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1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK
Sports cars have been with us in one form or another for almost as long as there have been internal-combustion engines propelling wheeled vehicles. At various times, the market for them has expanded and contracted; one such period of shrinkage began in the late 1960s, leaving only a few contenders, most of them high-priced, to satisfy the demand of a small but steady market for high-performance two-seaters.
Then came the Mazda Miata. Cute, fun and affordable, it was an instant success. No real psychic ability was needed to see that other small, frisky sporting machines would follow.
Now, there are three new members of the sports-car clan. All three–BMW's Z3, Porsche's Boxster and the Mercedes-Benz SLK–are competing in a niche slightly above the Miata, yet below stalwarts in the Jaguar XK8 and Porsche 911 class.
All three newcomers are impressive. All fit into a fairly narrow price window centered at about $40,000, all are well-equipped, and all promise as much over-the-road fun as most drivers can stand. Each carries a company name synonymous with performance, quality and engineering, and each comes from a company with plenty of sports car-building experience.
By the time the first SLKs hit the showroom, the little coupe/roadster had already proven itself good enough to win the North American Car of the Year award. Will it be good enough for you?
Even without the three-pointed star badges, it would be difficult to mistake the SLK for anything but a Mercedes-Benz. It is short but sleek, with a chunky, puroposeful look to it. Nice touches include the faired-in aerodynamic headlights, steeply raked windshield, large rear light clusters and bumpers tucked tightly against the body. Seven-spoke aluminum alloy wheels–carrying different-size tires front and rear–fill the wheel openings, contributing to the SLK's purposeful appearance.
But the SLK's most obvious and unusual exterior feature is its power-operated hardtop. It is standard equipment and, being integrated into the car, eliminates the need for a soft top. Five hydraulic cylinders fed from a trunk-mounted pump raise and lower the lid when the driver operates a single switch. When the top is being lowered, side windows retract, latches on the windshield header are released, the trunk lid is raised (backwards), the roof folds into two halves and slides into its bay, and the trunk lid closes. Naturally, raising the top involves the same steps in reverse.
That's a pretty clever piece of engineering. What makes it more impressive is the fact that there is still some usable trunk space when the lid is lowered–not much, but still about as much as a Miata.
Although there are engine options in Europe, the SLK is available in the U.S. as a single model, fully equipped, and offers a mere handful of options, most desirable among them washers for the headlights. Nothing else is necessary.
Interior Features
Suddenly it's 1955. Mercedes-Benz interior stylists have unabashedly opted for a retro look to the SLK's cozy cockpit. The three circular instruments–one a speedometer, one a tachometer, and the other a combination fuel level/coolant temperature dial–have chrome rings around ivory faces with black numerals and red needles. Shiny accents are applied in numerous places, and a two-tone effect combines black dashboard top, door panels, seat sides, glovebox lid and center console with contrasting trim in the buyer's choice of red, blue, dark gray or light gray.
Our only quibble with this blend of old and new is the carbon fiber insert panel in the dash. We have nothing against carbon fiber, but in a Mercedes it should be the real thing, rather than simulated.
But there is nothing old-fashioned about the SLK's safety features, Beyond the dual airbags, Mercedes has opted to include separate rollover bars behind driver and passenger, as well as adding a circuit to the airbag system that detects a child's seat mounted in the passenger side and disables the dash-mounted bag in front of it.
The seats, too, are modern as can be. No vintage sports car ever had such comfortable and supportive chairs. And no open car of the past protected its occupants from the wind as well as does the SLK's mesh wind deflector, which fits over the rollover bars.
All controls are located in clusters for easy use, air conditioning and a fine Bose six-speaker sound system are standard, and the whole is finished off to the high quality level you'd expect to find in a Mercedes.
Driving Impressions
A few minutes behind the wheel makes it clear that the SLK's biggest asset is a nearly inexhaustable supply of driving pleasure. The S in the model name denotes Sport, and deservedly so. The fun comes from much more than simple straight-line speed, though the SLK's claimed 0-60 mph time of 7.4 seconds and 143-mph top speed aren't exactly unimpressive. The key word in assessing the car's fun quotient is balance.
At right around 3000 pounds, the SLK isn't exactly a lightweight–even though the L in SLK stands for Licht (light)–but it steers, stops, and goes around corners with far less coaxing than its heavier SL cousins. The all-independent suspension is tuned for flat cornering and precise handling, and delivers exactly that, while also providing a ride that won't rattle your teeth.
Driver and passneger will be as relaxed at the end of an all-day drive as they were at its beginning and, if there were a few twists and turns along the way, the driver will likely have an ear-to-ear grin. Brakes (ABS-equipped), steering and electronic traction control all perform flawlessly.
The third component in the model designation is K, meaning Kompressor (supercharger in English). Without it, the car wouldn't be nearly as much fun to drive. The mechanical supercharger forces air into a 2.3-liter twincam 16-valve four-cylinder engine, the same engine, sans supercharging, used in M-B's C-Class sedans. A variety of high-tech features work with the blower to make the engine both powerful and responsive. Peak power–191 hp–is impressive, but the key to this engine's willingness to play is a wide band of peak torque, available from 2500 to 4800 rpm.
Behind the engine is a five-speed automatic transmission that features "adaptive" electronics that monitor driving style and tailor the shift time and speed to suit. In enthusiastic driving mode, for example, it will shift at the engine's peak power, and will not upshift when the car is slowed for a corner. In more sedate use, it changes gears with remarkable smoothness.
Perfection? Not quite. While the muted whine of the supercharger will be music to some, the exhaust note has a slightly agricultural quality to it. We also found a little more engine vibration than we'd like at cruising speeds, and the absence of a manual transmission isn't consistent with a real sports car image. Mercedes offers a very crisp five-speed manual on European SLK models, but elected not to certify it for the U.S. market.
Many of us have a soft spot in our hearts for traditional sports cars. In quantifiable ways, the new breed, as exemplified by the SLK, is better. Safer, faster, and more environmentally friendly, they represent a high point in automotive design.
Mercedes-Benz has put a lot of value into the SLK, from basic design to sophisticated powertrain to all the standard comfort and convenience features. But we stop short of calling it the best of the new breed. Buyers choose sports cars by subjective measurements, and there are two other new Teutonic roadsters with distinctive personalities of their own.
But if you're interested in any of these seductive newcomers we strongly recommend spending some time with the SLK before making a final decision. It's a unique achievement, even for a company that specializes in the best of everything.
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Tankless Water Heater Plano TX | Plano Plumber | Plano Plumbing
Tankless water heater vs. Storage tank water heater
A Tankless water heater heats the water only when there is a demand for hot water. Opening a hot water faucet, ignites the powerful burners and the computer monitors the water temperature and adjusts the burners according to the need. High demand, high heat. Low demand, low heat. With no tank to run out you get an endless supply of hot water. No tank to heat means no standby heat loss.
A storage tank water heater stores 40-75 gallons of hot 140*F water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week though you only use hot water a couple times a day. The tank type heaters constantly lose heat through the flue and tank walls trying to maintain 140*F. The heater cycles on and off to maintain this temperature. This causes cracking of the exterior walls and sediment build up which will eventually cause your storage tank to leak. The storage tank is designed to wear out and be replaced in time. The storage tank water heaters only have a limited amount of hot water and after that water is used you have to wait for the tank to heat the water again.
Utility savings with a Tankless Water Heater
For residential customer who pays $50.00/ month on natural gas for Domestic water heating (DHW) ONLY, we project average savings of 30% based on same usage pattern. (Best way to find DHW energy cost, is to look at Natural gas bill during summer without heating.)
With the usage pattern the same, savings with a tankless unit will be on average 30%. Single person 55%, two people using tank 40%, three people 35%, four people 30%, five people 25%.
Based on: $50.00 a month DHW gas bill, with an average of 30% savings, you would save $15.00 month or $180.00 per year. If a tankless water heater costs $1700.00 installed without any retrofitting, and the alternative tank type water heater costs $800.00 installed, the differential of a tankless water heater is $900.00. Payback is 5 years. The return on your investment is 20%. On average a retrofitted tankless water heater will cost approximately $2500.00 installed. According to Consumer Reports, because tankless water heaters cost much more than storage water heaters, it can take up to 22 years to break even—longer than the 20-year life of many models.
Life Expectancy
Many Tankless Water Heaters have a life expectancy of more than 20 years. They also have easily replaceable parts that extend their life by many more years. In contrast, storage tank water heaters last on average 8 – 10 years.
Requirements for a Tankless heater
Gas Tankless Heaters There is a higher demand for the amount of gas with tankless water heaters. Our licensed Plano plumber knows how to measure your household needs for gas. The gas line for your water heater is normally 1/2 inch. But our plumber will determine what sizegas line is necessary to run your gas system correctly.
Electric Tankless Heaters*If you plan to purchase an Electric Tankless Water Heater, consider the Voltage, Amperage, and Circuit Breaker.
Voltage Many retailers sell units that will accommodate 110V, 120V, 208V, 220V, 240V, and 277V.
Amperage Different Electric Tankless Water Heaters will have various requirements in amp draw. You will want to ensure that you can support the electrical demands of your Electric Tankless Water Heater.
Circuit Breaker You must ensure that you have a circuit or circuits that will support your Electric Tankless Water Heater. It may be necessary to put your Electric Tankless Water Heater on its own circuit or circuits.
*Alicensed electrician will be necessary to determine if your home can properly support an electric tankless water heater.
CALL HARVEY WEST PLUMBING TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE (972)509-0224, CONTACT US BY EMAIL or VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

subset: commoncrawl


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Red Sox Beat Reds 4-3 In 12 On Sizemore Wall Ball
Carlton Fisk cleared the Green Monster to beat the Cincinnati Reds.
All Grady Sizemore had to do was hit it.
The Red Sox outfielder lined one off the bottom of Fenway Park's left-field Wall to drive in the winning run on Tuesday night and Boston beat Cincinnati 4-3 in 12 innings - the longest game between the teams since Fisk's historic homer in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series.
"It will never get old to walk off," said Sizemore, who had three hits in the game. "I was just glad I could come through."
An All-Star with the Cleveland Indians, Sizemore missed all of the last two seasons while recovering from back surgery. The Red Sox brought him in as an extra outfielder, knowing the low risk would pay off big if he returned to the form that earned him MVP votes from 2005-08.
"I've got to believe that tonight gives him even further feeling like he's contributing here rather than being someone coming back from an injury," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Nights like tonight go a long way and continue to rebuild Grady."
Sizemore singled in a run in the third and had another base hit in the eighth, then came up with nobody out in the 12th after David Ortiz and Mike Napoli had already singled off Logan Ondrusek (0-2). He hit the first pitch to left-center, and the outfielders didn't even bother picking it up as Ortiz scored easily.
Craig Breslow (1-0) pitched one inning of scoreless relief for the victory. Boston beat Cincinnati for the sixth time in seven games since the Reds rebounded from the Fisk homer to win Game 7 of the '75 Series to take the title. The teams also met for interleague series in 2005 and `08.
Dustin Pedroia had three hits, including two doubles, as the Red Sox won for the third time in four games. Napoli drove in a pair of runs as the Red Sox opened a 3-1 lead only to see Junichi Tazawa give it up in the eighth.
"We finally got something going a little late," Reds outfielder Ryan Ludwick said. "Any time you lose a game, you think about missed opportunities."
Red Sox starter Felix Doubront allowed one run on five hits, but he walked two batters in the sixth before leaving with one out and a 3-1 lead. Burke Badenhop threw one pitch to Skip Schumaker to get an inning-ending play.
It was still 3-1 in the eighth when Joey Votto drew a one-out walk and Brandon Phillips doubled to put runners on second and third. Todd Frazier singled in one run, and Ryan Ludwick tied it 3-all with a sacrifice fly.


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Performers of all ages are invited to audition for two Surrey productions that will take the stage later this year.
One is Surrey Little Theatre's fall production. Auditions are scheduled for June 22 at 2 p.m. and June 23 at 7 p.m. The Cloverdale-based company will present the A.R. Gurney play Sylvia in October and November.
Roles to be filled include:
• Sylvia - female, 20 to 39 years old;
• Greg - male, 45 to 60;
• Kate - Female, 45 to 60, married to Greg;
• Tom - male dog owner, 40 to 60;
• Phyllis - female friend of Kate, 40 to 60;
• Leslie - female marriage counsellor, 40 to 60.
For questions or more information about the characters, contact stage manager Cathe Busswood at firstname.lastname@example.com
Sylvia will be staged Oct. 23 to Nov. 15. Surrey Little Theatre is located at 7027 184 St.
The Royal Canadian Theatre Company is also auditioning for roles in its pantomime production of Sleeping Beauty.
Auditions will be held June 22 from 1:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Newton Cultural Centre, 13530 72 Ave., with call backs July 6.
Singers, dancers and actors required for the show, which will run Dec. 19-28 at the Surrey Arts Centre and Jan. 2-3 at the ACT Theatre in Maple Ridge.
Rehearsals will begin on weekends beginning in September. The production is non-equity and open to all.
Email firstname.lastname@example.com to book an audition time and specify if you are a singer, dancer, actor or any combination thereof.


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Beginning with its 2016 theatrically released feature films, new Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios and Disneynature titles will be made available for Netflix members to watch instantly in the pay TV window on multiple platforms, including television, tablets, computers and mobile phones. Also included in the agreement are high-profile Disney direct-to-video new releases, which will be made available on Netflix starting in 2013.
Separately, Disney and Netflix have reached agreement on a multi-year catalog deal that today brings to U.S. Netflix members such beloved Disney movies such as Dumbo, Pocahontas and Alice in Wonderland.
"Disney and Netflix have shared a long and mutually beneficial relationship and this deal will bring to our subscribers, in the first pay TV window, some of the highest-quality, most imaginative family films being made today," said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer at Netflix. "It's a bold leap forward for Internet television and we are incredibly pleased and proud this iconic family brand is teaming with Netflix to make it happen."
"With this cutting-edge agreement, we are thrilled to take our highly valued relationship with Netflix to the next level by adding Disney's premier films to their programming line-up," said Janice Marinelli, President, Disney-ABC Domestic Television. "Netflix continues to meet the demands of its subscribers in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, and we are delighted that they will have much earlier access to our top-quality and entertaining slate," she continued.


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The Bethel College Concert Choir is no stranger to statewide choral showcases in the form of the Kansas Music Educators Association annual meeting. This year, the choir has stepped up a notch.
The 60-voice choir, under the direction of William Eash, will perform March 21 in Little Rock, Ark., for the Southwestern Division convention of the American Choral Directors Association.
Bethel's was one of 18 choirs selected to perform at the convention and one of five traditional college choirs. This year, there will be five college choirs representing a student population ranging from 1,500-3,200 students and one choir representing a campus of 18,000.
"There is one collegiate jazz choir," Eash said, "and the remainder are high school choirs, community choirs, women's choirs and men's choirs."
ACDA is the umbrella organization for all choir directors across the country. The SWACDA territory includes Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
"ACDA member directors cover all aspects of the choral spectrum, from elementary school, middle school, high school and college to community and church music," Eash said. "Each year, the organization gathers to hear the most recent research on singing, discover new music, listen to choirs and network with other choral directors. In preparation for these events, any choir director who is a member of ACDA may submit recordings to audition their choir for the performance aspect of the convention."
The auditions are blind auditions -- selected professionals from within ACDA listen to unlabeled CDs.
"You are required to submit a recording that contains one selection from each of the previous three years of choral singing," Eash said. "This ensures that there is a record of excellence in the choral program."
Learn more on Bethel's website.


text: Back Direct Antiglobulin Does this test have other names? Direct Coombs test What is this test? The direct antiglobulin test is a blood test used to diagnose a type of anemia caused by your immune system. Your immune system is your body's defense system. It makes proteins called antibodies to attack foreign invaders. In some cases, your immune system can make antibodies against red blood cells. This causes red blood cells to break down, a condition called hemolytic anemia. Why do I need this test? This blood test tells your doctor whether you have antibodies that have attached to your red blood cells. You may need this test if you have symptoms of hemolytic anemia after a blood transfusion. A baby may need this blood test if the baby's mother makes antibodies against the baby's red blood cells and passes those antibodies to the baby inside the womb. This condition is called hemolytic disease of the newborn. The most common cause of hemolytic anemia is when your immune system makes antibodies to your own red blood cells by mistake. When your immune system makes antibodies against your own healthy cells, it is called autoimmune disease. Symptoms or signs of hemolytic anemia may include: Tiredness Shortness of breath Dark urine Blood tests that show low numbers of red blood cells What other tests might I have along with this test? You may have a blood test that measures the red blood cells in your blood and the amount of oxygen carried by your red blood cells. These tests are called hemoglobin and hematocrit. What do my test results mean? A result for a lab test may be affected by many things, including the method the laboratory uses to do the test. Even if your test results are different from the normal value, you may not have a problem. To learn what the results mean for you, talk with your health care provider. The direct antiglobulin test tells your doctor whether you or your child has antibodies to red blood cells. A normal blood test will find no antibodies to red blood cells. If there are any antibodies to red blood cells, the test is considered positive. The test results may range from 1+ (barely positive) to 4+ (very positive). A positive antiglobulin test may mean: A transfusion reaction Autoimmune hemolytic anemia Hemolytic disease of the newborn Hemolytic anemia caused by a drug reaction How is this test done? The test requires a blood sample, which is drawn through a needle from a vein in your arm. Does this test pose any risks? Taking a blood sample with a needle carries risks that include bleeding, infection, bruising, and a sense of lightheadedness. When the needle is put into your arm, you may feel a slight stinging sensation or pain. Afterward, the site may be sore. What might affect my test results? Some drugs can interfere with this test, and some drugs can cause the test to come back positive even though you don't have hemolytic anemia. Drugs that may cause hemolytic anemia include: Certain antibiotics Certain blood pressure medications Insulin How do I get ready for this test? You don't need any special preparations for this test. Make sure to let your health care provider know about any medications, herbs, or supplements you are taking.


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Colour: clay orange
Size and fit
The wool used in this product has been inspected for compliance with the ORTOVOX WOOL PROMISE.
More information
This product contains no environmentally harmful per- or polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs).
More information
This product is climate neutral. It was produced in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Any unavoidable CO2 emissions have been offset.
More information
Extremely durable, athletic stretch shorts for alpine climbing
- High scuff-resistance
- Athletic cut for great freedom of movement
- Water-resistant on the outside, comfortable thanks to merino wool on the inside
The massive, bizarre towers of the Pala group protrude from the stony alpine plateau. Climbing here in the southernmost mountain range of the Dolomites takes strong nerves – and strong material. Our MERINO SHIELD TEC line was designed especially for long, alpine routes like these!
The extremely scuff-resistant outer material used in the PALA SHORTS for men achieves more than 50,000 abrasion cycles in the Martindale test, which is used to measure scuff resistance. An athletic cut, 4-WAY stretch material and an anatomically shaped knee area give you full freedom of movement. The no-membrane construction of the PALA SHORTS makes them particularly breathable, aided by fine merino wool inside and MERINO MESH inserts at the waistband for added comfort. The harness- and backpack-optimized pockets and TOPO pocket keep your items close at hand. The adjustment options at the ankles and waistband guarantee a perfect fit for every movement. For the sake of the environment, the entire MERINO SHIELD TEC line is also completely PFC-free and climate-neutral through carbon offsetting.
With its fresh look, the PALA SHORTS for men is just right for big climbing routes on high rock faces.
Area of usage
Product features Product features
- Adjustable waistband
- Merino mesh inserts at waistband
- 2 Side pockets
- 1 back pocket with zipper
- Anatomically shaped knee area
- Regular Fit
Material properties Material properties
- High scuff resistance > 50,000 abrasion cycles in the Martindale test
- 4-way stretch material
- Breathable
- Lightweight
- Quick drying
- Water resistant: thanks to PFC-free DWR coating
- Merino inside
- PFC free: water and dirt run off
Material Material
MAIN MATERIAL: 74% polyamide + 15% wool (OWP MERINO) + 11% elastane INSERTS: 91% polyamide + 9% elastane
Merino Inside
Our sustainable MERINO WOOL comes from monitored, ethical sheep farms. It is comfortably soft, easy to care for, and provides an optimum body climate thanks to its moisture- and temperature-regulating properties.
Our wool has its origins at the heart of a natural paradise: Tasmania. Where the air is at its purest, the food lush, and the climate moderate – that's where fair merino wool that fulfils the highest quality standards can be found.
Our commitment to fair wool: Our own wool standard ensures that our merino wool is sourced in an animal- and environmentally-friendly manner. Our friendly relationship with our farmers enables us to have full transparency throughout the value-added chain.
You might also like these products
Functional merino hybrid jacket for men with windproof inserts for alpine use.
Extremely durable, athletic stretch jacket for alpine climbing
Extremely durable, stretchable, athletic hooded jacket for alpine climbing.
Sustainable, comfortable and quick-drying merino shirt with cooling effect for alpine climbing tours.


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You have an idea, a note, a comment… Just post it onto PostPress! Use this "Posty" looking WordPress Theme for your blog or your website. Choose among 14 colors combinations and 10 handwriting like Google fonts to match your brand directly from the WordPress customize menu. Hook up your social media profiles very easily via the special customizer included with this theme directly from your WordPress admin site. Set up posts as "Sticky" and get them to stay on the top and stand out with colors. This responsive theme is ideal for blogs, entertainment or news websites. It is accessibility ready and supports RTL formats.
Download Live Demo
Theme Page


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not a phone at all
Ever come near an N8x0 tablet (previous generations)? It looks more like a pc than a smartphone, and it lacks the usability of one too.
I seriously hope Nokia gets its act together on this N900, because the SW of the previous models sucked BIG time. I' still waiting on Mer/UbuntuMID to mature to finally take advantage of this expensive toy after more than a year.
And the new version that comes with the N900 isn't even compatible with the previous models. Thank you Nokia, why should I upgrade hardware after being treated like that?


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Trisha Meili gives her time to organizations vital to her healing including The Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program (SAVI) at Mount Sinai Hospital, Gaylord Hospital, where she did much of her rehabilitation, and the Achilles Track Club that helped her run the New York City Marathon in 1995.
Recently, Trisha was the recipient of the Pacesetter Award from New York Hospital Queens, the Spirit of Achievement Award from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the Courage Award from Boston's Magic 106.7 Exceptional Women Program, and was an Olympic Torchbearer in New York City.
Today, Trisha speaks about her journey of recovery and healing to groups, including businesses, universities, brain injury associations, sexual assault centers, and hospitals. With her book and lectures, she reaches out to people struggling through recovery from any number of problems, offering hope and possibility.
Trisha's inspirational speaking topics include:
Trisha Meili will be speaking or appearing at numerous events in the coming year. A sample of upcoming events follows.
|Home Contact Trisha
|© 2023 Trisha Meili


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# $EPIC: encrypt.txt,v 1.4 2010/04/03 04:14:56 jnelson Exp $
Start encrypted convo: encrypt [-<cipher>] <target> <password> [<program>]
Stop encrypted convo: encrypt [-<cipher>] <target>
List all encrypted convos: encrypt
Stop all encrypted convos: encrypt -clear
Use this command to hold encrypted conversations on a channel or with another user. Encrypted conversations require the other person to use a client that supports it.
Without an argument, the command shows you all your encrypted conversations.
With the -clear argument, it deletes all your encrypted conversations.
When you have a correctly configured encrypted conversation, then the messages you send to the other person(s) will be encrypted and anyone who does not have the password will not be able to see what you say.
This works in reverse. If someone is trying to have an encrypted conversation with you and you do not have the correct password you will not be able to read what they are saying.
To have an encrypted conversation, you need to have three things.
An encryption target is:
/encrypt 0/hop -sed hello
will encrypt with 'hop' but only on server 0!
/encrypt efnet/#epic -blowfish howdy
will encrypt what you say on #epic on a server in group 'efnet'
/encrypt irc.acronet.net/hop -cast yo!
will encrypt with 'hop' but only on irc.acronet.net
/encrypt =hop -blowfish ouch
will encrypt your DCC CHAT conversation with 'hop'.
If you have overlapping conversations, then these are the tiebreakers: 1. Server refnum 2. The server's "ourname" (the hostname we used to connect to it) 3. The server's "itsname" (the name the server calls itself) 4. The server's "group" (which you provided)
The following ciphers are supported. Remember to prefix them with a hyphen!
|Legacy ircII encryption (default) (very poor)
|Compatible with ircII-4.4
|Not compatible with FiSH or anythinge else
|Not compatible with anything except EPIC
|Not compatible with anything except EPIC
|Not compatible with anything except EPIC
The quality of the encryption depends on the quality of your password. There are no restrictions on your password, but everybody in the conversation must know the password!
To start a SED encrypted session with JoeBob using the key "foobar":
/encrypt joebob foobar
To start a SED encrypted session with channel #blah using key "booya":
/encrypt #blah booya
To list your current encrypted sessions:
To end your encrypted session with JoeBob:
/encrypt joebob
To encrypt your session with Xenu with a strong AES-SHA cipher:
/encrypt Xenu -AESSHA teegeack
To start separate encrypt sessions with channels with the same names on different servers:
/encrypt 0/#foo -AESSHA kitty /encrypt 3/#foo -BLOWFISH cat
JoeBob on channel #blah is being rebellious and using a different key and encryption method and you still wish to see what everybody is saying. After this, the encryption key you will use to send to the channel will still be 'booya':
/encrypt #blah,joebob!* fludle epic-crypt-gpg-aa
You are being rebelious on #blah by using a different key, and you still wish to see what everybody using the old key is saying:
/encrypt #blah,* oldkey /encrypt #blah mykey


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Grants total $1.75 million USD from multi-donor Powering Agriculture and Agriculture Fast Track Funds
January 31, 2014. Addis Ababa – U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Deputy Administrator Mark Feierstein announced the award of two grants to a start-up Ethiopian enterprise, African Bamboo, after touring the company's testing facility. Acting Deputy Feierstein was in Ethiopia as part of the official U.S. Government delegation to the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.
African Bamboo is one of the 12 organizations awarded a Powering Agriculture grant supported jointly by USAID, US Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Swedish and German Governments, and Duke Energy. The awards support innovative projects aimed at integrating clean energy technology into the agriculture sectors of developing countries to increase production.
African Bamboo will use the grant of $1million USD to develop and test a heating process to make industrial and commercial quality bamboo based on biofuel from organic waste, such as coffee husks and residue from processing the bamboo.
African Bamboo was awarded a second grant of nearly $750,000 from the African Development Bank Agriculture (AfDB) Fast Track fund, supported by the United States, Sweden, and Denmark. The grant will help African Bamboo prepare feasibility studies and market analyses to attract investment capital and also to meet requirements for exports to the United States and the European Union.
Founder and General Manager Khalid Duri commented: "We are pleased to have been awarded the Powering Agriculture grant, and are especially proud to be the only African-owned business among the winners. This award will allow African Bamboo to continue our innovative work in renewable energy and agro-forestry processing, which we hope will benefit numerous agriculture value chains in Ethiopia."
Within Ethiopia, there are over 1 million hectares of bamboo, representing one of the largest reserves in Africa. Recognized as a fast-growing and largely sustainable raw material, there is an increasing global demand for bamboo as a wood substitute for a variety of construction and furnishing applications.
African Bamboo envisions developing a model that can lead to prospective business opportunities throughout the country for employment, manufacturing and export. In just its first phase, African Bamboo has entered into agreements for bamboo farming with over 30 cooperatives benefitting over 2000 farmers in Sidama zone.
USAID's Mark Feierstein explained how enterprises like African Bamboo illustrate the U.S. Government's objectives to assist Ethiopia's Growth and Transformation through public-private partnerships and, specifically, the US Feed the Future and Power Africa initiatives.
"The African Bamboo enterprise is a good example of how adding value to farm products can be done to create new sources of income and food security for farmers and workers, sustain the environment, generate clean energy, and benefit the economy overall with earnings from new exports. I hope that this story of entrepreneurship and ingenuity will generate many more across Ethiopia and the region, inspire more cooperation across government, research and private sector entities, including members of the Ethiopian Diaspora."


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When your TAG TEAM is knocked out, your opponent takes 3 Prize Cards.
Attach 5 basic Energy cards from your discard pile to your Pokémon in any way you like. If this Pokémon has at least 1 extra Energy attached to it (in addition to this attack's cost), prevent all effects of attacks, including damage, done to it during your opponent's next turn. (You can't use more than 1 GX attack in a game.)
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NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Another star-studded country music concert is planned to benefit victims of the deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma last month.
Toby Keith announced Thursday that his Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert will be held July 6 at the University of Oklahoma's Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. Joining Keith is fellow Oklahoman Garth Brooks and his wife, Trisha Yearwood. Other performers include Willie Nelson and Ronnie Dunn.
Organizers say the $25 tickets will go on sale June 21.
Keith is a native of Moore, where 24 people were killed in an EF5 tornado on May 20. Brooks, who lives in Owasso, says he's honored to participate in the concert.
A concert last month hosted by Blake Shelton raised more than $6 million for the United Way of Central Oklahoma.
Source: Associated Press


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Notice: All dates, locations, times and details are subject to change. Check back here often for the latest information.
Add a New Motorcycle Event!
The best of the best. These folks have ridden and shared more roads than any other ORJ member this month.
Road Trips & Trip Planner:
Bike Routes, Roads, and Maps:


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East comes west with this home listed for sale on Broad Beach in Malibu – a bit of a Cape Cod feel right in a million dollar California neighborhood. So, did you know that it costs $24 million dollars for a 4,889 square foot home right on the water on one of the most coveted beaches on the West Coast?
31134 Broad Beach Road was built in 1958 and designed by architect Gerard Colcord. This real estate listing from Prichett Rapf Realtors, features 4 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 3 car garage, several outdoor living areas and 100 feet of beach front. The living room has hand hewn oak floors and the rustic country kitchen has a fireplace, copper sink, breakfast/dining area, and opens to an outdoor covered patio. The home is gated.
Don't know whether the Cape Cod eclectic style is up my alley but the views certainly are! Take a look.
|The exterior of this Malibu, CA home looks like it should be set on Cape Code! (above)
|The living room with light wood paneled walls and a huge fireplace (above)
|The living room and dining room open up to a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean (above)
|The rustic country kitchen has a brick floor! What do you think of that? (above)
|The garden boasts several outdoor living areas including this covered patio with fireplaces and teak outdoor furniture. (above)
So what do you think of this multi million dollar listing? Would you take it or leave it? Even if it is not your style, could you work with it?
I would take it and then revamp. Oh did I mention the listing price includes all of the furniture! Hmmm…I think I would negotiate the furniture out of the deal…get rid of the wall to wall carpeting in the bedrooms and start from scratch with the decor. I might however keep the brick floors in the kitchen. Hmmm…what do you think?
Happy first day of July! Happy Monday!
P.S. It was a gorgeous very hot weekend here in Los Angeles. I spent a lot of time in Santa Monica at dear friends BN and SN's family beach house right on water – I was there both days…a little work lots of nice catching up with them and all their cuties. Will share a photo of their very cool beach home that has an amazing eclectic international well traveled vibe maybe tomorrow here on the blog. Anyhooo…on Saturday night, I captured this lovely sky just after sunset at my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills. It was a gorgeous night!
|Sunset at my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills! (above)
P.P.S. As I write this blog post early this morning, it just started to rain outside! What in the world? Global warming.
P.P.P.S. My favorite grammatically incorrect quote from last week is as follows "I is what is I is and I'm not changin'". Makes me chuckle. Do you know who said it? 🙂
P.P.P.P.S. Dropped off my mom at the airport on Saturday! She is in Paris for the summer! What a nice life.
P.P.P.P.P.S. Making last minute plans to go to Atlanta market in two weeks. We are launching new COCOCOZY product and I have to be there! Can't wait. Will give you all details so you can stop by and say hi!
Photos: 31134 Broad Beach


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Growing Bowling Through Education and Innovation
Regular price
$ 29.99
Have you ever tried to polish a bowling ball by hand lane side?
There hasn't ever been a good way to do it - UNTIL NOW!
Thanks to a partnership with Turtle Wax - an industry leader in polish technology, we bring you TruCut Hand Applied POLISH PLUS.
With this innovative product, you can polish a bowling ball by hand in less than 5 minutes.
When combined with the all new CtD Premium Polishing Pad, TruCut Hand Applied Polish Powered by Turtle Wax uses a unique chemical blend of fine cutting ingredients and powerful cleaning agents to provide a high polished finish to any performance bowling ball.
This finish adds length and creates an angular ball motion. You can quickly polish a bowling ball with a 4000 or 5000 grit base finish to produce up to a 6500 grit highly polished finish by hand.
This product is also safe to use with a bowling ball spinner. When used on four sides for 30 seconds on a bowling ball spinner you can polish a bowling ball to an impressive 6200 grit ultra polished finish. This provides maximum length and backend reaction.
TruCut Hand Applied POLISH PLUS has been designed to polish all types of coverstocks including the tough to polish, old school conventional urethane.
This makes it a perfect choice for anyone with a polished bowling ball who wants to maintain the polished finish from the factory and increase performance.
Kit includes -


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Apple CEO Tim Cook Faces a $98 Billion Problem
Apple CEO Tim Cook has a problem, a $98 billion problem.
Just 18 months ago, Apple's $46 billion mountain of cash - while huge by most standards - attracted only muted complaints from investors, who did call for a dividend or share buyback, but were mostly happy with the meteoric rise in the stock price.
Tim Cook
But with the growing cash balance now a much bigger overhang on the stock, widely considered to be undervalued, investors are clamoring more vocally for Cook to put the money to work.
No one could have foreseen just how quickly that warchest would grow. Indeed, some analysts estimated Apple's cash holdings would increase to $65 billion at the end of 2011. That it has swelled nearly 50 percent above even those lofty projections is nothing short of awesome.
Apple now has about $104 in cash per share.
But to paraphrase rapper P. Diddy, with more money comes more problems. Apple's runaway success presents Cook with his first real public test as chief executive officer - figuring out what to do with the money.
Apple's cash balance is now a quarter of its $415 billion market capitalization and roughly equals California's 2012-2013 state budget. And even though $64 billion of Apple's cash is overseas - meaning it will have to pay a hefty tax to bring it into the United States - calls for a dividend on Wall Street grew louder after the company said on Tuesday it was in active discussions internally on what to do with the money.
Wall Street is strongly in favor of Apple returning the money to shareholders through buybacks or dividends, even if it is only a one-time deal. But the ultra-conservative company, which typically ignores Wall Street, gave no clues about that during its earnings call on Tuesday.
They are clearly trying to signal that they are not ignoring the issue, said Michael Holt, an analyst with Morningstar. It doesn't mean that a decision is imminent.
Others, however, are convinced a dividend will be paid this year.
With Apple stating that it is 'actively' pursuing its options with regards to its cash balance, we believe the commentary may be setting itself up for a cash dividend in FY12, Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White said, raising his target on the stock to $666.
Katy Huberty, an analyst with Morgan Stanley, echoed White's view, saying: Apple appears committed to making a decision on cash return in the near-term and we continue to believe a dividend makes the most sense.
Some big technology companies have started paying a dividend to help allay investor concerns about slowing growth by returning part of their ample cash holdings. Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO.O) began paying a dividend last year, while Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) started in 2003.
Apple stock gained 25 percent in 2011, adding about $77 billion to its market cap and it touched an all-time high of $454.45 on Wednesday. Some continue to bank on a share-price rise to as high as $700.
The company's core business is throwing off massive amounts of cash every quarter - Apple recorded a $16 billion increase in cash sequentially - in part because of its reluctance to pay a dividend or buy back stock and its limited acquisition history.
The company earned a mere 0.77 percent on its cash and investments in fiscal 2011, mostly due to its preference for safe, but low-yielding U.S. Treasury and agency debt.
This is a tad higher than the 0.75 percent it earned in fiscal 2010, but down from 1.43 percent in fiscal 2009, 3.44 percent in 2008 and 5.27 percent in 2007.
Fiscal prudence has long been part of Apple's mantra and the Cupertino, California-based company runs a tight ship with total revenue rising 66 percent in fiscal 2011, but operating expenses rising only 37 percent.
For now, Apple's Chief Financial Officer, Peter Oppenheimer, has veered away from his usual script, which was to tell Wall Street that Apple has always had internal discussions on the best use of its cash, with capital preservation being key.
He characterized these discussion as active on Tuesday.
We recognize that the cash is growing for all the right reasons, Oppenheimer said, but added he had nothing to announce. In the meantime, we're not letting it burn a hole in our pockets.
Oppenheimer also suggested that Apple might invest in its supply chain or make acquisitions. But Apple has typically preferred to acquire small companies, which has had little or no material impact on its results so far.
Apple's major expense last year was paying the lion's share to acquire - along with Microsoft and a few other companies - the patent portfolio of bankrupt telecommunications company Nortel for $4.5 billion.
Apple said it spent $4.3 billion in fiscal 2011 to acquire property, plant and equipment, $3.2 billion in acquisition of intangible assets and $244 million in payments made in connection with business acquisitions, according to its annual regulatory filing.
That is in sharp contrast to rivals such as Google Inc (GOOG.O), which is acquiring Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in cash, and which completed 54 acquisitions during the first nine months of last year alone. The company's $44.6 billion warchest of cash and investments at the end of December was far lower than Apple's.
Google has also resisted pressure to announce a dividend or buy back stock.
Apple may do the same in the next few months, said Michael Walkley, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity.
We believe Apple is likely to announce a dividend during 2012, potentially next quarter when crossing $100 billion in cash and cash equivalents, Walkley said. We view this as very bullish for investors, as we believe a new group of investors seeking dividends would invest in Apple and drive shares higher.
© Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. All rights reserved.
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[Note: This essay was drawn from FPIF's latest book, Lessons from Iraq: Avoiding the Next War, published by Paradigm Publishers.]
The heavy reliance on private contractors to do everything from serving meals and doing laundry to protecting oil pipelines and interrogating prisoners has been a major factor in the immense costs of the Iraq war. By one measure, there may be more employees of private firms and their subcontractors on the ground in Iraq than there are U.S. military personnel.
One of the main rationales for using private companies to carry out functions formerly done by uniformed military personnel – a practice that has been on the rise since then Defense Secretary Dick Cheney commissioned a study that led to the contracting out of all Army logistics work to Halliburton in the 1990s – was that it would save money. But in Iraq, the combination of greedy contractors and lax government oversight has resulted in exorbitant costs, many of them for projects that were never completed.
The first sign that something was terribly wrong with the contracting process for the war was the awarding of a no-bid, cost-plus contract to Halliburton, allegedly to pay the cost of putting out oil fires in Iraq. Rep. Henry Waxman started asking questions about the contract after he learned that it could be worth up to $7 billion over x years. He rightly questioned how a no-bid deal justified on the basis of potential short-term emergencies could have such a long duration at such a high price. Only then was it revealed that the contract also covered the task of operating Iraq's oil infrastructure. Given the long-term nature of this larger task, Waxman argued that this aspect of the work be taken away from Halliburton and subjected to competitive bidding. It was several years before his recommendation was implemented, and even then Halliburton received what at least one potential competitor – Bechtel –viewed as an unfair advantage.
While few contracts matched the size of Halliburton's oil deal, the use of cost-plus awards was widely emulated. A cost-plus award is virtually an invitation to pad costs, as profits are a percentage of funds spent – in other words, the more you spend, the more you make. This problem has been compounded by a lack of auditors to scrutinize these contacts. For example, in one zone of Iraq, only eight people were assigned to oversee contracts worth over $2.5 billion.
Halliburton's other major contract in Iraq is for the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP). Under this arrangement, Halliburton supplies virtually all of the Army's non-combat needs in the field, from building and operating bases to repairing and maintaining combat vehicles. LOGCAP operates on a variation of the cost-plus contracts, and it has exploited this arrangement to the fullest. Among the overcharges engaged in by the company have been the following: overcharging by more than a dollar a gallon for fuel shipped into Iraq from Kuwait; billing the government for three times as many meals as it actually served the troops at several of the bases it runs; leasing SUVs for its personnel at a cost of $7,000 per month; and charging $100 each for doing a bag of laundry. These are just a few examples among dozens in which Halliburton took advantage of the "fog of war" to line its pockets. The company's attitude was summed up by company whistleblower Henry Bunting, who indicated that when he raised questions with his supervisor about Halliburton's lavish expenditures of government money he was told "don't worry about it, it's cost-plus."
In all, Halliburton has been by far the greatest beneficiary of the Iraq war, with war-related contracts exceeding $8 billion, several billion of which has not been adequately accounted for. Although a number of changes were made in response to the company's record of fraud and abuse – from taking away its fuel supply contract to splitting the work for operating Iraq's oil infrastructure into three parts – these measures were a classic case of too little, too late. Reforms designed to prevent "another Halliburton" will be discussed below.
Large firms like Halliburton were not the only ones to exploit the war for excess – and in some cases illegal – profits. One of the most notorious examples involved Custer Battles, named after its founders Scott Custer and Michael Battles. When the two men went to Iraq in search of contracts, they had no capital, no employees, and no experience in the security business. But they did have a knack for marketing, billing themselves "Green Berets with MBAs."
Shortly after arriving in Iraq, Custer Battles received a lucrative contract to provide security for the Baghdad airport. As an example of just how loose controls were, one early payment to the company was made in the form of $2 million in shrink wrapped $20 bills, transferred to the firm in exchange for a handwritten receipt. A film of two Custer employees playing football with a brick of the shrink wrapped bills provided one of the most enduring images of greed and corruption generated by the Iraq occupation contracting fiasco.
Even as rumors of poor performance on the airport security contract began to circulate, Custer Battles received another major contract, this time for delivering the new Iraqi currency to key points around the country. This effort was characterized by shoddy working conditions, unpaid subcontractors, and the use of broken down trucks that could not carry out their mission.
Finally, after revelations by whistleblowers who had worked for the firm, the extent of Custer Battles corruption was exposed. In addition to failing to provide the security and transport services it was contracted to do, internal company documents showed that it had routinely charged for at least twice the value of services supplied by padding bills and funneling subcontracts to phony companies. While all of this was going on, Mike Battles was paying himself $3 million as head of the company.
These were far from isolated incidents, but the extent of the problem might never have been known without the creation of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR). IG Stuart Bowen and his staff did scores of audits of every aspect of the reconstruction effort, from building schools to restoring electric service to providing security for a wide range of projects and activities. They discovered a pattern in which contract dollars were spent out in full while only a fraction of the promised work had been completed. While some of this gap can be accounted for by the violence and insecurity that was rampant in significant parts of Iraq from early on in the occupation, this cannot begin to account for the shoddy performance of major and minor contractors alike.
To cite just one example of a company that was roundly criticized in SIGIR audits, the Parsons Corporation – the second largest Iraq reconstruction contactor after Halliburton – is worthy of mention. The company completely botched or failed to deliver on hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts to build health clinics, fire stations, prisons, and a police academy. This misconduct not only wasted dollars, it endangered the lives of U.S. soldiers by fostering resentment among Iraqi citizens.
The lack of accountability of contractors in Iraq has extended well beyond financial malfeasance. Interrogators and translators from Titan Corp. and CACI Inc. were allegedly involved in incidents of torture at the infamous Abu Ghraib prison, but no employees of these firms were ever subjected to legal proceedings. This is due to the fact that private contractors in Iraq exist in a legal never-never land, subject neither to Iraqi law nor to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). The U.S. Extraterritorial Justice Act is supposed to cover cases like this one but it has almost never been utilized, due to the difficulty of having a prosecutor based in America build a case regarding an incident or incidents that may occur thousands of miles away.
The existence of security contractors who operate outside the military chain of command also poses serious problems. For example, when four employees of the private security firm Blackwater were killed and tortured by a mob in Falluijah in April 2004, the U.S. military felt compelled to strike hard at the city in a punitive backlash that did much to accelerate the opposition to the U.S. occupation among ordinary Iraqis. If the job had been done by personnel within the military chain of command, they might never have been deployed to that location at that time, thereby preventing the first Fallujah crisis from ever occurring.
Another circle of beneficiaries may be referred to as the "policy profiteers": individuals who advocated for the war with Iraq at the same time that they stood to gain from it. Chief among these were Bruce Jackson, R. James Woolsey, and Richard Perle. Jackson, a former vice president at the world's largest weapons contractor, Lockheed Martin, co-chaired the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, an advocacy group which closely coordinated its pro-war messages with the Bush administration. He had previously served as chair of the foreign policy subcommittee of the Republican platform committee at the party's 2000 convention. Both Woolsey and Perle served as advisors to then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld as part of the Defense Policy Board. Both men used their posts as official advisors to the Pentagon to beat the drums for war, and both simultaneously ran investment funds that were receiving money from major contractors like Boeing that have profited mightily from the Iraq conflict. In addition, Woolsey is an executive at Booz, Allen and Hamilton, a consulting firm that has given seminars on how to get Iraq-related contracts.
Preventing war profiteering on the scale that has prevailed in Iraq will require the implementation of thoroughgoing reforms:
- Increasing the use of competitive bidding, even in cases in which only a few contractors are deemed to be capable of doing the task at hand;
- Better screening of bidders to rule out companies with no experience in the relevant area of work (e.g., see profile of Custer Battles, above);
- More auditors in the field from the outset of a conflict;
- A new "Truman Committee" modeled on the effort led by then Senator Harry Truman during World War II. The committee should have subpoena power, a robust investigative staff, and the ability to forward major abuses to the relevant criminal authorities;
These initial steps would go a long way towards preventing fraud and misconduct in future conflicts.


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A new dimension of diagnostic information: Strain analysis feature of Vevo® 2100 high-frequency ultrasound system enables highly sensitive and rapid measurement of global (whole heart) and regional (specific heart areas) cardiac function.
TORONTO, Canada - April 14, 2011 - VisualSonics Inc., a leader in real time, in vivo, high-resolution micro-imaging systems and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sonosite Inc., announced today that its VevoStrain™ technology has been featured on the cover of the April 15, 2011 issue of Circulation Research, Journal of the American Heart Association.
VevoStrain provides advanced imaging and quantification capabilities to study sensitive movements in the heart muscles - specifically the myocardium. The VevoStrain technology augments high-resolution imaging capabilities of high-frequency ultrasound with highly sensitive measurements of subtle variations in the myocardium. The VevoStrain software enables tracking of wall motions in the heart, including the entire heart as well as defined regions within the heart. Measurement capabilities include quantification of displacement, velocity, strain and strain rate. Researchers1 at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School present the utility of VevoStrain technology as a non invasive, highly sensitive and rapid cardiac phenotyping tool in their seminal paper on in vivo strain analysis.
Ronglih Liao, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School said, "We believe that with strain analysis, we now have a very effective and efficient method for non-invasively detecting early cardiac performance irregularities in mice. While recognizing that this method requires special expertise and experience to implement, we are very excited about prospects for applying these analyses in future studies of experimental therapeutics."
The VevoStrain software is emerging as the new state-of-the-art assessment tool for quantifying myocardial mechanical function and deformation, replacing Tissue Doppler imaging, which has been used in the past. Additional features of the software include measurement of cardiac wall motion abnormalities, dyssynchrony (delayed ventricular activation and contraction) and myocardial mechanics.
More information on VevoStrain software is available at: http://www.visualsonics.com/vevostrain
About VisualSonics
VisualSonics is the world leader in real time, in vivo, high-resolution micro imaging systems designed specifically for preclinical research and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sonosite, Inc. (Nasdaq:Sono). The Company's cutting edge technologies allow researchers at the world's most prestigious pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, hospitals and universities to conduct research in cardiovascular, cancer, neurobiology and developmental biology areas. The micro imaging technologies support research applications that include genetic research, phenotypic studies and drug development. VisualSonics micro imaging platforms combine high-resolution, real time in vivo imaging at reasonable cost with ease-of-use and quantifiable results.
About Sonosite
Sonosite, Inc. (www.sonosite.com) is the innovator and world leader in bedside and point-of-care ultrasound and an industry leader in ultra high-frequency micro-ultrasound technology and impedance cardiography equipment. Headquartered near Seattle, the company is represented by fourteen subsidiaries and a global distribution network in over 100 countries. Sonosite's small, lightweight systems are expanding the use of ultrasound across the clinical spectrum by cost-effectively bringing high-performance ultrasound to the point of patient care.
1Bauer M, Cheng S, Liao R; Echocardiographic Speckle-Tracking Based Strain Imaging for Rapid Cardiovascular Phenotyping in Mice; CIRCRESAHA/2010/239574-R1


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Expert's Rating
- Feature-packed
- Slim profile
- Ad-free traffic updates
- Easy to mount
- Voice commands must be exact
Our Verdict
The TomTom Go 2505-TM has virtually every feature that you could want in a nonconnected navigation device. And, the company packs all of that into a striking, slim chassis.
The TM attached to the product name means that lifetime traffic and lifetime map updates are included in the $320 price. And, unlike the advertising-supported lifetime traffic offered on most Garmin Nuvi models and all-traffic-enabled Magellan RoadMate models, TomTom's traffic is advertising-free—you won't be annoyed by the popup ads found on competing traffic-enabled products.
For those looking to save a few bucks, TomTom also offers the $300 GO 2405-TM, an identically featured device with a smaller, 4.3-inch screen. "M" only, "T" only, and base models aren't being offered for the newest entries in the Go product line in the United States.
There's a lot that's new on the Go 2505. First, the display is a flat, borderless glass screen, much like what you'd find on an iPhone. The mounting bracket is also new. There's an easy-to-use twist-and-lock mechanism that secures the suction cup to your windshield or dashboard mounting disc. But the new mounting bracket features magnets that help guide and lock the device into the bracket as well as magnets that secure the power/data connector. The entire process can easily be done one-handed.
The Go 2505-TM also features a redesigned user interface that's easier to use and reduces the number of screen taps required to perform some tasks. For example, on the XXL 550, it takes four screen taps to Manage Favorites; it only takes three on the Go 2505. The Go 2505 also has the new option of "Make your own Menu". If you select one or two items, those icons appear on the screen for single-tap access. For example, I configured on-screen icons for "Call" (Bluetooth menu access) and Save current location as a favorite. If you choose more than two, an icon appears on the screen that opens up a menu of your selected screen icons. This is similar to the quick menu feature that was removed in the latest upgrade of the XL350 and the XXL550.
The Go 2505 includes all of the features you'd expect from a top-of-the-line navigator. The included map set covers the U.S., Canada, and Mexico as well as 7 million points of interest. It also has advanced lane guidance, a feature that ensures that you're in the correct lane for an upcoming highway maneuver.
I tested several routes at different times of the day. TomTom's IQRoutes feature, assisted by the live traffic alerts, did create different routes, each of which appeared to be faster based on traffic information. On one particular route, I also created the same route using Yahoo Maps. The route generated by Yahoo Maps matched the one generated by the 2505 when there wasn't traffic on the route. However, with traffic on the route, the 2505 generated what looked like a better, faster route.
The new user interface represents a pleasing evolutionary step in TomTom's already easy-to-use interface. Multitouch (pinch and zoom) has been added to a couple of map views, and some menus let you swipe left or right iPhone-style to navigate through the menu trees.
The Bluetooth interface worked smoothly and connected easily to my Droid X. I was pleased to find that the Go 2505 accurately read the contact list out of the Droid X as well as the call history and recent-calls list. Call quality using the speakerphone interface was good on both ends of the call.
Like the Go 740 Live, the 2505 also features voice commands, about 130 in all. The handy built-in help lists those commands for you. While the list is fairly extensive, it has some limitations. First, you need an exact match; for example, I gave a command, "Navigate to nearest gas", and it asked if I meant "nearest dentist." However, when I said, "Navigate to the nearest gas station," it got it right. Navigating to an address still requires keyboard input. For me, this is a "wow" feature that's nice to demonstrate, but one that I probably won't use.
These models both use the My TomTom Web-based application for updating maps, sharing maps, and purchasing optional voices.
Macworld's buying advice
The TomTom Go 2505 is a winner across the board. It has all of the features I'm looking for: a 5.0-inch screen, Bluetooth that works seamlessly, highway lane guidance, and lifetime traffic/map updates. It's earned a spot on my dashboard.


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Embroidery Machine Thread
If you are in the embroidery business, this can be a tough decision. Embroidery Machine Thread Do you outsource your work for hand embroidery or do you hire a machine embroidery company to do the job?
Let us just look at the pros and cons of both options.
Pros of Hand Embroidery Embroidery Machine Thread
1) Hand embroidery can create a unique look and beautiful pieces that are truly individual.
2) Each individual adds his/her personal touches to the piece, creating a signature piece.
Cons of Hand Embroidery
1) Hand embroidery takes time and money. On an average, its takes more than two hours to create a two-inch square piece of embroidery. The more intricate the piece, the most time it will take. As time is money, increase in processing time pushes up the costs both tangibly and intangibly for your business.
2) Personal error and contamination is also possible in hand embroidery. For example, an embroidery technician may fail to follow the set pattern and create mistakes in the end piece. As the person is embroidering, the piece may also become dirty and this will delay delivery and raise the cost of the piece.
Pros of Machine Embroidery Embroidery Machine Thread
1) Machine embroidery is possible through a programmable embroidery digitizer. All you have to do is give your design to a digitizing company. They will upload the pattern in a format that can be read by an embroidery machine. The company also ensures that every design is true to the original.
2) Machine embroidery is quick and efficient. Most embroidery companies already have stock pieces like T-shirts, caps, socks, etc. ready for embroidery. All you have to do is purchase the right amount of stock material and the company will create the required merchandise for you in a cost effective and timely manner.
3) Turn around time is faster. As embroidery digitizing is done through a computer, the process takes less than ten minutes to complete. As a customer, you have to approve the design and the embroidery process can start immediately.
4) Human errors like design mistakes, ripped materials, dirt, etc. are all minimized or completely absent.
5) As machine embroidery is fast, the merchandise is ready in less than two days depending on the embroidery pattern selected.
Cons of Machine Embroidery Embroidery Machine Thread
As such, there are no cons for machine embroidery. Most digital embroidery companies have staff and back-up machines that will deal with any kind of emergency or rush order.
As you can see, machine embroidery is an affordable and practical option to get quick results, while retaining high quality of the designs. For large orders, it just makes sense to get in touch with an embroidery digitization company like expressdigitising.com. With our team of highly skilled digitizers, we guarantee the highest quality end results for all your projects. We offer the most competitive flat rate pricing, and 5-24 hour turn around times. Get in touch with us for your embroidery requirement Embroidery Machine Thread
Do you need to buy an embroidery machine? If so, Sewing Machine Plus is the best website to do it.


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New imaging technique reveals the atomic structure of nanocrystals
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new imaging technique developed by researchers at the University of Illinois overcomes the limit of diffraction and can reveal the atomic structure of a single nanocrystal with a resolution of less than one angstrom.
Optical and electronic properties of small assemblages of atoms called quantum dots depend upon their electronic structure - not just what's on the surface, but also what's inside. While scientists can calculate the electronic structure, they need to know where the atoms are positioned in order to do so accurately.
Getting this information, however, has proved to be a challenge for nanocrystals like quantum dots. Mapping out the positions of atoms requires clues provided by the diffraction pattern. But quantum dots are so small, the clues provided by diffraction alone are not enough.
By combining two sources of information - images and diffraction patterns taken with the same electron microscope - researchers at the U. of I. can achieve sub-angstrom resolution of structures that were not possible before.
"We show that for cadmium-sulfide nanocrystals, the improved image resolution allows a determination of their atomic structures," said Jian-Min (Jim) Zuo, a professor of materials science and engineering at the U. of I., and corresponding author of a paper that describes the high-resolution imaging system in the February issue of Nature Physics.
Images from electron microscopy can resolve individual atoms in a nanocrystal, but the atoms soon suffer radiation damage, which limits the length of observations. Patterns from X-ray diffraction can be used to determine the structure of large crystals, but not for nanocrystals, which are too small and don't diffract well.
To achieve sub-angstrom resolution, Zuo and colleagues developed a reiterative algorithm that processes and combines shape information from the low-resolution image and structure information from the high-resolution diffraction pattern. Both the image and the diffraction pattern are taken with the same transmission-electron microscope.
"The low-resolution image provides the starting point by supplying missing information in the central beam and supplying essential marks for aligning the diffraction pattern," said Zuo, who also is a researcher at the university's Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory. "Our phase-retrieval algorithm then reconstructs the image."
To demonstrate the technique, the researchers took a new look at cadmium-sulfide quantum dots.
"We chose cadmium-sulfide quantum dots because of their size-dependent optical and electronic properties, and the importance of atomic structure on these properties," Zuo said. "Cadmium-sulfide quantum dots have potential applications in solar energy conversion and in medical imaging."
Using the reiterative algorithm, the smallest separation between the cadmium and sulfide atomic columns was measured at 0.84 angstroms, the researchers report.
"Since low-resolution images can be obtained from different sources, our technique is general and can be applied to non-periodic structures, such as interfaces and local defects," Zuo said. "Our technique also provides a basis for imaging the three-dimensional structure of single nanoparticles."
Provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign


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This is a writ of error to review a judgment of the supreme [182 U.S. 427, 428] court of Alabama affirming a judgment in favor of John N. Craft, the defendant in error herein. The judgment thus affirmed was entered by a lower stat tribunal upon a verdict rendered on the second trial of an action in ejectment, wherein Jetta Simon, plaintiff in error herein, was plaintiff.
In brief the facts are as follows: In 1889, Jetta Simon, a widow, resided in Mobile, Alabama, with several minor children. She lived at that time in a house of which she was the owner, being the real esate affected by the action of ejectment heretofore referred to. On January 30, 1889, Ralph G. Richard filed in the probate court of Mobile county, alabama, a petition for an inquisition of lunacy as to Mrs. Simon. In this petition it was represented that Richard was a friend of Mrs. Simon and of her family; that she was of the age of forty-nine years, a resident of mobile, of unsound mind and incapable of governing herself or of conducting and managing her affairs. Upon this petition an order was entered for a hearing on February 6, 1889, and that a jury 'be drawn, as the law directs, for the trial of this issue.' The order also provided that a writ issue to the sheriff, 'requiring him to take the said Jetta Simon, so that he have her in this court to be presented at said trial, if consistent with the health and safety of said Simon.' The writ issued. Therein was stated the substance of the allegations of the petition, and that the order had been entered appointing February 6, 1889, 'for hearing said petition and for the due trial thereof.' The command of the writ was that--
The writ was duly returned with the following indorsement:
Received January 31st, 1889, and on the same day I executed the within writ of arrest by taking into my custody the within-named Jetta Simon and handing her a copy of said writ, and as it is inconsistent with the health or safety of the within-named Jetta Simon to have her present at the place [182 U.S. 427, 429] of trial, and on the advice of Dr. H. P. Hirshfield, a physician, whose certificate is hereto attached, she is not brought before the honorable court.
W. H. Holcombe, Sheriff,
By Wm. H. Sheffield, D. S.
Mobile, February 5th, 1889
The certificate referred to reads as follows:
Mobile, Ala., Jan. 30th, 1889.
To the Sheriff of Mobile County, Ala.:
I, H. P. Hirshfield, a regular physician, practising in Mobile County, Ala., hereby certify that I am acquainted with Mrs. Jetta Simon, and have examined her condition on yesterday, and find that she is a person of unsound mind, and it would not be consistent with her health or safety to have her present in court in any matter now pending.
H. P. Hirshfield, M. D.
One Vaughan was appointed by the probate court the guardian ad litem of Mrs. Simon 'in the matter of the petition to inquire into her lunacy.' The appointment was accepted, and the guardian filed in said proceeding an answer averring 'that he wholly denies all the matters and things stated and contained in said petition, and requires strict proof to be made thereof according to law.' Thereupon a hearing was had before a jury, who returned a verdict that Mrs. Simon was 'of unsound mind.' The probate court then entered the following order or decree:
Jetta Simon, Lunatic.
State of Alabama,
Mobile County.
Probate Court of said County,
February 6th, 1889.
This being the day appointed, by reference to an entry thereof made upon the minutes of the court on the 30th of January, 1889, for the hearing of the petition of Ralph G. Richard, filed, alleging the lunacy of the said Jetta Simon and praying an inquisition thereof, and it being shown that it would not be consistent with the health and safety of said lunatic to bring her into court at this time, and it appearing that due process [182 U.S. 427, 430] had been served upon said lunatic notifying her of this proceeding, now comes the said Richard and a jury of good and lawful men, who reside in the county of Mobile, and who, having been summoned, to wit, John Pollock, Jr., and eleven others, who, having heard the evidence, the arguments of counsel, and the charge of the court in the premises, and being first duly tried, impaneled, and sworn well and truly to make inquisition of the facts alleged in said petition and a true verdict to render according to the evidence, upon their oath say, 'We, the jury, find Mrs. Jetta Simon to be of unsound mind.'
It is ordered, adjudged, and decreed by the court that said petition and all other proceedings thereon, together with the aforesaid verdict of said jury declaring the said Jetta Simon a lunatic, be recorded.
Subsequently, on February 11, 1889, Richard was duly appointed guardian of the estate of Mrs. Simon, and regular proceedings were had by which, under authority of the court, a sale of the real estate in question was ordered to be made for the payment of the debts of Mrs. Simon and for the support and maintenance of her family. Such sale was had in May, 1889, when Henry J. Simon became the purchaser, who sold the property to John N. Craft, defendant in error herein. In September, 1895, more than six years after the sale to Simon, the action in ejectment heretofore referred to was instituted against one Brown, a tenant of Craft. Craft, as landlord, was subsequently substituted in the stead of Brown. Upon a second trial of the issues joined, the defendant Craft, among other evidence, introduced the record of the proceedings in the probate court upon the inquisition of lunacy, to which reference has already been made, and the record of the subsequent proceedings resulting in the sale to Henry J. Simon. Objection to the introduction of such records was made upon specified grounds, all which are stated in the margin. The objec- [182 U.S. 427, 431] tions were overruled and the record allowed to be read in evidence, to which action of the court exception was duly taken. The approval by the supreme court of Alabama of this ruling is what is here complained of.
The opinion of the supreme court of Alabama reversing the judgment entered on a verdict in favor of Mrs. Simon rendered at the first trial of the action of ejectment is contained in 118 Ala. 625, 24 So. 380. The judgment entered in favor of Craft upon the second trial was affirmed upon the authority of the previous opinion.
Mr. Justice White, after making the foregoing statement, delivered the opinion of the court:
By subdivision 6 of 787 of the Civil Code of Alabama of 1886, courts of probate in that state are vested with original jurisdiction over the appointment and removal of guardians for minors and persons of unsound mind. Pertinent provisions of [182 U.S. 427, 432] the statutes of Alabama relating to the mode of appointment of guardians of persons of unsound mind, contained in said Civil Code, are excerpted in the margin.
In the proceedings to inquire into the sanity of Mrs. Simon the writ which issued to the sheriff was evidently based upon the following clause of 2393 of the Civil Code of 1886: [182 U.S. 427, 433]
The invalidity of the proceedings in the inquisition of lunacy which formed the basis of the subsequent proceedings for the sale of the property of Mrs. Simon is in substance predicated on the contention that the writ directed to the sheriff authorized that official to determine whether it was consistent with the health and safety of Mrs. Simon to be present at the trial of the question of her sanity; that the sheriff decided this question against her, and she was detained in custody and not allowed to be present at the hearing on the inquisition. This latter claim, however, is founded upon the return indorsed by the sheriff on the writ directed to him. At the trial below there [182 U.S. 427, 434] was no offer to prove, by any form of evidence, that Mrs. Simon was in fact of sound mind when the proceedings in lunacy were instituted, or that she desired to attend, and was prevented from attending, the hearing, or was refused opportunity to consult with and employ counsel to represent her. The entire case is thus solely based on the inferences which are deduced, as stated, from the face of the return of the sheriff. And upon the assumptions thus made it is contended that the statute, as well as the proceedings thereunder, were violative of the clause of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which forbids depriving anyone of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
It is not seriously questioned that the Alabama statute provided that notice should be given, to one proceeded against as being of unsound mind, of the contemplated trial of the question of his or her sanity. Indeed, it would seem that it was not urged before the supreme court of Alabama that the statutes [182 U.S. 427, 435] of that state failed to provide for notice, and that court assumed in its opinion that no question of that character was presented. As a matter of fact, a copy of the writ which issued and which embodied a notice of the date of the hearing of the proceedings in lunacy is shown by the record to have been actually served on Mrs. Simon. As early as 1870 the supreme court of Alabama in Fore v. Fore, 44 Ala. 478, 483, held that the service of the writ upon a supposed lunatic was the notice required by the statute, and brought the defendant into court, and that, if he failed to avail of such matters of defense as he might have, he must suffer the effect of his failure to do so.
We excerpt in the margin the portion of the opinion of the supreme court of Alabama which dealt with the objection that Mrs. Simon was deprived of opportunity to be heard.
The contention now urged is that notice imports an opportunity to defend, and that the return of the sheriff conclusively established that Mrs. Simon was taken into custody, and was hence prevented by the sheriff from attending the inquest or defending through counsel if she wished to do so in consequence of the notice which she received. It seems, however, manifest-as it is fairly to be inferred the state court interpreted the [182 U.S. 427, 436] statute-that the purpose in the command of the writ, 'to take the person alleged to be of unsound mind, and, if consistent with her health or safety, have her present at the place of trial,' was to enforece the attendance of the alleged non compos, rather than to authorize a restraint upon the attendance of such person at the hearing. In other words, that the detention authorized was simply such as would be necessary to enable the sheriff to perform the absolute duty imposed upon him by law of bringing the person before the court, if in the judgment of that officer such person was in a fit condition to attend, and hence it cannot be presumed, in the absence of all proof or allegation to that effect, that the sheriff in the discharge of this duty, after serving the writ upon the alleged lunatic, exerted his power of detention for the purpose of preventing her attendance at the hearing, or of restraining her from availing herself of any and every opportunity to defend which she might desire to resort to, or which she was capable of exerting. The essential elements of due process of law are notice and opportunity to defend. In determining whether such rights were denied we are governed by the substance of things, and not by mere form. Louisville & N. R. Co. v. Schmidt, 177 U.S. 230 , 44 L. ed. 747, 20 Sup. Ct. Rep. 230. We cannot, then, even on the assumption that Mrs. Simon was of sound mind and fit to attend the hearing, hold that she was denied due process of law by being refused an opportunity to defend, when, in fact, actual notice was served upon her of the proceedings, and when, as we construe the statute, if she had chosen to do so, she was at liberty to make such defense as she deemed advisable. The view we take of the statute was evidently the one adopted by the judge of the probate court, where the proceedings in lunacy were heard, since that court, upon the return of the sheriff, and the failure of the alleged lunatic to appear, either in person or by counsel, in order to protect her interests, entered an order appointing a guardian ad litem 'in the matter of the petition to inquire into her lunacy;' and [182 U.S. 427, 437] an answer was filed by such guardian, denying all the matters and things stated and contained in the petition, and requiring strict proof to be made thereof according to law.
It is also urged as establishing the nullity of the appointment of a guardian of the estate of Mrs. Simon, that the proceedings failed to constitute due process of law, because (1) they were special and statutory, and the petition failed to state sufficient jurisdictional facts; (2) a jury was not impaneled as provided by law: and (3) there was no finding in the verdict of the jury or the order entered thereon, ascertaining and determining all the facts claimed to be essential to confer jurisdiction to appoint a guardian. But the due process clause of the 14th Amendment does not necessitate that the proceedings in a state court should be by a particular mode, but only that there shall be a regular course of proceedings in which notice is given of the claim asserted, and an opportunity afforded to defend against it. Louisville & N. R. Co. v. Schmidt, 177 U.S. 230, 236 , 44 S. L. ed. 747, 750, 20 Sup. Ct. Rep. 230, and cases cited. If the essential requisites of full notice and an opportunity to defend were present, this court will accept the interpretation given by the state court as to the regularity, under the state statute, of the practice pursued in the particular case. Tested by these principles, we accept as conclusive the ruling of the supreme court of Alabama that the jury which passed on the issues in the lunacy proceeding was a lawful jury, that the petition was in compliance with the statute, and that the asserted omissions in the recitals in the verdict and order thereon were at best but mere irregularities which did not render void the order of the state court appointing a guardian of Mrs. Simon's estate.
Judgment affirmed.
2d. In that no provision was made in or by said proceedings whereby said Jetty Simon might be present at the inquest of lunacy that was held.
3d. In that the writ of arrest issued for the body of Jetty Simon was
conditional in form and conferred upon the sheriff the power to determine whether it should be executed or not.
4th. In that the writ of arrest left it to the judgment of the sheriff whether the said Jetty Simon should be allowed to appear at the trial of the inquest of lunacy.
5th. In that the writ of arrest authorized the sheriff to restrain Jetty Simon of her liberty and deprive her of the opportunity to be heard at the inquest of lunacy.
6th. In that the sheriff's return shows that under the writ of arrest he restrained Jetty Simon of her liberty and did not permit her to be present at the trial of the inquest of lunacy.
7th. Because the statute under which Jetty Simon was restrained of her liberty and deprived of her property is in conflict with article 5 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, which provides, 'Nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law,' and in conflict with article 14 of the Amendments to said Constitution:
1a. In that it authorizes a citizen to be deprived of his or her liberty without due process of law.
2a. In that it authorizes a citizen to be deprived of his or her property without due process of law.
8th. Because said proceedings in the probate court are irrelevant and immaterial to any issue in the cause.
___ Sundry sections of part 2, title 5, chapter 4, of the Civil Code of Alabama of 1886, pp. 535 et seq.:
evident. The sheriff's return was complete and regular in every respect. We do not doubt she was brought into the court in the manner prescribed by statute, and that she was subject to its jurisdiction. The second objection cannot be sustained.' 118 Ala. 636, 24 So. 383.
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Citation: 182 U.S. 427
Docket No: No. 191
Argued: March 12, 1901
Decided: May 27, 1901
Court: United States Supreme Court
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This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Brooklyn • Deron Williams on Tuesday stood by his comments that he was more comfortable in Jerry Sloan's offensive system than in the 90 games he has played under Avery Johnson since the Jazz sent Williams to the Nets in February 2011.
However, Williams said there was no tension between him and Johnson, a former NBA point guard.
"He knows that you guys [the media] take stuff and run with it," Williams said, "and you write whatever you write. So, there's nothing to it."
Williams told New York media Monday afternoon that Utah's offense was a "great system for my style of play" and said, "Is it as good [in Brooklyn] as there? No."
Williams has battled injuries with the Nets, who moved to Brooklyn from New Jersey in the offseason. He signed a five-year, $98-million contract in the summer.
"You asked me about Utah, my time in Utah," Williams said following Tuesday's shoot around at Barclays Center. "I'm not going to badmouth Utah, I had a great time in Utah, I loved the offense. I said that we've had struggles on offense here, I haven't felt as comfortable here, which I've said all year."
Williams averages 17 points and 8.3 assists per game, but his shooting has plummeted in recent years. A 50-percent shooter in 2007-08, Williams has made just 38.9 percent of his attempts since joining the Nets.
Johnson said the Nets are implementing "more and more stuff that he is familiar with and getting back to some of the things, a lot of the stuff that he did in his Utah system."
As much as 30 percent of the Nets offense, Johnson said, mimics what Williams did five-and-a-half seasons in Utah.
Johnson said he was not surprised or offended by Williams' comments.
"Whether it comes out publicly or whether the guys talk to me about stuff privately," Johnson said, "I got really thick skin and it doesn't irritate me one bit. A lot of his concerns we've talked about it privately. You guys just found out about it publicly."
However, Johnson put the ball squarely back in Williams' court.
"Really," Johnson said, "he has the power and the freedom to call the play."
Bill Oram


text:
Maine (Vintage Contemporaries) (Paperback)
This breakout New York Times bestseller from the celebrated author of Commencement and The Engagements, introduces four unforgettable women and the abiding, often irrational love that keeps them coming back, every summer, to Maine and to each other.
For the Kellehers, Maine is a place where children run in packs, showers are taken outdoors, and old Irish songs are sung around a piano. As three generations of Kelleher women arrive at the family's beach house, each brings her own hopes and fears. Maggie is thirty-two and pregnant, waiting for the perfect moment to tell her imperfect boyfriend the news; Ann Marie, a Kelleher by marriage, is channeling her domestic frustration into a dollhouse obsession and an ill-advised crush; Kathleen, the black sheep, never wanted to set foot in the cottage again; and Alice, the matriarch at the center of it all, would trade every floorboard for a chance to undo the events of one night, long ago.
About the Author
J. Courtney Sullivan is the author of the New York Times best-selling novel Commencement. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, the Chicago Tribune, New York, Elle, Glamour, Allure, and Men's Vogue, among others. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Praise For…
"Ah, family. Isn't it satisfying to leave your own briefly behind to drop in on another—and see how thoroughly they bungle it all up? This is the pleasure of Maine, J. Courtney Sullivan's second novel, which delves into the secrets and simmering emotions of one dysfunctional family over the course of a single summer month. . . . The dialogue sizzles as the tension between the women's love and anger toward one another tightens. . . . You don't want the novel to end." —Lily King, The New York Times Book Review
"[A] ruthless and tender novel about the way love can sometimes redeem even the most contentious of families. Like all first-rate comic fiction, Maine uses humor to examine the truths of the heart, in New England and far beyond." —The Washington Post Book World
"Sullivan beguiles us again. . . . Crackling-smart." —Elle
"By the time you're through with Maine, you'll be craving a lobster roll and a trip to Kennebunkport." —The Oregonian
"Sullivan presents women who may be stubborn and difficult, but she does so with such compassion and humor that we, too, end up rooting for them." —Chicago Tribune
"A gem. . . . Sullivan gives us three sunny, alcoholic acres of Maine coastline and three generations of Kelleher women." —Time
"I have never stayed at this cottage in Maine, or any cottage in Maine, but no matter: I now feel I know what it's like being in a family that comes to the same place summer after summer, unpacking their familiar longings, slights, shorthand conversation, and ways of being together. J. Courtney Sullivan's Maine is evocative, funny, close-quartered, and highly appealing." —Meg Wolitzer, author of The Uncoupling
"A wonderful page-turner. . . . Sullivan narrates the tale with verve and precision, drawing the reader into a compelling portrait of a specific family as it changes with the values and accidents of each era." —Providence Journal
"Nostalgic at times, up-to-the-minute at others, this meaty novel proves that Sullivan understands family." —Newark Star-Ledger
"Gives us . . . characters we can care about, despite their sometimes too-familiar flaws." —USA Today
"Maine's brisk storytelling and the unfurling of its central mystery . . . sweep readers along with gratifying sink-into-your-deck-chair ease." —Entertainment Weekly
"A powerful novel about the ties that bind families tight, no matter how dysfunctional. Sullivan has created in the Kelleher women a cast of flawed but lovable characters so real, with their shared history of guilt and heartache and secret resentments, that I'm sure I'll be thinking about them for a long time to come." —Amy Greene, author of Bloodroot
"Curl up with this wry, absorbing novel and eavesdrop on a summer's worth of secrets, feuds, and misunderstandings." —Parade magazine
"A wonderful page-turner." —Providence Journal
"Maine covers a lot of multigenerational emotional ground and a lot of family history. As the story progresses, it's intriguing to see the current dysfunction trace its way back through the generations to its roots in Catholic guilt, alcoholism and bad decisions. . . . Sullivan captures the beauty of the coast, the magic of a black-as-velvet sky lit with stars, the pleasures of a seaside lobster pound." —Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"Articulate, insightful, profound." —The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA)
"A keeper! . . . Sullivan has done a bang-up job showing us a family full of dysfunctionals who remind us of people we may just know or be related to." —Naples Daily News
"Sullivan's smarts shed light on topics all families deal with, but her tasteful approach on the tough ones (particularly modern-day religious issues) shine through. The cast of quirky characters will have you laughing out loud and aching for their regrets in the same chapter, pining for more pages when it comes to an end." —MarieClaire.com
"[Sullivan] validates the old adage that you can pick your friends, but you are stuck with your relatives. This is a powerful, evocative story, beautifully written to reveal raw human emotions. . . . Fresh and lively." —The New Maine Times
"Sullivan turns from friendships to family, writing with the same warmth and nuance as Commencement, but pushing her characters farther, creating an even more complex and satisfying whole." —BookPage
"A delectable beach read as vast and sprawling in scope as the Kellehers' three-acre family property it details. . . . In Maine, Sullivan explores with grace, depth and good humor what it means to belong to an Irish-American family." —Irish America magazine


text: Copyright ©2006 Robert E. Sweeney. All Rights Reserved. Prior written permission is required from Robert E. Sweeney before this material can be printed or otherwise copied, displayed or distributed in any form. This is a FREE genealogy site sponsored through PAGenWeb and can be reached directly at ~Sullivan County Genealogy Project (http://www.rootsweb.com/~pasulliv)