text:
Heavy Lifting!
Last Saturday I went to shoot a video about a helicopter that was removing the old Deer Crest chairlift. This job is a necessary first step before receiving the slightly larger towers that are being built for the new Mountaineer Express chairlift on Little Baldy Mountain at Deer Valley. Before I even left home, I saw a strange helicopter flying by the Wasatch Mountains. A few moments later, I was picked up at Snow Park Lodge by Chuck English, Deer Valley Resort's Director of Mountain Operations.
On the way up to the lift, Chuck explained that Dopplemayr, the company supplying lifts to Deer Valley, had orchestrated a complex and precise operation to remove the eighteen towers assemblies that constituted the Deer Crest chairlift and bring them down to the bottom of the lift in less than two hours. He further explained that the helicopter used for the operation was a very expensive piece of equipment, costing around $4,000 per hour of flight time. I knew a few things about choppers, but not much about the special machine that came that morning. That one was used for hauling timber, moving lift towers around or even fighting fires.
The aircraft in question was a 1998 K-1200 made by Kaman Aerospace Corporation, powered by a 1,500 hp engine and owned by Timberline Helicopters, Inc. of Sandpoint, Idaho. This company is specialized in ski lift, power lines and pipelines construction, as well as logging among other diversified activities. This model, also called K-Max has two main intermeshing rotors but no tail rotor. Its two rotors turn in opposite directions, with each rotor mast mounted on the helicopter in a slight angle relative to the other and in such a way that the blades intermesh without colliding.
This original design is what allows the helicopter to function without the need for a tail rotor. This configuration is referred to as a synchropter. Such helicopters offer both high stability and powerful lifting capability, further they are more efficient, have a natural tendency to hover and are excellent for precision work in placing suspended loads. They're also more responsive to the pilot's control inputs, making it possible to easily and precisely swing a very heavy load; in fact, this flying crane can lift more than it own weight – 6,000 lbs – and while it burns an average of 85 gallons of fuel per hour during lift operations like this one, it remains the most efficient lift-to-fuel ratio of any helicopter in its class.
Like on fixed-wing aircraft, the lift of the helicopter rotating wings is produced by its reaction with the surrounding air. The denser the air, the greater the reaction. As the aircraft climbs in altitude, the air becomes less dense, so the amount of lift is reduced. This is because the atmospheric pressure acting on a given volume of air is reduced, allowing the air molecules to move further apart. At some point in a climb, up into a high mountain environment for instance, the lift produced by the thinning air is only enough to maintain the altitude, but no longer enough to climb. This constitutes the absolute ceiling for the aircraft.
The air density is not just a function of altitude though; the atmospheric pressure plays a role too; if the pressure is lower, the air is not as dense. Same effect with the temperature; as warm air expands, the air molecules move further apart, creating lighter air, but the reverse is also true as cooler air will create denser air conditions. Finally moisture influences lift as well; as the water content of the air increases, the air becomes less dense, decreasing performance. Increased relative humidity also contributes to that loss of lift.
To illustrate these physical facts, the working crew that day was telling us that while performing a similar work at 11,000 feet elevation at nearby Snowbird, earlier in the week, the weather was so hot and humid that the helicopter had a challenging time carrying some of its loads. At times and when the parts allows it certain elements like the sheave assemblies must be removed from the cross arm that sits on top of a chairlift tower and be replaced later on. In terms of lifting performance, the K-Max cargo hook capacity is rated at 6,000 lb at sea level. At 10,000 feet it's about 5,163 lb and at 15,000 feet it falls significantly to 4,313 lb.
At the end of August, when the towers will have been manufactured, the helicopter will return to replace the new infrastructure of what will be the new "Mountaineer Express" chairlift. I hope I'll get to be invited again to shoot the scene and focus on the wonderful choreography between some heavy hardware, a team of skilled craftsmen and a wonderful flying machine…


text:
|Adria Airways posts 2014 profit
Adria Airways recorded a pre-tax profit of 900.000 euros last year, making it the third national carrier in the former Yugoslavia to end 2014 in the black. It comes following a net loss of 3.1 million the year before and marks its first annual net profit since 2007. In a statement, the Slovenian carrier said its operating profit stood at three million euros while revenues fell 1% compared to 2013. Lower fuel prices, passenger growth and lower costs per passenger assisted with its improved financial performance last year, while a sharp decline in revenue on the Russian market had the greatest impact on its results. The airline also managed to reduce its debt by 22.4 million euros but it did not specify its remaining debt. Only last week, Bank of America Merrill Lynch purchased 6.3 million euros worth of Adria's debt for an undisclosed sum.
|Net profit €
|Air Serbia
|2.7 million
|Croatia Airlines
|Adria Airways
|PAX (million)
|Change (%)
|Air Serbia
|▲ 68
|Croatia Airlines
|▲ 2
|Adria Airways
|▲ 8
|Montenegro Airlines
|▼ 5
|B&H Airlines
|▲ 17

subset: commoncrawl


text: With over two decades of gruesome grinding under the belts, you might think that EXHUMED would be ready to slow down. You'd be DEATHLY wrong. Necrocacy is EXHUMED's political manifesto for a new dark day---no democracy, no equal rights, no freedom of choice---bow down to your one true master---THE SAW. Nine sickening new tracks of prime Exhumed gore---blazing guitars, filthy vocals and obscene blasting drums. Quite possibly their finest hour, as the years roll by EXHUMED refuse to mellow. This is a band that stinks like the rotting flesh of a nation waiting for revolution: vote Necrocracy Party 2013!


text:
New Castle County Police have arrested Denzel Massengill, an 18-year-old male from the unit block of Mark Court (Waterford Trailer Park) in Bear.
(Bear, DE-19701) An investigation into a theft reported in September 2013 led officers from the New Castle County Police Department to the home of Denzel Massengill. Police were called to his residence in April 2014 after a relative discovered property that did not belong to him. The investigating officer then drafted warrants for Massengill arrest.
On Wednesday (5/7) New Castle County Police responded to the unit block of Lake Arrowhead Circle in Bear for nine (9) reports of thefts from motor vehicles. The investigation revealed an unknown suspect(s) entered the unsecured vehicles and removed electronics and loose change. Officers thoroughly processed and collected evidence from the scenes and submitted the evidence to the Evidence Detection Unit.
The evidence collected at the scenes linked Massengill to the crimes. Police also learned Massengill had attempted to steal a vehicle from the unit block of Woodcrest Court and stole a vehicle from the unit block of Valley Stream Circle. On Wednesday (5/14), officers attempted to locate Massengill in the 200 block of Auckland Drive, but were unsuccessful. Moments later, officers located Massengill in the area of the unit block of Auckland Drive where he was taken into custody without incident.
Massengill has been charged with Burglary in the third degree (11 counts), receiving stolen property, attempted theft of a motor vehicle, theft of a motor vehicle, attempted theft under $1500 (7 counts) and theft under $1500 (6 counts).
Denzel Massengill was arraigned and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Facility in lieu of posting $55,000 secured bail and was issued a no contact order.


text: If 2012 was the year Microsoft set the table for Windows 8, then 2013 is the year the company must prove that the new OS stands out in an increasingly mobile world.Unfortunately, sales of Windows 8 devices have not been impressive so far, according to the New York Times, as Microsoft vies for acceptance in a market that has gone through a transformation since the PC-centered glory days of Windows XP and, more recently, Windows 7. Data from research firm NPD cited in the New York Times story shows that stores in the U.S. -- not including the 31 Microsoft Stores -- sold 13 percent fewer Windows devices from the time of the Windows 8 launch (October 26) through the first week in December, than in the same period last year. Additionally, last week JP Morgan reported Surface sales of just 700,000 units in the quarter ending in December, and predicts only 2.6 million units for the fiscal year ending in June 2013. (For some perspective, Apple sold 14 million iPads in the quarter that ended in September.) Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.Indeed, consumer interest in tablets and smartphones as supplements or even replacements for traditional PCs has skyrocketed in the past two years. Microsoft, all too aware of this sea change, designed Windows 8 for smooth navigation on touch-screen devices. On the smartphone side, Windows Phone 8, with its promise of seamless integration with Windows 8, is available from well-regarded hardware partners such as Nokia and HTC. Yet Windows Phone sales have been slow even with near-ubiquitous advertising. Online market tracker comScore reported last week that Windows Phone has a meager 3 percent of the U.S. smartphone market. This all adds up to a slow-moving former juggernaut trying to reinvent itself in rapidly changing times. Microsoft's Dependence on Office and Other Cash CowsMicrosoft still has lucrative divisions within the company that sell products in high volume to big companies through multi-year licenses. These cash cows such as the Business division (mainly the Office suite of products) and the Server and Tools division, will need to prop up the company as Windows 8 and Windows Phone fight for acceptance. "Microsoft has two stacks of products--one stack is strong and the other is questionable," says Wes Miller, research vice president at independent analyst firm Directions on Microsoft. "Products like Xbox Live, Server and Tools, Windows Azure, Windows Server 2012 and Office 365 for businesses will make enough money this year to prop up struggling parts of the company. But Windows 8, mobile and consumer adoption remain question marks." Veteran tech analyst Roger Kay contends that Microsoft's cash cows are, in fact, dwindling, leaving Microsoft more vulnerable than ever in 2013. Financial results for Microsoft's last quarter confirm that revenues for the Windows and Office divisions are both down year-over-year, Windows much more so than Office. "Microsoft's main weakness is that Windows and Office are no longer growing," says Kay, adding that he is doubtful that Microsoft can still invest in newer markets while shrinking cash cows maintain the company. \n"The Xbox business and Server and Tools bring in revenue, but not enough to offset the lack of growth elsewhere in the company," says Kay. \nThe biggest shock to Microsoft's system, he says, is diminishing Windows revenue over the past year, which will be particularly troublesome if Windows 8 fails to catch on in 2013. "Windows 8 showcases touch, which is useful, but not in non-modern form factors like desktops, which are still widely used in the enterprise," says Kay. This underscores the risks of putting the touch-centric Windows 8 user interface (formerly known as Metro) front and center on laptops and desktops, machines that have not made much use of touch-screens in the past. "I'm just not sure the demand is there for touchscreens on laptops and desktops," says Miller. "But, to be fair, Windows 8 is only two months old so we should give it some more time to find its audience." However, one thing is clear: Enterprises do not have much motivation to adopt Windows 8 wholesale for all employees like they did with Windows 7. Kay predicts that businesses will use Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets as sidekicks to existing PCs, but that's "not likely to provide the revenue that Microsoft needs and has come to expect from Windows, and Microsoft is a company designed for high volume and high revenue." Did Microsoft Betray Partners With Surface Release?Last summer, Microsoft surprised its hardware partners (to put it mildly) by announcing Surface, a Microsoft-branded tablet with versions running Intel-based Windows 8 Pro and ARM-based Windows RT. The Surface marks a bold break with tradition as Microsoft finally adopted Apple's integrated hardware-software model for its own devices. So far, sales of Surface and other Windows 8 devices have been lackluster. After the Windows 8 launch on Oct. 26, Surface RT devices were available only in Microsoft Stores and on Microsoft.com, but in mid-December, after realizing that making Surface "exclusive" was counterproductive, Microsoft chose to expand Surface to other retail outlets like Best Buy and Staples. Perhaps this expansion, as well as the availability of Surface Pro devices running the full-bore Windows 8 Professional version in late January, will boost sales in the coming months. But whether Surface becomes a flagship product or a flash in the pan, analysts agree that it has done damage to Microsoft's relationship with hardware partners. "Microsoft has a long history with OEMs, so some see the Surface as a betrayal," says Miller. Kay agrees, stressing that the tarnished relationship between Microsoft and its hardware partners was apparent in the weeks following the Windows 8 launch. "You could tell things were out of sorts when there was a lack of hardware in retail-- and no coordination among OEMs at Best Buy and the Microsoft Store," he says. "I think it's because Microsoft turned on partners without much warning." The Surface does have appealing features such as an elegant hardware design and ClearType high-resolution display, a nifty keyboard\/cover and the inclusion of Microsoft Office, but the Windows App Store remains low on quality apps compared to iOS and Android, and right now there is "poor ecosystem leadership at Microsoft," says Kay. In Microsoft's defense, the Windows Store now has 20,000 apps, quadrupling its size since the Windows 8 launch in October. But availability of blockbuster apps is still hit-or-miss."The reality is that Apple has the consumer locked and hardware partners are choosing Android over Windows," he says. "For so long, Microsoft was the one, but the company will have to get used to being one of many." Windows 8 Will Keep Microsoft in the Game (But it Won't Be Easy)The days of Windows dominance may be waning, but according to Forrester Research senior analyst David Johnson, Windows 8 will still keep Microsoft in the enterprise and consumer games in 2013. Despite being a late entry in the mobile market with fewer apps and higher resource requirements than iOS and Android, Windows 8 still has big advantages even with its two-headed user interface, notes Johnson. First, Microsoft is the only vendor with a tablet and desktop operating system in one, allowing one Windows 8 tablet to replace both a PC and a tablet, thus saving the customer money in the long run as well as potentially attracting developers. A Windows 8 tablet is also the only tablet that will run the full Microsoft Office 2013 suite. Additionally, Microsoft touts enterprise management features within Windows 8, but that could be a double-edged sword on tablets, warns Johnson. "Windows 8 still requires the same care as Windows 7, including patching, software deployment, provisioning and antivirus protection," he says. "At the same time, Forrester clients report they trust iOS devices for corporate use with comparatively few controls in place such as passcode enforcement and the ability to wipe the device remotely." Johnson emphasizes that iPad adoption and management is an easier problem to solve for many businesses than permitting Windows 8 tablets, a trend that could become a major problem for Microsoft throughout this year. Nevertheless, Johnson says he believes that by the end of 2013 Microsoft will be in a better position than many expect. More Windows 8 apps will be available and the tile-based user interface will grow on employees and consumers, he says. "We expect to see Windows 8 to slowly become a driving force behind BYOD [bring your own device]." But Microsoft's ultimate weapons in 2013 may just be time, money and marketing muscle, says Miller of Directions on Microsoft. "The company has told me that Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, Office 2013 and SkyDrive are all long-term bets. Microsoft has the resources to fight this fight for a long time." Shane O'Neill is the Assistant Managing Editor for CIO.com. Follow Shane on Twitter @smoneill. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline and on Facebook. Email Shane at email@example.com


text:
Rock Titan Desk Pad
Group Buy & Save
|Buy 2
|Get 10% OFF
|Buy 3
|Get 15% OFF
|Buy 4
|Get 20% OFF
Upgrade your workspace - boost your productivity
Whether you are an avid gamer, work at an office, or have a computer intensive hobby, remaining comfortable at your desk is one of the most important aspects of productivity. Ideal for office settings, gaming desktops, or even pro studios, Epic Design Pad offers comfort and quality for every application. Get your desk mat and you will upgrade your workspace instantly!
Featuring a smooth exclusive micro-woven cloth surface and anti-slip backing for maximum control, our desk mat is designed to style your workspace while protecting and keeping your workspace clean and well organized. Offering unrivaled customer support and exceptional quality, our desk mat is the perfect choice for your desk.
Sleek sophisticated and timeless design make Epic Design Pad the perfect gear for your Setup.
- Precision engineered: makes your mouse movement easier and more precise.
- Stitched edges: Durable, last a lifetime.
- Smooth Fabric: Very smooth, soft and comfortable.
- Desk Protection: Shields your desk from scratches, spills, and marks.
- Tidy Workspace: Helps you keep your workspace neat and organized.
- Stylish Design: Adds a cool look to your desk setup.
- Different Sizes: Available in various sizes to fit your desk.
- Anti-slip Bottom: Help your desk mat stay in play during your intense gaming session.
- Water Resistant: Never worry about spilling liquid on your desk mat.
- Vibrant Printing: Sharp, crisp and long-lasting prints.
- Machine washable: You can follow our Cleaning Instructions here.
|L - Extended
1 x Desk Mat
1 x Storage Bag
1 x Brand Card and Cleaning Guide
Vibrant Printing
Experience crisp, high-quality printing on your gaming desk mat with our advanced digital sublimation technology. The image is printed directly onto the fabric, creating a smooth and consistent surface that allows for optimal tracking accuracy and precision.
Stitched Edges
Designed to deliver the ultimate stability and longevity. Our desk mats feature stitched edges that prevent fraying, ensuring they'll last through even the most intense gaming sessions.
The anti-slip bottom keeps the mat securely in place on your desk, eliminating any unwanted movement during gameplay.
How long does it take for the order to be processed?
It takes 1-3 business days to process an order. Higher image quality helps to ensure faster order processing time.
How can I fit my entire image onto the mousepad using the cropping tool without it getting trimmed or cropped?
If your image doesn't fit our mousepad size, send it to email@example.com with your preferred size, we will adjust it to fit.
What currency are the prices listed in?
We offer global shipping for our mousepads, and all prices are listed in United States Dollars (USD). If you are paying with a different currency, don't worry - your bank will automatically convert the amount to your local currency when you submit payment for your order.
Is it possible to request a custom mousepad size that is not currently offered on your website?
Absolutely! If you have a specific request, please don't hesitate to contact us. We will do our best to accommodate your needs and make it happen.
Do you offer bulk discounts?
Yes, we offer free, no-obligation quotes. Simply send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com with your request, and we will be happy to provide you with a quote.


text:
Virgo/Community/Migrating from 3.0.x to 3.5.0
Modified Directory Layout
Virgo's distributions will have a slightly modified directory layout from 3.5.0 onwards. It closely matches an Eclipse-like directory layout. This enables us to seamlessly provide p2 initial provisioning support to all Virgo distributions. The documentation will be thoroughly updated with all changes and the configuration impact on the server.
The main differences are:
- relocated Virgo configuration directory (from /config to /configuration)
- relocated Equinox configuration folder(from /work/osgi/configuration to /configuration) - this is where the framework stores its caches and other bundle data
- relocated lib/kernel folder(from /lib/kernel to /plugins)
- relocated java6-server.profile (from /lib to /configuration)
As as result all configuration files are now located in a single directory - /configuration This also brings changes to the OSGi configuration of the server previously found in lib/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.launch.properties. It is now contained in the standard for Equinox config.ini file in the /configuration directory.
New Default Launcher
Equinox launcher is now the default Virgo Launcher. The consequences of this change are covered in Virgo's user guide in chapter 7 and chapter 7.8 cover the new launcher alone. Most of the startup options remain the same. Different are some of the options that the launcher can accept. The new ones provide means to configure a lot of the framework's internals right from the start.
A full list of the options that the Equinox Launcher recognizes is available at help.eclipse.org
Spring DM to Gemini Blueprint Upgrade
This release replaces Spring DM 1.2.1 with Gemini Blueprint 1.0.0.RELEASE. Gemini Blueprint supports the OSGi Blueprint standard but is also mostly backward compatible with Spring DM 1.2.1. Please refer to the Gemini Blueprint migration notes for details, especially when migrating applications to use Blueprint instead of Spring DM.
One small but significant difference is that Gemini Blueprint does not attach a bean name service property to services constructed from anonymous inner beans ("inside" the <service> element) unlike Spring DM 1.2.1 which attached a service property org.springframework.osgi.bean.name to such services.
The service scoping logic in the Virgo kernel was tightened up as a consequence of this change of behaviour. A service published inside a PAR or scoped plan is now only available outside the scope if the service is a Spring DM or blueprint (application) context or if the service property org.eclipse.virgo.service.scope is set to "global". In earlier releases, all services published in a scope without a bean name service property were also available outside the scope.
Note that some Blueprint events contain less information than the corresponding Spring DM events so the Virgo kernel still needs a listener which listens to the Spring DM events and issues corresponding Blueprint events but with extra properties which are needed for Virgo's diagnostic support of Blueprint. Blueprint event listeners therefore need to be prepared to see the same event more than once.
Thread Context Class Loading with PARs and Scoped Plans
As described in the Programmer Guide, Virgo creates a synthetic context bundle when a PAR or scoped plan is deployed. The purpose of this bundle is to provide a thread context class loader (TCCL) which can load all types belonging to packages exported by the bundles in the PAR or scoped plan. Unfortunately, in earlier releases, this synthetic context TCCL could be overridden by Spring DM so that a call to a bundle outside the PAR or scoped plan would see the TCCL of the calling bundle rather than of the synthetic context bundle. This problem is fixed in this release by bug 360965.
However, the fix can impact certain applications which were relying on the bug. For example, the Greenpages sample stopped working because a concrete datasource class could no longer be loaded via the TCCL. The solution was to move the bundle providing the concrete datasource class inside the Greenpages PAR. This seems like a general solution for applications with similar issues. See bug 368781 for details of the Greenpages problem and the fix.
Transformer Signature
Transformer services in Virgo 3.5.0 operate in terms of a directed acyclic graph of install artefacts instead of the tree which was used by Virgo 3.0.x.
If you provide a Transformer service, you'll need to rework it to implement the modified signature. For example, the WebTransformer.transform method was changed as follows:
public void transform(GraphNode<InstallArtifact> installGraph, InstallEnvironment installEnvironment) throws DeploymentException { installGraph.visit(new ExceptionThrowingDirectedAcyclicGraphVisitor<InstallArtifact, DeploymentException>() { public boolean visit(GraphNode<InstallArtifact> node) throws DeploymentException { InstallArtifact installArtifact = node.getValue(); ... } }); }
Custom Logback Appenders
Bug 362095 moved Logback out of the Virgo medic core bundle. This impacts the way that custom appenders are specified.
Fragments containing custom Logback appenders now need to specify:
Fragment-Host: ch.qos.logback.classic
instead of:
Fragment-Host: org.eclipse.virgo.medic.core
Also note that the medic core bundle now sets logback.ignoreTCL to "true" in order to avoid an obscure classloading error in some tests. See bug 362095 for details.
Changed Symbolic Names
In 3.5.0 we started consuming some third-party dependencies from Eclipse Orbit instead of EBR. This led to change of some symbolic names previously prefixed with "com.springsource" to a new format without the prefix.
Some examples are:
- com.springsource.javax.ejb => javax.ejb
- com.springsource.slf4j.api => org.slf4j.api
- com.springsource.slf4j.bridge => org.slf4j.jul
- com.sprongsource.ch.qos.logback.core => ch.qos.logback.core
These upgrades also changed the versions of many org.eclipse bundles like for example Equinox 3.7.x => 3.8.x.
Logback is also upgraded to 1.0.0 and slf4j.api to 1.6.4.
Possible problem arise if your bundles required some of the old symbolic names in which case you will need to adopt the new ones. There's similar risk with fragments.
Changed VTS Product Name
To conform to Apache Tomcat legal requirements, Virgo Tomcat Server is renamed to Virgo Server for Apache Tomcat. This change also applies retrospectively, e.g. on the downloads page.


text:
I've got a secret... that won't be a secret for long! The very adorable Bowlicious Dress from The Secret Store is set to be released at the new round of FaMESHed, there are so many color combinations, both contrasting brights and subtle tone on tone pastels, it is one to be very excited about whether you style it up with a hint of Lolita like I did, or just keep it sexy with some stellar heels. The hair from Elikatira is on sale right now, so pop over and take a look at the retirement sale before this adorable 'do' is gone.
It was bows all over the place with the cute hair bow from Olive (Yay for color change!), and the sweet bow ring from Maxi Gossamer, but the perfect purse from The Secret Store, one of the Gatcha items that was first available at The Arcade, makes it all about that mustard shade... and the shoes from Mon Tissu believe it or not have been sitting in my inventory since I bought them months ago, I loved the color then but didn't really have a way to work them into a blog post... and here they are!
Crushing on this look? Read on for the complete details!
Hair: Elikatira, Control - Brown 09
Hairbase: League, Isla Hairbase - Dark
Skin: Belleza, Ava Pale 6
Hairbase: League, Isla Hairbase - Dark
Skin: Belleza, Ava Pale 6
Skin Tattoos: League, Jen Freckles - Medium
Eyes: IKON, Eternal Eyes - Sand (M)
Lashes: LeLutka -Photoshoot II Lashes
Hands: Slink, Mesh Rigged Hands
Eyes: IKON, Eternal Eyes - Sand (M)
Lashes: LeLutka -Photoshoot II Lashes
Hands: Slink, Mesh Rigged Hands
Dress: The Secret Store, Bowlicious Dress - Mustard Mix *NEW at FaMESHed*
Hair Bow: Olive, The Winking At You Head Bow - Small
Purse: The Secret Store, Tiny Satchel - Mustard Polka
Socks: Maitreya, Allure Socks - Midnight
Shoes: Mon Tissu, Sloane Pumps - Mustard
Poses by Tuty's & Su Voir (slightly modified)


text:
Every Monday, I highlight a book from our school bookroom along with lesson plan suggestions. I hope you find this useful, and please leave a comment with any suggestions or additions!
Too Much Noise, by Ann McGovern (illustrated by Simms Taback)
You can take a look at this text on Google Books. A video of it is also available below.
You might recognize Taback's art from his Caldecott-winning Joseph had a Little Overcoat, and this book would pair nicely with it. Taback seems to gravitate toward cumulative stories (see here and here), which could prompt conversations for a good genre study (I know "cumulative stories" isn't really a genre, so please help me if you know a better label). If you DO have a cumulative story study, make sure you include class favorite Drummer Hoff!
Oooh! Or even better! You could study this book along with fantastic cumulative story The Mitten! Use any version you prefer. I like the original by Alvin Tresselt or the adaptation by Jan Brett (clicking on the afore-linked link will take you to some rad Brett-designed animal masks so you can perform the book).
Here's a math lesson with the same title as the book, but it's actually totally unrelated. It aligns nicely to 2nd grade standards, though, so I figured I'd pass it along.
I wonder what it would be like to use this book at the beginning of the year to prompt a conversation about appropriate levels of noise at different times in the classroom.
There is a CAFE menu included with this mentor text, and I've highlighted these as suggested lessons:
- Summarize text; include a sequence of main events. Remember flannel boards? They're still relevant to educational best practice today! These days, the buzzword attached to them is "narrative input chart," which lets students physically see the sequence of the story. It's particularly effective in a cumulative book like this one. You can see a narrative input chart in action (in Chinese) here.
- Recognize literary elements (genre). See above for my discussion on cumulative stories. I don't know if that fits with this strategy, but I figured I'd categorize it here just the same.
- Recognize and explain cause and effect relationships. I often see graphic organizers for cause and effect relationships in two-column note form. I wonder if the causes and effects in this book (or other cumulative books) could be traced across a big piece of butcher paper so it almost looked like a time line…
- Tune in to interesting words. In my vocabulary lessons with my students, we often talk about the idea that "interesting words" don't necessarily need to be the longest, most unusual words, they can also be short words or any words that are extremely effective. There aren't any particularly striking words in this text, but the repetition of phrases in the text is important. This might be a good book to connect the strategy of using interesting words to the writing strategy of varying sentence length and structure.
- Use pictures, illustrations, and diagrams. In a primary or heavily ELL class, discuss how the pictures support students connecting the new word introduced on each page (usually an animal) with an animal addition to the house. I usually use the example of "it's a lot harder to read the word 'elephant' if you've never seen an elephant before or heard the word out loud."
Please add any lessons or supplemental materials to the book bag so future teachers can utilize your good thinking!
Comments and constructive feedback are always welcomed. Please let me know if these lessons were useful in your class!


text:
By JULIA MOSKIN
Hints of Wine? Chocolate Enters the Tasting Room
CHOCOLATE is the next coffee," confided one importer.
"Chocolate is the new olive oil," said a chocolatier."Chocolate now is where cheese was 10 years ago," a pastry chef asserted. In the beginning, there was wine. And there were wine tastings and wine snobs and wine-of-the-month clubs. Then olive oil, vinegar, cheese, coffee and butter followed into the American culinary consciousness. Now the appreciation of fine chocolate seems poised to become the next gastronomic parlor game.
In New York, the proof is in the real estate: at least a dozen new boutique chocolatiers have opened here since 2000.
Whether bars or bonbons, chocolate that is carefully created for flavor without regard to shelf stability or even popular appeal is hitting the radar of food-alert New Yorkers.
At Bierkraft in Park Slope, you can buy "flights" of chocolate for tastings that illustrate the different nuances of Ecuadorean, Ivoirian and Venezuelan cocoa beans.
At Dean & DeLuca, chocolates made by Michael Recchiuti come with instructions: "We suggest a pairing with still spring water." Dean & DeLuca also stocks the world's first chocolate identified by a "vintage" year: the Valrhona Chuao, made with cocoa beans grown in a single region of Venezuela.
Chocolate connoisseurship is indulged nationally on Web sites like chocophile.com, whose owner, Clay Gordon, can't keep up with the demand for Italian-made Amedei Porcelana, perhaps the world's most expensive chocolate at $90 a pound.
"Chocolate is a relatively affordable obsession," Mr. Gordon said. "The most expensive bottle of wine is way out of most people's reach; the most expensive bottle of balsamic vinegar costs more than a thousand dollars. But the most expensive chocolate bar costs only $9."
At Chocolate Bar, a Greenwich Village storefront that calls itself a candy store for grown-ups, New Yorkers have the luxury of choosing among bars of perfectly plain chocolate containing 60 percent, 72 percent or 85 percent cocoa mass, the pure, unsweetened content of the cocoa bean. Fanatics are devoted to Michel Cluizel's super-bitter Noir Infini, which is 99 percent pure cocoa mass, even though 85 percent is considered the upper limit of palatability for most mortals.
Matt Lewis, an owner of Chocolate Bar, said, "We've been amazed by how many people come in off the street asking about cocoa mass and couverture," the fine baking chocolate used by chocolatiers and pastry chefs. "People are really paying attention."
In the United States, the use of top-quality European chocolate has been steadily trickling down from pastry chefs and chocolatiers to home cooks. In New York, Jean-Georges Vongerichten put the French manufacturer Valrhona on the map in the early 1990's by listing its chocolate on the menu as the base for his molten chocolate cake. Bernard Duclos, chief operating officer of Valrhona USA, said sales of Valrhona in this country have doubled in the last five years, though Valrhona costs two to four times more than American-made baking chocolate. Other European manufacturers, notably Michel Cluizel and Callebaut, are elbowing their way into the market, while American makers like Scharffen Berger and Guittard are trying to hold on to their small home-court advantage.
So is using Valrhona instead of Baker's in your brownie recipe an expensive affectation, or a stroke of genius? What is the real difference between the $9.95 Belgian truffles stacked up on pallets at Costco, and the $58 Swiss truffles that the haughty salesclerks at Teuscher may deign to sell you?
Each manufacturer's couverture has its own distinct flavor profile. "Once you've been tasting chocolate for 20 years, you can identify it blindfolded," said Andrew Shotts, the owner of Garrison Confections of Providence, R.I., and a veteran New York pastry chef. "Valrhona is higher in acid, with a taste of red fruit like cherries. Cluizel is more earthy and raw. Guittard is very smooth. They all have their uses in the kitchen."
Finding this kind of nuance in the flavor of chocolate is irresistible entertainment for food lovers. Chocolate connoisseurship now seems as logical as the rise of dark-roast coffee and extra virgin olive oil.
Chantal Coady, a leading chocolatier in England, is the founder of the Campaign for Real Chocolate, which aims to enlighten British and American consumers about the differences between industrial chocolates like Cadbury, Hershey's and Mars, and what she calls "real" chocolate, like Valrhona, Callebaut and Scharffen Berger.
The differences are apparent. All-natural chocolate is rich, smooth and complex; industrial chocolate contains additives that make it waxy, gritty and super-sweet.
And then there is the age-old question: milk or dark? Americans traditionally prefer milk chocolate, which is used in virtually all candy bars. But according to annual studies conducted by the Chocolate Manufacturers Association, the percentage of Americans who prefer dark chocolate to milk has risen steadily, from 15 percent in 1991 to 27 percent in 2002. And among Americans 35 and over, the preference for dark chocolate has now risen to 37 percent.
Dark chocolate is by any measure a purer product than milk chocolate, which is mixed with dry or condensed milk and, often, more sugar. "It's like the difference between a complex red wine and a light, sweet rosé," Ms. Coady said.
"Milk chocolate is excellent with caramel, with vanilla, with nuts, but on its own it is not as interesting," said Eric Girerd, a fourth-generation chocolatier who makes bonbons in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, using Cluizel couverture and cocoa.
Milk and dark chocolates still coexist comfortably at the shops of most local chocolatiers, from the twin French demigods Jacques Torres and François Payard, to the natives who run venerable mom-and-pop shops like Mondel's in Morningside Heights and Li-Lac in Greenwich Village.
To make chocolates, or bonbons, chocolatiers start by choosing their couverture, or inventing their own blends. (Although making chocolate from cocoa beans is prohibitively expensive for individual chocolatiers, both Mr. Torres and Mr. Girerd have begun to assemble the arsenal of machinery the process requires.)
Most bonbons, whether a lemon-infused dark chocolate ganache robed in milk chocolate from Mr. Torres, or a chocolate-covered marshmallow from JoMart in Marine Park, Brooklyn, consist of a flavored center dipped in plain chocolate. The trend is toward making centers with ganache, a thick paste of chocolate and cream, which can be infused with flavor. According to all sources, traditional fruit centers like liquored-up cherries and fruit creams are falling by the wayside, but the demand for nuts, caramels and crunchy centers is holding strong. (Mr. Torres's salted caramel has become a virtual cult item.)
For chocolatiers, the art of covering or enrobing bonbons in a perfectly glossy, smooth coating of couverture is a major source of pride and prestige. Instead of simply melting their chocolate, which can leave it dull-looking, chocolatiers use a process called tempering. Repeatedly heating and cooling the chocolate changes its molecular structure, which makes it shiny and gives it the snap that is a hallmark of good chocolate.
Kee Ling Tong, the owner of Chocolate Garden in SoHo, is most famous for her crème brûlée truffle: a single mouthful of soft vanilla custard encased in a crisp chocolate shell (her tempered chocolate is so strong that she can inject liquid into it). At The Art of Chocolate, Patrick Coston, an ex-pastry chef with the air of a biochemist, has developed a tempering process that puts a positively mirror-like finish on his pieces.
Once the chocolate is tempered, there seems to be no limit to what it can be flavored or filled with.
"Chocolates are always used as test balloons for new flavors," said Daphne Scholz, an owner of Bierkraft, as she inspected the rows of rose-, wasabi- and thyme-flavored confections in her cases. Ms. Scholz commissioned Mr. Girerd to create a line of chocolates infused with American artisanal beers, sold exclusively at Bierkraft. They are, in a word, interesting.
But a single unlikely flavor is no longer enough: the most sophisticated confectioners, like Fritz Knipschildt, are raising the bar with combinations of two or three, like lavender-caramel, chili-tangerine, and almond-jasmine-praline. Echoing a trend from the wine world, Richart Design et Chocolat has recently discarded the whole traditional language of chocolates — nuts, caramels, pralines — in favor of flavor families like Roasted, Balsamic, Floral and Spiced.
Like many of her colleagues, Maribel Lieberman, owner of MarieBelle in SoHo, is selling the South American origins of chocolate by blending it with chili heat, an invigorating combination. In the same vein, the Sicilian chocolatier Antica Dolceria Bonajuto claims that its Xocoatl bars, available at Dean & DeLuca, are made by non-European methods descended from the Aztecs (indeed, their texture is crumbly and crunchy, totally different from the smooth chocolate most Americans are used to).
For some chocolatiers, even wild flavor experiments aren't enough. Vosges Haut-Chocolat, which pioneered the use of flavors like curry and wasabi, opened in New York in August; at the SoHo store customers can buy a snappy $900 leather jacket or a handbag in Vosges' signature deep purple or sign up for a weeklong chocolate-and-yoga retreat in Oaxaca. Fortunately, lurking behind all of this gimmickry is a great deal of excellent chocolate. The best way to find it is to taste. Teuscher may boast that its truffles are flown in from Zurich every week; that will not make any difference if you do not like their particular recipe for truffles (the traditional style of Belgian and many Swiss chocolatiers, including Teuscher, is to mix butter with the chocolate in their bonbons), or if the truffles spent some hours at the airport before making it to the store.
Although it is almost never mentioned, freshness is a tremendous factor in the taste of chocolates. Leah Rosenthal, the chocolate buyer for Dean & DeLuca, does not import bonbons from Europe, despite the enduring cachet of Belgian, Swiss and French truffles. (Solid chocolate, which is imported and sold around the city, has a much longer shelf life than bonbons.)
"I'd rather have a fresh chocolate from Brooklyn than a week-old one from Brussels any day," Ms. Rosenthal said. Chocolates from Martine's chocolate shop at Bloomingdale's come with instructions: certain bonbons must be eaten within days.
Although they are not especially fancy, the freshly made dark-chocolate truffles at La Bergamote, like the homemade milk chocolate rice crunch at Varsano's and the almond bark at Li-Lac, have clear chocolate flavor, and creamy, not greasy, texture that puts Godiva to shame. At Bierkraft, Ms. Scholz said, "You know, anyone who buys a block of Callebaut can say that they are making fine Belgian chocolates." She continued, "That doesn't tell you anything. If you know it was made yesterday, that tells you something."
Ms. Scholz also stocks a single bar that may hold the future of chocolate within its wrappers: Italian lattenero, or dark milk chocolate, from Andrea Slitti. It is a creamy milk chocolate that includes 62 percent cocoa mass, a level previously undreamed of for milk chocolate. Brace yourself.
The Chocuhaler
Food of the gods?
Chocolate therapy
Chocolate: history
PEA and dopamine
Stoned chocaholics?
PEA and antidepressants
Chocolate: food or drug?
PEA and antidepressants
The chocolate connoisseuer
'Children dance in liquid chocolate'
Chocolate, tea and the healthy heart
Doped horses/chocolate-coated peanuts
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
Some Chocolate Hotlinks
The Hedonistic Imperative
MDMA/Utopian Pharmacology
When Is It Best To Take Crack Cocaine?
The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family


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British Judge to Rule on Julian Assange Bid to Get Warrant DroppedIf the WikiLeaks founder's request is upheld, a hurdle to his leaving the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he has lived since 2012, would be removed.
LONDON—A British judge is scheduled to rule Tuesday on Julian Assange's bid to force Britain to drop a warrant for his arrest, a development that would remove a substantial legal hurdle to his leaving the Ecuadorean Embassy in London that has been his refuge for more than five years.
The legal issues surrounding the WikiLeaks founder's case are complex:
Assange's legal team argued in Westminster Magistrates' Court on Jan. 26 that a U.K. arrest warrant for Assange should be dropped.
Lawyer Mark Summers said the warrant had "lost its purpose and its function" since it's related to a sex crimes investigation against Assange in Sweden that has ended without him being charged with wrongdoing.
Swedish authorities are no longer pursuing Assange, but he still faces arrest in Britain for jumping bail in 2012. British prosecutors told Judge Emma Arbuthnot the U.K. arrest warrant must stand because Assange shouldn't be rewarded for having outlasted Swedish authorities, which dropped the case after concluding there was no reasonable hope of bringing him to Sweden to answer questions.
The judge plans to give her ruling Tuesday afternoon.
It's not entirely clear what Assange will do if the judge rules in his favor.
He would be free to step outside the embassy for the first time since June 2012 without facing questioning on the Swedish sex crime allegations or arrest for jumping bail. But he may choose to remain inside because of grave concern that he faces a secret U.S. indictment on charges related to WikiLeaks' disclosure of leaked classified U.S. documents.
It's not publicly known if he faces a U.S. indictment because of the strict secrecy rules governing U.S. grand jury decisions. Several prominent U.S. officials have expressed an interest in prosecuting Assange, and there has clearly been a U.S. investigation into WikiLeaks' activities. British officials would be expected to take Assange into custody if there's a U.S. indictment and extradition request.
The Australian-born Assange hasn't made his intentions clear if he wins, decides to leave the embassy and doesn't immediately face extradition to the U.S.
But one attractive option might be to settle in Ecuador, which has granted him citizenship and asylum.
Ecuador has tried unsuccessfully to persuade British officials to give Assange diplomatic status.
A courtroom defeat would keep the status quo in place.
Assange would still face arrest for jumping bail, although British police no longer maintain a round-the-clock security presence outside the embassy. His lawyers say he is suffering from a variety of mental and physical problems stemming from his long spell inside the building, but there would be no obvious end in sight.Wait, before you go…
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Governors across the nation are seeking significant concessions from public employee unions in hopes of helping to balance their teetering budgets during the economic downturn.
From Maryland to California, Ohio to Hawaii, governors have asked or ordered state workers to accept furloughs, salary reductions, truncated workweeks or benefit cuts. They say the concessions are a better alternative to further job losses in the face of record-breaking unemployment.
Unions argue their members shouldn't be singled out and are even more vital in hard times — securing neighborhoods and prisons, educating children and providing social services to growing numbers of citizens.
In hard-hit Ohio, Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland has been a friend of the unions. But as the state's budget woes have intensified, he is asking unionized state employees to consider a 5 percent pay cut, a 35-hour workweek and the elimination of paid personal days and holidays, to save the state hundreds of millions of dollars.
According to a union memo obtained by The Associated Press, the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association is waiting to see Strickland's upcoming budget and the state's share of a federal stimulus package before making a decision. Executive director Andy Douglas declined comment because the union is in negotiations.
The memo noted there's no guarantee that accepting concessions will preclude later job cuts.
Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley of Maryland, another state facing an unexpectedly deep budget shortfall, imposed furloughs and salary cuts on thousands of state workers in December, a move expected to save an estimated $34 million.
In November, New Jersey trimmed two paid holidays from state workers' annual allotment: Lincoln's Birthday and the Friday after Thanksgiving. Eliminating the former required legislative action, while Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine cut the latter on his own.
Utah eliminated one paid holiday a year and is experimenting with a four-day state workweek.
Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican, has raised the possibility she will pursue furloughs for the islands' 36,000 state employees and ask them to pay a larger share of their health insurance coverage and forego raises.
'Universal pain'
On Thursday, Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell — facing down a widening budget gap — said layoffs and unpaid furloughs are likely in that state as well. He braced state workers for sharing in the "universal pain."
In California, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger imposed furloughs two days a month beginning in February as a way to curb costs for the 230,000-member state payroll amid a budget deficit projected to grow to $28 billion by 2010.
He has had less success shaving two paid holidays off the current 14 state workers receive, an allotment that is among the most generous in the country.
Spokesman Aaron McLear said the governor is "looking under every rock" to cut costs and believes it's only a matter of fairness for state workers to do their part.
"The governor doesn't believe it's fair to increase taxes and cut programs on Californians without reducing state government spending first," he said.
Kerry Korpi, director of research and collective bargaining at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, said members understand that governments are in economic crisis.
"The entire country is in a dire situation," she said. "Our members, though, haven't quite been lifted back up from the last fiscal crisis in 2002 and 2003, so we've been asking governors to sit down with us and let's look at all the spending, instead of going straight to the people who provide these vital services."


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Last week I created a post about how important icons are to contemporary website, applications and user interface design. That post was a two part series. Today I would like to present to you the second half of Icon design tutorials. These 50+ High quality tutorials will definitely help you out and enhance your next creations. Enjoy!
Want more articles on useful tutorials? Check out some of my previous post:
50+ High Quality Icon Design Tutorials (Part 1)
Logo Design: 40+ Must Have Tutorials
Web Layout Designs: 60 Must Have Tutorials
How To Create A Vector Wacom Tablet In Illustrator
How To Create An Academy Icon From Simple Shapes
Make a Handy 3D Vector Calendar Icon
How to Create a Vector Safari Compass in Illustrator
How to create a Television Icon
How to Create Shiny, Vector Dice in Illustrator
How to Create an Energy Saving Bulb in Illustrator
How to Draw A Realistic Vector Light Bulb From Scratch
Create a Glossy Volt Icon in Photoshop
LG LCD Monitor Icon
Create a Vector Film Slate Icon
Share This Icon
How to Make a Vector Military Cap Icon
Abracadabra, How to Create a Magic Hat Icon
Creating a Cool Yellow Helmet Icon


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In order to get back on track, I've got to find my creative grooves again – refresh and start new. There are quite a few methods that I've mapped out, including finally getting around to deciding on a new shop platform and filling it up with pieces from Ancient Worlds, Modern Beads. I think that starting there will help me figure out what I want to do with the rest of my inventory and get back on track shop-wise.
Beading Workspace: Before
In the meantime, I'm determined to start making again. To get my motivation and inspiration going, I'm going to try out some proven methods, only this time I'll be doing them all in a heap, like a great creative detox. Phase one is almost complete.
First I rolled up my sleeves and cleaned my workspace. Over the past few months, I've been a bit lazy about putting beads away, and filing things where they ought to go. My workspace also managed to accumulate a lot of unnecessary objects such as a DVD I meant to watch and forgot about, and a big bag full of little bead baggies that was just taking up too much space. Although it's convenient to have them there whenever I need a place to put a recently cut strand or hank, it's not worth it to have it cluttering up space that could be holding beads, or books, or nothing at all.
I realized that the herringbone collar I was working on was dragging me down as much as anything else, so I've packed up the beads for now. As soon as I get a chance to re-file all of the beads that had collected on my table, I'll be ready to start fresh.
Now my workspace has only the essentials: my tool jar, inspiration notebook and 7-year pen, my bag of culled beads and my beeswax. I left my collection of seed bead leftovers in the hopes that I'll be inspired to use them. All that's left is the paint and glitter stains that only sandpaper can remove!
Beading Workspace: After
Phase Two will be even more cleansing and I'm really looking forward to getting started. How do you work through creative blocks?
Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading
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Twixt – the hair styling revolution! No more knots! This wired head wrap means you just twist it to secure and you're out the door looking divine. No more headaches from tight headbands, no more sliding scarves, no more tricky knots… just comfortable, fabulous, effortless style. Handmade in Gympie, Queensland.
Cockatoo and beautiful wildflowers on grey.
This versatile head scarf can be worn many ways – it's your go-to solution for a bad hair day made better!
The wire makes styling so easy and the head band measures a generous 8cm wide and 85cm long* (approx.) meaning you can really work it to suit your look – plenty of tail for making a big generous bow or rosette; or tuck it under for a sleeker look; make a hat band; fold it in half lengthways for a skinny… or create your own style!
Feeling gorgeous starts with great hair, so we've got you covered!
* Dimensions may vary slightly in length +/- approx 2cm, width +/- approx 1cm. We cut to ensure maximum use of the fabric and minimise wastage. As fabrics can come in various sizes on the roll, we modify each batch to suit.


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David H. Levy
Our editors will review what you've submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
- Born:
- May 22, 1948 (age 75) Montreal
- Subjects Of Study:
- Trojan asteroid comet Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
David H. Levy, (born May 22, 1948, Montreal, Que., Can.), Canadian astronomer and science writer who discovered—along with Carolyn Shoemaker and Eugene Shoemaker—the fragmented comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 in 1993.
Levy developed an interest in astronomy at an early age, but in college he studied English literature, receiving a bachelor's degree from Acadia (Nova Scotia) University and a master's degree from Queen's University, in Kingston, Ont. Because of his interest in astronomy, Levy was an ardent comet watcher; by the beginning of the 1990s, he had discovered more than 20 comets. He first met the Shoemakers in 1988, when the couple was tracking a comet he had discovered. In March 1993 the team discovered Shoemaker-Levy 9 in orbit around the planet Jupiter while they were working at the Palomar Observatory in southern California.
In 1994 Levy and the Shoemakers watched through telescopes as the major fragments of Shoemaker-Levy 9 collided with Jupiter. Following months of speculation as to what the impacts would entail, the event itself proved equal to the most optimistic predictions. From the atmosphere of a bruised and battered Jupiter arose tall, bright plumes that left broad, dark stains beneath them, providing a spectacular show for sky watchers around the world.
A science writer by trade, Levy was the author of several books on astronomy, including The Quest for Comets (1994), Skywatching (1994), Shoemaker by Levy (2000), and A Guide to Skywatching (2002). He also contributed to the magazine Sky and Telescope.


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March 02, 2018
Michelle Jeresek, Houzz
September 21, 2017
April 07, 2017
Heather Benjamin
March 27, 2017
Christine Tusher, Houzz
April 13, 2016
Ashley Katz
September 04, 2009
Green Home Guide Staff
Readers who have evaluated, installed and lived with green countertops share their advice about selecting a countertop material that works with your lifestyle.
This buyer's guide will help you compare the environmental attributes of stone and tile materials. Use this summary chart to choose the best stone or tile material for your specific project. Links to... Read more
Erika Doering
When remodeling your kitchen, saving space and maximizing efficiency lead to energy savings, reduced waste, and more. Here are some design tips from an expert green interior designer.
Eric Corey Freed
People often think green design has to be boring. I always laugh when I hear that—some of the most unique, modern and cutting-edge materials are made of recycled glass, seed shells or recycled soda... Read more


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Cantina Neon sign is a must if you service great Mexican food. Whether a family style Tex-Mex restaurant or your own south of the border home bar, if you freshly prepare menu favorites like fajitas, margaritas, and enchiladas, a Cantina neon sign will enhance the South American decor.
- Hand crafted real glass neon tubes produce bright and vibrant color.
- Powered by a safe, lightweight solid state 110 volt UL listed transformer.
- Convenient pull chain on/off switch.
- Neon is cool, quiet, energy efficient, and mounted on a traditional bar frame.
- Neon sign can sit on a shelf, mount on a wall or hang in a window with the included chain kit.
- Glass is mounted on traditional wire bar frame.
- 6 foot AC power cord plugs into any grounded household outlet.
- 1 Year Warranty on all electrical components.
- Imported
Comes complete ready to plug in and use immediately!
Guaranteed safe shipping. Usually ships next day directly from the USA based warehouse where each sign is plugged in and tested before shipment. Ships double boxed with extra foam padding, but please plug in your sign right away to make sure it was not damaged in transit. Please contact us within 2 business days of delivery if there is shipping damage.


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Help us to improve GuitareTab.comTake our survey!
Aerosmith – Dream On tab
These are the chords the sheet music for Aerosmith's "Dream On" uses. The music was arranged for piano/vocal/ guitar, which means the fingerings for the guitar chords are completely off. Use your favorite chord dictionary to find the right fingerings. "|" stands for the bar line between measures. There are two chords to a measure for most of this song. For the intro, alternate between the chord and the bass note C. Intro: Fm Cm/F | Fm6 Bbm6 | Fm C7sus | Fm Verse 1: Fm Fm7 Fm6 Bbm6 Ev'ry time that I look in the mirror All these lines on my face gettin' clearer The past is gone It went by like dusk to dawn Bridge: Dm7b C Dm7b5 Bbm6 Isn't that the way ev'rybody's got their dues in life to pay? C Dbmaj7 | D7 C7 Chorus: Fm Eb Db Eb I know nobody knows where it comes and where it goes I know it's ev'ryvody's sin; you got to lose to know how to win Fm Fm7 | Fm6 Bbm6 | Fm Fm9 | Fm Verse 2: Fm Fm7 Fm6 Bbm6 Half my life's in books' written pages Lived and learned from fools and from sages You know it's true All these things come back to you. Chorus: Fm Eb Sing with me, sing for the years. Db Eb Sing for the laughter and sing for the tears. Fm Eb Sing with me if it's just for today, Dm7b5 Dbmaj7 Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away Bbm C Bbm C Bbm C Bbm C | Bbm C Bbm C Bbm C Bbm C Bb C Db Eb Fm Dream on, dream on, dream on, dream yourself a dream come true. Dream on, dream on, dream on, and dream until your dream comes true. Bb C D Eb Dream on, dream on, dream on, dream on, F G Ab Bb Dream on, dream on, dream on, ah Bbm C Bbm C Bbm C Bbm C | Bbm C Bbm C Bbm C Bbm C Aaah.____________________________________________ ----- End included file -----


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Free Illinois CDL Tanker Vehicles Practice Test 2023
In your opinion, what is the most important item to check on a tanker? Havi good preparation on the Illinois CDL tanker endorsement test before you take the exam! We offer the CDL Tanker Practice Test as an effective way for you to prepare for test day. We have created the Illinois CDL Practice Test that asks the same types of questions as in the real exam based on the official Illinois CDL manual! Our questions cover tanker safety and inspection, emergency situations, weight distribution, and bulkhead driving. All questions are formatted like the actual questions. The test is designed for you to have exactly the experience of the exam as you will be more familiar with both the test format and the subject. Each question comes with a detailed explanation. Don't risk failing! Let's try our Free CDL practice test today and pass your CDL endorsement exam!


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Tomorrow, 7:30 pm
Ready, Set, Kindergarten!
In this special six-session series, families enjoy stories & activities designed to encourage the development of early learning practices. Exploring literacy, science, & math through music, stories, art, & play will help you & your child get ready for school! Families will receive free materials to continue the learning and fun at home. For children ages 3-5 and their caregivers.


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OptiBoard has an opportunity for a new main sponsor beginning immediately.
For those of you who may not know, I started OptiBoard in 1995 and since then it has grown into the largest online site for eyecare professionals in the world. With over 27,000 registered Members and 514,000 posts the OptiBoard forums have become the most widely viewed online resource for information in the industry.
In addition to general eyecare related topics, OptiBoard also includes a Marketplace forum for the buying and selling of ophthalmic equipment and supplies, a Jobs Board forum for posting help wanted ads and resumes, an Ophthalmic Optics forum for more the more technically adventurous and specific forums dedicated to the products and services offered by our associate sponsors.
OptiBoard has also grown into a place where people in the eyecare industry meet, and over time many OptiBoarders have developed both professional relationships and personal friendships through the Community.
If you have an interest in becoming an OptiBoard sponsor, please let me know. Thank you very much for taking the time to read and consider this.
P.S. I have already turned down an online retailer as a sponsor. It would be nice if the eyecare industry would support OptiBoard as much as much as OptiBoard supports them.


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Track poster girl Lolo Jones mocked Trayvon Martin's friend, Rachel Jeantel on Twitter, by comparing her to Tyler Perry's alter-ego 'Madea.'
As previously reported by NewsOne, Jeantel, 19, was the last person to speak with Martin on the night of February 26, 2012, 5 minutes before he was gunned down by George Zimmerman, 29.
In addition to the usual racists, some classist, elitist, colorist, Talented Tenth, miseducated Black people have taken to social media to voice disgust at her inability to code-switch and her "ghetto" demeanor. They have also ridiculed her skin color and weight, in addition to laughing at her illiteracy.
The conditioned hatred is pronounced.
Now Lolo Jones, who, as previously reported by NewsOne, went on an extended "poor little pretty girl I don't know why my teammates hate me' routine last year after Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells couldn't hide their disgust with her attention-grabbing antics, has joined Jeantel's petty critics.
Wallowing in light-skin, attractive and fit privilege, she used her platform to compare a young woman to an overweight, stereotypically ignorant and "sassy" Black woman — at the height of an intense murder trial.
Keep it classy, Lolo – if you can.
Then we have Jones, who by tearing a page from the 'Miseducation of the (House) Negro,' managed to, in 140-characters or less, alienate and offend people who previously supported you.
Note to Ms. Jones: Rachel Jeantel is not the stereotype; you are. From now on, when people make assumptions about light-skin privilege and lack of empathy for women who don't meet the standard acceptability criteria, you will be pointed to as the perfect example.
Perhaps you should focus on solidifying your position in the track world, instead of as an unfortunate cliche.
Read more https://newsone.com/2619103/lolo-jones-mocks-rachel-jeantel-on-twitter-madea-goes-to-court-opinion/


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Washington D.C. to Become Sinful Island of Online Poker
The world of online poker is strange, shady and more than a little depressing. So what better place to start our national online poker experiment than Washington D.C? Digital Hold'em is coming to D.C.
D.C.'s city council passed a budget last year that allows for local online poker sites which are "accessible only inside district boundaries." The time for any objections is almost up, which means the rule could go into affect as early as Thursday, according to the Wall Street Journal.
But isn't online poker already legal? Not really. A 2006 federal law bans the financial transactions necessary for online gambling. (As we learned when we tried to bet on last year's World Cup.) All those college online poker addicts must beam their parents' cash to companies in the Cayman Islands, or God-knows-where, to feed the beast.
So, hooray states rights: D.C. joins a number of states who are considering legalizing poker in their domains. Internet poker is the most addictive thing ever, so all of these states will soon become gambling-addled wastelands and eventually band together to form the Confederacy of Poker. They will take over America and we will become the world's first Pokerocracy.
[Image via Shutterstock]


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At the Dearborn Public Schools, the administration wanted to get rid of two teachers accused of sexual misconduct and two more that were accused of possession of illegal substances outside of school. The district ended up paying the four teachers a combined total of $197,353 to get them to quit their jobs.
Yet this outcome may have been the fiscally prudent one from the perspective of the local taxpayers. The district says its analysis of going through a costly and lengthy tenure process in each of those cases would have cost a total of nearly $400,000. They based this on the costs of two cases in which they did go through the tenure process.
"The perception is you are buying out a bad teacher. 'Why are we paying these people?'" said Timothy Currier, the attorney who handles tenure cases for Dearborn Public Schools.
But Currier said it's cheaper than going through the tenure process, which can cost the district more than $170,000 for two cases and take about 10 months.
By contrast, buyouts can happen as quickly as six months and, with a settlement, there is a certainty the teacher is gone, Currier said. Teachers are more willing to take a settlement if their record doesn't show that they were fired, he added.
Other public schools have made the same decision to settle with teachers instead of going through the tenure process.
The state House of Representatives and state Senate recently passed a package of bills that make it easier to fire ineffective teachers. The bills are waiting for Gov. Rick Snyder's expected signature.
According to documents provided by the Dearborn Public Schools, it has settled with 12 teachers accused of wrongdoing since 2006.
"This gives a better sense of the true cost to taxpayers of an antiquated and expensive government employee privilege," said Michael Van Beek, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy's education director. "It doesn't matter if a district pursues tenure charges against or strikes a deal with an ineffective teacher, taxpayers are on the hook."
A Van Beek article about how to remove a problem teacher in 13 "easy" steps appeared in Capitol Confidential last year.
The American Federation of Teachers' president for Michigan, David Hecker, didn't respond to an email seeking comment. Dearborn Public School teachers belong to an AFT affiliate.
See also:
Teacher Kissing Students Is Paid to Leave; Tenure Makes Him Too Hard to Fire
Union Claims New Tenure Rules Will Lead to Discrimination Against Sexual Orientation and Pregnancy
Tricky Tenure Hurdles Block Schools from Removing Problem Teachers
Many Senators Refuse to Stand Against "Ineffective Teachers"
How to Remove an Ineffective Tenured Teacher in 13 Easy Steps
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonprofit research and educational institute that advances the principles of free markets and limited government. Through our research and education programs, we challenge government overreach and advocate for a free-market approach to public policy that frees people to realize their potential and dreams.
Please consider contributing to our work to advance a freer and more prosperous state.


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"Oh, this stinkin' swamp water stinks!" –from the movie Swamp Women, 1955
Early on the morning of October 31st I met George Rodrigue in the garage for the two-hour drive to Lafayette, Louisiana, where we were to meet some friends from California at the Blue Dog Café. I was running late.
"What are you wearing?!" he exclaimed. "We're going on a swamp tour!"
Dressed for the day in a skull-covered pirate dress, over-sized spider rings, and spiky heels, I hollered at him as I ran back to the house for my flip-flops and bug spray:
"Swamp tour? I thought we were going to brunch!"
In Lafayette we joined our friends the Pistos and Ricciardis, visiting from Carmel in search of southwest Louisiana's best boudin and pecan pie, as Chef John Pisto scouted locations for his television cooking show.
We enjoyed an excellent brunch at the Blue Dog Café, with the added bonus of Cajun Swamp fiddler Hadley Castille, who sat in with the Wildflowers Band (and who also happened to play at our wedding).
From Lafayette we drove through Breaux Bridge to the town of Henderson, where we crossed the levee to McGee's Landing and the edge of the Atchafalaya Swamp.
"Great news!" announced George, after negotiating our afternoon with Captain David (pictured below) in the corner of McGee's Bar, "We're taking an airboat!"
Now I've been on dozens of swamp tours in my life, all on pontoon-type, roomy tour boats. The closest I'd gotten to an airboat was reruns of Gentle Ben (1967-1969).
"What's an airboat?" asked our guests in chorus.
"Has Captain David been drinking?" I asked George, under my breath.
Within minutes we heard the roar of the airplane-type engine approaching the floating dock. I saw mouths moving in the shape of "Oh No!" but heard no one. Our captain motioned to our seats…
"Put the ladies in the front," screamed George…
…as we donned our headphones and entered a silent movie.
With one life preserver and no seat belts, it was just us, a bench, and the swamp. Captain David accelerated into the makeshift waterway for less than a minute before turning hard right into the lilies, the cypress knees, and the shallow black water.
(pictured, Cajun Paddle Shop, 1985; the Cajuns traveled the swamp in canoe-type boats called pirogues)
Inaccessible to boats with underwater engines, this is a part of the swamp I'd never seen. I spoke out loud to myself in amazement at the beauty, and as I write this post I feel compelled, before recounting the chaos to follow, to get serious for a moment:
"When I would recreate myself, I seek the darkest wood, the thickest and most interminable, and to the citizen, most dismal swamp. I enter a swamp as a sacred place – a sanctum sanctorum. There is the strength, the marrow of Nature." -Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)
I thought of the magnificent things I've seen in my life — our week-long rafting trip on the Colorado River; the birth of my nephews; the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence — and I recognized immediately such an event. I wondered at the azure blue dragonflies alighting on my shoulders, the alligators peering from among the lilies, and the herons and ducks and egrets reminding us of the shallow water as they walked near the boat.
And I thought about the Cajuns, harvesting these cypress trees in the mid-18th and 19thcenturies, trees that grow slowly, struggling after all these years to once again fill the swamp.
(pictured, Fur Trappers, oil on canvas by George Rodrigue, 1974)
"In another century the trees will be back," said George.
(pictured, George's only painting of a cypress tree, 1969; for a detailed history, visit here)
As we sat in silence, lost in our thoughts, Captain David moved on, 'deeper into the swamp.'
With nothing but each other to hold onto, we raced (quietly praying that the animals get out of the way and the lilies are tougher than they look) through large areas of plant life, even flying over dry land on occasion, until we grew confident in our captain's abilities.
Yet as we headed full speed towards an eight-foot bank, I thought surely he was turning; and as we hit the mound of earth and flew straight up, I thought surely this wasn't happening; and as we nose-dived towards the deeper black water on the other side, I thought surely (as I screamed at the top of my lungs for no one to hear) this was not the way I would die; and as the five-foot swamp wave barreled over the bow and into our laps and down (and up) my festive dress, I went into shock.
The motor died, the women sat dripping in slime and disbelief, and the men sat bone-dry, doubled over with cramps of laughter.
Collecting himself, Captain David approached us cautiously with his apologies and a single useless towel.
"Aw my Gawd," said the Cajun, shaking his head. "Ladies, I am so sawry. In twenty years dat ain't ne'er hap'nd."
Without looking at the men, we women heard their laughter and knew that they were worthless as heroes. As I plucked the snails off of his wife's backside, Tony choked out,
"I thought we were stuck like a dart!"
Dripping in green gradeaux,* we ladies wrung out our clothes and wiped our tears (of laughter or disbelief or some swamp disease or whatever) with the towel, while the men worried about the dead engine.
"Look, there's the interstate," pointed George. "This water can't be more than four or five feet, and you ladies are already wet…"
I gave him the scariest look I could muster and then laughed some more, imagining us standing in the black swamp water fifty feet below the highway, waving down a passing motorist.
Barbara was the first of the women to speak:
"My mouth was open as we went in. Do you think I'll get cholera?"
At last the engine caught and we sped back to McGee's Landing, where whiskey seemed the only suitable libation to recount our adventure and toast the dry land. Barbara, Cheryl, and I stood on the deck, unable to handle the a/c in our soaked condition, and stared through the window at our husbands:
"If you look at the guys," Barbara observed, "you'd never know that we almost died."
"…on Halloween, covered in the monster mash," continued Cheryl.
We could hear them, still laughing, as George told the story of him and Dickie in 1950s New Iberia, chased into the swamp by the sheriff after Dickie shot one of the Trajan brothers in the stomach with a pebble-loaded bb gun.
"We knew how to stay dry," said George, "but that sheriff was up to his waist in swamp water before he found our tree house. Boy was he mad."
(pictured, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, painted by George Rodrigue at Boy Scout camp in 1960)
Following the two hour drive home, I took the second longest and hottest shower of my life,* spending a good half hour afterwards cleaning the gradoux* off of the tiles.
In my dry soft cotton pajamas, I crawled into bed where next to me I found, in place of my husband, a painting.
"What's this?" I called downstairs, where George watched the tail end of the Saints game.
"It's a present. You were a great sport today. Happy Halloween!"
*the first longest and hottest shower of my life was following our week-long rafting trip in the Grand Canyon
*gradoux: basically, any icky unidentifiable substance
-for more of George's paintings of bayous and Cajuns, see the links under 'Popular Musings' to the right of this post
-all photographs in this post by George Rodrigue, October 2010
-also by Wendy Rodrigue, weekly posts at Gambit's Blog of New Orleans


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[228 U.S. 459, 460] Messrs. Dorr Raymond Cobb, Winfred T. Denison, and Irving L. Ernst for appellants.
[228 U.S. 459, 464] Messrs. Levi S. Chapman, Harry E. Newell, and James E. Newell for appellee.
Mr. Justice Day delivered the opinion of the court:
The action was brought in the United States district court for the southern district of New York by the trustees of the firm of T. A. McIntyre & Company, and of the individual members of that firm, bankrupts, against Charles M. Crouse and the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, to recover the sum of $90,698.32, the net proceeds of certain policies of insurance issued by the Equitable Life Assurance Society upon the life of Thomas A. McIntyre, one of the bankrupts, deceased. The proceeds of the policies were paid into court by the Society. The judgment of the district court in favor of Crouse was affirmed by the circuit court of appeals (104 C. C. A. 227, 181 Fed. 479), and the case has been appealed to this court.
It appears that on the 10th of April, 1902, Thomas A. McIntyre obtained two policies of life insurance in the Equitable Society. They were known as 'guaranteed cash-value, limited payment, life policies,' each providing that upon the death of the insured the company would pay to his executors, administrators, or assigns the sum of [228 U.S. 459, 466] $100,000 in fifty annual instalments, or the sum of $53,000 in cash, a total of $106,000 for the two policies. On April 14, 1906, the policies were assigned absolutely to the firm of T. A. McIntyre & Company, and on April 24, 1907, they were by that firm assigned to the Equitable Society as collateral security for a loan of $15,370. On February 25, 1908, two months prior to the filing of the petition in bankruptcy, the policies were assigned by McIntyre & Company to the defendant, Charles M. Crouse, subject, however, to the prior assignment to the Equitable Society. A petition in involuntary bankruptcy was filed against McIntyre & Company and its individual members on April 25, 1908, and on May 9, 1908, the defendant Crouse paid the premiums on the policies, in the sum of $6,078. 38. McIntyre & Company and the individual members thereof were adjudged involuntary bankrupts on May 21, 1908, and the trustees were elected on the 24th of July, 1908. On the 29th of July, 1908, Thomas A. McIntyre died, and the policies became payable.
It appears that the policies had a cash surrender value, which, at the time when the trustees qualified, was $15,370, or the amount of the loan of the Equitable Society upon the policies. It is therefore apparent that on the day when the petition was filed, as well as the day of the adjudication in bankruptcy, the cash surrender value would not have exceeded the loan and lien of the Society upon the policies. The circuit court of appeals for the second circuit held that, under the circumstances, the policies did not pass to the trustees as assets, and therefore the action which had been begun to set aside the transfer to Crouse, as a preference within the bankruptcy act, could not be maintained.
The correctness of this decision depends primarily upon the construction of 70a of the bankruptcy act, which reads: [228 U.S. 459, 467] 'The trustee of the estate of a bankrupt, upon his appointment and qualification, and his successor or successors if he shall have one or more, upon his or their appointment and qualification, shall in turn be vested by operation of law with the title of the bankrupt, as of the date he was adjudged a bankrupt, except in so far as it is to property which is exempt, to all (1) documents relating to his property; (2) interests in patents, patent rights, copyrights, and trademarks; (3) powers which he might have exercised for his own benefit, but not those which he might have exercised for some other person; (4) property transferred by him in fraud of his creditors; (5) property which, prior to the filing of the petition, he could by any means have transferred, or which might have been levied upon and sold under judicial process against him: Provided, that when any bankrupt shall have any insurance policy, which has a cash surrender value payable to himself, his estate, or personal representatives, he may, within thirty days after the cash surrender value has been ascertained and stated to the trustee by the company issuing the same, pay or secure to the trustee the sum so ascertained and stated, and continue to hold, own, and carry such policy free from the claims of the creditors participating in the distribution of his estate under the bankruptcy proceedings; otherwise the policy shall pass to the trustee as assets; and (6) lights of action arising upon contracts or from the unlawful taking or detention of, or injury to, his property.' [30 Stat. at L. 565, chap. 541, U. S. Comp. Stat. Supp. 1911, p. 1511.]
The part of the section particularly to be considered is subdiv. 5 and its proviso. Subdivision 5 undertakes to vest in the trustee property which, prior to the filing of the petition, the bankrupt could by any means have transferred, or which might have been levied upon or sold under judicial process against him. Then follows the proviso with reference to insurance policies which have a cash surrender value, permitting a bankrupt, when the cash [228 U.S. 459, 468] surrender value has been ascertained and stated, to pay or secure such sum to the trustee, and to continue to hold, own, and carry the policies free from the claims of creditors; otherwise the policies to pass to the trustee as assets.
Two constructions have been given this section, and the question, as presented in this case, has not been the subject of direct determination in this court. The one favors the view that only policies having a cash surrender value are intended to pass to the trustee for the benefit of creditors The other, conceding that the proviso deals with this class of policies, maintains that policies of life insurance which have no surrender value pass to the trustee under the language of 70a immediately preceding the proviso, which reads: 'Property which, prior to the filing of the petition, he could by any means have transferred, or which might have been levied upon and sold under judicial process against him.'
To determine the congressional intent in this respect requires a brief consideration of the nature of the rights dealt with. Life insurance may be given in a contract providing simply for payment of premiums on a calculated basis which accumulates no surplus for the holder. Such insurance has no surrender value. Policies, whether payable at the end of a term of years or at death, may be issued upon a basis of calculation which accumulates a net reserve in favor of the policy holder, and which forms a consequent basis for the surrender of the policy by the insured, with advantage to the company upon the payment of a part of this accumulated reserve. This feature of surrender value was discussed by Judge Brown of the
Re Buelow, 98 Fed. 86; Re Josephson, 121 Fed. 142; Gould v. New York L. Ins. Co. 132 Fed. 927: Morris v. Dodd, 110 Ga. 606, 50 L.R.A. 33, 78 Am. St. Rep. 129, 36 S. E. 83.
Re Becker, 106 Fed. 54; Re Slingluff, 106 Fed. 154; Re Welling, 51 C. C. A. 151, 113 Fed. 189; Re Coleman, 69 C. C. A. 496, 136 Fed. 818; Re Hettling, 99 C. C. A. 87, 175 Fed. 65; Re Orear, 30 L.R.A.(N.S.) 990, 102 C. C. A. 78, 178 Fed. 632. [228 U.S. 459, 469] southern district of New York, in Re McKinney, 15 Fed. 535, 537:
This case has been cited with approval in this court. Holden v. Stratton, 198 U.S. 202 , 49 L. ed. 1018, 25 Sup. Ct. Rep. 656; Hiscock v. Mertens, 205 U.S. 202 , 51 L. ed. 771, 27 Sup. Ct. Rep. 488. [228 U.S. 459, 470] Under the bankruptcy act of 1867 [14 Stat. at L. 522, chap. 176, 14] no special provision was made for insurance policies. The section providing for the passing of the assets of the bankrupt to the trustee contained the broad language of 'all the estate, real and personal,' Under this statute it was held in Re McKinney, supra, that the insurance upon the life of the bankrupt vested in the bankrupt estate only to the extent of its cash surrender value at the time of the filing of the petition.
In Holden v. Stratton, supra, this court held that the law of the state of Washington, exempting the proceeds of life insurance policies, was applicable, and under the bankruptcy act of 1898, 6, the bankrupt might retain such policies. The circuit court of appeals for the ninth circuit, from which Holden v. Stratton came by certiorari to this court, had held that 70a was not controlled by the exemptions provided in 6 of the bankruptcy act, and had adhered to its former decision in Re Scheld, 52 L.R.A. 188, 44 C. C. A. 233, 104 Fed. 870, in which 70a had been construed to pass insurance policies having a cash surrender value to the trustee, unless the bankrupt paid or secured the surrender value, as pointed out in the section. While this court held that the exemption under the state law applied under the bankruptcy act to the policy in question, coming to deal with the construction of 70a, this court said (198 U. S. p. 213):
The section came again before this court in Hiscock v. Mertens, supra, and it was held that the insured was entitled to retain the policies upon the payment to the trustee of a sum equivalent to the amount the company was willing to pay according to its custom, although there was no stipulation in the policies as to a cash surrender value, and upon this subject the court said (p. 212):
And in that case it appeared that this sum was less than $6,000, whereas in a short time, some six months later, the maturity of one of the policies would give it a value of over $11,000. But this court held that this circumstance made no difference in the right of the insured to pay the surrender value and hold the policy.
True it is that life insurance policies are a species of property and might be held to pass under the general terms of subdiv. 5, 70a, but a proviso dealing with a class of this property was inserted and must be given its due weight in construing the statute. If is also true that a proviso may sometimes mean simply additional legisla- [228 U.S. 459, 472] tion, and not be intended to have the usual and primary office of a proviso, which is to limit generalities and exclude from the scope of the statute that which would otherwise be within its terms.
This proviso deals with explicitness with the subject of life insurance held by the bankrupt which has a surrender value. Originally life insurance policies were contracts in consideration of annual sums paid as premiums for the payment of a fixed sum on the death of the insured. It is true that such contracts have been much varied in form since, and policies payable in a period of years, so as to become investments and means of money saving, are in common use. But most of these policies will be found to have either a stipulated surrender value or an established value, the amount of which the companies are willing to pay, and which brings the policy within the terms of the proviso (Hiscock v. Mertens, supra), and makes its present value available to the bankrupt estate. While life insurance is property, it is peculiar property. Legislatures of some of the states have provided that policies of insurance shall be exempt from liability for debt, and in many states provision is made for the protection from such liability of policies in favor of those dependent upon the insured. See Holden v. Stratton, supra.
Congress undoubtedly had the nature of insurance contracts in mind in passing 70a with its proviso. Ordinarily the keeping up of insurance of either class would require the payment of premiums perhaps for a number of years. For this purpose the estate might or might not have funds, or the payments might be so deferred as to unduly embarrass the settlement of the estate. Congress recognized also that many policies at the time of bankruptcy might have a very considerable present value which a bankrupt could realize by surrendering his policy to the company. We think it was this latter sum that the act intended to secure to creditors by requiring its pay- [228 U.S. 459, 473] ment to the trustee as a condition of keeping the policy alive. In passing this statute Congress intended, while exacting this much, that when that sum was realized to the estate, the bankrupt should be permitted to retain the insurance which, because of advancing years or declining health, it might be impossible for him to replace. It is the twofold purpose of the bankruptcy act to convert the estate of the bankrupt into cash and distribute it among creditors, and then to give the bankrupt a fresh start with such exemptions and rights as the statute left untouched. In the light of this policy the act must be construed. We think it was the purpose of Congress to pass to the trustee that sum which was available to the bankrupt at the time of bankruptcy as a cash asset; otherwise to leave to the insured the benefit of his life insurance.
It should be observed, in this connection, that in the persent case the company had advanced upon the policies their full surrender value, as stipulated in the policies, and that the only interest that could have passed to the trustees would have been the speculative right to the net proceeds of the policies, contingent upon the death of the bankrupt, and possibly dependent upon the payment of large annual premiums for thirteen years.
It is urged, however, that under 70a, the cash surrender value was to be paid by the bankrupt when ascertained, and the policies kept alive for his benefit; and as these policies had been assigned by the beneficiary to McIntyre & Company, not as collateral, but absolutely, they would not come within the terms of the proviso, and therefore the proceeds of the policies vested in the bankrupt estate; but we find nothing in the act by which the right of the assignee of a policy to the benefits which would have accrued to the bankrupt is limited. As we have construed the statute, its purpose was to vest the surrender value in the trustee for the benefit of the creditors, and not otherwise to limit the bankrupt in dealing with his policy. [228 U.S. 459, 474] As to the reimbursement of Crouse for the premiums advanced by him, and the application by him of the proceeds of the policies to particular items of indebtedness of the bankrupt estate in his favor,-upon the facts found we have no occasion to disturb the decree of the circuit court of appeals.
It results that the judgment of the Circuit Court of Appeals must be affirmed.
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Citation: 228 U.S. 459
Docket No: No. 184
Decided: April 28, 1913
Court: United States Supreme Court
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text: Woodpecker Condos Bring Endangered Bird Back from the Brink in South Carolina Many stories emerging from the Francis Marion National Forest share a common genesis in Hurricane Hugo, the massive storm estimated to have knocked down nearly a billion board feet of timber on the coastal South Carolina forest in 1989. But in a comeback success story, there was no knock-out for the red-cockaded woodpecker. Before Hugo, the Francis Marion had the densest, second-largest, and only known, naturally increasing population of red-cockaded woodpeckers in the country. Prior to 1989, an estimated 475 breeding pairs lived on the forest. Gwyn Ingram, Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, U.S. Forest Service Posted in Forestry Aug 30, 2013 1 Response


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Hurricane Ernesto dumped flooding rains along the east coast of the U.S., Hurricane John lashed the Pacific coast of Mexico. Typhoon Saomai killed at least 436 people in China and injured thousands when it stormed ashore a few weeks back--the strongest tropical cyclone to hit that nation in half a century--and a new typhoon, dubbed Ioke, slammed Wake Island with 50-foot waves.
Variously called hurricanes, typhoons or cyclones, depending on which ocean they form in, these storms rank among nature's fiercest. Huge, whirling tempests that form out at sea, tropical cyclones are assessed based on their strength in wind power. Those in the Atlantic are ranked on the Saffir-Simpson scale, developed in 1969 by scientists at the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The scale rates hurricanes by category [click here for the scale]. Even at their weakest, hurricanes generate winds in excess of 74 miles an hour. And stronger storms--such as last year's catastrophic Hurricane Katrina--wallop with winds greater than 131 miles an hour.
But despite the fact that tropical cyclones can release as much energy as 10,000 nuclear bombs, they spring from the same humble beginnings as any storm: a disturbance caused by converging winds. Atlantic hurricanes--named for Huracan, an evil deity of Central America's Tainos people--typically form when a thunderstorm blows off the coast of Africa, travels out to sea and gathers power over the eastern Caribbean. The storms, however, require high humidity, light winds in the upper atmosphere and warm seas to spin up to cyclonic strength. If one of these ingredients is missing, the storm will peter out.
These conditions prevail most strongly in the North Atlantic between August and October, but that is a relatively brief season. Conditions off the Pacific coast of Asia, in contrast, are ripe for typhoon formation between June and December. As a tropical disturbance grows in strength, surface pressure in the area around the storm falls. And the characteristic swirling around the storm's eye--actually a low-pressure vortex that compels higher pressure air downward, where it is warmed by the sea, fueling storm clouds that produce driving rain--intensifies.
Because warm seas and even warmer air in the lower atmosphere power these storms, some researchers have predicted that more and stronger tropical cyclones will result from increasing temperatures worldwide. The most recent addition to this growing body of evidence links climate change and increasing storms by statistically comparing near-surface air and Atlantic sea-surface temperatures with hurricane intensity over the last 50 years. Already, tropical cyclones are forming where they have rarely been seen before: Catarina (pictured above) formed in the South Atlantic in March 2004, the first such storm ever monitored.