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Do you want to hike, bike and kayak your way around beautiful Croatia?
We've teamed up with the adventure travel pack experts at Osprey to send one lucky winner on our Active in Croatia trip, kitted out with the ultimate active travel kit from Osprey. Pack all your travel essentials in your new Osprey gear as you head to Croatia on this active holiday that sees you hiking, biking, rafting and kayaking in and around a host of incredible spots.
1st Prize - Trip to Croatia and Osprey ultimate active travel kit including:
8 Days
Pump up the octane on this active Croatia adventure. Enjoy hiking, mountain biking,...
2nd prize - Osprey carry on kit including:
We have two of these prize packages to give away to the the runners up
Enter Here
- This is an Intrepid Travel competition ran in collaboration with Osprey Europe. For more information about Osprey Europe and their own privacy policy please visit their website.
- All entries must be received by midnight 16th April 2017. No entry details submitted after this time will be valid.
- Entry is open to residents of UK and European residents, but excludes employees of Intrepid Travel and Osprey, their immediate families, anyone connected professionally with the prize draw, or any person where entering this competition breaches any law or regulation of the jurisdiction in which they are resident.
- The competition is free to enter – no purchase is necessary. By entering the competition, you agree to receive the Intrepid Travel and Osprey Europe email newsletter. This is free to receive, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
- The prize from Intrepid is for 1 person to travel on our 8 day Active in Croatia trip. The prize also includes flights from the winner's nearest international airport.
- Osprey 1st Prize – Main winner
- Sojourn 80, Hoodoo Red
- Talon 22, Black OR Tempest 20, Iris Blue
- Daylite, Real Red
- Osprey 2nd Prize – 2x Runners up
- Farpoint 40, Caribbean Blue
- Accessories
- Document Zip Wallet, Poppy Orange
- Stealth Waist Wallet, Black
- Washbag Cassette, Electric Lime
- There is a minimum age of 18 to travel on the Intrepid prize and to receive the Osprey prize package.
- The Intrepid prize must be booked within 12 weeks of the competition closing and travel within 12 months of the booking date. No extensions are available.
- The Osprey Winners should allow up to 28 days for delivery of prizes.
- If a winner doesn't claim a prize within 28 days of being notified, or if a winner isn't available to take up the prize, we may award the prize to another entrant (or not award the prize at all) without liability to the winner.
- Not included in the Intrepid prize is travel insurance, any additional meals or accommodation not included in the itinerary, spending money or any travel visas required.
- The prizes are strictly non-transferable to another person, trip or redeemable for cash.
- The prize is subject to availability at time of booking. Some trips must meet minimum number requirements prior to confirmation. If a trip that the winner has booked does not reach its minimum number requirement, the winner will be informed and will have the opportunity to transfer to another departure or a trip of equal value.
- The winner must book the Intrepid prize directly with the Intrepid Travel by calling 0808 274 5111 quoting the winning promo code which will be sent to the winner.
- The winner is responsible for ensuring that they have valid passports, and any required visas, vaccinations and travel documentation.
- The winner will be chosen at random from all those who entered the competition, and they will be notified by email by the organisers within 14 days of the closing date.
- Only one entry per person will be available.
- Intrepid Travel's decision is final.
- Intrepid Travel and its affiliates reserve the right to amend or withdraw the prize draw and any of the prizes in the event of any unforeseen circumstances outside their reasonable control. Prizes are subject to availability. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the promoter reserves the right to substitute alternative prizes of equivalent or greater value. No correspondence will be entered into.
- The promotion shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales
- Entry implies acceptance of these terms and conditions.


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If you want to beat chilly weather in style, this is the right moment to start planning your fashion arsenal. And the latest Mango Simplicity lookbook for fall 2011 is definitely something to talk about and worthy to take into consideration. Be it comfy coats, cozy knits, trousers and jeans, jackets or dresses, the famous Spanish brand has something for every taste and needs. You can easily draw your inspiration from their ensembles when making your wishlist for the season ahead. Brazilian model Isabeli Fontana is featured in the n... Read More

subset: commoncrawl


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WALTHAM, Mass. – Behind a career-high 28 points from junior forward Alex Stoyle (Goffstown, N.H./Tilton School), the Brandeis University men's basketball team led wire-to-wire tonight in defeating the visiting University of Chicago Maroons, 75-56, in University Athletic Association (UAA) action tonight. With the win, the Judges improve to 17-6, 8-4 in the UAA, while the Maroons fall to 10-13, 4-8 UAA.
Stoyle - who had missed Brandeis's previous two games due to illness - put together a tremendous shooting night to match Brandeis's season-high scoring performance. He connected on 10-of-12 from the floor, 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line. Nineteen of his 28 points came in the first half, when he tallied as many points and had one more field goal than the entire UC roster. He also had all five of his rebounds in the first.
Two other players scored in double figures. Senior Jay Freeman (Dorchester, Mass./St. Mark's School) was a perfect 5-of-5 from beyond the arc to finish with 15 points and has connected on 10 of his last 11 trifectas. Junior guard Gabriel Moton (St. Petersburg, Fla./St. Petersburg) reached 10 points despite a 2-for-9 shooting night, hitting 5-of-6 from the line.
The Judges owned a 43-32 edge on the glass, with rookie guard Colby Smith (No. Andover, Mass./No. Andover) collecting a game- and career-high eight rebounds and senior center Wouter van der Eng (Alphen aun der Rijn, Netherlands/Kimball Union, Vt., Acad.) adding six. Smith also had a game-high five assists, while Moton finished with four helpers. Freeman led all players with three steals.
Chicago had just one player finish in double figures, as sophomore guard Royce Muskeyvalley (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) had 10 points on 4-of-11 from the field with a 3-pointer and a free throw. Classmate Alex Pyper (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral) and rookie Jordan Smith (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) each had eight points. Muskeyvalley also paced the Maroons with four rebounds and three assists. Junior Charlie Hughes (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) also had three helpers.
Brandeis got off to a tremendous start, as the Judges hit their first five shots, including three 3-pointers, to take a 13-5 lead 3:12 into the contest. The lead reached double figures for the first time on a Stoyle lay-up at 14:41 and stayed there the rest of the way. Brandeis's biggest lead of the first half came with 28 seconds left, when rookie Kevin Trotman (Bristol, Conn./Taft School) threw down his second dunk of the game off a Freeman steal, giving the Judges a 44-19 advantage. Brandeis outshot UC, 53 percent (17-32) to 21 percent (7-33), as Stoyle had 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting to lead the way. The Judges also doubled the Maroons on the glass in the first half, 28-14, with Moton and Stoyle each grabbing five caroms.
Chicago outscored Brandeis, 37-31, in the second half, as the Maroons improved their shooting to 52 percent after the break (15-29) but the Judges' lead never fell below 17 points at any point. Stoyle and Freeman each scored nine points after the intermission.
Brandeis returns to action with an early contest on Sunday morning, as they will take on 17th-ranked Washington University at 11 a.m. The Judges will honor their three seniors before the game. Chicago will face NYU at noon on Sunday.


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Once one of their number, the eternal outcast wishes to take from the Elves what they hold dearest - their dreams, their past, their future.
Recently, agents of a necromancer's guild known as the Guild of Morticians have been seen slinking around the graveyards in the metropolis of Jeffsport. They have been seen with many small undead creatures, leading to speculation that someone may be digging up the corpses and selling them to the Guild of Morticians. The Jeffsport Civil Authorities Office and various splinter groups thereof, including the famous Blue Lampsmen (the Jeffsport city guard), have issued a bounty of 100 silver pieces for information leading to the capture of whoever is selling the corpses to the necromancers, and a 30 gold piece bounty on any member of the Guild of Morticians.


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I am an independent concert, music and event promoter based in the Minneapolis / Saint Paul, Minnesota area.
I am interested in creating unique, one of a kind, once in a lifetime, never to be forgotten events!
I am open to all ideas, suggestions, and comments for any kind of artistic endeavor.
Please feel free to email me with your thoughts.
Thank you.
Marc Evan Percansky


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Allan Wantenaar, Associate at JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group, shares learnings from the 2017 Spotlight on Africa – Hotels Overview report that are driving a deeper understanding and more moderate approach to hospitality investment on the continent.
A decade of change
Was Sub-Saharan Africa ready for the past supply cycle? Ten years ago, the positive outlook for economic growth and political stability in Sub-Saharan Africa prompted a significant increase in supply across the region, with demand keeping pace for the first several years of this period. The slowdown in several economies between 2014 and 2017 has however lead to supply growth outpacing demand growth in recent years. Several core nodes and key African cities have seen saturation point and further supply increases have tapered – which is evident in the realisation of the hotel pipeline planned in the region. Prior to 2007, occupancy across SSA was above 70%, but a decade later levels have declined by some 10% -15%.
The result has been tough trading in a number of markets, particularly those exposed to demand from specific sectors, whilst markets exposed to more diverse sources of demand have been insulated. This weaker trading has caused some investors to reduce their expectation on target returns. Others are disposing of assets to recycle capital in order to re-balance their hotel portfolios line with demand. This is the key learning from the cycle: the process of maturation. Investors are not slowing down. They have had a taste of hospitality on the continent and are keen to continue; this time with a more balanced approach from a positioning and product perspective.
The maturing of the sector
These trends are shaping the next supply cycle. The steep learning curve has enhanced professionalism, knowledge and strategy. Going forward, the investment decisions will be more moderate, balanced (in terms of product and quantity of supply) with a deeper understanding of the underlying fundamentals, a slightly more cautious approach and better structured / financed projects.
There are still barriers to entry but our research confirms investors are not planning on reducing their exposure. Quite the contrary, investors plan to increase their exposure to hotel assets. As the sector matures, they are looking to recycle their capital into new projects through sales and this will in turn bring fresh equity into the sector.
It's certainly an environment to capitalise on new prospects and learnings:
- A clearer understanding of demand is allowing alignment with more suitable product developments. For instance, higher growth in the budget and midscale space, or serviced apartments, previously overlooked whilst investors focused on upscale segments.
- Interest in secondary cities and alternative nodes.
- Acquisition opportunities for distressed properties.
- More direct control of assets, with more investors being comfortable with outright ownership.
- International operators have learnt to navigate risks associated with African hotel operations on the continent. This contribution of institutional knowledge of the industry has improved professionalism on the continent and impacted positively on regional brands.
- Local and regional capital perceives country risk differently to international capital.
- This intelligence plays out in confident and realistic target setting, with appropriately aligned expectations measured against existing benchmarks.
- With a larger volume of successful developments and exits, more evidence of repaid loans, more experienced promoters, and evidence of increasing institutional capital entering the sector, the debt market is evolving to the benefit of the investor.
It's been a challenging decade but one that has prepared the sector for the next supply cycle. The industry is more knowledgeable, investors are savvier, products have evolved and alternative markets are being explored. Of particular importance is that banks and private equity partners are grasping the intricacies of this sector. A more strategic approach to supply and demand will empower a new decade of continued investment and improving liquidity.


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Drew Brees Has a Message for SELF Readers...Here It Is!
The truth is no NFL QB has ever been interested in talking to the editor of SELF, but Drew Brees is not just some ordinary player. Yes, he is the 2010 MVP and quarterback of the Super Bowl–winning New Orleans Saints; and yes, he is the nice family guy who held his adorable son and put the earphones on the toddler's head to shield his ears from the roaring crowd; and yes, he is the philanthropic, civic-minded guy who has helped rebuild the 9th Ward and especially its public school systems. But what you don't know is he is also extremely involved in the idea of making America a fitter place, and he has ideas of how to help women (especially) get back in shape on their own terms, their own time and do it easily and fairly effortlessly. I better watch out for my job.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Drew got on the phone with me, and what was supposed to be a 15-minute interview became a freewheeling conversation encompassing his favorite moments of the past year (not the Super Bowl but an appreciation night at the Lusher School, where he and his wife were celebrated for raising money and giving funding to its rebuilding). We stayed on the phone for nearly an hour. His room service arrived, and instead of jumping off he answered the door and got right back on the horn. (He eats between 5,000 and 7,000 calories a day, depending on his workout schedule). OK, here is the interview. My favorite line: The message, "Have a purpose." Read on.
LSD: First of all, congrats on everything—MVP, your healthy season and your charity work in New Orleans. Everyone I spoke with about you—who knew I was going to get on the phone with you today—absolutely says, "He is the nicest guy in the NFL." And your adorable son sealed the deal for female fans everywhere.
OK, first question:
How are you going to do in your game tonight? JK! That's not what we're talking about today. Let's start with your philanthropy in New Orleans, which you are famous for. Of all the Katrina-related work and give-back opportunities, what has been the most personally meaningful moment for you? What will you always remember about your charitable work? Was there one clincher moment that really made it all make sense?
Drew Brees: There's been a lot of those moments. I'd say, there was...one of our big projects was a charter school called Lusher Charter School, and it's a middle school and high school and obviously post-Katrina it's one of the areas that I feel has come back better than ever—the public school system. Obviously a lot of the schools needed public funding and they needed more funding than ever, and one of the projects we adopted was Lusher and one of the main focuses there is the arts. They have a broad arts program, and a great orchestra and a jazz program as well....so we did a project...donated $750,000, which helped with their school and curriculum and arts and also build an athletic field right there on their site. So it became this community focus. This school in the neighborhood and this field, so recently they put together this big performance on the field for my wife and I. It was the ballet and the orchestra and the jazz band and the theater program, so one by one, every organization within the school put together a performance for us and it was awesome. Truly it was unbelievable. A lot of times these kids just need someone to believe in them. You see how talented they are and they just wanted to show it.
LSD: That sounds amazing. I just got goose bumps! Speaking of helping people, the Get With the Movement program is why we are on the phone today. Tell me about it: this campaign, and Fitness Anywhere, which I know makes the TRX. So if I were to clarify the point of Get with the Movement, what's your goal?
Drew: Get With the Movement is a program that basically wants people to be more active. It's very much just preaching an active lifestyle. That's going to make your body feel good and make you feel good about yourself. I am also a spokesperson for Play 60 program through NFL, which tells kids to get out there and be active for 60 minutes every single day. And also co-chair of the President's Council on Physical Fitness, the What Moves You? Campaign. And that can be hiking and biking. Whatever it is you want to do to be active. As long as you do something.
The TRX is a piece of equipment I've used since 2006. It was the main part of my rehabilitation when I was rehabbing my shoulder injury. It's very much a functional training element. What I love about it is it requires no weights, it's just a suspension of straps and it's your body weight. You can train every muscle group with the TRX. It's functional.
For my sport, and to be healthy, I need core strength, I need shoulder strength, joint integrity and the ability to train my legs. Speedy power. And I can do all of those things with that one product. I incorporate the TRX in every workout I do every single day.
All of us set training goals, to lose weight and tone up and get stronger, etc. I think the TRX helps me do that.
LSD: Active living for kids and families everywhere is part of SELF's message and my personal passion as well. How are you getting your message out there and what would you tell my kids when they don't want to go running? Or any kid who doesn't want to turn off the screen and get off the couch?
Drew: The biggest thing is to think: This is family time. If it's my son and I can't get him off the couch or off the TV or video games. I say, This is family time and we are going to do it together, play catch, go for a bike ride or something fun. There's a lot of great things about it. It helps develop social skills, Being active with your friends, or go out with your parents or siblings all together.
My brother, growing up, that is all we did. It was more a question of how could our parents get us back in the house to do our homework? It's a different day and age with technology and all, but we were just living outside back then.
Video games and such aren't bad [chuckles], but they have to get out and get active. It's a healthy balance...we have to allow people to do a little bit of everything.
LSD: What is your healthy snack? What is your favorite indulgence?
Drew: I eat a lot. 5,000 to 7,000 calories a day, easily. Especially when you're training. You eat more. I'm 212 pounds, 6 feet tall, so I burn calories like crazy. I have to put calories in my body, with two practices a day and also doing weights. So I try to eat enough to fuel that. I do about six hours a day (of training and practice) or so.
LSD: How do you relax and kick back when your work and workout is done?
Drew: Used to be my wife and I would travel all the time, and golf. But now with my son and another on the way, it's all about being with kids.
LSD: You came back from a tremendous injury and won the Super Bowl when some players would have never recovered. It took time but you did it. How did you stay positive and get better? What is your secret to success? (As someone dealing with injuries I need to know this!)
Drew: When broken, you just have to believe. You have got to believe you're going to come back stronger. You have to do things smart. Rehab is smart, but depending on the injury, it's tough. Having short-term goals are important, too. A torn ACL is a six- to eight-month process, and it's overwhelming if you think Six to eight months! But short-term goals work.
With my shoulder I heard from my doctor: "Eight months from now you will be able to play again. Two years to feel completely normal like nothing had ever happened to it." And it did take that long. I was able to play, and play fine after eight months, but I knew what he was saying. I could feel a tightness, or a tug. Four years after the injury, I won the Super Bowl.
LSD: Setting and reaching goals is so SELF. It's how we help motivate women to accomplish their best body and reach their goals. It takes weeks, but each week you can do it! Great message.
Drew: Yes, it's all about short-term goals. So eight months seemed like forever and I could get overwhelmed...so I asked, "When could I get out of the sling?" and was told four weeks. I thought, I gotta beat that...and I did, I got out in three. Then I asked the doc, "What is the next objective?" It's full range of motion in nine weeks. And I thought, I have to beat that...I did it in six weeks. Then, throw at four months. I gotta beat that. Did it in three and a half.
Anytime you accomplish a goal, it makes you feel good about yourself along the way. Set goals. Set realistic short-term goals. If you want to lose 10 pounds, you can't do that all in one week. So for the first week try to lose 1 pound, second week 2, then by week three you're up to 4, so you shorten it down in the period of time and think: This is manageable...you can accomplish it and that positive reinforcement makes you keep going.
LSD: We have a workout about how to lose weight like a guy and I think this is relevant since women want it all right now, change everything and see results fast, but if you do it gradually and forgive yourself when you don't get it right, stay on track and stick with it, you can get it done. You can reach your goals.
DREW: I like to say: Have a purpose. Work out with a purpose and ask what's your purpose and what's your goal?
If it's "I just want to lose 10 pounds," then that's your purpose. How can you do that? Make a plan. Work out 30 minutes a day and then think about short-term goals and how to meet them. Map it out. You can't lose all 10 this week but maybe you can lose 2 this week and 2 the next. So map it out and feel good about your short-term goals.
Or, if your purpose is to run a race, then map that out.
There is a difference between exercise and training. You can't just exercise and hope to see results, you have to train with a purpose. Have that goal in mind, that purpose in mind every time you start to train.
LSD: OK, last question: This is from my husband, who just walked into the room from his bike ride. He wants to know: How much of what you do is mental and how much is physical? Meaning how much of your success?
Drew: It's 90 percent mental. The rest follows. There are certain physical traits I have to have...like I have to be able to throw a football. But the rest of it is all mental. I have to believe in myself.
LSD: Great message: Believe in yourself. Very SELFy!. I love the idea of "Have a purpose." That's going to be my mantra for the next month of training. Thanks, Drew. Good luck tonight!


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This Crystal Clear and Silver Bling Glittery Full Body Nano Plastic flexible case will not only give your Motorola Droid Turbo 2 XT1585 Kinzie phone protection but differentiate your phone from everybody else with a unique and beautiful design.
This Motorola Droid Turbo 2 XT1585 Kinzie cover is made of high quality nano plastic for longer lasting and protection from scratches, chips, dust, and everyday use of your phone including the screen. This full body clear case will not interfere with the touch screen of your phone while giving the 360 degree full protection of your phone.
This Motorola Droid Turbo 2 XT1585 Kinzie faceplate has precise openings for charger port/dock connector, headset jack and speaker to allow full access to all the functions the phone offers. The front cover allows to show the beauty of your device with the nano touch technology.
easy slide-in design requires no additional tools for you to put on the
case on your phone. The case stays on while
you're using, charging, or even in the locked mode.
Please note that the color of the item in the picture may appear different based on the viewer's monitor color range and settings.
|Transparent Nano Flexible Plastic
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|Clear, Silver
|Other colors available?
|Yes (This Bling Glitter Full Body Nano Plastic Flexible Case for Motorola Droid Turbo 2 XT1585 Kinzie is also available in Gold, Rose Gold.)
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Choose cell phone cases that best meet your criteria. MyCuteMobile.com is committed to provide you with the latest and coolest cell phone accessories.


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FlyCharts is our new version (2.0) of flash charts component. The second version brings you more ways to visualize your data, much more rich and customizable interface, fast and easy tuning of your component. And please note - it's still free for private persons, still tiny and fast!
Generally FlyCharts is a set of Adobe Flash (SWF) files that gives you outstanding possibility to visualize your data. Now, using FlyCharts you can create compact, interactive and good-looking charts in a minute.
FlyCharts doesn't need any installation, works with any scripting language, can be used in any browser, is interactive, is scalable & flexible, size of output files is reallysmall. We have a number of chart types - column/bar, line/pipe, pie, area.
Attention: latest release (1.16) contains critical bug fix for previous free download versions! Now free version works correctly on remote servers.


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Heroes to Green Lantern to 'Kings' - A Writer's Journey
Over the years, the superhero community has been very good to Michael Green. After helping to chronicle the adventures of Clark Kent on Smallville and the gifted individuals on Heroes, the producer/writer is turning his talents towards the epic new television series, Kings. Now months before a pilot is even screened, Green took a break from spearheading the New York production to discuss his brave new world, Green Lanterns, as well as his own dynamic duo, Superman and Batman.
Newsarama: Michael, as a comic book writer, Heroes must have been a dream gig. Was it a tough decision to leave?
Michael Green: Heroes was one of the most fun I have ever experienced on a series. I have watched the commercials for upcoming episodes and am so sorry I am not there. Everyone there is a friend and someone I look forward to hanging out with. The only thing worth leaving that for is the opportunity to do my own series.
NRAMA: What did you take away from Heroes? Did it somehow prepare or inspire you for the NBC series you created, Kings?
Green: I got a lot out of the Heroes experience. First of all, it was very much a lesson in what television can do that people didn't know it could in size and scope. Heroes owes a big debt to Lost that came before it and every show gets to look at the advancements the previous ones made and try to build on that. It was also a show where the writers worked very much together; no man was an island and everyone really relied on each other. That was a great lesson for me in working closely with a staff in a way I hadn't before.
NRAMA: Can you lay the groundwork for Kings and what it's about?
Green: Kings is a modern re-imagining of the King David story as inspired by the bible and set in a fictional monarchy. It is the story of a hero's journey by a young soldier named David Shepherd who finds himself going from obscurity to living and functioning in a king's court. We got to do something fun, wonky, and try to create what would be a plausible modern monarchy within an American setting. An incident happens where through sheer stupidity, David does a very heroic thing that catapults his life in a direction he never expected.
NRAMA: Who are some of the other characters that are integral to David's journey?
Green: It's a big cast. There are a lot of archetypes being played within. There is David the hero, Princess Michelle played by Allison Miller, and Sebastian Stahn plays young Prince Jack who is the rival of David. The lead is played by Chris Egan who is a wonderful, fairly new actor to America. He's an Australian actor who is best known for Eragon. He's a really nice guy and tremendously gifted. We have Ian McShane as King Silas, who is loosely based on the biblical character of Saul. He is one of my favorite actors ever and the chance to work with him was unbelievable.
NRAMA: Did you pinch yourself when Deadwood's Ian McShane signed up for the part then?
Green: It was the most amazing thing. We had been having problems casting that character since it's a unique role and a bunch of the show hinges on the believability there is a king. If you don't have the right actor, the whole thing would really fall apart. We knew that. This is a premise that relies on the charisma of the lead.
All of a sudden, we heard Ian McShane would be willing to read the script and I said "One sec. I want to write a note." Then it's "How do you write a note to your favorite actor?" I got to tell him with complete honesty that as a general rule, I don't write with actors in mind. I just write how I hear it but in the case of this character, I couldn't help but imagine him in it although I never dreamed he would read and consider it. I sincerely hoped he liked it. I realized I got to write that note once, put it out to the universe, and declare anyone who comes after that Ian was my first choice. Anyway, Ian was in New York for a play, we messengered the script over to his place, and the next day the director of the pilot, Francis Lawrence, got to sit down with Ian who ended up being interested in playing the part. We just couldn't believe how lucky we were.
NRAMA: As you mentioned, Chris Egan is a relative newcomer to the industry so what impressed you about him?
Green: Chris is a terrific actor, incredibly charismatic, but at the same time, David is a character who will hopefully really evolve. David starts as a younger naïve boy who is clearly new to the court and over time grows to over take it. We really needed somebody who could embody some boyish charm, innocence, and be Cinderella for us but also knew he could grow into someone who had thoughts and ambitions. Chris embodies all those qualities and he's not just another pretty face. There is some intelligence behind what he does but there is also a lot he's holding back that he can pull out later. We are excited to access that when the time comes.
NRAMA: How did you manage to get Constantine and I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence to helm the pilot?
Green: Blind luck! NBC was talking about reviving this project. It was something that they had and passed on in a different regime. The new regime that took over the network was reconsidering it and they felt it was a visually ambitious series. It is set in a fictional world so we get to create a city that doesn't exist. For a number of reasons, they thought we should get a very visceral director and if we did that, they would be much more inclined to shoot the show.
You hope for the best, they mentioned one or two people, and Francis' manager, who is also a producer on the show, was given the script to read and liked it. He and Francis had been working on a film about King David but were never happy with a script yet were still interested in the story. When they read my version of it, they found here was something with the same subject but turned on its head because they had been looking to make an actual period piece. They felt television was the place to really get into the story they wanted to tell.
Most people know the King David story in that a kid comes and slays Goliath with a stone but that is really just the beginning. There are actually chapters of the bible thereafter about what happens to him from that day on. They were interested in that part and with television, it is an ongoing story so they thought this might be the right place to tell it.
The other big joke was he had never read a television pilot before so he went over it and said "Oh, that would be fun!" He had the time, the opening, and NBC said they would love for him to come do it. That's what happened. He's fantastic to work with and a supremely talented director. I learned so much sitting there watching him shoot. He really put a visual stamp for it that sets this world apart from any other.
NRAMA: What was so enjoyable about coming up with this alternate take on our world?
Green: Getting to create your own city. We got to sit there and ask what this world looks like. Early on when I was first thinking about this series, David Eick took me out for lunch and I told him "Look, I am trying to do this crazy thing where I want to set it in an alternate world." He told me "Let me tell you the lessons we had in Battlestar Galactica. For us, it all came down to what door knobs look like. Do door knobs look like door knobs?"
The more they landed on reality, the more approachable their world felt. I enjoy sci-fi as much or more than the next guy but we want this universe to feel real and believable so we were trying to create the look of a city that is familiar but different. We shot in New York but took out some key landmarks so you don't necessarily see the Chrysler Building but what we've CG'ed on top of it.
That was really fun trying to decide what goes where, what do the signs look like, are they on the metric system or not, and does it have European or American feel? Francis has incredibly good taste and I would just follow his lead on everything because usually he would be right.
NRAMA: Do you establish an actual city where this series takes place?
Green: The city and country are given a name but much like Springfield, we don't say where it is on the globe. This country's name is Gilboa and the city's name is Shiloh.
NRAMA: Politics and religion can be two touchy subjects so were you nervous about incorporating those elements into Kings?
Green: The series are marriages and in marriages, you have to talk about religion and politics. No, those are the things that make for some of the interesting conversations on screen. Writing is not about being polite but it's not an inflammatory show. Hopefully, it's entertaining and about things, but it's not a preachy show.
NRAMA: What kind of format can viewers expect over a weekly basis?
Green: I would say this is akin to one of my favorite series, which is Battlestar Galactica, in that there is ongoing stuff. Battlestar is classified as a "soap" because it is ongoing but it does episodes that are stand alone.
NRAMA: You've described Kings as "soft sci-fi". What exactly does that mean?
Green: We really enjoyed the process of creating a new world that is relevant to our own and looks like our own. In sci-fi, you usually imagine people in space or on a planet with different technology and here we were trying to do something I had never seen before. I was interested in seeing if we could pull off this new world that would still be passable as our own. Hopefully, if I told you this was a country in our world, you would believe it.
At the same time, there is something unique about it so it's sci-fi in the sense we created a new world but not so much that they are carrying around light sabers. However, I would really like if they were.
NRAMA: Kings isn't debuting until early 2009 so how does it feel to be a mid-season series?
Green: It is great for a number of reasons. When you come in during the fall, there is a lot of noise for other shows, a lot of competition, and a lot of people vying for the same audience. When you come on mid-season, it is just not the same volume.
The other reason is you get a lot more time to make your episodes and make them right. In a way, we get to make our first season much more like an HBO series. One of the reasons television is so hard is the sheer amount of episodes you are trying to craft while on cable, you are making 10-14 episodes which is a different task than doing 24. Having a chance to work on the series more lets us spend more energy on each episode.
NRAMA: On top of Kings, you have other projects on your plate. How did you become involved with the Green Lantern feature film?
Green: A guy I worked with, one of my long time co-writers and very good friend, Greg Berlanti, had been going after that job to write and direct it. He came up with an amazing take that blew Warner Bros.' mind. One of his plans was if he got the job, he would call me and Marc Guggenheim and say "Hey, if I got this job, would you want to write this for me?" I have a rule that goes if someone calls you and asks if you want to write the Green Lantern movie, you say "Yes!"
NRAMA: What kind of approach are you taking with the Emerald Gladiator?
Green: Unfortunately, I have to be vague because it is really early but it is very dutiful. It is a fans' take. We are all huge fans of the character. I like to think we understand the Green Lantern franchise. We all came at this like "How do we not screw up something that is really important to us? What would make us happy as fans?"
I can tell you it is Hal Jordan and hopefully something other people will enjoy. We want to introduce what we love about this classic character to everyone. Hal Jordan is interesting because there have been a lot of incarnations but he does have this indomitable will. One of the other fun things about Green Lantern is this idea that you are joining something bigger and larger than yourself.
NRAMA: This year's Iron Man was lighter in tone than The Dark Knight's grim and gritty. Which way are you leaning with Green Lantern?
Green: It is sort of its own version and I really can't tell you much more. I can say it's not the comedy version. A lot of people had it in their heads that there was going to be a Jack Black version. I don't even know if that was an internet rumor or it may have been true for a while. We are not doing the stupid "Scooby Doo" version though.
NRAMA: Online, people are championing Nathan Fillion or Ben Browder to wear the ring. Do you have a wish list for actors too?
Green: Yeah, but right now we are trying to write the script and like I said, I try to write without specific people in mind because you aren't always going to get Ian McShane. We've talked about it but right now we are focusing on the character and story. Warner Bros. has mentioned a few people and all of them are exciting.
NRAMA: You are also co-writing the Superman/Batman comic book series. Is the epic Final Crisis seeping into your plots?
Green: People are always asking what our continuity is and my answer is it is always 100 percent in continuity but sometimes the other comics are wrong. Sometimes, like the Crisis stuff, they don't take into account what we are doing. I like to think we are the center of continuity and sometimes they miss it [laughs].
NRAMA: So what do you have on tap for upcoming issues?
Green: We have part two of the Little Leaguers which I just saw the art for and I think it is the most entertaining art I have ever seen. Rafael Albuequerque did the art and he is awesome! Every time I see some pages, I can't stop laughing or giggling that we get to do this. After that, we are doing a story called The Super/Bat. I am going to hold off giving too many details but that is another four-part arc where Superman and Batman find a new perspective on each other due to some strange events.
NRAMA: Is it difficult coming up with new spins on these iconic superheroes that have been around for decades?
Green: I would never say writing comics is hard because it's so much fun and such a joy. There is definitely a challenge in trying to do something that hasn't been done before. At the same time, you have to free yourself of that and do what interests you.
Anytime you are writing such beloved characters, you are the custodians of something bigger than yourself so you want to work really hard at it. There are always going to be people who appreciate when you do something new but some people don't enjoy the Superman/Batman book because they don't feel it's as relevant as the other ones. I enjoy the fact that it is something you can pick up and read even if you haven't been following every issue of Final Crisis.
Sometimes those books require so much homework it becomes less fun for me.
Related Stories:
San Diego Comic-Con '08 - NBC's 'Kings' Sneak Peek Panel
Writer Marc Guggenheim Talks Eli Stone, Green Lantern Movie
David Eick Talks Battlestar Galactica Past, Present, Future
Charting the Superman/Batman Course: Michael Green & Mike Johnson
Making Sense of Warner Bros./DC's Film Projects (or trying to)


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The Sphagnum microbiome: new insights from an ancient plant lineage. New Phytologist. 211(1):57-64.. 2016.
Large CO 2 and CH 4 Emissions from Polygonal Tundra During Spring Thaw in Northern Alaska. Geophysical Research Letters.. 2016.
Large drought-induced variations in oak leaf volatile organic compound emissions during PINOT NOIR 2012. Chemosphere. 146:8-21.. 2016.
LS3MIP (v1.0) contribution to CMIP6: the Land Surface, Snow and Soil moisture Model Intercomparison Project – aims, setup and expected outcome. Geoscientific Model Development. 9(8):2809-2832.. 2016.
Managing complexity in simulations of land surface and near-surface processes. Environmental Modelling & Software. 78:134-149.. 2016.
Mapping Arctic Plant Functional Type Distributions in the Barrow Environmental Observatory Using WorldView-2 and LiDAR Datasets. Remote Sensing. 8(9):733.. 2016.
Modeling the spatio-temporal variability in subsurface thermal regimes across a low-relief polygonal tundra landscape. The Cryosphere Discussions. :1-32.. 2016.
Modelling radionuclide transport in fractured media with a dynamic update of Kd values. Computers & Geosciences. 86:55-63.. 2016.
Moving forward with fine-root definitions and research. New Phytologist. 212(2):313-313.. 2016.
A multi-decade record of high-quality fCO2 data in version 3 of the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT)Individual data set files and synthesis product for SOCAT version 3Gridded products for SOCAT version 3. Earth System Science Data. 8(2):383-413.. 2016.
A new global interior ocean mapped climatology: the 1° × 1° GLODAP version 2. Earth System Science Data. 8:325-340.. 2016.
Next-gen tools for big scientific data: ARM data center example. 2016 IEEE International Conference on Big Data (Big Data)2016 IEEE International Conference on Big Data (Big Data).. 2016.
Normalization in sustainability assessment: Methods and implications. Ecological Economics. 130:195-208.. 2016.
An observational constraint on stomatal function in forests: evaluating coupled carbon and water vapor exchange with carbon isotopes in the Community Land Model (CLM4.5). Biogeosciences. 13(18):5183-5204.. 2016.
An Observation-Driven Agent-Based Modeling and Analysis Framework for C. elegans Embryogenesis. PLOS ONE. :e0166551.. 2016.
Organic nitrates and other oxidized nitrogen compounds contribute significantly to the total nitrogen depositions in the United States. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. :201608717.. 2016.
PetIGA: A framework for high-performance isogeometric analysis. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 308:151-181.. 2016.
Phosphorus feedbacks constraining tropical ecosystem responses to changes in atmospheric CO 2 and climate. Geophysical Research Letters. 43(13):7205-7214.. 2016.
Plant responses to increasing CO 2 reduce estimates of climate impacts on drought severity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 113(36):10019-10024.. 2016.
Potential carbon emissions dominated by carbon dioxide from thawed permafrost soils. Nature Climate Change.. 2016.
Reconciling food security and bioenergy: priorities for action. GCB Bioenergy.. 2016.
Regional hydrologic response to climate change in the conterminous United States using high-resolution hydroclimate simulations. Global and Planetary Change. 143:100-117.. 2016.
Reviews and syntheses: Four decades of modeling methane cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Biogeosciences. 13(12):3735-3755.. 2016.
Root bacterial endophytes alter plant phenotype, but not physiology . PeerJ. 4:e2606.. 2016.
Root traits explain observed tundra vegetation nitrogen uptake patterns: Implications for trait-based land models. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. 121(124611-1231-2123343231-21231716741129213234611241331210631431322121213162151326365812):3101-3112.. 2016.


text: Find this wine Find this wine Markham Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley 2011 Robert and Karen at Bistro 14 on LBI. August 28, 2013 our 11 month anniversary. Pin It Tweet 6 years ago by Karengharris2 More posts Markham Vineyards Merlot 2012 Napa Valley, from Mollie and Joe for Marty's birthday. 4 years ago by Momara2006 Markham Vineyard Merlot 2012 Napa Valley Very good. 4 years ago by Jamarel Markham Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley 2008 6 years ago by D H. Markham Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot 2008 Bloomington. Ruby James' birth. Very nice 7 years ago by Bradshepherd Markham Vineyard Merlot Napa Valley 2005 Very nice merlot, around 20 bucks 8 years ago by Geoff199ef


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Export 6 results:
Filters: Author is Masango, Chengetai [Clear All Filters]
Journal Article
The role of face-to-face meetings in technology-supported self-organizing distributed teams. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communications, 50, 185–203. doi:10.1109/TPC.2007.902654. (2007). 070122.pdf (1.94 MB)
Conference Proceedings
A structurational perspective on leadership in Free/Libre Open Source Software teams. Proceedings of the 1st Conference on Open Source Systems (OSS). Genova, Italy.. (2005). crowston-final.pdf (293.24 KB)
Effective work practices for FLOSS development: A model and propositions. Proceedings of the 38th Hawai'i International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS). Big Island, Hawai'i, January. doi:10.1109/HICSS.2005.222. (2005). Paper.pdf (141 KB) Presentation.pdf (426.61 KB)
Conference Paper
Towards a portfolio of FLOSS project success measures. In Workshop on Open Source Software Engineering, 26th International Conference on Software Engineering. Edinburgh.. (2004). Towards_a_Portfolio_ of _FLOSS_Project.pdf (306.18 KB)
Face-to-face interactions in self-organizing distributed teams. In Academy of Management Conference. Honolulu, HI.. (2005). FaceToFace Interactions.pdf (4.6 MB)
Effective work practices for software engineering. In , Proceedings of the 2004 ACM workshop on Interdisciplinary software engineering research (WISER '04) (p. 18). Newport Beach, CA, USA: ACM Press. doi:10.1145/1029997.1030003. (2004). p18-crowston.pdf (381.25 KB)


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In order to connect with people, you need to engage your audience or your potential audience. There are lots of ways to do this.
Have you ever noticed that everyone has an opinion? One of the simplest ways to engage your audience is to ask them their opinion.
Yankee Magazine, a publication that celebrates New England life, has the most brilliant social media campaign going on right now that demonstrates this point perfectly. On their Facebook page they are asking their followers to decide which Classic Yankee Magazine Thanksgiving covers were the best. Each week they pit two historical covers against each other and ask their audience to choose their favorite one.
Everyone has an opinion! And everyone wants to share their opinion. I couldn't help myself from stopping to write a comment and tell them what I think. Neither could the other 200+ people who have left comments. Now that's engaging your audience.
Their approach was so simple. They created no new content. They simply dove into their personal historical archives and asked their followers to share their opinions, turning it into a contest.
Now think about your audience - potential clients, society members, distant cousins. How can you ask them for their opinions? Here are a few suggestions to get your started.
Potential Clients - try comparing two documents side by side that relate to your niche. Ask your followers which is a better source and why. If you are changing your logo, involve your audience in helping you choose the best one.
Society Members - Post two books related to your region and ask your members which they found more helpful. Then change the books each week. If you are a society hosting webinars, feature two potential webinar topics and ask your members to choose.
Distant Cousins - photos work great when trying to attract distant cousins. Post two photos of the same person at different stages of their life and ask the cousins to confirm whether it is indeed the same person. Likewise post an identified photo next to an unidentified photo and get your cousins to figure out if it's the same person or even the same family.
The responses from all these people will be opinions and they will feel happy to give them to you. Opinions don't cost a cent but they certainly do bring a priceless reward. Start thinking about how you can engage your audience by simply asking for their opinions.


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There are some topics on our message boards that pop up to surprise us, while others follow a pretty predictable cycle.
Every year, around the holidays, calls to our helpline and posts on our message boards indicate many family members notice the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or advancing dementia. This is especially true of out-of-town family members who don't see the person with dementia every day; they compare behaviors to previous times — and the difference may be startling.
The out-of-town family member may react by offering uninvited advice and opinions to family members who are dealing with dementia on a daily basis. And that's when we see posts like this one:
"How dare she fly in here from thousands of miles away and say what our mother needs. I'm the one who does everything every day for her. Who does she think she is?!"
I think that it's very natural to resent the advice of someone who is less aware of the daily needs of the person with Alzheimer's and how much work it can take to meet those needs as the disease advances. But what's harder to do is to accept that these family members are offering caregivers something very valuable – something that they cannot provide for themselves. They are offering perspective.
When you're very close to something and looking at it, you see all the details. You can see the lines and veins in a leaf, for example, only when you're close to it. You can see the effect of a slight breeze as it meets the leaf and moves it, even slightly. But what you can't see, is the size of that leaf with respect to the whole tree — or a whole forest. For that perspective, you need some distance. And distance is something that daily caregiving just doesn't allow.
So when the family gets together and someone offers opinions from a more distant viewpoint, it can help to try to see it as information that reflects a different perspective — one that can only be seen clearly when the viewer isn't too close to the details. And sometimes, that view can even encourage caregivers to take a step back and incorporate additional resources they may not have considered before.
For the holidays, a little perspective can be a wonderful gift.
Learn More
- Resolving Family Conflicts
- Caring for Alzheimer's
- Alzheimer's Families and the Holidays
- Alzheimer's Association Message Boards
Today's guest post comes from Ellen Carbonell, LCSW, Associate Director, Family Programs for the Alzheimer's Association's national office. Ellen is responsible for developing and producing dementia-related family programs for chapter implementation nationwide, and oversees the caregiver and early-stage support group programs. Trained as a clinical social worker, she has over 30 years of experience working with individual and family programs in mental health, vocational, educational, clergy and voluntary health care settings.


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"Mind in Vegas" is shifting gears!Readership of general-interest Las Vegas blogs has led to a steady steam of art reviewing and other projects. In an effort to bring these art reviews to more readers, I'll be re-posting them here.
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Mon Ami Terry Lynch
The Las Vegas French Meet-Up Group schedules a French cooking class
I am a fantastic cook. Correction: I am an OK cook. Correction: I am not so great in the kitchen. No, wait—my dishes are sublime. This is all true. I swear it! The success of my meals (and their failures) is as conspicuous as the peaks and gullies of the …more Mon Ami Terry Lynch


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San Vicente collegiate church
San Vicente collegiate church
«Лучшее европейское туристическое направление» (EDEN) — звание, отмечающее модель устойчивого туризма.
Located in a valley in central Catalonia, on the banks of the Cardoner river, Cardona is a picturesque site with an important mediaeval heritage. Its most outstanding features include the walled fortress in its castle, set on a hill, and the foremost example of the Catalan Romanesque style of architecture. It was shortlisted in the European Commission's EDEN programme (European Destinations of Excellence), in recognition of its sustainable tourism proposal. Cardona, located in the region of El Bages, is heir to an important mediaeval past which began in around the 8th century with the construction of its castle-palace-monastery. The streets of the town take us back to a time of Romanesque and Gothic constructions. One of the most emblematic structures in this town is its 9th-century fortified enclosure, today restored for use as a Parador hotel. The most representative elements of the Catalan Romanesque style to be seen throughout the area can be found in the mediaeval castle. The palace, which stands within the walled enclosure, has a ducal courtyard and a large hall with pointed arches. The Torre de la Minyona tower is one of the key elements of the site, together with the chapel of San Ramón Nonato, which conserves various Romanesque and Gothic elements. The castle's greatest treasure is the collegiate church of San Vicente, an outstanding Romanesque church dating from the 11th century, whose central nave has a height of almost 20 metres. The town of Cardona is also home to interesting places such as the street known as the Calle Major, the Plaça del Mercat square and the church of Sant Miquel. It is also well worth visiting the Montaña de Sal cultural park beside the town; this site was a runner-up in the European Commission's EDEN programme (European Destinations of Excellence), in recognition of its sustainable tourism proposal. The area around Cardona offers a range of possibilities for excursions. Typical farmworkers' houses and old farm buildings can be seen along the route to the Cadí-Moixeró nature reserve. Nearby, the waterfalls along the Llobregat river create a landscape that lingers in the traveller's memory.
- Подробную информацию об интересующем вас месте можно найти на веб-сайте:
- http://cardonaturisme.cat/es/
Cardona's Salt Mountain guided tour
The Salt Mountain is a unique natural phenomenon in the ...(+Подробнее)


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5 Tips for Marketing on Twitter
Effective marketing on Twitter doesn't require a lot of time. In fact, you need to spend no more than 30–60 minutes per day (in two 15–30 minute blocks) on Twitter. Here are some tips for how to be productive during the time you spend on Twitter.
Don't agonize over what to say: Anything you say on Twitter stays in the general timeline and on people's minds for all of ten seconds. Unless you tweet something grossly offensive or rip-roaringly funny, people aren't going to remember what you said five minutes after you tweet it, let alone what you said last week.
You don't need to make your tweets profound. Your tweets can contain abbreviations, but remember that is it extremely important to your business's image to spell words correctly and use proper grammar. Also, you don't need your tweets to always have a 50 percent click-through rate.
Falling water drops wear away stone over time — likewise, it may take weeks, and maybe even months, before your frequent tweets lead to increased sales and become a viable marketing strategy. Be patient, stick with it, and just have conversations with people. Let them see the real you so that they can trust you enough to buy from you.
Don't read every tweet from the people you follow: The effective Twitter marketer is following, and being followed by, thousands of people. You just can't keep up with everyone. So, accept the fact that you don't have time to read tweets from some people (okay, a lot of people).
The following list provides a few solutions to finding the people whose tweets you want to read:
Follow only people worth following: Hundreds of affiliate marketers and spammers follow you, so ignore them. Find people in your industry, people in your city, and your customers. Keep your list of followers to just the people who write worthwhile tweets.
Save keyword searches. Whether you use a third-party tool or Twitter itself, saving searches based on a keyword or phrase is helpful. Look for hashtag topics, keywords in your industry, or current events. Now, instead of having to scan every tweet for that elusive message about the Marble Collecting Convention, you see only the tweets related to that topic.
Don't try to add value to all your tweets: Tweet whatever you want. Just try to add value when you can. For example, you can add value by telling people about breaking news stories, articles in a trade journal, new blog posts, and new resources or software.
Do spread out your marketing tweets: Don't send marketing message after marketing message. The number of acceptable marketing tweets seems to vary from expert to expert, but a good guideline is a maximum of 1:9 ratio.
Consider a 1:15 ratio as a solid recommendation for your marketing tweet ratio. For each marketing message you send out, you should send out 15 messages that don't talk about your product at all. You can make those 15 tweets conversational, added value tweets, or even 140-character love sonnets about hazelnut cream cheese on a blueberry bagel.
Do stick to a schedule with your tweets: How often do you e-mail people? How often do you talk on the phone? How many days a week do you work? That's how often you should tweet.


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Members of First Presbyterian Church in Geneseo will be "Kirkin' o' the Tartan" on Nov. 4.
Members of First Presbyterian Church in Geneseo will be "Kirkin' o' the Tartan" on Nov. 4.
"Kirking, is from the Gaelic word 'kirk,' which means 'church,' and in this usage means, 'blessing,'" said the Rev. David Esche of First Presbyterian Church.
"Scotland in the mid-18th century saw the English parliament and monarchy banning weapons as well as the wearing of tartan or kilts by clansmen. A legend has it that clansmen would carry small pieces of the banned tartan cloth to the church and the clergymen would slip a blessing into the service," said Esche.
On Nov. 4, members of First Presbyterian Church and area residents are invited to a special celebration at the church.
First Presbyterian Church is observing its 150th anniversary and the Nov. 4 event will include prayer, scripture, preaching, blessing, bagpipes and the singing of "Amazing Grace."
On Nov. 4, worship service will start at 10:15 a.m. in front of the church with children releasing balloons. Bagpipers will then lead people into the church for worship.
"In our 'Kirkin' service, we will remember ancient times, as well as the more recent past, while asking God's help and blessings in the future," said Esche.
Many of the charter members who helped found First Presbyterian Church in Geneseo in 1863 had Scottish names. In addition, many of the first Geneseo settlers were from the New York communities of Bergen, Geneseo and Oneida and had Scottish or Irish names and selected a Presbyterian form of government to follow in the early years of the formation of the town, said Esche.
As a remembrance of early Scottish Presbyterians, "Kirkin' o' the Tartan" services have become a Scottish-American custom, he said.
Members of the First Presbyterian congregation and guests are encourage to wear "their colors" — tartan cloths, ties and kilts in the plaid pattern associated with a particular clan.
"If you do not have a Scottish clan, you may adopt one for the day. We will invite you to present a swatch of cloth for the blessing," said Esche.


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Free income tax preparation
It is that dreaded time of year when our mailboxes start to fill with those W-2, 1099s and other forms that indicate to us what might be taxable income. Some people simply throw all of the tax documents in a shoe box or plastic bag, and take them to a CPA or storefront tax service for completion of 1040 forms and schedules. Many others collect their tax documents and use one of the many commercially available boxed income tax programs from the likes of H&R Block or Intuit's TurboTax.
For those eligible, there are a number of respectable companies that offer free online tax calculations and e-filing. According to the IRS, about 70 percent of all taxpayers have an AGI (adjusted gross income) of $57,000 or less, making them eligible to use one of the many free online tax services that are members of the IRS Free File Alliance, the listings of which will be available on the IRS website at freefile.irs.gov starting on Jan. 22.
According to the IRS website, "The Free File Alliance, LLC is a group of industry-leading private-sector tax preparation companies that have agreed to meet the IRS' high standards for security and privacy and provide tax software options for free." Over 20 tax preparation services, all members of the Free File Alliance (freefilealliance.org), have offered free online tax calculation and e-filing services to those eligible. Generally, anyone with an adjusted gross income of $57,000 or less is eligible for these free filing services. Some of the services are only available to residents of specific states, while others have other restrictions. Some of the online services also have special arrangements for military families, students or retirees. Most of these services only prepare simple tax returns, which might not be appropriate for many people. All of them meet IRS requirements for safety, security, accuracy and privacy, and will electronically file (e-file) the tax return with the IRS when completed, providing the fastest possible refunds for those receiving them.
No special tax knowledge is necessary in order to utilize these free online services as they use a question-and-answer method to solicit appropriate information from the taxpayer, providing explanations as they go along. All of them will make the necessary calculations, freeing the individual up from trying to comprehend the massive IRS tax tables.
Among the better-known companies offering free online tax preparation and e-filing is H&R Block, with its "H&R Block At Home Free." This online service is intended only to complete what it calls "simple tax returns." H&R Block says, "A simple tax return excludes self-employment income (Schedule C), capital gains and losses (Schedule D), rental and royalty income (Schedule E), farm income (Schedule F) and shareholder/partnership income or loss (Schedule K-1)." Taxpayers with any of these forms of income (or losses) will have to use one of the commercial products or paid preparers. This free online product offers many of the same benefits and services as its commercial (paid) counterparts, including H&R Block's "Accurate Calculations Guarantee" and "Worry-free Audit Support." The number of IRS forms and schedules that can be completed by this free service is arguably the most comprehensive list available in a free service. H&R Block's free online service will complete a 1040EZ, 1040A or 1040 as appropriate, along with any additional forms or schedules, as determined by a comprehensive and easy-to-understand interview process. This interview process is somewhat intelligent in that it will attempt to find all lawful deductions and credits in order to maximize any refund or minimize any taxes due.
Another extremely popular tax preparation software or online service is TurboTax, which also offers a free online service for simple. As do most of the other free online tax services, TurboTax uses an easy to follow interview procedure in order to determine the proper forms to use and calculate the proper taxes. According to TurboTax, "We ask questions in plain English and then put your answers on the right forms for you, including 1040EZ, 1040A and 1040. TurboTax skips interview questions that don't apply to you so you can finish your return faster." Also, TurboTax guarantees the largest possible refund as well as audit support, if necessary. For those who start with the TurboTax free edition but later find that one of the paid versions of TurboTax would be more advantageous, the free edition will prompt the user if a different TurboTax product would be better for them and will automatically fill out the upgraded (paid) version with the information previously entered into the free version. TurboTax will check the return for accuracy, and then e-file it with the IRS, quickly getting the user a refund if one is coming. Previous users of TurboTax can import last year's data into this year's product, speeding up the process. State tax returns can be completed, if necessary, for a nominal fee.
One of the more unusual free online tax services is FreeTaxUSA (freetaxusa.com), also listed online as "TaxHawk," an identical product and service. FreeTaxUSA differs from all of the other free online tax services in that it is explicitly free for everyone, not just those with an AGI of $57,000 or less. According the FreeTaxUSA website, "Our free service covers a wide range of federal returns, including investment, self employed, home ownership, rental income, farm income, and other tax situations." Unlike most of the other free products, this service is also available for those with other forms of income and expenses, including, capital gains, office & business expenses, rental income, investment income or losses, traditional and Roth IRAs, retirement and pensions, military income, charitable contributions, gambling income, and farm income. For those who may need additional priority support and services, a deluxe edition is available online for $5.95. State taxes can be completed and e-filed by FreeTaxUSA for $9.95. FreeTaxUSA says it has processed more than 8 million free tax returns.
Another unusual but popular free online tax service, TaxACT, also offers free online tax preparation for everyone, including both simple and complex returns without the income restrictions (taxact.com). According to the TaxACT website, it is "the most complete free tax filing solution for everyone!" A somewhat unique benefit offered by TaxACT is not just that it is available for free online preparation, just like all of the other free products, but it also offers the complete program as a free download, such that it can be completed offline on the computer, rather than online in a Web browser. TaxACT offers guaranteed accuracy, guaranteed largest refunds (if eligible), and audit assistance. Users of either the free online or free downloaded versions can also complete a state tax return for a fee of $14.95. For families with college age children, or adults contemplating a college education, TaxACT also offers a "College Student Financial Aid Worksheet," which enables the user to easily complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which is a requirement to get financial aid at almost all colleges and universities. For those who may need additional services, TaxACT offers a Deluxe Federal version for online use or download for $9.95, and a bundle with both the Deluxe version and state program for $17.95 (download or online). For the extra $3, those living in states that have a state income tax may find the Deluxe bundle advantageous over the free version plus the state filing.
With dozens of free online tax services available to the 100 million taxpayers with an AGI of $57,000 or less, and at least two free services (including one with free downloadable software) available to everyone regardless of income or family status, the old paper and pencil tax forms are now virtually obsolete.
Listen to Ira Wilsker's weekly radio show on Mondays from 6-7 p.m. on KLVI 560AM.


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Why Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Won't Pay a Dividend in 2014
Berkshire Hathaway has a number of things going for it if you're considering an investment in it, but dividend income certainly isn't one of them. Warren Buffett's company doesn't pay out a single dime to its investors in the form of dividends -- and 2014 isn't likely to change that trend.
This all comes as a bit of a surprise when you consider that of its top eight investments, all of them pay out a dividend, and in fact many of them are among the better-known favorites among dividend investors:
Two of Berkshire's most recent and notable investments -- IBM and ExxonMobil -- have two of the highest dividend yields on the list. Berkshire also holds the exclusive $5 billion stake in Bank of America preferred shares that carry an annual dividend of 6%. If you take those eight investments, plus the Bank of America position, Berkshire rakes in roughly $2 billion each year in the form of dividends from other companies.
As a result, many investors would like to know why Berkshire doesn't pay a dividend, and if it's poised to do so anytime in the future. Buffett addressed this very question in his most recent annual letter to shareholders:
A number of Berkshire shareholders -- including some of my good friends -- would like Berkshire to pay a cash dividend. It puzzles them that we relish the dividends we receive from most of the stocks that Berkshire owns, but pay out nothing ourselves.
Buffett went on to say that the value to shareholders increases if a company first considers reinvesting profits back into the business, and then thinks about possible acquisitions and finally share buybacks. After all three of those things have been exhausted, only then would Buffett advise a company to consider paying out a dividend. And Berkshire's actions in 2013 give us solid insight into what may happen to the dividend next year.
Specifically, Buffett says that "a company's management should first examine reinvestment possibilities offered by its current business -- projects to become more efficient, expand territorially, extend and improve product lines, or to otherwise widen the economic moat separating the company from its competitors."
When you consider that last year Berkshire had a record $12.1 billion in "fixed-asset investments and bolt-on acquisitions," and year to date it has $7.7 billion of cash dedicated to the purchase of property, plant, and equipment, relative to the $7.2 billion through the first nine months of last year, it doesn't look as if Berkshire has taken any steps away from its dedication to reinvest back into its business.
After extolling the value of reinvesting into a business, Buffett went on to say he thinks acquisitions unrelated to current businesses are the next best use of Berkshire's cash. "[O]ur test is simple," he said. "Do Charlie [Munger] and I think we can effect a transaction that is likely to leave our shareholders wealthier on a per-share basis than they were prior to the acquisition?"
Knowing that Buffett pulled out the "elephant gun" to acquire Heinz for $28 billion with private equity firm 3G Capital earlier this year, it's evident that Buffett and his managers are not only reinvesting back into the business, but also actively looking for companies to acquire.
As a final point, Buffett said that "disciplined repurchases are the surest way to use funds intelligently," and he concluded that the company would actively considering repurchasing stock if the price traded for less than 120% of its book value. Buffett was been active on both the reinvesting and acquisition fronts, but the same can't be said for share buybacks, as the most recent SEC filing states simply, "There were no share repurchases in the first nine months of 2013."
It's logical to think that since there haven't been any share repurchases, Buffett may be amenable to exploring a dividend. However, when you consider that through the first nine months of the year Berkshire has had cash flows from investing activities total $25.5 billion, versus $7.5 billion last year, it becomes evident that Buffett's philosophy on principally investing in his company first hasn't changed one bit, and the dividend yield of 0% isn't likely to change anytime soon either.
Companies with great dividends
Berkshire Hathaway has a ton going for it and is certainly worthy of your consideration, but the reality is that dividend stocks can make you rich. While they don't garner the notability of high-flying growth stocks, they're also less likely to crash and burn. And over the long term, the compounding effect of the quarterly payouts, as well as their growth, adds up faster than most investors imagine. With this in mind, our analysts sat down to identify the absolute best of the best when it comes to rock-solid dividend stocks, drawing up a list in this free report of nine that fit the bill. To discover the identities of these companies before the rest of the market catches on, you can download this valuable free report by simply clicking here now.
The article Why Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Won't Pay a Dividend in 2014 originally appeared on Fool.com.Fool contributor Patrick Morris owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, ExxonMobil, and US Bancorp. The Motley Fool recommends American Express, Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, and Wells Fargo and owns shares of Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway, Coca-Cola, IBM, and Wells Fargo. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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WORCESTER — Just six days before the special election, 16th Worcester District state representative candidates Daniel Donahue and Carol Claros debated issues and approaches at a forum Wednesday night in the basement of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Mr. Donahue, a Democrat, and Ms. Claros, a Republican, chewed through a host of issues in the hour-long forum, sponsored by the Grafton Hill Business Association, the Grafton Hill Neighborhood Association and the Oak Hill Community Development Corp., and moderated by Charter TV3 news supervisor and sports anchor Andy Lacombe.
Ms. Claros framed many of her answers around her support for lowering taxes and easing regulations for small businesses. Creating that business-friendly climate will create jobs that can affect positive change in the district's neighborhoods, Ms. Claros said.
For example, she said she was opposed to sitting down and rewriting contracts with banks to address the foreclosure crisis; she said she wondered what kind of precedent that would set.
She said three out of four jobs in the state are attached to small businesses; and that more employment opportunities will keep people in their homes and will combat crime.
Mr. Donahue said growing jobs is only a piece of the puzzle. He said in the shortened term the winner of the Sept. 10 election will inherit it will be important to reach out to banks and get them at the table with the city and neighborhood organizations like the Oak Hill CDC. He said it's not about rewriting contracts, but about showing the banks that not moving these foreclosed homes is blighting neighborhoods.
"People can't wait for us to legislate our way out of it," Mr. Donahue said, pledging to reach out to banks on his first day in office.
Crime has plagued neighborhoods in the 16th Worcester District, which includes Grafton Hill, Vernon Hill, Quinsigamond Village, parts of College Hill, Green Island, and the Massasoit Road area.
Ms. Claros said that as a single parent, she knows how important it is to ensure public safety. She said it will be important as a state representative to work with public safety officials in the district to make sure they have the funding to make the district safe.
Ms. Claros said she is also in favor of tougher sentencing for habitual sexual offenders, and said she will advocate for getting illegal guns off the streets.
Mr. Donahue said he supports the experimental policing district that was piloted in the district. But he said ensuring public safety includes more than just law enforcement. It's about cracking down on absentee landlords and engaging community partners. For example, Union Hill is "under siege," Mr. Donahue said. Bringing in jobs is important, but action needs to be taken now, he added.
Ms. Claros focused on lowering taxes and removing regulatory barriers to small business as a way to drive economic development in the district.
Mr. Donahue said the biggest economic development potential in the district is along the Route 20 corridor and what he described as the Quinsigamond Avenue "gateway." He said he will push to secure funding for infrastructure improvements like the long-awaited sewer upgrades on Route 20.
But Ms. Claros said that when she hears infrastructure improvements, it means more taxes. She said there has been talk for 15 years about sewers along Route 20, but it has never happened. She said the focus needs to on jobs and the economy.
Mr. Donahue countered that tax cuts alone don't grow jobs. He said businesses have been lured to the city with promises of tax breaks, only to walk away. Infrastructure improvements work — just look at the success of Gateway Park, Mr. Donahue said.
Ms. Claros said she plans on holding weekly office hours, and at a few different points went back and forth from English to Spanish. She said she would be able to give a voice to historically under-represented voters.
Mr. Donahue said one of the reasons he wanted to run for state representative was because of the direct contact with voters. He said he plans on spending a lot of time in the district having conversations with people. He gave out his cellphone number in response to one question Wednesday night.
"If you have a problem, I have a problem," Mr. Donahue said.
Ms. Claros portrayed herself as an independent candidate who can relate to working families. She took a subtle swipe at her opponent by saying she couldn't quit her job as a nurse at Concord state prison to campaign full-time. That was a reference to Mr. Donahue's resignation from Mayor Joseph Petty's staff over the summer.
Mr. Donahue said he's his own man. Born and raised in the district, he highlighted his deeps roots here. He said he's a "kid from the village who knows this neighborhood."
Seeing his role as an advocate and listener, Mr. Donahue said another important part of being a state representative is looking forward.
"You look at Route 20, you look at Quinsigamond Ave., you look at a new Crompton Park. You look at things ahead of the game," Mr. Donahue said, noting that he is also looking long-term at uses for the possible mitigation money that could come from a new slots operation being built in neighboring Millbury.
Ms. Claros and Mr. Donahue both asked members of the audience at Our Lady of Lourdes for their vote Tuesday. The special election was called to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of John Fresolo, who stepped down amid a House ethics investigation
Contact Steven H. Foskett Jr. at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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We organise our work into a variety of separate projects,
each of which is controlled by a member who has volunteered as project manager.
The manager splits projects into separate smaller tasks
and estimates roughly how long each task will take. He also states any special skills or
knowledge that members should to complete the task.
We are also compiling a
directory of Altruists
on the Web, so any time you've got a spare moment you can suggest an altruistically motivated site.
Members who have successfully suggested several sites can become an editor and take control themselves.
Members with language skills can also help
this site into different languages.


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BLUE Wilderness®
Rocky Mountain Recipe
For Adult Cats
A truly unique combination of beauty and pure physical grace, the lynx has roamed the American West for centuries. Today the stealth and spirit of this tireless hunter lives in all our feline companions.
A Meat-Rich, Grain-Free Diet
Rocky Mountain Recipe provides your cat with a higher concentration of the meat she loves—without the grains that contain gluten. Formulated by our animal nutritionists, BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe contains:
- Tasty, protein-rich, Rabbit
- None of the grains that contain glutens
- Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables
- NO chicken (or poultry) by-product meals
- NO corn, wheat, soy and NO artificial preservatives
Exclusive LifeSource Bits®
BLUE LifeSource Bits are a precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals selected by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists that support:
- Immune system health
- Life stage requirements
- Healthy oxidative balance
And LifeSource Bits are cold-formed to help retain the potency of their ingredients. This means that we minimize the amount of heat that LifeSource Bits are exposed to during the manufacturing process. It's the same concept as when you cook vegetables at high heat — the longer you do, the more heat-sensitive nutrients are lost.
Product Benefits
Healthy Muscle Development
High-quality protein from Rabbit, plus Chicken Meal and Fish Meal helps build strong muscles.
Healthy Skin & Coat
An optimal balance of Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids helps promote a shiny coat and healthy skin.
Healthy Digestion
We use only high-quality protein and natural sources of fiber to help provide optimal nutrient absorption and digestive health.
Healthy Weight
The carefully balanced calories from proteins and fat help maintain an ideal, healthy body weight.
Healthy Immune System
Essential vitamins, chelated minerals and important antioxidants help support the immune system.
Healthy Heart & Eyes
Taurine is an essential amino acid that cats require to help maintain heart and eye health.
ALWAYS Starts with Protein-Rich RABBIT
- NO Chicken (or Poultry) By-Product Meals
- NO Corn, Wheat or Soy
- NO Artificial Flavors or Preservatives
Guaranteed Analysis
|Crude Protein
|36.0% min
|Crude Fat
|16.0% min
|Crude Fiber
|5.0% max
|9.0% max
|0.14% max
|0.15% min
|Omega 3 Fatty Acids*
|0.5% min
|Omega 6 Fatty Acids*
|2.5% min
*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.
Nutrition Statement
BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe with Rabbit for Adult Cats is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.
Feeding Guidelines
Calorie Content: 3,697 Kcals/kg, 427 Kcals/cup
*Use a standard 8-oz. measuring cup.
Note: Individual cat's requirements may vary due to age, breed, environment, and activity level. Adjust food as required to maintain optimal body condition, and ask your veterinarian if you are unsure.


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New contract keeps AD Alvarez at Wisconsin for 5 years
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Barry Alvarez has a new contract that will keep him as the athletic director of the University of Wisconsin for the next five years.
A Wisconsin State Journal report says Alvarez's contract calls for a raise of $25,000. That puts his compensation for 2013-14 at $1.05 million and keeps him among the highest-paid athletic directors in the country.
UW Athletics will pay $500,000 of that salary. The rest is from gift funds at the UW Foundation.
Alvarez turned 66 in December. He coached the Badgers football team from 1990 to 2005. He'll be entering his 10th year as athletic director, the first two in the dual role of coach and AD.
He says he hasn't thought about retirement and will work as long as he continues to enjoy it.


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There are currently no vacancies.
Whether you are looking for Graphic Design internships locally in Bahrain or all over Bahrain we have got you covered. All available internships across Bahrain are aggregated right here so you only need to do one search to get that dream Graphic Design internship. If the Bahrain page doesn't have the Graphic Design opportunities you wanted then why not check out the Internships in Bahrain Homepage for a complete list.


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Route: B16-SDC-38D-OSU-40I
Weather - SDC: Partly cloudy, 74 degrees, wind 160 degrees at 6 knots
Weather - 38D: Few clouds, 80 degrees, wind 170 degrees at 10 knots
Weather - OSU: Overcast, 76 degrees, wind 200 degrees at 5 knots
Weather - 40I: Partly cloudy, 78 degrees, wind 200 degrees at 4 knots
Gina and I both had a great time at the graduation party last night. It's always nice to see the family, especially since we don't make it to Upstate NY very often due to the 10-11 hour drive. Of course, it's much shorter by airplane - when the weather cooperates...
After a nice breakfast with her parents, aunt, uncle, and cousins, we gathered our things and headed to the airport. The local skydiving operation took off in their 182 filled with jumpers a few minutes before we departed. We said our goodbyes and I back-taxied down Runway 10 at Whitfords and took off shortly past 11:30 am.
The weather was great for the vast majority of today's flying
Compared to Saturday and Sunday the weather was downright spectacular. I leveled off at 2,500 feet for the very short flight south of Lake Ontario's shoreline to Williamson-Sodus Airport. We were heading there to meet pilot blogger friend Chris since he lives in the Rochester area. Originally I intended to land there on our flight up Saturday but the weather threw a wrench into those plans.
There was another airplane inbound to land from the opposite direction and I spotted him a few miles away. I made a 270 to the left to help with spacing, then followed him around the pattern and landed on Runway 10. Chris was waiting in the nice terminal building and we surprised him with two six-packs of Oberon, which any former Kalamazoo resident would most certainly appreciate. He was quite happy about the delivery and kindly bought us lunch at Bad to the Bone, a tasty little BBQ joint just down the road. I've actually visited both SDC and Bad to the Bone before while on business trips to Rochester but it was nice to finally fly myself in for a visit.
Looking north shortly after takeoff from Whitfords
Harvesting the crops down below
Sodus Bay and Lake Ontario
Parked at Williamson-Sodus to visit Chris
We all had a great time chatting before, during, and after lunch. In the end, we spent nearly two hours on the ground. Chris had to head back to work and we needed to continue the trek home since there were some storms moving from Indiana into Ohio. We were certain to make it to our fuel stop midway in Salem, OH and I figured we'd re-evaluate the weather situation there. I topped off both fuel tanks at SDC and we were back in the air just before 2:00 pm.
The view under the scattered clouds was great. You could see downtown Rochester, the Finger Lakes, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario... just about anything that was within 50 miles. I initially attempted to climb over the clouds for a smoother ride then realized they got higher as we went further inland. So I descended back down to 4,500 feet and remained there for this entire leg of the trip home.
Looking west along Lake Ontario towards Rochester
The views of the Finger Lakes region were great today
Conesus Lake - quite a few boaters were out
Genesee River near Mount Morris Dam
Letchworth State Park - the "Grand Canyon of the East"
It wouldn't be Upstate NY without a bunch of wind turbines
The town of Ellicottville, NY
As we neared the NY/PA border the clouds disappeared and we were treated to our first clear sky of the entire journey. The haze started to increase once the scattered layer disappeared but visibility was still very good. It was much nicer to be crossing the hilly terrain from this altitude with unlimited visibility than lower under an overcast as we had done the two days prior. I spotted Venango Regional Airport (where we stopped for food/fuel on Saturday) about 10 miles off the left wing as we flew towards Ohio.
Salamanca, NY and the Allegany Casino along I-86
You can see Venango Regional Airport (FKL) off in the distance
Crossing over downtown Youngstown I was able to see the town of Boardman out my window. My grandparents lived there the first 20 years of my life and I spotted their old neighborhood and some local shopping centers. I took plenty of photos that I'll have to send to my grandma - I'm sure she'll enjoy the view as much as I did. Much of my love for aviation comes from my grandpa and it was neat to finally fly over the area where I always visited them growing up.
Boardman - the Southern Park Mall and US-224
Another shot of Boardman and Mill Creek Park's golf course
It helped to have overflown Salem Airpark on our outbound leg to NY on Saturday. I spotted the airport a ways out, cut off flight following with Youngstown Approach, and continued in while descending since we were already aimed for a perfect 45-degree entry into the pattern. There was an almost-direct crosswind at about 10 knots and the treeline there made the winds a little swirly just prior to touchdown. My landing was still pretty good and we taxied down to the fuel pumps at the east end of the runway.
Salem is well-known for their restaurant... but the restaurant's only open until 2:00 pm on weekdays. I forgot to check that and our stop at SDC eliminated any chance of arriving at Salem in time to grab a bite. We landed just past 4:15 pm and were taxiing for takeoff around 4:40 pm after I had completely filled both tanks again. I checked the weather while we were on the ground and the storms I had seen on radar earlier had almost completely dissipated. While I had a feeling we still wouldn't make it all the way home in one shot, I realized we'd be getting much closer than Salem. With that knowledge in mind, we took back off and leveled off at 2,500 feet flying direct to Stewart.
A landfill that's only a few miles from Salem
Something interesting happened about 15 minutes into the flight while on flight following with Akron-Canton Approach. I was monitoring 121.5 on Com 2 and heard the distinct sound of an ELT going off. I immediately reported it to the controller who asked a few questions about the signal strength and where I started/stopped receiving it. We were just about directly over top of Beach City Airport (2D7) so I assume it was coming from an airplane hangared there, and mentioned that to him. Hopefully it was a false alarm (as ELTs usually seem to be) but calling in the report was definitely a first-time experience for me.
We continued on towards Dayton and the haze suddenly grew real thick near Millersburg, OH. Visibility probably dropped below 10 miles but it was still VFR. I was thinking that the cold front moving in from the west may have been stirring up the air ahead, reducing the visibility. If you're a meteorologist and that makes no sense, please let me know! :)
I called into Columbus Approach (we weren't handed off and weren't receiving VFR advisories at this point) to inquire about the darkening skies up ahead. They told me there was a line of moderate precip about 30 miles out. I knew that meant we'd be landing somewhere and I was hoping to make it to the Columbus area. At that point, even if we were stranded overnight, we'd be near family and friends and could easily get picked up and drive back to Dayton if necessary. The sky grew darker but visibility actually improved and I flew just north of CMH's Class C airspace while deciding what to do.
Within a couple minutes rain started to fall and was hitting the windshield at a decent rate. Our current position meant Ohio State University Airport was our best option and I had already checked their ATIS in preparation. I quickly called OSU Tower with information Tango and they cleared us to land on Runway 14. We were just over 5 miles out and I could still see the airport clearly through the rain so the conditions remained VFR. The winds were shifting due to the incoming storm and Tower quickly amended our landing clearance to Runway 23. That worked out perfectly and put us on a straight-in final from our current position. I touched down rather softly around 6:00 pm and we taxied to the ramp to wait out the storm.
We sat down inside the terminal and I pulled up the weather. The sky opened up a few minutes after we got inside and I was glad to be on the ground - it was pouring, which would've seriously reduced visibility in the air even though the clouds were plenty high. I had them top the plane off (it was that or pay a $10 ramp fee for less than an hour on the ground - ugh) while I continued to formulate a plan. There was another rather nasty (lots of dark red on the radar) storm cell that was moving in from Dayton and tracking almost directly east over top of I-70. After a little while it was clear we could get out, fly south for a while, then turn west and head direct to Stewart. That would let us squeeze between the storms and keep us in the clear.
OSU Tower cleared us for takeoff on 27L just past 7:00 pm. I turned on course and contacted Columbus Approach for flight following and told them we'd be tracking south towards Washington Court House before turning towards Stewart in order to avoid the weather. You could see that nasty cell moving closer from the west and I was glad my plan worked. We easily kept a wide berth (10+ miles away) around the storm and remained in the clear. I flew almost directly over top of I-71 for a little while before turning due west towards Waynesville.
The storm we were avoiding - still off to the northwest
Passing south of the storm while paralleling I-71
The outlet mall in Jeffersonville
Around 15 miles out I spotted Caesar Creek Lake and was excited to see the familiar landmark - we were almost home! There was a lower cloud deck out there between Columbus and Cincinnati and we skirted along underneath while approaching the lake. It was almost as if the weather gods finally decided to smile upon us because the clouds suddenly lifted and the sun came out just as I was entering the pattern at Stewart.
I crossed midfield from the north and entered a left downwind for Runway 26. We landed around 7:45 pm and taxied over to the tiedown in the grass. Gina drove the car over to the airplane and helped unload everything while I disconnected all the electronic gadgetry and sealed the plane up. After a long three days of flying, we were home!
Tied down back on Stewart's soft grass
Obviously we got stuck on the way out and had to spend a night in PA before flying the rest of the way to NY the next morning. That right there eliminated any time savings of flying vs. driving. Yet we still proved the efficiency and time savings of GA today. Consider that we took off from Weedsport, NY around 11:30 this morning and were back at our house about 9:00 this evening - including a half hour chatting in the office at Stewart before heading home. Had we driven, including the almost two-hour visit with Chris near Rochester, it would've taken at least 12-14 hours with the necessary food and gas stops.
In the end, the whole journey was a great learning experience and it even still somehow managed to save us a bit of time. Yeah it cost an extra few hours (without the weather diversions, it would've been closer to 8.0 hours on the Hobbs instead of the 11.0 that I logged) but $300 is certainly a small price to pay for being alive and safe. Oh, and thanks to those delays and diversions I managed to hit another big milestone - I crossed 200 hours total time on that final leg from OSU back to Stewart!
Flight Track: Google Earth KMZ File
Today's Flight: 5.2 hours
Total Time: 200.7 hours


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Please note that all topics regarding the issue at Maui Kitebeach have been deleted.
It was requested by the locals who are standing up for us kiters and protect the access.
They informed me that it will be better to stay calm about it.
I am sorry if your opinion, comments, suggestions and frustration have been deleted, but it is for a good cause.
Our fellow Maui kiters will be in touch with me and any news and updates will be posted here.
For now, keep the discussion low and be nice. I need to heavily moderate this topic to not get any negative comments on here, who won't help our friends now.
Thanks for your understanding and cooperation!