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Should I upgrade?
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Should I upgrade?
Postby snowball05 » Wed Feb 09, 2011 3:43 pm
I've been commuting to work (approx 10kms - flat route) about 3-4 days a week during summer for the past 7 years. I've been lucky to work for an employer that provides parking and shower facilities. It would almost be a show stopper for me now if they didn't.
Anyway, I started off on a MTB with slicks but when that bike wore out I changed to a Giant Cypress hybrid/comfort bike with the standard tyres (Maxxis Overdrive - Grooved Slick). I've never been into the bikes, I just see them as a form of transport so I've never bought any of the fancy gear and just use the standard pedals etc. And I've never cared too much for the speed factor - I'm a pretty lazy rider.
However, I now need to drop my son off at school which will make me late for work so I need to up the anti and reduce my commute time. So my question to the forum is what sort of speed increase should I get by changing to a flat bar road bike (in terms of %)?
An alternative would be to change the tyres on my current bike to proper road tyres and change the pedal set up to toe clips. I'm pretty tight so if this would yeild comparable results it would be my first choice. Comments?
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Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby zero » Wed Feb 09, 2011 8:00 pm
My MTB which is pretty much a worst case scenario - big tires, flat bars, high BB, dual suspension, does 30, where my road bike does 34. For 10kms, 2 and a half minutes saved on the roadie. If there was traffic lights, my worst road bike days would be easily worse than my best MTB days.
Sounds like you have a bike thats a third of the way between the 2 bikes I have, and you'll switch to a bike thats two thirds of the way between the 2 bikes I have. Maybe a minute faster ?
Note the roadie does occasionally waaaay outperform the MTB, ie there are spot points I can look down and see the roadie on 30 where the MTB would have fallen to 20, but those are generally transitional effects, and obviously if I ride harder, the MTB bends in the middle and wastes more power.
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Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby beani » Thu Feb 10, 2011 4:54 pm
I was in exactly the same position, I do a ~50km round trip daily and face a number of hilly spots throughout, there is a 2km hill on the way home (not the best example but I have mapped out the commute here - http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Currie-St-to-Happy-Valley).
When I started I got a Giant Cypress for fairly cheap, put slicks on and spent a good day of adjusting to get the derailleur's working the way I wanted (the running gear on these bikes are pretty average). I was consistent with trip times, pushing harder wasn't really getting me anywhere except exhausted, maybe 2 - 3 mins earlier. With the idea to go faster on the flats in mind, I bought an old 60cm Standish frame and did all I could to make her fly. Being immaturely minded to the whole cycling thing weight didn't cross my mind. I had slicks, toe-straps, bigger crank set, drop bars & Shimano leavers. I did this for about two years. Needless to say I was working hard to get that bike to go fast. What I did notice though is, the day I put toe straps on my legs didn't know what hit them. The push/pull motion it key to getting strength and consistency. If nothing else start with this and see how you feel.
Anyhow, 2 weeks ago I bit the bullet after getting hammer up the hills by a grandpa and a very pretty girl (on the same ride) I procrastinated over what bike I should get. After some great advice from very dear friends (one is a pro bike mechanic, the other a pro competition cyclist) I decided to get the works. I can afford $K's so I explained my budget to my mechanic and this bike was suggested.
Along with these
and these
The price tag was $1,100AUD but I got a free drink bottle
I have ridden 420km in 6 days since I picked it up & it hasn't skipped a beat. I am leaving people for dead up the big hill now & I'm clocking between 30km/h avg speed consistently. I have gone from a 1:10hr - 1:15hr down to a 55min - 1:00hr and only getting better.
I guess the main thing is $$ unfortunately. The only thing I would do differently in my time cycling is not have bought the only Standish and put light weight rims on the Giant along with toe clips, and if I had the cash the newer style drop bars & leavers (like the 3T Rotundo Pro with Shimano Ultergra leavers). If you're going to invest anything I would try and get stuff that is transportable over the next bike you'll buy, so clips and rims are generally a good start I would think.
If you are on complete flats and have no ambition to hit hills maybe consider a large single crank and light small cassette? Along with shoes and road tyres, I think you would really notice a change then.
Just remember if you aren't going to push yourself harder the bike won't do the extra work for you to get better times.
Ride hard enough to throw-up then maintain that speed, well maybe don't go that crazy but you get what i mean.
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Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby snowball05 » Fri Feb 11, 2011 1:06 pm
- Posts: 610
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- Location: Adelaide
Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby gdt » Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:23 pm
- silentbutdeadly
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Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby silentbutdeadly » Fri Feb 11, 2011 4:39 pm
I've basically taken a Learsport hardtail MTB down this track and it is doing very nicely as a commuter hack. Just about to put a Shimano Deore hollowtech touring crankset on the thing (after the bottom bracket snuffed it) which will give me a taller chain ring set than a typical MTB.....
- sogood
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Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby sogood » Fri Feb 11, 2011 4:43 pm
beani wrote:...in 6 days since I picked it up & it hasn't skipped a beat. I am leaving people for dead up the big hill now & I'm clocking between 30km/h avg speed consistently. I have gone from a 1:10hr - 1:15hr down to a 55min - 1:00hr and only getting better.
New bike syndrome...
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
- goneriding
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Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby goneriding » Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:11 pm
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Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby beani » Fri Feb 11, 2011 8:19 pm
sogood wrote:beani wrote:...in 6 days since I picked it up & it hasn't skipped a beat. I am leaving people for dead up the big hill now & I'm clocking between 30km/h avg speed consistently. I have gone from a 1:10hr - 1:15hr down to a 55min - 1:00hr and only getting better.
New bike syndrome...
Oh indeed, today was my last ride before two days rest & I'm just getting more and more hooked. The only problem is knowing when to have a "rest" coz I'm really loving going fast. WHOOT
- Comedian
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Should I upgrade?
Postby Comedian » Fri Feb 11, 2011 10:03 pm
Busting a gut might save you five though!
- ghettro
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Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby ghettro » Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:55 pm
- Redbull
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Should I upgrade?
Postby Redbull » Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:19 pm
You should always upgrade whether you need it or not.
We are cyclists after all.
- DavidS
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Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby DavidS » Sun Feb 13, 2011 12:32 am
Me, I just get to work late!
Cannondale Quick Speed 2, Allegro T1
- jules21
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Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby jules21 » Wed Apr 06, 2011 12:21 pm
i don't need to upgrade to a roadie as i already own one, but it's reserved for proper road rides.
- CommuRider
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Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby CommuRider » Wed Apr 06, 2011 12:30 pm
goneriding wrote:Is this even a question? Perhaps it is rhetorical? I'm confused!
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Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby Becker_11 » Wed Apr 06, 2011 3:18 pm
I knocked 2 mins off my best time and was hooked. So I'd definitely recommend skinner tires with higher air pressure regardless of what bike your using. Also forget the petrol station for inflating your tires. They max out at 60psi. Get yourself a floor pump to keep at home and inflate your tires to their max rated pressure then check them every 3 to 4 days. I consider a floor pump an essential purchase if your serious about riding. That's the best low cost advice I can give you.
edit: forgot to add you can get floor pumps from $40 upwards I spent $80 on mine after Cycle Mania in North Perth told me they'd used the same one in their workshop everyday for 6 months and it was still going strong btw it's a Basta Pit Crew Pro. If it lasts 6 months in a shop it will last me a lifetime. A good friend of mine bought one over 20 years ago and still uses it today. I only mention this to point out that you may feel it's an expense you don't need but once you've got one if you look after it your bike should wear out before your pump does.
A great adventure starts with a single step
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Re: Should I upgrade?
Postby Hamster » Wed Apr 06, 2011 4:16 pm
I ride a fairly heavy MTB as my commuter, firstly nothing much bothers it and being heavy it gives me a better workout. After being on the MTB all week the roadie feels ultra-light which makes it more fun to ride.
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text:
Mustang wrote:Mustang wrote::( Sunshine Coast Wet, wet, wet. Just caught up,now I'm behind, aah well lots of Christchurch people would like my worries.
Its clearing????? Next week is going to be heavy
I just did a riverloop in the rain... hmmmm... 2 hours riding, 1.5 hours cleaning bike... time efficient - NOT

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Father Of The Video Game Console Showed Off 'Set Top Box' Idea In 1973
from the no-new-ideas dept
While nothing in this presentation would seem all that new and innovative to modern audiences thanks to the proliferation of the internet, personal computers and smart phones, back in 1973, this was a massive leap for home electronics. For instance, the creative use of encoded audio signals when ordering a product from a commercial is very similar to such common place codes such as UPC and QR codes today. And while home education over the internet today seems old hat, using your cable television subscription to achieve the same end goal is actually quite remarkable.
Another interesting suggestion that was only touched on but not discussed to great length was the idea of ad supported gaming. Today we see this in many forms whether it is free games that include advertising to bring in revenue for the developer, or games sponsored by or acting as an advertisement for a brand. Once video games became a large part of the home, we saw Baer's prediction come true.
All in all, what this shows is that few ideas are completely new. Many times, someone else will have thought of it before you, or at least thought of something similar. A lesson that some companies should probably consider prior to using patent law as a way to kill competition.


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Brussels, 30 May 2012
2012 country-specific recommendations in the context of the European Semester: Frequently asked questions
What has been adopted today?
The Commission has adopted a package of proposals concluding the second European Semester of economic policy coordination and giving guidance for national policies in 2012-2013. The package consists of a Communication outlining the main findings and concrete measures to boost economic growth and job creation, as well as of 28 Council Recommendations, one for each Member State, with country-specific guidance on economic policy, such as public finances and structural reforms and one for the euro area. For twelve EU Member States1, these policy recommendations also include guidance on how to address macroeconomic imbalances, according to the new mechanism implemented as part of the so-called 6-Pack legislation.
The basis for these proposals is a thorough assessment of the implementation of last year's policy recommendations, combined with detailed analysis of the national reform programmes and stability or convergence programmes2 that Member States submitted in the second half of April. The analysis underpinning the recommendations is presented in 28 staff working documents (again, one for each Member State and one for the euro area). In addition, the Commission carried out twelve in-depth reviews for those Member States that were identified as warranting closer inspection in the Alert Mechanism Report earlier this year (IP/12/132).
Once these recommendations are endorsed at the June European Council and formally adopted by the Council of Ministers in July, they will help Member States to prepare and adopt their national economic policies and budgets for 2012-2013.
In parallel with the European Semester recommendations, the Commission has also adopted a number of new steps under the Excessive Deficit Procedure of the Stability and Growth Pact. These steps reflect the latest developments in Member States that are expected to bring their government deficit below the 3% of GDP reference value of the Treaty. 3
What are the country-specific recommendations about?
Tailored measures to be implemented at national level. In the scope of the Annual Growth Survey for 2012, Member States and the Commission agreed on five priorities: pursuing differentiated growth-friendly fiscal consolidation, restoring normal lending to the economy, promoting growth and competitiveness, tackling unemployment and the social consequences of the crisis and modernising public administration (MEMO/11/821). As situations vary from one country to another, the Commission is focussing today on the most important issues and the most pressing measures to be adopted in each Member State. The recommendations, which are concrete, targeted and measurable, concentrate on what can realistically be achieved in the next 12-18 months. As countries face different challenges, the recommendations are country-specific. They are tailored to the particular issues facing the Member State in question.
It should be noted that the programme countries, i.e. Greece, Portugal, Ireland and Romania, receive only one recommendation, calling on them to implement the measures agreed under their programme. The programmes are very comprehensive, typically covering all areas of economic policy-making; they aim at restoring macro-financial stability as well as boosting growth and competitiveness in countries that benefit from financial assistance.
Addressing a broad range of policy areas. The recommendations cover a broad range of issues including the state of public finances (growth-friendly consolidation), and structural reforms, i.e. of taxation, pension and health systems. In addition, the recommendations address employment issues, especially with regard to dampening the effects of the crisis and tackling youth unemployment. Moreover, they call for the competitiveness of the economy to be increased by opening up markets, for example among regulated professions.
Addressing macroeconomic imbalances. For some countries, the recommendations also address macroeconomic imbalances such as high levels of indebtedness, weak trade performance and worrying trends in asset prices under the preventive arm of the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure (MIP). The MIP is being implemented for the first time this year, as it forms part of a comprehensive set of rules that entered into force on 13 December 2011, the so-called "six-pack". In the Alert Mechanism Report presented on 14 February (IP/12/132, MEMO/12/104), the Commission identified twelve Member States that warranted further economic analysis in order to determine whether macroeconomic imbalances exist or there is a risk of them emerging. These Member States are Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom4. For each of these Member States, the ensuing "in-depth reviews" examined the origin, nature and severity of the macroeconomic developments identified in the Alert Mechanism Report; an assessment was made on whether the country is affected by an imbalance or not, and if so, whether the imbalance is excessive in nature.
Although the recommendations are country-specific, are there top-line messages for the EU as a whole?
First, there is a need for consolidation efforts to be more growth-friendly. The composition of Government expenditure and revenues should reflect the growth impact of spending items and revenue sources. All the available budgetary margins should be used to foster public investment.
Second, there is a pressing need to address the financial and macroeconomic imbalances (alongside and co-ordinated with the fiscal effort) that for some Member States are at the root of the crisis. While the adjustment is taking place, more needs to be done by both deficit and surplus countries.
What are the general conclusions from this year's European Semester?
The overall assessment of the Commission is that Member States are taking the necessary action to correct their public finances and to ensure sound future fiscal policies, but not always in the most growth-friendly way. Action is also being taken to ensure the soundness of the financial sector. Unemployment, particularly among young people, is a severe problem that can only be resolved over time, but immediate action is needed to provide stronger jobs- and skills-matching and training to help people get back to work. More generally, the negative social impact of the crisis, including its effect on poverty levels, must be addressed.
Several Member States, particularly the programme countries and those under close market scrutiny, are undertaking major structural reforms, including reforms of their labour markets. These efforts contribute to the overall reduction of macroeconomic imbalances within Europe and are essential to sustain recovery and lasting growth. Much greater action across the EU is needed, however, to unlock our growth potential, to open up opportunities for business development and to tap the potential of new sources of jobs, for instance in the services and energy sectors and in the digital economy; skills need to be raised and innovation needs to be boosted. Moreover, more has to be done to sustain recovery and living standards and to help tackle the demographic challenges of an ageing population.
Are the Member States on course to hit the Europe 2020 targets?
The Commission is concerned that the level of commitments so far taken by the Member States will not allow the EU to meet its headline targets for 2020 in essential areas such as employment rates, research and development, education and the fight against poverty. Yet meeting these targets is essential to our future. Of course, there has been progress in many Member States and detailed information on this can be found in each staff working document.
For detailed information on the targets under Europe 2020 please see:
What do the recommendations mean for growth and jobs in the EU?
Implementation of the recommendations will bring tangible benefits for Member States. In the shorter term, putting public finances in order will help to reduce debt costs. Similarly, opening markets and regulated professions can bring immediate benefits to a number of SMEs and workers who today face unjustified barriers to entry. Pursuing structural reforms, such as pension reforms or shifting taxation away from labour, will enable Member States to get ready for longer term challenges.
Did the Commission discuss the recommendations with Member States before adopting them?
The recommendations are based on the assessment of the implementation of last year's recommendations, national reform programmes and stability or convergence programmes. As such, they are not discussed with Member States before the Commission adopts them. The recommendations and the underpinning analysis are produced in an objective and independent way. However, informal discussions took place between the Commission and the Member States before the submission of the programmes. These discussions are enriched by a constant policy dialogue in the various sector-specific Councils and the many Council working groups.
So is the Commission now dictating national economic policy?
The European Semester is about checking whether the Member States have lived up to the commitments they made last year, including commitments made within the Euro Plus Pact5, and assessing their policy plans for the next years.Under the Treaty, the Member States have agreed to coordinate their economic policies at the EU level. In addition, they have adopted common rules governing public finances, as set out in the Stability and Growth Pact and the new framework for addressing macroeconomic imbalances. Moreover, Member States have committed themselves repeatedly to work towards the targets set out in the Europe 2020 strategy. So it is not about dictating policy.
Heads of State or Government also formally endorsed the EU's economic priorities at the March 2012 European Council, based on the Annual Growth Survey which the Commission presented in November 2011. The recommendations are a tool for ensuring that Member States maintain and act on the commitments they have made, within this agreed framework, before their peers and before their citizens.
National governments retain responsibility for economic policies implemented in Member States. But the impact of those policies no longer stops at national borders. The crisis has made abundantly clear the extent to which the economies of the EU in general – and the euro area in particular – are interdependent. That is why all 27 Member States have signed up to a streamlined and strengthened process of economic policy coordination in the EU, which is called the European Semester.
The Commission is the only EU institution with the political autonomy, the technical expertise and the pan-European perspective to be able to oversee this process.
What is the legal basis for the recommendations?
The recommendations relating to economic policy and employment are adopted on the basis of Articles 121 and 148 of the EU Treaty respectively. Those referring to the Stability and Growth Pact are based on Council Regulation 1466/97 and those referring to the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure on Council Regulation 1176/2011.
What are the main features of the European Semester?
Strengthened coordination. Drawing on the lessons of the crisis, which showed the extent to which our economies are interdependent, the EU introduced the European Semester in 2011 to ensure that coordinated action on key policy priorities is taken at the EU level, before and not after decisions are taken at the national level.
Addressing public finances and economic reform together. Under the European Semester, Member States present their stability or convergence programmes (which set out their plans for sustainable public finances) and their national reform programmes (which present key policy measures to enhance growth and job creation and reach the Europe 2020 targets) – simultaneously. This enables the EU to assess national growth and employment and budgetary plans together, enabling it to identify possible risks or imbalances that would not otherwise be picked up, and to address recommendations to Member States in a much more integrated, transparent and timely way.
Coherent and predictable annual policy coordination. The combination of EU-level guidance and country-specific recommendations in the first half of each year allows governments to draw up budgets and other economic policies with the agreed EU priorities in mind. It also allows the EU to monitor national efforts and decide on complementary actions to be taken at the EU level.
What is the link between the country-specific recommendations, the Annual Growth Survey and the European Semester?
Both the Annual Growth Survey and the country-specific recommendations are part of the European Semester. One comes at the beginning of the process and one rounds it off in June.
Where do the new rules to strengthen economic governance (the six-pack) come in?
In December 2011, five regulations and one directive – the so-called "six-pack" – entered into force, aimed at further strengthening the EU's economic governance. The six-pack is distinct from the European Semester, though both are means to achieve the same end – more effective and coordinated management of economic policies in the EU.
The six-pack strengthens the EU's capacity to take preventive and, where necessary, corrective action when a Member State does not respect its obligations on budgetary or economic policy. It also broadens the focus of the Stability and Growth Pact so that it pays the same attention to a Member State's public debt as to its deficit. Moreover, it creates a mechanism to prevent and correct macroeconomic imbalances – the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure.
The six-pack dovetails with the country-specific recommendations (and the European Semester more broadly), in particular when it comes to the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact, which is about taking early action on deficits and debt before they become unsustainable. If this action should fail to achieve the desired effect, the legislative package also strengthens the enforcement arm of the Pact with a reformed Excessive Deficit Procedure.
Similarly, under the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure, the country-specific recommendations address macroeconomic imbalances with the aim of preventing these from becoming problematic.
Because of its strengthened enforcement mechanisms for both public finances and macroeconomic imbalances, the six-pack will further increase the incentives for Member States to properly implement the country-specific recommendations. Ultimately though, the most compelling reason for Member States to follow the recommendations is that they will help to improve their economic performance and lay the foundation for sustainable growth and job creation.
Who produces the recommendations?
The recommendations are drafted by the Commission services and adopted by the College of Commissioners. The extensive and objective technical analysis that forms the basis for the recommendations is published in staff working documents prepared by experts within the Commission services.
What happens next?
The recommendations will be discussed by the Council of Ministers in June and endorsed by EU Heads of State or Government at the European Council on 28/29 June. They will be formally adopted by the Council of Ministers in July.
It will then be up to Member States to implement the recommendations by taking them up when drafting their national budgets and other relevant policies.
Can Member States rewrite or soften the recommendations before they are formally approved?
The recommendations will be debated in the Council by ministers of employment and finance before being discussed and endorsed by Heads of State or Government at the 28/29 June European Council. During that process, Member States at the Council level are free to amend the recommendations. However, if the recommendations were to be substantially 'softened', the process would lose credibility. The value of these recommendations is that they are the product of extensive and objective technical analysis, validated by thorough discussion in the Council.
Will the European Parliament have a say on the recommendations?
Although the Treaty does not require a specific role for the European Parliament under Articles 121 and 148, it of course remains fully involved in the policy discussion on economic governance, both on the design of the new mechanisms and on the EU priorities.
What about national parliaments?
National parliaments retain their prerogatives in debating and voting on Member States' budgets and other economic policy legislation. Collectively, national authorities are now expected to take up the country-specific recommendations made to them in the definition of priorities and measures, notably in view of the preparation of the next round of programmes in spring 2013.
Why should Member States follow the recommendations?
There are three key reasons why Member States should follow the recommendations:
Peer pressure. Member States will endorse the recommendations at the highest political level and are expected to reflect them in their national decision-making processes, including in the preparation of their annual budgets. They will track each other's progress through a process of peer monitoring, with input from the Commission, throughout the year.
Market pressure. The sovereign debt crisis has dramatically increased the scrutiny to which EU Member States are subjected on the financial markets. This is clearly a strong incentive for governments to pursue policies aimed at bringing down debt and deficits, while boosting their economies' growth potential and capacity to generate jobs, in line with the country-specific recommendations.
Possible sanctions. Since the new rules for economic governance entered into force in December 2011, euro area Member States have had a further incentive to adopt policies in line with the recommendations: the prospect of sanctions under the Excessive Deficit Procedure or the Excessive Imbalance Procedure.
How will the Commission monitor the implementation of the recommendations? Will there be regular review missions and reports?
Implementation of the recommendations will be monitored closely and on an ongoing basis by the Commission services. The Commission will keep the Council informed of its findings throughout the coming year. A formal assessment of each Member State's performance will take place in May/June 2013, when the Commission presents next year's country-specific recommendations and accompanying analysis. There will be no formal review missions as such.
Can Member States be fined or taken to court if they do not implement the recommendations?
No. Implementation of the country-specific recommendations will be driven primarily by peer pressure, though market pressure will also play an important role. At the same time, there are recommendations that aim at preventing developments – such as excessive deficits or excessive macroeconomic imbalances – that may lead to sanctions under separate proceedings.
For more information:
Europe 2020 website (for the Country-Specific Recommendations):
IP/12/513 Commission sets out the next steps for stability, growth and jobs
MEMO/12/385 Excessive Deficit Procedure recommendations on Bulgaria, Germany and Hungary: Frequently asked questions
MEMO/12/388 Following in-depth reviews, Commission calls on Member States to tackle macroeconomic imbalances
MEMO/11/821 The 2012 Annual Growth Survey: Frequently Asked Questions
MEMO/12/104 First Alert Mechanism Report on macroeconomic imbalances in Member States
IP/12/132 Commission's first Alert Mechanism Report: tackling macroeconomic imbalances in the EU
These Member States are Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Stability programmes are submitted by euro area Member States, convergence programmes by non-euro area Member States. They set out the plans for sustainable public finances. National reform programmes present key policy measures to enhance growth and job creation and reach the Europe 2020 targets.
A Commission recommendation for a Council decision to abrogate the Excessive Deficit Procedure for Germany and Bulgaria; a Commission communication to the Council on action taken for Hungary.
Please note that the programme countries are not assessed in the Alert Mechanism Report, as they are already under enhanced economic surveillance. This concerns Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Romania.
The pact was signed by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.
Side Bar


text:
Motor Fuel Tax Collections and Gallons Taxed Fiscal
Year 2002
As of June 30, 2002, the Ohio Department of Taxation reported
a total of $1,410,189,174of motor fuel tax collections net of
refunds. Total gallons of fuel taxed amounted to
approximately 6.5 billion including 1.4 billion of special
fuels. Special fuels consist of diesel, kerosene, and
Figures shown in this publication are from records of the
Excise and Motor Fuel Tax Division of the Ohio Department of


text:
The riders know these roads well from the Ardennes Classics, particularly Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The course starts flat but gets increasingly rolling towards the finish. A key moment will be the 6km climb of the Col du Rosier, a Liège staple but tackled today from the opposite direction to usual.
The puncheurs who make their names in the one-day Classics will be queuing up to attack here, while the sprinters and their teams will be determined to limit the deficit over the climb and bring back any breakaways in the final 12km from the climb to the finish.


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Mark Eitzel's ATP set
...anyone know what album that was from?
It was a big mixture of stuff
hmm let me think he diiiid.
Nightwatchman from the AMC album Engine
Why Won't You Stay from the AMC album Everclear
Johnny Mathis' Feet from the AMC album Mercury
Patriot's Heart from the AMC album Love Songs for Patriots
The Windows on the World from the AMC album The Golden Age
No Easy Way Down from the solo album 60 Watt Silver Lining
hmmm can't remember any more clearly...
nightwatchman is a tune
at least on the greek live album.
its no 'somewhere', mind.
Myopic Books from Love Songs for Patriots
Myopic Books
absolutely killed. Love that song.
yup, all of the above
from memory, he also opened with 'Why I'm Bullshit' from Klamath
and did a cover of 'I Left My Heart In San Fransisco'
a pretty unusual set, given that he usually plays guitar and pretty much always plays tracks from California ... really enjoyed it
thanks! I got the impression that the piano-lounge-jazz thing was a re-working? Or am I wrong?
most of the songs were radically different from the album versions, which are mainly guitar-based ... Mission Rock Resort and No Easy Way Down were probably the least altered ... but he often re-works his own material (he re-recorded many of his best songs with traditional Greek musicians on The Ugly American, and has worked with many different musicians outside of AMC) ... he's probably the single artist I've seen perform most often - both solo and with AMC - and every show is always special
if you like what you heard and what to hear something similar then either Mercury (AMC) or 60 Watt Silver Lining (solo) are probably the best places to start
I will, much appreciated.
I saw him do a pretty similar set last year.
At St Bonaventure's in Bristol. It was just about the best I've ever seen him. My fave gig of last year as it happens.
Great to see Eitzel getting love for his ATP set
I've seen him several times over the past 22 years, mostly with AMC. He's never been less than magnificent. One of the truly incredible frontmen, but not one that usually gets a lot of praise.andrew_wolfpack this'd this
marine parade
anyone off to see this play at the brighton festival,its on at the old market till 23rd may,songs by eitzel.sounds fab.
would love to, but can't make it to Brighton this w/e
hopefully it will be performed again (ideally in London) at some point
good article about it here ...


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Eco-Friendly: 7 Cool Cardboard Toys
You can build lots of things at home out of cardboard, like play kitchens, play houses, boats, washing machines, and, well, pretty much anything else you can dream up. But if you aren't in the mood or just aren't the make-it-youself type, there are some cool cardboard toys out there you can buy, instead of DIY. They're eco-friendly, lightweight, and incredibly fun.
1. Bird Rocker, Tsuchino Kids, $113. Japanese company Tsuchino Kids builds amazing cardboard toys that kids can play with and on.
2. Geno the Giraffe, Kinetic Creatures, $50. After you assemble Geno, he actually walks with a wire crank on the side of the toy. Also available are an elephant and a rhino.
2. Recycled Cardboard Toy Aeroplane, Paperpod, at Mimimyne, $35. Made in the UK from recycled cardboard, this toy allows your kid to run around with his own airplane body.
3. Mini Jungle, Etsy shop Milimbo, $16.54. You get six different jungle animals plus trees in this kit from the Spanish Etsy shop.
4. Cardboard Articulated Robot, Etsy shop Card Board Myth, $33.08. Each robot has articulated appendages. Made in Italy.
6. L'archi-maison, Carton Chic, $33. This French company makes amazing cardboard doll houses and other small play structures.
7. The Flexy, Uncommon Goods, $14.50. Just like a Slinky, but cardboard! Won't get tangled like the traditional metal version.
(Images: as linked above)


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Melancon Greenhouse
The CSB/SJU Biology Department Greenhouse is a collection of plants used for classes and research. Three separate rooms house plants from tropical, mesic, and desert areas. The mission of the CSB/SJU Biology Department Greenhouse is to maintain a diverse, well-documented and accurately labeled living plant collection that enhances teaching and research for the faculty and students.
- The plant collection shall be displayed in a well designed, visually pleasing manner that promotes knowledge and interest in plants.
- The greenhouse shall promote an appreciation of the relationship between humanity and the natural world.
- The greenhouse shall provide the living plant specimens necessary to support the Biology Department's academic curriculum classes and research projects.
- The audience served shall be the CSB/SJU community and general public.
- The CSB/SJU Biology Department faculty, with input and assistance from other interested staff, students and volunteers, shall develop educational programming outside of the regular academic curriculum utilizing the greenhouse resources.
Bonnie Woodard, the Greenhouse manager welcomes you to visit and enjoy this green space year-round. During the summer months the Greenhouse undergoes its annual cleaning. The plants are assessed for their need within the department's research needs and contribution to the Biology Department's mission and goals. If there are particular plants that the department staff would like for a class, please let Bonnie know ASAP. If you have ideas or questions about the greenhouse in general, please give a call. Come down and visit, you're always welcome!
Bonnie Woodard
[email protected]
320 363-3091


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[In an argument with a moderate Christian named Chris, who thinks the world wouldn't be any different with or without religion, Anne C. Hanna explains that no, religion has a causal relationship to many of society's ills.]
Anne C. Hanna — 23 August 2012 at 4:09 am
Okay, let's be clear here, you may not agree with what the bible says about sex, and that's fine, but if you were to ask me, I'd say that if people listened to what it did say, there wouldn't be a need for abortion and planned parenthood. What about you? I mean, if any of us had the self control to keep our dicks in our pants until we got married, how many of those programs would be needed? Unfortunately, everyone is fucking everyone and spreading disease along with over populating our country.
The demands religion makes on human sexuality are unreasonable. There has literally never been a human society on the face of the planet, no matter how thoroughly crushed under the thumb of theistic tyranny, where people actually consistently restricted themselves to monogamous marital sex. Even in our modern society, the evidence thoroughly shows that kids subjected to "abstinence only" brainwashing are not significantly different in their sexual behavior from kids given proper sex education, with the exception that the victims of "abstinence only" get more STIs and have more unwanted pregnancies. Given that your friend's morality appears to be impossible to put into widespread practice, in a pragmatic society, we need to come up with humane ways of dealing with what happens when people deviate from that morality.
Religion's solutions to the supposed problem of non-sanctioned sex range between completely ineffective and massively inhumane, far out of proportion to any harm that a reasonable person would say could possibly be directly caused by a pair of adults having a little bit of consensual fun. In fact, the notion that two adults engaging in consensual sex has *any* intrinsic harm associated with it (as opposed to incidental harms like unwanted pregnancy) is *entirely* a religious notion. In a secular world, the only harms caused by non-marital sex are: disease transmission, unwanted pregnancy, and relationship conflicts. In a religious world, all of these harms still exist and *in addition* you have the harm caused by religiously-motivated punishment of the people who have sex deemed inappropriate, as well as the harm done by causing people to experience guilt and fear in regard to their sexual desires and interfering with their enjoyment of the positive good called sex.
So, in a world with religion there is just straight-up more net harm. Score one for secularism.
Science education – Yea, religion "shits" on science I guess, but hey, all of the theories and scientific processes to prove things were all invented by men, who as we all know are fallable. The bible? Written by men, so the same concept applies. What makes your science so fucking right? Why is it so believable that we just "poofed" into fucking existence yet unbelievable that someone put us here?
The difference is that the scientific process intrinsically accounts for its own fallibility. Scientists (male and female — it's not just "men" who invented all this stuff) recognize that we screw up, and so we keep checking ourselves and checking others to find and correct mistakes. In fact, this is what science is, this process of checking your work, looking for inconsistencies, proposing new ways to reconcile them, doing more tests to see if your new ideas are right, and on and on, over and over. The body of facts that constitutes scientific knowledge is just the most current understanding of the results of all this, but it's perpetually being revised and improved. The Christian scriptures, on the other hand, were set in stone once, hundreds of years ago, and now we're supposed to accept them as good for all time with no room for corrections, despite your friend's admission that they are just as much the work of fallible humans as everything in science. It's just straight-up irresponsible to weigh your understanding of the world down with unbreakable links to some musty old bit of rubbish that can't ever be revised. If science worked like that we'd be stuck trying to derive particle physics by ever more cryptic extrapolation from the works of Aristotle, and consequently we wouldn't have any of the knowledge we do today.
Score two for secularism.
As for the Middle East, dude…here's the deal. We didn't ask the Middle East to be a bunch of crazy fuckwits, and yeah religion plays a role in their fuckwittery, but I ask you this…..if you believe in something, as passionate as you are, how far would you go to defend it? I'm not saying it makes killing right, but you know as well as I do that if there was no religion, we'd all find something else to kill each other over. You act like if there was no religion then everything would be just peachy, but that's asinine, and to think otherwise is ignorant.
Your friend needs to read Hector Avalos' book "Fighting Words". Avalos makes an (IMO) pretty solid case that in fact religion *does* make this kind of shit worse, by creating imaginary but scarce resources that people are then forced to fight over. Consider, for example, the goddamn Temple Mount in Jerusalem. There is no way in hell that anybody other than archaeologists would give two shits about who owns that tiny little scrap of ground if it weren't for religion, and yet Ariel Sharon was able to start a riot, and, eventually, a revolt, just by setting foot on the damned thing. There are other concepts beyond supernatural ones that can be similarly crazy-making for people (e.g. The Fatherland, The Proletariat), but throwing supernatural bullshit into the mix adds a whole 'nother realm for people to be crazy in. Getting rid of religion means there's one less thing for people to be crazy about, and that seems like a damn good idea to me.
Score three for secularism, and that's the game. Thanks for playing, Chris, and better luck next time.


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ON the day that the clubhouse at Radcliffe Borough was offlimits to supporters because of a wedding reception, Darlington returned to action with a victory which maintains the belief that their engagement in the promotion race could end happily ever after, writes Craig Stoddart.
A largely trouble-free 2-1 win against a side that had a player sent off in the second half kept Quakers on the right track, but it's still early days for any honeymoon plans.
While their relationship with the play-offs is solid having been heavily involved in the top five since before Christmas, a union with the sole automatic promotion place has long been Quakers' hope.
While they remain some way from consummating the top spot because they are seven points off leaders Warrington, they have narrowed the gap with a formidable run of form that began at New Mills, in November.
Martin Gray's men have not looked back since. Saturday's was their 11th win in 12 games.
Last time out, Quakers scored five at Kendal and looked like doing the same on Saturday during a one-sided first half in which chances were spurned with regularity.
Amar Purewal and Stephen Thompson both hit the woodwork, the former missed a one-on-one, and goalkeeper Chris Cheetham made a number of saves with David Dowson among those he denied. Dowson put Darlington ahead on 19 minutes, taking a Purewal pass in his stride before keeping his composure to fire home his 11th league goal of the season.
And it was 2-0 just before the half-hour mark when Rob Ramshaw was tripped in the penalty area by Dave Sherlock and Terry Galbraith smashed home from the spot.
Bevan Burey pulled a goal back for Radcliffe in the 58th minute but then centre-back Mark Ayres was dismissed for lunging in on substitute Nashan Fisher on the halfway line.
Gray added: "Give them (Radcliffe) some credit, they kept chasing and chasing, even with ten men."
On Wednesday night, Darlington lost 2-0 at Heritage Park to Lancaster City.


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Famed French mountaineer, 93, dies
France loved him for his indefatigable, pioneering spirit — the first man to climb an 8,000-meter Himalayan peak despite losing all his fingers and toes to frostbite, a man who later went on to scale the heights of French politics.
Six decades after his 1950 Annapurna climb made Maurice Herzog a household name, the famed French mountaineer died Friday at age 93.
The statement from the Elysee Presidential Palace said he died in France but gave no further details. He had lived just outside of Paris.
A photograph of Herzog waving a French tricolor atop the 26,545-foot (8,091-meter) peak in Nepal captured a seminal moment before the grueling descent, during which subzero conditions led to the amputation of all his fingers and toes.
"The marks of the ordeal are apparent on my body," he later said.
Although the 1953 ascent of Mount Everest — by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay somewhat eclipsed Herzog's achievement, Annapurna was not scaled again for some 20 years. Although Everest was the highest mountain in the world, Annapurna was said to be the most dangerous.
His book about the epic expedition, "Annapurna: The First Conquest of an 8,000-Meter Peak," was called "the most influential mountaineering book of all time" by National Geographic Adventure and made Sports Illustrated's list of the top 100 sports books of all time. It has sold millions of copies — the IOC said more than 20 million copies — and has been translated into dozens of languages.
"In overstepping our limitations, in touching the extreme boundaries of man's world, we have come to know something of its true splendor," Herzog said in the best-selling book.
The International Olympic Committee expressed its deepest sympathy to Herzog's family. He had been an honorary member of the IOC since 1995, after some 25 years as an active member.
Tributes came in praising Herzog as an inspiration.
"Our nation will miss Maurice Herzog," said French President Francois Hollande, evoking the historic climb "that is engraved enduringly in our collective memory."
Hollande also praised Herzog's wartime engagement in the French resistance and his second career in public life.
Herzog was "a great figure of the mountains, Haute Savoie and France," said Sophie Dion, a deputy in the French parliament from Herzog's much-loved home region in the Alps.
As a symbol of the place he occupied in collective French hearts, Herzog was decorated with the Grand Cross in France's Legion of Honor last year, the country's highest civilian honor.
Annapurna is ranked the 10th highest peak in the world and has been described as the "world's deadliest peak." Up to 2009, 60 climbers had died on Annapurna, according to climbing statistics website 8000ers.com, for a fatality rate of around 40 percent.
Herzog, who was born on Jan. 15, 1919, parlayed his post-Annapurna fame into a career in French politics, first as a minister for sport under President Charles de Gaulle and later as a national lawmaker and long-time mayor of Chamonix, a famous mountaineering town in the French Alps.
He also helped France obtain the 1992 Winter Olympics for Albertville.
Still, later in life, Herzog's legend was tarnished when it came out that he sought to diminish the role of his climbing companion Louis Lachenal — who died in 1955 — by editing his memoirs, which were published after his death. Lachenal reached the summit of Annapurna with Herzog and also lost all his toes to frostbite.
There was no immediate information on survivors or funeral arrangements.


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Jordin Sparks has dazzled as she appeared on the stage of American Idol on Thursday night, showing off a great new figure. Every woman loves to be admired and Jordin definitely captured all the attention as she performed her new single "I Am Woman". Jordin Sparks really sparkled on stage and shared her new hot body secret in an interview with "Access Hollywood". Although a lot more leaner and with much more experience backing her up, Jordin Sparks still says she was nervous before getting on stage to perform on American Idol. Apparently, the... Read More
Gorgeous Jordin Sparks flaunts her sexy bikini body on the August cover of SHAPE magazine. The 22-year-old songstress sits down for an exclusive interview and opens up about her weight loss, her upcoming film debut in next month's Sparkle, working with Whitney Houston, and her future plans. "I knew I had a long road ahead of me. I was barely working out, and my diet was a mess. I had to address when, what, and how much I was eating," she says. The beautiful American Idol winner, who managed to drop 50 pounds, confessed in the in... Read More


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For 20 minutes Monday night at Stetson the Bisons put on a solid defensive performance, holding Stetson to 19 points while managing only 18 points from the field themselves.
In the second half everything changed. The Bisons started shooting better, but Stetson really opened things up scoring 57 points on the way to a 76-66 win in Atlantic Sun play.
"We played the best half we have played all season long defensively in the first half," Sanderson said. "We coupled that with playing the worst half we have played all season long defensively.
"It was the same team out there playing. It is a focus. It is a mindset. When a team starts scoring on us there is no sense of urgency to get it stopped."
The Bisons were back on the court early Tuesday morning for practice. Defense was the topic of discussion as the Bisons watched video of both halves and then worked on getting things right before Wednesday night's game at Alico Area at Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers. Game time is 6:30 p.m.
The Bisons are 7-5, 2-1 in the A-Sun heading into the game. Florida Gulf Coast, an 83-51 loser to Belmont Monday night, is 3-9 overall, 0-3 in the conference.
"We had to show them the biggest difference between the first half and the second half," Sanderson said of the video session. "It is not hard to understand. We have to maintain focus and energy on the defensive end of the floor.
"Usually, when you are missing shots like we did in the first half, it takes your energy away defensively. We weren't making shots in the first half but we dug our heels in and did an unbelievable job of defending Stetson. But in the second half when we scored a lot easier our defense relaxed."
Coaching is all about teaching. Sanderson felt that the defensive lesson had to be emphasized again.
"We had to explain it to them." Sanderson said. "We had to show it to them on film. And then we had to work on it.
"They have to listen and learn from it. They have to turn the page and get ready for Florida Gulf Coast. If they don't learn from it they are going to lose some more games on the road."
Sanderson also talked about the need to sustain a top effort every second and every possession of every game for a full 40 minutes.
"I had no problem with our execution in the first 20 minutes against Stetson," Sanderson said. "But that has to be sustained for 40 minutes especially when you are getting the other team's best shot.
"Even in the games we have won we haven't sustained our efforts for long, long periods of time in both halves. If we aren't making shots we have to dig in defensively. And if we are making shots we have to dig in defensively too."
Florida Gulf Coast counts on strong shooting from beyond the 3-point arc. That means the Bisons will have to cover even more of the court.
The game will feature four of the top five scorers overall in the A-Sun. Lipscomb center Adnan Hodzic is first with 20.3 points per game. Lipscomb guard Josh Slater is second with 17.1 points per game.
Reed Baker from Florida Gulf Coast is fourth overall with 16.2 points per game. He is followed by teammate Anthony Banks in fifth place with 15.9 points per game.
"They shoot the ball well from the perimeter," Sanderson said. "You have to guard more floor against them than you do against some teams."
While defense is the main concern at this point Sanderson is not all that excited about the way the offense has been playing in the last couple of games.
"We have to shoot better," Sanderson said. "I went back and watched the film and against Stetson in the first half we got 10 wide open shots by the right people and they just missed them.
"I can get them good shots, but I can't make them for them. There is a not a whole lot I can do about that."
Sanderson points to the importance of winning a road game against Florida Gulf Coast.
"In my opinion it can't get here fast enough," Sanderson said. "We have to learn and we have to continue to grow up."
Written by Mark McGee, Senior Publisher/Director of Media Relations.