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Is there any that knows how this works and have you tried it? I have read many articles on this method and want to try it. I have been saving newspaper and have save eight bales of straw for the top cover. I'm looking forward to Spring and all the planting that will get done.
Views: 2164
there's SO MANY good videos on youtube. like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGBdHls9zzk&feature=related
the thing for me this year was i had a baby at the end of May and then only got my potatoes in the ground at the end of june, so it only worked a little bit...fingers crossed for next year!!!
I've grown potatoes this way. I put the cut pieces on the untilled but closely mowed ground, put a fairly thin layer of hay over them (4 inches or so). And then as the plant grew, I just continued piling hay on top until I had about a foot of hay with plant sticking out the top. When I wanted potatoes, I simply raked aside the hay, picked the potatoes I wanted, and then piled the hay back on. Just make sure you have plenty of covering for the developing potatoes... otherwise, they will sunscald.
And potatoes are frost-resistant. Plant them early - we plant in Jan/Feb here in MO where our last frost is often in April. As long as you have them heavily mulched, the frost won't hurt them (this is for regular potatoes - Sweet potatoes are a warm-weather crop and grow downwards into the soil)
You are having an unusually cold/snowy winter, aren't you. Yes, wait until the snow melts at least. But don't wait too long 'cause they don't do well in the heat.
I planted maybe 10 pounds of potatoes. Bought them at the feed store. Bought a lot more than I planted and I planted them in several rows. Cut the potatoe into pieces, makin sure there is at least one good "eye" on each piece. I usually try to include 2-3 eyes/piece which is an overkill, I know, but some didn't grow. I saved a couple of potatoes and used them to plant where I missed. I've tried red and white and don't seem to matter for me although I prefer the red potatoes, personally. This year, I may try some of the wierd ones also (like purple).
I could've sworn that I just read an article on this. Can't remember where though.
I only have a balcony and not much access to land, has anyone tried growing potatoes in a wine barrel? I've seen the posts about growing hundreds of pounds of them, but don't know anyone that's done it.
Yes it is an unusual winter, hopefully the snow will be gone on Sunday. So I guess I will get ready to plant some on Monday,will go to the feed store and get the red potatoes along with some bales of straw. Thanks for the information very helpful.
this sounds very interesting Ellen--what exactly is the process involved? I would be interested in learning about this from you. :)
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Philadelphia, PA – Spencer Hawes led six Philadelphia players in double-figures with a season-high 24 points to go along with 10 rebounds and seven assists, as the 76ers picked up a much-needed, 106-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.
Evan Turner scored 16 points and grabbed seven boards and Jrue Holiday added 15 points and 11 assists to help the Sixers snap a five-game skid.
Damien Wilkins scored 11 of his 13 points in a critical third quarter and Dorell Wright donated 15 points in the victory.
"That was a terrific win," Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. "I thought our defense was excellent. We did not overreact to Lopez early. He hit some incredible shots. We were worried about the three-ball with them and so we felt like if we could take one thing away, maybe the threes, it would give us a good chance."
Deron Williams had a double-double with 27 points and 13 assists for the Nets, who had won their last three. Brook Lopez registered 19 points and six rebounds and Joe Johnson netted 20 points and dished out six helpers in defeat.
The Sixers led by as many as 11 early in the fourth quarter, before Johnson brought the visitors within 91-87 with 7:41 to play.
Turner, however, hit a triple to kick start a 10-4 surge which saw Philadelphia take control of the contest for good with a 101-92 edge with 2 1/2 minutes remaining.
Brooklyn closed the deficit to six points, but that's the closest it would get as the home team connected on 5-of-6 from the charity stripe in the final minute to secure the win.
Brooklyn scored the first five points of the second half to get within two, but the Sixers held their lead as Hawes and Wilkins heated up. The duo accounted for 20 of the team's 29 points in the quarter, while Wright's fast break slam with 1:47 to play in the third made it a 14-point advantage.
"It's been tough," Hawes said. "No one likes to lose and I know that I've been taking it home. It's nice to get a big win and see all the happy faces in this locker room. It's been a while."
The Nets closed the third with a quick 9-2 spurt to head into the fourth down, 82-75. Williams kept his team alive with 14 alone in the third and missed just one of his seven field goal attempts.
"I think they wanted the game a little bit more than us," Williams added.
Andray Blatche's hook shot early in the second quarter put the Nets ahead 35-28, though the Sixers went on a 10-2 run to take the lead with 5 1/2 minutes remaining on a Wright 3-pointer.
Wright capped off the first half action with a deep trey and Philadelphia led, 53-46. Brooklyn led after one quarter, 28-24, while Lopez had 14 points on 7- of-9 shooting.
Game Notes
Philadelphia is 18-16 at home this season ... The Sixers are 17-5 this season when leading at the half ... Brooklyn leads this season's series, 2-1, with victories on Dec. 23 and Jan. 8 ... Doug Collins picked up his 100th victory as the Sixers' head coach .. The Nets are 16-14 on the road ... Philadelphia is 11-4 in the last 15 matchups of the series ... Thaddeus Young scored 16 points and grabbed 10 boards for Philadelphia.

subset: commoncrawl


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Associate Professor of Chemistry Myriam Cotten is the corresponding author of a paper that was selected as the cover story in the March 5 print edition of the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS).
The paper and cover art were originally published online on January 10. The paper is also featured in a JACS Spotlight titled "Solid-State NMR Reveals How a Kinky Peptide Slays Microbes," which focuses on the significance of the research presented for a general audience.
Cotten also participated in a March 14 podcast to respond to questions about the research detailed in the article and the significance of the cover art. The paper is also featured in the Highlights section on the National High Field Magnetic Lab website. The results presented are the culmination of more than five years of work funded by Cotten's National Science Foundation CAREER grant.
"High-Resolution Structures and Orientations of Antimicrobial Peptides Piscidin 1 and Piscidin 3 in Fluid Bilayers Reveal Tilting, Kinking, and Bilayer Immersion," presents the first high-resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) structures of helical antimicrobial peptides bound to fluid lipid bilayers.
Caitlyn Burzynski '12, Alexander Dao '12, Robert Hayden '14, and William Wieczoreck '11 are co-authors on the paper and contributed to the research effort. Cotten's collaborators include Dr. Richard Pastor, '71, senior investigator, and Dr. B. Scott Perrin, post-doctoral researcher, from the Laboratory of Computational Biology at the National Institutes of Health.
As noted in the JACS Spotlight, "The innate immune system has a particularly effective tool for stamping out attacks by a wide world of enemies including bacteria, fungi, and viruses: positively charged a-helical antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The potency and broad-spectrum activity of AMPs has stoked the interest of scientists hoping to learn their secrets and develop new medications for the war against drug-resistant bacteria."
The Cotten group focuses on piscidin 1 and piscidin 3, which are antimicrobial and anticancer peptides from fish. A significant finding of this research is that in contrast to the idealized structures shown in mechanistic studies of antimicrobial peptides, the structures of both piscidins 1 and 3 are kinked in the center, which results in stronger interactions with the lipid bilayers used to mimic bacterial targets. The structures also reveal a more pronounced imperfect amphipathicity for piscidin 1 than piscidin 3, which helps explain why piscidin 1 is more effective at mixing the lipids as needed to induce the strongest damage to bacterial cell membranes.


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Home > Andhra Pradesh > Nalgonda > Choutuppal
View satellite images/ street maps of villages in Choutuppal Mandal of Nalgonda district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The data on this website is provided by Google Maps, a free online map service one can access and view in a web browser.
List of Villages
Google Map of Choutuppal Mandal
Source: Census of India 2001
© villagemap.in


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Court: No class-action status in Google book case (Update)
Google Inc. got a friendly ruling Monday from a federal appeals panel that stripped a group representing authors of class-action status as the search engine defends itself against claims that its plan to create the world's largest digital library will violate copyrights.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it was too early for authors to be considered as a group in a lawsuit brought against the Mountain View, Calif.-based company by the Authors Guild.
A three-judge panel of the Manhattan court said a judge presiding over the 8-year-old case must consider fair use issues before deciding whether to consider authors as a class. A judge last year granted class-action status to the Authors Guild, which is seeking $750 in damages for each copyrighted book Google copied. Google has said such a payout would cost the company more than $3 billion.
The appeals court said Google's argument that the Authors Guild and other plaintiffs cannot fairly represent the interests of hundreds of thousands of authors because some of the authors will benefit from Google's digital library "may carry some force."
It also said a consideration first by a trial-level judge of Google's claims that it can fairly use snippets of longer works without violating copyrights "will necessarily inform and perhaps moot our analysis of many class certification issues."
The court also said neither side will be harmed by a delay in deciding whether the Authors Guild can represent all writers.
So far, Google has copied more than 20 million books. The appeals panel that heard arguments earlier this year seemed reluctant to get in the way of the plans. One judge said it would be a "huge advantage" for many authors while another said it would have "enormous societal benefit."
A lawyer for the Authors Guild told the judges earlier this year that there was only a "very remote" possibility that the lawsuit would derail Google's library. He said the aim of the lawsuit was to make sure authors are properly compensated.
The appeals panel noted in its ruling Monday that any further appeal in the case should be assigned to the same appeals judges.
Lawyers on both sides did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.


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Shipping Policy
- Our goal is to offer you the good shipping options.The time frame for order delivery is divided into two parts:
Proccessing order time:1-3 business days
- Free Shipping Calculated by package weight 8-18 business days
- Standard Shipping Calculated by package weight 8-18 business days
1. Shipping methods
we will ship by International packages/EMS/FEDEX.
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We are the vip of many international express companies, we can have Preferential cheaper price of the shipping.
3. Shipping & delivery time
After you place an order, we will check your order first and we will send it to you within 1-3 working day. And as the new wholesalers, general we could send your parcel to you within 2-3 working days.
General it takes 2-5 working days to all the world by FEDEX, and, it takes 15-45 working days by EMS (except Russia), depending on the area you live in.
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Postage is calculated in accordance with the weight.For example: the fedex express charge is almost the same price for 1 or 3 items with the package.
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the shipping costs depend on the weight, delivery way(EMS and FEDEX), So it is difficult for us to declare an exact shipping fee before you place an order (the weight of T-shirt is about 0.2kg ,but the leather is about 0.3kg /pc). And you could choose the shipping company you like.If you are not satisfied with our shipping fee, you also can choose to cancel your order.
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6.About delivery time under COVID-19
And due to the COVID-19, the delivery flights are reduced, and freight rates have increased.So the delivery speed may be slower, and the logistics company may update the delivery information slowly, too.We are so sorry about that. Please understand it.


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The Research in Logistics & Production is an international, multidisciplinary quarterly presenting peer-reviewed papers. The goal is to publish peer reviewed original research result-oriented, survey, review, tutorial papers in the various fields of Logistics and Production.
Poznan University of Technology
Faculty of Engineering Management
Chair of Production Engineering and Logistics
ul. Strzelecka 11
60-965 Poznań


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VIDEO: Zags crush USD, clinch share of WCC title
SPOKANE, Wash. — Kevin Pangos scored 18 points and No. 3 Gonzaga beat San Diego 81-50 on Saturday, putting the Bulldogs in position to rise to second in the AP poll after No. 2 Miami was upset by Wake Forest earlier in the day.
Kelly Olynyk added 14 points and nine rebounds for Gonzaga (27-2, 14-0 West Coast Conference), which clinched at least a tie for the WCC regular-season title it yielded to Saint Mary's last year. It marks the 12th league title in 13 seasons for the Zags, who have set a team record for regular-season wins.Zags crush USD, clinch share of WCC title
Chris Manresa scored 19 to lead San Diego (13-16, 6-8), which has lost four straight.
Gonzaga has never been ranked as high as No. 2 in the country. The Bulldogs have won 10 straight games since a last-second defeat at Butler. Their only other loss was to Illinois, and they have the best winning percentage in Division I.
Gonzaga routed Santa Clara by 43 points last Wednesday and won by a 31-point margin Saturday.
Olynyk was at his most efficient in this one, making all five field goal attempts, his only 3-pointer and all three free throws. Pangos shot 6 of 8, including three 3-pointers.
Gonzaga shot 54 percent in the game while holding San Diego to 35 percent. The Bulldogs outrebounded the Toreros 38-22.
San Diego scored the first basket of the game, but Gonzaga replied with a 14-2 run to take control.
Elias Harris' dunk gave the Zags a 21-9 lead midway through the first half, and Pangos hit a 3-pointer to extend it to 28-13. The Bulldogs poured in a mix of jams, layups and 3s, with eight players scoring, to double up the overmatched Toreros for much of the first half.
Gonzaga led 37-23 at halftime behind 13 points from Pangos. The Bulldogs outshot the Toreros 57 percent to 42 percent and outrebounded them 17-9 in the first.
Olynyk's three-point play opened the second half for Gonzaga, which ran off a 10-3 run for a 47-26 lead.
Gonzaga made six of its first seven shots, including consecutive baskets by Olynyk, David Stockton and Pangos, to push the lead to 54-30 with just more than 14 minutes left.
After a San Diego basket, Drew Barham's 3-pointer ignited a 13-0 Gonzaga run that gave the Bulldogs a 67-32 lead. The Zags made 11 of 15 field goals to open the second half, while San Diego was shooting 3 of 13.
The Toreros did not threaten the rest of the way.
Gonzaga has won 10 straight against San Diego, but barely managed a 65-63 win in the first meeting this season.
San Diego is coached by former longtime Gonzaga assistant Bill Grier.
Gonzaga is 119-8 in the McCarthey Athletic Center since it opened in 2004.


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Vegan Suede Rancher Hat
K+G Mode Boutique ("we" and "us") is the operator of
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Orders are usually dispatched within 2-3 business days of payment of order our warehouse operates on Monday - Friday during standard business hours, except on national holidays at which time the warehouse will be closed. In these instances, we take steps to ensure shipment delays will be kept to a minimum.
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We Are The Creators of Our Own Story
You are confident—unapologetically. You give yourself the power to be anything you want to be. You are the creator of your own story. You are real, messy, and perfectly-woman.


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500 Hook & Loop
Price reduced from €55,00 to50% Off
Select ColorPlease select style to add to cart.
Color:Orbit Pink with Galaxy Purple
Color: Orbit Pink with Galaxy Purple
500 Hook & Loop
Price reduced from €55,00 to50% Off
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Available null at null
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DescriptionMade for kids on the go, our 500 Hook & Loop features a synthetic upper material for a flexible fit that's just right for all-day wear. These kids' running shoes also feature lightweight EVA midsole cushioning for a comfortable feel with every step. The two-strap hook-and-loop closure offers a snug fit that's easy to adjust for no-fuss wear.
Product Details
- Synthetic upper for comfort and durability
- Lightweight EVA midsole provides flexible cushioning and absorbs impact
- Rubber outsole
- Hook-and-loop closure provides a secure fit that's quick and easy to adjust
- Kid-inspired design for added style
Size & Fit
- 179 grams (6.3 oz)
- Size & fit guide
Style #: GV500CA1
500 Hook & Loop


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(a) In this section, "overissue" means the issue of securities in excess of the amount the issuer has corporate power to issue, but an overissue does not occur if appropriate action has cured the overissue.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) and (d), the provisions of this article which validate a security or compel its issue or reissue do not apply to the extent that validation, issue, or reissue would result in overissue.
(c) If an identical security not constituting an overissue is reasonably available for purchase, a person entitled to issue or validation may compel the issuer to purchase the security and deliver it if certificated, or register its transfer if uncertificated, against surrender of any security certificate the person holds.
(d) If a security is not reasonably available for purchase, a person entitled to issue or validation may recover from the issuer the price the person or the last purchaser for value paid for it with interest from the date of the person's demand.
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes


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Reward yourself your way
Stay where you want, when you want, and get rewarded
Free cancellation
Flexible bookings on most hotels*
Make time to visit the sea animals who live in Crikvenica Aquarium during your trip to Crikvenica. While you're in the area, stroll along the beaches.
A 3-star hotel is the first step toward a more upscale accommodation experience. These hotels tend to have more style and comfort than most lower-rated hotels and may have features like a pool and conference rooms. The hotel rooms themselves tend to be a bit larger, so they're more ideal for family travelers. Their location tends to be convenient as well, with attractions or highways located nearby.
The best 3-star hotels in Jadranovo depend on what you're looking for. You'll have 551 hotels to sort through, and finding the one most suitable for you is easy when you implement convenient search filters. You can search for hotels with specific amenities, high reviews, proximity to certain attractions, or a combination of several factors.
The cost of a 3-star hotel in Jadranovo will vary quite a bit based on the time of year you book, what kinds of amenities you're looking for, and the specific location you're considering, along with an array of other factors. You can find 3-star hotels for as low as $61, but prices can fluctuate quite a bit.
When booking 3-star hotels in Jadranovo, it's important to try and book during , which comprise the off-season. More availability means lower prices in most cases. While prices start at $61, it's typically best to expect something a bit higher if you don't want to risk losing out on amenities and convenient location.
A hotel with 3-stars in Jadranovo adds some more luxurious features compared to a 2-star hotel. While a 2-star property is typically still focused on the basics, 3-star hotels add a bit of flourish and style with amenities like pools and fitness centers. Additionally, 3-star hotel rooms are bigger, so they can typically accommodate families more comfortably than 2-star hotels.
A significant number of Jadranovo hotels offer free cancellation. They'll be marked as such right on the search results page, but you can always click the actual property to learn more about the specifics of their policy. If free cancellation is a necessity for your booking, you can implement a free cancellation search filter specifically to only show properties that qualify. Don't forget, however, that some hotels require you to cancel more than 24 hours before check-in.


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Garnet & Diamond Tennis Bracelet in 9ct White Gold
Save £771
Please note, the number of gemstones per bracelet will vary depending on the length.
- 12 Month Guarantee
- Presentation Box & Gift Bag
- Free Delivery
- 30 Day Returns
Need help from our Customer Service Team?CONTACT US
DescriptionGarnet & Diamond Tennis Bracelet handcrafted in solid white gold. Seven genuine garnets, total 2 ct, two diamonds, total 0.01 ct. Oval cut. Fastened by white gold lobster clasp. Fits wrist up to 8.5".
- Solid 9ct white gold (3.3 gr total)
- Bracelet width: 4.3 mm (0.17 in)
- Garnet: January's birthstone
- Perfect gift for 2nd wedding anniversary
|Item Code
|White Gold
|2nd Anniversary
|Bracelet Width
|4.3 mm
|Total Weight
|3.7 gr
|Stone 1
|7 oval cut garnets (5 x 3 mm) = 2 ct total
|Gemstone Colour
|Number of Gemstones
|Gemstone Dimensions
|5 x 3 mm
|Total Carat
|2.0 ct
|Gemstone Type
|Stone 2
|2 round cut diamonds (K colour, SI1 clarity) = 0.01 ct total
|Gemstone Colour
|Diamond Colour
|Gemstone Clarity
|Number of Gemstones
|Total Carat
|0.01 ct
|Gemstone Type
Every item of jewellery is produced to British and European standards. As a mark of quality and consistency, all QP Jewellers gold jewellery is hallmarked by the Edinburgh Assay Office. Edinburgh is one of four official UK Assay Offices, testing and hallmarking precious metals since 1457. The Gold Hallmark, alongside the QP Sponsor Mark, show that the jewellery is genuine and tested to strict standards. The Metal & Purity Mark is also displayed to show the purity (also known as fineness, in parts per thousand) of the gold to comply with regulations and descriptions.
Gift Box & Packaging
There's nothing like opening jewellery for the first time. So, with QP Jewellers each piece of jewellery is gorgeously gift wrapped. Complete with a branded black presentation box, gift bag and Certificate of Authenticity, avoid the hassle of wrapping at no extra cost. All of our jewellery is delivered in discreet outer packaging, saving the surprise for the big day.
Handcrafted & Quality Assured
We use only quality materials including solid gold, white gold and Sterling silver - not plated. Using only the finest ethically sourced diamonds and gemstones from fair and trusted sources, each item is carefully handcrafted by an expert team of jewellers.


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Toa Metru / Toa Hordika
The Toa Metru were heroes from the LEGO BIONICLE storyline, specifically the BIONICLE Adventures story arc. In the second half of the arc, they were briefly mutated into half-beasts called Toa Hordika. The six Toa Metru were Vakama, Nokama, Matau, Onewa, Whenua, and Nuju. The term "Metru" means "city" or "city district" in the Matoran language and refers to Metru Nui, the island metropolis that the Toa fought to save; while the phrase "Toa Hordika" comes from the Hordika venom that mutated them. They are now Turaga.
History[edit | edit source]
Mystery of Metru Nui[edit | edit source]
A thousand years ago, the city of Metru Nui was in danger. Several Toa had disappeared while on missions for Turaga Dume, leaving only Toa Lhikan. Turaga Dume had also ordered all routes out from the city sealed off, in preparation for an impending crisis. The city had come under attack from a plant creature called the Morbuzakh, causing more Matoran to be kidnapped every day. Lhikan dealt with the Morbuzakh attacks as best he could, but when two Dark Hunters, including Lhikan's former teammate Nidhiki, were seen inside the city, he began to get worried.
Having become suspicious of Dume, Lhikan took matters into his own hands and stole six Toa stones from the Great Temple. He had originally planned to give the stones to six Matoran who had found the Great Kanoka Disks: Nuhrii, Vhisola, Orkahm, Ahkmou, Tehutti, and Ehrye. But he thought better of this plan and instead decided on six others: Vakama, Nokama, Matau, Onewa, Whenua, and Nuju. Lhikan infused the stones with some of his own Toa power and gave them to the Matoran with directions to the Great Temple. Just as he delivered the last Toa Stone to Vakama (who was trying to make a Vahi Mask of Time for "Dume"), Nidhiki and his partner Krekka attacked and captured him. The last thing Lhikan told Vakama was to "save the heart of Metru Nui."
The Matoran went to the Great Temple as instructed and place their Toa Stones in the Suva shrine. When the Toa Stones were collected, a beam of light shot out of the Suva and transformed the surprised Matoran into Toa. Amazed at their transformation, the new Toa found Kanoka Disks inside the Suva engraved with their names and images of their new masks; they took these Toa Disks as signs that they were destined to be Toa. After they each chose tools from the Suva's collection, Vakama got a vision of the Great Disks and the Matoran who found them. Though not everyone had faith in the visions of a "fire-spitter", the Toa Metru agree that it's all they have to go on, so they split up and each searched for one of the Matoran.
But the search didn't go off as well as planned. First, there was the hassle of evading the Vahki enforcers, who were programmed to pacify troublemakers - like a certain group of rookie Toa running around the city. Complicating matters was the Toa's inexperience with their new powers. The six Matoran had also vanished without a trace. But after a little detective work on the Toa's part, each Matoran was found and rescued from where they had been trapped by the Dark Hunters. But they also found some evidence that one of the Matoran actually helped set the traps for the other five.
The Toa Metru then began their search for the Great Disks, with the Matoran in tow to keep an eye on them. With a little work - and several close calls - all were able to retrieve their Great Disks: Nokama got the Ga-Metru Disk from the mouth of a sea monster, Vakama claimed the Ta-Metru Disk from an erupting fire pit, Whenua found the Onu-Metru Disk in an Archives storage closet (after he and Nuju faced Rahi monsters behind several wrong doors), Matau grabbed the Le-Metru Disk from a soon-to-implode force sphere, Nuju found the Ko-Metru Disk in an icicle on top of a Knowledge Tower, and Onewa scaled a towering statue to claim the Po-Metru Disk.
With all the Disks found, Vhisola told the Toa Metru that according to her research, the Morbuzakh can be stopped by destroying its King Root. Having noticed the plant's dislike of cold earlier, the Toa figured that the King Root must be in the Great Furnace, so the group headed to Ta-Metru. On the way, Ahkmou tried to run but was quickly caught; when confronted he admitted that Nidhiki threatened him into helping trap the other Matoran.
Inside the heart of the furnace (and after the Matoran had left), the Toa were shocked to find that the Morbuzakh could communicate telepathically; it explained its plan to take over the city but let it slip that it was commanded to attack by someone. After using up nearly all their elemental power fighting, the Toa eventually lured the Morbuzakh into drawing them in closer, where they unleashed the powers of the Great Disks. The Disks' power created an energy sphere that cut the Morbuzakh off from its vines and killed it. With the Morbuzakh's defeat, all its vines throughout the city disintegrated, and the Great Furnace collapsed (with the Toa Metru escaping safely).
The Great Cataclysm[edit | edit source]
Fresh from their victory, the Toa Metru went to the Coliseum, hoping to present themselves to Turaga Dume (though they had to make a detour into the Archives to keep them from being flooded, and found themselves fighting a territorial shapeshifter called Krahka). Unfortunately, Dume rejected their gifts of the Great Kanoka Disks and insisted that they pass a grueling physical test before they would be recognized as heroes. With their elemental power drained and their mask powers still inaccessible, the Toa suffered a humiliating defeat. Dume ordered that the "imposter" Toa be arrested; though Vakama, Nokama, and Matau were able to escape. On the way out, Vakama saw the Dark Hunters with Dume and figured out that the three are working together.
On the run from the Vahki and the Dark Hunters (and a Tahtorak that they had awakened); Vakama, Nokama, and Matau saw Lhikan's Spirit Star over Po-Metru, so they headed in that direction; Vakama also began experimenting with the Great Disks and found that he can merge them together. Meanwhile; Onewa, Whenua, and Nuju found themselves locked up with a strange Turaga, who immediately put them to work doing seemingly pointless tasks.
Around this time, the Toa began to activate their mask powers for the first time: Nokama gained hers after admitting she doesn't know all the answers, and her new powers of Translation let her talk to a herd of Kikanalo and gain their help. Matau was taught some humility by the Kikanalo, and could then use his Illusion power to shapeshift. Onewa and Nuju activated their powers of Mind Control and Telekinesis, respectively, when they got in an argument over the strange Turaga's tasks; they were then able to use their new powers to escape their prison. And Whenua used his new power of Night Vision to lead the escapees through the underground tunnels.
The two groups eventually met up in the tunnels under Po-Metru, and the Turaga revealed himself to be Lhikan, whose power was drained by the others' transformation into Toa. Lhikan asked if the "heart of Metru Nui" was safe; when Vakama was confused by the question, Lhikan explained that the "heart of Metru Nui" was the Matoran. Soon afterward, the Toa found a silver sphere with Turaga Dume inside, unmasked and unconscious. With all realizing that someone else has taken control of the city while pretending to be Dume; they quickly headed to the Coliseum.
The Toa Metru found the city deserted, with the entire population sealed into spheres by Dume's imposter, none other than Makuta, who had been one of the Matorans' guardians. Makuta then proceeded to put the Great Spirit Mata Nui to sleep, triggering the Great Cataclysm. While this was happening, the Toa grabbed a few Matoran Spheres and started to flee the city, intending to return for the rest.
Makuta, however, wasn't going to let that happen without a fight. He chased after the Toa Metru, and Vakama challenged him alone. There, Vakama showed the results of his toying with the Kanoka Disks: the Vahi Mask of Time, just as "Dume" had wanted. Makuta offered him membership in his Brotherhood, but Vakama flatly refused and attempted to use the Vahi's powers against Makuta. Unfortunately, Vakama wasn't able to control its power, and he ended up slowing time to a crawl for both of them. Makuta had launched a deadly blast that Vakama would never be able to dodge when Turaga Lhikan appeared and jumped in the way, sacrificing himself for Vakama. While Makuta went after the Vahi (which had been thrown off Vakama's face from the impact), Lhikan told Vakama how proud he was to have called Vakama a "brother". Spurred on by Lhikan's last words, Vakama finally activated his mask power of Concealment and began using his invisibility to fight Makuta. The other Toa Metru soon made their way to the battlefield, and together the six of them combined their powers to seal Makuta in a prison of solid protodermis.
Exploring Mata Nui[edit | edit source]
In their journey away from Metru Nui, the Toa Metru encountered an old acquaintance of Whenua's named Mavrah. It turns out that some time ago, the two had been part of a project to study a number of sea Rahi; but the Rahi had proved enough of a threat that Turaga Dume had shut down the project. Mavrah had become somewhat obsessed with the Rahi and what could be learned from them, and escaped with the Rahi before the Vahki could less-than-gently drive them out. By the time the Toa Metru found him, he had become paranoid; thinking the Toa were sent to drag him back to the city. The Toa's attempt to escape Mavrah and the Rahi sparked a feeding frenzy; the Toa made it out but Mavrah was washed out to sea, and one of the Matoran Spheres (one that held the traitor Ahkmou) was lost between the waves.
Arriving at the planet's surface, the Toa found a lush tropical island and named it Mata Nui, after the Great Spirit. They each explored the island, looking for good sites to found villages for their respective Matoran, and at Vakama's suggestion created new Toa Stones so that replacement Toa could come if they failed.
The Toa started the trek back to Metru Nui and encountered several Rahi headed in the other direction, scared out of their minds of something. They also wound up facing the Rahi Nui, which attacked and badly injured Nokama. They soon afterwards encountered a plant monster called the Karzahni, a prototype of the Morbuzakh that wanted revenge on Makuta for abandoning it. Karzahni made a deal with the Toa: if the Toa obtained some energized protodermis for it, Karzanhi would cure Nokama of her injuries. The Toa got the energized protodermis, but only after battling an entity made entirely of the strange liquid. Karzahni kept its word and healed Nokama, and in return the Toa gave Karzahni the protodermis; but instead of being transformed as Karzahni expected, it was instead destroyed.
The Great Rescue[edit | edit source]
Upon returning to Metru Nui on a raft of transport parts and dead Karzahni branches, the Toa Metru found a city very different from the one they left: the bioquake during the cataclysm had not only damaged several of the buildings, but also freed most Rahi from where they had been kept in the Archives. Even more unsettling were the numerous spiderwebs covering the city from top to bottom. But Vakama (believing he had failed the Matoran by allowing their capture and Lhikan by not preventing his death) had become dead-set on rescuing the Matoran, and despite their uneasiness none of the Toa would object enough to dissuade him from marching them directly to the Coliseum.
Unfortunately, the Coliseum had become the nesting grounds of the makers of the spiderwebs - hordes of Visorak who had taken over Metru-nui. The Toa were quickly overtaken and captured. Upon orders from their King, Sidorak (with input from his Viceroy, Roodaka), the Visorak bound the Toa in cocoons, injected them with their Hordika venom, and strung them up high above the city. Soon enough, the venom began to take effect, mutating the Toa into horrific bestial forms and causing them to tear out of their cocoons. Just as they were falling to their certain doom, they were caught in midair by the Rahaga, small Rahkshi-like beings who opposed the hordes.
The Rahaga informed the Toa that they were now Toa Hordika, half-beasts that would have to fight to keep their primal rage in check. The Toa also discovered that their powers were also much more limited than they were before. The Rahaga offered to aid the Toa, telling them of a Rahi in Metru Nui called Keetongu who could reverse their mutations... if he even existed.
But the Toa agreed that the Matoran came first; they would deal with their mutations later. To that end, they formed a plan to build airships that would bring the Matoran to Mata Nui and began scouring the city for transport parts and other supplies they would need. However, they not only had to fight against the Visorak hunting them down, but each had their own problems with their new feral sides: where Onewa and Nuju had to struggle to keep their tempers down, Nokama and Whenua enjoyed their new connection to nature a little too much and had to resist the urges to live as beasts. Vakama took the mutations especially hard, as he saw them as the latest in a long string of failures.
A few things of note happened during this time. Turaga Dume somehow awoke from his slumber, though the details of this are still unknown. The Rahaga told the Toa Hordika of the Avohkii, the Great Mask of Light that they had hidden in the city, and the Toa were able to find the Makoki stones to unlock its hiding place and claim it before the Visorak could. And the Toa ended up allying with Krahka and Tahtorak as Sidorak ordered a massive Zivon unleashed on the city; the three beasts fought until they were all banished back into the darkness that Zivon was summoned from. But most devastating was that Roodaka placed information where the Toa would find it; information that stated how Nuhrii, Vhisola, Ahkmou and the others were the ones meant to be Toa, but that Makuta had influenced Lhikan to change his mind so that the destined heroes would never gain power.
Feeling like an imposter as well as a failure (and not being helped by the other Toa complaining about their situation), Vakama briefly considered abandoning them and trying to rescue the Matoran himself, but realized how futile it would be. At that point, Roodaka abducted him and offered him nothing less than command of the Visorak. Vakama saw a chance to take a well-trained army and command them to release the Matoran; and Roodaka encouraged him with the idea that leadership meant blind obedience of the followers, as opposed to the stubborn opposition that the other Toa often gave. He accepted the position, but Roodaka knew Sidorak would not be so easily sold on the idea. She had Vakama kidnap the Rahaga (save Norik, who was left behind to "send a message") as proof of his intentions, and by sweetening the deal with acceptance of Sidorak's long-denied marriage proposals and promises of the other Toa Hordika becoming commanders, Roodaka got Sidorak to welcome Vakama into the army.
Meanwhile, the Rahaga and Toa Hordika decided it was time to pick up the search for Keetongu, as it might be the only way to save Vakama. Once the Rahaga were captured, Norik took the information they had found and led the Toa to a mountain of ice hidden deep within Ko-Metru, where they found the mythical Rahi. After Keetongu heard their tale and how they wanted to help their friend, he agreed to join them - but he would not cure them of their mutations yet; they would need them in the upcoming battle.
Together, the Toa Hordika, Norik, and Keetongu stormed the Coliseum. While Norik freed the other Rahaga and Keetongu went after Sidorak and Roodaka, the Toa fought off the Visorak in search of the Matoran - except for Matau, who went off on his own to face Vakama. At the top of the Coliseum's highest spire, Matau tried to talk down Vakama, reminding him of the Toas' friendship and their strength in unity - even as Vakama tried to kill him. But Matau's words got through; as he lost his grip and started to plummet to the Coliseum floor below, Vakama leapt down and caught him, using Visorak webbing as a bungee cord to keep them from impacting.
Meanwhile, the other Toa found the Matoran - only to be confronted by Roodaka, who had gotten rid of Sidorak and was now sole leader of the Visorak. Matau joined the face-off, and led the other four Toa in blasting Roodaka with their Rhotuka spinners. Vakama entered the fight next to Roodaka, but he turned on her and threatened to fire his own Rhotuka. Roodaka warned that she would order the Visorak to kill them if she died, but her rule was not as complete as she thought; Vakama was still the horde's commander and he gave the order to disband. As Roodaka was a traitor who brought their King to his death, the Visorak complied and Roodaka was left alone. Vakama made good on his threat to fire his Rhotuka, but Norik realized too late that she carried a piece of Makuta's prison: since it had now absorbed all six elemental powers, the prison's seal was broken and Makuta was free again.
But Makuta left the Toa alone for the time being, and with the Toa Hordika cured and becoming Toa Metru again; they, the Rahaga, and Keetongu all worked together to finish the airships they were building and load them with the Matoran, preparing to bring them to their new home of Mata Nui.
Time Trap[edit | edit source]
The Toa were cured and the Matoran saved, but there was still one thing to take care of: the Mask of Time was still out there somewhere, and could be extremely dangerous if in the wrong hands. Vakama went off on his own to retrieve it, asking the others to stay behind in case Makuta went after the Matoran. He found it on the ocean floor, but was quickly knocked out when a waterspout lauched him into the Great Barrier - though not before a strange being came and took the mask from him.
Vakama woke up in a different world than what he remembered: Metru Nui had never fallen, but was still threatened by the Morbuzakh. Lhikan was still alive, but as a Turaga ruling alongside Dume. And Vakama was no longer a Toa; it was Nuhrii who had been empowered in his place. Vakama started to think that perhaps the Vahi had changed the past so that Lhikan had gone with his original choices for Toa Metru. But upon talking with Nuju and Nokama (who were also Matoran again), he found that this world wasn't necessarily better: the Toa Metru here were encouraging and enforcing stricter laws; plus Onewa had been traumatized by Toa Ahkmou and the Vahki, and Matau had been killed in a Morbuzakh attack. But every now and then, Vakama would briefly see the empty, ruined city that he remembered.
Working with Nokama, Vakama searched for information on the Mask of Time. He first found a carving of the being who took the mask from him, identifying it as a Dark Hunter servant called Voporak. Then upon entering Makuta's lair in Po-Metru, a strange hybrid creature attached itself to Vakama's mask and gave him a vision of a future Toa named Krakua, who warned him that in order to save the future, he must be willing to destroy it. Coming out of his vision - Turaga Lhikan had arrived and pried the hybrid off - Vakama acted on his suspicions and flung a Kanoka right at Nokama's head. When it passed through, it proved to Vakama that what he was seeing wasn't real and made the illusion disappear completely. Vakama was a Toa as he had always been, "Nokama" was actually a Visorak playing along, and "Lhikan" was none other than Makuta himself.
Having failed to trick Vakama into handing over the Vahi, Makuta resorted to threats, but was infuriated to find that Voporak had taken the mask. He decided to propose a truce: that he and Vakama would work together to get the mask from the Dark Hunters, and then fight between themselves over it; Vakama reluctantly agreed. The two split up at the Great Temple; while Vakama faced the Hunter named Sentrakh, Makuta was challenged by Keetongu. Vakama caused an explosion in desperation that not only knocked Sentrakh out, but blew Makuta away from the Temple, sparing Keetongu's life. Unfortunately, he was immediately faced with not only Voporak but also Sentrakh's boss, The Shadowed One, who now held the Vahi and wanted to punish the Toa responsible for killing Nidhiki and Krekka. To make matters worse, Makuta returned and started bargaining with the Shadowed One over the mask. Vakama decided to play the two against each other, explaining that Makuta was the one who killed the two Hunters. The Shadowed One and Voporak immediately started fighting Makuta, and the winning side would claim the Mask of Time - if Vakama hadn't grabbed it out of the Shadowed One's hands.
On the way out of the city, Vakama's jetpack was damaged; and he was saved from certain death by the resprouted Karzahni plant. Though Karzahni had been helping Makuta, playing the part of the Morbuzakh in the illusion, it switched sides and helped Vakama by telling him the truth: Lhikan's original choices for Toa Metru were wrong. Makuta would never allow new Toa to arise that could threaten him, so Mata Nui and an Order dedicated to him made false prophesies and evidence to deceive Makuta into thinking Lhikan's choices were correct; and Makuta responded by influencing Lhikan to choose six others. But Mata Nui himself had influenced Makuta's choices; ensuring that the true destined Toa Metru would indeed gain their power.
The conversation was cut short, however, by Makuta arriving and killing Karzahni again. Vakama escaped and, taking Krakua's and Karzahni's words to heart, prepared to stand his ground and face Makuta. When Makuta caught up with him, Vakama threatened to destroy the Mask of Time, warning that he had observed its power leaking out when it was slightly damaged earlier - meaning its complete destruction could have far graver consequences. Once Makuta was convinced that Vakama really would risk the mask's destruction, he reluctantly accepted Vakama's demands: safe passage out of the city for himself, safety for his allies in Metru Nui, and peace for the Matoran - though Makuta only agreed to one year of peace before he would return.
With that, Vakama returned to the other Toa Metru and the Matoran on Mata Nui, telling them only that he got the Vahi and found they were the true destined Toa Metru; he said nothing of the rest as he feared the others would want to provoke a war with Makuta. On the shores of Mata Nui, the Toa Metru gave up their power to awaken the Matoran, becoming the Turaga who would lead them in starting their new lives...
Powers[edit | edit source]
Originally, the Toa Metru had the standard array of Toa powers: strong control over their element, personal tools used mainly for directing their elemental power, and a Kanohi Mask granting an additional ability. However, due to their inexperience their powers were not completely developed; their masks would not activate until they had a moment of self-discovery, and their elemental energies would be used up fairly quickly, requiring a rest period before they could be used again.
When mutated into Toa Hordika, nearly all of their powers became limited. Their masks became fused to their faces and would no longer work, and their elemental powers could only be accessed through Rhotuka spinners that they could now launch from their bodies. They could charge these spinners with their weapons (which were also mutated), but ran the risk of overcharging and unleashing too much power.
Toa Metru/Toa Hordika[edit | edit source]
Vakama[edit | edit source]
Vakama was the Toa Metru of Fire and guardian of Ta-Metru. Vakama was once one of the city's top mask-makers, personally asked by Turaga Dume to create the legendary Vahi, Mask of Time. Though he had become a Toa, he missed his old life in the foundries and wasn't always certain he was ready for the role of hero. He had always been plagued by strange visions of the future; often their meaning was not clear, and it was a "talent" he had always hidden from others. After Lhikan's death and Metru Nui's fall, he began to become reckless in is attempts to make up for these perceived failures - something which became worse after becoming a Hordika. He eventually decided to give up on the Toa ideal of heroism and help his people by joining the Visorak, but soon realized he was going too far and returned to his friends.
As a Toa Metru, Vakama was the Toa of Fire, with all the elemental powers included. He wore a Huna Mask of Concealment, which allows a user to turn invisible; although even in that state, Vakama still casted a shadow. Vakama did not access his mask power until after Turaga Lhikan died. He carried a Kanoka disk launcher that could be used as a jetpack. Although his disk launcher could channel his elemental fire power, Vakama often transmitted it through his hands. As a Toa Hordika, Vakama used two Blazer Claws capable of producing small flames, and a Fire Rhotuka spinner.
For the most part, the other Toa Metru had little problem with Vakama being on the team - though as Hordika they were always a little on edge and Vakama made a convenient scapegoat. Onewa, in particular, didn't think much of the "fire-spitter" and his visions, but Nokama always provided Vakama with moral support and felt he had leadership potential.
Nokama[edit | edit source]
Nokama was the Toa Metru of Water and guardian of Ga-Metru. Before becoming a Toa, Nokama was originally a teacher. Although she had become a heroine, she had not lost the habit of trying to instruct others. Nokama took her responsibilities as a Toa very seriously, and believed they had a duty to the Great Spirit to meet any challenge. She did sometimes miss her old Matoran friends, though, and they did not seem to know how to act toward her. Nokama is very good at seeing the big picture and making connections between seemingly unrelated events; and along with Onewa was the best tactician among the Toa Metru. As a Hordika, she loved her new connection to nature and wondered if she could just live her life that way from then on.
Nokama wore a Rau Mask of Translation, which allowed her to read ancient Matoran dialects and understand spoken languages, including those spoken by Rahi beasts. Her Toa tools were twin Hydro Blades, which could pull her through the protodermis canals at high speed. They were also strong enough to shatter solid rock, and could channel her power to control water. Her Hordika tools were twin Fin Barbs, which were able to dig through most substances and charge up her Water Rhotuka spinner (In Web of Shadows, she was also able to fire her fin barb as a grappling hook to latch onto a Visorak's leg and throw it across the Coliseum).
Nokama generally fit into the group, particularly taking Matau's flirting with good humor and helping Vakama rise to the challenges they faced.
Matau[edit | edit source]
Matau was the Toa Metru of Air and guardian of Le-Metru. As a Matoran, Matau was a top Ussal driver who loved to see how many speed records - and vehicles - he could break. Of all the Toa, he was the most excited about being a hero and couldn't wait for all the public acclaim he was sure was coming. He was proud, impulsive, and headstrong; willing to take a risk to prove that he was worthy of being a "Toa-hero"; and considered any bumps and bruises he got in the line of duty to be worth it. Of all the Toa, he took his Hordika state the hardest, as heroes were not supposed to suffer such a cursed existence - and the mutation ruined his dashing good looks, to boot.
Matau wore a Mahiki Mask of Illusion, which not only allowed him to create illusions but also shapeshift. He could duplicate the voices of those he impersonated, but did not assume their powers. He carried two Aero-Slicers which were strong enough to cut through energy fields and could also serve as glider wings and rotors; they also channeled his elemental air power. As a Toa Hordika, his Fang Blades could cut through most substances, and serve to charge his Air Rhotuka.
Of the other Toa, Matau openly flirted with Nokama, but she did not seem interested. He had nothing against Vakama, but he felt the other three took the whole experience too seriously and should really lighten up.
Onewa[edit | edit source]
Onewa was the Toa Metru of Stone and guardian of Po-Metru. Onewa was a master stone carver before his transformation. Like many residents of Po-Metru, he looks down on those from Ko-Metru and Onu-Metru as not doing "real work." Onewa is courageous, almost to the point of being reckless, and refuses to accept defeat. He will always find a way to win and could always be trusted in a crisis. He has enormous confidence in his own ability to achieve, and has more than once come up with the plan to save the situation. As a Toa Hordika, Onewa's already-aggressive attitude became even worse.
Onewa wore a Komau Mask of Mind Control, which allowed him to direct the actions of other beings. He carried two Proto Pitons, which he uses to scale buildings and swing from one to another; they also served to channel his power to control stone. His Hordika tools were two Claw Clubs that could hurl stones or energize his Stone Rhotuka.
Onewa had no truly close friends among the Toa Metru, mainly because he was so quick to anger. He particularly teased Vakama and Nuju, neither one of whom were his idea of a Toa.
Whenua[edit | edit source]
Whenua was the Toa Metru of Earth and guardian of Onu-Metru. Whenua had the love for history common to all archivists, and was still happiest when he was down in the Archives. He knew the Toa Metru were powerful, but he also knew they were not invincible; this made him a bit more cautious than some of the others, except perhaps in cases where the Archives were threatened. As a Hordika, he was tempted to leave his old life behind and live carefree like the Rahi he had studied.
Whenua wore a Ruru Mask of Night Vision, enabling him to light the way for the other Toa, as well as providing him with a degree of X-ray vision. He carried two Earthshock Drills, which could punch holes in virtually anything as well as creating a powerful sonic force when rotated at maximum speed. They also channeled his power to control earth. His Hordika Thumper tools could summon subterranean creatures or power up his Earth Rhotuka. He felt much closer to the Rahi than the others.
He quarreled with Nuju, who believes the past is unimportant, and with Onewa, who enjoyed poking fun at the Toa he referred to as an "Onu-Matoran stock boy."
Nuju[edit | edit source]
Nuju was the Toa Metru of Ice and guardian of Ko-Metru. Nuju was a well-respected seer before becoming a Toa - and sometimes he wished he could go back to that role. While he took his duties as a Toa seriously, it was not a job he would have volunteered for: being a Toa Metru meant having to work with others he was not sure he liked and having little time to study. Like any Ko-Matoran, he preferred to go his own way and choose his own actions rather than follow foolish orders. Although he sometimes seemed aloof, he was usually mapping out the consequences of a plan before suggesting it. Nuju was always focused on the future, which explains why he argued regularly with Whenua, who reveres the past. His Hordika side challenged all this logic and control with pure emotion, causing immense conflict within him.
Nuju wore a Matatu Mask of Telekinesis, which allowed him to move objects and beings with his mind. He had be able to see his target in order to affect it, and his mask was designed with basic vision enhancements to make that easier. He carried a pair of Crystal Spikes, useful for digging into the sheer sides of Knowledge Towers and channeling his ice power (he could also use the spikes as snowshoes). His Hordika tools are Hordika Teeth, which he used to summon flying Rahi or charge his Ice Rhotuka. In Web of Shadows, his mask's mechanical eyepiece was also shown to provide thermal vision.
Nuju didn't have any specific problems with the others (aside from the general rivalry with Whenua), though he preferred to work alone whenever possible.
Notes[edit | edit source]
- The term "Metru" is likely based on the English prefix "metro-", which indicates a relation to the city. (see Wikitionary definition)
- The six Toa Metru were not the only Toa to ever be affected by Hordika venom. One such Toa Hordika now works for the Dark Hunters under the codename "Savage".
- A running gag in BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui involves Matau slamming himself upon a flat surface or an object. Among these moments include:
- Testing out a prototype vehicle in the Le-Metru Test Track as a Matoran (Matau bumped onto Toa Lhikan's shins after the vehicle was destroyed and he skidded along the track)
- Shortly after all six Toa Metru received their powers (he spun and hit himself on a pillar in the Toa Suva)
- While retrieving a Great Kanoka Disk (collided with the side of the Le-Metru chute system)
- In the Coliseum (his back collided with a part of the wall after Turaga Dume told the Matoran manning the controls to activate the "sea of protodermis")
- Bodyslamming into the Coliseum chute system (hit the protodermis hard before being sucked into the chute's flow)
- Shortly after discovering his weapons' secondary flight power (slammed face-first in midair onto a giant mosaic of Turaga Dume in Ko-Metru).
- While riding a Kikanalo (similar to the chute-dive except much harder)
- Though the Toa Hordika figurines feature weapons attached both hands of the Toa, the configuration was changed to having only one weapon-hand (right hand) and one normal one (left hand) instead in the movie, BIONICLE 3: Web of Shadows.
- All the Toa Hordika have the same number of pieces.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
|This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Toa Metru/Toa Hordika. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Brickipedia, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license, however please help to make this a unique article to Brickipedia in any way you can.


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Marancheville Cognac
A young brand by name, but not by experience, Marancheville Cognac is the creation of two family men, Gregoire and Laurent, who decided to not only distill eaux-de-vie for the larger known brands, but to put their passion into creating quality cognacs under their own brand. What a great result!
Check out Marancheville's Facebook page
查看 Marancheville: Les Couturiers ,16130 Juillac-le-Coq
Vintage year
L'ESSENTIEL A45 Marancheville
Vintage year
Marancheville Discovery Set
History of Marancheville Cognac
It was in the early 'noughties' that two brother-in-laws, Laurent and Gregoire, decided to bring their families to Cognac to work in the family distillery. It didn't take long for passion and excitement of the industry to fill them, and while the main aim of the family work is still to distill eaux-de-vie for some of the largest names in the business, in 2012 they decided to also begin to manufacture a small range of cognacs under their own name - and Marancheville Cognac was born.
Marancheville Cognac Today
Thanks to the decades of experience within the family, Gregoire and Laurent have an enviable network of cognac professionals whose advice they sought both directly and indirectly to create both the brand and their cognacs. While their core business still remains distilling for the larger houses, the guys pour a huge amount of effort and skill into their own range.
In their own words, they say that the creation of Marancheville Cognac is done purely for their own passion and pleasure.
News, products, and awards
Still a very young brand, the house of Marancheville currently markets 3 cognacs of their own. These are a VSOP, a 10 year old, and an XO.
Visit Marancheville Cognac
Gregoire and Laurent welcome visitors. To meet them it's recommended to make an appointment, so contact the house directly to arrange a mutually convenient time.
浏览 Marancheville Cognac 官方网页


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Plant a Tree: A Native Community Takes a Step to Reverse Climate Change
Stephanie Woodard
Don't miss the special, extra-length issue of In These Times devoted entirely to the subject of socialism in America today. This special issue is available now. Order your copy today for just $5.00, shipping included.
"Don't despair, if you feel political decisions nowadays are not being made on your behalf — or even against your wishes," says Clayton Apikan Brascoupé, a Mohawk farmer who has lived and worked for many years at Tesuque Pueblo, in New Mexico.
His solution? "Start by planting trees," he says. "They are a positive answer to climate change and much more. Trees build up soils organically and increase their water-holding capacity. They sequester excess climate-altering carbon dioxide. They attract beneficial insects that help other crops and produce food, medicine, building material and other useful items. Planting them can transform a community."
Brascoupé directs the Traditional Native American Farmers Association (TNAFA), headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which has engaged the Indigenous community through this very practice. Tiny TNAFA, comprised of its director and a few volunteers, specializes in projects that are accomplished easily with inexpensive locally sourced items, yet have enormous effects. "Our philosophy is keeping small and collaborating with people who are committed to doing this work," says Brascoupé. "They can then run with the ideas."
In May, TNAFA held a two-day tree-planting and -care workshop. The course attracted some 25 students from an Apache community, the Navajo Nation and other Pueblos, including Acoma, Zuni, Taos, Hopi and Ohkay Owingeh (formerly called San Juan Pueblo). Participants put in trees and mulched them with donated plant debris from a large commercial greenhouse operation and with easily obtained discarded cardboard and newspaper ("it's everywhere!" says Brascoupé). Water was diverted from sources, like runoff from buildings, that might have been ignored or lost otherwise.
Partners of the workshop included the Taos County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC), where the trees were installed, New Moon Lodge, a Pueblo-based substance-abuse rehabilitation service that provided some of the students, and naturalist Joel Glanzberg, who was one of the presenters. The instructor Jacobo Marcus was provided by Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture, a community-based organization at Hopi Pueblo with an orchard, farmers' market, youth summer program, home-building project and much more.
"The students were excited by the information we covered and planned to stay involved. One will work in his family's orchard and asked if he could also come by and help out at Tesuque," says Brascoupé. This fall, another tree-centric TNAFA course will include more information on propagation and grafting and will explore tapping the sweet maple-like sap of the box-elder, a tree native to the area.
TNAFA also offers an annual six-day Indigenous Sustainable Food Systems Design Course. This year, it will take place July 22 – August 3. Lessons are based on traditional concepts that mimic natural processes and, in doing so, improve the many systems that are currently under siege, from air and water quality to personal and community diet and health. TNAFA attracts young people to its courses, along with interested adults, ensuring that subtly effective indigenous environmental thinking continues into the future.
Brascoupé is one of many members of the international community using environmental actions to increase a sense of empowerment and a belief that this can lead to improved access to justice. The late Wathari Mangai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 with a women's tree-planting program in Kenya that empowered participants and eventually resulted in constructive political change. "We too can create change in our own communities, our states and the nation," says Brascoupé.
Other indigenous involvement in climate-change control can be seen in the proposed Off Fossil Fuels (OFF) Act, sponsored by Congressperson Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), who is of indigenous Samoan ancestry. Major environmental groups support the bill. Among them, Food and Water Watch calls it the "strongest, most aggressive climate and energy legislation" and is celebrating the idea in New York City through Climate Action Mondays.
New York City and other American jurisdictions, including 17 states and large cities like Houston, Miami, and San Francisco, are behind the fight against climate change. This is despite the U.S. having pulled out of the Paris climate accord — or perhaps because of the decision. New York's battle against climate change is longstanding. Along with an efficient and popular public transportation system, the city has well-established programs such as free rain barrels, a Million Trees planting program, and a volunteer corps of more than 12,500 Citizen Pruners and 8,000 additional youth trained to care for street trees. The city has set aside money to retrofit one million buildings and its official vehicle fleet for lower energy use.
Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg donated millions in support of the cause, saying, "We are already halfway there — and we can accelerate our progress further, even without any support from Washington."
Indigenous people currently living in urban areas have also found their way to Brascoupé's courses. "There is plenty they can do in urban settings — certainly by planting trees," he says. "Trees offer privacy, shade and peace of mind. They clean the air and cool buildings. They encourage people to harvest water and put in gardens."
It works when all the actions are easy and the components available, he says. "Identify resources that are cheap or free and already in your community. Find people who are interested, and get started!"
Donate $20 or more to In These Times and we'll send you a copy of Let This Radicalize You.
In this new book, longtime organizers and movement educators Mariame Kaba and Kelly Hayes examine the political lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath, including the convergence of mass protest and mass formations of mutual aid. Let This Radicalize You answers the urgent question: What fuels and sustains activism and organizing when it feels like our worlds are collapsing?
We've partnered with the publisher, Haymarket Books, and 100% of your donation will go towards supporting In These Times.
Stephanie Woodard is an award-winning investigative journalist who writes on human rights and culture. Her book American Apartheid: The Native American Struggle for Self-Determination and Inclusion is based on more than 20 years of reporting in Indigenous communities. She was an editor at major consumer magazines for more than two decades.


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Free People
Designed for women who march to the beat of their own drum, the Free People girl is inspired by fashion, art, music and travel. From hand-stitched seams to delicate lace inserts and vintage-inspired details, the folks at Free People put the FP girl front of mind at every step of the design process. Celebrating the past while looking to the future, Free People pushes design innovation at every opportunity, imbuing the collections with a modern edge.
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How Does an Expert Rate an Antivirus to Be the Top Antivirus Software?
Virus is something that every other user knows very well about. When it comes to the effects of having a virus in one's computer they can be dangerous in some cases. When the choice of an antivirus application is considered every user wishes to find the Top Antivirus Software for his personal use. In order to find such application an expert's rating can help the user reach his decision more easily and effectively. Searching for an antivirus application on different websites one by one can be very confusing because every other website will be promising to deliver the best results. That is why one should look for a review of the antivirus applications produced by well known companies in this field. This would really make it easy for you to evaluate the best product that fulfills your requirements.
For your help here are some important tips that can help you in making a choice as to choosing your application. First of all consider one product that is produced and marketed by a major company of this field. As you know that every other day you are more likely to find a new and improved threat, that is why the application that you are considering right now, must provide its automatic updates for the application so as to protect itself from the threats because many viruses attack your Top Antivirus Software as their first target. A company should have its strong engineering team that is well capable of finding a solution for rectification of the effects of newly produced viruses and spread this solution to all of its users in a quicker manner. In this regard you must be aware that only a large company can afford the high costs of having such infrastructure and programmers with them. If the application you are considering to install is produced by a big company of the field of internet and security then it is more likely to provide you the solutions quickly and efficiently.
Now you need to consider the features that are related to your own requirements. Best choice of the good Antivirus Software would reflect the availability of a spyware remover and the malware scanners as their additional features of the application. You may not be using all those features all the time or in all the cases. Considering the usage and availability of these extra features only would not be a rational choice of the user because it will result in extra costs attached to this decision because you are buying extra features and they are also expected to slow down the performance speed of your computer. This reason is quite enough for the user to consider purchasing only those features that are relevant to his demand.
Before you make the final decision, you should be aware of the fact that you cannot have complete knowledge as to the performance and the usage of the antivirus application that you are going to purchase or install in your computer. That is why the company that you recently choose must be offering 24 hours a day technical support to their users so that whenever you feel like being helpless you can find a way out.
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Electronics retailer RadioShack announced Wednesday that it will team up with Cricket Communications to launch a no-contract wireless service.
Rates for "feature" phones using the service are $25 a month for 300 voice minutes and $35 a month for 1000 voice minutes. Both plans come with unlimited texting and Internet access.
Rates for smartphone plans are $50 a month with 1GB of full-speed data and $60 a month with 2.5GB of full-speed data. Both plans include unlimited voice, domestic text messaging, and music with Muve. The $60 plan also includes unlimited international texting.
Muve Music is a Cricket service that offers unlimited full song downloads from a catalog that includes millions of songs and is available to subscribers for no additional cost. According to RadioShack, its Muve Music phones are the only ones that come bundled with an 8GB memory card, which can be used to store up to 6000 songs, or a combination of songs, photos, and videos.
Available Phones
As reported last month, two phone models are tied to the new no-contract offering. The feature phone for the service is the Huawei Pillar ($39.99), which has a QWERTY keyboard, camera and supports Web access.
The smartphone for the service is the Huawei Mercury ($149.99). It runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and has a 1.4GHz processor, four-inch FWVGA display and eight-megapixel camera.
Two additional phone models will be available for the service at the end of the month, RadioShack said.
In teaming up with Cricket—which made headlines earlier this year when it began selling iPhones in a pre-paid offering —RadioShack is becoming what's known in the telcom industry as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), or a company that uses a carrier's network service and brands it as its own.
MVNOs have a checkered track record at best. Both ESPN and Disney tried the approach and eventually abandoned it. Of course, neither ESPN nor Disney has the retail network—4700 company stores, 1100 dealer and franchise shops and 1500 wireless phone centers—and customer base attracted to economical wireless plans that RadioShack has.
Follow freelance technology writer John P. Mello Jr. and Today@PCWorld on Twitter.


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California, New York set to raise minimum wage to $15
California and New York — where almost 1 in 5 Americans live — are on their way to raising their minimum wage to $15 an hour, and the activists who spearheaded those efforts are now setting their sights on other similarly liberal, Democratic-led states.
Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington are among the states with active "Fight for $15" efforts, and even economic experts who oppose the increased rate see it gaining momentum.
"There is lots of pressure to do this," said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former Congressional Budget Office director who is now president of the conservative American Action Forum, which says big minimum-wage increases cost jobs.
The idea faces headwinds in more conservative and rural states in the South and the Midwest. But activists believe the movement is picking up steam, even if their two big victories so far were achieved in two highly receptive places: trend-setting, liberal, labor-friendly states with a high cost of living and yawning gaps between rich and poor, especially in New York City and Silicon Valley.
Since the $15-an-hour movement planted roots with a 2012 New York City fast food workers strike, it has gained ground amid the broader debate over income inequality. Cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco have recently agreed to go to $15 in the coming years, and Oregon's minimum wage is headed to $14.75 in Portland.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has been pushing for a $15-an-hour standard nationally, while President Barack Obama has called more generally for raising the minimum wage. The federal minimum is currently $7.25; 29 states and Washington, D.C., have set theirs higher.
Sanders' primary opponent and a former New York senator, Hillary Clinton, has supported raising the federal minimum wage to $12. Her campaign website says she also believes "we should go further than the federal minimum through state and local efforts, and by workers organizing and bargaining for higher wages, such as the Fight for 15."
New York and California are now on track to have the highest. California Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, is set Monday to sign a measure boosting the current $10 rate to $15 by 2022.
In New York, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders have agreed on a more complex plan. The $9 minimum would gradually rise to $15 in New York City by the end of 2018 and then in some prosperous suburbs by the end of 2021, but only to $12.50 in 2020 in the rest of the state, with further increases to $15 tied to inflation and other economic indicators. The measure headed to Cuomo's desk after passing the Legislature on Friday.
New York's graduated approach stemmed from negotiations with Republicans who worried such a sharp increase would devastate businesses, particularly in the more fragile economy outside the New York metropolitan area.
Similar dynamics may play out in other parts of the country. While $15 may seem reasonable in high-paying areas, "it's a much harder lift in low-wage areas," said Jared Bernstein, senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and former adviser to Vice President Joe Biden.
Also, California and New York have politically influential unions, strong community organizing activity and Democratic politicians eager to translate the movement into legislation.
"That's not going to happen in some states, particularly in the South and maybe some of the Midwest," said Peter Dreier, a politics professor at Occidental College.
Idaho lawmakers, for example, recently passed a measure barring local governments from raising the statewide minimum of $7.25, and Republicans in Arizona are trying to do the same.
The income gap has been widening in every state for at least 30 years but is particularly pronounced in states with large financial or information technology industries, according to economists Mark Price of the Keystone Research Center and Estelle Sommeiller of the Institute for Research in Economics and Social Sciences in France.
The top 1 percent of New York taxpayers, for instance, earned 40 times the average income of the state's remaining 99 percent in 2011, according to research from University of California at Berkeley economist Emmanuel Saez. Nationally, the top 1 percent made 24 times that of everyone else; in California, the top earned 26 times more.
Economists have long debated the impact of raising the minimum wage, and some recent research has found that modest increases seldom cost many jobs. But the jumps to $15 are larger than those economists have tested in the past, and there are fears of widespread job losses in some places.
In New York City, Joseph Sferrazza worries that paying $15 will cost him his bakery, La Bella Ferrera. The rate is nearly double what he now pays his employees, mostly students working part time.
"The rent is so high, the profit margin is already so low, I don't see how we can make it work," he said. "You can only charge so much for a cookie."
But $15 an hour would be a 50 percent raise for Maria Velez, 29, who makes $10 an hour working at a children's program and helps support her parents and grandparents.
"This city is crazy expensive and only getting worse," she said. If the boost took effect immediately, "it would make my life and my family's life better — but in five years? I can't say."
Klepper reported from Albany. Associated Press writers Colleen Long in New York; Paul Wiseman and Christopher Rugaber in Washington; and Jonathan Cooper and Alison Noon in Sacramento, California, contributed to this report.


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About Straphanger
The Latest
The Bookshelf
recognized with
prizes, nominations!
Best English-language Non-Fiction (Quebec), 2012
The Quebec Writers' Federation Mavis Gallant Prize for Non-Fiction, Montreal, Quebec
Finalist for Best Non-Fiction (Canada), 2012
The Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Non-Fiction Prize, Toronto, Canada
Longlisted for Best Non-Fiction (Canada), 2012
The B.C. National Non-Fiction Prize, Vancouver, British Columbia
Named one of 2012's Best Books
The Globe and Mail
, November 23, 2012
Named one of 2012's Best Books
Editors' Pick, November, 2012.
Named one of 2013's Top Ten Books on Urban Planning, Design, and Development
, December 10, 2012.
In the 20th century, our greatest cities were almost ruined by the automobile. Only a global revolution in transportation can bring them back from the brink.
The automobile has encouraged obesity and social isolation, destroyed public space, encouraged fossil-fuel driven foreign wars, and undone the fabric of once great cities. Those are some pretty heavy accusations, but Taras Grescoe makes the charges stick with a compelling mix of reportage, cutting humor, and historic research.
But Straphanger isn't just another screed against the car. In this timely and persuasive book, Grescoe joins the ranks of the world's straphangers-the growing number of people who rely on public transportation to go about the business of their daily lives. In North America, the perception of transit is often unflattering-it is too often seen as a squalid last resort for those with one too many drunk-driving charges, too poor to afford insurance, or too decrepit to get behind the wheel of a car. Indeed, a century of auto-oriented culture and bad city planning has left most of North America with transit that is underfunded, ill maintained, and ill conceived. But as the demand for oil fast outpaces the world's supply, a revolution in transportation is under way.
On a journey that takes him to New York, Moscow, Paris, Copenhagen, Tokyo, Bogotá, Phoenix, Portland, Vancouver, and Philadelphia, Grescoe gets the inside story on the world's great transit systems, going beneath the streets to see subway tunnels being dug, boarding state-of-the-art streetcars, and hopping on high-speed trains, along the way uncovering new ideas that will help undo the damage a century of car-centric planning has done to our cities. Ultimately he envisions a future with convenient, affordable, and sustainable urban transportation-and better city living-for all.
Praise for Straphanger
"All the cities we admire most in the world-the places young people want to live-boast great public transit systems or are in the process of building them. Taras Grescoe explains why: there's nothing more civilized than a great subway, or a bus rapid transit system, or a squad of ferries, or any of the other ways we've learned to move ourselves around urban space. As this splendid account makes clear, a car isn't liberation: not needing a car is liberation!"
-Bill McKibben, author of
Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet
"I was browsing through Straphanger when I came upon a chapter on Tokyo, a city I know pretty well. I soon discovered that Taras Grescoe knows far more than I about the design and infrastructure of that immense megalopolis-and he explains it all in a clear and engaging way. He does the same for a dozen cities around the world, and proves convincingly that cities work best when they treat the private car as an unneeded intruder."
-T.R. Reid, author of
The United States of Europe
"Grescoe's ability to mix first-hand transit experience in more than a dozen cities with the politics of city and transit planning makes for compelling reading. It makes you want to travel the world to ride a few more buses and subways."
-John Sewell, former Mayor of Toronto, author of
The Shape of the City
"Cities around the world are struggling with public transit, the key foundation of modern city building. In this wonderful book, Taras Grescoe looks at what is happening in major cities across the globe, and across time. Anybody charged with making transit decisions in any city, and citizens trying to make sense of the political conversation about mobility- from walking and cycling to light rail and subways, and how to pay for them-should read Straphanger."
-Alan Broadbent, author of
Urban Nation: Why We Need to Give Power Back to the Cities to Make Canada Strong
"A strong and timely argument for moving metropolitan motorists away from their cars."
Publishers Weekly
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text: Would you bet money on the security of your company's systems? If your answer is no, you're far from alone. Most IT professionals lack so much confidence in the security of their organizations' networks that they wouldn't bet a dime on it, according to the results of a recent survey. \nThe survey data speaks to both the inadequacies of corporate security measures and to the persistence of ever-growing security threats. \nWhen asked to bet money that their networks would not be compromised in the next 12 months, 57 percent of IT professionals polled on behalf of PhoneFactor, a provider of multi-factor authentication solutions, would not take the bet. Granted, the potential wagers PhoneFactor presented were high: The company asked respondents to bet one of five amounts on the security of their networks: $0; $1,000; $5,000; $50,000 or $1 million. \nEven if PhoneFactor had offered a few wagers under $1,000, respondents probably would have remained unlikely to take the bet, judging by their answers to other survey questions. For example, 84 percent of respondents think an expert hacker could infiltrate their corporate network. Of that 84 percent, nearly a quarter (23 percent) say an expert hacker could definitely gain access to their network. \nIf their networks were to get breached, only 25 percent of respondents are very confident that they would know they had been penetrated. \n\nSlideshow: The Data Breach QuizSlideshow: The Future of Malware\nThe prevalence of malware (including root kits, zero day exploits and man-in-the-browser attacks) is the No. 1 reason respondents believe their networks are vulnerable, according to 55 percent of those surveyed. Not quite half (45 percent) of respondents believe employees using personal devices to access corporate systems makes their networks more prone to attacks. The sheer volume of attacks ranked third, at 35 percent, followed by the widespread use of remote network access (32 percent). \nMore than 300 IT professionals responded to the survey, which was conducted online in February 2012. Meridith Levinson covers Careers, Security and Cloud Computing for CIO.com. Follow Meridith on Twitter @meridith. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline and on Facebook. Email Meridith at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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A friendly reminder from In-House Inspections!
If chilly temperatures make you want to snuggle under a blanket in front of a roaring fire, just think about your poor water pipes that can't escape the cold. You can't wrap your home in a warm, protective blanket when winter arrives, but a few winterization steps can help ensure your home weathers the winter safely and efficiently.
"Winterizing is definitely an important way to protect a home from the ravages of snow, ice and harsh temperatures, but it's also an opportunity to boost a home's energy efficiency," says Chris Williams, merchandising director at Lowe's. "Some of the easiest and most effective winterization projects can also contribute to energy savings throughout the year."
Here are seven (7) home winterization projects to improve energy efficiency and prepare your home for winter:
- Protect pipes — Any plumbing pipes that run through uninsulated areas such as a crawl space or attic are at risk for freezing if temperatures plummet. Seal any cracks or openings where pipes exit the home, and fit unprotected pipes with pipe sleeves. Insulating pipes can reduce heat loss that makes your water heater work harder and use more energy, and raise the water temperature 2 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Add weather stripping to doors and windows — If your home is drafty, adding weather stripping to seal air leaks can reduce heating bills as much as 20 percent, the DOE says. Identify places where air leaks occur in your home, and choose the right weather stripping for each area.
- Caulk around windows and doors — Air can also leak through minute cracks around windows and doors. Sealing such cracks with caulk further reduces the air leaks that make your furnace work harder and your home feel drafty.
- Add insulation — Insulation can make your home stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and help your heating and cooling systems work more efficiently. How much insulation your home needs depends on factors such as where you live, how old the home is and how well it was insulated to begin with. If you're unsure how much insulation your home needs, check out the Energy Star insulation guide.
- Protect outdoor plumbing — Whether you have an outdoor shower or a simple hose connection, it's important to protect outdoor plumbing from freezing. Water freezing in outdoor pipes can cause severe damage and costly water leaks. Turn off water flow to outdoor pipes and flush the water from the system. Remove and store garden hoses for the winter. If you spot any cracks or problems, take care of them right away. Finally, add insulation, such as a hose bib cover to outdoor faucets.
- Prepare the lawn for winter — A healthy lawn requires less watering and work in spring than one that's been ravaged by winter's rigors. Keep grass mowed until it stops growing, and rake leaves and grass clippings to maximize sun exposure for grass. Mulch around plants and trees to protect them against harsh weather and freezing temperatures.
- Clean windows — Sunlight is a natural, cost-effective way to help keep your home warmer during winter. Opening drapes and blinds can maximize the amount of sun that enters a room and help warm it. However, dirty windows can reduce the amount of sunlight that gets through the glass. Plus, clean windows will help make your home feel brighter and lighter during the darkest days of winter.
For more energy-saving winterization ideas, visit www.lowes.com. – (BPT)
When you or someone you know needs the services of a quality home inspection company, we would truly appreciate you thinking of us.
You can schedule right from our website or call our office at (901) 609-7555 now. Thank You!
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In-House Inspections LLC has been providing Home Inspections, Buyer's Inspections, Seller's Inspections and Warranty Inspections to home buyers and home sellers in the following areas of Memphis, Shelby, Tipton, Fayette Counties in West Tennessee and Desoto, Marshall and Tate Counties in North Mississippi and the surrounding areas since 2006.