summer internships | 1 Comment
Tags: career centers, economy, employers, getting an internview, interns, interview, students, summer intern, summer internship
As career counselors, we always have our students' best interest in mind. We work on behalf of the student first and support employers only as a means for getting our students connected to them. That is why this blog post is a tough reality check that we need to get clear on. This week's blog is about an important message that we need to send to all students seeking a summer internship. The message?
"This summer, it is about the employer not the student."
In the past year, the role of the intern has shifted dramatically. The employer mindset has gone from viewing the internship as a form of corporate community service to a method for accessing free labor. In a thriving economy, employers want to invest in the future workforce by providing opportunities for young emerging professionals to learn about their industry and professions. However, when times get tough, employers want to simply stay alive long enough to get through the recession.
As an intern, your student needs to adjust to this new mindset and approach internships differently than in the past. Instead of approaching their summer internship as an opportunity to learn about a profession or industry, they will need focus on pursuing an internship that helps them contribute their skills in a way that generates value and substance for the employer. As a result of that contribution, they will no doubt learn about the profession and industry but the goal should be contributing not learning. Employers in this tough economy are trying to make their dollars go farther and their people produce more. Internships help them accomplish both. A student that is committed to helping them get more for their money and do more with less is the one who gets the offer. The one who is looking to learn about the profession or industry will be sitting at home. It won't matter how smart or good they might be, this summer, the winners will be the ones who recognize the needs of employers and embrace them. It is our responsibility as career counselors to help them shift their mindset and prepare appropriately for interviews.
So what does this mean for your students? Well for starters, we can coach them on what to say when asked in an interview, "Why do you want this internship?" We can help them understand that the focus needs to on what they can do for the employer. Do not talk about how this is a great opportunity for them to learn about the industry and profession. While that might also be true, it is not the most important reason to highlight in the interview. What's important to the employer is their ability to take initiative and produce quality work as a member of their team.
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The Home of Fashion Film and Live Fashion Broadcasting
Report by Stephanie LaCava on 30 September 2012.
The clothes, too, were extra special, an evolution on seasons past with clashing silk prints showing that erogenous zone just between the breasts and above the belly button, and transparency paired with heavy layering.
Guess who was at Haider Ackermann. http://t.co/MSrQHZj1
@haiderackermann so stunning the photographers are shouting bravo
The press pit have started shouted 'Bravo' and applauding even before the show has ended! #Haiderackermann #outstanding #PFW
@ErinWasson en el front row de #HaiderAckermann. Estas son las claves de su irresistible look http://t.co/ka3lswYO http://t.co/YSXFsihS
The Man I Love by Lena Horne echoes across the runway electrifying the atmosphere at Haider Ackermann #PFW
Models on the Haider Ackermann runway walk slowly and purposefully in kimono inspired tailoring, sheer dresses over pants & obi belts #PFW
@karliekloss chez #haiderackermann #pfw http://t.co/drKBzZ6Y
Tilda swinton @Haiderackermann #pfw
The invite #haiderackermann http://t.co/AApJ8iVz
WPTexture Touch. The essential product to create today's ground breaking hair look. #PFW @haiderackermann http://t.co/LlatlYtq
This is a jaw dropping look. Only Eugene and his amazing team could create it.#PFW
@haiderackermann http://t.co/m0aerWV2


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AMERICUS - For the second-straight year, the Georgia Southwestern men's golf team has earned an invitation to participate in the NCAA postseason.
GSW will join four other Peach Belt Conference programs at the upcoming NCAA Division II South/Southeast Regional in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. The Blue & Gold, currently ranked 22nd in the country, will join No. 3 USC Aiken, No. 9 Columbus State, No. 14 Armstrong and No. 15 Georgia College as PBC members competing in the NCAA's regional play.
The regional, which consists of 10 teams each from both the South and Southeast regions, will take place Monday, May 6 through Wednesday, May 8. The event will be contested at the par-72, 6,928-yard El Campeon golf course at Mission Inn Resort & Club and is being co-hosted by the Sunshine State Conference and the Central Florida Sports Commission.
First-year head coach Darcy Donaldson finds his squad in a very competitive regional. The South/Southeast portion of the tournament bracket finds seven of the top 10 programs in the country, including No. 1 Nova Southeastern and No. 2 Barry. The three-day, 54-hole regional will feature one round each day. Action will get underway at 7:30 a.m. each day.
The Hurricanes had another outstanding year as the team took home numerous awards. These accolades were highlighted by the team garnering two of the eight All-Conference First Team selections. Seniors J.P. Griffin and Nate Gahman brought home the honors. Matthew Whittaker was named to the All-PBC Tournament Team as he led the Hurricanes at the conference championships.
GSW saved its best golf for the spring season as the squad captured the 17-team Spring Kickoff Intercollegiate hosted by Lincoln Memorial University & Wingate University Feb. 11-12 in Fleming Island, Fla. A few weeks later, the 'Canes finished third at the 18-team Bearcat Invitational hosted by Lander University in Greenwood, S.C. Southwestern closed out the regular season with its best showing in school history at the Peach Belt Conference Championships as the Hurricanes finished in fourth place at the 11-team event.
Griffin, a three-time PBC Golfer of the Week, earned his second All-Conference selection. The Glennville native has finished under par in five of his 27 rounds in 2012-13, including a pair of 3-under 69s. Griffin was a PING All-America Third Team member last spring.
Gahman also earned his second All-Conference honor after being named to the squad in 2010-11. The Leesburg native currently ranks fifth in the PBC in scoring average at 73.6 through 27 rounds in 2012-13.
GSW is just one of 80 teams participating in the NCAA Tournament, but they will look to finish in the top seven of the twenty teams in the regional in order to qualify for the finals, May 20–24 in Hershey, Pa.
For a look at the current NCAA Division II rankings, click here.
To see the entire NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships field, click here.
Live stats for the South/Southeast Regional will be available through the following link.
(Below is a photo - courtesy of the Peach Belt Conference - of the 2012-13 All-PBC golf team. J.P. Griffin is the fourth golfer on the right. Nate Gahman is the third golfer on the right.)


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Your Promise, Backed By Ours
Diamonds mean many things in life – a promise, an investment, an heirloom, a token of our most precious memories. We want you to feel confident that the diamonds you select today will be there for all your tomorrows. It's our promise that through all of life's changes, our commitment to you will stay the same. Read more


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How to get to St.Pölten:
St.Pölten is the capital city of Lower Austria, in only 60 kilometer distance of Vienna, the Capital City of Austria. You can easily arrive St.Pölten either by car, by train or by plane.
Traveling by Car:
Coming from direction of either Salzburg or Vienna, you need to take the Motorway A1
Arriving by train:
check out the train schedule at www.oebb.at
Taking the railway from the west of Austria, you need to travel via Salzburg to St.Pölten. If you travel from the South, you go via Vienna directly to St.Pölten. Check out all connections at the homepage. It's easy and pretty quick to get around in Austria.
Duration of travel:
* St. Pölten-Vienna: 0:25h
* St. Pölten-Linz: 1h
* St. Pölten-Salzburg: 2:00h
* St. Pölten-Passau: 2:10h
* St. Pölten-München: 3:45h
* St. Pölten-Budapest: 3:45h
Arrving at Vienna Schwechat Aiport:
The Airport is in about 100km distance from St.Pölten.
Flight schedule Vienna Airport >>
From the Airport you can go directly to Vienna within a few minutes via "CAT train". "Wien West" railway station, is the station from which you take a train directly to St.Pölten- which doesn't take any longer than 50 minutes.


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Sony unveils new PlayStation 4 console
Sony Corp unveiled its first video game console in seven years on Wednesday that will let users stream and play video games hosted on servers, hoping the move will help stem user losses, pre-empt the next version of Microsoft's Xbox and propel it back to the top of the videogame hardware industry.
The company revealed its PlayStation 4 console, which will succeed the PlayStation 3, at a flashy event in New York with game developers like Ubisoft and Activision Blizzard in attendance.
Sony said the console would be available for the holiday 2013 season. It did not immediately disclose pricing.
The console will be up against the next version of the industry-leading Xbox console, which is expected later this summer.
The controller on the new console dubbed "DualShock 4" will have a touch pad, Mark Cerny, lead system architect on PlayStation 4, said.
Sony purchased U.S. cloud-based gaming company Gaikai for $380 million in July. Using that technology, the new console will offer a cloud-gaming service, the company said.
The 8GB PlayStation 4, which has been in development for the last five years, can also instantly stream game content from the console to Sony's handheld PlayStation Vita through a feature called "Remote Play," the company said.
Sony has also revamped the user interface on the new console that keeps tabs on user preferences and added social networking features.
Sony's announcement comes amid industry speculation that Microsoft is set to unveil the successor to its Xbox 360 later this summer. The market-leading Xbox 360 beats the seven-year-old PlayStation 3's online network with features such as voice commands on interactive gaming and superior connectivity to smartphones and tablets.
Gaining a lead over Microsoft's Xbox and Nintendo Co Ltd's new Wii U could help Sony revive an electronics business hurt by a dearth of hit gadgets, a collapse in TV sales and the convergence of consumer interest around tablets and smartphones built by rivals Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.
Tablets and smartphones already account for around 10 percent of the $80 billion gaming market. Those mobile devices, analysts predict, will within a few years be as powerful as the current slew of game-only consoles.
After six years, Sony PlayStation sales are just shy of Xbox's 67 million installed base and well behind the 100 million units of Wii sold by Nintendo, according to analysts.


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Finances & Fundraising
Troop finances and billing for troop outings are run by the troop Treasurer, so as to relieve the Scoutmaster and other adult leaders from this burden. All troop billing and payments goes through the troop treasurer. No boys or adult leaders will ever collect or accept payment for any event, or otherwise touch money!
The troop charges dues twice a year, in September and March. You can think of dues as your son's membership fees for the following six months. Dues provide for the base costs of outings for the six-month period, including food, stove fuel, camping and activitiy fees, meeting supplies, and minor gear maintenance. In addition, the September dues include an additional charge for registration and chartering with the Boy Scouts of America.
While dues cover all basic outing expenses, they do not cover costs for major trips like week-long summer camp, junior leader training week, or the biannual Vermont ski trip. For these major events, a separate information packet is distributed to boys that explains the event and the event costs. Payments for major events are typically split into two or more partial payments or deposits to reserve space. The troop cash flow relies on timely deposit payments! Trip deposits are generally non-refundable.
Dues also do not cover large expenses for weekend outings which are individually incurred. For example, dues are not sufficient to cover downhill skiing lift tickets for a weekend ski trip. When a trip has such additional costs, those costs will be listed in the online information about the event. If your son signs up for a trip, we will commit troop funds for his participation and you will be billed for that cost. If your son cancels at the last minute and we have incurred non-refundable costs, you will be billed for those fees.
The troop treasurer maintains accounts for each family. Approximately every two to three months, and any time major deposits are due, the treasurer will send out statements listing current account charges and requesting payment of any balance not covered by receipts you may have turned in. We ask that you pay off your account promptly. Troop 8 runs on a very limited budget, and delays in payment can compromise our ability to secure campsites and activities in a timely fashion and at the best price.
We recognize that sometimes individual families will be in financial circumstances that do not allow them to be able to afford some troop events. We ask such families to do two things: First, to pay the dues amount if at all possible, or if not possible in full to make some good faith effort toward paying the dues. Second, to let the treasurer or the parish Scouting Coordinator know of the difficulty in advance of major trips, so that we can plan appropriately. We value all our boys, and work hard to make sure we never turn a boy away from any trip because of family financial circumstances. Through a combination of generous alumni, parish support, and troop fundraising, we have been 100% successful. There are two important limits to our generosity, however. We cannot use financial aid money for a boy who cancels out of a trip. Therefore, if your son was receiving assistance but cancels out of a trip, you will be expected to pay our real cost. Second, we cannot cover financial need that we are informed of after the fact.
To help support our common troop gear and a portion of our scholarship support for boys, the troop conducts several fundraisers each year. The troop prefers to schedule "one shot" fundraisers like a pancake breakfast, rather than sales like the BSA popcorn drive. Parents of all troop scouts are expected to participate in a fair share of shifts (usually one or two) for each fundraiser as a condition of maintaining membership.
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Florence, Italian Firenze, Latin Florentia, city, capital of Firenze provincia (province) and Toscana (Tuscany) regione (region), central Italy. The city, located about 145 miles (230 km) northwest of Rome, is surrounded by gently rolling hills that are covered with villas and farms, vineyards, and orchards. Florence was founded as a Roman military colony about the 1st century bce, and during its long history it has been a republic, a seat of the duchy of Tuscany, and a capital (1865–70) of Italy. During the 14th–16th century Florence achieved preeminence in commerce and finance, learning, and especially the arts.
The present glory of Florence is mainly its past. Indeed, its historic centre was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1982. The buildings there are works of art abounding in yet more works of art, and the splendours of the city are stamped with the personalities of the men who made them. The geniuses of Florence were backed by men of towering wealth, and the city to this day gives testimony to their passions for religion, for art, for power, or for money. Among the most famous of the city's cultural giants are Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Machiavelli, Galileo, and its most-renowned rulers, generations of the Medici family.
Scholars still marvel that this small city of moneylenders and cloth makers without much political or military power rose to a position of enormous influence in Italy, Europe, and beyond. The Florentine vernacular became the Italian language, and the local coin, the florin, became a world monetary standard. Florentine artists formulated the laws of perspective; Florentine men of letters, painters, architects, and craftsmen began the period known as the Renaissance; and a Florentine navigator, Amerigo Vespucci, gave his name to two continents.
The city has remained an important cultural, economic, political, and artistic force into the modern era, setting trends in political administration (especially under Mayor Giorgio La Pira in the 1950s and early '60s) and even cultural innovation (as in its influential Modernist train station designed under Giovanni Michelucci, its football [soccer] stadium by Pier Luigi Nervi, and the Archizoom radical design movement active during the 1960s and '70s). The region around the city has a modern and dynamic economy based on small industrial production. The city itself is far more dependent on tourism, though it also has developed newer sectors such as information technology. Florence's key role as a market centre is reinforced by its location at the nexus of transport lines connecting northern and southern Italy. Area 40 square miles (104 square km). Pop. (2006 est.) 366,901.
Character of the city
City site
Florence was founded to control the only practicable north-south crossing of the Arno River to and from the three passes through the Apennines: one to Faenza and two to Bologna. Two thin streams, the Mugnone and the Affrico, come down through town to meet the Arno. The Affrico, not far away from its source in the Apennines, is usually a grudging gurgle amid wide gravel beds far below the quays, but sometimes it rises and swells into a powerful stream, ravaging the city with floods. The city's water supply has also served as an asset, however, making possible the washing, fulling, and dyeing of cloth, resulting in the development of a major industry.
Florence's position as a major crossroads between Bologna and Rome made the city vulnerable to attack. Its hills offered some protection, but the citizens nonetheless felt compelled to erect imposing walls during the period 1285–1340; although the walls were largely torn down during urban expansion in the 1860s, their former presence remains clearly visible in a girdle of roads around the original city. Moreover, because the hillier south bank of the Arno has prevented urban growth, segments of the walls are preserved.
Beyond the historic centre of Florence, the city has expanded over the past century to accommodate waves of migration. Vast housing projects have been constructed, such as those at Isolotto (1954–55). These peripheral zones have actually grown to dominate the city centre, creating a kind of "open urban system"—and a vast and successful industrial district—that stretches northwest to Prato and southeast as far as Arezzo. Huge satellite towns such as Scandicci have grown to rival the centre of Florence itself.
Florence's location in a small basin encircled by hills is a determining factor for its changeable climate. Summers tend to be extremely hot and humid, and winters are cool and wet. The average monthly temperature for July and August is about 73 to 75 °F (23 to 24 °C), with an average daytime high of about 95 °F (35 °C); the average monthly temperature for January is 41 °F (5 °C). Winters tend to be short-lived, ending generally in mid-March, and bring rain rather than snow. Unpleasantly cold showers can persist into April, however, much to the discomfort of the throng of Easter tourists. The most delightful seasons in which to visit Florence are late spring and fall, when the sky becomes an azure vault and the sun warms but does not scorch.
City layout
Although most of the city of Florence was a creation of the nascent Renaissance era, the city's Roman beginnings as a typical castrum, or garrison town, can still be perceived. They are visible in the rectilinear grid whose axis is the Via Calimala, with a forum in today's Piazza della Repubblica (used as a market during most of its history). The skyline, however, is dominated by two imposing structures of later centuries. One of them is the austere tower of the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace), begun in 1299, in the Piazza della Signoria. It housed the legislative and executive branches of the local civic government (the priors) and even today functions as the town hall of Florence. Always a kind of nerve centre of local pride and power, the building was ornamented with major works of Florentine sculpture; foremost among these was Michelangelo's towering statue of David (today replaced by a copy). Also framing the Piazza della Signoria is the elegant Loggia dei Lanzi, built in the late 14th century; today it serves as an open-air museum for masterworks of sculpture, including Benvenuto Cellini's Perseus.
From behind the loggia and from the flank of the palazzo, the tall, colonnaded twin wings of a later building, the Uffizi, stretch down to the Arno. An elegant edifice designed by Giorgio Vasari, it was begun in 1560 to house the grand ducal offices. In 1574 Grand Duke Francesco I ordered the top story converted to display the Medici art treasures. The Uffizi's collection, one of the most precious in the world, offers examples of painting from the 13th century through the 18th and includes most of the significant names in Florentine art.
The second distinctive feature of Florence's skyline is the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo). The building itself, located due north of the Piazza della Signoria, was begun by the sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio in 1296. Numerous local artists continued to work on it during the following century and a half. The painter Giotto designed its sturdy bell tower (campanile) in 1334. Yet the massive octagonal cupola (1420–36) that truly dominates both the church and the city was the proud achievement of Filippo Brunelleschi, master architect and sculptor. Opposite the cathedral stands the Baptistery; the building dates from the 11th century but was believed by Florentines to be a surviving Roman monument when they commissioned for it a series of bronze doors with relief sculptures (1330; 1401–52). The third pair of these doors, by Lorenzo Ghiberti, were of such rare beauty that Michelangelo christened them the Gates of Paradise.
Around the perimeters of historical Florence lie the vast "newcomer" churches of the mendicant orders: to the west, Santa Maria Novella (begun 1279) of the Dominicans; to the east, Santa Croce (begun 1294) of the Franciscans. Each of these churches is a monument of Renaissance art in its decoration. The interior of Santa Maria Novella contains the Spanish Chapel, with frescoes by Andrea da Firenze; the Green Cloister, with frescoes by Paolo Uccello; the Strozzi Chapel, with frescoes by Filippino Lippi; and the Cappella Maggiore, with frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio, in addition to Masaccio's awe-inspiring fresco The Trinity, with its fully realized use of perspective. The facade of Santa Maria Novella was completed (1456–70) by the design of Leon Battista Alberti. Alongside Santa Croce, Brunelleschi appended the Pazzi Chapel, designed geometrically around the motif of a circle within a square. Inside Santa Croce one finds major fresco cycles by the most famous early Florentine painter, Giotto. Paradoxically, the patrons of this church were among the richest families of Florence, despite (or perhaps because of) the vows of poverty sworn by the Franciscan order. Santa Croce has historical significance as well, because it became a kind of pantheon containing the tombs of famous Florentine scholars, writers, artists, and patriots. Across the Arno lies the modest Carmelite church of Santa Maria del Carmine, whose Brancacci Chapel displays some of the most powerful early 15th-century frescoes by Masaccio and Masolino (c. 1425–27). The frescoes have been restored to their former glory, bringing out colours and details that had long been obscured.
Between the Piazza della Signoria and the cathedral lies a remarkable building, the Orsanmichele (oratory of St. Michael). In 1290 Arnolfo built a loggia here for the wheat market, which, however, was destroyed by fire; a larger loggia was erected in 1377 and then enclosed to form a church in 1380. Its chief fame comes from its early 15th-century decoration donated by the major guilds of Florence. Each guild was assigned one of the tabernacles on the exterior of the Orsanmichele and expected to commission a sculpture for it. The best works produced include bronzes of St. John the Baptist (patron saint of the city and of the powerful Calimala guild [bankers and international traders in cloth]) and St. Matthew (for the Cambio, or bankers) by Ghiberti and marbles of St. Mark (linen drapers) and St. George (armourers) by Donatello.
North of the cathedral lay the province of the eventual rulers of Florence, the Medici, a family of bankers. On the square behind the house of the Medici stands the Augustinian church of San Lorenzo, for which Brunelleschi made an austerely simple geometric Renaissance design based on his study of early Christian basilicas in Rome (1421). Medici patronage led to decisive artistic decorative additions. Donatello provided a bronze pulpit, and Brunelleschi added a sacristy (the Old Sacristy); about one century later Michelangelo balanced it with the New Sacristy, which contains his famous Medici Tombs. Michelangelo also designed the Laurentian Library, next to San Lorenzo, to house the great library assembled by the Medici family. Near the church sits the Medici Palace (Palazzo Medici-Riccardi), built by the architect Michelozzo beginning in 1444. Inside, a chapel contains a fresco by Benozzo Gozzoli, the Procession of the Magi (1459), in which the followers of the Magi are given features of the Medici.
The grandest palace in Florence is the Strozzi Palace, begun in 1489 for one of the city's largest and wealthiest families (which, however, had been eclipsed politically by the Medici). Its enormous scale deliberately surpassed that of the Medici Palace. Noteworthy within the Strozzi Palace is a spacious courtyard, which by its use of arches and a loggia achieves a feeling of openness and simplicity.
South of the Arno lies the Pitti Palace; this grandiose structure was created for the grand duke Cosimo I by the sculptor Bartolommeo Ammannati, who extended (1558–70) a palace belonging to the Pitti family of a century earlier. The hills behind this massive palace were transformed into magnificent gardens, the Boboli Gardens, filled with fountains, statues, and an amphitheatre; there operas and concerts for the Medici rulers betokened their courtly existence as the absolute rulers of the city. Ammannati also designed a bridge to the palace, the Santa Trinità Bridge (1567–69; restored).
Florence's greatest poet, Dante, harshly characterized his city's people as tightfisted, envious, and haughty. A touch of this severe judgment still clings to the Florentines, in whose makeup one tends to miss the exuberance and warmth associated with Italians in other towns and regions. Perhaps the Florentines, many of whom are descendants of long lines of Florentines, are reserved in self-defense against the massive stream of tourists, several million of whom crowd the historic sections of Florence.
The city's population increased significantly during the 20th century. Immigrants before the 1970s were mainly from the Tuscan region but also from the south of Italy. Many Chinese actually had arrived earlier, and since the mid-1970s the city and its region have attracted other people from outside Italy who found work in the area's tourist-linked service economy. These immigrants have begun to change the cultural composition of the city. Indeed, some of the first explosions of racial animosity in Italy took place in Florence in the early 1990s, when Italian locals organized raids on immigrant street vendors, leading to a national debate over immigration.
Industry, commerce, and services
Thousands of Florentines work in industrial suburbs, where they are engaged in the production of furniture, rubber goods, chemicals, and food. Yet the city lives primarily from tourism and the money brought in by foreign (mainly American) students. Traditional handicrafts—glassware and ceramics, wrought iron, leatherwork, wares of precious metals, art reproductions, and the like—are still of some importance, along with some high-fashion clothing and shoe production. Key fashion companies operating in the city include Gucci and Ferragamo. Florence hosts numerous fairs throughout the year, including an international antiques fair, international fashion shows, and countless artisans' exhibits. For a long period after World War II, Florence was Italy's fashion capital, holding an annual show at the Pitti Palace. In the 1970s, however, Milan began to dominate the fashion sector.
Commercial and cultural interests blend in the city's offerings of festivals of music, opera, and the visual arts. In particular, the annual Maggio Musicale ("Musical May") festival attracts visitors from far beyond the city. Of special appeal are the traditional festivals, many of them resplendent with the trappings of medieval pageantry and procession. Among the more famous ones are the celebrations in honour of the city's patron saint, St. John the Baptist. Visitors can watch the fireworks on June 24 (St. John's Day) or attend the "football game" staged in 16th-century costumes in the Boboli Gardens during St. John's Week.
Craftwork is sold throughout the city, but several traditional marketplaces still exist. The vendors of straw objects—from tiny figurines to full-sized dresses—have their stalls in the Loggia of the Mercato Nuovo (New Market; built 1547–51). Goldsmiths, silversmiths, and jewelers are concentrated on the Ponte Vecchio, one of the world's most famous bridges and the symbol of Florence. They opened for business there in the 16th century, when Grand Duke Ferdinand I deemed it inelegant for butcher shops to line the bridge as they had for the previous 200 years. He ordered practitioners of the "vile arts" to give way to workers in precious metals. The new occupants eventually enlarged their shops by building outward over the water, propping their three-story additions on brackets from the bridge. The back elevations of these extensions give the bridge its picturesque air. Above the shops a covered passage was constructed in 1564–65 to connect Cosimo I's palace (the Pitti Palace) on the left bank with the newly erected government offices (the Uffizi) on the right bank.
Artisans who fashion the gold, silver, jewelry, straw, intarsia (inlaid woodwork designs), leather goods, glass, pottery, and embroidery complain of being squeezed out of existence by the pressures of modern economic life. These artisans, however, can still be seen through the open doors of their workrooms, engaged in the tasks and poised in the attitudes shown in the carvings on the 15th-century facade of the guildsmen's church, Orsanmichele.
Traditional heavy industry is still important in the area. Major employers include Nuovo Pignone (now part of the U.S.-based General Electric Company), maker of steam turbines and compressors, and Piaggio & C.s.p.a. (located in and around Pisa, 50 miles [80 km] to the west), maker of the famous Vespa scooter. The city is now part of a huge industrial district running northwest to Prato and Pistoia. This zone, with its small businesses and quality export production, was one of the centres of the prosperous "third Italy" of the 1990s, rivaling similar zones in Emilia-Romagna and Veneto in employment and profits. Hundreds of thousands of former sharecroppers from rural areas of Tuscany became small businessmen in a single generation, avoiding the trauma of "normal" rapid industrialization. However, the environment suffered, as the beautiful Tuscan countryside was slowly urbanized and motor vehicle traffic threatened to suffocate not just the city but the entire region.
In the central area of Florence a solid pair of walking shoes is the best mode of transportation, especially since the historic section has been closed to motor vehicles. Buses and taxis are also available, as are bicycles for hire. The main highway, the Autostrada del Sole, passes west and south of the city. Because Florence lies on the country's main north-south train line, rail connections are highly dependable and efficient. The Eurostar connects Florence with Milan in less than three hours and with Rome in less than two. In addition, Florence has its own airport, Amerigo Vespucci (formerly Peretola), only 3 miles (5 km) from the city centre. It is too small for intercontinental traffic, but Pisa's Galileo Galilei International Airport is an hour's train journey away.
Cultural life
Florence has numerous museums, mostly devoted to painting and sculpture. The National Central Library (Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale) has been the Italian library of deposit since 1870, receiving a copy of every book published in the country. It houses millions of autographs, manuscripts, letters, incunabula, and books, including many rare editions. The Riccardiana and Moreniana libraries adjoining the Medici Palace have the most complete collection, including valuable manuscripts, of works on Tuscan history. The Gabinetto Scientifico e Letterario G.B. Vieusseux is a scientific and literary library founded in 1819 by Jean-Baptiste Vieusseux, who was the central figure of a group that included the leading literary figures of Italy at that time.
After Lorenzo de' Medici transferred the University of Florence (established 1321) to Pisa in 1473, the medical school remained behind, leading the scientific movement in Italy and forming the nucleus for the university that was legally constituted only in 1923. The Academy of the Crusca was established in 1582 to prepare an Italian dictionary; crusca means "bran," the academy's symbol is a sieve, and its object remains to winnow impurities from the language. Other specialized learned institutions include an observatory; academies of fine arts, science, letters, and agrarian economics; and institutes of Etruscan and Italian studies, of the history of art, and of the history of optics. The Italian Dante Society, the Italian Botanical Society, and the Society for Geographical Studies are in Florence.
An increasing number of foreign countries and universities maintain institutes of study in Florence and its environs, attracting many historians and writers. The member states of the European Communities (later succeeded by the European Union) founded the European University Institute in 1972. The institute is located just northeast of Florence, in the hillside towns of San Domenico and Fiesole. It is housed in historic buildings made available by the Italian government, including the Villa Schifanoia, the Convento di San Domenico, and the Badia Fiesolana. The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies is located at the exquisite Villa i Tatti, bequeathed by the art historian Bernard Berenson, in the hills at Settignano. Also represented are the Universities of Grenoble and Paris (France); Syracuse University (New York), Stanford University (Palo Alto, California), Smith College (Northampton, Massachusetts), and the state universities of California (U.S.); and universities of the Netherlands.
Florence has always boasted an intellectual elite rivaling that of any city in Italy. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, historians Pasquale Villari and Gaetano Salvemini taught at the University of Florence. Salvemini was later forced out of Italy altogether by fascist violence. Fascism's most important intellectual and theorist, Giovanni Gentile, was based in Florence and was killed there by communist partisans during World War II. After the war, intellectuals of the calibre of legal scholar Piero Calamandrei, literary historian Gianfranco Contini, and communist social historian Ernesto Ragionieri all worked in the city, as did novelists such as Vasco Pratolini. The cosmopolitan nature of the city has always produced a cultural milieu different from those of other, more closed Italian cities. The various research institutes and faculties attached to the University of Florence are among the most important in Italy.
The glory of many Florentines is the city's football team, Fiorentina—or "la Viola," as the team is affectionately called, alluding to the players' purple shirts. The club has won the Italian championship on only two occasions (in 1956 and 1969), but it continues to inspire fanatical support from its followers. When star Roberto Baggio was sold to archrival Juventus of Turin in 1990, Fiorentina supporters caused riots that paralyzed the city. The stadium, originally designed in the 1930s by Modernist architect Pier Luigi Nervi and named Stadio Comunale, has achieved national monument status. It was refurbished for the 1990 World Cup and renamed "Artemio Franchi," or simply Franchi Stadium.


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4 Foam Fliers Mini Kit
Big fun in a small box. These quick and easy smaller craft kits are perfect for parties, play, or rainy days. The kit includes 4 easy-to-assemble foam fliers with a 7 in. wingspan, 4 plastic nose clips, acrylic paint, a paint brush, and instructions.
For ages 5 +
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clearworth necesitaba un nuevo diseño de otro y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 12 diseños de 6 diseñadores freelance.
Rethink and redesign of existing graphic which illustrates management model
Hale Circle of Influence
The Hale Circle of Influence is a copyrighted model used to illustrate priorities in building impact and influence. The graphic has eight main sections and we want to lighten the current design and create a secondary design which has four sections (each containing two of the existing sections)
- Blues that go with Clearworth current scheme - see web page http://www.clearworth.com
- Lightness and simplicity - probably more clean line drawn than bold blocks
- Ease of reading and clarity of links between eight section and four section model
- The idea is that you move around the circle but also may move across too - McKinsey 7S model (Google it) has good illustrations of interconnctedness
- Formats which can appear in black/white, greyscale and colour
- This is the current version which is too complex or too solid and dense.
- Page 9 of the workbook http://books.google.com/books?id=qQ…t#PPA8,M1- Shown in a PowerPoint http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/group…023508.pdf


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I just gave my homepage a much-needed update. It includes:
*Fixing the video on Invader and Invaders, two 16mm black and white comedy horror films I shot back in college, on the Photos page.
*Adding over fifty interviews to the Links page.
*Adding easier contact info.
*Adding new items to the Store page.
*Adding new cover art and material on the Freebies & Ebooks page, and on the For Writers page, kicking off the Great Ebook Experiment.
The new covers are something I've wanted to do for a while. I've had over 10,000 ebooks sales on Kindle, but I've never been happy with the cheap cover art I did myself.
I complained about this a few months ago, and the good folks at www.bellbridgebooks.com offered to make me a cover for Disturb. You can see the obvious difference.
My crummy cover:
The new cover:
Seeing a 25% uptick in sales once I stared using the new cover, I hired a friend of mine to redo my other covers. Here are some of his creations:
I've recently uploaded these covers to Kindle, but it takes Kindle several days to update. So if you'd like to see my original, cruddy covers for a comparison, just search for my books on Amazon.
Everyone has opinions about cover art, but few people are able to articulate why they like something, or why they think it works (or doesn't work.)
I approached the new covers with some specific goals in mind. Whether I reached them or not is open to debate, but here was my thought process.
1. Branding. Each of the new covers has a JK banner on the top, with a blurb in it. Even though the images and styles on the covers vary greatly, I wanted a unifying factor. The simple brand JK does this.
2. Genre. I want the reader to be able to tell in two seconds what sort of book this is based on the cover. With Truck Stop, it's a serial killer/cop thriller. Shot of Tequila is a men's action novel, so I wanted a throwback to the pulps with a Robert McGinnis-type of image. Origin is a monster-on-the-loose book, and The List is a technothriller. I believe each of these covers convey their genre.
3. Professional. My early covers looked self-published, like someone with no talent played around with Photoshop--which was exactly what I did. I wanted the new covers to look like books that big publisher release. Or, in the case of Tequila, released 40 years ago.
4. Reduceable. Amazon, and many other e-tailers, shrink the covers to thumbnail size when browsing. I wanted these to still be identifiable and readable when compressed.
5. Eye-catching. After the initial, two-second impression, I wanted enough detail to get people to look closer. The background of Origin is a bible page. The List has a gene sequence, and a family tree of related events. Tequila has some blurbs, an aged appearance, and a fake cover price. With Truck Stop, besides the blood and the bloody tire marks, the heel on the shoe is broken. Hopefully this makes the reader wonder who owns the shoe, and why it is broken, which is answered in the story.
What are some other things you look for in covers? What makes a cover good or bad? And do we really judge books by their covers?
I'd love to hear your thoughts...
Friday, October 02, 2009
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- Christmas Gifts
- Personalised Gifts
- Home & Living
- Childrens Wall Art
- Kids Gifts
- Baby Gifts
- Toys and Games
- Kids Party Ideas
- Everyday Essentials
- SALE Gifts
Children's Wall Art - A Letter Dinosaur
The wooden letters are great for doors, bed heads, any bedroom furniture or as Nursery Letters.
Approximate size: 50mm x 70mm
Gift Wrapping (extra £3.00)
Gift message to be written on a gift card
(free of charge) max characters 90
Other themes available :
Alternative Products
Dinosaur Personalised Framed Name
Dinosaur Name in a Frame. Fab personalised gift for boy
Dinosaur Kids Clock
Kids bedroom wall clock in a Dinosaur theme, fabulous kids gift for boys or girls
Personalised Dinosaur Placemat
Jungle Personalised Name Frame
The Jungle Framed Name is ideal for a Jungle themed bedroom


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LSD plus cats is LSDcats. The internet doesn't get much trippier than this. Thank goodness, because I don't think our brains could take it.
Since late last month, Twitter account @LSDCats has been uploading "trippy pictures of cats." Deep breaths, let's dive in:
Just say "no" to doing drugs and looking at cats.
LSDCats [Twitter]
To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft.