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|STIS Instrument Handbook for Cycle 27
STScI has responsibility to ensure that the MAMA detectors are not damaged through over-illumination. Consequently, we have developed procedures and rules to protect the MAMAs. We ask all potential users to share in this responsibility by reading and taking note of the information in this section and designing observing programs that operate in the safe regime for these detectors.7.7.1 OverviewThe MAMA detectors are subject to catastrophic damage at high global and local count rates and cannot be used to observe sources that exceed the defined safety limits. Specifically, charge is extracted from the microchannel plate during UV observations, and overillumination can cause a decrease of quantum efficiency in the overexposed region, or even catastrophic failure if excess gas generation from the microchannel plates causes arcing in the sealed tube.To safeguard the detectors, checks of the global (over the whole detector) and local (per pixel) illumination rates are automatically performed in flight for all MAMA exposures. The global illumination rate is monitored continuously; if the global rate approaches the level where the detector can be damaged, the high voltage on the detector is automatically turned off. This event can result in the loss of all observations scheduled to be taken with that detector for the remainder of the calendar (~1 week). The peak local illumination rate is measured over the MAMA field at the start of each new exposure; if the local rate approaches the damage level, STIS will shutter, and the exposure will be lost.
7.7.2 Observational LimitsTo ensure the safety of the MAMA detectors and the robustness of the observing timeline, we have established observational limits on the incident count rates. Observations that exceed the allowed limits will not be scheduled.The definitive guidelines for bright object limits are given in STIS ISR 2000-01, but the following brief discussion is included here for convenience. The allowed limits are given in Table 7.8, which includes separate limits for non-variable and irregularly-variable sources. The global limits for irregularly variable sources are a factor 2.5 more conservative than for sources with predictable fluxes. Predictable variables are treated as non-variable for this purpose. Examples of sources whose variability is predictable are Cepheids or eclipsing binaries. Irregularly variable sources are, for instance, cataclysmic variables or AGN. Here and in general, "pixel" refers to the 1024 × 1024 format (low-res pixels).Table 7.8: Absolute MAMA Count Rate Limits
80,000 counts/s1
As a first step, you can check your source V magnitude and peak flux against the bright object screening magnitudes in Table 13.45 or Table 14.40 for your chosen observing configuration. In many cases, your source properties will be much fainter than these limits.However, if you are near these limits, then you need to carefully consider whether your source will be observable in that configuration. Remember the limits in these tables assume zero extinction and for spectroscopic observations do not include slit losses. Thus you will want to correct the limits appropriately for your source's reddening and the aperture throughput.You can use the information presented in Section 6.2 to calculate your peak and global count rates. More conveniently, you can use the STIS ETCs to calculate the expected count rates from your source. They have available to them a host of template stellar spectra. If you have a UV spectrum of your source you can also input it directly to the calculators. The calculators will evaluate the global and per pixel count rates and will warn you if your exposure exceeds the absolute bright object limits.You should also be aware that the local rate monitor does not perform a measurement of the actual flux per pixel. Instead, the check image is binned into 'superpixels', each one with a size of 8 × 8 (imaging) or 4 × 8 (spectroscopy) regular (low-res) pixels, and the resulting measured flux for each superpixel is transformed into a peak flux per pixel, assuming that a single isolated point source contributes to the flux in that bin. Therefore, you should be extra careful when observing a crowded field or a slightly resolved source in imaging mode, since it is possible for the exposure to be aborted even when no single source violates the local rate limit (e.g., two or more stars fall inside the same bin or a source with a non-point source radial profile is present in the field). See STIS ISR 1996-31 for more details.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have checked your planned observations against the brightness limits prior to proposing for Phase I. If your proposal is accepted and we, or you, subsequently determine (in Phase II), that your source violates the absolute limits, then you will either have to: a) choose a different configuration, if possible, b) change the target, if allowed, or c) lose the granted observing time. We encourage you to include a justification in your Phase I proposal if your target is within 1 magnitude of the bright object limits for your observing configuration. For MAMA target-of-opportunity proposals, please provide an explanation or strategy of how you will ensure that your target can be safely observed in your Phase I proposal. The observing strategy might include additional observations, obtained over a time-scale appropriate to the particular type of object, with either HST or ground-based telescopes. Proposers should be aware that this type of observation requires extra resources. STScI reserves the right to limit the number of visits requiring quiescence verification observations within 20 days or less of an HST observation to no more than 12 such visits per Cycle.Following their Phase I approval, proposers of MAMA observations are required to check their targets and fields in detail for excessively bright sources, by the Phase II deadline. The relevant policies and procedures are described here.STScI has developed bright object tools (BOT) to conduct detailed field checking prior to MAMA program implementation. These tools are based on automated analysis of the fields by means of data from the second Guide Star Catalogue (GSC2) and displays of the Digital Sky Survey (DSS). GSC2 provides two magnitudes (photographic J and F), hence one color, for most fields down to about 22nd mag, which, combined with conservative spectral type vs. color relationships, supports determinations of safety or otherwise for individual objects. In the best cases, these procedures allow expeditious safety clearing, but in some cases the GSC2 is inadequate because of crowding or absence of one of the filters, for instance. Then supplementary information must be provided by the proposers to support the bright object protection (BOP) process. The target should always be checked directly in the ETC with the more detailed information generally available for it, rather than relying on its field report data.Subsequently, automated GALEX screening has been added as a selectable option in the BOT. The AIS (all-sky) sources are screened as unreddened O5 stars and reported as either safe or unsafe. This is a powerful tool, because it is based directly on UV fluxes; e.g., previously unknown hot companions to late-type stars will be revealed. The target should still be checked with the ETC, but if the field passes it is done, subject to verification with the GALEX image or catalogue display that there is complete coverage of the macro-aperture field. Unsafe objects require further investigation; the GALEX fluxes are upper limits in crowded regions because of the relatively low spatial resolution, or the source may clear with more specific parameter information. Please note that the fluxes and magnitudes given in the current version GALEX catalog do not include any correction for the local count rate non-linearity that affects high count rate sources. This can lead to serious underestimates of the flux for the brightest stars in the GALEX catalog. An estimate of the possible size of this effect is detailed in section 4.4 of Morrissey et al 2007 (ApJS, 173, 682), "The Calibration and Data Products of GALEX". The GALEX screening done by the BOT now includes this estimated correction. This will sometimes result in the BOT reporting GALEX magnitudes that are brighter than those given in the GALEX catalog itself.STScI will check all targets and fields before any MAMA observations are cleared. However, by policy GOs must provide screened, safe targets for MAMA programs, and supplementary data as needed to verify target and field safety. The APT/BOT, including an Aladin interface, makes the BOP procedures accessible for GO use. Extensive help files and training movies are available. While the procedures may appear complex on first exposure, their convenience and straightforward application rapidly become apparent. All MAMA proposers must conduct BOP reviews of their targets and fields in conjunction with their Phase II preparations. Thus, they will become aware of any problems earlier, such as the need for supplementary data, which may otherwise entail lengthy implementation delays following the Phase II deadline. (An exception is moving target fields, which must be cleared after the scheduling windows have been established.) To assist with these procedures, a Contact Scientist (CS) who is a MAMA/BOP specialist will be assigned to each MAMA program, to interact with the GO as necessary and requested during the Phase II preparations, and through program execution.Briefly, for a single default MAMA pointing with unconstrained orientation, a circular field including a buffer around the rotated aperture must be cleared. The APT/BOT automatically reports on all GSC2 stars or GALEX sources within that field. If any displacements from the default pointing (e.g., POS TARGs, patterns, or mosaics) are specified, the field to be cleared increases commensurately. POS TARG vectors and the enlarged, rotated field circles are conveniently displayed in APT/Aladin. No unsafe or unknown star may lie within 5 arcseconds of the detector edge at any orientation (or 13.5 arcseconds for very bright sources, see below). Conversely, POS TARGs and orientation restrictions may be introduced to avoid bright objects in the fields.A MAMA GO must send to the designated CS, by the Phase II deadline, the ETC calculations for each discrete target, and reports on any unsafe or unknown stars from APT/BOT for each field, either showing that the observations are in fact safe, or documenting any unresolved issues. In the latter case, including inadequacy of BOT/GSC2/GALEX to clear the observations, other photometric or spectroscopic data sources must be sought by the GO to clear the fields. Many of these are available directly through the APT/Aladin interface (although automatic BOP calculations are currently available only with GSC2 and GALEX), including the STScI Mikulski Archive (MAST), which contains the IUE as well as HST data. An existing UV spectrogram of the target or similar class member may be imported directly into the ETC; IUE data must be low resolution, large aperture for BOP. If model spectra are used, the original Kurucz models for early-type stars in the ETC should be used rather than the more recent Castelli & Kurucz. None of the provided models is adequate for stars later than the Sun, since they lack chromospheric emission lines that dominate the actual FUV flux for these stars; actual UV data must be used for them. In worst cases, new HST observations in safe configurations or ground based data may be required to clear the fields for BOP; in general, the former must be covered by the existing Phase I time allocation.If a given star has only a V magnitude, it must be treated as an unreddened O5 star. (The older Kurucz O5 model with higher Teff in the ETC should be used for BOP purposes.) If one color is available, it may be processed as a reddened O5 (which will always have a greater UV flux than an unreddened star of the same color). If two colors are available, then the actual spectral type and reddening can be estimated separately. The APT/BOT now clears automatically stars with only a single GSC2 magnitude, if they are safe when assumed to be unreddened O5 stars. Any other "unknowns" must be cleared explicitly.In some cases, the 2MASS JHK may be the only photometry available for an otherwise "unknown" star. It is possible to estimate V and E(B−V) from those data on the assumption of a reddened O5 star, and thus determine its countrates in the ETC. F. Martins & B. Plez, A&A, 457, 637 (2006), derive (J−H)0 = −0.11 for all O stars; and (V−J)0 = −0.67, (V−H)0 = −0.79 for early O types. (The K band should be avoided for BOP because of various instrumental and astrophysical complications.) M.S. Bessell & J.M. Brett, PASP, 100, 1134 (1988), Appendix B, give relationships between the NIR reddenings and E(B−V). These data determine the necessary parameters. Note that the ETC also supports direct entry of observed J, H magnitudes along with any specified value for E(B−V).It is not expected that all such issues will be resolved by the Phase II deadline, but they should at least be identified and have planned resolutions by then. Another possible resolution is a change to a less sensitive MAMA or to a CCD configuration. Any MAMA targets or fields that cannot be demonstrated to be safe to a reasonable level of certainty in the judgement of the CS will not be observed. It is possible that equivalent alternative targets may be approved upon request in that case; but any observations that trigger the onboard safety mechanisms will not be replaced.A related issue is MAMA pointing or configuration changes after the targets and fields have been cleared by the STScI BOP review. Any such changes must be approved by the COS/STIS Team on the basis of a specific scientific justification and a new BOP review by the GO, which may be submitted via the CS if absolutely necessary. However, in general such requests should be avoided by ensuring that submitted MAMA specifications are final, to prevent a need for multiple BOP reviews.GOs planning MAMA observations of unpredictably variable targets, such as cataclysmic variables, are reminded of the special BOP procedures in effect for them, which are detailed in ACS ISR 2006-04.Pointings close to objects violating safety limits must be screened since (i) the possibility of HST pointing errors exists, and (ii) the light of a bright point source may pose a safety threat even if observed at a distance of several arcseconds.Any field object within 5 arcseconds of the edge of an aperture used for a MAMA observation is subject to the same bright object limits as targets that are in the aperture. Targets or field objects falling in an annular region extending from 5 to 13.5 arcseconds from the edge of the aperture are also subject to some restrictions. Any object in this zone producing either a real global count rate in excess of 1.5x106 counts/s or a local count rate greater than 500 counts/s/pix is not permitted. See STIS ISR 2000-01 for a discussion of the current screening procedures.If your source passes screening, but causes the automatic flight checking to shutter your exposures or shut down the detector voltage causing the loss of your observing time, then that lost time will not be returned to you; it is the observer's responsibility to ensure that observations do not exceed the bright object limits.If your source is too bright for one configuration, it may be observable in another configuration e.g., in a higher-dispersion configuration. The options open to you if your source count rate is too high in a given configuration include:
• For NUV low-resolution and medium-resolution spectroscopy, consider using the CCD G230LB and G230MB modes (see Section 4.1.6).
• It may be possible to avoid bright field objects by specifying ORIENT restrictions to the visit and/or POS TARGs for the exposures.Observations of planets with STIS require particularly careful planning due to the very stringent overlight limits of the MAMAs. In principle Table 13.45 and Table 14.40 can be used to determine if a particular observation of a solar system target exceeds the safety limit. In practice the simplest and most straightforward method of checking the bright object limits for a particular observation is to use the STIS ETC. With a user-supplied input spectrum, or assumptions about the spectral energy distribution of the target, the ETC will determine whether a specified observation violates any bright object limits.Generally speaking, for small (<~0.5–1 arcsecond) solar system objects the local count rate limit is the more restrictive constraint, while for large objects (>~1–2 arcseconds) the global limit is much more restrictive.As a first approximation, small solar system targets can be regarded as point sources with a solar (G2 V) spectrum, and if the V magnitude is known, Table 13.45 and Table 14.40 can be used to estimate whether an observation with a particular STIS grating or filter is near the bright object limits. V magnitudes for the most common solar system targets (all planets and satellites, and the principal minor planets) can be found in the Astronomical Almanac. This approximation should provide a conservative estimate, particularly for the local limit, because it is equivalent to assuming that all the flux from the target falls on a single pixel, which is an overestimate, and because the albedos of solar system objects are almost always < 1 (meaning that the flux of the object will be less than that of the assumed solar spectrum at UV wavelengths where the bright object limits apply). A very conservative estimate of the global count rate can be obtained by estimating the peak (local) count rate assuming all the flux falls on one pixel, and then multiplying by the number of pixels subtended by the target. If these simple estimates produce numbers near the bright object limits, more sophisticated estimates may be required to provide assurance that the object is not too bright to observe in a particular configuration.For large solar system targets, checking of the bright object limits is most conveniently done by converting the integrated V magnitude (Vo, which can be found in the Astronomical Almanac) to V magnitude/arcsec2 as follows:V / arcsec2 = Vo – 2.5 log(1/area)where area is the area of the target in arcsec2. This V / arcsec2 and the diameter of the target in arcsec can then be input into the ETC (use the Solar Spectrum template in the HST Standard Star menu for the spectral energy distribution) to test whether the bright object limits can be satisfied.Alternatively, an observed spectrum obtained with a known slit size can be used as input to the ETC. Most calibration techniques produce units of flux (e.g., ergs/s/cm2/Å), even for extended targets. Such a calibration implicitly assumes a flux per solid angle (i.e., the angle subtended by the observing slit or object, whichever is smaller), and it is more appropriate to convert to units of surface brightness (ergs/s/cm2/Å/arcsec2) by dividing the calibrated flux by the appropriate area (slit size or object size, whichever is smaller). If such a spectrum is available, it can be immediately examined and compared with the local limit in units of surface brightness given in Table 13.45 and Table 14.40, or passed to the ETC as a user-supplied spectrum. It can also be easily converted to counts/s/pix by using the diffuse-source sensitivities for the appropriate grating or filter provided in this Handbook. Note that the sensitivities in this Handbook assume a specific slit width, so they need to be scaled by the desired slit width. The ETC provides another check of the local limit: if the peak count rate per pixel exceeds the local limit of 75 (for spectroscopic observations) or 100 (for imaging observations) counts/s/pix, such an observation would not be allowed. The global limit can be checked by summing the count rate per pixel over wavelength, and multiplying by the desired slit length (in arcseconds) divided by the pixel size (0.0247 arcsecond) to produce total counts per second for the observation. If this number is larger than the appropriate global limit, the observation should not be performed because it will cause the instrument to enter safe mode. For such cases, a smaller slit size or higher-resolution grating could then be considered.Detailed calculations and observational experience show, that for Jupiter and Saturn, all FUV-MAMA imaging and spectroscopic modes are safe. Most NUV spectroscopic modes can also be used, but in many cases it will be necessary to use a very small or neutral density aperture to avoid excessive count rates. Of course the STIS CCD G230LB and G230MB gratings can be used without any bright object limitations, but for a red planetary object these CCD spectra will suffer substantial contamination from scattered light at shorter wavelengths.Note that the global rate limit of 30,000 counts/s for first order spectroscopy was imposed because of the STIS Bright Scene Detection Monitor (see ISR STIS 96-028), which samples the output of every 32nd row. It could be triggered if a bright point source spectrum fell directly on one of the monitored rows. For extended sources observed with a long slit, the larger global limit of 200,000 counts/s is the relevant one for both echelle and first order spectroscopic observations.Jupiter and Saturn are much too bright to be observed with most STIS NUV-MAMA imaging modes. However, the UVIS channel of the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) has a number of UV filters that provide a better alternative for most NUV imaging science, as they have a larger field of view and no safety related bright object limits.Multiple stellar fields along their paths must also be cleared for safety of moving target observations. Of course, this cannot be accomplished until scheduling windows are assigned, and it may have to be iterated if the windows change. An automated capability to do that has been added to the APT/BOT. Your Contact Scientist will advise and assist with this procedure.


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Freddie Combs Loses 400 Lbs., Sings 'Wind Beneath My Wings' on 'X Factor'
Freddie Combs once weighed 920 pounds. He has worked his tail off to lose 400 pounds, and he's not done. He is currently seated in a wheelchair, but he wants to be able to lose more weight and stand while singing on 'X Factor.' That's a big goal, but he has the talent to get far on this show.
On tonight's (Sept. 27) audition episode, Combs, 41, sang the melodramatic ballad 'Wind Beneath My Wings' and he made an often corny song sound sweet and emotional, and he infused it with richness and depth. His heavenly, cherubic voice had a honeyed tone like that of Susan Boyle, and he won us over -- all while sitting down.
Since he was seated due to his size, he used his hands to be expressive and to communicate while singing and it was an effective strategy. But he didn't need to use his body to entertain us, since his voice did it all.
We learned that Combs, a Southern gentleman, is a minister, but he is on disability due to his obesity. He almost died in 2009 but he is working on getting healthy.
The judges loved him, and not because they felt sorry for him or felt sympathy for him due to his condition.
Simon Cowell said that he envisioned Combs singing that very song while standing, and he believes that together, Combs and 'X Factor' can do more work to get him to stand and sing that song on the live stage. Going further on the show could help motivate him to continue dropping the weight.
We have faith in Combs, too!
He is off to boot camp with unanimous acceptance from Cowell and Co.

subset: commoncrawl


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as much as i would like to say "no,"
there doesn't appear to me to be anything worth upholding, and therefore cessation is what follows.
i do things like eat and go for walks of course, but i'm acquiring a very "careless" attitude. i'm curious if anyone has any feeling about vacuuming


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NEWS- The Mitch: Van Yahres walked the walk
He was a familiar sight on the Downtown Mall. For years, his 57th District legislative office was there. On Friday nights, he frequently could be spotted out on a date with Betty, his wife of 60 years. In fact, it could be argued that Charlottesville wouldn't even have a Downtown Mall were it not for Mitch Van Yahres, one of two City Councilors who voted to brick over Main Street in 1974.
Van Yahres, 81, won't be seen on the Downtown Mall anymore. He died February 8 following complications from surgery for lung cancer.
In more recent decades, he was better known as Charlottesville's delegate to the General Assembly, a seat he held for 24 years, a liberal Democratic voice in an increasingly conservative body.
In 2005, the General Assembly had become a less congenial place for the longtime Dem, who saw no shame in being called a liberal. "The environment has changed, and it's not for the good," he told the Hook after declining to seek another term at age 78. "It's not a pleasure to be there. It used to be you were able to have friends on both sides of the aisle. There was a political spirit of compromise. Now you have to win battles."
Connie Jorgensen was Van Yahres' legislative aide for almost seven years. One of her favorite Mitch stories is about how he got the General Assembly to apologize for eugenics and the involuntary sterilization of those deemed "genetically inferior," a movement that started in 1927 and didn't stop until 1974, after 7,500 Virginians had undergone the procedure.
"He didn't know about it," says Jorgensen. "He read a series in the Times-Dispatch. He saw a wrong and worked to correct it."
Van Yahres drafted a resolution in 2001 in which the General Assembly expressed its "profound regret" for the involuntary sterilizations, knowing full well the legislative body was not about to apologize, says Jorgensen. Within a few months, Governor Mark Warner apologized for the Commonwealth's eugenics laws.
In a sea of lawyers, Van Yahres was the General Assembly's only tree surgeon and became head of the agriculture committee. He got perhaps the most flak for his support of decriminalizing the cultivation of industrial hemp, a multi-use plant that resembles marijuana. "He didn't get very far with it," Jorgensen says, "but he believed in it."
A Long Island native, the man known simply as "Mitch" moved to Charlottesville in 1949 and started his tree surgery business. Even after retiring from Van Yahres Tree Service, he remained a tree advocate, most recently chastising the city for cutting down a deodora cedar to make way for the Pavilion and Transit Center in 2004, as well as for taking out another 20 or so smaller trees toward Belmont Bridge. He had planted the cedar in front of City Hall in the 1950s.
"Those little trees could have been saved," said Van Yahres. "We think of ourselves being so sophisticated, but that was as brutal a thing as could be done."
Van Yahres was elected to City Council in 1968 and served as mayor from 1970 to 1972. "He was fair and concerned about race," remembers Charles Barbour, the city's first black mayor, who served on Council with Van Yahres, joined him in that historic Mall vote, and served at a time when Fry's Spring Beach Club was still segregated.
"He would not attend a function where I as a black would not be welcome," says Barbour. "He was the first modern day mayor who did a lot for the city and set the stage for all the good things we have today." (Barbour also recalls that when refreshments were served, he and Van Yahres were always the first to get to the peanuts.)
Former City Councilor Meredith Richards did fund raising for Van Yahres' reelections in 1993 and 1995. "He never raised a lot of money– he raised a little," says Richards. "He was indifferent to fund raising. He'd already sworn off tobacco money."
When he had an oppenent in 1993, he saw the value in raising money– "so he could pass it on to other candidates with his Road Back PAC," says Richards.
"Mitch stayed very close to his community and to his constituents," she adds. "Everybody knew Mitch. Any time of day you could come into his office and he'd drop everything."
Van Yahres was also known for his fashion– a propensity for plaid shirts with the sleeves rolled up, says Richards. That look faded after she and Betty planned a surprise party and 300 people showed up wearing plaid shirts. ("Maybe he decided his plaid days were over," Richards muses of his later penchant for polo shirts.)
He lived a couple of blocks off the Mall, walked everywhere, and chatted with everyone, Richards says. "He was a good ole-fashioned politician."
Even in death, Van Yahres' political side was obvious in his obituary, which urged "his friends, which included everyone who met him, to make a healthy and significant contribution to the campaign of Barack Obama" in lieu of flowers.
"What he was really about was letting people be heard," says Jorgensen. "Walking down the Mall took two to three times longer than ordinary because people had to talk to Mitch. I can't tell you the number of times we were late."
Mitch Van Yahres won't be walking on the Downtown Mall anymore. But his footprints remain.


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just drive offers a sound education that consists of the foundational skills that students need to become smart drivers that make smart decisions. Here is a brief look into what makes our curriculum the best, student centered, driver's education program in the State:
In order to guarantee that just drive offers a sound education we have taken steps to ensure the following resources:
At just drive we are not only teaching students to drive, but to become responsible, informed, and knowledgeable citizens. We take the business of teaching kids very seriously. Our mission statement is "Educating teens to make safe driving choices".
In addition, just drive also offers the convenience of online registration, online scheduling of behind the wheel lessons, online behind the wheel calendar and our great customer service. Compare our qualifications and curriculum to our competitors and then decide; there is no reason to go anywhere else.


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Megan Parks of Salem and Bret Hamilton of Wilsonville plan to marry June 21, 2013, at Green Villa Barn in Independence.
Parks is the daughter of Patti and Marvin Parks of Dallas, Ore. She is a 2007 graduate of Dallas High School and is attending Portland State University with plans to graduate this summer. She is working toward a bachelor's degree in social science with an emphasis in early childhood, and she is working as a full-time nanny in Silverton.
Hamilton is the son of Sue and Barry Hamilton of Medford. He is a 2006 graduate of South Medford High School, a 2010 graduate of George Fox University with a bachelor's degree in fitness science, and a 2011 graduate with a master's in teaching. He works as a fitness coach at Mota Fitness in Tualatin.
Megan Robinson and Christopher McPherson, both of Central Point, plan to marry June 15, 2013, at Living Praise Tabernacle in Central Point.
Robinson is the daughter of Donald and Erika Robinson of Central Point. She works in customer service for Farmers Insurance Agency.
McPherson is the son of Walt and Mona McPherson of Central Point. He works as an electrician at Eric's Electric Service.


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"Oh, sh*t—I think we lost Steve again…"
There's nothing quite like turning around in the middle of downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, only to find out that your entire crew has disappeared. Worse, if you can imagine, when that crew is comprised solely of young, impressionable snowboarders, all relying on you to guide them along their virgin foray into the sight, sounds, and endless nights of Sin City. Here, centered along a famed Strip at once so inviting and mezmerizing, yet ceaselessly temptuous and depraved, would my troubles begin.
Twenty-four hours ago, Rhythm's Gus Cawley and I put down our phones, and would both perform a metaphorical 'check yourself in the mirror' concerning our sudden, exciting—admittedly spontaneous and daunting—best (worst?)-laid plans. Snowboarding In Las Vegas—could it actually be done? It would only take a handful of phone calls to line up the hotels and carpools, and just a couple of texts and emails to pin down the riders and photographers; but the real question still hung overhead: Where the hell are we going to snowboard—in Las Vegas?
The answer came with speed of a Google search, in the name of Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort. We veguely remember hearing of this geographic and ecological anomaly before, but with no past reference to go on, knew little of where, what, how, and who to expect. Turns out, the sinners of Nevada have some kind of sun-kissed park resort a mere 40 mins from the Las Vegas Strip, and our mission was then clear. Letting the proverbial dice spiral from our fingertips, it was time to experience what this winter warlock had to offer, risking personal safety, mental illness, and betting the farm in physical/social/professional roulette along the way. "We are, after all, the absolute cream of the national sporting press…"
Arriving at the Rhythm headquarters Friday morning, I found the kids getting their kits right and heads wrapped around the coming days and nights. Gus had assembled a small crew of young riders; Tahoe and Bear locals both ready and hungry to get on the road and get 'er done. Above, from left to right, are Steve Gullion, Dylan Dessurealt, and on the far right, Preston Harper. Steve's 22, from Vergennes, Vermont, lives in Lake Tahoe, but currently resides in a Harry Potter zone—literally under a staircase—in Bear (although has no trouble in getting chicks to follow him there, so we're told). He loved the Vegas trip so much, we almost had to leave him at Buffalo Bill's on the way out. Dylan aka Dubbers aka Dubstep aka Dez, redefined the term "take a grenade for your boy" this trip. The only person not on the Rhythm AM team, Dubs comes from the old-school live-to-ride mentality—working hard all summer-long, just to ride during the winters. As both homie, driver, and constant offerer to sideline the friend of the "friend" for Steve and Preston during the trip, this kid deserves the "VIP" moniker laid upon him from day one. …And then there's Preston. Probably the nicest kid to ever strap on a snowboard, Pres is 21, from Huntington Beach, and runs with JusLiv and the Bear Mountain life; also, holding family ties to Las Vegas. After a few drinks and a good first night in Old Vegas (downtown, Fremont Street, etc), the crew hit/fell to the beds/shower floors/god knows, to prepare for the following day's sun and snow.
This might be the hangover talkin', but after catching up with the riders a few days after the trip, they would all agree: Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort blew away our loftiest expectations. From the quick, 40-minute drive into the desert ("You could easily kill a man out here and no one would ever know…"), to the sun-baked hills and warm temperatures (think: Bear Mountain, Mountain High, etc), to the incredibly-diverse, outrageously-dressed local crowd (check the photo of Steve and the nip-ring brutha in the gallery above), the entire crew had what Preston described best as "the funnest day of the year". Greeted with soft snow, mellow features, friendly locs, and a couple of ridiculous snake-runs in the trees (that almost completely de-railed our plans to shoot and film), everyone spent the day smiling, laughing, and getting shit done in the Las Vegas hills. Joined by our new friend and local skate/snow photographer, Nelson Bill (and his raddest unmarked white van in the States), Steve, Dubs, and Preston got to work, quickly picking out rails and jibs while Gus, Blake (LVSSR's Park Manager), and I scoped and prepped the jump line.
Outside the park, the resort lies on a mellow grade, nestled at the base of a viciously steep incline—one that appears to hold a multitude of backcountry lines that dedicated local hikers and skinners had recently slayed. Keep this one on the list for exploration next season. Make the trip out, and you might even run into one of us on the way up, attempting to ride lines in Vegas that even Charlie Sheen wouldn't dream of (winning…!)
As my blood began to rush and mind began to race, I glanced down at my watch, hoping to foster some sort of distant stability from its consistent, rotating hands. Taking in a gasp of the dry desert air, I looked up again, praying and somewhat half-expecting that the team would then magically re-appear, finding myself the center of a grandiose, city-life Criss Angel Mindfreak headfuck—but no, my luck had run out. Welp… f*** it, I thought. At least they have a room key. I'm going to Marquee.
But, no one wants to read about the partying, the late-night horrors, the 5 AM girl-fights ("Bitches get stitches!"), the rent money won, lost, won (and lost) again…
Just check out these places if you really want to couple a few sun-kissed park sessions with a few memory-filled and chick-kissed night seshes in Las Vegas.
~ Stay At… Wynn (Mom/Dad $), Hard Rock (Young Money), Artisan (Dance Party), Excalibur (Snowboarder), Motel 6 Off-Strip (Real Snowboarder)
~ Eat At… Nobu (Mom/Dad $), Cabo Wabo Cantina (Sammy Hagar's Place—bartenders get their Coyote Ugly every hour, everyday), Gas Stations (Snowboarder)
~ Party At… Marquee (Young Money), Fremont Street (Snowboarder), Hotel Room (Younger Money), Jail Cell (Really Real Snowboarder)
~ Gamble At… Bellagio (Bankruptcy), Caesar's (Lunacy), Venetian (Custody) … "Dusty" (Preston)
Thankfully for us, the old adage saves the explanation long before it starts: What happens in Vegas, always has, does, and will stay right in Vegas. ("…except Herpes, that shit will stay with you…")
In closing… For those who've never felt the joy/sheer terror immediately realized upon opening your eyes on a Sunday morning in Las Vegas, it goes a little something like this: We have to get out of this hotel. Now. No, right now. Because no matter how prepared you think you are or measures checked the night before, one glaring reality always remains—they're holding my credit card on this shithole… Lucky for us, waking up at 2 PM is an overrated artform, and when the cleaning ladies of the resort haven't noticed your obscene overstay, it's probably the best gift one can receive on the Lord's day deep in the Nevada desert. Spectacles, testicles, wallet, and watch; Steve, Preston, Dubs, and Gus—amazingly, miraculously, all present and accounted for, and safely strewn across the room (including Preston). Dignity notwithstanding, we had made it through to the other side, and the time had mercifully come to return home. After a quick stop at The Wynn for lunch, we walked through the Venetian to find the cars. Here, at the 11th hour, the constant stuggle finally got the better of me, and I gave in to my gambling needs. Pulling one epic Houdini to the nearest ATM and pulling out four bills, I sat down at the roulette table, and began to play. Larry Bird (33), Michael Jordan (23), and for some reason, 15—hit, hit, hit—and big. 600 dollars up in the ledger, exhausted, bleary-eyed, and holding dear to the last shreds of hopeless innocence five young men can contain, we all looked at each other; without a sound between us, everyone knew: We have to get out of this city. Right Now.
~ Special Thanks To ~
Rhythm Livin USA
Web / Facebook / Twitter
Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort
Web / Facebook / Twitter
Hard Rock Las Vegas
Web / Facebook / Twitter
Artisan Las Vegas
Web / Facebook / Twitter
Marquee Las Vegas
Web / Facebook / Twitter


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Wig Donalovehair - Sweater Romwe - Skirt Romwe - Choker Ghost of Harlem - Backpack Leaflingbags - Tights Taobao - Shoes T.u.k
Quick bicolor look today wearing some new cool items I recently got in the mail! Crop sweatshirts are always among my favorite items ever especially paired with high waisted skirts, I love how comfy and cute this one with the tiny alien patch is, it matches perfectly my dolly shoes from T.u.k :D don't you think? It's my very first pair of dolly shoes and I really like how they fit this casual look! I added a bit of color with the gorgeous mini backpack from Leaflingbags, if you're looking for original and great quality backpacks you definitely need to check the shop, I'm sure you'll fall in love with the gorgeous designs too! Talking about my life I'm currently studying hard for the last exams of my life (I hope ahah) these months will be a bit difficult for the lack of time, I'll do my best to reply to every comment when I can, I really apprecciate all your sweet words everday! Thank you very much for always be so sweet with me ;_;


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Elliott gave you up to $76 toward your first trip
With one-of-a-kind homes and experiences, Airbnb is a great way to travel. When you sign up, you'll get $55 AUD off a home booking of $110 AUD or more and $21 toward an experience of $73 or more. Coupons expire one year from date of sign up.Terms apply
How it works
Sign up and create an account on Airbnb.
Look for places to stay and things to do anywhere in the world.
Get $55 AUD off your first home booking of $110 AUD or more and $21 off your first experience of $73 or more.


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Your Price:
Checking inventory..
Pay homage to the greatest team around right now when you don this incredible Virginia Tech Hokies Heritage tri-blend sweatshirt from League!
Stay updated on sales, new items and more:
©2019 Fanatics, Inc., All Rights Reserved. No portion of this site may be reproduced or duplicated without the express permission of Fanatics, Inc.


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Co - founded by four spiritual entrepreneurs, Soul Route is one of its kind life empowerment & transformation center offering full range of psychotherapy & alternative life enhancing services aimed at cultivating healthy & successful lifestyles.
Mukta Rastogi is a Life coach, Counsellor, Certified Hypnotherapist, Access Bars Practioner, Certified with Dr Brain Weiss in Past Life Regression, trained in Metaphor Therapy and Angel Card Reader. She is Proactive and dynamic spiritual healer.
Sajid Ahamed is "Certified trainer of NLP" and Founder of Inner Peace Life Coaching Pvt Ltd, India. He is a firm believer in high performance. He enjoys engaging in powerful conversations that lead to effective learning and results. He believe that to survive in today's competitive environments, leaders across the globe must be willing to...
Neerja Poddar has been in the practice of complimentary healing sciences for over 20 years. She has many years of hands-on experience in Behavioral, Psychological, Energetic and Spiritual Therapies.
Believe it or not, sinus infection, which affects many Indians each year, is more prevalent today than it was in the preantibiotic age! That's not to say that antibiotics aren't effective. When sinusitis (the technical name for a sinus infection) occurs, treatment with antibiotics is often essential to kill the infectious bacteria.
Decongestants can help relieve sinusitis symptoms. So can oral or topical steroids (to combat sinus inflammation) and antihistamines, if underlying allergies are involved.
INoidaeasingly, doctors are realizing that to successfully fight off sinus infection and prevent it from recurring, medication alone isn't enough. You also have to ensure that the mucous membranes lining your nasal and sinus passages are healthy and functioning properly.
Sinusitis occurs when the mucous membranes in your nose and sinuses become irritated by a cold, allergy, pollutants or exposure to dry or cold air. This irritation causes the membranes to become inflamed. When this happens, the motion of the cilia (the tiny hairs that coat the mucous membranes and are responsible for moving mucus over their surfaces) slows down. At the same time, the irritation stimulates your mucous glands to secrete more mucus than usual to dilute the bacteria. Result: Mucus gets trapped in the sinuses, where it can easily become infected because the swelling meant to dilute the bacteria now blocks the sinus openings, and prevents the body from washing away the bacteria. Symptoms of sinus infection include...
* Facial pressure around the eyes, cheeks and forehead.
* Cold symptoms lasting more than 10 days.
* Thick, green/yellow mucus.
* Postnasal drip, which occurs when excess mucus drips down the back of the throat.
* Pain in the upper molars.
* Fatigue and a flu-like achiness.
The following natural treatments will help keep your cilia healthy and functioning and prevent mucus from building in your sinuses. If a sinus infection does occur, these same treatments will iNoidaease the effectiveness of antibiotics and other medications -- speeding healing and making a recurrence less likely. 1. Drink hot liquids. One of the best ways to unclog sinuses is to drink hot tea -- black, green, herbal or decaffeinated, it doesn't matter -- or hot chicken soup throughout the day. Drink enough so that your urine turns light in color. These hot liquids help moisturize your mucous membranes, speeding up the movement of your cilia and thus washing mucus out of your sinuses more quickly. Sorry, java lovers, but hot coffee isn't nearly as effective.
Note to travelers: The dry air on jet liners is particularly rough on the sinuses -- so when flying, carry tea bags with you and ask the flight attendant for hot water to make tea.
2. Apply warm compresses to your face. Do this three times a day for five minutes. A small towel soaked in warm water, then placed over your face below and between the eyes, will help iNoidaease the circulation in your sinuses, which will also help speed up the movement of your cilia. 3. Irrigate your sinuses. For 3,000 years, yoga practitioners have kept their sinuses healthy through the practice of sniffing a saltwater solution rapidly in and out of their nose at low pressure. Caution: Don't try this unless you have been taught how to do it.


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Integration is once more leading the agenda. M&C Saatchi Group continues to add to the breadth of its offering, this week acquiring the talent agency Merlin Elite and merging it into the group's sport and entertainment arm.
EDC – better known as Dare (digital), Elvis (direct) and Citizen (PR) – has appointed a new chief executive, Paul Hammersley, with a brief to leverage this integrated group to create more revenue growth.
Both M&C Saatchi and EDC have committed themselves to integration in recent years. The former's UK group chief executive, Lisa Thomas, comes from a direct marketing background. She has successfully moved M&C Saatchi beyond its foundation by legendary admen to an offering that includes strength in data, insight and PR. Engine has pursued a similar approach, developing a broad offering from the base of its UK ad agency WCRS.
EDC is based on the integrated model of its original Canadian parent company, Cossette. Two years ago, it tried to add advertising clout to this below-the-line mix, with the merger of the UK agency MCBD. Last week, the MCBD contingent left to set up their own shop and EDC's chairman, Mark Collier, admitted to me that the merger had been a "painful but useful" process.
Indeed, trying to provide clients with an integrated offering is rarely without pain. So much so that some in the industry believe it to be fool's gold. There are certainly manifold inherent contradictions.
Few today would doubt the logic of providing a broader, more integrated creative service for clients. Brands are looking to simplify their agency relationships. They are looking for cost-efficiencies. And, crucially, they care less from where a powerful idea comes and more about its ability to work as a multiplatform campaign, which will change consumer behaviour online and in shops. But the question remains: how good are "integrated" agencies at actually delivering the latter?
There is a clear tension between trying to provide all that the client needs, while also providing best-in-class offerings in each marketing technique – let alone cutting-edge creativity.
This is often hindered by the way creative businesses are set up. Holding companies can be a big obstacle. Internal competition and the individual pursuit of financial success frequently puts agency interests ahead of client interests. So a culture of collaboration, where all specialisms are working to the same end, is critical. For this reason, Adam & Eve/DDB now insists every desk features a mixture of different specialists.
Fundamentally, the starting point for integration must be the creative platform rather than the agency structure.
One concludes that with integration, fortune will ultimately favour the brave, the entrepreneurial. It will favour those who hold their nerve through a painful journey. But media-neutral thinking is what clients want, and is therefore a prize worth seeking.


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Frog's Legs Tonight, Dear!
Jack Gaskin 2/10/2012 5:39:06 AMOK I LOVE PREDATION SHOTS and this is a GOOD ONE
Happy Shooting
Jack #1442450
Gary Enloe 2/10/2012 5:39:59 AMOutstanding capture Kathy. Right place right time #9974841
Michelle Alton 2/10/2012 1:53:57 PMThis is an immensely superb capture--spot on, and the sky is amazing. #9975772
Lynn R. Powers 2/10/2012 2:09:05 PMIt is very unusual to see a shot of a hawk with a frog. Very nice capture. I think you may get a "Finalist" award for this photo.
Lynn #9975803
Glenn E. Traver 2/14/2012 8:25:32 PMLucky you , poor frog, lucky Hawk, I like it ! ~ GT #9983179
Usman M. Bajwa 3/25/2012 10:13:17 PMCool capture, Kathy. CONGRATZ and good luck!
Louisa Hancock 3/26/2012 12:02:11 AMCongratulations on this wonderful finalist #10055882
Lynn R. Powers 3/26/2012 9:16:03 AMSee, I told you it should get a Finalist award. And I think it is good enough for a Gold medal also.
Lynn #10057470
Kathy Urbach 3/26/2012 9:22:39 AMThanks everyone!
The Judges at BetterPhoto.com 3/26/2012 11:05:19 AMWhat a moment #10057877
Linda L. Ruiz 3/26/2012 2:11:44 PM#10058549
Merna L. Nobile 3/26/2012 3:04:03 PM
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
Congratulations! Merna
JO ANN CLEVELAND 3/28/2012 7:59:05 PMLet me be the first to wish you Congratulations on your GOLD SECOND PLACE WIN Kathy!
jo ann c. #10063971
Janet Fikar 3/30/2012 10:18:44 AMWhat incredible timing! I love it. Congratulations. #10067242
Merna L. Nobile 4/2/2012 11:34:33 PMWinning The Gold, The Photo of the Day and also the Grand Prize is such an honor after days of taking photographs and doing your best to present them in a professional way, you realize that it is well worth it, and to graciously share them with us.
Usman M. Bajwa 4/4/2012 3:38:08 AMC O N G R A T Z ......!!!
David M. Montero 4/4/2012 4:42:19 PMGreat timing! Awesome job Kathy! Congratulations on your win!!! #10075371
Red-shouldered hawk with Frog...1/1600sec, f9..I watched this hawk hunt for almost 20 minutes...very efficient...quick dive, the catch and fly home....good job!
Exif: F Number: 14, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/800 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 200, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 28.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark II N
Uploaded on 2/10/2012 4:34:46 AM
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Kathy Urbach. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.


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Volunteer Associations
Volunteer Organizations of member orchestras are also members of the League. If your orchestra is not a member but your Volunteer Organization would like to join, you can do so for $150, and receive the following benefits of membership:
- Annual National Conference - A four-day conference that attracts more than 1,200 artistic, administrative, and volunteer personnel from orchestras across the country each year.
- Meetings - National and regional meetings of personnel involved in specific orchestra activities including management, marketing, development, finance, education, and volunteering are held through the year.
- Employment Search - The League maintains a web site, jobs.americanorchestras.org, where member orchestras may post vacancy announcements for administrative and conducting positions, and Individual Professional Members may post their resumes.
Information and Advice
- americanorchestras.org - The League's principal web site is designed as a comprehensive site for use by professionals throughout the orchestra field. The site provides detailed information about League activities and other trade issues.
- Knowledge Center - The League Knowledge Center fields an average of 50 requests for information each day, providing reference materials and publications on topics such as long-range planning, fund raising, governance, and volunteerism.
- Symphony - Executive and Music Directors, Board and Volunteer Presidents receive our award-winning, bimonthly magazine that covers issues critical to the orchestra community.
- Newsletters - Volunteer Notes provides specialized perspectives for orchestra volunteers.
- The Hub - News and insight for League members. Updated daily.
- Professional Development - The Orchestra Leadership Academy is a comprehensive professional development initiative designed to enhance the institutional strength of orchestras. Holding seminars throughout the country, the Academy offers a diverse range of content focused on strengthening leadership throughout the orchestra, enabling individuals to hone skills in specific programmatic areas, and creating opportunities for those new to orchestra management.
- Advocacy Alerts/Government Affairs Updates - Stay informed of trends on national arts policy and pending legislation affecting the orchestra community through the League's Advocacy and Government Division.
- Direct Representation - The League represents the interests of America's orchestras to members of Congress and the Executive Branch and facilitates state and local advocacy efforts.
For a full list of member discounts and services, click here.


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Tofu and tomatoes don't for make the best sandwich combo, but together they may be powerful weapons against prostate cancer. According to a new animal study published in the journal 'Cancer Prevention Research,' soy-based foods like tofu, when eaten along with tomatoes, reduced incidence of prostate cancer significantly more than just tomatoes or just soy.
Researchers from the University of Illinois tested these diets on mice that were specifically bred to develop prostate cancer. After 18 weeks, only 45 percent of the soy-and-tomato-fed mice developed the disease, compared to 61 percent of the tomato group and 66 percent of the soy group.
Since this was an animal study, it's too soon to say these same results would be the seen in humans, but the researchers think there's potential. Past studies on men have suggested soy, because it's rich in compounds called isoflavones, can inhibit prostate tumor growth and suppress testosterone, which can help cancer spread. In fact, in Asian nations that have soy-heavy diets, prostate cancer is far less common than in the U.S., where we eat little soy. As for tomatoes, they contain a phytochemical called lycopene that has been shown in animal studies to reduce prostate cancer risk, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. So eaten together, soy foods and tomatoes offer a one-two anti-cancer punch.
In order to get the level of prostate protection seen in the mice, the researchers suggest getting three to four servings of tomatoes or tomato products per week and one or two servings of soy-based foods or drinks daily.


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The Slade Green Medical Centre is the Doctors surgery serving the Erith area. Healthcare and wellbeing are forefront in most peoples mind.
Here you can find all the relevant contact info for Erith based Doctors Surgery, Slade Green Medical Centre, as well as links to pages for all other Erith based doctors.
You can also find local NHS Clinics, Hospitals and other health services by using the category links in the breadcrumb at the top of this page.
DISQUS is open to all our users and can be used to share comments & pictures about any business, letting others know what you think.
Please note that there are terms of fair usage and all comments are subject to moderation. Comments which include offensive content of any kind will not be accepted. Furthermore comments are not to be used to vent personal grievances, post links or discuss unrelated topics.
A frequent business type near Slade Green Medical Centre is Builders .
Rest assured, there is at least one doctor in the area. Toothache? There is a dentist locally for all your dental needs. If you are hungry there are a few restaurants serving the area. The local Parking Garage offers a safe and secure place to leave your vehicle.


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After 2 weeks of not cooking, due to a lack of dishwasher (yes, we were actually so lazy we dirtied as few dishes as possible!), I wanted to try something lengthy, complicated, warm and comforting. Something that could go terribly wrong, but could also go terribly right. So, I broke out my Tagine cookbook, by Ghillie Basan, to find something spicy and filling to warm us on a cold winter night.
This dish caught my eye because even though it was comprised of the traditional lamb that is in many African dishes, it came together as meatballs, with sunny side up eggs, all cooked in the tagine.
The meatballs are called kefta, and they are filled with amazing spices, and are poached in water (which helps them keep their perfect shape), then cooked in spiced liquid that absorbs into the meatballs, and creates a hot, dry bottom of the tagine in which to cook the eggs.
Not only did the dish turn out perfectly, but the combination was nothing we had ever experienced. The spice, ras-el-hanout, is worth seeking out (I found mine at my local spice store, but you can also find it online).
My only caution is to be careful of the spice level. I will write this recipe with the spice level I used so hopefully it will do the trick (vs. the original recipe from the cookbook).
Trust me, it is worth the effort. And, ironically enough, at the end of the day there really weren't many dishes to speak of – except the tagine itself (which doesn't go in the dishwasher).
Serves 4
For the Kefta:
16 ounces ground lamb
1 onion, finely chopped
2 teaspoons dried mint
3 teaspoons ras-el-hanout
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
a small bunch of fresh flatleaf parsley, finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Rest of the Dish:
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
6-8 eggs
2 teaspoons cumin seeds, dry-roasted and ground
a small bunch of fresh flatleaf parsley
To make the kefta, put the ground lamb, onion, mint, ras-el-hanout, cayenne and parsley in a bowl, season with salt and pepper, and mix well together. Using your hands, knead the mixture and mold it into small balls.
Fill a tagine (or dutch oven) with water and bring it to a boil. Carefully drop in the kefta, a few at a time, and poach them for about 10 minutes, turning them so they cook on all sides. Remove them with a slotted spoon and drain them on paper towels. Reserve roughly 2 1/2 cups of cooking liquid.
Add the butter to the tagine with the reserved cooking water and bring to a boil. Stir in the salt and cayenne and drop in the poached kefta. Cook over high heat until almost all of the liquid has evaporated (about 15 or so minutes). Carefully crack the eggs around the kefta, cover the tagine with the lid, and cook and steam until they are just set. Sprinkle the roasted cumin seeds and the chopped parsley over the top of the dish. Serve with pearl couscous and flat bread.


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A well-maintained roof is important for the safety of inhabitants. We are a roofing company in Bronx, NY that promises you to earn your trust through unrivaled roofing services in Bronx, NY!
Regardless of what type of roof you have in your home or commercial building, it is always extremely important to make sure that your roof is in a flawless condition. Even the minor roof leaks can cause severe discomforts. The situation can get worse, when there is no one to offer immediate roofing assistance in a crisis situation. That is why it is always important to get even the minor roof problems fixed at earliest.
A fault-free roof doesn't only ensure safety, but is also important in terms of energy efficiency. We take pride in being the best roofing contractor in Bronx, NY and have been serving our clients for more than 20 years. We are a roofer that you can trust for all of your roofing concerns. We promise you unrivaled services at the most affordable rates and dedicated to showing class in all departments of our services.
As per the census of 2015, the population of the Bronx, NY is approximately 474,558 and the total land area covers about 152 Km2. It means that there must be many homes in the city. Our mission is to serve every single homeowner with the unparalleled residential roofing service that they just can't get from anyplace else. The weather in the city can sometimes become too harsh, and then it will become necessary to make sure that everyone and everything inside remains safe. We proudly offer all types of residential roof replacement, repair and new installation services with satisfaction guarantee.
The different roofing types in which we deal includes, but not limited to:
Our team of residential roofers is dedicated to ensure the utmost level of professionalism and honest services complemented with the best quality products and workmanship. Whether you are looking to install new wall coating systems, looking for window sills replacement, or need any related service in Bronx, NY, you can count on us.
Your commercial building required a bit more strength and resistance because commercial buildings are always susceptible to heavier foot traffics and loads. With our experienced team of the highly skilled commercial roofing service professionals, we can deal with all size roof repair, replacement, and installation projects. We are equipped with the modern day technology and all necessary tools to handle any commercial roofing project with perfection.
We are proudly serving commercial, institutional, and industrial establishments with services, like:
Single-ply is usually the most commonly used commercial roofing options, but if you have any confusion in choosing your option, then we can also provide you a free consultation. We have proudly served hundreds of commercial clients until now and we know how to perform exceptionally well under different, diverse situations.
We also bring to you the Bronx, NY's best waterproofing services. We have been serving our clients since 1996, so we know how to cater to the different needs of different clients with our services. We use thermal and moisture protection to create a great protective layer between the water and the masonry surfaces. Properroof waterproofing is not only important to ensure a comfortable living, but is also extremely important for the structural integrity of the building.
We offer waterproofing services, like:
Waterproofing solutions come in different forms and we are fully insured, bondable, and licensed to deal with all forms and types to offer you immaculate services. We work on every single project with a dedicated to improve the life of the roofing system with our specialized knowledge, skills and professionalism.
We also specialize in custom-made masonry installations. As a licensed, fully bonded and full-service masonry contractor, we promise you to provide the unrivaled services doesn't matter what type masonry service you need. Quality craftsmanship, dedication, and commitment to 100% satisfaction make us the best in the industry.
We offer specialized masonry services, like:
With our team of the expert masons, we are dedicated to let you experience the unrivaled masonry services with satisfaction guarantee.
We believe that no business can flourish, unless it has the best workforce to ensure quality craftsmanship. So, we have our core focus on building a team of experts with specialized skills, years of experience, and dedication to serve every client with the utmost level of professionalism. We have also equipped our team with modern-day equipment and technology to make sure that they can work according to their full potential to deliver the top notch results.
We also arrange regular training sessions for our workers to help them keep in touch with what is going around in the roofing world. So, you can expect the best from us, whatever roof related concern you have in Bronx, NY.
Fair and honest pricing are what every customer seeks for. No one wants to pay the high cost for the roofing services. With our fair and competitive pricing structure, we guarantee you the best services at the most affordable rates. You can get a free service estimate from us and can compare it with the other companies in the market to see how affordable we are.
Dial our phone number 212-787-1737 right now to schedule our services in Bronx, NY. You can also get any of your roof related questions answered by our experts via emails that can be sent at email@example.com. Or, please visit our website for more details on our services.
For details, Please feel free to call us at 212-787-1737


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Many businesses want to benefit from the Amazon Redshift's ability to quickly perform complex analytical queries over petabytes of data, and need to load their data from G Suite and other applications to the Amazon Redshift service for centralized storing and data analysis. Skyvia is the perfect tool for secure replication to a data warehouse, as it loads data much faster than standard ETL tools and allows you to configure the replication in a few simple steps:
Create G Suite and Amazon Redshift connections
Select G Suite objects to copy to Amazon Redshift
Optionally specify schedule to update data in Amazon Redshift with fresh data from G Suite automatically
You don't need to prepare the Amazon Redshift database - Skyvia creates the tables, corresponding to the G Suite objects, in the data warehouse automatically.
With Skyvia you can extract and load all the data from a G Suite object or disable loading for some G Suite object fields. You can also configure filters for data to replicate.
Copying data from G Suite to Amazon Redshift is just a part of the problem. Real-time analytics require data in Amazon Redshift to be constantly up-to-date with G Suite. Skyvia's Replication Tool will painlessly ensure you always have the most current data from G Suite in Amazon Redshift for inclusion in your processes. Thus, you can feel secure in your ability to make better decisions faster.
After the first replication of all the G Suite data, subsequent replications update the Amazon Redshift data incrementally with refreshes from G Suite, so all you need is to schedule replication to run as often, as your situation requires. You can schedule your replication to run up to once every few minutes, so your Amazon Redshift will always be up-to-date. All of this can be performed completely automatically with no user intervention.
Replication won't copy all the data every time. Instead it will perform incremental updates. Skyvia intelligently adds only records which are new, edits only records which have changed and remove the deleted records.


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Forest Laboratories Inc said on Tuesday it will add a representative of Carl Icahn as an independent member to its board, averting a new proxy battle with the billionaire investor.
The specialty drugmaker said the appointment of Vincent Intrieri, 56, would expand the board's size to eleven from ten directors. Intrieri has worked for various Icahn-related entities since 1998 and sits on a number of boards, including Chesapeake Energy Corp , Forest said.
Continue Reading Below
Icahn is Forest's second largest shareholder, owning about 11.5 percent of the drugmaker's outstanding shares.
"As part of the agreement, Mr. Icahn has agreed to vote the shares that he controls in support of Forest's 11 director nominees and not run a proxy contest" at the annual meeting, Forest said in a release.
Icahn has been highly critical of Forest leadership in recent years, arguing that the company has been badly managed and underperforms industry peers. He claimed the company was ill-prepared for the patent expirations of its top-selling medicines - the antidepressant Lexapro and Alzheimer's treatment Namenda - and for not having a succession planning for longtime Chief Executive Howard Solomon.
Forest said certain standstill restrictions, which limit Icahn's involvement with the company, will remain in effect as long as Intrieri serves on the board.
Icahn and the company have been in discussions over the course of the year, hoping to avoid a third proxy battle in as many years, Reuters reported last week, citing sources.
Just one of Icahn's four proposed directors was voted onto the Forest board following last year's proxy fight.
"We are happy to have been able to avoid the necessity for a distracting fight so that management's energies, as well as our own, can be focused on more productive purposes," Icahn said on Tuesday in a Forest press release.
Forest last month announced that Solomon would retire at the end of this year after running the U.S. drugmaker for more than 35 years, and said an independent board committee was evaluating internal and external candidates.
In the past year the company has launched new medicines and its shares have outperformed the S&P 500 , muting some of Icahn's past criticisms.
Forest shares were off 2.7 percent at $39.92 on a down day for the broader market.
(Reporting by Ransdell Pierson and Bill Berkrot; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)


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ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The Turkish military returned fire after a mortar bomb shot from Syria landed in countryside in southern Turkey on Saturday, the state-run Anatolian news agency reported.
It was the latest in a series of Turkish retaliatory attacks in response to mortar bombs and shelling by Syrian forces that have killed five Turkish civilians further east along the border.
The strikes and counter-strikes have been the most serious cross-border violence seen so far in Syria's conflict, and underlined how it could destabilize the region.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday his country did not want war but warned Syria not to make a "fatal mistake" by testing its resolve. Damascus has said the mortars landed in Turkey accidentally.
Anatolian said the mortar round hit countryside near Guvecci village in the Yayladagi area amid intense clashes on the Syrian side of the border in Idlib province.
"Military units on the Turkish border launched retaliatory fire immediately," the agency said, without identifying its source or mentioning any casualties.
Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Andrew Heavens