text:
Electricity I want for Travel
Atakpame, Togo West Africa
If I put a solar panel outside my room, someone will steal it.
I am not going to wear solar clothes, I already stink enough without wearing the same clothes every day.
I need a continual source of electricity.
I do not have a river running through every hotel room to tap into.
The ONLY thing I know I do every day is walk, if I could harness the pressure of my every step and convert to electricity, then I stored on batteries, I could continually charge batteries to use for my camera, cell phone and computer. I really do not like the fact that my computer does not use AA batteries, what a headache. I live eat and drink on AA rechargable batteries.
If it is not run by an AA battery, I just say no to the gear.
Gear, West Africa Gear, Electricity, Togo,
Electricity I want for Travel
One Word of Common Sense
Atakpame, Togo West Africa
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Will Rogers
Mark Twain
Benjamin Franklin - A penny saved, is a penny earned.
John F. Kennedy
Winston Churchill
Jesus Christ
I am search for a concept, I want the way to explain, I want to know how to simply explain a type of reasoning used to solve a problem. This is a short list of people who could say something simple, and explain the big picture. They understood the art of common sense. The understood this type of reasoning, for which I have no good name.
Somehow, common sense is evasive, I search for it daily.
People plan for years to travel to a place for one month, in reality; they only need a passport and some money, buy the plane ticket and leave. Everything they need to live in the next country is already waiting for them when they arrive, just go and buy it and funny, 10 to 20 times cheaper than the USA and fun to do.
It is like taking Malaria treatment to West Africa… Duh, come on, they sell it here, and a lot easier to buy.
Pivotal Ideas - Is this a good name?
The idea for which all ideas pivots around, the essential idea, the benchmark reason, there is a way to explain this, and I will find the words.
I search for solutions to answers.
I learned today a funny lesson, a friend uses the insect spray in her home, and it cost 800 CFA for a can. She does not have a mosquito net because it cost 2000 CFA, and she has insect killer for 800 CFA.
The competition of the mosquito net is the insecticide, now the company that sells the insecticide is smart. They price it at 800 CFA per can; the price of the Mosquito net is 2000 CFA.
2000 CFA is about one weeks pay here.
The idea of business is to sell Mosquito nets and have everyone use one, the price must be about 500 CFA or one dollars US to be a viable option for the Togo people.
Or if the NGO-ONG would think, using insecticide as a repellant, and that is what they do, this has got to be toxic, bad for me, I use insecticide then leave, come back and turn on the fan, open the doors. They use it, then go to sleep, they do not try to kill all of them, the repel them. I think they need a sign, insecticides are toxic!
All the noise above is has one pivotal need to remember, the cost of a mosquito net has to be 500 CFA to be workable or sustainable.
I think there is a need for the world to grasp business first, and then try to save the world. Sustainable means it works as a business investment, not as a donation.
I wrote all this crap about Mosquito nets and hope, please stop thinking about Mosquitoes and focus, I want to know what type or reasoning this is? I do not want to know about Mosquito nets. IF a person puts a comment on this about Mosquito nets, I will delete….
Research, Logic, Problem Solving, Togo,
One Word of Common Sense
Mesonges du Tchoukoutou
Atakpame, Togo West Africa
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Sunday it the day for Tchoukoutou in Atakpame, Togo
Tchoukoutou is some type of corn mash beer, and Sunday is the day to partake.
This girl went to visit her parents and drank some Tchoukoutou, then proceeds to tell me she only drain half a bowl. I said, Tchoukoutou Mesonges, however she corrected my French and said, Mesonges du Tchoukoutou
More or less the lies of the home brew. She says she speaks Kabiye.
Sobabi is the high powered brew or distilled drink they make, I have started noticing signs on building saying Sobabi. More or less come buy moonshine here.
Beer, Drinks, Food, Street Food, Togo Food, Togo
Mesonges du Tchoukoutou
Off the Grid
Badou, Togo West Africa
Friday, May 4, 2007
Off the grid of the electric company, or is this not participating, what if there is no grid.
I think this is the jargon or buzzwords of the solar, hydro-electric, wind and any other ways. I am not off the grid, I am going where there is no grid, or I am slowly trying to go there.
Electrical Grid
I am coming to believe the problem is simple math.
Take the electric bill and figure out my yearly kilowatts of electricity used. Divide that by 365 days, then I have how many kilowatts I use per day.
Go to the world of solar panels and say, I want to produce and store this X amount of solar energy per day, l think the sun shine hard for about 4 hours per day. How much for the solar panels to produce, and how much for the batteries to store, and please include all the other toys needed, like inverters, wires, etc and such.
There are people that just love to do this type of math and answer these questions that work with solar toys.
I have a village in Togo, it has 50 homes, how much does it cost buy the solar panels, and batteries to put two 25 Watt Light bulbs in the home and run all night. The technology exist, this is not difficult science.
I was just in this village of Akloa, there is a Cascade or waterfalls, theu are off the grid or as they say on the,
- Group -
This means they have a group generator, that supplies the one village from 6 at night to morning, this is not reliable information, but I do think they turn on the electricity at night.
I think, hmm, there is no need for electricity here, or they would turn on during the hours when a person work or not work. Sewing machine are those seesaw pedal things, not always electric.
Electricity is a convenience, not a need, unless you need it for work, I suppose I need it for work, to run my computer. I am trying to think of one job here where they use electricity and need it, nothing that I can easily think of, maybe this is a luxury, not a need in life.
I would need electricity to read, still a luxury, and I would want my children to read. I do not see reading materials, they do not read much, not like India, a newspaper everywhere for the cows to eat and the people to read.
Bottom line in the USA, if I could invest 2 years of electricity payments and go off the grid, I would say,
- Do it. -
Math, I think a solar energy person should be able to calculate and it they cannot, seems like the wrong person.
All this work, solar, water, wind, etc is not really the essential problem, the problem is to get the governments of these countries hand out of the pockets of the citizens. Any good idea and the country will put there hands in and want money.
I really appreciate the USA, a government official cannot just walk up and ask me for money, 80 percent of the planet they can and they do.
Off the Grid, Electricity, Water Power Electriicty, Solar, 12 Volt, Togo,
Off the Grid
The Trouble with Travel
Atakpame, Togo West Africa
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Ironic coincidence, is this a proof of Gods existence?
I received this comment in an email:
It is an amazing relationship, isn't it? The fixer and the traveler...to rely on those that can't be trusted. Does it get exhausting? Is there anyone you can release yourself with, where you aren't worried,
fearful, plotting, manipulating or being manipulated, someone you are not having to bargain with just to get by? Anyone you can just BE with, where presence is a mutually shared gift?...I guess I'm now writing about you, the forever traveler, and not just someone going
on a month-long vacation.
Until later...safe journeys!
I would say in a brief paragraph she has explained the trouble with travel, not the fixer, the whole experience. (And to always sleep in a different bed.)
My relationship between me and the people I meet on the planet earth. A good person does not walk up to a stranger, a foreigner, a person they do not know. It is the people with bad manners.
Maybe the started after this post:
I have been having this email conversation with Sarah, most of the emails are posted somewhere in the Help Center.
This comment is ironic; I am in Atakpame to take a vacation from all the concepts in the quote:
I become exhausted with people, the people of the planet can be extremely trying, they can be so frustrating you start to envision or have a desire to capture them, tie them up, then turn over to God and get a bounty for finding sinners. When a new person, ME, enters a culture he or she is not protected by the culture, this means any nefarious, bad, evil person that wishes to come up and try to manipulate, maneuver, sell me something has an opportunity. Nobody is going to say, do not do this to the person.
- They often think, allow Joe with no money to make some money, he need it, and will help or encourage the person. -
On 20 percent of the planet, not where I travel, in the so-called developed world you can turn them into the police. On the rest of the planet, they are normal people.
The art of travel in so many ways to avoid the bad people. If you avoid the bad, then what is left over is great.
I become very annoyed with Guidebooks, Travel Writers, and Adventure Writers who do not give me hints. Hell, I do not want hints; I want to know specific clear ways to identify the scammers and avoid.
I want to know who to avoid, MORE than what to do, what to do is easy to learn, everyone is writing about that. I want to know how to avoid people. I know in West Africa there are two easy ways, one is drive a car, and he second is to live in Tourist Hotels, the ones that cost above 10 Mille or about 20 US per night. Then life is insulated. The car would easily insulate me from the people. Then why come here?
I have seen very few people, I think one Swiss girl, maybe two French Canadians in my travel experience in Africa using public transportation, and me. This is three people in about 6 months of my life living in West Africa. In Ghana you have many volunteers that travel or leave the project and go on brief trips, they are not crossing borders. I have met one bike rider.
Africa men are very annoying, the closer I get, the more they know me, and the more they annoy me. I would suppose the Philippines men are often the same, and this makes the women love me here and there.
I am taking a pause here in Atakpame, Togo, I am in a controlled environment, and I am in a place where it is difficult to have a casual annoying conversation. I must pay a moto taxi to take me to the annoying cultural conversations. (Also boring, but good.)
This is a vacation from what you perceive as a vacation. I actually live here today, then tomorrow maybe somewhere else. I do not get to go home and recharge, I must re-charge here. No go home bivouac.
I love West Africa, the genuine normal people after I am able to somehow avoid the large gauntlet of annoying men, sometimes women are fun. Innocent, joyful, playful and curious, they do not now foreigners. I think the reason is also because they do not want money. They think 99 percent of the time about eating, talking, enjoying life or lying around like a big dog. What a wonderful society or culture, the majority of time is leisure. The do their leisure while disguised as work.
This is really 80 percent of the world, the under-developed part, the 20 percent in the USA, Europe and Australia etc are crazy, no time, I have no time, call me later. Here in Togo they would stop and talk all day if you would talk. The always have time, they do not let work interfere with the enjoyment of life and food is plentiful as the Garden of Eden, you can see the fat on the body, they do very little exercise and eat tremendously, if they have a problem, I think it is boredom.
I am going to give an example of a list I am making, I thought I already posted, maybe I did, and I cannot find or remember clearly.
I am making a list of how to avoid the problem people in West Africa. Pretty much, it goes like this, if a person does any of these things, pretend you did not hear, and continue to walk. They will give up quickly and forget.
IF you obey and avoid these comment, what you will have left over is well mannered and good people.
Togo Starting A Conversation - How they start an annoying conversation.
Yeh bow by an Adult - It means White Man
VA - I means come in Ewe or Kabrye, etc.
Spsssst sound
Cadeau - Gift
Donnez moi - Give me
Horn - On moto
Call Andre - Somehow learned my name.
Stare at me
Rastas - Always annoying and believe I want to talk.
Speak English to you.
Follow you
Grab you
Patron - Means like owner or boss
Blanc - White
Holler until I turn around, then demand I come
Tell someone else to holler at me, that is closer.
Walk into you - This is done as macho tactics.
Shake you hand - Pretend not to speak any language they know.
Have a friend introduce you, - Do not talk -
OK, this is a great way to avoid everyone.
How do you meet people.
I listen to the voices, children, and happy voices, inquisitive voices; there is also the polite person. I had a girl following me in Kpalime, she was a pain, she was so polite, and it was close to impossible to avoid her. She did everything right, the problem was she was 17 and wanted to come in my room to get a Gift, I was successful, I talked politely until she gave up. I find that about one day is the diligence level of West Africa, three days is an exceptional person. To annoy me for three days and me consistently say no is difficult.
The other good thing now, my French is improving, I can say no easier.
I am on vacation, the trouble with travel is the people you meet, and I guess I am tolerant, or I would leave. There is this somewhat idiot idea that tolerance is good. Tolerance enables people to continue to act badly, and intolerance of bad manners is what the world needs. Not a tolerance for bad manners and un-civilized behavior. I try to make a one-path entry into my life, by good manners only, if no manners, not behaved, they do not enter. What is amazing to me, the lesser the education in West Africa, the better their manners.
Togo Annoyances, Togo, Planning Africa, Annoyances, What is good advice, Why Travel, Why Not Travel
The Trouble with Travel
Movies About Travel
Atakpame, Togo West Africa
A person wrote, and sent a link with a list of movies related to Travel. I find this interesting, and would love to have a country by country breakdown. It is both good and bad, however movies are the education to the world of about countries. The bad part, movies are the imagination of a producer, writer, and is fiction. However, movies are more correct than BBC or CNN or the news.
I sometimes say to other travelers, you saw that in this movie about the USA, please try to focus, it was a movie, it was fiction.
However, on the good, movies do show us views of other countries, still normally some form or either romantic or tragic, but nonetheless normally a small part is true, not much.
The world as a whole is normally boring on a day to day basis, nothing like the movies.
Andy in Atakpame, Togo
Hello Rochelle,
I think you may be inspiring a new category for the HoboTraveler.com site.
Books is semi the same idea, but for book. But you have made a list of movies, very good, Note, the reason I have never done the movies, is because I needed to make a page like yours to start people thinking. This page is excellent, I am not sure why some are up there.
It would be nice to have a small blurp or the reason why it a travel movie.
Name: Rochelle
Country: USA
Hey there. We have an extensive list of Movies that inspire or are about travel but nothing in category yet and don-t know how to submit our list.
Happy Travels,
Movies About Travel
Transportation Stops Africa Tourism
Atakpame, Togo West Africa
Monday, May 7, 2007
It has taken me 10 years of travel to have enough experience to say, and the confidence, maybe arrogance to say,
- Public Transportation in Africa is incredibly crazy -
I read between the lines of the book Dark Star Safari, by Paul Theroux and thought to myself, he took the easy way out.
My travelers pride was offended, I now learn maybe he was correct, and did not explain. I thought to myself, he is not a traveler.
He more or less hired taxis from one city to another, this is maybe the easiest, smartest, however most expensive way to travel on the planet.
I sometime think, what do I do?
HoboTraveler.com has become a financial success, I think, I want to just pay money and avoid some of the hassles. It would be a lot simpler to travel from Bangkok, Thailand to Changmai, Thailand by air conditioned taxi, then to ride a bus. I know the American way, the first thing an American does is rent a car, buys a car, think about a car, it is the culture. This is stupid. Outside the USA, I think a taxi is great and driving a car is close to asking to be robbed and killed.
I will admit and say, Africa is ok for a car or better yet a Peugeot VAN, or to buy motorcycle, bike, if you want to drive here it is safe enough, mainly because there is no cars on the road.
Paul Theroux understood Africa, however he did not explain, or I do not remember him saying, I am taking the taxis because it is the smart way to travel.
I am NOT saying a person should just hire a taxi and go from city to city in Togo. I am tentatively today saying, a person will enjoy Togo or and most of the West African countries more, if the take a motorcycle Taxi from here to there.
I keep thinking,
300,000 CFA for a new motorcycle in Atakpame, Togo. I can buy a new motorcycle for 622 US Dollars.
If I traveled 5 months or 150 days in Africa
622 Dollars divide by 150 equals 4 dollars per day to have a motorcycle; I think I would add 4 dollars per day for insurance, and papers and well with gas, say 10 dollars per day.
5000 CFA per day or 10 US to have a Motorcycle. The problems is getting this beast across borders.
It is impossible for me to spend 10 dollars per day on a Moto, what am I going to do, send the moto home?
This is easy, the cheapest easiest way to travel West Africa is with a Moto or Zimijan, I do not know how to spell and I do not want to look up in the guidebook, I say Moto and they all come. Zimi John seems to be the formal name.
Motorcycle Taxi or Moto
I want to pay to avoid frustration. This is the beauty of a taxi, most Americans or Europeans cannot afford to enjoy a taxi. I love to just say, take me here and I go from here to there. I get out of the AC Taxi, quiet, easy and quick not parking of the car, and when I want to leave, I walk out and hold up my hand, I am home.
A GOOD TAXI, I love them, a bad taxi driver needs hit with a 2 X 4.
I have completely given up on the bus stations or Gares here in Togo. They are made to volunteer to be a victim of abuse. I do not volunteer to be abused. I am thinking, I came to Atakpame, from Badou in about 2 hours or less on a Moto Taxi, the cost was 6000 CFA. I paid 2500 CFA because the van broke down, and it took 5 hours.
What is safe, I need to never leave the USA. The truth is, a car in the USA goes continually about 60 miles per hour, and a car in Togo and 80 percent of the planet is lucky to go 30 miles per hour. Africa has no police to watch drivers, they can be crazy, but for the most part, they are calm in comparison to most places, like Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Cambodia or Philippines. Etc.
I could afford to rent a car taxi across Africa, I think Paul was too smart, and just did not want to explain his understanding of transportation, instead was just bleak, or dark.
The problem with car taxis is this, it takes a lot of talking and searching and money to find a taxi car that will go from city to city. If I go to the Gare where they are sitting and would be logical to find one, and easy. I will have 20 people around me talking and it become huge soap opera of stupid conversations and demanding bully Togo people, all grabbing and saying, this and that.
I suppose I should go to the Gare and bite the bullet and see, how much to go from Atakpame, to Kpalime by car. Let me think, I would guess about 10-20,000 would be fare. If I could get a tax alone from Atakpame to Kpalime, it would be good. I would be happy.
20,000 CFA is about 40 US Dollars and a pile of money for a backpacker. I can get a room for 3000 in Kpalime; I am paying 3500 for a room in Atakpame.
I do not travel from city to city daily.
The math is painful, and biting the bullet and having transportation cost more than a room is difficult to eat. I have always felt that transportation was cheaper than a room.
I must remove the pain of travel in Africa, or I will soon want to leave or worst yet, refuse to move or travel. The pain is:
The Gare, the Bus Station…
Ok, rules of thinking.
1. No bus stations
2. No vans
3. Cars only.
4. Motorcycles that know the route.
This is confusing and complicated, but doable.
Easy way is this, I get on a moto and say go to this highway or road and drop me off, I want to be on the road leading out of city and leading to the next. This means, and I have never needed to do this when traveling. I look for bus stations; I do not read maps to find the road leading out of the city. I will not do the same as car driver, but with a moto and search for the road leading out of the city.
I should do this a day or two before I leave, that way the stupid motos will not say, this is the road, and I need to trust them. I can take two or three motos and continue until I am positive this is the place to leave from or stand. I suppose I can take a GPS reading.
The guidebook, words, there is very few ways to explain the locations to hitch a ride from one city the next. If I think hitchhiking, I am explaining better. Take me to the highway so I can hitch a ride to the next city.
This is more or less, what I need to say to the Moto.
Buying a 4-wheel drive and going across Africa sound romantic, but only about 1 in 10,000 people will do this. The other 9,999 people go to Southeast Asia, India, South America or Central and avoid the cost.
There is no doubt in my mind, getting rid of the small vans in Africa and replacing them with big buses would maybe increase tourism about 2000 percent. The white people just do not want to say to the African people, I do not want to get in a station wagon with 15 people; I will buy a car or motorcycle to avoid. There is this idea that to say something bad about Africa is racism, I think racism is to not say the truth like they are not smart enough to listen.
I truly do not care what any country thinks of me, I do not travel to Togo to make Togo people happy, and I travel to enjoy my life.
Putting five people in one section of a car seat is crazy and too difficult, my life is too short, and I am not going to travel this way.
Last time I was here, I complained about the cost or rooms, I seem to have sussed that out, now I am working on the transport.. hehehe. I will get this place figured out. I like Africa.
West Africa Transportation, Togo Transportation, Tranportation, Tourism, Planning Africa,
Transportation Stops Africa Tourism
Togo Beignet
Badou Togo West Africa
This is Togo Street food, found in Badou, Togo and other places I forget already.
Beignet d Haricot Piment Sel
One man says, or wrote this, it is a bread type of food, deep fried, and with an African type of pepper inside and salt. The pepper really is a good extra kick, I learned to like them before I knew they were made with Beans, Haricot in French is beans. If you would have said beans, I would have refused.
Literally this is
Fried Bread of Bean Pepper Salt
It is a little frustrating and sensitive to me, the Togo or West Africa diet has so many calories packed into every food. Pate, Fufu, Yams, Cassava, etc, then they put oil on the top of many things. This is an over packed country, the people are fat, there is no easy way to say if nourishment is correct, however if there is fruits around they eat better.
This is a lady in Badou, Togo, does not seem to understand French, is grumpy, and I am a regular customer. The way to buy food in Togo is often to just to give them money. Give here say 100 CFA or Franc and she gives you a bag with some amount you will learn the price after the fact.
My most cultural experiences and the best, I am have about a 1 in 50 chance of understanding what happened. I am slowly, it has taken 10 year of practice, but slowly I have learned how to understand a culture fast. This food as explained by one man, maybe the information is correct, maybe it is not, learning about food and culture is a process, not an event. I like the pepper taste of this bread like food.
I eat what is tempting to me, not what someone tell me is good. I do not like the Pate or the Fufu, therefore, I do not want to learn about it. I want to learn about what I enjoy.
The food of Togo is difficult, either I am in restaurant that is twice as expensive as the USA, and the same as France and the food is terrible or I am in the streets. There is very little middle ground, I like the street food 100 times more than feeling like a victim to an overpriced Tourist menu with bad food.
This lady prepared these perfect, strangely I had one on a moto trip to the Ghana border, and had to throw them away.
I have discovered by in Atakpame, it is rare and difficult to find the cooked cheese called Wagassi, I am sad or hungry or both.
Food, Togo Food, Street Food, West Africa Food, Togo, Togo Budget,
Togo Beignet
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Rock Cycle Multiple Choice Questions Test 6 Tests pdf Download
Practice science test 6 on rock cycle MCQs, grade 8 sedimentary rocks multiple choice questions and answers. Sedimentary rocks revision test has science worksheets, answer key with choices as chalk, shelly limestone, oolitic limestone and all of them of multiple choice questions (MCQ) with sedimentary rocks quiz as a which is mainly composed of fossils cemented by calcium carbonate is for competitive exam prep. Free science study guide to learn sedimentary rocks quiz to attempt multiple choice questions based test.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Wedding Justice of the Peace in and around Grants, New Mexico.
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When the pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton perform together, they never look at each other, but they move in tandem, mirroring each other's every gesture.
"It's really bizarre," said Cristian Mãcelaru, associate conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. "When you see a quartet that has been playing together for 25 or 30 years, it's a similar thing."
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— Corinne Ramey, The Wall Street Journal
August 4, 2014
Read More


text: Hi, All! A question to Torsen list specialists: I have an Audi 100q 2.8 (1991) with Torsen diff in center. I bought it with 185/65R15 tires in front and 195/65R15 tires in back. Service specialists say that I should change tires to be of the same size ASAP. (Difference in tire diameter is ~7mm?) If I do not change, they say I risk the damage of Torsen diff. Could you comment if that is true and how big the risk is? Is Torsen more or less vulnerable that the diff used in older Quattro models? And isn't a diff meant to allow for variation in wheel speed? -- Best regards, Uldis mailto:captsolo at pop3.pid.gov.lv


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In fifty days I will will turn 50-years-old. I'm going to spend these next few weeks reflecting , preparing and wrapping my head around another life transition in my own way. If you look around, there's a lot of advice and quips designed to make fifty less frightening. Here are a couple I found- […]Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for the 'Feathering the Empty Nest' Category
What About Me?
Last year my church started a group for moms with teenagers. This is something I'd been lobbying for but sadly, like the preschoolers group and the school-age moms groups before it, it came on the sunset of my days in that phase of life. This has been a pattern over the last twenty-five years- me […]Read the rest of this entry »
Feathering the Empty Nest #1: Adults Only
2014 is off and running and I am full of goals and ambition! In addition to posting more often (don't cringe) I'll be featuring special categories this year. The first one debuts today- Feathering Your Empty Nest. 2014 is the year The Better Half and I officially become Empty Nesters. All year I'll be […]Read the rest of this entry »


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- Street: 400 Main Street (Suite L-116)
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- Telephone: (865) 215-2246
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On the map
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Research, identify and discuss some of the environmental issues faced by business and society as well as at least two strategic approaches organizations are using to respond to these issues.
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Scramento Home Winemakers June Jubilee Roaring Sucess
Posted Under: Bits & Pieces,Entertainment
The Sacramento Home Winemakers June Jubilee was a roaring success with 121 wines judged and over 100 members and their families attending. They had 13 cellar rats (they are the ones that pour the wine for the judges) a couple of data gurus and twelve judges.
All this was held in Judy Pinegar's barn in Loomis, CA. With the weather at 100 degrees, thanks has to be given to BBQ chefs Joe McGilivray and Manual for their great barbeque skills. After the judges swirling, sniffing and tasting, 4+ hours and 24 flights later, the gold wines emerged and were lined up for the Best of Division rounds that included 14 reds.
When the best of show was completed, and the competition was stiff, the judges remarked that Sacrmento Home Winemakers were some of the best that they have judges. Wines judged included lively whites, beautiful roses, unusual red blends, outstanding petite sirahs, creative fruits and desserts; a flight of 8 well-crafted tempranillos and fruit intense blackberry wines.
Chief Judge Mike Touchette, assisted by Jubilee Coordinator Judy Pinegar and Assistant Coordinator Shannon Shackelford, announced the winners.
Best of Show – Dave Hicks, 2012 Viognier (pictured above)
Best of White – Dave Hicks, 2012 Viognier
Best of Rose/Blush – Carl Sweet, 2012 Primitivo
Best of Red – Terry Piazza-Perham, George Smith and Roberta Sparkman, 2011 Petite Sirah
Best of Fruit/Exotic – Rex Johnston and Barbara Bentley, 2012 Wild Blackberry
Best of Dessert – Donna Bettencourt, 2009 Blackberry Port
A complete list of awards can be found at this link: 2013 Jubilee Awards.
Check out Jubilee photos on Sacramento Home Winemakers facebook page. More Jubilee photos to be added to this web site soon.
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|Operating Systems
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Release Notes: This release adds support for pieces, which is a list of hashes for parts of the file. The new hashlist option allows you to export all the hash information, which is good for integration and hash verification list generation.
Release Notes: This version adds support for OpenSSL md5sum lists, a description on the command-line. The problems with XML escaping and the addpath flag have been fixed.
Release Notes: Major bugs fixed include incorrect size mentioned in the metalink and debug information getting out. Using a new mirrorlist format, the URL attributes can now be set for mirrors. The new --addheader option allows for the inclusion of a simple block of XML.
Release Notes: This version adds various handy options, including baseurl, nomirrors, somedigests, mindigests, alldigests, and version. With only small changes, this release is the last one before the new mirror list format will be introduced.
Release Notes: The project has moved to the new Metalinker.org XML mirror lists, which already has programs supporting it. With the new file-format, the main program structure has been rewritten. It can now generate mirror lists from files or MD5SUMS lists and has support for md4, md5, sha1, sha256, sha384, sha512, rmd160, tiger, crc32, ed2k, and gnunet.
A Fluent OpenStack client API for Java.
A TWiki appliance that is easy to use and lightweight.


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We were giddy with excitement when we stumbled upon the Act of Kindness Advent Calendar from the UK. We loved the idea so much that it inspired us to create our own Cosmopawlitan Kindness to Animals Advent Calendar for you to use and share to help spread kindness this holiday season!
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The Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve inside of your Ford F-150 is responsible for scavenging exhaust gases from the intake and route them to reduce emissions. Designed to reduce combustion chamber temperatures as well as curbing oxides in your airflow, the EGR is a vital part of your fuel emissions.
When you have a problem with your EGR valve or the EGR system, your Ford truck will turn on your Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) otherwise known as the check engine light. Today we'll be showing you how to test the electrical wiring harness and the function of your 2007 Ford F-150 EGR. This truck is equipped with the 4.2 liter V6, and the EGR valve is mounted to the side of the intake manifold.
Symptoms of OBDII P0401
- Poor Idle
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The Ford EGR system is comprised of several smaller components. When even one of these components fail, it could trigger your P0401 OBDII trouble code. Before you begin our guide on fixing the P0401 engine code, take some time to learn about your Ford EGR and what makes it work.
- Actuator Solenoid – What makes the EGR trigger on and off, this solenoid is usually triggered by a switched 5 volt signal.
- Differential pressure sensor EGR (DPFE) – This sensor informs the valve and ECU of the pressures on either side of your EGR ports. Properly maintaining this balance is imperative to your EGR's operation.
- EGR Valve – The actual valve that opens and closes the ports on your Ford EGR, this part can become clogged, seized or suffer from poor flow due to carbon deposits.
When you have a trouble code P0401 lighting up your MIL or check engine light, there's a few possibilities. Before you rip off your EGR and replace it with part number 4F-2Z9D-475-AA, and can be also found under the other interchange part numbers 4F-2Z9D-475-AF or 5F-2Z9-D475-A.
Find your EGR valve in your Ford F-150 engine bay, and check it for any noise or strange behavior when starting.
To test the function of your Ford F150 EGR, you will be using a multimeter to test the wires for power and ground. Unplug your Ford F150 EGR by depressing the retaining pin and unplugging the harness.
If you aren't sure how to use a multimeter, check out this guide here for a quick lesson. Because the OBDII P0401 means your PCM does not see enough EGR flow, you should always check voltage before replacing anything.
Here's a look at your Ford F150 EGR connector, and there's three pins you will need to check. Insert your ignition key and turn to the "ON" position, but do not start your truck engine. Using your multimeter and place your black lead on the negative terminal of your battery. Now gently check the red lead to the PIN 2 shown above, this pin should be a constant 12 volts of power.
If you have a constant 12 volts at this wire, move onward to PIN 3, which is the switched 5 volt signal. Remember that when you are testing any electrical connection, make sure to never depress the testing pin into the connector. Instead always gently touch the metal probe to the metal inside the plastic housing.
The last step of our DIY guide is to check for a low reference ground signal at PIN 1. If there's a ground present here, chances are that your EGR valve needs replacing and that should be done before you clear the stored code in your OBDII PCM. You now know how to test a Ford F-150 EGR system, use a scan tool to clear your check engine code.
Have any questions about our DIY Guide? leave them for us below and let us know!


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Last night I had an hour to kill before the Flyers game came on, and it was a nice evening, so I grabbed a Villiger 1888 Fuerte robusto to take for a walk. This is a sample that came from a selection that Villiger sent a while back, and, since Villiger was recently in the news I though it would be a good time to smoke one. I chose this over the regular 1888 because it said "Fuerte" and who can resist that challenge, and I had just eaten some General Tso's Chicken and Pork Fried Rice. This is a decent looking cigar, with one of my favorite wrapper varieties, the San Andreas, although not a maduro. It lit well and the corrections it needed were only to satisfy my own CDO (that's OCD in the correct alphabetical order). I ran over an hour with this robusto, and put it down shortly after getting a slight ammonia flavor, but over-all it was a good tasting stick. On the stronger side of medium to me, I liked it and would smoke it again. I am looking forward to trying the lighter, regular 1888 line one of these evenings after a little milder meal. The Fuerte was a good choice after the spicy General Tso's. If you ever are in need of a quick and portable smoke, the machine made Villiger Export is a tasty little bugger. You can generally find boxes of five for $6 bucks or so at your local tobacconist. They are paper wrapped, 4″x 37 square pressed little dudes that are quite tasty.
That's it for this quick look at a cigar. Until the next time,


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Democratic Alliance's Dirty Tactics To Woo MPs, Says ANC
South Africa's ANC party said that the indications by the Democratic Alliance that it will engage in whatever means, including employing underhand methods, to influence targeted ANC MPs to vote against the Protection of Information Bill is a serious affront to the integrity of parliament and established democratic processes.
"As the leading opposition party, the DA should respect the available avenues provided for by our constitutional democracy and contribute superior arguments to influence the process, rather than strike secret deals, including dispensing cash parcels, to woo MPs to vote in its favour," said the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, ANC Parliamentary Caucus
Parliament of the Republic of South Africa in Cape Town.
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The Insider
Prep Bowl moves outdoors to TCF Stadium in 2014
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Prep Bowl will be played outdoors at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus in 2014.
In a break from tradition, all seven state high school football title games that year will be played a week before Thanksgiving.
The dates and location were approved Monday at the Minnesota State High School League board meeting.
The Star Tribune reports the seven championship games in 2014 will be held Nov. 21-22. That's a week earlier than they typically have been played on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The games also will be the first Prep Bowl title games played outside of the Metrodome, which is being replaced by a new Vikings stadium.
The 2013 Prep Bowl games will be the last ones played at the Metrodome.
And according to John Millea of the Minnesota State High School League, bigger changes could come in 2015. The Gophers will play home games the Saturday before Thanksgiving as well as the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
That means the 2015 season could start one week earlier than usual and section playoffs could consist of two rounds instead of three (effectively cutting the number of teams involved in section playoffs in half).
Carls to be inducted in state softball hall of fame
Former Minnewaska softball star and Minnesota Gophers MVP Heidi Carls will be inducted into the Minnesota High School Softball Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame banquet is 9 a.m. Sunday at the Best Western in North Mankato.
As the Lakers' catcher, Carls was a four-year starter, a two time Tribune All-Area player, earned All-State honors, was a three-time all-conference player and she played in the 2005 All-Star Series.
With the Gophers, she walked on and started in the outfield her junior and senior seasons. In 2010, her senior season, she ranked third on the team in batting average and was second in runs batted in. She was the Gophers' MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.
NLS hosting Willmar in makeup baseball game
In a game that has been postponed a couple of times, New London-Spicer hosts Willmar for a non-conference baseball game today at 7 p.m., weather permitting.
The game was originally scheduled for May 20.


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Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Do you ever feel like this? I think no matter how comfortable we are with what we've written, there is always that moment before someone else reads it when we feel compelled to justify, to excuse, to protect ourselves from harm.
I had a conversation similar to this with my composition class yesterday. Writing is meant to be a personal process. It comes from somewhere within our deepest selves, so we feel a need to protect and defend - ourselves even more than our words. All writing is a risk. Writers willingly balance on the most fragile limbs of the tree, waiting to fall or be lifted to more solid footing. Scary stuff sometimes. Worth it? Absolutely.
Do you ever find yourself on auto-pilot, justifying or defending your work to protect the writer inside you?
48 comments:
- Bethany Mattingly said...
Absolutely, I always get nervous when I send out something. Sometimes even my bog posts make me second guess myself.
- January 27, 2010 at 8:23 AM
- Jonathon Arntson said...
For sure! I usually have to give a brief, "just read it and think about" disclaimer and walk away, before I'll approach the person again.
- January 27, 2010 at 8:25 AM
- Jen said...
Absolutely! I am awful about saying something before rather than just allowing them to read it. I don't want anyone to dislike my work, I'm a worrier!
- January 27, 2010 at 8:29 AM
- Stephanie Thornton said...
Strangely enough, I don't really do this before I give out the manuscript, but I do it a lot afterward. I think it's how I process critiques. A reader will point something out and I'll explain why I did it that way. Then my brain says, "But their way is better." Not all the time, but most of the time.
- January 27, 2010 at 8:40 AM
- Valerie Geary said...
Boxing gloves up! Honestly, I only defend my work if I've given it to someone for a critique and they come back with suggestions (which are usually right by the way).
Otherwise... "it's your opinion" and as long as I'm satisfied, as long as I'm proud of it and can stand behind it... then nothing else matters. Because really, not everyone is going to like everything I write.
- January 27, 2010 at 8:41 AM
- Falen said...
i'm pretty good about not justifying, unless i know for a fact it's not my best work. Then i might slip into the old "Here you go, it's not great" speech
- January 27, 2010 at 8:52 AM
- Tere Kirkland said...
Yeah, I feel like this, especially the drunk part. I kid, I kid!
It's hard to do, but I think it's best to let your ego get the better of you when you're about to send out to betas. Sell it to yourself--be a bit more humble when "selling" it to your betas, of course--and you'll be able to stress less while you're waiting for feedback. And the most fun part is that the inflated ego only lasts until your get that first critique (hopefully).
After a certain point, the only way to improve your work is through feedback. I do usually give my betas some kind of idea of what problems I'm having to see if they have any particular suggestions. It's actually kind of freeing, seeing your story from someone else's eyes.
Thanks for the fun cartoon!
- January 27, 2010 at 8:52 AM
- Mary Aalgaard said...
Yes! Especially when something is published and I don't really know who will be reading it. I have an article in a regional church newsletter, and I wonder what will be the reaction. Who am I to write about my faith? Well, silly me, just last night someone whom I haven't seen in months sent me a note of praise about the article and made an effort to reconnect. Silly, silly me. Of course, I need to write AND share it.
- January 27, 2010 at 8:54 AM
- Kasie West said...
All the time. In fact, I usually say, hold on while I give you a few disclaimers and then you can proceed to read. :) It is definitely our way of protecting ourselves. Funny cartoon.
- January 27, 2010 at 9:04 AM
- Valerie said...
That's a great comic! LOL
I used to be like that, but I try now to both only give my work to people that I trust will be thoughtful and I make sure that I feel it's in the best possible shape before I let anyone read it. That way I don't have any excuses and I'm a little less nervous about the response. It's still hard though!
- January 27, 2010 at 9:09 AM
- Robyn Campbell said...
Protecting my work?? Heck yeah. I think "dang it. Can't they see the absolute brilliance here? *grin*
I do defend my work. I have to justify all the time I spent writing it, especially if it might be considered CRAPOLA. Funny cartoon. I am printing it and putting it next to my computer. I haven't been over to INKYGIRL in a while. Thanks Shannon, for the giggle at the cartoon and at myself.
- January 27, 2010 at 9:14 AM
- Jennie Englund said...
Since I'm on both sides of the writing process, I try to both critique and receive graciously.
Last week I had to ask one of my students if she was open to suggestions. She was defensive about EVERYTHING!!!
- January 27, 2010 at 9:16 AM
- Jennifer Shirk said...
But I don't.
I don't like it when people try to justify what they wrote to me. Or they try to defend a comment I made. You can't help how another person will feel about your writing because it's just so darn subjective. :)
- January 27, 2010 at 9:22 AM
- Tamika: said...
I am stepping off this cliff next week in my first critique group meeting. Eek!
I'm sending my baby off Friday to be haggled at by other trusted writers. This is terrifying stuff!
- January 27, 2010 at 9:23 AM
- Shannon O'Donnell said...
Bethany - We all LOVE your blog posts, Bethany. How many posts do you see about milk?! :-)
Jonathon - LOL!
Jen - I think we're all worriers a bit.
Stephanie - I do it inwardly afterward. I have those Homer Simpson moments of, "Doh!"
Valerie - That is a very healthy attitude. Can I borrow some of it? :)
Falen - That's pretty normal! :-)
Tere - I totally agree with you. Thanks for such great comments, Tere. :)
mary - Silly you! LOL! I love your thinking.
Kasie - I love inkygirl cartoons!
Valerie - That's a smart way to go about it. :)
Robyn - Oh, Robyn, you totally crack me up! Thanks for making me smile.
Jennie - Yes! Students can be the worst when it comes to constructive criticism!
Jennifer - Subjective is exactly the right word.
Tamika - I'm sure your baby will be well-loved. Good luck, Tamika!
- January 27, 2010 at 9:46 AM
- Carrie Harris said...
Snarf. Yeah, I still do that. I'm constantly sending things out with notes like: "This probably isn't very good, because it's Wednesday, and I never write anything good on Wednesdays unless it happens to be more than 90 degrees outside."
Okay, so I don't REALLY do that, but I'm tempted. Always tempted.
- January 27, 2010 at 9:53 AM
- laurel said...
I struggle with wanting to explain everything I'm trying to accomplish instead of letting the manuscript speak for itself. Sort of a pre-emptive "let me show you how complex and brilliant this is" kind of thing.
- January 27, 2010 at 10:11 AM
- Scott said...
I remember as a cub reporter having lots of anxiety every time I turned in a story. That anxiety went into overdrive when my editor would sit down with me and we'd go through it paragraph by paragraph.
Eventually, my skin got pretty thick.
That's not to say I still don't get nervous when I hand my fiction over to a crit partner, I do. But I try to take suggestions with a grain of salt. If a group of Betas make similar comments or all have problems with something in particular, then I know for sure I need to revise.
Bottom line, though, you need to put personal feelings aside as much as possible.
- January 27, 2010 at 10:19 AM
- Frankie Diane Mallis said...
OMG that would happen all of the time. But Im actually getting over it. I think Ive been through enough critiques that Im not phased anymore, but it took a long time not to feel that way.
- January 27, 2010 at 10:27 AM
- Elana Johnson said...
Oh, man, that's a big fat yes! All the time. I'm like, well, this is like a first draft, so yeah. And when I get crits back, I'm embarrassed that there were so many mistakes, but I know it's not perfect. And I know my betas don't think I'm lame or a hack.
And yet, the insecurity lingers. Le sigh. How does one rid themselves of it?
- January 27, 2010 at 10:32 AM
- Bane of Anubis said...
Do you ever feel like this? -- Um, when don't I feel like this :)
- January 27, 2010 at 10:35 AM
- Shannon O'Donnell said...
Carrie - I just love your snarfs and your fun sense of humor!
Laurel - Ugh! I'm guilty of that too.
Scott - Tough skin is good. I'm working on that. :)
Frankie - Why do I think long time is probably an example of understatement?
Elana - That is a brilliant question. When I return from my journey to ask the wise old turtle, I'll share with you his secret! :)
Bane - You and me both, Bane.
- January 27, 2010 at 10:48 AM
- Angela said...
This is me, all the time!
I don't ever show my work to family or friends. I just can't muster up the courage!
- January 27, 2010 at 10:54 AM
- Natalie Murphy said...
Yep, I do. I try really hard not to do it now, but sometimes it slips out.
- January 27, 2010 at 11:31 AM
- Jen Chandler said...
Oh yeah. I really hate having people ask that inevitable question: so, what's the book about?
Why is that such a hard question to answer? I always stutter and stammer and then make an excuse saying I'm not finished yet and there's a lot of work to do yet...blah, blah, blah.
Glad to know I'm not alone!
- January 27, 2010 at 11:47 AM
- Kristi said...
Ummm...all the time!
My friends and family are still amazed that I have this writing hobby and how they never knew about it...and I only told them because an independent publisher is publishing my book next month. Otherwise only my husband and son would know.
It's hard to share and I'm always terrified!!!
Great post!
- January 27, 2010 at 11:48 AM
- Terresa said...
I've only dabbled in critique groups, but know there is wisdom in other people's points of view. Just not the point of losing your own story, yourself.
Great post.
- January 27, 2010 at 1:14 PM
- Kristen Torres-Toro said...
Yes--too often. I'm trying hard now to walk in confidence and not qualify everything thing I say/do about writing.
- January 27, 2010 at 1:52 PM
- Niki said...
The last assignment for the Writing for Children course I'm doing was to write a Chapter Book. I had never written anything over 500 words, so I was thrilled to make it to 1600 words and I thought my story was pretty good too. *oh dear* tutor's comments were not good, she disliked my story idea altogether so there was not one word of encouragement. I was devastated. I posted it on the Absolute Write forum and received the feedback I needed. They pointed out where I went wrong and the things I did right. Now I am determined to write a decent chapter book and prove my tutor wrong. :o)
- January 27, 2010 at 3:06 PM
- Katie Ganshert said...
Not necessarily my writing, but my journey toward publication...especially to people who don't understand.
I wish, when people asked if I was published, I could just say, "Nope" and smile. But I always feel the need to explain WHY its such a looong process.
- January 27, 2010 at 3:21 PM
- Shannon O'Donnell said...
Angela - You're kidding! I thought you would be more confident than many of us. Of course, insecurity is pretty universal. :-)
Natalie - Same here.
Jen - This comment thread proves beyond doubt that you are not alone. :)
Kristi - Wow. You did do most of the journey secretly didn't you?!
Terresa - Thanks, Terresa. Maintaining our voice is definitely an important piece.
Kristen - Good attitude! :)
Niki - You go, girl! I hope it's a bestseller and you can send her an autographed copy! Ha ha.
Katie - Me, too. :-)
- January 27, 2010 at 3:33 PM
- Jemi Fraser said...
I've deleted more than my fair share of comments to crit buddies. I'd write it, realize I was justifying, then delete & start again :)
- January 27, 2010 at 3:51 PM
- Sally said...
We read our work aloud at our writing group... By my second sentence my internal voice is saying WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!?? THIS IS HORRIBLE
I catch myself trying to edit on the fly!
Thankfully- we are a very supportive group :)
- January 27, 2010 at 5:12 PM
- Scobberlotcher said...
Yes, it's hard not to feel this way. Aren't we glad so many brilliant writers push past this feeling and let us/critics read their work?
- January 27, 2010 at 6:16 PM
- Kelly said...
I'm going to have to say I was drunk when I wrote this at tomorrow night's critique group...just to see their reaction! :)
But yes, all of us have our doubts on the quality of our work. Most definitely.
- January 27, 2010 at 6:18 PM
- Roxane B. Salonen said...
Shannon, isn't it nice to know you are SO not alone? By the way, check out "Between Fact and Fiction," if you haven't yet. Cute video on there. Be well and confident!
- January 27, 2010 at 6:22 PM
- DL Hammons said...
If there was an unsend button...I'd never post a word.
- January 27, 2010 at 6:24 PM
- Karen Amanda Hooper said...
Yup. Though mostly I just say something like, "you can be honest. If you hate it, say so. I can take it."
Why do we do that to ourselves? lol
Karen's Blog
- January 27, 2010 at 7:47 PM
- Tabitha Bird said...
Oh yes, the dreaded moment when we let our babies out of the house without us :)
I have a love hate relationship with honest feedback. I want it. I need it. But I want to be told it is alllll good! LOL!
- January 27, 2010 at 8:12 PM
- Lisa and Laura said...
Yes, yes, yes. Does it ever go away?
- January 27, 2010 at 8:32 PM
- Kathy McIntosh said...
You bet. Especially this week when I'm giving my novel to a couple of beta readers I don't know very well. Eek. I'm taking duct tape with me.
I know I need the feedback but like Tabitha, I want everyone to love my words.
- January 27, 2010 at 9:15 PM
- staceyjwarner said...
Yep, to me it is like saying "look, I know it's not great so be kind..."
much love
- January 27, 2010 at 10:23 PM
- Jenn Johansson said...
Great comic! I feel this way all the time. I think we all do.
- January 27, 2010 at 10:53 PM
- Marybeth Poppins said...
I did for my first MS. But I've gotten much better with my new nove. It's too easy to make excuse, but it's way more fun to try and correct them.
- January 28, 2010 at 6:33 AM
- Pam Calvert said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- January 28, 2010 at 5:45 PM
- Pam Calvert said...
Okay...edited last comment because I misspelled dysfunction!!! Here I go again:
LOL!! I do this more before I submit a critique: "Well, it's just my opinion. Other people may not agree...I'm sure others are more qualified...just take what you want, throw the rest...la, la, la, la, laaaaaaaaaaa!!!)
As for writing, I mostly feel the dysfunction AFTER I've sent it off to my agent and it doesn't matter how many times I've let it sit and have revised and have had crit partners go over it, I still feel that way.
- January 28, 2010 at 5:47 PM
- Carolina Valdez Miller said...
I'm pretty sure Inky Girl must have been listening in on a conversation o mine. In fact, wow, those are my words, like...verbatim. EVERY TIME I show my work. *Sigh* It' hard to be a writer and to be insecure.
Thanks for the cartoon. It does actually help me feel better about it.
- January 28, 2010 at 7:00 PM
- Solvang Sherrie said...
That would be me. All the time. Inky Girl always manages to illustrate so perfectly my turmoil!
- January 30, 2010 at 10:45 AM


text:
Parliament refuses to accept government report
MPs consider the government performance to be unsatisfactory.
The Ukrainian has refused to accept the 2015 government performance report.
Draft resolution No 4050 on taking the Cabinet of Ministers' report into consideration was supported by 77 MPs whereas the required minimum is 226.
Another draft resolution No 4063 on recognizing the work of the government as unsatisfactory was passed by 247 votes.


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A Whole Day's Search Resolved in Minutes
Customer stories are the lifelines of Deep Web Technologies. We revel in hearing how an unassuming
researcher shortened their workday and redirected their energy toward other tasks. Or how a Nursing Instructor had allotted an hour for an article search and his task was complete in sixty seconds! The story below comes from our friend Anita Wilcox at the University College Cork Library.
I met a friend of mine in the library last week who I haven't seen for ages! In the course of catching up on gossip she told me that she was studying for a Health & Safety course in UCC and had been looking for a case report relevant to her group project. She had gone through all the printed law reports and had searched all the major law databases individually, but couldn't find the case! So I gave her a one minute quick tour of Explorit Everywhere! (we call it Searcher here). She didn't know the name of the case or when it was heard/reported. I showed her how to do an Advanced Search limiting only to law specific databases and using keywords, and then limiting to topics on the results screen. I was in a hurry, so I left. Within a minute I got a text from her saying she found the case! Now, that's what I call a miracle! A whole day's search was resolved within minutes by searching through Explorit Everywhere!.
Read more from Anita in her blog post on Why a Federated Search.
Our customers are often surprised that they can limit to specific sources or categories of sources to know exactly what they are searching. Researchers have control over their searches, rather than searching "everything" and wading through ambiguously ranked results, weighted to a publisher's content. Explorit Everywhere!, through a transparent interface and search of information puts our researchers into the driver's seat. It's a powerful tool, for power-researchers.
MyLibrary – Explorit Everywhere!'s Filing Cabinet
At Deep Web Technologies we think that Explorit Everywhere! is the simplest way for researchers to perform a single search for results across their various information sources, find relevant results and seamlessly process those results. But it's that final part – processing results – that DWT just made simpler for our researchers through our new MyLibrary feature. MyLibrary has evolved over the years from Citations Manager, to My Selections, and now to the more full-featured MyLibrary.
A better way to think of MyLibrary, however, is as your library – A place to store your digital results, reference and organize your data, or share information with others. It's a place to build your research world.
Whether collaborative or solitary, your research can consume big chunks of time out of a day. If you're moving fast, you may browse dozens of results rapidly and set some aside to explore further. Those results might hold some interest for you on a topic separate from what you are currently researching and you want explore them at a later date. They might be relevant, but need additional follow up. Or maybe your workday has ended, and you'll resume researching again tomorrow. Whatever the reason, MyLibrary allows you to put your research on hold without missing a beat.
Your results can be filed away similar to organizing folders in a filing cabinet. Once you've selected your results, MyLibrary lets you tag and categorize those results in a system that makes sense to you. Reference those saved results whenever you want – they are there until you delete them. Just log in to your Explorit Everywhere! application and click MyLibrary. When you are ready, you can print, email or export any or all of those results from any folder, at any time.
Oh, and don't think our ambitious engineers could resist tweaking a few other things while they were fiddling with MyLibrary in Explorit Everywhere!. Now, once you log in, you can save results preferences and language preferences in localized applications. Have an idea to make MyLibrary even better? Let us know!
Keep It Local…Or At Least Localized
In the United States, most of our public websites are in English. We're used to searching, clicking to our result and reading the web page instructions, navigation and results in English. And, if we happen to run across a page that is in a different language, most browsers will translate the page to English so we can continue our research.
This on-demand approach works for random, public websites researchers encounter, but not for steadfast Explorit Everywhere! users who regularly use Explorit Everywhere! as their main search application to retrieve information from diverse sources. Researchers starting from Explorit Everywhere! should begin from a personalized application that notches up their level of comfort so that the tools and the sources are exactly what they need to find results quickly and efficiently.
For organizations with speakers of multiple languages, Deep Web Technologies offers both a localized user interface as well as multilingual translation capabilities. While they often go hand in hand, they are not always packaged together.
- A Localized User Interface displays text in a user's native language, including navigational text, help text, menus and application tool and tooltips. Localization does not translate results. The localized language or languages are determined when an application is created. If there are multiple languages to choose from, a user can determine what they want to be their default localized interface language after they have logged in to an application.
- A Multilingual Application performs on-the-fly translations of results from the source language to a user's preferred language. For example, English language sources of information will return English to the Explorit Everywhere! application, regardless of a user's localized interface language. The multilingual feature will translate results from other languages into a selected language.
You can see why these two features may accompany each other in many applications; together, they provide a seamless search experience. However, user interface localization provides a level of user comfort to multilingual researchers regardless of what language the results return in. Navigating the search application, entering queries and browsing text is much easier and faster when performed in native languages.
Explorit Everywhere! supports seven major languages at this point: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. 2016 will expand localization options for Explorit Everywhere! applications by introducing support of Arabic right to left text.
A localized user interface creates a fluid research path, bypassing language barriers that may obstruct an intuitive search. To see an example of localization and multilingual translation, please visit WorldWideScience.org.


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The Privacy by Design four workshop series is well underway. With two workshops completed and two to come, the community engagement is high and the interest is continuing to grow.
The first workshop, State of Research and Practice, was held in early February and the report can be found here.
The second workshop, Privacy Enabling Design, was held in Atlanta, GA in early May. The report has now been released and a number of key insights came out of the two day discussion:
- Designers lack adequate heuristics to follow when designing applications that may affect users' privacy.
- Users want modular privacy for different personal relationships.
- Designing for trust is a good framework, but requires a data-driven and research-driven process to make sure users' expectations and needs are met.
- "Encroaching Externalities" limit the freedom to design systems.
- Users trust themselves most to protect their own privacy, and believe that self-management is an effective way of doing this.
- Every successful non-traditional interface eventually becomes a traditional interface.
Please see the full report for more information about the workshop.
The next workshop, the third in the series of four, will be held August 31 – September 1 in Pittsburgh, PA at Carnegie Mellon University and will bring together engineers to discuss privacy research and practice.
Finally, to wrap up the series, the fourth workshop will be in Washington, DC at Georgetown University to discuss legal and organizational research necessary to catalyze Privacy by Design.
For more information about the Privacy by Design workshop series, please see the website.


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Redesigned Honda Civic Coupe gets higher base price
Honda has announced pricing and launch details for the redesigned Civic Coupe.
Arriving for the 2016 model year, the next-generation two-door variant starts at $19,885 (including $835 freight) with a six-speed manual transmission and 158-horsepower 2.0-liter i-VTEC engine. The MSRP represents an increase of $760 compared to the least expensive 2015 package.
Most buyers will opt for a CVT, which brings the price up to $20,685. A new 1.5-liter turbocharged engine powers the EX trim levels and above, fetching $23,135, while the range-topping Touring edition commands $26,960.
The turbo mill brings increased performance, with 174 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. It also delivers a slightly higher city/highway/combined fuel efficiency of 31/41/35 mpg.
The coupe is built upon an entirely new architecture with a focus on sporty styling inside and out. The cabin is more spacious than the outgoing model, with higher quality materials and new technologies.
US buyers will be able to purchase the 2016 Civic Coupe starting March 15.


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Help the police lock up the bad guys on LEGO® City Prison Island! Watch the crooks work out in the prison yard and open up the prison to see the crooks make their escape plans. You and the police have to be on high alert to catch the crooks sliding through the sewer to catch the getaway boat! Jump in the helicopter and stop them from making an aerial escape in the hot air balloon. They'll do anything to escape from Prison Island!
|LEGO Theme:
Please remember to add postal time (2-3 working days) to obtain a complete estimate of delivery to your door.
You will receive an email to confirm when your item has been sent.
You can also check the status of your order and individual items by accessing My Account details and following the prompts.
Please allow 10 working days from dispatch of your order before notifying us of any late deliveries.
It may be advisable to check with your neighbours to see if a parcel has been left with them, check any outhouses you might have where it may be left if it cannot fit through your letterbox and contact your local sorting office to see if the item has been returned to the depot as undelivered and awaiting collection.
Please see our returns policy.
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Horrific! She was a beautiful little girl.
Facebook's live-streaming service is under pressure after a father hanged his 11-month-old daughter in a murder-suicide that was beamed to thousands of viewers.
The four minutes of footage showing the child's unbearable final moments were online for 24 hours before being removed.
The social networking site admitted last week that it had 'to do better' to prevent such horror being uploaded after it took over two hours to delete footage of an American killing a stranger.
The murder of the baby girl took place in the Thai resort of Phuket. Using a smartphone, Wuttisan Wongtalay, 21, recorded himself putting a rope around his daughter's neck and hanging her. He then killed himself.
Two video clips of the disturbing incident were accessible on the father's Facebook profile for around 24 hours…
Local media reported that Wongtalay, suspected his wife Jiranuch Trirat, 21, of having an affair and had threatened to kill her in a jealous rage earlier that day.
He is then said to have stormed out of the house with their baby, Natalie. The distraught mother saw the murder video 45 minutes after it was posted and told police. DailyMail


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Kawaii Museum
A social network for everything Kawaii. Welcome to Kawaii Museum, a new social community app for kawaii fans that are gathered together from around the world. And what is Kawaii exactly? Well, kawaii is a Japanese word that describes everything that is cute, adorable, beautiful or charming. So, fans of "cuteness", this is definitely the perfect app….
Free • 4.6K


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- Overview
- Location & Map
- Highlights & Reviews
- Amenities
- World's Best Awards
Villa del Palmar Cancun
Situated in the tranquil Playa Mujeres area of Cancun, Villa del Palmar Cancun appeals to all ages - a perfect setting for families, friends, and lovebirds. Villa del Palmar Cancun features 415 units, including spacious suites and luxurious penthouses. Accommodations you could live in, all of Villa del Palmar Cancun's units offer unforgettable views, with the majority boasting spectacular vistas looking out to the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean. Rooms feature over-sized balconies adorned with hammocks and spacious interiors decorated with a modern-chic design. The penthouses include the butler program, designed to give guests an enjoyable stay with first class service and amenities. Villa del Palmar Cancun features extensive spa and fitness facilities, 5 swimming pools, a variety of gourmet dining options, and a dedicated kids' club. In this tranquil Caribbean setting, relaxation rules, and guests have easy access to seaside golf, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, snorkeling, diving, and swimming with whale sharks, along with other land and sea activities. Please Note: This hotel property may offer both all-inclusive and room-only rates. Please read the rate description information carefully and contact us if you have any questions about what's included in the room rate.
Location & Map
- Villa del Palmar Cancun
- Carretera a Punta Sam Km. 5.2 Mza 9 Lote 3 SM-2
- Zona Continental de Isla Mujeres
- Cancun, Quintana Roo 77400
- Mexico
Location Summary
Situated just 30 minutes from Cancun International Airport, Villa del Palmar Cancun commands a prime site in the tranquil Playa Mujeres area and is within walking distance of Playa Mujeres Golf Club.
Directions to Hotel
The drive from the airport will take 30-40 minutes. Take the road towards Cancun downtown and continue to Bonampak Avenue towards Punta Sam. The hotel is the firs property you will find in the area.
Highlights & Reviews
Guest Review Highlights
Villa del Palmar Cancun Luxury Beach Resort & Spa
The TrustScore is the standard for reputation, summarizing verified reviews and comments from various sources.Learn more »
50% (384)
50% (384)
- - Business Center
- Disabled Access
- Fine Dining On Site
- Fine Dining Nearby
- Fitness Center
- High Speed Internet
- Child Programs
- Pool Outdoor
- Spa Facility
- - Beach
- Boating
- Fishing Ocean
- Golf Driving Range
- Golfing
- Jogging Running
- Sailing
- Scuba Diving
- Shopping
- Theatre & Museums
- Volleyball
- Water Skiing
- Windsurfing
World's Best Awards
Pack up the kids and get ready to check into these family-friendly hotels where families are VIPs. Smart parents know that having children doesn't mean forgoing luxury vacations. So here's the World's...
The best luxury all-inclusive hotels and resorts around the world, brought to you by Five Star Alliance, the luxury hotel and resort experts. Whether you are looking for a hotel in upstate New York,...
You've seen the pictures, now take the time to see these over-water and spectacular private villas for yourself. Instead of renting a whole house or villa through a private owner - try visiting one...
An All-Inclusive Luxury Resort means a lot of indulgence for one price, even when you bring the whole family - including children - along. Dining, drinks and watersports are just a few of the activities...


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How to identify the "hidden" job market….
It has been said that around 70 percent of all jobs are not advertised publicly. There are a couple of great ways to deal with this. Cultivating your very own network is an effective way to tap into the "hidden" job market and is an extremely important component of your job search. Your network should include people you can receive advice, information, and suggestions from. Use online networking like LinkedIn and Jigsaw. Form a group of like people and start meeting once a ….(you decide month? quarter? ) Or maybe just commit to forwarding all job emails to the group. And, you can use a recruiter. As a medical sales recruiter, I can verify that this statistic is my reality. You should send your resume to me now–even though I might not have the "perfect" medical sales job in the "perfect" location on my website for you right now, you can bet I'll have something similar, maybe in your location, in the future (unless you live in North Dakota).
make your resume stand out — spell-check it
I had a great discussion with a medical sales candidate last week. Very sharp, but her resume had a spelling error in the first sentence. In the era of spell-check, this is unacceptable. Rock Your Career has a great article on how to make your resume stand out that points out that "63% of HR managers report that spelling errors are the most annoying mistakes they see on resumes". What kind of impression will that make? Remember, though, even spell-check doesn't catch everything. Proofread it yourself, and then proofread it again before you turn it in. It is worth the extra time! Good Luck!!
Responding to RFP's successfully? Check out this cool graph.
Laura Ricci has a great graph outlining the differences between firms that are successfully maneuvering complex sales cycles. Every sales manager should see where their team falls on the continuum.
How do you find a recruiter?
In my previous post, I mentioned how important it is to go through a recruiter to find the job you want. The question that seems to be coming up is: How do I find a medical sales recruiter who represents the company I want to work for? Well, there are several ways:
1. Ask Human Resources at the company you're interested in which recruiters they work with.
2. If Human Resources won't tell you the recruiters that they work for, cold call a sales manager and explain that you are looking for an opportunity similar to their positions and would like to know which recruiting firms they use!
3. Look for job lists online and call the recruiters who have open positions that look similar to the positions of your desired company? Also, don't be afraid to ask if they know what recruiter works with the company that you have targeted. They may know, they may tell – they may not. No harm.
Of course, now that you're here, PHC Consulting offers excellent representation to help you find a laboratory sales position, or technical support or marketing in the biotech and laboratory products industry.
Shhhhh……don't tell my companies…..
If you sent your resume in 6 months ago to a great laboratory products company as technical support, a regional sales manager, an account executive, a field service engineer, or a sales specialist and you didn't get the job, don't assume that since you've applied once, your resume is "on file" and they will call you if a great opportunity comes up. Even though they might have a sophisticated ATS (Applicant Tracking System), they might not use it. Companies don't usually go back through their database of candidates (for a lot of reasons–see this hotgigs article) and instead count on you to actively pursue a newly posted job. But be aware: A recruiter representing you to a company will ALWAYS be more successful than you can be applying directly to that company on your own. A recruiter can follow up and ask the tough questions that might be awkward for an applicant, and keep the process flowing for you.
Talent management
Many companies are very excited right now about buzzwords like "talent management," "career management," and "human capital." Understanding what these cutting-edge terms mean will help you when you interview for a mangement-level position in the laboratory products industry, within your own company or at another. Donald H. Taylor says that "Talent Management is making capability match commitments". At PHC Consulting, we're one piece of talent management. We attract and identify appropriate candidates for the client company to help them hire the right talent to meet their goals.
Are you using RSO?
All job seekers need to make sure they are using RSO–resume search optimization! If I am searching the internet for the perfect candidate for a medical sales job, make sure I can find you–sprinkle your posted resume with keywords like laboratory sales, biotech sales, or pharmaceutical sales. Some candidates even put a key word list in their resume! Certainly ATS (applicant tracking systems) are looking for keywords and if the keyword isn't in your resume – no joy – your resume won't come up. So if you aren't in sales and have sales in your resume and the company is looking for a sales person – you are not going to be considered!
Behavioral Interviewing Questions
Do you know what Behavioral Interviewing is? Basically, interview questions go like this: How did you deal with a ____________ situation in the past? In medical sales, one might be: give an example of how you handled a specific customer problem. It's very effective for interviewers and becoming more popular, so the chances are good you'll need to know how to deal with it. The www.emurse.com blog has a complete list of behavioral interview questions you need to check out.
Movin' On Up
Now that you've got the job, how do you make yourself stand out and get ahead? Jason Goldberg has some classic advice for the young and hungry that really applies to employees everywhere. He says that if you want to move ahead and rise in the ranks, you have to take responsibility for yourself and make it happen. Show your passion for your work, and concentrate on doing a great job where you are instead of focusing on where you want to be eventually. Know your facts and over-deliver on assignments, but be careful to always make your boss and your team look good. Go above and beyond your employer's expectations of you, and your excellence will be rewarded. A side benefit: it makes your recruiter look good, too!
What NOT To Do
We all know (hopefully) the basics on how to get a job–do your homework, be professional, write thank you notes–but what about those pesky (and potentially fatal to your job search) slip-ups that all candidates can make? Carl Chapman has a really helpful article called Top 10 Ways to Blow Getting the Job. Briefly, with a little paraphrasing, here they are:
- Inappropriate dress: You need to look the part. Dress for the job you want. PHC Consulting recommends suits for men and suits with either skirts or pants for women.
- Not Showing desire: You want this job, right? Let that show. Enthusiasm is contagious.
- Not exhibiting a "Can-Do" attitude: Short of walking across hot coals (and maybe that, too) you need to cheerfully do whatever it takes to land this job, even if it seems inconvenient or unnecessary.
- Talking badly about your former/current employer: Not even a negative tone, please.
- Discussing your personal life: Be focused on the job and what the company needs, not on yourself, except for relating it to how you are perfect for this job.
- Asking for too much money: Don't go beyond the reasonable limits you've already discussed with your recruiter. At PHC Consulting, we recommend that you avoid discussing money until you have an offer.
- Inflexibility with regard to location: You may need to move, or commute longer than you would like.
- History of job-hopping: Moving from job to job at the same level can make you look unstable.
- Lack of knowledge: Do your homework. Know the industry facts and trends, as well as the strengths and challenges of the particular company you're interviewing with.
- Poor language skills: Communicating ineffectively, or using improper English, curse words or slang can all cause a potential employer to see you in a negative light. Candidates for medical sales jobs (or any sales jobs) are held to an even higher standard than you might expect.
Carl has great information about these 10 things, and even though he doesn't relate them directly to pharmaceutical sales, the info is well worth the read for job-seekers in any customer-oriented industry.


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LOS ANGELES – Neil Callaway had seen the film. He saw the lack of physical play on USC's offensive line. He knew what he was getting into as the Trojans' offensive line coach.
But that was last year. He doesn't want to talk about 2015.
This is 2016, and Callaway is intent on turning the Trojans' scattered offensive line into one that will be hard-core aggressive, even feared. He set about his task the day he arrived from Western Kentucky and continues to push the players hard in spring practice.
"We want to be the most physical team that plays (college football)," Callaway said. "We want to play harder, play smarter and more physical than anybody we play. That's what we always try to do."
USC coach Clay Helton repeatedly has praised the offensive line this spring for the aggressiveness it has shown in 10 practices. He likes the "violent" nature he sees on both lines.
Callaway, however, isn't content with the line's play so far. He maintains the Trojans still have plenty of work to do before the season opener against Alabama.
"We got a ways to go right now," Callaway said. "We're still looking, we're still implementing things. We are changing little things, nothing major, just little things here and there.
"For us to be good, we have to have five guys playing as one and if we can do that, we will be a good unit. But if we have four, not five, we're not going to be very good. We only are going to be as good as our weakest link and I hope we don't have a weak link."
The foundation for Callaway's no-nonsense approach was formed as a player under Bear Bryant at Alabama and 37 years of coaching. He doesn't lack experience, energy or a love for the job.
"This is what I want to do," he said. "I thoroughly enjoy it. I enjoy working with the kids. I love the challenge of getting these young men to play as hard as they can play and play smart football. So I think you have to show energy to get energy."
Offensive guard Jordan Simmons shook his head when Callaway's name was mentioned. He marvels at the 60-year-old's ability to keep charging ahead.
"He brings it every day," Simmons said.
Max Browne and Sam Darnold (San Clemente High) continue to battle it out for the starting quarterback job as spring practice moves into its fourth week. But it's hardly a slugfest. More like a friendly competition for one of the most prominent spots in the country.
The two quarterbacks are friends, hanging out after practice and classes.
"The one thing that's different with me and Sam and previous competitions is that me and Sam are friends," Browne said. "Not that Cody (Kessler) and I weren't friends or anything, but Sam and I hang together outside of football and stuff, which is somewhat different for quarterbacks."
The two say they don't talk football away from the field. They don't give each other helpful tips or advice, leaving that to the coaching staff. Friendships only go so far.
"The best guy is going to play and we both understand that," Browne said.
Contact the writer: firstname.lastname@example.com