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Councilman Ed Harris and Nathan Fletcher Urge Veterans Not to Sign Petition Against Minimum Wage
Councilman Ed Harris, Former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher and other veterans held a press conference on September 5th and asked the public not to sign any petitions related to the sick days-minimum wage referendum, which seeks to take away sick days and the minimum wage from hard-working San Diegans.
In San Diego, a number of veterans are minimum wage earners and stand to benefit from the raise if the new ordinance goes forward as planned January 1, 2015. Harris stated:
"For over 200 years, our service men and women have not let us down. Yet as a nation, we frequently fail our veterans. As a Marine veteran, I'm concerned that in San Diego we have over 10,000 veterans earning the minimum wage. They and others deserve the fair hourly wage increase recently passed by the San Diego City Council. If you want to show your support for San Diego veterans, don't sign the petition."
The Councilmen is among the supermajority who voted to pass the Earned Sick Leave-Minimum Wage Ordinance. Harris and his colleagues would like to see the measure—which offers 5 earned sick days and an incremental increase in the minimum wage—implemented January 1, 2015 but an effort funded by the California Restaurant Association and the Chamber of Commerce is working to gather signatures to take away sick days and the minimum wage from hundreds of thousands of San Diegans. If anti-minimum wage petitioners succeed with their referendum the implementation of the ordinance could be delayed a minimum of 18 months.
CHP Goes After SeaWorld "Sucks" Guy on Charges of Vandalism and Trespass
Your CHP is after the guy who climbed a CalTrans sign and taped "Sucks" to the SeaWorld and who posted a video made of his escapades. It was Stephen Gilchrist Glover, aka "Steve-O," a MTV reality show star, who did the dirty deed – celebrated by animal rights activists everywhere.
Investigators from the state want to take him to court for vandalism and trespassing charges, as Caltrans say the escapade cost California taxpayers more than $7,000. It was costly as when tape was removed it pulled off reflective sheeting and the entire sign had to be replaced. And, the CHP says, motorists were disrupted when crews closed two freeway lanes during repairs. The DA's office has to decide whether to press charges or not.
Steve-O is the star of the "Jackass" reality show. He posted a video on YouTube clearly taking responsibility for his actions. "I'm putting my foot down for Shamu," he said and wrote, "I filmed myself committing a crime in the middle of California's 5 Freeway."
Planners tackle concerns, nuances of Veterans' Plaza rock-wall design
By Tony de Garate / media
Supporters of a new Veterans' Plaza in Ocean Beach say the project is generating excitement and useful feedback as it's being pitched to various government entities for approval and private groups for fundraising.
Plans call for the $750,000 plaza to be built on the grassy area south of the main lifeguard tower on Abbott Street. The design, dubbed "Life's Journey," would consist of a seven-feet-high representation of Sunset Cliffs with four 15-feet-wide granite walls attached that contain the names of honored veterans. An adjacent walkway with a tide pattern and inlay of stars representing those lost in battle would run from Abbott Street to the sand.
The latest bit of good advice came earlier this month during a hearing of the Design Review Committee of the city's Park and Recreation Board, said Steve Grosch of the Ocean Beach Community Development Corporation (OBCDC), the group spearheading the project. That committee, while unanimously supporting the project, advised now is the time to be on the lookout for things that could go wrong with the depiction of Sunset Cliffs, Grosch said. He said the committee was rich in architectural knowledge and convinced him of the need for a skilled design of the memorial rock wall. For the balance of the article.
More About the Parrots and About the Parrot Shot in OB
A recent U-T San Diego story goes into more detail about the parrots and the parrot shot in OB in June. It was apparently found June 8th near Sacred Heart Church on Saratoga Avenue near Sunset Cliffs. It reported:
"Ocean Beach resident Ann Hornby, who has a pet parrot of her own, captured the bird by throwing a towel over it after it resisted all attempts to pick it up. She said it growled and screeched and tried to fly away but it just flopped on the ground. She took it home, gave it some food and water and then it "promptly fell asleep," Hornby said. She then called Project Wildlife which in turn notified SoCal Parrot. Hornby thought the bird possibly had a broken wing.
However, X-rays showed the bird had been shot with some kind of pellet or BB gun, and that the projectile was deeply embedded near its neck and shoulder area. It's not known when the bird was shot but it appears that it had been on the ground for some time as the wound had already started to heal, said Plante.
The parrot was malnourished and had grease on his chest that smelled like some type of cooking oil. Plante said she had no idea how the oil got on the bird, that perhaps someone was trying to help it somehow, or maybe it got into some trash. It has since been nursed back to health but it can no longer fly, Plante said."
The U-T quoted Plante as saying that there is no exact count of the parrots' numbers but "there are more that 1,000 and that people have reported seeing flocks of 100 or more, plus there are 13 different species in Southern California including mitred and red-masked conures and the lilac-crowned Amazon." Plante is quoted as saying that "the red-crowned Amazon, which is native to Mexico, can live to 60 to 80 years old, Plante said. The bird will remain at the sanctuary for the rest of its life". Anyone who witnesses someone harming a bird or any other animal can call animal services at (619) 767-2675.
City's plan to uproot illegal pot shops is a slow, arduous process
By Dave Schwab / sdnews.com
Even with a new city medical marijuana ordinance in place and applications pending for licensed cooperatives in the Peninsula, a number of pre-existing, unlicensed dispensaries continue to fly under the radar.
Weedmap online lists about a half-dozen cooperatives currently operating in the Point Loma-Ocean Beach area, including Cloud 9 Co Op on West Point Loma Boulevard, Point Loma Patients Association on Rosecrans and Lytton streets, Starbuds Inc. on Midway Drive, Happy High Herbs on Newport Avenue, Happy Head Foot Reflexology and Massage – Sports Arena on Midway Drive and Super Max on Newport Avenue.
A matter of continuing frustration for local residents and legislators alike, District 2 City Councilman Ed Harris said recently that of 63 illegal medical dispensaries operating citywide, 17 are in the beach areas he represents. Harris said shutting down unpermitted medical-marijuana dispensaries is not an easy task, however. For the balance of the article.
Rock in peace? Fat chance – Point Loma man says city's noise ordinance is unconstitutional
By Dorian Hargrove / The San Diego Reader / Sept. 5, 2014
Point Loma resident Jeffrey Krinsk has filed a lawsuit against mayor Kevin Faulconer, Development Services director Robert Vacchi, and code-enforcement officer Melody Negrete for violating his constitutional right to due process.
"The Defendants knew, or are negligent in not knowing, that its policies, customs and/or practices are improper and cause citizens of California to have large fines imposed without meaningful notice of their rights, or an opportunity to be heard. As a direct and proximate result of the continuing conduct of the Defendants as alleged above, Plaintiff, as well as the general public, has suffered, and continue to suffer, substantial injuries."
In March 2013, San Diego police officers arrived at Krinsky's home in response to a call that loud music was emanating from Krinsky's home. Krinsky went downstairs to meet the officers. The two sides exchanged words. Krinsky was soon slapped with a written citation that if not addressed could result in a $1000 fine and up to six months in jail. For the balance of the article.
Former Point Loma Man Arrested in Hawaii on 7-Year Old Murder Case of Wife
By Bridget Naso and R. Stickney / NBC7
A Honolulu man has been arrested, accused of killing his wife in San Diego seven years ago. Anthony Edward Simoneau, 46, of Honolulu, Hawaii is in custody awaiting extradition on one count of murder in the San Diego County homicide investigation. Local prosecutors worked with Honolulu police to arrest Simoneau Thursday at his home in connection with the discovery of his wife's body in the Anza Borrego Desert.
Forty-one-year-old Ogawa, a Japanese national, was last seen near her and Simoneau's home in Point Loma around Jan. 4, 2007. At the time, it was her family in Japan — not Simoneau– who notified police that she was missing. When SDPD investigators interviewed her husband, he told them she had gone to Hawaii, police say. For balance of article.
Coast Guard Rescues 5 People and One Boat Off Point Loma
Coast Guard crews pumped water from a sinking boat and rescued five people off the coast of Point Loma, agency officials said Sunday. The Coast Guard Sector San Diego received an emergency call from the vessel PMS Escape II at 5:58 p.m. Saturday after the boat began to take on water about 17 miles west of Point Loma, according to a statement by U.S. Coast Guard officials.
The boaters aboard the 30-foot pleasure vessel — including four adults and a 16-year-old boy – were deep sea fishing. They used a handheld radio to make the call and told the Coast Guard their ship had lost propulsion, was taking on water, listing heavily on its port side and had no battery power to operate its bilge pumps or other electronics, the USCG said.
"When he said 'call the Coast Guard,' I knew this was serious," Mike Jernigan told 10News Monday from Coast Guard headquarters in San Diego. "I didn't know if there was a giant hole in the boat or a pinhole. I knew there was a problem." 10NEWS
Hey, give us a "like" if you enjoy these news roundups.


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The Great Land
Alaska in one of my favorite vacation places. It is moody and beautiful and ever-changing. It is a place worthy of more than a cruise ship visit from Vancouver or Seattle where you may only have hours in a port. It requires days of walking and hiking, getting to know the landscape and the people. It is more than one visit. Take your time and strike out on your own.Read More

subset: commoncrawl


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Enjoy a private, customized tour enjoying the wineries of Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Region or Alexander Valley to name a few. Or visit the Beer gardens of Sonoma. Maybe you like cheese so visit the local farms and sample some of the finest cheeses in the world. Best yet… you want to spend the day at the beaches and learn about the area and our famous movie star birds.
Wedding & Event coordination is provided to help plan that perfect day, special party or corporate event. We also cook some delicious BBQ with all the fixings.
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Contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com or call us at (707) 775-0282. Let us give you the gift of time & help!


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Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Retrospective: Gary Gygax
Boot Hill
Expedition to the Barrier Peaks
Isle of the Ape
Keep on the Borderlands
Legion of Gold
Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure
Saga of Old City
The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun
The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth
The Temple of Elemental Evil
The World of Greyhawk
Tomb of Horrors
Vault of the Drow
Happy birthday, Gary, and thanks for everything!
11 comments:
Don't forget Tomb of Horrors, which became a series after a fashion.ReplyDelete
Thanks for pointing that out. I knew I'd forgotten one.ReplyDelete
The link to Boot Hill is dead for me. (404 error).ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 27, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Against the Giants. How can anyone forget the most awesomest of awesome adventures?!?!?ReplyDelete
Another one--the link to Tomb of Horrors is dead, the same 404 error.ReplyDelete
No Expedition to the Barrier Peaks? I though you wrote about this module once. It's Stephen Colbert's favorite model too.ReplyDelete
I though you wrote about this module once.ReplyDelete
I did! Thanks for jogging my obviously-failing memory.
What about his post-TSR games? wasn't there a review of Lejendary Adventures, too?ReplyDelete
To be told, I have never read Lejendary Adventures, though I own a copy of Mythus.ReplyDelete
Legion of Gold is the last of the dead link, 404 error messages.ReplyDelete
Thanks for this exhaustive compendium of your insight. And no I'm not ydis.ReplyDelete


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Personal Flotation Devices, better known as PFDs, help save lives. There is so much evidence of this that the U.S. Coast Guard; almost every state (go to www.boatus.com to find your state requirements); boating organization; and the ACA standards support or require their use for boating activities. In December of 2002, in states where there are no children's PFD laws in place, a Coast Guard interim rule requires that children under thirteen who are on moving boats wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD that fits. For many camps, the activities that would require a PFD extend beyond sailing and canoeing on the lake. There could be water skiing, sail boarding, Blobs and Icebergs, jet skis, sea kayaking, white water canoeing, and snorkeling. Picking the right PFD for the activity can be trickier than one might imagine.
PFDs are categorized from Type I-Type V. Types II-III and V are the most commonly worn for most camp recreation activities. The performance of each Type PFD can vary tremendously, particularly in environments that they are not designed to function. For example, most Type V inflatable vests that would be appropriate for snorkeling would not be appropriate for water skiing where an impact with the water could deflate the vest.
PFD Label Explanations
You have to read the label on the lifejacket to determine its application. The following are representative labels. The form and content will vary by manufacturer.
|"KAYAKSPORT" This is the intended use statement required by the U.S. Coast Guard. The designation "KAYAKING AND SAILING VEST" is the manufacturer's suggested use that does not necessarily limit this PFD to only those uses.
|"ADULT LARGE" Sizing for lifejackets is based primarily on body weight. Chest size further defines the size.
|"APPROVED FOR USE . . . ." As required by Coast Guard regulations, this section must include the boat sizes on which this PFD may be used and the weight (more than 90 lbs.) of the person for which the PFD is designed.
|"U.S. COAST GUARD APPROVAL NO." The first six digits of the approval number 160.064 indicate the Federal Regulation under which the Coast Guard approved this PFD. The regulation section numbers differ by type of PFD being approved.
|"DO NOT DRY CLEAN" All PFDs are required to have this warning as the chemicals and temperatures in the dry cleaning process can dissolve the foam used for flotation.
"NOT INTENDED FOR . . . ." Underwriters' Laboratory tests the structural integrity of the PFD by placing it in a frame and dropping it into the water from a boat at six different angles. Often a buckle will explode or a zipper seam may peal open. This disclaimer appears because many people mistake the structural integrity test for an endorsement of high speed use. NO PFD should be used for waterskiing or similar use unless it has been tested to at least 50 mph. Older PFDs may say "impact tested" instead of "strength tested" but this is no indication of personal protection from impact.
|"UL" Originally, the Coast Guard approved PFDs in-house. They now require the PFD manufacturer to contract for this testing with a recognized sanctioned laboratory. UL controls the entire contents of this label. The "ISSUE NO. FB-5834" is
UL's reference number for this specific label.
|"11041" is the lot number that usually contains in code the year and quarter of manufacture. A lot cannot consist of more than 1000 PFDs. A new lot must be started any time materials or production methods change. The lot number is important when contacting the manufacturer or Coast Guard about a defect.
|"NOT INTENDED TO BE FASTENED TO THE BOAT" Any PFD that has fasteners or straps other than the closures must have this warning. A PFD fastened to the boat is not readily accessible in the case of emergency. With the exception of some Type V PFDs, this also means that wearers should not fasten themselves to the boat.
|"WARNING" Carrying items such as carabineers or other equipment in the pockets of a PFD can reduce flotation as well as the ability of the PFD to right an unconscious victim in the water.
|"POLYVINYL CHLORIDE FOAM" and polyethylene foams are the most common materials used for flotation. Avoid chemicals, fumes, or excessive heat which could break down the integrity of the foam. This PFD, which contains 15.5 lbs. of flotation is sufficient to keep the heads of 95 percent of the American population out of the water. PFDs with 22 lbs. of flotation will keep 99 percent of the heads out of the water.
|"CAUTION: FABRIC FADING . . . . " Some bright and intense colored fabrics show fading more quickly than others. When retiring a weathered PFD, cut it into unusable pieces so that no one else will be tempted to reuse it.
|"TEST THIS DEVICE . . . ." For flotation to work, the device must be submerged below the water and displace water equal to the weight of the wearer's head. Unless the PFD is fastened tightly, it will "ride up" under the arms and not keep the wearer's head out of the water.
Few people ever go out on the water with the intention of drowning, but it happens. We've heard for years that PFDs save lives. But, it's more than just picking up any old PFD and expecting it to function. Our choices of PFDs are determined by how the PFD is to be used and the activity. The right size PFD must be selected and properly fitted. Finally, the PFD doesn't do much good if it's not being worn. Take the time to look over your PFDs and verify they are in good condition, appropriate for the activities, and that they are being worn properly.
|Frequent Problems With PFDs at Camp
|Campers or participants for whatever reason don't wear them at boating activities.
|PFD is the wrong size for the participant or improperly fastened resulting in compromised flotation of the participant.
|Camp uses the wrong Type of PFD for the activity, especially waterskiing.
|Boats are unsecured at the waterfront but the PFDs are locked up in a storage shed.
|Participants use PFD for a seat or kneeling pad, which crushes the flotation and compromises the PFD.
|PFDs do not replace trained supervision.
|PFDs left in the sun when not in use tend to suffer more fabric degradation from the UV rays.
Originally published in the 2006 Winter issue of The CampLine.


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Ecosse Subsea Double Turnover In Third Succesive Year of Growth
03 December 2012
Subsea technology company, Ecosse Subsea Systems Ltd, (ESS) has seen revenue in the last financial year more than double to £4.85 million and forecasts turnover in the current year will pass the £6.5 million mark.
The Aberdeen-based specialist engineering firm will post pre-tax profit of £600,000 to March 2012, while the current financial year has seen exceptional growth with turnover for the first six months exceeding £3.5 million and pre-tax profits expected to be similar to 2012.
The company specialises in trenching, deepwater installation and subsea lifting technologies for the oil, gas, marine and renewable industries and has a range of patented technologies in development.
The successful deployment of its SCAR plough technology on a £1 million subsea excavation contract for a major operator will propel ESS to its most successful trading period to date, said managing director Mike Wilson.
Mr Wilson said: "We have enjoyed steady year-on-year growth for the last three years and the results demonstrate that prudent management and rolling out unique technologies demanded by the market is now paying off.
"We are enjoying our most successful period, have put together a very strong management team and made a significant breakthrough in successfully executing a challenging £1 million contract for a global operator.
A new engineering division was recently established with the recruitment of David Hunt and Faris Lutfy who have extensive subsea construction and installation experience and this has been well received by clients looking for specialist engineering packages.
Ecosse Subsea employs a 12 strong team in Aberdeen which is expected to grow to 16 in the next year, and has a further 50 staff engaged on international projects at any given time. Its Personnel Services Division recruits and matches staff to global subsea, oil, gas and marine markets and in the last year ESS staff have supervised projects worth an estimated £250 million.
Mr Wilson added: "We have benefited from the support and encouragement of Scottish Enterprise who have assisted with our research work and we will continue to reinvest profits in research and development which is core to our success. Looking ahead, the positive balance sheet combined with our depth of engineering experience and innovative technologies, means we are well placed for significant growth in the next few years.


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First City Nursing Services provides a dedicated care at home service and have an experienced dedicated, highly trained and fully vetted workforce.
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Where People and Care Come First. Our company offers a wide range of services to enable our service users to be independent in their own homes.
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Prestige Nursing + Care is one of the leading homecare companies in the UK and has been providing care to some of the most vulnerable members of society, for over 60 years.
Swindon Directory


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San Lorenzo School is Senior High School Ready!
After being officially granted this September 2015 by the Department of Education the permit to operate Senior High School for academic year 2016-2017, offering Academic and Technical-Vocational Tracks, San Lorenzo School is now accepting applications for Grade 11 students. There are two main tracks currently offered for Senior High School:
- Academic Tracks include the following strands:
a) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) that leads to higher education courses such as Environmental Science, Nuclear Science, Global Health, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacology, Radiologic Technology, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics, and similar courses.
b) Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) that leads to higher education courses such as Education, Arts and Literature, Psychology, Mass Communication, Anthropology, Social Work, International Studies, Political Science, Law, and similar courses.
c) Accountancy and Business Management (ABM) that leads to higher education courses such as Accounting, Banking or Finance, Business Management or Administration, Marketing Management, Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Management, Tourism, Human Resource Management, Real Estate Management, and similar courses.
d) General Academic Subjects (GAS) that are suitable for students who could not yet choose a specific course in higher education but possesses the intention to continue tertiary education;
- Technical-Vocational Education or Technical Vocational Livelihood Tracks include:
a) Home Economics Strands that allow students to complete National Certificate (NC2) courses on Beauty and Nail Care, Hairdressing, Bread and Pastry Production, Cookery, and Dressmaking.
b) Information Communications Technology Strands that allow students to complete National Certificate (NC2) courses on Computer Hardware and Servicing, Computer Programming, and Technical Drafting
c) Industrial Arts Strand that allow students to complete National Certificate (NC2) courses on Electrical Installation and Maintenance.
Recently, a Career Talk was held particularly for Grade 10 students by professionals from the Rotary Club of Metro San Pedro who shared their experiences in various fields such as Dentistry, Engineering, Maritime, Education, Real Estate Management, Information Technology, and Accountancy in order to help enlighten and guide the students on the strands they should take based on their ambition.
San Lorenzo School, certified by the Private Education Assistance Committee (formerly FAPE), is also a participant of the Senior High School Voucher Program that grants government financial assistance to qualified applicants to avail of private education. The school's guidance and testing center is open daily during business hours to help accommodate inquiries and interested applicants.


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Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Robert Culp, the actor who rose to fame as secret agent Kelly Robinson on the groundbreaking 1960s TV series "I Spy" and later played Ray Romano's father-in-law on "Everybody Loves Raymond," has died. He was 79.
Culp died after falling on a sidewalk near a Los Angeles park, said his publicist, Dick Delson. Delson had no further details.
The versatile Culp not only acted in "I Spy," which aired on NBC from 1965 to 1968, he also wrote several episodes. The series, which also starred Bill Cosby as Robinson's partner (and, as their covers, trainer to Culp's globe-trotting tennis player), was the first to feature an African-American in a lead role; Cosby won three Emmys for his work.
"I never had so much fun in my life, never, before or since," he said of "I Spy" in a 2007 interview with the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Archive of American Television.
Culp and Cosby remained good friends after the series left air.
But Culp could be hard on himself, he said -- material he channeled into Kelly Robinson.
"There are a lot of flaws in Kelly Robinson, much more than you see in the ordinary leading character on a TV show," he said. "Those all come from inside. Those are all part of me."
Culp collapsed near the lower entrance to Runyon Canyon Park, a popular hiking area in Hollywood, according to a Los Angeles Police official.
He was pronounced dead at a hospital a half hour later, Officer Rosaria Herrera said. It was unclear if the fall caused his death, and the coroner has opened an investigation, she said.
Culp made the transition to motion picture actor with mixed success. He starred in 1969's "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice," a talked-about film about spouse-swapping couples, as well as 1971's "Hannah Caulder," opposite Raquel Welch, and 1972's "Hickey & Boggs." Later in his career, he also appeared in "The Pelican Brief" (1993).
But he was most often seen on television, appearing in dozens of series episodes and TV movies over his 50-year career, starting with scores of episodes of Westerns and Golden Age dramas in the '50s and early '60s.
His notable credits include a co-starring role in the series "The Greatest American Hero" and appearances on "The Cosby Show," "Columbo," "Wings," "Chicago Hope" and "Raymond."
Culp is survived by his fifth wife, Candace Faulkner.
His five marriages produced five children and five grandchildren, according to his Web site.
CNN's Jack Hannah and Alan Duke contributed to this report.


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Eagles aren't the only things that migrate to the region from colder climes each winter.
There are flocks of beautiful swans from November to March as well as snow geese and other waterfowl.
For me, the winter visitors are often the answer to the question, "What am I going to do today." The birds are beautiful to see and fun to watch as they soar overhead or graze in farm fields.
For one thing, the swans are enormous. Trumpeters can grow to 5 feet in length and weigh up to 30 pounds, developing wingspans as long as 8 feet. With the Cascades capped with new fallen snow, the swans can also be the subject of some nice photographs.
For me, a swan viewing usually involves a trip to farms in the Silvana or Stanwood areas. I take my camera and my biggest telephoto lens. In addition to swans and snow geese, I usually see an eagle or two.
Sometimes I stop for breakfast or a sandwich at Willow &Jim's Country Cafe in Silvana or go down the street to pick up something special to take home from Silvana Meats, like some grass-fed beef.
That's the thing about swan viewing road trips. They can be tailored to your interests or needs of the moment whether they involve a leisurely breakfast in Silvana, a delicious burger at the Conway Tavern, or a trip to the shops and perhaps dinner in La Conner.
Families may want to link a swan trip with a visit to the Breazeale Padilla Bay Interpretive Center in Skagit County because of its variety of things to see and do.
The center is especially nice for families because the walks are short and easy, and there are often some interesting classes.
On a recent trip before Christmas, I saw a big flock of swans as I drove to the center from I-5 along Josh Wilson Road. I parked and spent a half-hour or so photographing them. Then I spent another half-hour in the center's parking lot photographing a heron that didn't seem to mind modeling for me as long as I didn't get too close.
The center is situated on the former Breazeale family farm, which was donated to the state to protect the land from development.
If you want a little exercise with your road trip, there's a 2.25-mile trail atop a dike along the southeast shore of Padilla Bay and an even shorter upland loop trail.
The dike trail is paved for bikes or for wheelchair access and the upland trail is part pavement and part gravel. You can take your dog if it's on a leash. And you can check out binoculars and bird guides at the center's front counter.
The center itself has a number of exhibits to explain how estuaries and salt marshes work. There are also a few aquariums with sea life and a fair number of classes involving things like winter birding.
Breazeale Interpretive Center
10441 Bay View-Edison Road, Mount Vernon; 360-428-1558; www.padillabay.gov.
Hours: 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
Cost: Donations accepted.
Upcoming classes
• "Our Fine Feathered Friends," for kids ages 3 to 5, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, call or register online.
• "Swans," for kids ages 6 to 9, 10:30 and noon Jan. 18 and 19; call or register online.
• "Dabblers, Geese and Swans, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 19, for all ages, call or register online.
• Aquarium tour and fish feeding, 11 a.m. Jan. 26, for all ages, just show up.
• "Estuary Habitats," for kids from 3 to 5, Feb. 13 and 14, call or register online.
Getting there: Take I-5 north to exit 231 and head west. Go through two roundabouts and get on Josh Wilson Road to the bay. Follow the signs north to the center.
Swan etiquette
To prevent stress on the birds, experts recommend that you stay in your vehicle while watching or photographing them. They tend to ignore people in cars or at least feel less threatened by them
If you do get out of the car, stay on the roadside. If you see swans or snow geese while hiking, biking or kayaking, move slowly and quietly.
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- You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing email@example.com or by calling 425-339-3428.
- If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to firstname.lastname@example.com or by regular mail to The Daily Herald, Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.
- More contact information is here.


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Taking care of your dog's health
Advice, articles and information to help you take care of your dog.
A healthy weight starts with healthy habits
A healthy weight is key to your dog's health and wellbeing. Find out more about the four simple ways you can maintain your dog's healthy weight and keep them in good shape.
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Your dog's end of life care
Common illnesses in older dogs
How should I care for my ageing dog?
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Spotting signs of digestive problems in your dog
Does my puppy have diarrhoea?
Your dog's diet and their digestive health
Common dog digestive problems
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How to prevent an upset stomach in your dog
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What makes your dog's digestive system healthy?
10 toxic foods you shouldn't give your dog
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Keeping your dog cool in summer
Healthy Skin and Coat
Why does my dog keep scratching?
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Common skin conditions in dogs
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The risks to your dog if they are obese
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How are urinary problems in dogs treated?
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Learn about the different health requirements of each breed and how to best care for them.Search breeds
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If you have any concerns about your dog's health, consult a vet for professional advice.Search near me
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Today was a particularly good day in my podcast queue. Here is the highlights of things I particularly enjoyed:
Within the last month I've recently started listening to The Kindle Chronicles podcast. Those podcasters who worry about soundproofing their rooms, try listening to Len Edgerly when his big ass grandfather clock starts chiming midnight. You might not need it as much as you think! Episode #79 featured a particularly good interview with Seth Harwood. I am one of the people who picked up his book A Long Way from Disney last December when he had his post-Xmas special. I liked this interview and think that Seth is a good example of a hybrid new-school/old-school writer. I recommend this series and this episode.
I've listened to every episode of the SModcast from the beginning (with the exception of the live show episodes that I had to skip.) My single favorite one ever is episode #103 with his mother Grace, where they get stoned together and tell tales of New Jersey. There's a point towards the end where Kevin starts cracking his mother up until she gets hysterical. It's very funny and also kind of sweet. It just made me a little happier to listen to it. Also, I agree with his commentor that says that his mom and Walt Flanagan sound the same. I thought exactly the same thing.
I've also listened to every single episode of the Rock and Roll Geek Show. I'm a lifer on that one with my buddy Michael Butler. In episode #387 he has an interview with Tappy Wright, who was the road manager for The Animals, Jimi Hendix and many more that he writes about in Rock Roadie. It's a fascinating interview and includes Wright's claim about how Hendrix was murdered. I recommend this for a listen along with every other of the nearly 400 shows.
For five years, I've been claiming one of the best upsides of podcasting is the feasibility of doing a show for a niche audience. One example of that in my subscription list is the Flash-back podcast. The episode I listened to today covers Blackest Night: Flash #2. This program covers the various Flash related comic books in excruciating detail. I'm talking panel by panel, friends. Every show is like a master's thesis in the Flash family. This is not the sort of thing that is for everybody, but for certain obsessed fans of this character (such as myself) it is really and truly awesome.


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Thursday, February 10, 2022 - 12:00 am to Saturday, February 12, 2022 - 12:00 am
The Northern Festival of Bands, an annual honor band festival for high school band students, which typically hosts over 40 schools and over 250 individual students, will be held February 10-12, 2022. The event will feature performances by the UNI Wind Ensemble and UNI Symphonic Band on Friday evening as well as Saturday afternoon's performance featuring solo competition winners, the festival's percussionist groups, Festival Concert Band and Festival Symphony Band. Friday's concert is free and open to the public. The Saturday concert for this event is ticketed. For tickets, call 319-273-4TIX. For more information, call 319-273-2028. (Concerts at 7:30 p.m. on 2/11 and 2 p.m. on 2/12)
Great Hall, GBPAC
Link to Event:


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Jacques Marneweck has a quick reminder for those trying to get the latest PEAR installer - you can always get it from CVS.
Quick note that the PEAR installer is missing (go-pear.org has expired and has been snapped up by some cybersquatters) and http://pear.php.net/go-pear renders a 404. So the current solution is to grab the go-pear install from CVS.
A quick curl call to a url on the cvs.php.net site (in the /pearweb directory) is all it takes to grab the latest. The page it's pulling is the source for the go-pear.php installer that can be run either from a web browser or from the command line (with a PHP binary).


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by Carol Lynch Williams
Summary: Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated polygamous community without questioning her father's three wives and her twenty brothers and sisters. Or at least without questioning them much—if you don't count her secret visits to the Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her. But when the Prophet decrees that Kyra must marry her 60-year-old uncle—who already has six wives—Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family.
Hardcover Edition
Open To US Only
Ends March 19th


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Which it is, of course. Although possibly the more important event from Romney's Israel remarks was that "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before the speech that "all the sanctions and diplomacy so far have not set back the Iranian program by one iota."" Which they haven't, of course.
Back at home? Well, the Democrats haven't been exactly covering themselves in glory on this one. President Obama did best, with his ever-so-sudden $70 million funding of Israeli missile defense (that's about .14 solyndras*); meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi's telling the world that the real reason why the GOP supports Israel is because Republicans want lower taxes (don't ask me; she's the one who said it). And then there was this profile in courage:
To summarize: somebody asked Jay Carney what the capital of Israel was, and Carney did everything except drop his pants and wave things around in order to try to distract the White House press corps from noticing that Jay Carney absolutely refused to answer that question.
Spoiler warning: it's Jerusalem. Mind you, nobody else with a lick of sense ever takes seriously anything that Barack Obama said to get elected, so perhaps Carney may be forgiven for that one.
Moe Lane (crosspost)
*Can't wait to hear what the Poles have to say about that.


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Anibal Sanchez helps Tigers move into tie atop AL Central
DETROIT -- Anibal Sanchez retired the final batter on a weak grounder, and Detroit players began celebrating around the mound.
Moments later, the home crowd roared a little louder when the AL Central standings were posted on the scoreboard in left field -- with the Tigers back in a tie for first.
"We control our own destiny. We've just got to continue to play good baseball," catcher Gerald Laird said. "We don't have to rely on anybody to beat anybody now. It's all on our shoulders."
Sanchez threw his first shutout in more than a year, and the Tigers caught the Chicago White Sox atop the division with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night. Detroit had spent only one day in first since the start of August. The Tigers were tied with the White Sox after beating them Sept. 2 -- but quickly fell back.
Now it's even again with eight games to play. Even in this season of expanded playoffs, Detroit and Chicago are in an old-fashioned division race with seemingly everything at stake -- because a wild card isn't a likely option.
The White Sox lost 4-3 to Cleveland earlier in the day, then Sanchez (4-6) took the mound and retired the first 11 hitters he faced.
The Tigers trailed the White Sox by three games on the morning of Sept. 19, but they've made up the ground and will have a chance to win a second straight division title if they can finish strongly enough.
"Nothing is over, nothing is in," Sanchez said. "We're right there."
Sanchez allowed only three hits. He struck out 10 and walked one. Sanchez threw 105 pitches in his first shutout since Sept. 10, 2011, when he tossed a one-hitter for Florida at Pittsburgh.
Bruce Chen (11-13) gave up RBI singles by Prince Fielder and Delmon Young in the first inning.
Sanchez pounded the strike zone early in his best start since coming over to Detroit from Miami in a July trade. Only one Royals player hit the ball out of the infield until Alex Gordon and Billy Butler broke up the perfect game bid with consecutive singles in the fourth for Kansas City.
Sanchez got out of that jam when Salvador Perez's line drive was snagged by third baseman Miguel Cabrera.
"Sanchez did a real good job," Chen said. "One of those games where you just have to tip your hat."
The Tigers hit six singles in the first two innings, but Chen was able to limit the damage by getting out of a bases-loaded, nobody-out situation in the second. Omar Infante hit a shallow fly, and Cabrera and Fielder both struck out.
Detroit didn't really threaten again until the seventh, when reliever Louis Coleman struck out Young with the bases loaded for the third out.
Chen allowed two runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Sanchez now has six quality starts in his last seven outings. In the third, he stopped Eric Hosmer's comebacker with his bare hand, picked up the ball and threw it hard over to Fielder at first for the out. He made another hard throw to first on Jarrod Dyson's 1/3 groundout in the eighth.
Sanchez said he tries to throw to first like he throws home, since he can be wild when trying to ease up.
"He threw it good. It had a little movement on it, too," Fielder said. "Perfect throw. I just wasn't ready for it."
There was activity in the Detroit bullpen to start the ninth, but Sanchez returned to the mound to a warm ovation from the crowd and retired the side in order.
Cabrera went hitless, ending his 14-game hitting streak.
Game notes
The time of game was 2 hours, 13 minutes. ... The Tigers acquired RHP Greg Ross from Atlanta as the player to be named in an Aug. 31 deal that sent Jeff Baker to the Braves. Ross will be assigned to Class A Lakeland. ... Detroit RHP Rick Porcello (9-12) faces Kansas City RHP Jeremy Guthrie (4-3) on Wednesday night.
DET Wins 3-0
Game Information
- Umpires:
- Home Plate Umpire - Cory Blaser
- First Base Umpire - Chris Guccione
- Second Base Umpire - Jeff Nelson
- Third Base Umpire - Bill Welke
2023 American League Central Standings
|Kansas City


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Deluxe Flint and Steel Striker Kit W/Burned Tin
Flint & steel kits are reasonably compact, light-weight and very reliable. To nurture a tiny flint and steel spark into a fire, the spark is first caught on a material called char cloth. Char cloth is usually made from 100% cotton material that has been previously charred in the fire and smothered. This partially burned material is easily re-ignited by the tiny spark. The cloth is then transferred to a tinder bundle and blown into flame.
To make a flint and steel fire, first practice making sparks. These instructions are for right-handers. The opposite works for lefties: Hold the spark rock in your left hand so that a sharp edge is lying horizontally and facing your right hand. Hold the striker vertically in your right hand and practice taking one good deliberate stroke at a time. Bring the striker nearly straight down so that the sharp edge of the stone shaves off microscopic bits of metal. Following through with long strokes seems to help. When you get good sparks then you are ready for the char cloth. To catch the sparks, hold a piece of char cloth the size of a postage stamp on top of the rock with your thumb. Hold it as close as possible to the edge without interfering with the striker.
When a spark catches on the cloth and glows cherry red, blow gently to help it spread. Next, place it in the tinder bundle and blow it into flame. Be sure and put your flint and steel kit in a safe place as soon as you have your spark.
This regular flint and steel fire making equipment kit includes:
- (1) Hand Forged Steel Striker
- (2) 1-3 Each Flint Stones
- (1) Char Cloth tin with Small hole drilled in side of tin
- (1) 6-7 pcs. charred cloth material
- (1) 6' Length of Jute (makes 2-4 Nests)
- (1) Tinder Tube
Also includes instructions on making char cloth.


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Sailing and Yacht Charter in Croatia
WHY? - The crystal clear sea, over a thousand islands, one of the sunniest coastlines in Europe, UNESCO-protected historic cities, picturesque villages, quiet bays, exciting nightlife, diverse gastronomic offer and fair winds for sailing.
WHEN? – The charter season is between April and October with the peak in July and August, when the temperatures can reach 38°C. June and September are less crowded but the weather is generally still very warm and sunny. April, May and October can surprise with summer temperatures, as well as with occasional showers, but these months are ideal for those looking for peace and good sailing winds.
WHERE? – Located in the middle of the Eastern Adriatic coast, Split is an ideal starting point for your sailing holidays in Croatia. It is easily accessible by any means of transport: plane, car, ferry, train, bus and from Split you can go either to the south or to the north choosing amongst the numerous possible sailing routes.
HOW? – Charter a sailboat from a reliable charter company that offers new, well-equipped, perfectly maintained and spotlessly clean sailboats at reasonable prices. Fair Wind, an independent and a family run charter company based in Split, charters only its own boats and guarantees the accuracy of the information presented. Sailboats are chartered: bareboat, with the skipper or with the skipper and hostess.


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It's an (extremely simple) open source hardware kit, but we feel that it fills an important niche. We've put together a promotional video to explain.
From the Googly Eye Shield FAQ:FAQ
1. What, exactly, does the Googly Eye Shield for Arduino do?
It adds googly eyes to your Arduino (or shield-compatible clone).
2. No, really– What does it do?
Yes, really: It adds googly eyes to your Arduino!
3. Are you serious?
Yes, absolutely! It really does add googly eyes to your Arduino.
4. What else can you use it for?
Lots! Even without the googly eyes, this is the missing "blank" Arduino shield– a low-cost, bare-bones multipurpose platform. We could have called this the "Insulator Shield for Arduino" — it's a big flat empty surface that you can use for all kinds of things, without pesky electronics getting in your way. The only electrical features are a neat row of breakout holes, on a 0.1″ grid, right next to the edge connectors.Mount a solid-state relay or a battery pack or a speaker. You can use it to raise up many types of Arduino shields for extra altitude, providing a handy storage shelf underneath. You can mount a mini breadboard to the top, and use it as a low-cost prototyping shield. The possibilities are not particularly limited.
5. What if I don't want googly eyes on my Arduino?
The googly eyes are (we hate to admit) optional. Just skip that step of the assembly instructions if you really don't want googly eyes. (Also, what is wrong with you?)The Googly Eye Shield is an open source hardware design. Complete documentation about this kit, including assembly instructions and design files will be added this week to the Evil Mad Science Wiki.
Googly Eye Shield kits are in stock and shipping at the Evil Mad Science Shop.


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You and your family may be charmed with the thought of adding a pet pig to your home. Many people have moved forward with finding their new pet, yet not taken the steps to provide appropriately for their pig. And themselves. As small and unassuming as a small pig might seem, there are considerationsRead more
Pigs as Family Pets
Category: Newsletter Library, Tips for Pet Owners
Ready for a Rabbit? Think Again!
Category: Newsletter Library, Tips for Pet Owners
"After cats and dogs, rabbits are the species most often surrendered to animal shelters," advises the Humane Society of the Unite States. "Most rabbits lose their homes because of "people reasons," such as a move or the owner's inability or unwillingness to care for the animal, not because the rabbitRead more
Preparing Your Pet for the Arrival of a New baby
Category: Newsletter Library, Tips for Pet Owners
Helping your pet adjust to the arrival of a new baby is much like preparing a young child for a new sibling. An infant brings many changes to a household, however, you can help your pet adjust to the big changes with minimal time and effort by making gradual adjustments to your lifestyle before the babyRead more
Take Preventative Measures When Sleeping With Pets
Category: Newsletter Library, Tips for Pet Owners
Adults and children oftentimes enjoy sleeping with household pets. They can keep us warm, feel comfortable, make us feel safe and loved. They may lick our faces, hands or other exposed areas before or during sleeping time. Scratches and bites, wounds, abscesses, ulcerations or other breaks in theRead more
Ten Tips to Keep Kids and Pets Safe
Category: Newsletter Library, Tips for Pet Owners
Parents love both their children and their pets. Many pet owners even call their pets fur children. But it is important to create a safe and healthy environment for both children and pets. We especially worry about parasite and bacterial transmission from animals to people, although the reverse can occurRead more
Heart Disease in Cats
Category: Newsletter Library, Cats
Cats are wonderful pets. In fact, they outnumber dogs as pets in the United States. It is estimated that 85 to 95 million cats are kept as pets; one-third of all households have at least one feline friend. It is important for cat owners to be aware of a stealthy disease that may affect as much as 15Read more
How to Keep Your Cat from Getting Fat
Category: Newsletter Library, Cats
A fat cat may appear happy and provide visitors with a source of amusement, but feline obesity is certainly no laughing matter. Cats who carry excess weight have a heightened risk for diabetes, cancer, liver problems, degenerative joint pain and other conditions that could severely curtail its qualityRead more
Is a Feral Cat Right for You?
Category: Newsletter Library, Cats
In many ways, Tiger Kitty (or TK as he's known for short) isn't your typical feral cat. Unlike his still-wild counterparts who still roam around, homeless and often hungry, he now has a home. When his owners get home at night, he runs out to meet them and rubs against their ankles looking to be patted.Read more
Keep Cats Moving and Grooving
Category: Newsletter Library, Cats
Keeping your cat active can help it burn calories and use muscles, tendons and ligaments that may often be seen catnapping. Burning calories is important for your cat. The more your cat moves and exercises, the more calories it will expend during the activity. Exercise will help to off-set the naps takenRead more
Litter Box Problems
Category: Newsletter Library, Cats
One of the most common complaints that cat owners make is that a cat will not use its litter box properly. Usually it is a problem with the cat urinating outside the box, but occasionally a cat will be defecating outside the box, or a cat may not want to use his litter box at all! First the cat shouldRead more
Lilies are Dangerous to Cats
Category: Newsletter Library, Cats
A significant source of toxicity for cats that is unknown to many people are lilies. These flowers are beautiful, available in a variety of colors, and common in cut flower arrangements. They are also easy to grow and are found in many gardens. But, they can be very dangerous for cats. The Animal PoisonRead more
Managing Feline Asthma
Category: Newsletter Library, Cats
Humans are not the only ones who can suffer from asthma. It is a condition that can also afflict cats. Feline asthma is similar to human asthma, in that it is a chronic inflammation of the airways inside the lungs. During an asthma attack, these airways become constricted, and the lungs create mucusRead more
My Cat Grooms Excessively — Is Something Wrong?
Category: Newsletter Library, Cats
It is normal for cats to groom themselves throughout the day. In fact, cats may spend up to one half of each day grooming themselves. For this reason, you may not even notice if your cat starts to groom himself or herself excessively. Nonetheless, if your cat constantly licks himself or herself or isRead more
Trimming Your Cat's Claws
Category: Newsletter Library, Cats
Cats are generally regarded as "self-grooming" pets, though they do need their humans for some grooming activities. One grooming technique cats are unable to perform on their own is trimming their front nails. While some indoor-only cats are de-clawed in the front (this means their claws have been removedRead more
Two Common Diseases of Geriatric Cats
Category: Newsletter Library, Cats
Cats are living longer and longer. This is due to better medical care and the fact that more cats are living only indoors. These cats commonly live up to 15 to 18 years of age, with a few living into their twenties. The oldest cat on record lived to be 38! The two most common diseases of the geriatricRead more
Unnecessary Risks Cat Owners Take
Category: Newsletter Library, Cats
There are specific activities that can make a positive difference in your pet's health. The difference will be enhanced health and wellness when you integrate them into your current pet maintenance program. Feeding, grooming and vaccinations are probably your top-of-mind priorities. Sometimes you canRead more


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My friend Leah, a school teacher in San Francisco, is all about making the most of her summer break. Even though she just returned from San Diego at about the same time I was limping home from the Sierras, she's raring to go again and the window is perfect for both of us to spend a few days pedaling through the ancient forests of Humboldt County. She outfitted her Surly Long Haul Trucker with mountain bike tires, dropped the stem, and installed a front rack for her own ideal bikepacking rig. We headed out to the Marin Headlands on Sunday afternoon for a test ride, and were treated to a rare brilliantly clear day.
Leah's friend Dylan, a former resident of Northern California and fellow Stagecoach 400 finisher, designed a dirt and backroad route for us. He even threw in the location of secret swimming holes and blueberry farms, and made sure to route us through the Avenue of the Giants.
As for the shin, it manages okay as long as I mostly stay in the saddle and of course don't use pedals that I have to click in and out of. I'm also bringing a compression sleeve and bandage in case it flares up. Hoping for the best. I can't really afford a prolonged shin injury at this point in the summer, but I don't think the bike tour will put too much pressure on it.
I also wanted to send my respect to the current "Red Lantern" of the 2012 Tour Divide, Tracy Burge, who is pedaling her way through southern Montana. Tracy battled flu and possible giardia infection early in the race, decided to scratch in Butte, and then suddenly changed her mind. A friend of mine in Missoula, Ed, camped with her the other day and sent me an e-mail:
"She is back on and while she won't finish the race in the 30 days, she is going to ride the whole thing. She is a wonderful woman. We camped with her, and I rode a bit with her the next day. We of course mentioned you and she admires you greatly, and has read your book. She has been thinking about you on the trail, knew a few places you bivy'ed, and admires your toughness even more."
I do hear from readers from time to time, and am always touched by their notes. If any words I write somehow inspire or boost others during great adventures, I consider that my highest success. Thanks, Tracy. I admire your strength and perseverance, and I'll be cheering for you all the way to Mexico.


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Table of Contents
How to Choose the Right Self-Service Business Intelligence Tool
Analytics Beyond Spreadsheets
If you're still relying on Microsoft Excel as your primary parser for corporate data, then you're officially well behind the curve. Today's organizations are being flooded with new data from all directions and executives are expected to make smarter decisions with that information. Spreadsheets, however, are blunt and insufficient to deal with this kind of volume, which is why there's a new crop of business intelligence (BI) tools to fill the gap. These tools combine all of the sophisticated data hooks on the back end with a new style of front end that combines ease of use with things such as natural language querying to make using BI accessible to anyone. These tools also provide new data visualization capabilities that let you turn your insights into clear and easily parsed graphics to help co-workers understand your discoveries.
Spreadsheets also fall down when the data isn't well-structured or can't be sorted out in neat rows and columns. And, if you have millions of rows or very sparse matrices, then the data in a spreadsheet can be painful to enter and it can be hard to visualize your data. Spreadsheets also have issues if you are trying to create a report that spans multiple data tables or that mixes in Structured Query Language (SQL)-based databases, or when multiple users try to maintain and collaborate on the same spreadsheet.
A spreadsheet containing up-to-the-minute data can also be a problem, particularly if you have exported graphics that need to be refreshed when the data changes. Finally, spreadsheets aren't good for data exploration; trying to spot trends, outlying data points, or counterintuitive results is difficult when what you are looking for is often hidden in a long row of numbers.
While spreadsheets and self-service BI tools both make use of tables of numbers, they are really acting in different arenas with different purposes. A spreadsheet is first and foremost a way to store and display calculations. While some spreadsheets can create very sophisticated mathematical models, at their core it is all about the math more than the model itself.
This is all a long-winded way of saying that when businesses use a spreadsheet, they are actively sabotaging themselves and their ability to consistently get valuable insights from their data. BI tools are specficially designed to help businesses better understand their data, and can prove to be a huge benefit to those upgrading from what a limited spreadsheet can do.
What Is Business Intelligence?
Defining BI is tricky. When you examine what it does and why companies use it, it can start to sound vague and nebulous. After all, many different kinds of software offer analytics features, and all businesses want to improve. Understanding what a BI is or isn't can be unclear.
BI is an umbrella term meant to cover all of the activities necessary for a company to turn raw information into actionable knowledge. In other words, it's a company's efforts to understand what it knows and what it doesn't know of its own existence and operations. The ultimate goal is being able to increase profits and sharpen its competitive edge.
Framed that way, BI as a concept has been around as long as business. But that concept has evolved from early basics [like Accounts Payable (AP) and Accounts Receivable (AR) reports and customer contact and contract information] to much more sophisticated and nuanced information. This information ranges across everything from customer behaviors to IT infrastructure monitoring to even long-term fixed asset performance. Separately tracking such metrics is something most businesses can do regardless of the tools employed. Combining them, especially disparate results from metrics normally not associated with one another, into understandable and actionable information, well, that's the art of BI. The future of BI is already shaping up to simultaneously broaden the scope and variety of data used and to sharpen the micro-focus to ever finer, more granular levels.
BI software has been instrumental in this steady progression towards more in-depth knowledge about the business, competitors, customers, industry, market, and suppliers, to name just a few possible metric targets. But as businesses grow and their information stores balloon, the capturing, storing, and organizing of information becomes too large and complex to be entirely handled by mere humans. Early efforts to do these tasks via software, such as customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP), led to the formation of "data silos" wherein data was trapped and useful only within the confines of certain operations or software buckets. This was the case unless IT took on the task of integrating various silos, typically through painstaking and highly manual processes.
While BI software still covers a variety of software applications used to analyze raw data, today it usually refers to analytics for data mining, analytical processing, querying, reporting, and especially visualizing. The main difference between today's BI software and Big Data analytics is mostly scale. BI software handles data sizes typical for most organizations, from small to large. Big Data analytics and apps handle data analysis for very large data sets, such as silos measured in petabytes (PBs).
Self-Service BI and Data Democratization
The BI tools that were popular half a decade or more ago required specialists, not just to use but also to interpret the resulting data and conclusions. That led to an often inconvenient and fallible filter between the people who really needed to get and understand the business—the company decision makers—and those who were gathering, processing, and interpreting that data—usually data analysts and database administrators. Because being a data specialist is a demanding job, many of these folks were less well-versed in the actual workings of the business whose data they were analyzing. That led to a focus on data the company didn't need, a misinterpretation of results, and often a series of "standard" reporting that analysts would run on a scheduled basis instead of more ad hoc intelligence gathering and interpretation, which can be highly valuable in fast-moving situations.
This problem has led to a growing new trend among new BI tools coming onto the market today: that of self-service BI and data democratization. The goal for much of today's BI software is to be available and usable by anyone in the organization. Instead of requesting reports or queries through the IT or database departments, executives and decision makers can create their own queries, reports, and data visualizations through self-service models, and connect to disparate data both within and outside the organization through prebuilt connectors. IT maintains overall control over who has access to which tools and data through these connectors and their management tool arsenal, but IT no longer acts as a bottleneck to every query and report request.
As a result, users can take advantage of this distributed BI model. Key tools and critical data have moved from a centralized and difficult-to-access architecture to a decentralized model that merely requires access credentials and familiarity with new BI software. This results in a whole new kind of analysis becoming available to the organization, namely, that of experienced, front-line business people who not only know what data they need but how they need to use it.
The emerging crop of BI tools all work hard at developing front-end tools that are more intuitive and easier to use than those of older generations—with varying degrees of success. However, that means a key criteria in any BI tool purchasing decision will be to evaluate who in the organization should access such tools and whether the tool is appropriately designed for that audience. Most BI vendors indicate they're looking for their tool suites to become as ubiquitous and easy to use for business users as typical business collaboration tools or productivity suites, such as Microsoft Office. None have gotten quite that far yet in my estimation, but some are closer than others. To that end, these BI tool suites tend to focus on three core types of analytics: descriptive (what did happen), prescriptive (what should happen now), and predictive (what will happen later).
What Is Data Visualization?
In the context of BI software, data visualization is a fast and effective method of transferring information from a machine to a human brain. The idea is to place digital information into a visual context so that the analytic output can be quickly ingested by humans, often at a glance. If this sounds like those pie and bar charts you've seen in Microsoft Excel, then you're right. Those are early examples of data visualizations.
But today's visualization forms are rapidly evolving from those traditional pie charts to the stylized, the artistic, and even the interactive. An interactive visualization comes with layered "drill downs," which means the viewer can interact with the visual to reach more granular information on one or more aspects incorporated in the bigger picture. For example, new values can be added that will change the visualization on the fly, or the visualization is actually built on rapidly changing data that can turn a static visual into an animation or a dashboard.
The best visualizations do not seek artistic awards but instead are designed with function in mind, usually the quick and intuitive transfer of information. In other words, the best visualizations are simple but powerful in clearly and directly delivering a message. High-end visuals may look impressive at first glance but, if your audience needs help to understand what's being conveyed, then they've ultimately failed.
Most BI software, including those reviewed here, comes with visualization capabilities. However, some products offer more options than others so, if advanced visuals are key to your BI process, then you'll want to closely examine these tools. There are also third-party and even free data visualization tools that can be used on top of your BI software for even more options.
Products and Testing
In this review roundup, I tested each product from the perspective of a business analyst. But I also kept in mind the viewpoint of users who might have no familiarity with data processing or analytics. I loaded and used the same data sets and posed the same queries, evaluating results and the processes involved.
My aim was to evaluate cloud versions alone, as I often do analysis on the fly or at least on a variety of machines, as do legions of other analysts. But, in some cases, it was necessary to evaluate a desktop version as well or instead of the cloud version. One example of this is Tableau Desktop, a favorite tool of Microsoft Excel users who simply have an affinity for the desktop tool (and who just move to the cloud long enough to share and collaborate).
I ended up testing the Microsoft Power BI desktop version, too, on a Microsoft representative's recommendation because, as the rep said, "the more robust data prep tools are there." Besides, said the rep, "most users prefer the desktop tool over a web tool anyway." Again, I don't doubt Microsoft's claim but that does seem weird to me. I've heard it said that desktop tools are preferred when the data is local as the process feels faster and easier. But seriously, how much data is truly local anymore? I suspect this odd desktop tool preference is a bit more personal than fact-based, but to each his own.
Then there's Google Analytics, a pure cloud player. The tool is designed to analyze website and mobile app data so it's a different critter in the BI app zoo. That being the case, I had to deviate from using my test data set and queries, and instead test it in its natural habitat of website data. Nonetheless, it's the processes that are evaluated in this review, not the data.
While I didn't test any of these tools from a data scientist's role, I did mention advanced capabilities when I found them, simply to let buyers know they exist. For example, Microsoft Power BI is powerful while also familiar, certainly to any of the millions of Microsoft business users. However, there are several other powerful and intuitive apps in this lineup from which to choose; they all have their own pros and cons. We'll be adding even more in the coming months.
One thing to watch out for during your evaluations of these products is that many don't yet handle streaming data. For many users, that won't be a problem in the immediate future. However, for those involved with analyzing business processes as they happen, such as website performance metrics or customer behavior patterns, streaming data can be invaluable. Also, the Internet of Things (IoT) will drive this issue in the near future and make streaming data and streaming analytics a must-have feature. Many of these tools will have to up their game accordingly so, unless you want to jump ship in a year or two, it's best to think ahead when considering BI and the IoT.
BI and Big Data
Another area in which self-service BI is taking off is in analyzing Big Data. This is a newer development in the database space but it's driving tremendous growth and innovation. The name is an apt descriptor because Big Data generally refers to huge data sets that are simply too big to be managed or queried with traditional data science tools. What's created these behemoth data collections is the explosion of data-generating, tracking, monitoring, transaction, and social media tools (to name a few) that have become so popular over the last several years.
Not only do these tools generate loads of new data, they also often generate a new kind of data, namely "unstructured" data. Broadly speaking, this is simply data that hasn't been organized in a predefined way. Unlike more traditional, structured data, this kind of data is heavy on text (even free-form text) while also containing more easily defined data, such as dates or credit card numbers. Examples of apps that generate this kind of data include the customer behavior-tracking tools you use to see what your customers are doing on your e-commerce website, the piles of log and event files generated from some smart devices (such as alarms and smart sensors), and broad-swath social media tracking tools.
Organizations deploying these tools are being challenged not only by a sudden deluge of unstructured data that quickly strains storage resources [think beyond terabytes (TB) into the PB and even exabyte (EB) range] but, even more importantly, they're finding it difficult to query this new information at all. Traditional data warehouse tools generally weren't designed to either manage or query unstructured data. New data storage innovations such as data lakes are emerging to solve for this need, but organizations still relying exclusively on traditional tools while deploying front-line apps that generate unstructured data often find themselves sitting on mountains of data they don't know how to leverage.
Enter Big Data analysis standards. The golden standard here is Hadoop, which is an open-source software framework that Apache specifically designed to query large data sets stored in a distributed fashion (meaning, in your data center, the cloud, or both). Not only does Hadoop let you query Big Data, it lets you simultaneously query both unstructured as well as traditional structured data. In other words, if you want to query all of your business data for maximum insight, then Hadoop is what you need.
You can download and implement Hadoop itself to perform your queries, but it's typically easier and more effective to use commercial querying tools that employ Hadoop as the foundation of more intuitive and full-featured analysis packages. Notably, most of the tools reviewed here, including Chartio, Microsoft Power BI, and Tableau Desktop, all support this. However, each requires varying levels of configuration or even add-on tools to do so—with Microsoft and and Tableau offering exceptionally deep capabilities. However, Microsoft will still expects customers to utilize additional tools around aspects such as data governance to ensure optimal performance.
Given the issues spreadsheets can have when used as ad hoc BI tools and how firmly ingrained they are in our psyches, finding the right BI tool isn't a simple process. Unlike spreadsheets, BI tools have major differences when it comes to how they consume data inputs and outputs and manipulate their tables. Some tools are better at exploration than analysis, and some require a fairly steep learning curve to really make use of their features. Finally, to make matters worse, there are dozens if not hundreds of such tools on the market today, with many vendors willing to claim the self-serve BI label even if it doesn't quite fit.
Getting the overall workflow down with these tools will take some study and discussion with the people you'll be designating as users. Tableau Desktop and Microsoft Power BI, for example, will start users out with the desktop version to build visualizations and link up to various data sources. Once you have this together, you can start sharing those results online or across your organization's network. With others, such as Chartio or Google Analytics, you start in the cloud and stay there.
In recent years, companies have been taking advantage of the wide selection of online learning platforms out there to train their employees on using these platforms. As intuitive as these platforms may be, it is important to make sure that your employees actually know how to use these BI platforms so that you can make sure your investment was worthwhile. There are many ways of approaching this, but using the right online learning platform might be a good place to start looking.
Given the wide price range of these products, you should segment your analytics needs before you make any buying decision. If you want to start out slowly and inexpensively, then the best route is to try something that offers significant functionality for free, such as Microsoft Power BI. Such tools are very affordable and make it easy to get started. Plus, they tend to have large ecosystems of add-ons and partners that can be a cost-effective replacement for doing BI inside a spreadsheet. Tableau Desktop still has the largest collection of charts and visualizations and the biggest partner network, though Microsoft Power BI is catching up fast.
Microsoft Power BI and Tableau Desktop both scored the highest in our roundup, and both products received our Editors' Choice award. Tableau Desktop may have a big price tag depending on which version you choose but, as previously mentioned, it has an exceptionally large and growing collection of visualizations plus a manageable learning curve if you're willing to devote some effort to it. Microsoft Power BI and Tableau Desktop also have large and growing collections of data connectors, and both Microsoft and Tableau have their own sizable communities of users that are vocal about their wants and needs. This can carry a lot of weight with the vendors' development teams so it's a good idea to spend some time looking through those community forums to get an idea where these companies are headed.


text:
President Donald Trump's Twitter game may not be as fierce as he likes to think.
On Tuesday, the social media platform revealed the world's 10 most retweeted and three most "liked" posts of 2017. Trump, who regularly shows off in front of his 44.1 million followers by launching unprovoked attacks on his opponents, failed to feature on either list.
To add insult to injury, Trump's predecessor in the White House, former President Barack Obama scored high in both roundups. Three of Obama's tweets made the "most retweeted" list and two appeared in the "most liked" category.
Obama's plea for racial equality following white nationalist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August was both the "most liked" tweet of the year, and the second most retweeted.
Obama's Twitter followers more than double the number for Trump ― as of Monday, the ex-president had 97.6 million.
Some slight consolation for Trump may be that he was crowned the most tweeted about elected world leader this year. But as various stories have noted, he's often mentioned in a negative light.
Other tweets to rack up millions of "likes" this year included Ariana Grande's response to the terror attack at her May concert in Manchester, England, and NBA star LeBron James' zinger at Trump over the president's rescinding ― via Twitter ― the White House invitation to the league champion Golden State Warriors after some of the team's players, including star Stephen Curry, said they wouldn't be attending.
The Twitter champion of the year, however, was Carter Wilkerson — the Nevada teen whose lighthearted request for a year's supply of chicken nuggets from the Wendy's fast-food chain went viral. After being shared an astonishing 3.6 million times, it's now the most retweeted post ever:
The Miss Universe 2017 pageant was the most tweeted-about global television event, K-pop group BTS took that honor among celebrities, and Spanish soccer team Real Madrid's #halamadrid was the world's top sports hashtag.
"Game of Thrones" was the most tweeted-about TV show in the U.S., with Netflix's "Stranger Things" taking the accolade for streaming shows. "Wonder Woman" won the award for most tweeted-about movie.
Here are the most retweeted tweets of the year:
HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS pic.twitter.com/4SrfHmEMo3— Carter Wilkerson (@carterjwm) April 6, 2017
"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion..." pic.twitter.com/InZ58zkoAm— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 13, 2017
With the current devastation in Houston, we are pledging $0.15 for every RT this gets! Please forward this along to help out those in need! pic.twitter.com/lodyOBE0eG— Penn State IFC (@PennStateIFC) August 30, 2017
broken.— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) May 23, 2017
from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words.
Thank you for everything. My last ask is the same as my first. I'm asking you to believe—not in my ability to create change, but in yours.— President Obama (@POTUS44) January 11, 2017
July 20, 2017
U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going! So therefore ain't no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017
It's been the honor of my life to serve you. You made me a better leader and a better man.— President Obama (@POTUS44) January 20, 2017
Leo and I are donating 6 lbs of dog food to Houston for every retweet this gets!!!! RT RT RT RT!! pic.twitter.com/bcTT905knP— Sam (@SamMartin_6) August 31, 2017
suicide hotline 1-800-273-8255— seth joesph (@sethjoesph) August 28, 2017
1 person ends their life every 40 seconds
will u take the time to retweet this & possibly save one of them?
Here are the most "liked" tweets of the year:
"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion..." pic.twitter.com/InZ58zkoAm— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 13, 2017
broken.— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) May 23, 2017
from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words.
John McCain is an American hero & one of the bravest fighters I've ever known. Cancer doesn't know what it's up against. Give it hell, John.— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 20, 2017
The most tweeted activism hashtags in the U.S.:
1. #Resist
3. #ImpeachTrump
4. #TrumpTrain
5. #WomensMarch
6. #NotMyPresident
7. #BlackLivesMatter
9. #TakeAKnee
10. #BoycottNFL
The most tweeted about movies in the U.S.:
1. Wonder Woman
2. La La Land
3. Dunkirk
4. Spider-Man: Homecoming
5. Justice League
6. It
7. Beauty and the Beast
8. Thor: Ragnarok
9. Black Panther
10. Fifty Shades Darker
The most tweeted about TV shows in the U.S.
1. Game of Thrones
2. Stranger Things
3. Big Brother.
4. 13 Reasons Why
5. Saturday Night Live
6. The Walking Dead
7. Grey's Anatomy
8. The Voice
9. Supernatural
10. Pretty Little Liars
The most tweeted about streaming TV shows in the U.S.:
1. Stranger Things
2. 13 Reasons Why
3. Orange is the New Black
4. House of Cards
5. Sense8
6. Narcos
7. The Get Down
8. The Handmaid's Tale
9. Bojack Horseman
10. Daredevil
The most tweeted about fan armies in the world:
1. #lovatics
2. #littlemonsters
3. #harmonizers
4. #beliebers
5. #5sosfam
The order of the tweets was correct at the time Twitter released the data.


text:
Τα καλάθι αγορών σας είναι άδειο!
PowerWalker VI LCD provides comprehensive protection and high power density in small and economic package. Compared to traditional UPS towers of the same size, this UPS is more compact and offers greater comprehensive power protection against surges and spikes. Equipped with a voltage stabilizer, this UPS will continue providing clean and stable power to connected equipment and is perfect for any home or small office application.


text:
Wave Sport and Fitness presents our Low Scoop Back Designer One-Piece Swimsuit finished in Ruby Red. Designed to bring out all of your best features, our feature zig zag stitching beautifully compliments the Wave design.
Chlorine-resistant fabric ensures our Wave Funky Designs will last swim after swim. Smooth, comfortable to the touch fabric and our flattering Wave design, mean you'll stand out by the sea or pool. Our Wave "four way" stretch fabric will also ensure you are covered wherever your adventure takes you.
In true Wave style our Scoop Back Swimsuit is designed and manufactured as ethically as possible.
Wave aspires to be a symbol for eco sensitive health & well-being products. Our mission is to support your health and well-being practice.
- Wave "four-way stretch" fabric
- Chlorine-resistant fabric
- Scoop neckline
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- Microfiber yarn; 82% recycled polyester, 18% spandex


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text:
Story highlights
Search teams find debris thought to belong to the jet
The F-16 went went missing Monday over the Adriatic Sea
A search for the pilot continues
Italian search teams have found debris thought to belong to a U.S. fighter jet that went missing, the U.S. military said Tuesday.
Controllers lost contact with the F-16 around 8 p.m. Monday (2 p.m. ET) while the jet was on a training flight, the U.S. Air Force reported
The jet's last known location was over the Adriatic Sea, some 10-15 nautical miles east of Cervia.
Search teams have found no sign of the pilot, though they're continuing the search, officials said.
The jet was based at Aviano Air Base, a key NATO installation in northern Italy.


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Thank you for visiting our website! Below you will be able to find the answer to Overplay during a play crossword clue which was last seen on NewsDay.com Crossword, December 20 2017. Our site contains over 2.8 million crossword clues in which you can find whatever clue you are looking for. Since you landed on this page then you would like to know the answer to Overplay during a play. Without losing anymore time here is the answer for the above mentioned crossword clue:
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|Raindrop sound
|Blacken in a broiler
|Dish for a dinner
|Four-star review
|Very hard to find
|Desert spot with water
|At any time
|Barge __ (disturb)
|__ Peak, CO
|Pay-at-curbside machines
|Droop, as a mattress
|On vacation
|Actress Thurman
|Kitty's cry
|Courtroom break
|Legendary jazz trumpeter
|Marathon, for one
|Drained of color
|Fairy tale monster
|List-shortening abbr.
|Unseen character flaw
|Place for a pedicure
|Sharer's pronoun
|Air quality org.
|High in calories
|Touch on the shoulder
|Trains' storage facilities
|Big name in ketchup
|Red Muppet
|''That's what I'm talkin' about!''
|Overplay during a play
|Floor sample
|Eatery's list
|Turns off, as a TV's sound
|Biblical paradise
|Get ready, for short
|Volcanic flow
|Fringe benefits
|Recoiled in fright
|Put up, as artwork
|Extend a subscription
|Sailor of cartoons
|Dragon's retreat
|Suit accessory
|Curvy letter
|Purina competitor
|Repairs, as a road
|Called balls and strikes
|Sporty Mazda model
|Lessen, as fears
|Start the day
|Gator relative
|National bird
|Metal to be recycled
|''I'm outta here!''
|Slithery swimmers
|A big fan of
|Be unsuccessful
|Suitable for the lawn or patio
|Start to unravel
|Raffle offerings
|Statement of belief
|__ up (in hiding)
|Creditor's demand
|Barrel of laughs
|Poker ritual
|Arsenal supply
|Oboe insert
|Copenhagen native
|Steer clear of
|Garment border
|Australian bird
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