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Fall is For Apples
|The legendary Johnny Appleseed was a real person who lived in the days of the American frontier. Born in 1774, his real name was John Chapman. He dreamed of a land where no one went hungry because apples were plentiful, a land covered with blossoming apple trees. Beginning in his twenties, and for nearly 50 years, the nurseryman with a big love of apples roamed the land planting apple trees. He created apple orchards out of the wilderness in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Johnny Appleseed left a lasting contribution. His efforts changed the landscape and today that region is a very rich source of apples.
Over time American apple growers have developed and improved many varieties of apples and the U.S. is now the top apple producing country in the world. Today the state of Washington grows the most apples, followed by New York , then Michigan. Apples are America's favorite fruit and Fall is the season for fresh apples. Though many apple varieties are sold in supermarkets all year round, the freshest apples are available from September through November.
An Apple A Day Can Keep the Doctor Away - Buying Apples - Apple Storage - Cooking and Baking With Apples - Halve, quarters and slice - To prevent browning - Apple Yields Apple Recipes Click on a name to view the recipe. Caramel Apple Dip Apple Sausage Breakfast Casserole Apple Raisin or Apple Cranberry Filled Squash Baked Apples - slow cooker recipe Apple, Bean and Pork Chop Bake Apples For Your Country Kitchen ..... Fall apple pie photo courtesy of The U.S. Apple Association.
Apples are good for you! Research tells us that apples really do promote good health. They contain numerous essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. They're beneficial to your teeth, your skin, your digestive system, your nerves and your overall good health. An apple every day really can help prevent heart disease by reducing cholesterol levels. Eating apples not only lowers cholesterol, it also improves the ratio of beneficial HDL to harmful LDL. They contain compounds that act as antioxidants against LDL, the "bad" cholesterol that clogs arteries. Studies have also shown a link between apples in your daily diet and a lower risk of other illness, including certain cancers.
This is the time of year to drive to an apple orchard for just picked local varieties. If you have apples in your refrigerator, you have tasty nutritious snacks plus a main ingredient for creating anything from healthy appetizers to delicious desserts. When selecting apples, press gently with your fingers to check for firmness. Choose apples that are firm, with no soft spots or blemishes. There are many varieties of apples to chose from. Some are best for eating fresh while others are best for cooking and baking. Click Here for more information about the different varieties of apples and their uses.
Handle apples gently to prevent bruising. To maintain quality, juiciness and crispness, store fully ripe apples in the crisper section of your refrigerator. Store them away from onions and other foods with strong odors. Never store them next to broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, or spinach. Apples emit ethylene gas which will speed the ripening of other fruit, so keep them away from kiwi fruit, peaches, plums, pears. and other produce which over-ripen quickly. (To ripen green bananas, place them in a paper bag with an apple) When stored properly, most apples will keep for about 6 weeks.
Peeling or Paring -
When peeling is necessary before cooking, peel whole apples before cutting. Use a sharp paring knife or a fruit and vegetable peeler. Cut or peel the skin from the apple in strips or in a continuing spiral.
There are crank-type apple peeler, corer, slicer gadgets. These are a great convenience if you have alot of apples to use. They work best with firm apples that are uniform in size and free of blemishes
Use an apple corer -
for apple dumplings, baked apples, or before cutting apples into rings. On a cutting board, insert the corer directly into the center of the apple. Push straight down and twist slightly with even pressure and to remove the core and push it through. This can be done before or after an apple has been peeled, but a hollow-core apple might break easily while peeling.
Halve, then quarter the apple lengthwise and slice away the core. For thinner slices, cut quarters lengthwise again. Or, use a corer-slicer gadget to core and slice apples into uniform wedges in one step.
When cut, apples turn brown quickly. To prevent browning when cutting apples into slices or wedges to serve on a fresh fruit tray or to use raw in a fruit salad, dip freshly cut apples in lemon juice and water or in a solution made with a fresh fruit preservative
Bread & Muffins
Misc. Apple Recipes
Salads & Side Dishes
Main Dishes & Casseroles
Pfaltzgraff Delicious Mixing Bowls - Set of 3
These hard-working stoneware bowls, in Pfaltzgraff's Delicious pattern are great for mixing batters, cookie dough and sauces, but are pretty enough to use as serving bowls on your table.
Pfaltzgraff Plymouth Pie Server with Sculpted Lid
This beautifully sculpted Pie Keeper by Pfaltzgraff will help your homemade pie stay fresh longer. Part of Pfaltzgraff" "Plymouth" collection, it also makes a stunning fall centerpiece.
You Should Also Read:
The Home Cooking Recipe Index and Site Map
The Home Cooking Cookbook Corner
Fall is for Pumpkins
Related Articles
Editor's Picks Articles
Top Ten Articles
Previous Features
Site Map
Content copyright © 2023 by Sandy Moyer. All rights reserved.
This content was written by Sandy Moyer. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Allyson Elizabeth D´Angelo for details.
Buying Apples -
Apple Storage -
Cooking and Baking With Apples -
Halve, quarters and slice -
To prevent browning -
Apple Yields
Apple Recipes
Click on a name to view the recipe.
Caramel Apple Dip
Apple Sausage Breakfast Casserole
Apple Raisin or Apple Cranberry Filled Squash
Baked Apples - slow cooker recipe
Apple, Bean and Pork Chop Bake
Apples For Your Country Kitchen .....
Fall apple pie photo courtesy of The U.S. Apple Association.


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Find a Dental Implant Specialist
Maybe you need to have your teeth fixed because of some bad teeth problems; if you do, you are not alone as there are many other people who need these things. Dental issues are actually pretty common and if you are that person who has some dental issues, you have come to the right place today. The good news is that there are many dental clinics out there that you can go to for the help of your teeth. It is a really wise idea to go see a dentist if you are that person with dental issues that you can not solve yourself. If you stick around, you will find out what wonderful things you can get when you go to those dental experts so make sure that you go see them if you have any problems with your teeth.
If you are opting for getting those dental implants, you might want to figure out what they are first before you get them. You might have lost your tooth during an accident and if you would want to have a new replacement tooth, you can get those dental implants. There are some dental implants that are also used as orthodontic anchors that can anchor teeth in a certain place so that they do not come off easily. If you need dentures, you might want to get dental implants for this as well so that your dentures are going to be solid and immovable. It is a good idea to talk to your dentist before you get those dental implants and see what they are all about.
If you are not sure where you can go to have those dental implants implanted on your teeth, you will not have a hard time finding those good dental clinics. When you find a good dental clinic, you can get to find out what they can help you with and once you know, you are going to be more at ease with those dental clinics and with those dentists and orthodontists. You might want to undergo a dental implant surgery and if you are not sure about a certain dentists, you should look for those really professional and experienced ones so that you can be sure that your dental implant surgery will be a success. You should not worry because getting dental implants is not something new but it has been in practice for years and years already. You can study more about dental implants if you want to and if you are really curious about them and how they can help people with dental issues that need help or a good fix.

subset: commoncrawl


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The same process that allows water to trickle through coffee grinds to create your morning espresso may have played a key role in the formation of the early Earth and influenced its internal organization, according to a new study by scientists at Stanford Univ.'s School of Earth Sciences.
The finding, published in Nature Geoscience, lends credence to a theory first proposed nearly half a century ago suggesting that Earth's iron-rich core and layered internal structure might have formed in a series of steps that took place over millions of years under varying temperature and pressure conditions.
"We know that Earth today has a core and a mantle that are differentiated. With improving technology, we can look at different mechanisms of how this came to be in a new light," said study leader Wendy Mao, an asst. prof. of geological and environmental sciences at Stanford, and of photon sciences at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, which is operated by the university.
Earth's innards are presently divided into layers, with the rocky mantle composed mostly of silicates overlying an iron-rich metallic core. How the planet came to have this orderly arrangement is a major mystery, especially since scientists think its beginnings were messy and chaotic, the result of small bodies made up of rock and metals crashing and clumping together shortly after the formation of the sun and the birth of the solar system some 4.5 billion years ago.
How did Earth evolve from this conglomerated mass of rocks and metals into its current layered state?
Separating metal from rock
One idea is that the heat generated by the collisions and by the radioactive decay of certain isotopes warmed the Earth. The planet could have gotten so hot that its rocks and metals melted. The molten rocks and metals in this "magma ocean" would then have separated into distinct layers as a result of their different densities. Iron would have drifted downward towards the planet's center, while silicates remained on top.
Other scientists have proposed that even if the early Earth's temperature was not hot enough to melt silicates, the molten iron might still have separated out by percolating through the solid silicate layer.
The thought was that pockets of molten iron trapped in the mantle layer could tunnel through the surrounding rock to create channels, or capillaries. This network of tunnels could have helped funnel molten iron towards the planet's center to join the spherical metallic heart that was slowly amassing there.
However, this "percolation" theory was dealt a major blow when scientists discovered that, in the upper mantle layer at least, the molten iron tended to form isolated spheres that didn't interact with one another, similar to the way water beads up on a waxed surface.
For this reason, scientists had previously thought that percolation couldn't be possible, Mao said.
Recreating ancient Earth
But a new experiment conducted by Mao and her team uncovered fresh evidence that percolation might still be a viable mechanism for explaining the formation of Earth's core.
Working with researchers at the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE)'s SLAC facility, Mao and her team recreated a speck of the molten silicate and iron material that scientists believe existed deep inside the early Earth.
To do this, Mao's team placed minute amounts of iron and silicate rock into a metal chamber that they then inserted between the tips of two small diamonds. Squeezing these "diamond anvils" together recreated the immense pressures present in the Earth's interior, and a laser beam was used to heat the sample to a high enough temperature to melt the iron.
After the sample cooled, the scientists examined it using x-ray-computed tomography. Tomography creates a 3-D image of an object by combining a series of 2-D slices. A computer program then helps flesh out the re-creation of the object.
A state-of-the-art x-ray microscope at SLAC allowed Mao's team to resolve nanometer-scale details in their sample of heated silicates and iron. The higher resolution allowed the scientists to observe never-before-seen changes in the texture and shape of the molten iron and silicates as they responded to the same intense pressures and temperatures that were present deep in the early Earth.
Which happened first?
The experiment confirmed the findings from previous studies that molten iron in the upper mantle tended to form isolated blobs, which would have prevented percolation from happening. "In order for percolation to be efficient, the molten iron needs to be able to form continuous channels through the solid," Mao explained.
However, the scientists found that at the higher pressures and temperatures that would have been present in the early Earth's lower mantle, the structure of the silicates changed in a way that permitted connections to form between pockets of molten iron, making percolation possible.
"Scientists had said this theory wasn't possible, but now we're saying, under certain conditions that we know exist in the planet, it could happen," Mao said. "So this brings back another possibility for how the core might have formed."
The team's new findings do not rule out the possibility that differentiation began when Earth was in a magma ocean state. In fact, both mechanisms could have occurred, said study first author Crystal Shi, a graduate student in Mao's laboratory.
"We don't know which mechanism happened first, or if the two happened together," Shi said. "At the very beginning, Earth would have still been very hot, and the magma ocean mechanism could have been important. But later as the planet cooled, percolation may have become the dominant mechanism."
Source: Stanford Univ.


text: What options do you have in the face of foreclosure? Can you do something to stop the constant phone calls from debt collectors? An Utah bankruptcy attorney may be able to address your particular needs and concerns, offering helpful insight regarding various debt relief options that may be available to you. Filing for bankruptcy in Utah can be complicated, and it is also important to determine whether this is really the right course of action for you to take. These are all matters that a lawyer who understands the intricacies of state and federal bankruptcy laws and proceedings in Utah can deal with. Look over the following search results to find an Utah bankruptcy and debt relief lawyer who may be able to assist you.


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Controlling Costs
We all feel the pain of rising health care costs.
At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network, we're working to lower your costs without lowering the quality of your care.
Here's what we do to control health care costs.
We spend your money on you
Some people think that insurance companies spend most of their money on administrative expenses and corporate profits.
That's not true with us.
We're a nonprofit company. We spend our money where it belongs: on you.
Only a small percentage of each premium dollar goes toward administrative costs. Administrative costs include things like negotiating contracts with health care professionals and paying state and federal taxes.
Embrace generic drugs
Don't judge a drug by its name.
Generic drugs—medication without all the fancy advertising—are safe and work just as well name-brands. They also lower your copays and overall costs.
Need proof? Visit these resources:
Fight health care fraud
We work with local, state and federal authorities to bring fraud offenders to justice. Since 1980, our Corporate and Financial Investigations unit has recovered more than $300 million.
Find out more about what we're doing to stop health care fraud and how you can help.
Support health and wellness
It's a fact. Healthy people use their health care less.
We're dedicated to giving our members the tools and support they need to make better choices and achieve healthier lifestyles.
- Blue Cross® Health & Wellness
- Blue365® savings program. Log in to your account at bcbsm.com to view and redeem exclusive discounts on healthy products and services.


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Become a Participating Provider
Welcome to CareSource®. We work with our providers to provide the highest quality of care for our members. We are committed to making it easy for you and your staff to do business with us.
If you are already a CareSource provider, we are pleased that you are part of our network. If you are not currently in our network, we invite you to consider joining us.
We are always looking for ways to improve our network. If you have any suggestions or would like to refer a provider to us, we want to hear from you. Share your ideas or referrals on the Access Opportunity Form. We will be sure to evaluate your submission within 72 hours.
Join Our Network
If you offer medical services and want more information about becoming a CareSource provider, please submit the following information when completing the New Health Partner Contract Form:
- Your W-9 tax form
- First and last name
- Specialty
- CAQH ID number
- Tax ID number
- NPI number
Need help? Refer to the User's Guide for Completing New Health Partner Contract Form. If you have additional general questions about the New Health Partner Contract Form, call Provider Services at 1-844-679-7865.


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Will lightning strike twice for PSY ? His new album 7 Things You Need to Know is out t... ...ostly in English. The video is pretty funny, with PSY appearing at all different ages from childhood t...https://www.neatorama.com/2015/11/30/PSYs-New-Songs/
Sometime this past week, humanity fell over a math... ...ty fell over a mathematical precipice by watching Psy 's "Gangnam Style" music video (embedded below) fo... ...rald Ford last year. Had people not been watching PSY —the South Korean pop star who released the...https://www.neatorama.com/2014/06/07/The-Human-Race-Has-Watched-Gangnam-Style-Enough-Times-to-Build-Three-Aircraft-Carriers/
Heeeeey sexy Santa! Looking for the ultimate ugly... ...I'm willing to bet you would win a prize for this Psyensationaly hideous dress. I particularly like that it is not... ...ap-looking with tacky garland at the bottom and a Psy that looks like he's about to fall off the dress....https://www.neatorama.com/2013/11/22/Psy-Makes-the-Ultimate-Ugly-Christmas-Sweater/
For two days, Korean pop sensation Psy was the toast of Cannes as he partied with stars,... ...to of them posing together. Problem was, the real Psy wasn't anywhere near the event. The New Yo... ...The New York Post, who dubbed the impostor Psych !, wrote:...https://www.neatorama.com/2013/05/23/Fake-Psy/
<!--gallery(1)-->Jessica Nevin says she is f... ...Popular 2012 memes! No doubt you recognize singer PSY dancing "Gangnam Style," and the other is the IKE... ...ica obviously had the yarn available after making PSY 's jacket. Thanks, Jessica!https://www.neatorama.com/2012/12/30/Amigurumi-Memes/
Yesterday we discovered that Polar Bears love Halloween and now it turns out that thanks to the amazing photography skills of Nikolai Zionoviev, we learned that grizzlies absolutely love Gangnam Style. Isn't nature amazi...https://www.neatorama.com/pet/2012/11/10/This-Bear-Loves-Psy/
I'm sure lots of people will be dressing up as Kor... ...of people will be dressing up as Korean superstar Psy for Halloween this year, but what about that othe... ...ume, and if you team up with someone dressed like Psyhttps://www.neatorama.com/halloween/2012/10/30/The-Other-Gangnam-Style-Costume/
Gangnam Style originator PSY did an AMA (Ask Me Anything) at reddit today. Her...https://www.neatorama.com/2012/10/25/PSY-AMA-on-Reddit/
(Video Link)No, they didn't really make these litt... ...itties sure look cute mimicking their thoughts of Psy .Via I Can Has Cheezburgerhttps://www.neatorama.com/2012/10/09/How-Do-Cats-Feel-About-Gangnam-Style/
PSY staged a free concert in the streets of Seoul Thu...https://www.neatorama.com/2012/10/05/Thats-a-Big-Crowd/


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AutomationDirect's IronHorse™ general purpose AC motor line includes stainless steel three-phase motors available in horsepower ranges from 0.33 to 2 hp. Motors are available in speeds of 1800 and 3600 RPM and are electrically reversible.
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The IronHorse stainless steel motors are available for same-day shipping and are backed by a one-year warranty.
View the IronHorse stainless steel motors


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Treat Forehead Wrinkles with Botox
There's no denying that you feel young at heart; but whenever you look in the mirror, you're surprised at the number of forehead wrinkles that stare back at you. It seems like these stubborn wrinkles and fine lines have almost popped up overnight – and you're looking for a way to fight back against the march of time.
Before you blow your money on expensive skin creams and serums that produce little results, why not discover the power of Botox treatments for treating forehead wrinkles at the Fountain of Youth Medical Spa in Victoria, Texas?
Founded by Dr. Nhi Le, Fountain of Youth Medical Spa lives up to its name by […]


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A delightfully chunky teething necklace in a contemporary asymmetrical design. Granite, mustard yellow and black beads strung onto black thread.
Our silicone is:
Customisation Options: Our necklaces are made on silver thread using a silver breakaway clasp as standard, unless otherwise stated. If you would prefer black or cream thread, please pop a note in the order form. All necklaces are 80cm long and designed to sit mid-bust. If you require a longer thread to be used, please get in touch. The necklaces are easily shortened by adjusting the knots inside the breakaway clasps. Please contact us if you would like to change the beads for other colours or styles.
This product is an item of adult jewellery and is NOT a toy. Children & babies must only interact with this product when it is worn by an adult due to the long cord - strangulation risk. Do not allow children to wear this product. Do not leave children unsupervised with this product. Please inspect for damage on every use and discard if damaged.
Easy to clean: wash in warm soapy water and leave to air dry
Marbled white silicone beads with a colour pop of your choice.
Our Lunar necklace in the ever popular navy, copper and granite colourway. Simply beautiful!
A simple monochrome teething necklace. Black and pearl, or pearl and black... you decide! Comes on black thread as standard.


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Chicago, IL – Brennan Boesch went 4-for-5 with a solo homer, two runs batted in and two runs scored, as the Detroit Tigers rallied past the Chicago Cubs, 8-4, in the middle installment of a three-game series.
Jhonny Peralta went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored for the Tigers, who bounced back from a 4-3 loss in the opener of this set on Tuesday. Ramon Santiago knocked in two runs.
"There's been a lot of talk about our win/loss record up to this point," said Boesch. "But we've been scratching out some wins lately and that's building character in this clubhouse."
Detroit starter Rick Porcello (4-4) gave up four runs on nine hits over five innings to pick up his first win since May 6. He struck out five and walked one.
Joe Mather, Tony Campana, Alfonso Soriano and Bryan LaHair each had an RBI for the Cubs, who had a brief two-game winning streak snapped.
Matt Garza (2-5) allowed five runs -- three earned -- on seven hits over six full frames to take the loss.
"It is what it is, you know," said Garza. "I'm just gonna do the same old thing and get ready for the next one. I felt great tonight and felt like I could of went further."
Trailing by three, 4-1, the Tigers scored four times in the sixth to go in front. Garza, who had retired eight straight batters, gave up a leadoff single to Boesch. Miguel Cabrera then reached first on third baseman Mather's fielding error. One out later, Delmon Young hit an RBI single to right. Peralta followed with a two-run double to right-center field. A bunt single by Gerald Laird put men on the corners with one out. Santiago's RBI groundout gave Detroit a 5-4 edge.
Boesch added a solo homer during the Tigers' next at-bat to make it a 6-4 game.
Detroit tacked on two more runs in the eighth to build an 8-4 margin. Peralta welcomed Jairo Asencio to the mound with a triple down the right-field line, which got past a sliding David DeJesus. Santiago struck out swinging after Laird walked. Pinch-hitter Quintin Berry hit an RBI single up the middle. Berry stole second with two outs to put men on second and third. Boesch's single to left knocked in Laird, but Berry was thrown out at the plate.
The Cubs put men on first and second with two outs in the ninth. Starlin Castro stepped to the plate and hit the ball deep to left-center field. Austin Jackson made a nice catch against the wall to end the game.
The Tigers got on the board in the second inning. Young reached base when he grounded into a fielder's choice. Peralta followed with a single and Laird was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Santiago plated a run when he grounded out.
But the Cubs responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Steve Clevenger doubled, moved to third on Darwin Barney's single and raced home on Mather's base hit to left. A sacrifice bunt by Garza put runners on second and third. Campana drove in a run when he grounded out, making it a 2-1 game.
Chicago tacked on two more runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. Castro singled to right and crossed the plate on Soriano's two-out double down the left-field line. LaHair added an RBI double to left-center field. A wild pitch moved LaHair to third, but Clevenger flied out to end the inning.
Game Notes
Garza's stretch of 16 consecutive home starts having allowed three or fewer earned runs is the longest for any Cubs pitcher since Mark Prior did so in 16- straight home starts from September 30, 2004-September 28, 2005...The Cubs were trying to win five straight home games for the first time since July 22- August 6 of last season...Chicago third baseman Ian Stewart missed the game due to a sore left wrist.


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The computer-culture in the UAE, where I teach Arab-national first- and second-year college students, tends to be high relative to other countries in the region. Still, with developments in the field racing ahead in the year 2007, teachers as well as students are challenged to keep up with concepts driving the emerging literacies. There is an opportunity in the courses I teach now to revise the literacy aspects of our curriculum to help learners understand some of the ramifications of evolving uses of the latest technologies.
Basic premises
In the materials I'm involved with, the focus is to raise learner awareness of changes to the social structure of software. I don't intend to call it exactly that at this introductory level, but perhaps a good starting point, one directed at a wider sophisticated audience, is Time's declaration of YOU as its person of the year.
In recognizing all of us as people of the year, Time has acknowledged that there has been a dramatic shift in alignment of control over the power structures traditionally used to convey and arbitrate media. One aspect of this shift is that software (and publishing and other social orders impacted by that software) have moved from the enterprise model into a more user-centric one where normal people and smaller, even individual, entities and groupings have increasing power over software and the Internet, and over content provided in both domains. This shift has important ramifications for the way people can now work both individually and collaboratively with software running either on their PC's and/or over the Internet.
I look at software as falling into these main categories:
Many software developers have responded with their support of an alternative Open Source model of software development. In contrast to the enterprise model, the software is developed by interested parties seeking not profit, but mainly to enhance their standing within a community of developers by being associated with the creation of the best possible software for a given task. The code is not guarded at all. It's made publically available in the hope that others in the community will create improvements to it. The result is generally software that gets thoroughly tested during the development process, so there are rarely unanticipated surprises for end-users (and if there are, the community learns about it quickly and moves together to correct the problem). Open source software is not created for profit, but business models are emerging whereby money can be made developing refinements and specific implementations of open source resources for companies whose profits rely on using that software effectively.
Open source software is by definition freely downloadable, but where it has to be set up on a server, this might be inconvenient for some users. Again the community has tended to share resources, so that server-based services are sometimes made available to all users. The concept has broadened into what has come to be known as Web 2.0, or the read-write Web. Lawrence Lessig has gone so far as to characterize the 20th century as the read-only century and the present one as the read-write century. Lessig's point is that whereas the enterprise model dominated media distribution until only recently, we are rapidly entering an era where this is no longer the case. It is important that this development be better understood by its beneficiaries (all of us) as the impacts are far-reaching in the way we organize ourselves productively through our understanding of what it means to be 'literate'.
I don't intend to include all that follows in the course, but as background and illustration of how these models apply in the real world, we can draw from the following cases:
Thomas Freedman in his influential book The World is Flat discusses how IBM gave up developing its own enterprise rival to Apache server and instead contributed its best engineers to the Apache community in order to be able to resume a business model on which the deliverables would be enhancements to the Apache kernel. That's just one example of the power of community to produce a superior product (for free) compared to a commercial, patented, closed-source one.
Another good example is characterized in the Blackboard vs. Moodle approaches to development of learning management systems (background information regarding this controversy abounds on the Internet; here is a link to a Feb 2007 article in the well-respected T.H.E. Journal).
My own perception is that Blackboard is becoming regarded in the Open Source community as an old-school Goliath who's made waves and rocked boats by taking out patents on certain aspects of LMS's that other developers consider open source and unpatentable. On the day its patents were granted Blackboard brought suit against one of its competitors, Desire to Learn, for royalties owed under the new patents. This has sent shivers down the rest of the open source CMS community in case Blackboard were to use its fait accompli at the patent office to go after users of Moodle and others, including end users, for not paying royalties to the patent holder. But now we see this being reversed one slingshot at a time. Blackboard is seen to be undermining its own potential customer base at the cost of its reputation in the educational community, and more recently there are moves afoot to have the patent decisions reversed.
While this is going on, Sakai, another white horse open source project, is reaching fruition. If you agree that Moodle, arguably the strongest open source rival to Blackboard to date, scales well to enterprise settings despite its lesser polish, then seemingly the only real argument for paying licensing fees to Blackboard is that it might be worth the costs (to some customers) for an LMS solution that appears more crisply enterprise in a Web browser.
I find this of great interest in my own work context, but I see these two examples appearing, if at all, as text boxes in the materials I envisage , whose purpose would be to make the point that open source is on its way to significantly augmenting if not replacing the enterprise model of software development.
So to continue with a course outline, I am thinking ...
- Enterprise and Open Source software
- An overview of Web 2.0 tools
- Social Networking
- Implications for classroom (i.e. project) management
Example software products following the first three models of development and implemention are:
MS Office –-> Open Office –-> http://docs.google.com/
There are many hooks for a wider understanding and use of Web 2.0 tools in modern curriculum settings. Collaborative Google spreadsheets might be used in portfolio/project work for example. I'm not sure if you can format in Google docs to the extent you can in MS Word, but the potential is certainly worth exploring.
The two most salient Web 2.0 tools with application for our students are blogs and their close cousins podcasts and wikis, though there are many more -- online collaborative calendars, for example. I hope to list a few more here eventually; meanwhile:
- Many listings of Web 2.0 tools are linked from my Moodle course on Multiliteracies for Collaborative Learning Environments (guest access welcome).
A well illustrated example of how the younger generation sees these tools as being used in various modalities ranging from social collaboration to enterprise project management can be found here: http://www.wsjb.com/RPC/V1/Home.html
I have just come across a good listing of "Digital Literacies & Emerging Educational Technologies" at this wiki: http://couros.wikispaces.com/emerging+technologies
The concept with greatest implication for collaborative and project work in education (and beyond, in the real world of collaboration and project management in the workplace) is that blogs and wikis can be aggregated.
I have an explanation of how this is accomplished at http://www.vancestevens.com/rss_edu.htm. This document explains how blogs for a class can be aggregated via an aggregator (e.g. Bloglines) in such a way that they can be efficiently read/followed by the teacher and others in the class, or by manager and co-workers in an enterprise project venture.
Blogs can be tagged, and tags also can be aggregated. One device for doing that is http://del.icio.us/ . Jon Pederson has developed a good explanation of how del.icio.us can be used to good effect by educators: http://docs.google.com/View?docid=ad62vwjv8zm_6fh3r2s
The concepts of tagging and aggregation lie at the heart of social networking. For example, my son posts family photos at his Facebook acct and tags the ones of me DAD. I then get an email that tagged photos are available. I get the URLs of only my photos but the whole albums are available as long as the owner has indicated that s/he trusts me with them. I don't think we need to introduce our students to Facebook here in the Middle East, but participation in social networking sites like Facebook illustrate how the concepts work in a social context.
Podcasting is one highly productive example of how these concepts can be focused on two important literacy goals:
- achieving appropriate levels of digital competence in a changing world
- and staying abreast through lifelong learning.
In order to access podcasts, one needs to have a working knowledge of using an aggregator such as iTunes or Juice (a level of knowledge akin to knowing how to drive as opposed to knowing how to build or repair a car).
The working knowledge needed is two-fold:
- ability to subscribe to podcasts
- and to occasionally refresh subscriptions.
Internet search skills are needed to locate desired podcasts in the first place, and some multimedia and file management skills will help in downloading, storing, retrieving, and playing the files retrieved. A computer is all that is essentially needed for this, though most people like to transfer their files to an mp3 player and listen to them while away from their computer.
Although the only skill levels needed harvest podcasts are at the level of those needed while driving, higher education is pursued in order to achieve greater understanding, in the case of driving, of the mechanics and physical forces involved in converting energy to produce the torque to propel the car, etc. Similary, among the goals of a computer literacy course should be some understanding how RSS and aggregation works, and in theory how one can create one's own blogs and podcasts, and disseminate these to a wider audience through social networking skills.
Again, I have a Web document covering aspects of these issues: http://www.vancestevens.com/casting.htm
In not only social and enterprise but also in educational project/class management contexts, I think that these concepts are important because they show the way teams are learning to work together using the latest shareable Web-based technologies once they have achieved the requisite level of computer literacy.


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Wednesday, May 2, 2012
VBS 2012 - Daniel's Courage in Captivity
14 comments:
What lucky children! I believe all of your efforts will make a lasting difference in their lives.ReplyDelete
Thanks for the inspiration,
Cindy :)
Wow...what an amazing job. Lee-Ann :)ReplyDelete
AMAZING!!! What a great set to use for your VBS... wonderful work by all.ReplyDelete
What an amazing project! Thanks for sharing!!!ReplyDelete
WOW.. that is just awesome.. yes i am sure the kids LOVED it. Thanks for sharing it.ReplyDelete
Oh WOW!!! How awesome!!! I love it!! And thanks for letting me know about those ugly paperclips!! :)ReplyDelete
How blessed are those kids? Wow! The streamers on the hedges... wow! I would have probably taken the easy route and grown some from seeds. Hee! Hee! Thanks so much for sharing! This is such a great thing to get to see!ReplyDelete
Oh my goodness! Wow! Would love to see that in person, its beautiful.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 3, 2012 at 6:16 AM
Wow! what a lot of work. You and your hubby are a blessing. Those kids have a wonderful learning experience coming to them. Great job.ReplyDelete
VBS is such a special time for kids and you all have made it more so. Our church has put up 'Bethlehem' in the catch basin at Christmas time. Then it's filled with 'citizins', businesses, the synagogue, an inn and of course a stable with a live Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. The miniature animals are so cute.ReplyDelete
There are no words for how FABULOUS your set is!ReplyDelete
The world and the kids in it need more people like you! That is very creative...those kids are so lucky! Great job!
It is amazing! I knew it would be. The kids are blessed to have you guys and will remember what you do forever!ReplyDelete
OH WOW!! I love what you've done with all those boxes! The castle courtyard looks absolutely realistic...awesome job! Your kids are going to be amazed and inspired to worship!ReplyDelete
I'm knee-deep in VBS prep too. Our church is doing Amazing Wonders Aviation (from Lifeway), so I'm working on making Victoria Falls for our Bible study room. Also using the Beep Beep cartridge to make lots of airplanes. :)
This set is beyond amazing!! I can only imagine how excited the children must have been to see this and to be part of it!ReplyDelete
(And I'm a bit baffled... There's a basketball court in your church? If that's the case, I think my husband would like to convert!! He LOVES basketball!)


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CVGM.net - Chiptune, Retro & Video Game Music
Song Information
Tags for song:AssassinsCreed Series
Related songs:Assassin's Creed II - Chariot Chase by Jesper Kyd
Assassin's Creed II - Notorious by Jesper Kyd
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - Borgia Occupation by Jesper Kyd
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - Rome Countryside by Jesper Kyd
Assassin's Creed: Revelations (Vol.II: Singleplayer) - An Unsubtle Approach by Lorne Balfe
Author: Lorne BalfeProduction Label: Ubisoft Entertainment
Uploaded By: MAT
Song Length: 2:55
Release Year: 2011
Song Status: Active
Song Bitrate: 256 kbps
Song Source: Official Original Soundtrack (OST)
Song Platform: Console » PlayStation 3 (PS3)
Last Queued : 1 year, 8 months ago
This song has been played 17 times.
[See Request History]
It was added 10 years, 1 month ago.
Song RatingSong Rating: 5 - Votes Placed: 1 View Voting History
A total of 0 users have this song on their favourites list.
Compilation / Remix Information
This Song Is Listed In The Following Compilations:
Assassin's Creed: Revelations (Vol.I: Singleplayer)
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text:
Basic Linux Commands
Viewing, copying, moving and deleting files
|Display the contents of the current directory
|ls -a
|Display also hidden files and hidden directories
|cp filename /path/dir_name
|Copy filename into directory /path/dir_name
|cp -r dir_name /path/dir_name2
|Copy the entire dir_name into /path/dir_name2
|cp filename1 filename2 /path/dir_name
|Copy filename1 and filename2 into /path/dir_name
|rm name
|Remove a file or directory called name
|rm -r name
|Remove an entire directory as well as its included files and subdirectories
|mv filename /path/dir_name
|Move filename into /path/dir_name
|mv filename1 filename2
|Rename filename1 to filename2
|cat filename
|Display filenames contents
|more filename
|Display filename in pages. Use spacebar to view next page
|head filename
|Display filenames first 10 lines
|head -15 filename
|Display filenames first 15 lines
|tail filename
|Display filenames last 10 lines
|tail -15 filename
|Display filenames last 15 lines
|Display current directory
|cd /path/dir_name
|Change to directory /path/dir_name
|cd ..
|Go 1 directory up
|mkdir dir_name
|Create directory dir_name
|rmdir dir_name
|Delete directory dir_name
Finding files and text within files
|Update (create first time used) a database ofall files under the root directory /
|locate filename
|Find file filename searching in the database
|find / -name filename
|Starting from the root directory search for the file called filename
|find / -name *filename
|Same as above but search for file containing the string filename
|grep string /path/dir_name
|Starting from /path/dir_name search for all files containing string
|which application_name
|Search $path for application app_name
|whereis application_name
|Search $path, man pages and source files for application_name
Archived files
|tar -xzf filename.tgz
|Decompress tzg file
|tar -xzf filename.tar.gz
|Decompress tar.gz file
|tar -xjf filename.tar.bz2
|Decompress tar.bz2 file
|tar -czf filename.tar /path/dir_name
|Compress directory /path/dir_name to filename.tar
|gzip -c filename > filename.gz
|Compress /path/dir_name to filename.tar.gz
|bzip2 -c filename > filename.bz2
|Compress /path/dir_name to filename.tar.bz2
Using rpm files
|rpm -hiv package.rpm
|Install rpm called package.rpm
|rpm -hiv –force package.rpm
|Install rpm called package.rpm by force
|rpm -hUv package.rpm
|Upgrade rpm called package.rpm
|rpm -e package.rpm
|Delete rpm called package.rpm
|rpm -qpil package.rpm
|List files in not-installed rpm called package.rpm
|rpm -ql package.rpm
|List files in installed rpm called package.rpm
|rpm -q str
|List installed rpms containing the string str
|rpm -qf /path/application_name
|Display the rpm that contains application application_name
Starting and Stoping
|Start the X system
|shutdown -h now
|Shutdown the system now and do not reboot
|Same as above
|shutdown -r now
|Same as above
|shutdown -r +10
|Reboot in 10 minutes
Mounting filesystems
|mount -t vfat /dev/sd(a)(1) /mnt/c_drive
|Mount the first partition 1 of the first hard disk drive a which is in fat32 vfat dormat under /mnt/c_drive directory
|mount -t iso9660 /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom
|Mount cdrom under /mnt/cdrom directory
|umount /mnt/hda1
|Unmout the above
User Administration
|Display users currently logged in
|adduser username
|Create a new user called username
|passwd username
|Define password for user called username
|List logged-in users
|Display current user
|finger username
|Displays info about user username
|Log in as root from current login
|su –
|Log in as root from current login and take root's path
|Exit from console login (ie, logout).
|Execute command in the foreground
|command &
|Execute command in the background
|Suspend a program
|Interrupt a program
|List all processes
|kill -9 pid
|Kill process with id pid
|Monitor processes in real time
|List the system's hostname
|Set/Display network information
|host ip
|Resolves ip's hostname
|ping ip/hostname
|Check if ip/hostname is reachable
|traceroute ip/hostname
|Find network path to ip/hostname
System Information
|uname -a
|General system information
|fdisk -l
|List partition tables
|cp filename /path/dir_name
|Copy filename into directory /path/dir_name
|df -T -h
|List filesystem disk space usage
|List PCI devices
|List USB devices
|free -m
|Display RAM+Swap usage
Program Compile
|gcc -o output file.c
|Compile a C program
|Run a C program you have compiled
|g++ -o output file.cpp
|Compile a C++ program
|Run a C++ program you have compiled
|./configure && make && su -c 'make install'
|Configure, compile and install a program with Makefile
Disclaimer: Win-Pro Consultancy is a reseller of QNAP Products. For Technical Support, please visit www.qnap.com
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text:
The OneDrive library provided for you is typically protected from public viewing by default. Only you can access personal documents and media files that you store in it unless you explicitly share a folder of documents or a single document with other people in your organization for reviewing or co-editing.
Note: Features of and access to your library may differ from what is described in this article, depending your organization's customizations.
Built-in privacy for personal documents
All documents and files in the top-level OneDrive library on your personal site are protected from public view by default, making it an apt location for storing confidential documents or original drafts that you want to save, for example. Only you can see this content, except for those documents that you explicitly indicate that you want to share.
Typically a Shared with Everyone folder is provided for documents that you want to share with everyone in your organization. Permissions on this folder are typically set for Can view.
Change sharing permissions for a document
You can change the permissions of people sharing a folder or document straight from a document library. Documents may inherit permissions from the folder that contains them and you can change those settings from the library also.
Note: Changes to a folder apply to all documents within the folder unless you select a document and specifically set different permissions for the people with whom you've shared the document.
Note: Features of and access to your library may differ from what is described in this article, depending your organization's customizations.
To change permissions for someone sharing a folder of documents or a single document:
From the OneDrive for work or school library, in the Sharing column for the folder or document, click Shared with some people . A details page appears with sharing options.
For each person whose permissions you want to change, click the down arrow to the right of the name, and then click Can edit, Can view, or Stop sharing. To give someone else permission to share the document or folder or document, click INVITE PEOPLE, set their permissions and click SHARE.
If you want to change inheritance settings, whereby a document may inherit permissions from a parent folder, click ADVANCED and use the ribbon options to reset inheritance.
Click Save changes.
For more information about setting document-sharing permissions, see Share items in a library.
Share documents with other people in your organization
Your personal OneDrive library lets you share a folder or document with other people for their reference or for co-editing. To share a folder of documents or a single document with more people, you can click the Shared with some people icon () and invite people to share the document for viewing or editing. Or you can click the ellipsis (…) to the right of a folder or document in your library, and then type the name of someone with whom you want to share the item for viewing or editing.


text:
One can only assume that Sarah Palin's Alaska on TLC will involve the former governor pushing pregnant moose down a flight of stairs, slitting the throats of brown bear cubs with a javalin while racing a snow mobile and clubbing baby Eskimos. Their precious pelts are worth their weight in endangered whale blubber at the trading outpost.
If you enjoy HE and and would like to show your support for the comic or The Experiment, please consider getting a book or shirt in the store or making a donation.
If you are a Juggalo sympathizer of some sort or your tea bag swings to the extremely far right and this comic offends you, please address all concerns to Randy since he inspired this comic over dinner (and via twitter).
C2E2 is THIS WEEKEND!!! April 16-18
If you are going to be in Chicago, come say hi!
It seems like this has been a banner week for enemies of science, champions of ignorance and the glorification of all around, good old-fashioned dullardry. I actually think Palin fits right in with ICP. Much like her Juggalo kindred [and the ancient Aztecs] she doesn't know how the sun works, doesn't want to know and is pretty sure she should fear it and sacrifice a few of her brood to insure a bountiful harvest.
If we can learn anything from the "Juggalin" or "Paliggalo" philosophies, it's that scientists are "snake oil salesman" and "mother fuckers" that be "lyin' and gettin' me pissed". At least we can all agree that nothing in this world or beyond can be explained without magic. To attempt to fathom how rainbows are made, why our kids look like us, or how dirt is dirt is to question the will of the divine and drive a stake into the heart of all those that believe in miracles.
Check out this new "Battlestar Galactica/United Nations So Say We All" T-Shirt I made for Olmos Productions, Inc.
Don't Forget! [Edward shirts now at Topatoco!]


text:
Is the internet destroying the current leadership models? How is innovation affecting politics? And what effect do politics have on innovation? Do anti-innovation bills like SOPA make your blood boil? The disconnect between the innovation community and policy makers is a serious issue. Most would agree that our livelihoods depend on a healthy, dynamic and [...]
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Participant in Blog Action Day, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015
Flickr Photos


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AFFORDABLE TREE REMOVAL SERVICE IN Long Lake, MN
Looking for affordable tree removal service in Long Lake, MN? Great! TreeTriage is at your service 24/7.
In this guide, we cover common questions including:
- How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost?
- Does The City Provide Any Assistance?
- Who Is Responsible For Fallen Trees?
- How To Save Your Lawn Before And After Tree Service?
- What About Trees Near Power Lines?
- And Why Tree Triage Is The Best Tree Removal Company For You!
Tell us about your project in the form and we'll get you connected with specialists in or continue reading to learn what you should consider when removing a tree in Long Lake, MN.
Can't thank you enough for tackling our tree and stump removal so quickly and for leaving our yard clean and tidy! Will certainly work with you again!
– Samantha Q.
Professional, timely, and knowledgeable. Couldn't ask for better service. Thank you Tree Triage!
– John R.
Request A Free Quote
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Residents of Long Lake, MN enjoy beautiful foliage provided by a wide variety of trees, like Ashe Juniper and Oak trees.
As beautiful and tranquil as tree coverage can be, there are many reasons why you may need to remove a tree on your property.
Below, we'll discuss the costs involved with tree removal in Long Lake, when DIY removal is okay, and some issues that might lead you to need removal services.
We'll also discuss Minnesota State law surrounding tree removal and who is responsible in different circumstances.
Quick Tree Facts For Long Lake, MN
|Most Common Tree
|Ashe Juniper
|Ashe Juniper Avg. Canopy Width
|15-25 feet
|Ashe Juniper Avg. Height At Maturity
|Ashe Juniper Growth Rate
|Ashe Juniper Foliage
|evergreen (foliage year-round)
|Minnesota State Tree
|Red pine
|Common Minnesota Softwood Tree
|Common Minnesota Hardwood Tree
How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in Long Lake?
The average cost to remove a tree in Long Lake is around $644. Most removals in Long Lake fall between $172 and $2,068. The total for your job will depend on a few different factors, and it's nearly impossible to provide an accurate quote without first inspecting your tree.
Tree Removal Cost Calculator
- National Average: $775
- Typical Range: $326 - $814
- Low End - High End: $153 - $1832
What Are The Expenses Associated With Tree Removal?
There are several cost factors that we'll consider when pricing out your tree removal. The most significant factor is the size of your tree. This is because it takes more time and often specialized equipment to remove larger trees safely, which translates to higher costs.
The most common tree in the Long Lake area is the Ashe Juniper tree, which at maturity reaches a height of 33 feet. The canopy reaches widths of about 15-25 feet. When fully-grown, Ashe Juniper trees could cost up to approximately $2,068 to have a professional like us remove it.
Many homeowners in Long Lake also have Oak trees on their property, as they are the second most common species in Minnesota.
These trees generally reach heights of up to 66 feet and can span out up to 60-100 feet.
In addition to the tree's size, we'll need to consider the species and how dense the wood is. Trees with softwood, like Pines, take less time and put less wear and tear on our equipment.
The ease of removing them will be reflected in the cost. Hardwood trees in Long Lake, like Maples, will be more challenging and demand a higher removal price.
We'll also need to consider the condition of the tree. Unfortunately, invasive insects like the Emerald Ash Borer and Forest Tent Caterpillar plague trees throughout Long Lake, Minnesota. They weaken the trees they infect and can leave them prone to falling over or dropping limbs unexpectedly.
Trees in Long Lake are also prone to several tree diseases, including Bur Oak Blight and Butternut Canker.
Signs of Bur Oak Blight can include necrosis (death) of the tissue along the veins, wedge-shaped areas of browning at the tips or sides of the leaves, or defoliaiton.
Signs of Butternut Canker can include dead twigs in the crown of a butternut, cracks in the bark of branches and sometimes a blackish fluid, or a whitish margin may form around the black canker.
As you can imagine, taking down a tree that is weakened by these pests and tree diseases can be dangerous. We might need special equipment and more time to remove affected trees. If you notice symptoms of an infestation, a tree disease, or a fungal infection, you should prepare to pay more for tree removal services.
Finally, we need to consider how close the tree is to personal property, including your house, shed, deck, landscaping features, and anything else that could get damaged during the removal process. With an average property size of 0.68 acres and an average house square footage around 2302 sq. ft., chances are higher that the tree you need removed will pose an issue.
If the tree in question is close to personal property, we'll have to take special care to remove limbs in smaller pieces so as not to cause any damage during the process. This takes a longer time and often involves heavy machinery to guide pieces down, increasing the cost of removal.
When Can You Remove A Tree Yourself?
Completing a DIY tree removal is possible, but only in certain circumstances.
Most importantly, you should only consider taking down a tree in your yard if it's under about 10 feet tall. That means fully-grown trees that are native to Minnesota — including Ashe Juniper and Oak— should be entirely out of the question if they have grown into maturity.
Additionally, you should only take down a tree that is far enough away from all personal property. Controlling where a tree falls isn't always possible, so only take down a tree that wouldn't damage anything no matter which way it topples.
Finally, you should never attempt DIY tree removal if the tree is infested with pests like the Emerald Ash Borer or Forest Tent Caterpillar, or one that might have been affected by tree diseases local to Long Lake.
These trees need to be removed by a professional who will prevent the issue from spreading to nearby trees.
What is the Most Common Tree Removal Problem in Long Lake?
One of the most dangerous tree issues in Long Lake and throughout much of Minnesota is the Emerald Ash Borer. This invasive insect was first discovered in 2002.
The Emerald Ash Borer is about 1/2 inch long and typically has a green body. It feeds on the leaves of ash trees, which can kill off an otherwise healthy tree in about 1 to 4 years.
The easiest way to identify an infestation on your property is to look for thinning and yellowing leaves, canopy and bark loss, or D-shaped holes in the bark. If you see any of these symptoms of a Emerald Ash Borer infestation, contact our arborists right away for proper removal and disposal.
When Should A Tree Be Removed in Long Lake?
Most Long Lakians enjoy the natural beauty of the native trees in Long Lake, but there are numerous reasons a tree in the area should be removed. Knowing when to take down a tree can help prevent property damage, personal injury, and the death of nearby trees.
Firstly, if a tree is threatening your home or a neighbor's home, you should have it removed. The average property value in Long Lake is $350,342, so even a relatively small amount of damage can be catastrophic.
Another hazard to consider is proximity to power lines. Many of Minnesota's larger tree species — like the Ashe Juniper that can grow to 33 feet— can easily interfere with electrical wiring. Not only can these problems cause power outages but they are also a major fire hazard.
Finally, trees that have been affected by invasive species in the area — like Emerald Ash Borer or Forest Tent Caterpillar — or potentially deadly infections — like Bur Oak Blight and Butternut Canker — should always be removed properly.
Taking down infested or infected trees that are visibly dying or struggling can help save nearby trees from the same fate. The best way to do this is to identify symptoms early, for example if you notice or those are indications that a tree is struggling.
Or, if you're noticing pests like Emerald Ash Borer which have a green body about 1/2 inch long you should notify a professional immediately. These pests feed on the leaves of ash trees and can kill a tree in 1 to 4 years.
The first symptoms to look out for with these pests are thinning and yellowing leaves, canopy and bark loss, or D-shaped holes in the bark. This type of infestation can weaken your tree substantially over time and create even more of a hazard for your family and your property.
Who is Responsible for Tree Removal in Long Lake?
Generally speaking, the property owner where the tree is growing in Long Lake is responsible for its removal. For example, if a tree is growing on your property, you will need to coordinate and pay for removal services. If the tree is growing on public property or on a right of way, Long Lake will cover the removal.
However, like many areas throughout the United States, negligence plays a big part in tree removal responsibility in Minnesota. For example, if your neighbor fails to maintain their Ashe Juniper trees and it falls into your yard, you may be able to hold them liable for removal if you can prove that they were negligent.
When Should You Hire A Professional to Remove A Tree?
Hiring an expert tree removal service like us is almost always worth it, but there are certain cases where you should always leave it to the professionals.
Most importantly, if your tree is over 20 feet tall or you can't reach the highest branches without getting on a ladder, don't attempt a DIY tree removal. Tall trees native to Minnesota like the Ashe Juniper and Oak are extremely dangerous to fell if you're inexperienced or lack the required equipment.
Secondly, Long Lakians should contact a removal service if their tree is located near any personal property.
In Long Lake, where the population density is 2,023.5/sq. mi., chances are high that your tree could damage a house, deck, or other nearby property.
Finally, you should rely on a tree removal service in Long Lake to tackle any trees that are plagued by the Emerald Ash Borer or Forest Tent Caterpillar or problems like Bur Oak Blight and Butternut Canker that are prevalent in Long Lake.
Why Should You Choose Tree Triage To Remove Your Tree?
Our team of arborists and removal experts at Tree Triage know from firsthand experience that tree removal can be stressful as a homeowner. Not only can service in Long Lake run up to about $2,068, but it can also put your home and other property at risk of severe damage.
That's why everything we do is in an effort to make the process simple and stress-free for you. We only work with genuine experts who can remove your tree safely and quickly without compromising the safety of you, your family, your home, fence, deck, shed, or other property.
We promise not to damage your lawn or flower beds! All of our work is backed by our 100% customer satisfaction guarantee, so you can always count on us for white-glove service.
With our team of experts, you get best-in-class service for an affordable price; that's the Tree Triage promise!
Other Nearby Areas We Service
- Aitkin, MN
- Avon, MN
- Baxter, MN
- Bayport, MN
- Belle Plaine, MN
- Burnsville, MN
- Carver, MN
- Chanhassen, MN
- Clearwater, MN
- Coon Rapids, MN
- Cottage Grove, MN
- Delano, MN
- Duluth, MN
- East Grand Forks, MN
- Eden Prairie, MN
- Elk River, MN
- Hastings, MN
- Hopkins, MN
- La Crescent, MN
- Lake City, MN
- Lakeville, MN
- Loretto, MN
- Maple Grove, MN
- North Branch, MN
- Osseo, MN
- Plymouth, MN
- Princeton, MN
- Rochester, MN
- Saint Francis, MN
- Saint Michael, MN
- Saint Paul Park, MN
- Saint Paul, MN
- Sartell, MN
- Sauk Rapids, MN
- Shakopee, MN
- South Saint Paul, MN
- Stacy, MN
- Stewartville, MN
- Waite Park, MN
- Wayzata, MN
- Winona, MN


text:
Let's see if we can guess who's who in this New Cold War scenario. Troops and materiel have been shifted around on one side, and the other side demands an explanation of what intent lies behind those moves. This refers to the massive buildup on the Russia-Ukraine border, right, with NATO demanding the answers? Er … not exactly. In this case, it's more like the classic line, "Mom — he hit me back!"
Russia says it wants answers from NATO regarding activities in eastern Europe, after the Western military alliance said it would step up defenses for its eastern members.
Russia's move to annex the Crimea region from Ukraine last month has sparked the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War, and raised fears among its eastern European neighbors. …
"We have posed these questions to the North Atlantic Alliance. We are expecting not just any answer but an answer fully respectful of the rules we have coordinated," Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov told a joint news briefing with his Kazakh counterpart on Thursday.
Responding to criticism from Kiev and the West over the presence of Russian troops along the border with Ukraine, Lavrov said Russia had the right to move forces on its territory and said they would return to their permanent bases after completing military exercises.
"Russian troops in the Rostov region will return to their bases after completing military exercises," Lavrov said, referring to an area near the Ukrainian border.
Well, then, the response practically writes itself. NATO's units will end their "exercises" when Russia's do the same. It's a little late to complain about NATO's lack of respect for "rules we have coordinated" when Russian forces just dismembered Crimea from Ukraine and threaten to partition it further. Lavrov gives a pretty good demonstration of diplomatic chutzpah in this demand.
Just the same, there are indications that NATO's message may finally have gotten through to Moscow. Pro-Russian demonstrations of the kind Moscow used to justify its action in Crimea are dissipating in the key Donetsk region:
The new billionaire governor of the Donetsk region has no intention of allowing Moscow to carry out another Crimean-style annexation here in coal-mining, steel-making eastern Ukraine, which lies temptingly along the Russian border.
Serhiy Taruta, a steel magnate appointed just a month ago by the Kiev government, intends to hold this Russian-speaking ground for Ukraine by keeping order and improving people's lives in the poverty-strapped steppe.
Donetsk was roiling with fear and violence as he took over. Russian television propaganda persuaded many here that fascists from western Ukraine were on the way to rampage through the east. Suddenly protesters in the city of Donetsk were shouting under the Lenin statue for a referendum that would allow them to join Russia. On March 13, a pro-Russian crowd set upon pro-Ukrainians. A 22-year-old pro-Ukrainian was knifed. He died on the way to the hospital. …
The annexation of Crimea, however, stirred latent pro-Ukrainian sentiment. Public officials began speaking out against the rumors. Last weekend was quiet. Now the guards at Taruta's government office are down to a handful of riot police, with only a few strands of barbed wire strung near the front door.
Taruta has a message for the West, too:
With perhaps 40,000 Russian troops massed on the nearby border and making him uneasy, he had a special message for Washington, which in 1994 persuaded Ukraine to relinquish its nuclear weapons in exchange for a promise to protect its territorial integrity. "There have been guarantees," he said, "and they need to be carried out."
He's not the only Russian-speaking Ukrainian seeking a restoration of the nation's territorial integrity. Crimea must be returned, demanded … Viktor Yanukovich?
Former Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted after asking Russian troops into Crimea, admits that his decision was wrong, calling Moscow's annexation of the Black Sea peninsula "a major tragedy."
In an interview with The Associated Press and Russian channel NTV, he said he made a mistake when he asked Russia to intervene, a move many Ukrainians view as treason.
"I was wrong," he said through a translator. "I acted on my emotions."
Yanukovych, who is currently residing in Russia, said he hoped to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to return Crimea.
"We must set such a task and search for ways to return to Crimea on any conditions, so that Crimea may have the maximum degree of independence possible… but be part of Ukraine," he said.
Don't expect Ukrainians to be too impressed by this admission of presidential immaturity. Security officials in the new government in Ukraine accused Yanukovich of ordering the murders of Euromaidan protesters. Kissing up to Kyiv now won't improve his standing in Ukraine, nor will undermining the legitimacy of Vladimir Putin's Crimea annexation make him more popular in Moscow. If Yanukovich keeps "act[ing] on my emotions," he may need to find a new place for asylum.


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Get Today in Masonic History into your Inbox. Sign up today for one of our email lists!
Get Today in Masonic History into your Inbox. Sign up today for one of our email lists!
Today in Masonic History we present The Living Temple.
Rich was the Temple framed of old,
Of Hermon's cedars, lined with gold,
By princely architect of Tyre:
And bright the flames of sun and fire,
Built many an hundred years ago,
In Ind or Western Mexico.
By fabrics formed by human hand,
Though they in noblest grandeur, stand
On lofty pillars, rich and rare.
Of burnished gold, can ne'er compare
With living temples, pure and fine,
Built by the Architect Divine.
Let us, who live in latter days,
To God a nobler temple raise,
With cornerstone deep laid in youth.
While knowledge, temperance and truth,
In all their fair proportion bind
That noble temple of the mind.
Let fortitude the basis be
And high resolve the plethory;
The stones shall be of reason's proof,
Celestial love shall form the roof,
And prudence at the threshold stay
To drive each vagrant guest away.
Within shall seven pillars shine,
The purest product of the mine;
Religion, honor, gratitude,
Nor shall the moon and stars by night
Withhold their kind and needful light,
That your work may be finished here
When the Grand Master shall appear.


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Russell, A.G.
"I was born in Eudora, Arkansas, in the extreme southeast corner. I have been designing knives almost since I could first hold a pencil. When I was nine, my grandfather helped me make my first knife. It was a knife that only a mother could love. But I only improved from there. I made knives for fun until the early 1960s when I started selling them as a business. I have founded the oldest mail order knife business (1964), the oldest knife collectors club (1969-1970), and the oldest after-market knife business (1968). I've had a wonderful fifty plus years in this business. Stage by stage we have outgrown our quarters, to the point that I feel like a chambered nautilus. I moved from my kitchen table to a small building on my farm (1966), and then moved again to a larger but still small building in Springdale (1971). I bought the property and doubled the office space (1974), then in 1995, built a fine new 8,000 sq. ft. building. Very quickly, that space was filled. In March of 2002, we moved into new facilities located on Interstate 49, just up the road from our long-time location in Springdale, Arkansas. In November of 1988, my wife Goldie joined the business. She began by using her art background to produce the best catalog we had ever mailed. We mailed ten times as many catalogs as we had ever mailed before. Every year since 1988, our catalogs have increased in quality, as well as the number mailed. It took Goldie about two years to learn everything that I had learned in a lifetime of designing and making knives, then learning how to market them. By mid-1990, Goldie had assumed more and more responsibility, to the point that she was actually running the company. She is now the president and chief executive officer of this company and runs it better than I ever have, which accounts for our growth. Goldie has now been in the knife business for decades, and is considered an authority on knives. In June 2014 she became the first woman accepted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame, which also made us the first couple to have this honor together. There are now almost 40 of us who work to produce all those catalogs to help you acquire that perfectly suited knife. I design knives, work with knifemakers and with the companies who make the great production knives which we sell. I write copy for the brochures and catalogs, while Goldie does the tough day-to-day grind of running an ever-growing business. Over the years I have had the opportunity to work with, and know as my friends, the great knifemakers of the 20th Century; men such as R. W. (Bob) Loveless, R. L. (Bob Dozier), D'Alton Holder, Jess Horn, Ron Lake, Buster Warenski and D. E. (Ed) Henry. Hundreds of very fine knifemakers have blessed me with their friendship, as have thousands of knife collectors. I have been involved with guns and knives most of my life and my life has been much fuller because of that." Founder - A. G. Russell Knives, Inc. (1964), Co-Founder and Honorary President - Knifemakers Guild (1970), President - The Knife Collectors Club (1970), First Honoree - Knife Digest Cutlery Hall of Fame (1974), Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame (1988), Regent - The American Knife and Tool Institute. A.G. Russell passed away in 2018.Read More Set up Email Notifications For This Maker View Maker Site


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Senators: U.S. to Cover 100% of Emergency Power Costs in NJ
The federal government will cover 100 percent of emergency power and public transportation costs through November 9 in eight New Jersey counties that were hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, according to the two U.S. senators representing the state.
An aide to Senator Frank Lautenberg told Reuters that FEMA informed the senators of the decision.
Lautenberg and Senator Robert Menendez said they are continuing to request that federal aid "covers as large of a share of the response costs as possible" in the wake of this week's hurricane that battered the East Coast.


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This program uses the power of your social media and blog to help spread the word about new and upcoming products. Amazon review not required. Available for product testers in in the UK, USA, Canada, Japan, Germany, Spain, Italy and France.
Tag: Reviewers in Spain
LE Lighting Ever Super User
This brand-run super user program is for those of you interested in product testing lighting (rope lights, desk lights, LEDs, floodlights, flashlights/torches, curtain lights and more.) Available for product testers in USA, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, France, Spain, Japan.
Joining Betabound gives you access to products (mobile phones, home theater, wearables, etc.) before they go to market so that you can test them and give feedback about your experience. Available worldwide (though USA is likely more popular to get products.)
This is a relaunch of AMZ Review Trader under a new name. They have a huge marketplace of discounted products. Typically a LOT of products per email with even more on the site. Available to reviewers in USA, UK, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico.
This is a product promotion network sending discounted and free product samples to shoppers / influencers. Membership is free. Available for reviewers in the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, France and Japan.
Honstek Super User Program
This review program is part of the Honstek brand of headphones speakers. Like Mengo, GMYLE Lab, and Anker, they only offer their own brand's products for review. Available to reviewers in USA, UK, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Japan.
Amazon Review Site: Product Pilots
They have a large marketplace of products that are free and heavily discounted, and has a search/filtering mechanism to make it easier to find product you like. Available to reviewers in USA, UK, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico.
Amazon Review Site: AMAlovers Community
This is the first and possibly only Italy-based review sites. All products are only 1 cent. (Whoa!) Available to reviewers in Italy, USA, UK, Canada, China, Japan, Germany, Spain, France and Mexico.
Amazon Review Site: LootHoot
They have a huge marketplace supporting reviewers in 12 countries. And a contest they run each week giving away a $25 voucher. Available for reviewers in USA, UK, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, China.
Amazon Review Site: Testzon
This is now the newest kid on the block, having just launched July 2016. They are also supporting reviewers in more countries than any other review site I know of! 12 countries! USA, UK, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, China
Anker Power User Review Program
This review program is part of the Anker Technology brand of electronics for electronics, phone accessories like battery backups, screen protectors, chargers, and audio/speakers. There are even products like lamps and vacuums, keyboards and mice, and laptop batteries. Available in: USA, Germany, Canada, UK, France, Spain, Italy
GMYLE Lab
This review program is part of the GMYLE brand, "developing MacBook, Tablet, Smartphone Accessories." Like similar programs, they only offer their own brand's products for review. When applying: Reviewers in "United States will receive first round pick. United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Canada, France, Italy and Spain will become available after."
Arctic Product Tester Program
This review program is part of ARCTIC Cooling Inc., maker of computer cooling solutions, computer and mobile phones accessories. Like similar programs, they only offer their own brand's products for review. Available for reviewers in UK, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, USA.
Amazon Review Site: Review Directory
You know that review site we have all been looking for? The one that has a close relationship with reviewers and offers high end products for review? Yeah? Well, after talking with the owner, it sounds like Review Directory is that review site! Available for reviewers in UK, USA and France!
Amazon Review Site: AMZ.One Deals Club
A review site that has been around for about 2 years, and run by AMZ.one, a toolset made for helping Sellers. Has a huge marketplace of products to choose from, sortable by country, price and expiry. Available for reviewers in USA, UK, Canada, China, Italy, India, Germany, Japan, Spain and France.
Amazon Review Site: Giveaway Service
A range of free and discounted products including household items, detox supplements, Bluetooth speakers, workout gear and more. They have a huge marketplace to browse. Mainly available for reviewers in USA, UK, Canada, but also does some promotions for Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Spain.
Product Testing: 60+ Sites Send You Products to Test and Keep
Product testing has become the go-to method for Amazon Sellers to get brand lift, increase sales and product reviews, and rise in the search results on Amazon. Below you will find a growing list of companies and programs that help Amazon Sellers connect with product testers and send out deeply discounted and free product for… Read more »


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A few years back, I visited Italy and noticed an interesting phenomena: most of the waiters that served us were middle aged man. Some even senior citizens. This is very different than the situation in most western countries I visited, where waiters are mostly young, usually around 25 years old. In most cases, being a waiter is a temp job, on your way to getting a better job. Many people do it while studying to get their degree or while seeking for a "real" job. But not in Italy. In Italy, a waiter is a proper job. It is a career. It is something you do because you choose to do it, not because you have no other alternatives.
A web rockstar is a master of web technologies. He breaths HTML and CSS. He whistles JavaScript while in the shower. He will be more than happy to engage in a deep discussion on why library X is better than JQuery. He will wear a T-Shirt saying "I trash IE6" (or something similar). He will be send you a bunch of links to his recent work instead of a resume. He can do PHP or Django or Ruby on Rails, but he really shines on the client side. He pities the condescending server side people because deep down he knows that his work is the true art. He is a web rockstar.
How many web rockstars do you know? I don't know that many. I sure know a lot of Java, .Net, PHP and Python rockstars, but not many web rockstars. One could argue that this is a relatively new art. But I don't think that's the problem. For some reason (more on that below), the web developers became the waiters of the software world. There are many young people doing that, students, novice developers all sharing one common aspiration: to get out of the "front-end ghetto" and become a "true developer" on the server side.
It is relatively easy to get started: HTML is simple. It is not programming, it is just markup. You don't need to understand any programming paradigms to do it. Moreover, most people don't care about the quality, as long as the page renders correctly. You move on to CSS, which is a bit more complex, but still not programming. Then, you find that you need to add a dynamic menu, so you read a short intro to JQuery, copy a few lines of code and you are now officially a JavaScript developer.
Those people are willing to work for less, which drives the prices down. This gives strong incentive for people to "move on". Many managers who need those skills think that they can just get the job done for very little. Naturally, the payment comes later. The website stops working in certain browsers, especially on the bosses' new iPad. It takes forever to load. Each modification breaks 10 other pages. The marketing people want to refresh the look and feel for the upcoming holiday season and the job ends somewhere in mid January.
This bad ecosystem changing, for a number of reasons. First, HTML5 and CSS3 gives you a lot more power with the cost of being far less trivial. Second, we see rising popularity of full fledged JavaScript MVC-style frameworks (e.g. JavaScript MVC, MooTools and Backbone.js) which are more than just showing some fancy widgets. Third, the level of interactivity expected from web applications is soaring. The bar has been raised. One needs deeper skills to develop truly remarkable web sites. Finally, JavaScript is becoming a first-class citizen with the introduction of innovative technologies like node.js (which, ironically, takes the JavaScript developers to the server side and give them an incredibly powerful tool).
My message to novice web developers is: don't run away. Love your work. Master your skills. Don't settle for mediocracy and become a true web rockstar.
My message to server side developers: respect you colleagues. If you really want to test your skills, let's see you putting up an interactive web-app. I dare you. It is a challenge, perhaps even a bigger one than coding a couple more beans on the server. Be honest, it is possible that you don't like doing web development because it is just too hard (no cushy IDE, cross-browser quirks, etc.).
My message to managers: cheapskates always pay twice. Always. Get the right people for the job and be willing to pay for quality. Get these amazing web rockstars to be part of your team and not just freelancers, thus creating a differentiator for your company.
One final note: we're hiring! if you are a web rockstar, or even a young web developer who wants to become a web rockstar, you live in Israel, and you're looking for a new project, drop me a line. I'm looking for you and I have a project that could take your career to a whole new level.
Image under CC attribution from Flickr


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Playing against the No. 1 team did not seem to matter to the Commodores on Saturday at the Mason Rudolph Championship, as Vanderbilt stormed to the low round of the day on the Vanderbilt Legends Club South Course and overtook No. 1 Alabama for the overall lead heading into the final round on Sunday. Vanderbilt shot an even-par 284 on Saturday, and has a two-round total of 573 (289-284) two strokes better than the Crimson Tide.
"It was a good day for our team," Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh said. "Last night, all we talked about was focusing on doing the simple things a little bit better, and I was proud of how we did that. We got off to a good start and did a few shaky things to get through there, but today was what today was, a day to play our way into the tournament, and we were able to do that. We understand what's ahead of us, and it's a three round fight, and this is only round two, so we have one more to go. We understand what we do when we play well, and that's focusing on the right things and having fun."
Junior Hunter Stewart led the way for the Commodores, shooting a two-under par, 69, on Saturday. A Lexington, Ky., native, Stweart, had a steady day around the South Course, posting three birdies and only one bogey in cold and windy conditions, and is in a tie for second individually.
Junior Jordan Janico was next for Vanderbilt, carding an even-par 71, with senior Charlie Ewing and sophomore Carson Jacobs each posting a one-over par, 72. Sophomore Zack Jaworski was only one stroke back of Jacobs and Ewing with a 73.
"I'm really proud of Hunter Stewart the way he put the team on his shoulders again today and played a round you expect a junior, a really good player, that's been there and done that. He's had the team on his shoulders for the last two days," Limbaugh said. "The other guys have been doing their jobs too, but Hunter's really been good for us."
Temperatures began in the late 30's early in the day and ended in the high 50's, but the wind was a constant throughout the round. Players once again played lift, clean, and place on Saturday, but playing conditions were much dryer than the previous day, which began with heavy storms and rain in the area.
The number one-ranked Crimson Tide posted a 10-over par, 294, for the day, even though Tom Lovelady carded a hole-in-one on the par-3, 11th, and are two strokes back of the Commodores with a team total of 575 (281-294). Kennesaw State is in third place with a score of 580 (288-292).
Individually, Jack Maguire of Florida State vaulted into the lead after shooting a tournament-low 66 on Saturday. Maguire has a total of 137 (71-66), and has a one stroke lead on Stewart and Charlie Martin of Georgia Southern.
Vanderbilt also played five individuals, with junior Ben Fogler leading the way with a 142 (73-69), which put him in a tie for fifth.
The final round of the Mason Rudolph Championship concludes on Sunday, with tee times beginning at 8 a.m. off the number one tee, and at 8:15 off of number 10.


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"O Mary, go and call the cattle home,
And call the cattle home,
And call the cattle home
Across the sands of Dee";
The western wind was wild and dank with foam,
And all alone went she.
The western tide crept up along the sand,
And o'er and o'er the sand,
And round and round the sand,
As far as eye could see.
The rolling mist came down and hid the land:
And never home came she.
"Oh! is it weed, or fish, or floating hair--
A tress of golden hair,
A drownèd maiden's hair
Above the nets at sea?
Was never salmon yet that shone so fair
Among the stakes on Dee."
They rowed her in across the rolling foam,
The cruel crawling foam,
The cruel hungry foam,
To her grave beside the sea:
But still the boatmen hear her call the cattle home
Across the sands of Dee.
Back to Charles Kingsley


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When we think about borders, we tend to think of administrative boundaries. Those demarcating lines, often grown out of rivers and mountain ranges or diplomatic quirks, govern our daily lives, and that's doubly so if we live near a neighboring country or state.
We know that these boundaries are on some level unnatural. Driving around Kansas City, where I live, makes this abundantly clear. Gas price differences aside, it can be difficult to tell which state you're in, Missouri or Kansas, and the small street of State Line Road does nothing to make it clearer.
But are there more organic borders, brought to life by our own actions and activities? I recently set out, along with a team from MIT and AT&T, to see if I could find an answer. Previously, members of our group had collaborated to use mobile phone call and text message records to determine how tightly connected different counties are to each other. But communication is far from the only way in which we are connected or separated. We can be connected based on where we move, how we speak, and even what sports teams we root for.
So our research team, consisting of DeDe Paul of AT&T, Vincent Blondel of Belgium's Université catholique de Louvain, IBM's Dominik Dahlem, and myself, set out to understand how a variety of cultural and social properties create borders, and whether or not these borders actually overlap. Are there in fact natural boundaries to the borders that we create as social creatures?
Let's first examine the different borders we can define. We first have communication, from cell phone data. The map below, based on aggregated phone calls between counties, makes use of an algorithm we developed that detects communities within networks. The result is a visualization of highly connected counties, grouped together by color. These clusters of connected places sometimes coincide with political boundaries, but in many other cases do not.
Historically, communication and mobility were closely tied together; you could only interact directly with people in person. But with the advent of the telephone and the Internet, these two parts of human behavior have become disentangled. So, does mobility affect the borders we find?
Using data from IRS migration records—where people relocate to—we constructed a similar map, but this time based on mobility. In this case, we connected and grouped counties based on where people moved, rather than to whom they spoke. Instead of showing the different groupings, we have this time highlighted the borders between these regions.
We next combined the two maps, weighting the borders based on how often they are found to occur in both mobility and communication maps.
What we found is that, for the most part, there is a great deal of overlap between communication and mobility. This is especially clear in the South, where the border between Mississippi and Arkansas is present for all of the data. In other words, people in Mississippi (or Arkansas) primarily interact with others in their own state, and even tend to move only within the state. Despite all the technology at our disposal, in many ways we are still products of place.
So if there's still a strong relationship between who we communicate with and the borders of where we live, does that also hold true for the words we use?
One of the clearest regional differences in the US can be found by tracking the words people use to refer to soft drinks. Pop or soda, or even Coke—these small linguistic differences are not as small as we might think. While "soda" commands the Northeast and West Coast (green) and "pop" is in between (black), "Coke" reigns in the south (turquoise). These small distinctions can often act as touchstones for larger cultural differences.
We can also look at how different counties voted in the last presidential election (blue is Democratic and green is Republican, with Purple as missing data).
And we can even do sports! Below is a map of baseball blackout regions, the parts of the country where a team's games are considered a local market and are subject to certain broadcasting conditions.
So, between language, sports, mobility, communication, and even politics, are there any natural borders? Or does our complex nature make the boundaries that separate us also completely messy?
We combined several maps into one to see if any patterns emerged. At first glance, the result seems incredibly messy, although there are certain borders that do jump out (such as the Mississippi River, for example). But when we zoomed in on smaller regions, it was easier to pick out a few natural borders.
For example, New England is incontrovertibly a single region, connected by interaction, mobility, and culture. Similarly, certain states such as Texas and Kansas are their own distinctive regions.
On the other hand, New Jersey and California have a distinct bisection that divides them, though not always in the same way or place. For example, California is divided into Northern and Southern California, when we look at voice phone calls:
But it's divided into three sections, when we use digital text message records:
Similarly, we can do the same thing using sports affiliations to understand where Red Sox Nation ends and Yankees Nation begins. This classic New York Times graphic shows how Connecticut is bisected.
While we as humans are incredibly complicated organisms, there are a few simple rules to how we behave. We sort ourselves based on cultural similarities, and these in turn are related to how we choose to move from place to place, and even with whom we communicate. A lot of these boundaries are porous and messy, allowing for a rich diversity of cultural flow. But knowing how we interact as part of a complex society, instead of only looking at political borders, can explain a lot more than we might have imagined.
This post originally appeared at CityLab. More from our sister site:
The Swedish approach to road safety: 'The accident is not the major problem'
Its streetcar plan defeated, Arlington looks to better buses


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Your Voice, Your Ego
You're creating because you have something to say. Using your voice is important. Just don't let your ego write checks your talent can't cash. #simpletenets
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Category: Columns, The Daily Dose
You're creating because you have something to say. Using your voice is important. Just don't let your ego write checks your talent can't cash. #simpletenets
Tags: Daily Dose, featured, full-image, Steven Forbes
Category: Columns, The Daily Dose
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How to Sell Your Small-press Book to Retailers Part 3 – 21 Tips from Actual Comic Book Retailers
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B&N Week 198: Are You Taking Advantage Of Digital?
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