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- Villa Puccini, Toscana (09'). 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot. Table wine, like a nice Chianti (HF)
- Nice red blend. 90% Sangiovese 10% merlot
- 90 % Sangiovese 10% Merlot. Whole Foods $13.99
- Puccini's favorite from the Antinori vineyards.
- A blend of sangiovese & Merlot refined in oak casks for a year. Ruby color complex bouquet of violets and cherries. Dry with nuances of plums and black pepper & along finsh pairs with roasts braised dishes

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Mayoral Candidates Grilled on Food Policy Views
New York City local food advocates on Wednesday got a taste of how the city's mayoral candidates think about food. In one-on-one interviews with blogger, author and New York University professor Marion Nestle, mayoral contenders addressed issues that ranged from hunger and school lunches to living wages for food workers, urban agriculture and the Hunts Point market.
The event drew some 1,000 food policy enthusiasts and mayoral candidates Sal Albanese, Bill De Blasio, John Catsimatidis, John Liu, Christine Quinn and Anthony Weiner. Bill Thompson was the only mayoral candidate who did not attend.
The fact that nearly all of the mayoral contenders participated was a coup for the city's food policy thinkers and activists, Nestle remarked as the crowd awaited the arrival of Quinn and Liu. It's the first real example of the political clout that food policy experts are beginning to gain, she said, after years struggling to correct flaws in the nation's food system.
Each of the candidates answered three questions from a list of about 10 questions that Nestle had on hand. They also answered a question from the audience.
Here are snippets of some of the more interesting things the candidates said regarding their views on local food and urban agriculture.
Urban Agriculture
Both Albanese and Liu said they would make information about vacant land more transparent. As Albanese put it, he would make sure the city's 5,000 acres of empty land "is on the computer." Even more important, he said he would not accept contributions from developers, saying that community gardens "add food, awesome quality of life and environmental soundness to neighborhoods." He also said that that he would work to both grow and preserve gardens.
Local Food
Bill De Blasio and John Catsimatidis both seemed to be on board with increasing the amount of local food available in New York City. Both want to bring in more local food through the Hunts Point market in the Bronx. "I want to reorient over time to more local produce from our broader tri-state area as part of our overall effort to wean us off the culture of produce from 3,000 miles away," De Blasio said of his vision for Hunts Point. Catsimatidis also said that he wanted to expand and get better road access for the market.
Liu noted that he would "grow the food economy," saying that he supports rooftop gardens, upstate farmers and the expansion of farmers markets.
Quinn, long a champion of local food and overall food policy issues, noted her work on a comprehensive report released in 2010 that analyzed the city's food system from farm to table and beyond. During the forum, she emphasized the need to capitalize on the city's purchasing power to reorient buying toward regional and local produce. It's the second biggest institutional food purchaser, second only to the U.S. military, she said.
De Blasio had similar views with regard to the city's purchasing clout. "I think we can focus our city power on the produce from our region and work with other cities to do the same," he said.
Caption for photo above: Columbia University's Marion Nestle (left) speaks with mayoral candidate John Liu.
LOCAL FOOD News Roundup
Farm Table Opens amid Urban Farm Fields
Riverpark Restaurant, a tony new restaurant off the FDR Drive in Midtown Manhattan, added a new twist to urban farming when it unveiled a novel outdoor growing operation that surprised even the most jaded New Yorkers. Peppers, eggplants, tomatoes and a multitude of other crops grew in thousands of double-stacked milk crates, the urban equivalent of farm fields.
Now diners can enjoy those fields close up. Riverpark Restaurant set up an outdoor "Farm Table," which customers can reserve for family-style lunch and dinner celebrations. The restaurant can host up to 12 people at the outdoor table. There's a minimum charge of $1,800 for dinner events. For lunch, it's $1,400. (more…)
Heritage Farm at Snug Harbor Plants First Cover Crops
Staten Island's Snug Harbor Heritage Farm had planned it for years. Last month, it finally happened. A one-acre field was tilled and covered with winter rye, hairy vetch and field peas and oats, marking the farm's first official planting.
It was probably the longest-planned — or rather longest-delayed — planting ever, but Gus Jones, the farm's newly hired full-time farm manager, wasn't at all surprised.
The land was last used for agriculture 50 years ago, when cows grazed there, Jones explained. The forest had to be cleared, trees chopped and tree stumps removed. And compost — 1,000 cubic yards of it — had to be brought in. (more…)
2011 NYC Urban Ag: A Nine-Month Review
The urban agriculture movement in New York City has made enormous progress this year. New legislation favoring urban farming was introduced. New farms opened. There's even a new farm school. It all happened within the last nine months, all of it summarized here. (more…)
LOCAL FOOD News Roundup
CSA Stands Strong Post-Irene
Tropical Storm Irene has tested the will of even the sturdiest farmers. In an interview with NPR, Cheryl Rogowski, owner of W. Rogowski Farm in Orange County, N.Y., talks about the considerable storm damage to her 150-acre farm. She lost 80 to 90% of her crops with most of the farm underwater at the time of the interview.
Rogowski's farm is one of 15 CSA farms supplying New York City that suffered severe damage, said Jacquie Berger, executive director of the advocacy nonprofit Just Food, in the interview.
Irene may have knocked out half the city's CSA farms (31 farms run CSA programs in the city) for the season, but it did little to diminish support for the concept of CSA (community supported agriculture). The tropical storm put CSA to the ultimate test, as CSA customers — shareholders in farm harvests — bore crop losses along with their farmers. (more…)
Urban Farm Builds Roots at Battery Park
The temporary one-acre urban farm that opened in April at the Battery is not so temporary anymore. It will shift to a new location in the park when a planned bike path comes through in 2012, said Warrie Price, founder of the Battery Conservancy, a non-profit dedicated to revitalizing the Battery at the tip of Manhattan.
"It's been too much of a great positive thing for the neighborhood and for us as an organization," she said as she made her rounds amid rows of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, beans and a riot of other crops on Saturday.
Since it opened, the farm has received a great deal of media attention with Inhabitat New York City naming it one of the city's top five urban farms. It's been a hit with neighborhood school children, Lower Manhattan residents and local community groups who "adopted" or planted half of the 100-plus vegetable beds. It also drew hundreds of volunteers eager to help the Battery run the operation.
"This is a dream come true," said the farm's manager Camilla Hammer, as a bevy of volunteers swirled around her with shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows. (more…)
In the Absence of Heirloom Tomatoes, an Unusual Seasonal Show Stopper
© Photos by Margarida Correia. See captions at bottom of post.
Though bad weather destroyed most of their heirloom tomatoes, Eckerton Hill Farm still drew significant crowds to its stand at the Union Square Greenmarket on Saturday. The Pennsylvania-based farm had plenty of hot peppers — its second most popular crop — to compensate for the missing tomatoes, and an unusual seasonal show stopper: the jelly melon cucumber.
The oval-shaped cucumbers with protruding horn-like spines caught everyone's attention.
"What," most people asked, "IS that?" (more…)


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1956 Chevrolet 210 Coupe - Young Gun of the Month
Sammy Furlong, Jr.Glasgow, KY'56 Chevrolet 210 CoupeWe usually choose a winner for Young Gun of the Month by going through the membership forms, finding a member with a cool story or outstanding pictures of an awesome ride, and finalizing the decision by running it past the rest of the staff for second opinions. It's not an exact science, but it seems to work pretty well. This month's winner, however, was hard to overlook.
According to Sammy, hot rods and customs run in the family, and he's been afflicted with the high-performance bug since childhood. Inspiration for his super-sano Chevy came from a love of '60s-style customs and the legendary Larry Watson's work. Of course, even back in the heyday of customizing, very few paintjobs looked this good. What makes the Shoebox even cooler is the fact that Sammy shot the car himself in his garage, using PPG Radience Kandies, including Orange Glow, Sterling Silver, and Grandeur Blue flames all buried under House of Kolor metalflake. The car is slammed with drop spindles and cut coils up front and lowering blocks out back, while Astro Supremes and skinny whites lend a custom touch. Inside the cockpit bucket seats and a console were yanked out of a '63 Impala SS and covered in white rolls and pleats. Power comes from a vintage four-bolt 350 Chevy with lots of chrome goodies on top.
As the December '03 Young Gun of the Month, Sammy will receive a $400 gift certificate to Mooneyes, where he can pick up lots of cool stuff for his Chevy or for his next project, a chopped and channeled mid-'30s Chevy pickup. Perhaps a new set of whitewall slicks or a pair of finned valve covers would fit the bill. Congratulations, Sammy, if you ever make it out to Southern California, you owe Doug a ride!
Young GunsBlood, Guts, and GloryI'm tired. Not yawning a lot and thinking about fluffy white sheep bouncing over my bed tired, more like bones aching, feet dragging, speech slurring, head feels like it weighs a thousand pounds tired. Why so exhausted, you ask? Is it because I was up all night partying like the true hardcore hot rod journalist you all know me to be? I wish. The more likely culprit is the fact that I've been wrenching and parts running morning 'till night, seven days a week, for the past two months trying to get my roadster project finished before the '03 Americruise (check out the progress in this month's issue) while still trying to make it look like I'm actually performing my regular tech editor duties simultaneously. Things have been a little tense, too, since building a car under time constraints can be a very stressful adventure. This is why I want to take a minute and reflect on exactly what it is we do, and why we do it.
What would make a perfectly sane and well-meaning individual decide to spend all of his free time and every spare penny he can scrounge up on an object, an old car no less, that will never run as efficiently or conveniently as a newer one that can be purchased for less money? What would make this guy spend hours on end puzzling over the best way to fabricate a firewall or gauge panel, when perfectly nice ones can be bought straight out of a catalog? The answer is glory.
Since starting my project, I have had a steady stream of visitors flowing through the shop. Some are fellow gearheads, hoping to lend a hand or, more likely, sit on a crate and "stupidvise." Others are old-time hot rodders from the neighborhood hoping to catch a glimpse of what the "kid" is up to. Then, of course, there are the total outsiders, and every one of you knows who I'm talking about. These are the neighbors and friends who don't know anything about cars and don't want to. To them we are an oddity, something interesting and perhaps useful, but an oddity nonetheless. Of all these different types of visitors to the shop, none of them can truly understand what the final goal of the project will be. They can't envision the car rolling down the street on fat bias-plies or whitewalls with super smooth lines. They cannot hear the crackling of the open pipes or feel the soft rolls and pleats. What outsiders see is just another old car, while we see a canvas, a statement, or a possibility.
What's so cool about our hobby/lifestyle is that we all experience different types of visions. Ten guys from ten different neighborhoods will all see the same car and come up with different conclusions about how to make it cool. When I first started drawing pictures of Model A roadsters and lakes modifieds, I had a picture in my mind of an early-'50s-styled car with gold or tangerine paint, cream scallops and wheels, tuck 'n' roll upholstery, and lots of traditional pinstriping. As the car has come together over the past few months, most of my visitors have been puzzled by some of my choices. However, I am confident that the finished product will be bitchin', because it will look just the way I wanted it and I built it with my own two hands. I'm eagerly awaiting the first time I fire the motor, and soon after I plan to be roaring down the street scaring the holy hell out of my SUV-driving neighbors.
My point in all of this is that we could follow the beaten path, buy a fuel-efficient little jellybean car, and blend in with the rest of the crowd, but we don't. It takes a lot of guts for a young person to become involved with this hobby. Lots of time, work, commitment, cash, and ingenuity, too, but the payoff is huge. The payoff is the glory of wearing an ear-to-ear grin as you pound the pavement in a rolling homage to the rod gods that you built with your very own hands.
Blood, guts, and glory (and lots of sweat, too) is what this club and this magazine are all about. Take a minute and pat yourself on the back for being one of a select few. You're a Young Gun. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm heading off to bed. -Dan email@example.com


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Chinese Family Festival Proves a Big Hit at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 18 April – Families flocked to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi to participate in the Chinese Family Festival which took place from 15-17 April 2011, coinciding with the staging of the Chinese Grand Prix.
Parents and kids immersed themselves in the remarkable cultural heritage of China by enjoying Chinese cuisine and music as well as a variety of Chinese-themed entertainment, such as Chinese Dragon shows and exciting martial arts performances, held inside the region's premier entertainment centre.
Fans were also able to watch the build-up and race from the Chinese Grand Prix which was broadcast live from Shanghai.


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Bullpen sets stage for Iannetta's 13th-inning heroics
After Weaver's strong start, six Angels relievers hold Reds to one hit
CINCINNATI -- It's just one game and 161 of them remain, but first impressions tend to carry added significance. Sometimes, perhaps, they can even set a tone. And that's why the Angels' Opening Day, 3-1, 13-inning win over the Reds in Monday's marathon seemed to carry an important underlying message:
This is not a one-dimensional team.
Conventional wisdom labeled the Angels as an offense-first club heading into 2013, with Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton in one lineup. But when the 45-degree weather cooled their bats, it was the Angels' bullpen -- the same one that tied for the American League lead in blown saves last year -- that rose to the occasion, pitching seven innings of near-flawless baseball to set it up for Chris Iannetta's heroics in the 13th.
"You were kind of hearing some mixed stories about if that was going to be our weak point or what-not," Angels ace Jered Weaver said after an effective, workmanlike outing. "As a team, we were always pretty confident we have some guys down there that can do great things. I think we saw that tonight. That's what it's going to take to win some key games, and tonight was one of those key games."
The first Opening Day Interleague game in history, in front of the largest regular-season crowd at the launching pad known as Great American Ball Park, was about as National League as one can get.
Weaver (six innings) and Johnny Cueto (seven) gave up only one run apiece and both teams totaled eight hits in the first 12 frames. The Angels struck out 17 times, tying their Opening Day record, with Trout, Pujols and Hamilton combining to go 1-for-14 with four punchouts and three walks. And it became the longest game in Angels Opening Day history, at 4 hours and 45 minutes.
It finally ended in the 13th. Hank Conger -- the last position player remaining on manager Mike Scioscia's bench -- was hit by a J.J. Hoover slider, loading the bases with two outs for Iannetta, who earlier brought in the Angels' only run with a third-inning solo homer and had just begun his season by catching 12 innings.
Iannetta fouled off back-to-back low-90s fastballs at 3-2, then got one out over the plate, lined it past a diving Todd Frazier, brought in Hamilton and Howie Kendrick and boisterously clapped his hands after rounding first base, a rare sign of emotion from the stoic catcher.
"I was excited," Iannetta said. "I definitely was excited. I wanted to do something good; I want to contribute. Even though I may not do something at the plate, I'm contributing when I'm catching. But I want to contribute offensively, as well, and getting the opportunity to do that was fun."
Scioscia called it "a great character game" for the Angels, who have now won nine of their last 10 Opening Day games and five straight. That was the case especially for the relief corps, which gave up just one hit and one walk while striking out nine in seven innings against the reigning National League Central champs.
Garrett Richards, the 24-year-old right-hander who forced his way onto the club with a scorching spring, blanked the Reds for 1 2/3 innings and had a key strikeout with the bases loaded.
Lefty Sean Burnett, signed to a two-year deal in the offseason, struck out Jay Bruce to keep them loaded in the eighth.
Kevin Jepsen, who seemed to find himself after returning from Triple-A last July, struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth.
Scott Downs, one of baseball's best lefty relievers over the last six years, had a clean 10th.
Mark Lowe, the power arm the Angels have coveted since November and finally got when he was released by the Dodgers last week, went two innings without allowing a run.
And Ernesto Frieri, who was remarkable after coming over from the Padres last May, struck out two in the 13th to notch his first save.
"We are built on the offensive side, no doubt," Scioscia said. "But we're not going to get our goal done unless we're able to hold leads, and we did it tonight."
What Scioscia hopes is that it's a sign of things to come.
Over the last two years, the Angels' bullpen has led the AL with a combined 47 blown saves. Last year, when they began the season 18-25, the bullpen was a main culprit. And when they fell short of the playoffs with 89 wins, a lack of depth in the back end was looked at as a key reason the Angels fell short, prompting general manager Jerry Dipoto to add Burnett and Ryan Madson over the winter.
On Monday, with a lights-out Cueto on the other side and against a team with the best bullpen in the Majors last year, Angels relievers answered the bell -- even though Madson can only sit and watch.
Maybe it's just one game.
Or maybe it's a sign of what they now have.
"I told you guys, this year, we're going to be better -- way better than last year," Frieri said. "Everybody's mentally and physically prepared. It's not easy to pitch in this weather, in a tied game, Opening Day, and everybody's prepared. That's what we have here. We're going to have a lot of fun, and we're ready to go."


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Earlier Woody Johnson was on CNBC to talk politics, and the topic of his QBs came up, via the Star-Ledger.
"Will we keep Tebow? Absolutely," Johnson said. "He'll be with us for three years, and I think he's going to be a real valuable asset in terms of helping us win games."It's good to see that whether or not the Tebow trade thing was realistic from Tim's camp, Johnson's expectation is that Tebow will play out his contract with the Jets.
Johnson also backed Mark Sanchez in the interview and said that there's no plans to supplant him as the starter anytime soon.
"I see the same things in Mark Sanchez that I saw when I first met him," Johnson said. "He's still a young quarterback, this is probably the most difficult position athletically and mentally that there is in all of sports."
He said that he wasn't trying to bolster Sanchez's confidence by saying these things, but that "we think he's that good."
When asked if he would never consider a switch at quarterback, Johnson said: "Never is a long, long time period."
It's obvious that it's the terms and role by which Tebow will play out the contract that is the real question. I agree with the assessment that the Jets Wildcat has been a distraction and, as we saw on Monday is both productive but maybe more counterproductive so far.
It was good to see the coaches leave him in for more than one play at a time, but to use Tebow and then switch back to Mark Sanchez on a 4th and inches seemed strange, as if it was a setup or damage control, or both.


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Herreshoff, Nathanael - 2011 Hall of Fame
Capt. Nathanael
Greene Herreshoff
"There are only two colors to paint a boat - black or white. And only a fool would paint a boat black."
March 18, 1848 - June 2, 1938
Birthplace: Bristol, Rhode Island
There are few names in the yachting world that rival "Herreshoff" for recognition. This family of esteemed yacht designers began with "Captain Nat," a naval architect and mechanical engineer (MIT, 1870) of the highest rank, an innovator who gave us sail tracks and slides, bulb and fin keels, hollow aluminum masts, and who was designing catamarans long before advances in materials technology made them practical. He built his boats upside down, with a mold for every frame, using the lightest possible materials. His influence on yacht design is unrivaled. His customers were the elite of the day.
Nat Herreshoff also had an artist's eye for a yacht's lines, producing scores of lovely, satisfying boats that are still being sailed and treasured, including the Twelve-and-a-halfs, the S-Boats, the Fish and E- Classes, and the Alerion. Many of his designs, the acclaimed New York 30 racer/cruiser in particular, had the uncanny gift of putting their rails down upwind, then accelerating in the puffs instead of being knocked down.
The grandest, most powerful creations that came out of Nat Herreshoff's yard in Bristol, Rhode Island, successfully defended the America's Cup six times: Vigilant , 1893, which he also steered; Defender , 1895; Columbia , 1899, 1901; Reliance , 1903; and Resolute , 1920. He sailed on all six boats.
A man of strong will and unshakable precepts, Herreshoff once designed and built a custom yacht for a man whose only requirement was that it had to be under a certain length to fit into his shed. The finished product was several inches too long.
- Roger Vaughan
"How Herreshoff Made Boats" - by his grandson, Halsey Herreshoff
Links of Interest:
America's Cup Hall of Fame Bio of Nathanael G. Herreshoff
Database of sailboat designs of Nathanael Herreshoff - sailboatdata.com
Cruiserlog discussion of Nathanael Herreshoff's catamaran, which he designed and built in 1876
Dec. 19, 906 New York Times article - Nathanial G. Herreshoff Better
Wikipedia page for Nathanael Herreshoff


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A tough and substantial fabric, purposeful construction, and technical feature - the Norrie Short offers everything for the shred Beti looking for a high-end short to keep up with the way she rides. Features such as a back stretch yoke, internal glide patches, and waistband grip strip ensure a high-performance ride and great fit, while the flattering, yet simple lines of the Norrie, give her a feminine look that is hard to find in a short of this calibre.
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Northern Regards on InstagramKate, you're never far from my thoughts. But some days, you're more present. I spotted this beautiful work opposite OUR Social Club today. It made me smile and think of you. XR U Ok? . It's an issue very close to our hearts. Not just today, but everyday. . . It's OK to NOT be ok....but know that you matter. Know that the world is a much better place with you in it. . . Tell your friends you love them. Ask them if they are ok. Be prepared for the answer to be no. Know that you don't have to have the answers / solutions, just be there. To listen. To sit in the silence.Today marked 3 years since we lost our beloved Kate. . As I quietly sip "our Northern Regards" drink with candles flickering, can I ask you a favour.... . This week, Tell a friend that you love them. If you have a piece of Kate's jewellery wear it with even more love and pride. Support a local maker. Discuss a big idea passionately. And most of all, cherish your family and the friends that become family. . It's in doing acts like this that keeps Kate in our hearts. ❤Today was our dear Kate's birthday.... we miss you everyday Kate xxx . . @katecampbelldesigns @northernregards #katesmarket#doitfordolly #speakupevenifyourvoiceshakesTo be absent friends ❤ May 2018 be a safe, happy and creative one.❤❤❤ #Repost @northcotesocialclub ・・・ Remember to check in with your mates this festive season folks, we ain't all lucky enough to have a rockstar line-up of friends and family surrounding us and it can be a tough time of year for some! NSC sending love to everyone out there this Christmas/NY. 💕Oh! Kate and I always bought market day flowers from John and his family. Most certainly the end of an era on High St! #Repost @highstnorthcote ・・・ This week we say farewell to John Antonello and his family who are set to close their fruit store in a few days. John opened his business in 1958 and worked alongside his family to sell fresh produce to the local community for 59 years - incredible! On behalf of the Northcote Business Association and some very caring locals we thank you for your contribution to our community and wish you all the best in the next chapter of your life. A special thanks to those locals who supported John's dream for so many years. Images by @barrycdouglasIt's R U Ok day? Mental health is an issue VERY close to our heart. Struggling to find words so I borrowed these from our good friend @huis_etc x #Repost @huis_etc ・・・ It's R U OK day, strike up a conversation with someone, you might make someone's day 😘We ❤ you Northcote Social Club! #marriageequality #loveislove🌈 #samesexmarriageTwo years ago today you left us. Not a day goes by that we don't miss you. Lighting candles and thinking of you dear Kate. xxx #katesmarketOur little market would never have happened without Kate and I meeting at a gathering of local crafty women. This is why I am excited to be hosting a night of networking with local creative women. Whether you are a full time maker/designer/blogger or a part time handmade business owner or someone just starting.....it can be a lonely journey. Our local community is a treasure trove of creative women. Come along on August 14th to meet like minded women to be inspired by and learn from. @northside_events ・・・ A reminder that tickets are now on sale for our first event : Networking for Creative Northside Women. Join us to meet like minded women working in creative businesses. Makers, designers, graphic designers, writers, bloggers, photographers, artists, arts organisers....and so many more. Monday August 14th 6-9pm at the iconic Thornbury Bowls Club. Tickets are available via link in profile. #smallbizfestvic #northsideevents
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Monthly Archives: May 2013
Dear Artisan….
We would like to invite you to apply for our new Northern Regards Artisan Market. Now, we know what you are thinking….not another market in Melbourne? And yes, we are proposing another market in Melbourne. However we believe that Northern … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Artisans, Beer, Handmade, market, Melbourne, recycled, Sustainable, upcycled Leave a comment
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Northcote Social Club 301 High st, Northcote
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LensShopper - Contact lens price comparison
Wherever you choose to shop your contact lenses from, be sure to look for the overall value and keep your eye health in mind. Buying contacts online is very easy and convenient and only takes a few clicks of your mouse. But there are lots of contact lens resellers out there and it is not always easy to find the perfect fit for your needs. In this article we will try to give you some good advice regarding the different steps you need to take to make sure you get the best value for your money and effort.
What do I need to think about when I order contacts online? Follow these three steps!
Are you insured? Does your health insurance plan include coverage for visual care? It is worth your while to check if any benefits are provided for contact lenses. Usually you have two options, you get a percentage discount at your participating regular contact lens store or you can mail-order a lens retailer that is owned by the insurance plan provider or has a close partnership with them. Make sure to check if the prices you are offered from the insurance plan really are better than what is available elsewhere.
When you compare online contact lens sellers, stock size and store reputation matters. A large contact lens store usually has more lenses in stock which make them better equipped to ship your order quickly. Large resellers may also be more stable companies which is an important part of the equation when you consider that you might have to return a product or follow up a credit card transaction. It doesn't hurt to do a little research with a consumer advocacy group before ordering. Remember that you will be providing private information online, including your prescription and credit card information. Be sure you are transmitting to a reliable source. Make sure the company has a secure server.
This advice doesn't mean that there aren't any good smaller shops to find, it is just a factor to bear in mind. Also remember that even large contact lens resellers cannot keep all kinds of contact lenses in stock, especially if you have a less common prescription. Contact lenses come in thousands of combinations of power, curvature and diameter which makes keeping a complete stock impossible.
Look for a company that has e-mail and phone support. Some companies may provide 24-hour support. Also, check the company's return policy. Ideally, the company will take returns if your prescription changes, or if the lenses are damaged when you receive them.
When you are done comparing the shops for customer service and reliability, you just have to find the best possible price for your contact lenses. Online contact lens prices are often cheaper than in-store prices, since there is usually less overhead and higher volume, you should try to take advantage of the fact that you are buying over the Internet. Look at a few different contact lens sellers and compare their prices. This might seem an easy task but there are many things to consider. Prices may or may not include rebates and shipping costs can vary a lot between the different contact lens vendors. To help you sort things out we encourage you to follow these steps:
Remember this when you order contacts online
Because eyes are extremely sensitive, the customer should always follow the recommendations of a certified optician. Should you develop irritation, pain or running eyes you should contact an optician or eye doctor immediately.


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An ode to the jilted!
Far from the Madding Crowd is a movie that lets us dig into the extraordinary Thomas Hardy genius that gorgeously scales his unique style of story building. David Nicholls knits a fine screenplay to complement the powerful Hardy plot. Thomas Vinterberg on the other hand helms sheer magic. His direction is subtle, focuses on the call of the hour and displays only the best bits he thinks worth depicting.
Born in this era I didn't have the good hap of watching the first one first, so I decided to accept whatever was flung before me. The setup even though modishly shot doesn't even for once gives away the intended timeline. You can't help but compare it to the likes of Gone with the Wind. There are magnificently shot landscapes that will compel you to marvel at innate scenery our planet offers. Lush farms and the tranquility surrounding it will force you to have second thoughts about all the urban choices you made.
When we look at the cast, Carey Mulligan was an extraordinary find. The role she plays – Bathsheba Everdene is a girl with education, an independent woman who doesn't want to be tied down by promises of love. She can't be picketed down like someone's property, until she hits an infatuation herself in the form of Sergeant Francis Troy played by Tom Sturridge. She becomes bewitched at once, slave to her emotions and that's when a terrible mistake happens. Like she puts it "between jealousy and distraction" she marries him. It is hard not to feel sorry for her to find the inconsiderate guy that doesn't give two rats about her, and two jilted lovers who only hoped for the best in the backdrop. Carey's character will also peeve you beyond limit when she turns down brilliant advices by Gabriel Oak played by Matthias Schoenaerts. But isn't that how life happens to us all? One moment we think we are right only to tumble and rise again. Bathsheba is quite relatable in that respect, and she gets forgiven as well.
The sheep bit in the beginning was one of the gloomiest unfortunate events to have befallen Oak. It was impactful in a way that was capable of flinging you in a sudden gush of emotions. There was nothing Oak could have done to stop that from happening. As the sheep fell all I could remember was being the "The Catcher in the Rye". Really powerful stuff!
The thing that miffed me in Far from the Madding Crowd was Gabriel Oak's acting. Even though the script desired him to stay taut like a rock, we don't see him nail any kind of emotion ever. His act is banal and makes you wonder if he was the right choice for the role. William Boldwood played by Michael Sheen, au contraire acted brilliantly and aced his character to perfection. Jilted finds a meaning on his face, as he takes the gun to pass the eventual poetic justice. Also, I couldn't help but notice there was no such gut-wrenching drama to it, presence of which could have possibly made the movie even better. However, in the end every frame was worth it.
Far from the Madding Crowd is a very well written, acted and shot flick! Far from the Madding Crowd will impel you to question the choices your reckless head makes.


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Day's Worst: Thief who stole ambulance on a call
There are some crimes that are just more morally reprehensible than others.
The theft of an ambulance in Longmont — while the crew was attending to an elderly woman — fits into that category.
It doesn't appear the 86-year-old woman who was in distress suffered from not having had access to the ambulance, but it easily could have been otherwise.
What if the alleged thief, identified by police as Robert Elmar Taylor, 51, had taken an ambulance that was about to transport a critically injured or ill patient?
We trust the criminal justice system will appropriately deal with the suspect and if he is found to be guilty, show him the error of his ways.


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View the full return policy in this link. Final Sale items are not eligible for return, exchange, or store credit. All items must be unworn, unwashed, and in the original condition. All returned items must meet the Return Deadlines listed below. Items received by our Return Department that do not meet the criteria listed on the Return Slip will not accepted or processed. Customers are responsible for return shipping. Country Club Prep will pay once to ship an exchanged item back to customer.
Return Deadlines
Refunds: Items must be received within 45 days of the original order date. Refunds will be applied to the original form of payment only. Please allow 2 weeks after your return is processed for the refund to show in your bank account. Shipping fees are not refundable. If original form of payment is unavailable, a CCP Store Credit will be issued.
Exchanges: Items must be received within 60 days of the original order date. All exchanges must be of equal or lesser value. CCP Store Credit: Items much be received within 90 days of the original order date.


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First Lady Kicks Off Holiday Season With Military Families
- Details
- Category: News
- Created: Wednesday, 30 November 2011 15:27
- Last Updated: Wednesday, 30 November 2011 15:27
- Written by Administrator
This holiday season, she said, the White House is offering a special tribute to those who serve. Among the White House's 37 Christmas trees scattered along the visitor tour route are two special Christmas trees intended to honor service members and their families.
The official White House Christmas tree a towering 18-foot balsam fir in the Blue Room is a salute to service members of all branches. The tree is decorated with holiday cards created by military children around the world; service medals, badges and patches; and military images adorned with pinecone frames and ribbons.
Some of those cards are inspiring, Obama said, sharing one of the written messages. Five children in Medical Lake, Wash., wrote, "No matter how many Christmases our dad misses, he makes every Christmas special and we love him."
In another card is a more matter-of-fact message, the first lady noted. "Hey Dad, it's cool you're in Italy. So when are you coming back, because I already know what I want for Christmas."
A Gold Star Christmas tree, bright with gold star ornaments and framed Purple Heart medals, graces the visitor's entrance on the East Wing landing. The tree was decorated by families of military fallen and features photos of fallen heroes and messages from their loved ones.
A mom from Anchorage, Alaska, wrote this note to her son, Obama said: "I love and miss you, son. Thank you for all of the great memories we shared."
The tree is surrounded with photos and stories from more than 800 Gold Star families, the first lady noted. "Each one showcases the strength and resilience that characterizes our Gold Star families," she said.
In the coming weeks, visitors to the White House will be able to write notes to service members to express their gratitude, and Gold Star families will be invited to inscribe a ceramic gold star ornament with a personalized note.
These families deserve the gratitude of a thankful nation, the first lady said, particularly in light of the sacrifices they make each day. Spouses are raising kids alone while their loved ones are deployed and their children are taking on extra responsibilities to help. And she's been inspired, she said, by the survivors of the fallen who continue to give back to their communities.
Americans need to hear these stories, she said, and to understand what it's like to be a military family.
The Joining Forces campaign is intended to do just that, she said. The first lady and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, started the initiative earlier this year to raise awareness of military families' sacrifices and to rally Americans around them.
"We wanted to make sure that never again would someone have to ask the question: What is a Gold Star family and what does that sacrifice mean," she said. "We all should know."
Obama said that's one of the reasons the troops and their families are highlighted at the White House this holiday season.
The first lady wrapped up with her own message of gratitude.
"I want to thank all of the Gold Star families for your enduring strength and commitment to this country," she said. "And I want to thank all of the troops, all of our veterans, all of our military families, whose service and sacrifice inspires us all."
The first lady then invited the military children lining the front rows to decorate holiday cookies and ornaments with her in the State Dining Room. She iced cookies alongside them as she praised their festive creations.
The military families also toured holiday decorations in several of the White House's ornate rooms. A big attraction was the White House gingerbread house, which is made up of 400 pounds of gingerbread, white chocolate and marzipan. But Obama's dog, Bo, upstaged even the gingerbread house. Scattered throughout the tour route are five Bo topiaries made of various materials such as felt, buttons, pom-poms, candy, and even trash bags.
As the children did their crafts, they had the opportunity to compare the fake first dogs with the real deal when the first lady brought Bo to the State Dining Room for a visit.


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The Kindle Fire is arguably the best Android tablet you can get—and at 200 bucks, already a killer deal. Now you can buy a (refurbished) Fire for 140. If you want an Android tablet, you should probably do this.
Amazon says the refurbished units are "tested [and] certified to look and work like new." But far more importantly, they come with the exact same 1-year warranty as a $200 Kindle Fire. So really, what's the difference? Pride? Pride?
Limit five per customer, so, sorry, you can't buy six refurbished Kindle Fires, you madman. [Amazon]


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Take 2 capsules three times a day or as directed by your Health Care Professional. For optimum results take 1 hour before or after meals as to not compete with digestion.
Store in a cool, dry place. Keep out of reach of children.


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DENVER After trying and failing six times in the last 10 years, advocates for immigrants see victory in sight for their drive to allow in-state college tuition for students who immigrated illegally.
Democrats introduced Senate Bill 33 on Tuesday and held a crowded rally in the Capitols front hall to promote it.
It was more of a warm-up for a victory rally than anything, because with Democrats firmly in control of the Legislature, they know they have the votes to pass the bill.
This is the year that we stand up for the children who represent our future, said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. It is unwise and unjust to punish children just because their parents wanted a better life for them and made a decision to bring them to this country without their permission.
SB 33 allows children who crossed the border illegally with their parents to get in-state tuition rates if they attend a Colorado high school for three years and get a diploma.
Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, did not support previous versions of the bill and still does not.
Its the same problem each year its presented. The undocumented student graduates with college debt and a degree and cant get a job legally, Roberts said.
Roberts said the federal government needs to fix the immigration system before states such as Colorado act. She signed on to the Colorado Compact, an effort by Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet to set the stage for bipartisan immigration reform in Congress this year.
But one of SB 33s sponsors, Sen. Michael Johnston, D-Denver, said the bill will give hope to young students.
Theyre watching right now as the last two valedictorians at a high school in my district are flipping burgers, said Johnston, a former high school principal in a neighborhood populated by immigrants.
Johnston sponsored the bill last year and predicted he would get more Republican votes than last year, when the bill got just one Republican vote and died in a House committee.
However, the bill is different from last years compromise version. In 2012, in the hopes of attracting Republican votes, sponsors created a third category of tuition more than in-state but less than out-of-state to make sure that students in the country illegally dont get money from the states College Opportunity Fund.
This year, the bill allows immigrant students to get in-state tuition just like Colorado residents.
SB 33 is expected to move quickly. The Senate Education Committee will hear it in the next week or two, Johnston said.


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SNL alum Dana Carvey is 57 today, and here is his ancient audition for the show, featuring an embryonic version of what would later become Wayne's World's Garth Algar (based on his little brother Brad) and a Jimmy Stewart impression that is damn near unbeatable. I believe that he is about 31 years old in this video, but he looks much younger and so adorbs. Happy birthday, Dana!
The Night Belongs To Dana Carvey's Vintage Jimmy Stewart Impression


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Coping with English as Language of Instruction in Higher Education in Rwanda
The present study examines strategies that multilingual university students in Rwanda use in order to successfully deal with complex academic material offered through the medium of English, a foreign language. The reported strategies emerged from group work discussions and interviews with students in the faculty of Economics and Management at a University in Rwanda. The data were analyzed thematically. Findings reveal that students have multiple coping strategies that enable them to complete academic tasks given through the medium of English. One of the prominent strategies and practices is the successful use of other languages at their disposal to mediate cognitively demanding academic tasks. Although other spoken languages are not officially recognised as media of instruction in higher education, they play a mediating role in content learning through responsible code switching and translanguaging.
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Data mining on Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 for the ARAPORT project
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Money-Saving Tips for Airfare By: Travel Experts of Hotwire.com
Folks will always have the desire to explore new places and experience new cultures, but with the economy still in flux, travelers will continue to need great deals as well. To help travelers find the best prices and get the most 'bang' for their travel buck, the experts at Hotwire.com will be posting a series of can't-miss tips in the coming weeks. To kick things off, this week's list will focus on airfare advice.
Airfare continues to be a tough subject for many travelers and their wallets, and that's no surprise as fares continue to remain high. But if you follow a few easy, insider tricks, you could potentially net hundreds of dollars in savings.
How to save on airfare:
- Travelers should book early. The airlines typically follow a 21-day rule, where prices will start rising 21 days and closer to the departure date. So, try to book 3 weeks or more out. To save even more, try to purchase your tickets on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday, which is when prices tend to be the lowest. Choosing to fly on those days will save you a bundle as well.
- To get bigger savings, travelers should look to low-cost cost carriers and track where they are launching new routes. When low-cost carriers like Jet Blue or Southwest enter a new market, it prompts tough pricing competition, which results in great fare sales.
- Shop discount sites like Hotwire.com. These sites will get excess inventory from the airlines and will work with suppliers to sell seats at highly discounted rates, sometimes up to 45% off on last-minute airfares.
- Check alternative airports. Try flying into smaller, nearby airports and then drive to the final destination to save money. For example, Oakland instead of San Francisco. The money folks can save by flying into alternative airports can easily make up for any extra gas costs, and the ease and convenience might prove valuable as well.
Now that we've covered airfare savings tips, stay tuned for our next newsletter for tips on how to save on hotels.
The Hotwire Team
Good info and straight to the point. Thank you


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Press Release
Pinsent Masons advises Zurich on the sale of its UK Retail Wealth business
Out-Law News | 22 Dec 2006 | 4:10 pm | 1 min. read
It downloads 320 megabytes (MB) per hour from users' computers, meaning that users could reach their monthly download limits in hours and that it could be unusable for bandwidth-capped users.
The Venice Project is the new system being developed by Janus Friis and Niklas Zennström, the Scandinavian entrepreneurs behind the revolutionary services Kazaa and Skype. It is currently being used by 6,000 beta testers and is due to be launched next year.
The data transfer rate is revealed in the documentation sent to beta testers and the instructions make it very clear what the bandwidth requirements are so that users are not caught out.
Under a banner saying 'Important notice for users with limits on their internet usage', the document says: "The Venice Project is a streaming video application, and so uses a relatively high amount of bandwidth per hour. One hour of viewing is 320MB downloaded and 105 Megabytes uploaded, which means that it will exhaust a 1 Gigabyte cap in 10 hours. Also, the application continues to run in the background after you close the main window."
"For this reason, if you pay for your bandwidth usage per megabyte or have your usage capped by your ISP, you should be careful to always exit the Venice Project client completely when you are finished watching it," says the document
Many ISPs offer broadband connections which are unlimited to use by time, but have limits on the amount of data that can be transferred over the connection each month. Though limits are 'advisory' and not strict, users who regularly far exceed the limits break the terms of their deals.
BT's most basic broadband package BT Total Broadband Package 1, for example, has a 2GB monthly 'usage guideline'. This would be reached after 20 hours of viewing.
The software is also likely to transfer data even when not being used. The Venice system is going to run on a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, which means that users host and send the programmes to other users in an automated system.
OUT-LAW has seen screenshots from the system and talked to one of the testers of it, who reports very favourably on its use. "This is going to be the one. I've used some of the other software out there and it's fine, but my dad could use this, they've just got it right," he said. "It looks great, you fire it up and in two minutes you're live, you're watching television."
The source said that claims being made for the system being "near high definition" in terms of picture quality are wide of the mark. "It's not high definition. It's the same as normal television," he said.
Press Release
Pinsent Masons advises Zurich on the sale of its UK Retail Wealth business


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Cooking Up a Vegetarian Feast for Guests
One day, Mom and Dad or some other significant people may call to say they're visiting you at school. How should you entertain them? If you have a little notice, you can cook a vegetarian feast that will definitely impress your guests — even if they're not vegetarians! Here are some tips:
Come up with a menu to please all palates: A nonvegetarian guest may not appreciate sautéed seitan on a bed of flavored barley, but everyone recognizes and loves pasta marinara, tossed salad, and garlic bread. Choose a menu that's guest-friendly.
Assemble amazing appetizers: People love to munch, especially when they're hungry. Serving small bits of delicious and colorful foods before a meal is a teaser that gets their taste buds into full gear in anticipation of the main event.
Keep breakfast and brunch simple: The first meal of the day can be very impressive when you add subtle touches. Drizzle salsa over scrambled eggs; put a muffin on the plate instead of a slice of toast; toss a cinnamon stick into the coffee grounds before brewing the coffee. It doesn't take a lot of effort to make breakfast a special event.
Fix sandwiches, salads, or soups for lunch: A simple cup of soup and a sandwich can impress guests when you float a fresh mint leaf or a sprig of fresh dill in the soup. Make the sandwich on specialty bread and spread it with something a little different than the standard mustard or mayo. Use salsa, hummus, cream cheese, pesto, or some other snazzy spread before adding the sandwich filling.
Think outside the box for dinner: Dare to be different. Awe your dinner guests by serving pumpkin-stuffed tortellini with a sage and butter sauce or gnocchi with a garlic mushroom sauce. Vegetarian sushi is visually stunning, as is broccoli cannelloni topped with an alfredo sauce. (Oh, are you getting hungry just thinking about all this beautiful food?)
End with something sweet: Even if people overeat at dinner, they always have room for dessert. Stun them with a chocolate silk pie, tiramisu, caramel pecan cheesecake, lemon meringue pie, or something equally spectacular that leaves them totally captivated with your cooking ability.
Go for garnishes: Garnishes work magic on a plate. They make ordinary food look special. You can put a pickle next to a sandwich, but if you slice the pickle and fan it out, it makes everything on the dish look more appealing. Fancy restaurants use edible flowers, raspberry glazes, sprigs of fresh herbs, and more to transform simple foods into a masterpiece. When entertaining, add a small garnish to each dish to elicit the wow response.


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United Nations gang leader Clay Roueche placed a panicked call to a Vancouver naturopath two years ago, looking for treatment for an associate with a bullet in his belly who was being driven from Calgary to B.C., wiretaps obtained by The Vancouver Sun show.
"Hey bro, it's me, ah, it's a bit [of] an emergency if you could text me back whatever time you are available tomorrow, I gotta handle something right away, all expenses paid and all that, so call me as you can, okay? Bye," Roueche said in his first call to the number of Dr. Jonas LaForge on New Year's Eve 2007.
An hour later Roueche left a second message for LaForge, indicating his "bro" had been shot.
"Hello. I have a friend here, uh, in town, I need to see you tomorrow, uh, middle abdomen, no exit, uh, that's all I know," Roueche said. "Okay, call me right away tomorrow, okay, bye."
Roueche eventually reached the man who police identified in court documents as LaForge. The same documents say the naturopath agreed to meet the gang associate on New Year's Day in Kelowna where he was visiting.
LaForge, who is registered with the B.C. College of Naturopaths, did not respond to several requests for an interview about his exchange with Roueche and whether he did treat the shooting victim.
Police did not want to comment on this case, but say they are concerned that gangsters may be avoiding mainstream medical treatment after shootings to thwart criminal investigations into attempted hits and other gangland violence.
"There are circumstances where gunfire is heard, blood is found but nothing more," said Vancouver Police Insp. Brad Desmarais, the head of the city's gang squad.
"Anecdotally we understand that there are some friendly doctors out there .... Several of my people kind of surfaced that there are these doctors who will treat these people."
There is no B.C. law mandating doctors, naturopaths or other health care professionals to report patients with gunshot wounds, Solicitor General Ministry spokesman Ian Indridson said Friday.
"The province is considering legislation that would mandate health care facilities and other types of health care providers to report gunshot wounds to police," Indridson said. "It is recognized that for the legislation to be effective, it would need to apply to all types of health care providers and not just hospitals offering emergency treatment."
Five other provinces have mandatory reporting, Indridson said.
Howard Greenstein, registrar of the College of Naturopathic Physicians of B.C., said his members have not even looked at the issue.
"Since the treatment of gunshot wounds is outside of the scope of practice of naturopathic physicians, such a situation has not come to the attention of the CNPBC," Greenstein said.
The bugged calls between Roueche and LaForge are part of a series of wiretaps made by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit-B.C. and entered in U.S. district court in Seattle by U.S. attorneys in advance of Roueche's sentencing next week in a massive drug conspiracy case.
Police notes accompanying the calls said the Roueche associate is believed to have ben shot in Calgary earlier New Year's Eve, just hours after another gangster linked to Roueche, Mark Kim, was gunned down in the Alberta city.
Calgary police went to the second shooting, "but there were no bodies located."
"This would be consistent with a potential victim/suspect arriving in the area of Kelowna at around the time period of the phone calls between Roueche and the 'Doctor' regarding what sounds like a gunshot wound," the police notes filed in the U.S. court say.
Roueche got a text message from LaForge's number after his second call to the naturopath, saying, "Hey I'm in Kelowna coming home tomorrow, let me know what's up, leaving 12:30 should be in the 'Wack [Chilliwack] around 3:30."
Roueche then reaches a man by phone who police identified in the court exhibit as LaForge.
"I got, ah, they're probably gonna be passing where you are," Roueche said and the man responds: "K-town?"
Roueche says he is going to give his "bro" the naturopath's number.
"I'm gonna give it to him right now and then he'll probably be there, um ah, within like five hours or something and he'll probably crash for the night and see you first thing in the morning."
"Okay," the man on LaForge's phone replies.
There are no follow-up calls between Roueche and the naturopath that are entered in the U.S. court, and CFSEU spokesman Sgt. Bill Whelan said he could not comment on whether police followed up with the naturopath.
NDP justice critic Mike Farnworth said it should be mandatory for gunshot wounds to be reported to police, given the gang wars that have plagued the Lower Mainland over the last two years.
"If there is a gunshot wound, it is either a crime or an accident involving a gun," Farnworth said. "Police should be aware of those cases."
In addition, he said if someone is providing off-the-books treatment to wounded criminals, "it should be treated like you are aiding and abetting someone."
Desmarais and Sgt. Shinder Kirk, of the Gang Task Force, said wounded criminals often obstruct investigations any way they can by avoiding treatment or leaving the scene of the crime.
Last month, a Mission man who had been shot in the foot died hours later in a Maple Ridge apartment after an apparent drug overdose. Police speculated he may have taken something to relieve the pain of his injury, for which he sought no medical treatment.
Last May, shocked patients waiting for treatment at Ridge Meadows hospital watched gangster Steve Nagra pull up to the emergency room entrance in a dark SUV, peppered with bullet holes, and drag himself through the doors. He later died.
"As you are well aware, they often recognize their cohorts require treatment and roar up to the front door of an emergency room and kick them out to either live or die on the front steps of the hospital and speed off. That happens quite frequently," Desmarais said.
"It is very clear from the interviews our investigators have conducted that these individuals who are wounded are given very, very specific direction not to cooperate with police. It is not just a situation where they are saying well 'I hate you cops. I am not going to talk to you.' It is like 'I can't talk to you.' Even with some pretty egregious injuries resulting, where we are attempting to solve the crime, the cooperation just isn't there."
Kirk said he wouldn't be surprised if gangsters are trying to seek medical help under the table.
"Certainly they will do whatever they can to cover their tracks. If they do show up for treatment we get that stonewall - 'No, nothing happened' - even though there might be a gunshot wound," Kirk said.
"It is amazing the lengths a person involved might go to to cover up their involvement, to deflect attention away from themselves perhaps to somebody else to protect their situation or to avoid having law enforcement beginning an investigation at a particular scene - hence the driving to hospital themselves or getting to some kind of medical aid outside of official channels."
He said the notion of medical professionals treating gangsters clandestinely is right out of the movies.
"Could there be somebody in the medical profession doing that? I hope not. But yeah, there could be."
read The Real Scoop at vancouversun.com/bolan


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12. Everyone gives you advice about everything.
11. You must haul around a lot of extra luggage.
10. Upon arrival, you are exhausted.
9. Everything is much smaller.
8. You lose days of sleep.
7. There's a serious language barrier.
6. You are easily disoriented.
5. Everyone wants to come visit you.
4. You start to shop online - a lot.
3.There's a learning curve.
2. No one can imagine what it's like until they've done it.
1. It's really scary and totally unknown - but definitely worth it.
Here is a picture of us visiting the Great Buddah at Kamakura.
Only about 20 minutes from our house.
It is probably the coolest thing we've seen since we've been here, and I think it's the oldest thing I've ever seen. They started building it in the 1200's!
Hope you're all doing well! I'm starting to get excited about Cherry Blossom time here - more to come on that later!


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ROME, Ga.—Led by senior Elizabeth Bromirski's career-high 29 points, the Birmingham-Southern women's basketball team defeated Berry College on the road, 94-89, Friday evening in Rome, Ga.
The Panthers move to 8-10 overall and 4-3 in the Southern Athletic Association, while the Vikings fall to 10-8 overall and 3-4 in the SAA.
The teams played to several ties in the first half and there were several lead changes to keep things fairly close. Berry led by as much as eight, 44-36, with 2:54 left in the half but an 8-0 run by the Panthers tied things up 44-44, and the score was knotted at 46-46 at halftime.
BSC scored six straight points to open the second half, and kept a small lead until the 11:39 mark when Berry tied it up 65-65 and then pulled ahead on a layup and a free throw by Chanlir Segarra. The teams traded the lead four more times after that, and the Vikings pulled ahead 89-86 with 2:23 remaining. Junior Kayla Ford made two straight layups to put the Panthers back in the lead, 90-89, with 1:02 left on the clock, and BSC held onto the lead down the stretch, hitting 4-6 at the free throw line while holding Berry scoreless in the last 2:23 of the game.
Bromirski was 10-22 from the field and 7-8 at the free throw line, leading all players with her career-high 29 points. Freshman Laura van Peursem led with 10 rebounds, and four different Panthers had three assists apiece. Sophomore Kelsey Brown scored 19 points off the bench, and sophomore Ashley Curry had 12 points.
Mel McLean had 27 points for Berry, leading five players in double figure scoring, as well as a game-high 14 rebounds. Valerie McLure was also impressive for the Vikings with 11 rebounds and eight assists.
The Vikings out-shot the Panthers in every category, but BSC out-rebounded Berry 42-38 while committing a season-low seven turnovers, fewer than half that of the Vikings with 15.
The Panthers stay in Georgia for their next game, facing SAA foe Oglethorpe on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern.


text: Hi Kupono, the 2011 and later Mako's are made with a wood core, which is a much better substrate for laminated skin. I haven't heard of any delamming since.Kupono wrote:I've been riding the old foam core King for years. I've epoxied the skin back on so many times in so many places that I expect it to break in half on me someday in the waves. If I bought a new King, what differences could I expect?


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Reading the Coulton interviews today:the most interesting bits:--It wasn't his appendix, he had an intraabdominal infection that required IV antibiotics x2, once in hospital in NZ, once at home.--He wanted to give the Idol to Jay but Jeff would not let him, he said they had an alliance all along--Said the target was NOT Christine, they would have voted out ALICIA, as she was too tied to the women and Christine was not.
I just think its too early for a merge... Hmmm... 12 people in the merge?
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A great moment at Topeka last Sunday with John Force winning the Funny Car race. It was his first victory since his accident in Dallas last fall. An amazing recovery by an amazing individual.
He may not be everyone's cup of tea. God knows, he didn't even know how old one of his daughters was during a segment of Driving Force last year on A&E. That show exposed many of his shortcomings, but also revealed him to be a loving father and husband. Just a bit crazy.
His victory at Topeka and Ashley's win at Atlanta are inspiring and a real boost to the NHRA. And the fans can't get enough of them. Just watch them in the pits sometime. It's magic. You'll get a chance when they come here for the Mile High Nationals. It's worth the price of admission.


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Census Tract Data, 1940: Elizabeth Mullen Bogue File (ICPSR 2930)
Version Date: Jan 12, 2006 View help for published
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Donald Bogue, Unknown
Version V1
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The 1940 Census Tract files were originally created by keypunching the data from the printed publications prepared by the Bureau of the Census. The work was done under the direction of Dr. Donald Bogue, whose wife, Elizabeth Mullen Bogue, completed much of the data work. Subsequently, the punchcards were converted to data files and transferred to the National Archive and Records Administration (NARA). ICPSR received copies of these files from NARA and converted the binary block length records to ASCII format.
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The first two records in each file are city- and metro-level data with a record length of 3,298. The other records are tract-level data with a record length of 2,033. Both record types have 405 variables.
Produced by University of Chicago, Community and Family Study Center, 1975.
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All persons and housing units in the United States.
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publications of the U.S. Government (Record Group 287)
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- Bogue, Donald. Census Tract Data, 1940: Elizabeth Mullen Bogue File. ICPSR02930-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2000. http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR02930.v1
2006-01-12 All files were removed from dataset 61 and flagged as study-level files, so that they will accompany all downloads.
Data in this collection are available only to users at ICPSR member institutions.
- The citation of this study may have changed due to the new version control system that has been implemented.
This study is provided by ICPSR. ICPSR provides leadership and training in data access, curation, and methods of analysis for a diverse and expanding social science research community.


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Welcome to Benezit Dictionary of Artists
- A comprehensive and definitive resource for artists' biographies, published since 1911
- Includes 149,000 biographies as well as auction records, exhibition histories, and over 11,000 images of artists' signatures and stamps of sale
Luca della Robbia
Luca della Robbia was the head of a long line of Florentine sculptors who created works of tin-glazed terracotta sculpture. His great skill was in giving a previously unknown brightness and fixedness to polychrome decoration, and he gave his figures deep feeling, an intensity of expression, and realism.
Ernest Cole
Inspired by the American Civil Rights movement, Ernest Cole documented the systematic effects of apartheid on black life in South Africa. He often had to hide his camera and disguise himself in order to document scenes that the authorities hoped to censor.
In this update, Benezit publishes 112 emendations.
Collection Guides
Join Benezit on a tour of unique art collections around the world! Written by experts and curators, our Collection Guides present the history and highlights of museums and galleries. Follow links to related texts in Oxford Art Online and around the web to learn more about the artists in these outstanding collections.
What's New
Benezit continues to feature new and revised biographies of women artists, as well as updates to articles on top-selling figures in today's art market.


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Why You May Need To Hide Your Google Places Address ASAPBlog Post: March 25, 2012
I heard about this yesterday. It is amazing this information isn't more widely known.
I also agree with your opinion of Google penalizing without prior notice. I sailed to an island south of Florida where the running joke was the Dictator would throw 10 people in jail for 20-years then announce their crime a month later.
Deindexing sites certianly gets people's attention but it does damage long term loyalty.
Thanks for all the work.


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DENVER — Mother Nature continues to wreak havoc on the Rockies homestand as Monday's game was postponed.
It will be made up as part of a split doubleheader today with the first game at 1:10 p.m., followed by the regularly scheduled game at 6:40 p.m.
The pitching is expected to hold for both teams with Atlanta's Mike Minor starting opposite of Jeff Francis in Game 1.
In the second game, Julio Teheran will face Rockies' right-hander Jon Garland. Tyler Chatwood was scratched from his Triple-A game, leaving him in line to start Wednesday for the Rockies if the weather cooperates.
This is the 16th Rockies' game postponed by snow and five have involved the Braves, all in April.
Both games will be televised live on Root TV.
The Rockies will open their gates for the early game at about 11:30 a.m. Then the stadium will be cleared and gates re-opened at about 5:30 p.m. for the nightcap.


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I've priced a lot of league software and nobody has the level of service and features available from TeamSideline for less than twice the price. All in all, I expect we will be using this software for many years to come.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - Marc Houde, Front Royal Soccer Association
I just processed our league roster on the LL National site by using the report you created and link you provided. Process couldn't have been smoother.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - Brian McFarlin, Lincoln Little League Baseball
I believe TeamSideline is a must-have for sports professionals.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - Joel Blockman, Spokane County Parks, Recreation & Golf


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Real Goods Solar Sets Second Quarter 2013 Conference Call for Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. ET
LOUISVILLE, Colo., August 1, 2013 — Real Goods Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSOL), a nationwide leader of turnkey solar energy solutions for residential, commercial, and utility customers, will hold a conference call on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time to discuss results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2013. Financial results will be issued in a press release prior to the call.
Real Goods Solar CEO Kam Mofid and CFO Tony DiPaolo will host the presentation, followed by a question and answer period.
Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (2:30 p.m. Mountain time)
Dial-In number: 1-877-941-2068
International: 1-480-629-9712
Conference ID: 4630715
Webcast: http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=105398
The conference call will be webcast live and available for replay via the investor relations section of the company's website at RealGoodsSolar.com.
Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Liolios Group at 1-949-574-3860.
A replay of the call will be available after 7:30 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through August 20, 2013.
Toll-free replay number: 1-877-870-5176
International replay number: 1-858-384-5517
Replay ID: 4630715
About Real Goods Solar and RGS Energy
Real Goods Solar, Inc. (RSOL) is one of the nation's pioneering solar energy companies serving commercial, residential, and utility customers. Beginning with one of the very first photovoltaic panels sold to the public in the U.S. in 1978, the company has installed more than 15,000 solar power systems representing well over 100 megawatts of 100% clean renewable energy. Real Goods Solar makes it very convenient for customers to save on their energy bill by providing a comprehensive solar solution, from design, financing, permitting and installation to ongoing monitoring, maintenance and support. As one of the nation's largest and most experienced solar power players, the company has 15 offices across the West and the Northeast. It services the commercial and utility markets through its RGS Energy division. For more information, visit RealGoodsSolar.com or RGSEnergy.com, on Facebook at http://facebook.com/realgoodssolar and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/realgoodssolar.
Investor Relations:
Ron Both
Liolios Group, Inc.
Tel (949) 574-3860


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Authorities have launched a search for a former financial trader from New York who went missing on a motorcycle trip in Mexico last month.
Harry Devert, 32, of Westchester County, was last heard from Jan. 25, when he called his girlfriend to say the Mexican military was escorting him out of Michoacán, a state in the southwestern part of the country that they told him was too dangerous. Devert told his girlfriend he would contact her later, but wasn't heard from again.
"I don't know if he's been kidnapped, I don't know if he skidded off the road, I don't know what's happened to this master communicator who has gone off the grid," said his mother, Ann Devert.
She said her son, an experienced traveler, had planned to write a book about his trip. She said the area he visited was supposedly controlled by a drug cartel.
Devert's family said American and Mexican authorities are working to find him. Devert's friends have also set up a Facebook page titled "Help Find Harry" to aid in the search.


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The big issue in this year's election is the economy.
And the candidates are already hammering each other over it.
Romney says we should immediately cut taxes and cut government spending, thus freeing the private sector to fix the economy.
Obama says we should continue to invest in education, infrastructure, research, and other programs, thus helping the economy heal itself and improving the country's human and industrial capital.
So, who's right?
It's impossible to answer this question without invoking the cheers and jeers that always accompany any question that has "gone political."
But we'll answer it anyway.
If the goal is to heal the overall economy gradually while minimizing pain and disruption, Obama is right.
If the goal is to try to cure the problem by going "cold turkey"--without any regard for the (hopefully temporary) pain, unemployment, GDP shrinkage, and increased debt, deficits, and inequality that will result from this approach--Romney is right.
Most Americans, presumably, would prefer the former approach.
So, based on an objective (i.e., apolitical) view of our situation, most Americans would presumably conclude that Obama is right. Or, at least, that he's more right than Romney.
Of course, given that this issue has gone political, it will be impossible for most Americans to view it objectively. Rather, they'll just root for their team and bash the other team regardless of what anyone says. But in the hope that some Americans, at least, care about the economy more than rooting for a particular team, I'll explain below why Obama's approach is right.
(By the way, if Romney is elected, I think it's likely that he'll quickly change his approach to match Obama's. So, hopefully, the country will get to the right policies regardless of who wins).
To understand what needs to be done to fix the economy, you need to understand what's wrong with it. And that means going back a few years...
The main problem with the U.S. economy is that we have too much debt.
We accumulated this debt over a 25-year binge from 1982-2007 (see the debt-to-GDP chart at right).
Our unfettered borrowing and spending beyond our means--all of us, not just the government--fueled a quarter-century-long boom that, unfortunately, was partly an illusion. It's easy to seem prosperous when you're spending more than you make.
That 25-year debt-fueled boom of 1982-2007 has ended, and it has left the country with a stagnant economy, massive debts, high unemployment, huge wealth inequality, an enormous budget deficit, and a sense of entitlement engendered by a half-century of prosperity.
After decades of instant gratification, Americans have also come to believe that all problems can be solved instantly, if only the right leaders are put in charge and the right decisions are made. And so our government has devolved into a permanent election campaign, in which incumbents blame each other for the current mess, and challengers promise change.
The trouble is that our current problems cannot be solved with a simple fix. They also cannot be solved quickly. It took 25 years for us to get to this point, and it will likely take us at least a decade or two to work our way out of it, even if we make the right decisions.
So it is time that we began to face reality.
Four years ago, when the debt-fueled boom ended and the economy plunged into recession, most economists and politicians misdiagnosed the problem.
They thought we were having just another post-War recession—a serious recession, yes, but a cyclical one, a recession that easy money, government stimulus, and a return of "confidence" could fix.
A handful of economists, meanwhile, argued that the recession was actually fundamentally different—a "balance sheet" recession resulting from a quarter-century-long debt-binge, one that would take a decade or more to fix.
In the past four years, it has become increasingly clear that the latter diagnosis was correct: The U.S. economy is behaving exactly the way other economies have behaved after piling up mountains of debt and eventually going through a financial crisis. It is bumping along with disappointing growth, high unemployment, and, increasingly (and understandably) social unrest.
So how do you get out of a "balance sheet" recession triggered by too much debt?
You reduce the debt.
More specifically—and here's the critical point—you reduce the debt that is crippling the productive part of the economy.
This is the part that creates most of the jobs, prosperity, and wealth. It is also the part that pays for the rest of the economy. That part is the private sector.
What debt is crippling the private sector?
Consumer debt; the household mortgages, credit cards, student loans, and other obligations that are forcing consumers to save and pay down debts instead of spend. Consumers still account for about 70% of the spending in the U.S. economy, and that spending is now constrained. (See chart below—click for larger).
(Consumer spending was also artificially boosted for 25 years by the debt binge, so there's no way we're going back to that era. And we shouldn't strive to.)
How can consumers reduce their debts?
By doing what they are doing right now:
- Spending less
- Saving more
- Paying down debt
- Restructuring debt
- Defaulting
Importantly, this process takes time. And unless you're willing to just tear up the laws and contracts that have formed the basis of the country's economy for the past two centuries, there's no way to just wave a magic wand and make the debts go away.
Also importantly, this healing process has nothing to do with "restoring confidence." Or "reducing regulation." Even if you could suddenly cast a spell and make all Americans (irrationally) exuberant again, you can't solve a debt problem with more debt. Specifically, you can't reduce the amount you owe by borrowing more.
So where does that leave the economy?
It leaves the private sector—the productive engine of the economy—nursing its way back to health.
And it leaves the public sector—the government—trying to minimize the pain while the private sector heals itself.
Complicating the U.S.' problem, of course, is that the public sector—the government—has also racked up humongous debts in the past quarter century.
For now, those debts are still manageable: Our creditors are still willing to lend us as much as we want, on ever-easier terms. But, eventually, these debts will have to be addressed. Specifically, at some point, the government will have to cut back spending and reduce its debts, at least as a percentage of GDP. Or the entire government will go bust.
Those facts should be relatively uncontroversial. Where the disagreement comes is when and where the government should cut back—and how much.
One side—Romney—argues that the government should cut back immediately and completely, forcing the country to "take its medicine" in one quick dose.
The other side—Obama—argues that the government should continue spending to support the economy until the private sector is healthy enough to once again carry the torch.
The policies that arise from this argument affect the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people, so it's not surprising that people feel strongly about them.
So what's the best approach to solving our problem?
Here's where philosophical differences come into play. "Best" is, at least somewhat, in the eye of the beholder.
The two extreme solutions are these:
Do you want a violent, painful "adjustment" in which many million more Americans are thrown out of work and the incomes and spending of tens of millions of Americans are suddenly reduced, thus crushing American companies at the same time?
Then immediately cut government spending from ~20%+ of GDP to the 15% of GDP the government collected in taxes last year and hope (pray) that the resulting dislocation doesn't further wallop GDP (which history suggests it almost certainly will).
Do you want to pretend we don't have serious problems and just keep the government spending vastly more than it takes in every year until our government debt load finally becomes unmanageable and the currency collapses?
Then just keep doing what we've been doing for most of the past 30 years.
For obvious reasons, neither of those two approaches are appealing.
Fortunately, there's a third option, which lies somewhere in the middle.
This solution consists of two parts:
- Acknowledging the problem (and the problems with either extreme approach)
- Designing an approach that addresses these problems and helps us work our way out of our predicament with the least possible pain, dislocation, and disruption.
- Acknowledge the real problem with the economy—that we're in a "balance sheet" recession.
- Acknowledge that, to fix the economy, consumers need to work off their debts.
- Acknowledge that trend-line government spending is already too high relative to both GDP and the taxes that the government collects.
- Acknowledge that, eventually, to fix the latter problem, government spending will have to drop and taxes will have to go up.
- Acknowledge that, raising taxes and/or cutting spending sharply right now will wallop the economy.
- Acknowledge that walloping the economy right now will make the problem worse, not better, at least over the short term (consumers will have less money to spend, so the economy will shrink, and tax collection will drop ... and then this vicious cycle will repeat: See Greece).
- Acknowledge that making the problem worse right now will increase social frustration and unrest (See Occupy Wall Street). It also won't help the rich get richer.
- Acknowledge that denying the problem and continuing runaway government spending indefinitely will eventually lead to a debt and currency crisis (see Argentina).
- Acknowledge that, right now, the government can borrow as much money as it wants at historically low interest rates—rates that are getting lower all the time.
- Acknowledge that the only spending in the economy that the government can directly control is government spending.
- Acknowledge, therefore, that the "best approach" given our current reality involves two specific goals:
- Minimizing short-term pain while giving consumers time to nurse themselves back to health
- Getting the long-term deficit under control before the government implodes
So the best, or at least "least bad," solution to our problems is as follows:
- The government should construct and pass a long-term budget plan that:
- Minimizes short-term pain.
- Gets the long-term deficit under control.
- This budget plan should be designed to benefit all Americans, not just special-interest groups or different classes or industries.
- This budget plan can theoretically include an increase in short-term spending designed to minimize the country's pain, as long as it also includes a decrease in long-term spending (again, right now, the world is willing to lend us as much money as we want).
- One form of government spending that unequivocally benefits all Americans is infrastructure spending (when the projects are finished, America has the infrastructure).
- Infrastructure spending would help America address another reality that has emerged in the past three decades—the reality that the infrastructure of many countries in Europe, Asia, and other regions has vaulted past that in the U.S. and made the U.S. look like a second-world country.
- Infrastructure spending would boost employment in one sector of the economy hammered by the recession: construction.
- Infrastructure spending would involve fewer of the conflicts and misaligned incentives that infuriate many Americans about "entitlement programs," extended unemployment benefits, welfare, food stamps, and other government expenditures that seem to encourage sloth and laziness and "socialism."
- The 10-year government budget designed to get us out of our current predicament, therefore, should probably include a massive, multi-year infrastructure spending program.
Which of the two candidates is advocating an approach closest to this one?
Obama is still too light on explaining how we're going to get out of our long-term deficit mess, but his overall plan is certainly closer to the plan above than Romney's.
SEE ALSO: DEAR AMERICA: You Should Be Mad As Hell About This... [CHARTS]