text:
Info Agency Main Banner Content
Who Is Eligible?
Q: What is Workers Compensation?
A: Worker's compensation is an accident insurance program paid by your employer which may provide you with medical, rehabilitation and income benefits if you are injured on the job. These benefits are provided to help you return to work. It also provides benefits to your dependents if you die as the result of a job-related injury.
Q: How long do I have to work to be covered by Workers Compensation?
A: You are covered from the first day you are on the job.
Q: How do I know if I qualify for Workers Compensation?
A: The law requires most businesses to have worker's compensation insurance. If you are injured while working at your job, you may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits.
Q: When should I report an accident that happened on the job?
A: You should report any accident to your employer (boss, foreman, or supervisor) immediately. If you wait more then 30 days your claim may be denied.
Q: When do I get my compensation?
A: If you are unable to return to work for more then seven days you are entitled to weekly income benefits. The first weekly installment should be mailed 15 days after the date of injury. You will not be paid for the first week of lost time until you have been out 21 days.
Q: How much will my weekly compensation be?
A: If you are unable to work (temporarily totally disabled), you will receive two-thirds of your average weekly wage for the past 52 weeks, but not more than $600 per week for an accident which occurred on or after July 1, 2006.
Q: What do I do if I have trouble receiving benefits or compensation from my employers Workers Compensation insurance carrier?
A: First, talk with your employer's insurance carrier or your self-insured employer to find out why your claim is denied. Often disputes can be resolved by sharing information or obtaining medical records.
If you cannot resolve the dispute, you can contact our ombudsman division to explore Alternative Dispute Resolution options. If these alternatives do not help you must file an Application for Adjustment of your claim with the Workers Compensation Board. This form is available on the Workers Compensation website at http://www.in.gov/icpr/webfile/formsdiv/29109.pdf.
Most workers' compensation claims are resolved to the satisfaction of the injured employee, employer, and insurance carrier. Usually, the appropriate payments are made and services provided. However, there are times when the employee disagrees with an employer's/carrier's decision and wants to formally challenge that decision.
Q: How long do I have to file an Application for Adjustment of my claim if I have a dispute with my employer about Workers Compensation?
A: The statute of limitations runs two years after the last date of compensation paid or in the alternative two years from the date of injury. The Workers Compensation Board is unable to give legal advice about statute of limitations specific to your claim, please contact legal counsel.
Q: How should I send the Application for Adjustment of claim if the statute of limitations is in question?
A: If the statute of limitations is in question or you are very close to the statute of limitations the Application should be sent via certified mail or the date of filing will be the date that the Board received your document.
Q: Can I be fired for filing a workers' compensation claim?
A: You cannot be fired because you filed a workers' compensation claim nor can a witness be fired. You should consult an attorney if you think you were fired for one of these reasons.
Q: Is my workers compensation check taxable?
A: No, Workers Compensation is not taxable. This is why you are paid only 66 2/3 of your average weekly wage.
Q: Can I go to my own doctor?
A: In Indiana the employer directs medical care. If you do not feel that you are receiving adequate medical care you may file an Application for adjustment of Claim with the Workers Compensation Board. Make sure that you always communicate with your employer regarding medical care!
Q: Should I get an attorney?
A: The Board always recommends that you consult an attorney if you are contemplating disputing your claim or if you feel that your rights under the Worker's Compensation Act are not being upheld.
Q: How do I find a worker's compensation attorney?
A: Contact your local bar association.
Q: What if my doctor says that I am at Maximum Medical Improvement and my compensation is terminated, what can I do?
A: You can request and Independent Medical Exam from the Board. Either mark on your "Report of Claim Status/Independent Medical Exam" form that you would like an IME or contact our ombudsman division at 1-800-824-2667. Your employer is responsible to reimburse the physician for one IME when your compensation is terminated.
Q: What if I have problems after a settlement?
A: If you settled with your employer by a Full and Final agreement then you are unable to open your claim unless you can prove that there was fraud involved in the settlement process. If you completed an Agreement to Compensation or a compromise agreement you can re-open your claim for a change of condition within 2 years after the last day for which compensation was paid or one year if the change is to increase permanent partial impairment.
This does not mean two years after you received your settlement check, it is two years after the last day that the settlement amount covers. For example, if you were off from January 15th, 2004 – February 15th, 2004, but you do not get the compensation for that time period until June 1st, 2004 the two years starts running on February 15th, 2004, the time period that you are being paid for.
Q: Will I be paid for time off due to a medical appointment?
A: If your medical appointment is during your normal working hours and you are not off on TTD then you will be paid your normal wages during the time you are at your appointment.
Q: Can I receive either Social Security Benefits or Unemployment and Worker's Compensation at the same time?
A: Social Security benefits may be "set off" by workers compensation, meaning you may only receive partial disability benefits from other sources. You cannot receive workers compensation and unemployment benefits at the same time.
Q: Can my employer fire me if I am unable to work because of an injury if I am receiving workers' compensation benefits?
A: An employer may not fire you for filing a workers compensation claim, but Indiana is an at-will employment state, meaning that an employee can be fired at any time except for a handful of reasons. If you feel you have been wrongly discharged please contact a lawyer.
Online Services
- Billing Review Service Registration
- CAUSE System
- Confirm Employer's Worker's Comp Coverage
- Confirm First Report Filing
- Contractor Search
- Coverage Election Search
- Dispute Termination of Benefits
- Find a Comp Attorney
- Forms.IN.gov
- Forms Portal
- Non-Compliant Employer Reporting
- Online Payment Options
- Public Records Request
- Request a Certificate of Compliance
- Search Disputed Claims
- More IN.gov Online Services
- IN.gov Subscriber Center


text:
Patient Rights
(before 2003)
Read the story. Click the "LISTEN" button at the bottom of the page to hear the story. When you are done, click the "NEXT" button.
When people get sick, they need to see a doctor. In order to see a doctor, they need to make sure they can pay the doctor. Since a visit to the doctor can be expensive, many people do not have enough money to always pay for it.
One way to help people to pay for the doctor visits is to have a company get money from people every month. Then when a person has to go to the doctor, the company will pay for the visit. This way, many people can afford to go to the doctor when they need to.
Sometimes the company will not pay for the doctor when they are asked to. There is a book that will explain what people can expect from a company that pays for doctor visits. The book is to help people understand what the company will or will not do.
One man had a daughter who was very sick. When the daughter was in the hospital, the company who was suppose to pay for the visit would not. This made the man mad. He complained and the company got in trouble.
The book can help this man find out about his rights. He can learn how to get medical records. It will show him how to get another doctor's help. It can tell him how to use legal action against the companies if they do not do things right.
(This was adapted from an original story provided by News10 KXTV Sacramento.)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
In a crisis, fruit flies do stunt turns
Sophisticated tracking equipment reveals insects' subtle, deft moves
courtesy of Florian Muijres
With a brain the size of a salt grain, a fruit fly can do Top Gun maneuvers in about one-fiftieth of the time it takes to blink a human eye.
That a fruit fly manages to do fighter-jet banked turns in midair contradicts some earlier ideas about how tiny insects maneuver, says Michael Dickinson of the University of Washington in Seattle. Other researchers had suggested that turning flies "use their wings almost like paddles to sort of row themselves around," he says. Yet an elaborate fly-filming arena he and his students created reveals deft and quick banking, they report in the April 11 Science.
The Drosophila hydei fruit flies that Dickinson's lab studies have neither a lot of mental processing power nor fancy muscles for flying. But being able to do sophisticated moves with minimal equipment only makes them more interesting.


text:
GCSEs: Gove pledges 'challenging' exam changes
An overhaul of GCSEs in England has been announced by Education Secretary Michael Gove to help pupils in England "compete with the best in the world".
From 2015, GCSEs will move from coursework to exams at the end of two years and will be graded from 8 to 1, rather than A* to G.
"We need to reform our examination system to restore public confidence," Mr Gove told the House of Commons.
Labour's Stephen Twigg attacked "shallow" changes lacking in evidence.
Mr Twigg accused Mr Gove of "cutting back on re-sits, while affording himself a fourth attempt at GCSE reform".
Mary Bousted, leader of the ATL teachers' union, said the constant change in exams was turning pupils into "Mr Gove's guinea pigs".
Head teachers' leader Russell Hobby said the plans for a "more rigorous exam to the existing GCSE contain merit" but warned against an over-hasty implementation. "We need to take time to get any new assessment system right."
Wales and Northern Ireland are keeping GCSEs, but so far are not adopting the changes proposed for England.
Ofqual head Glenys Stacey says: "We want to see qualifications that are more stretching for the most able students, using assessments that really test knowledge, understanding and skills."
There is no sign of a change in name to I-level for the English exams - as had been rumoured.
Key changes from autumn 2015
- Changes will initially be for nine core GCSE subjects
- Grading by numbers 8-1 rather than by the current letters A*-G
- No more modular courses, instead full exams taken at the end of two years
- Controlled assessments (coursework done under exam conditions) will be scrapped
- Exams to be based on a more stretching, essay-based system
- Pass mark to be pushed higher
The reforms will initially apply to a group of core subjects - English language and literature, maths, physics, chemistry, biology, combined science, history and geography.
'Whole book'
Hundreds of thousands of pupils will begin studying these revised GCSEs from autumn 2015 and the first candidates to take the exams will be in summer 2017.
Apart from exceptions such as practical experiments in science, there will be a shift towards results depending fully on exams taken at the end of two years. It will mean removing the 25% of marks in history, English literature and geography that are currently allowed for controlled assessments.
Grading will be by numbers rather than letters - with 8 at the top and 1 at the bottom. The pass mark will be pushed higher, with claims it will compare with the highest-performing school systems, such as Finland and Shanghai.
But the National Union of Teachers said Finland used a high level of the type of student assessment being removed from exams in England.
The new GCSEs will push for a more stretching, essay-based exam system, reminiscent of O-levels, taken by pupils until the late 1980s.
Mr Gove told MPs that previous course specifications "were too vague" and had caused "suspicion and speculation that some exam boards were 'harder' than others".
History will require more study of British history. Pupils will have to write an in-depth study of a 25-to-50-year period within a range of eras stretching from 500AD to the present day.
There will be a less prominent world history section and pupils will be asked to study a theme such as changes in politics, religion or culture across the medieval, early modern and modern eras.
In English literature, exam questions will be designed to ensure that pupils have read the whole book.
The course content will include at least one play by Shakespeare, a selection of work by the Romantic poets, a 19th Century novel, a selection of poetry since 1850 and a 20th Century novel or drama.
For both English language and literature, digital texts are excluded.
Maths will promote the idea of developing independent problem-solving skills, rather than setting types of questions that can be rehearsed.
Education Minister Elizabeth Truss said: "We do need to start competing against those top performing countries in the world, because for too long we've pretended that students' results are getting better, when all that's been happening is the exams have been getting easier."
Brian Lightman, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said his greatest concern was about the proposed syllabus changes. "Simply making exams harder does not guarantee higher standards or mean that students will be prepared for a job. The curriculum should stretch and challenge the highest achieving students but it must also engage and motivate those who struggle at the other end."
This is the latest stage in Mr Gove's drive to reconfigure the exam system.
Last year, Mr Gove announced plans for the scrapping of GCSEs and their replacement with English Baccalaureate Certificates, with each subject to be set by a single exam board.
This re-branding was scrapped, with GCSEs to be retained but reformed instead.
NUT general secretary Christine Blower said the the government's approach was "rushed".
"If you did this by consensus, by actually talking to the profession and understanding how best to examine things, we would be in a much better position."
Chris Keates, leader of the Nasuwt teachers' union, attacked the government's claim that the GCSE was a "broken qualification" and said it had "proved itself to be a robust and reliable qualification".
She accused the government of driving an "inaccurate and ideologically-driven media attack on the qualification".
The latest plans will be put out to consultation over the summer, with a timetable that will see exam boards producing courses to be accredited by Ofqual for teaching in autumn 2015.
The prospect of different forms of GCSEs in England, and Wales and Northern Ireland has raised the question of how they will be distinguished from each other.
The CBI said employers would want to be "crystal clear about the differences to eliminate any confusion".


text:
Jon Handschin necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 146 diseños de 48 diseñadores freelance.
moviepilot is Berlinbased movie recommendations site. We use collaborative filtering methods to calculate personalized forecasts for over 40.000 movies. These forecasts help our members to autoamtically re-organize all relevant schedules like theatrical releases, tv programming, dvd releases and multiple video on demand services. Besides, moviepilot allows its users to discover movies along new keyword categories such as emotion, plot and many others.
The coure of our site therefore is new navigation and orientation services in times of uibiquitous movie supply.
In Germany moviepilot has become of the largest film information sites on the web in general, thus attracting a large audience ranging from mainstream fans to arthouse geeks.
Our international roll-out will focus much more on the true movie buffs, the experts for whom the topic of movies is really THE topic in their life. In contrats to the German version http://www.moviepilot.de the international version will center much more around the core idea of personalized movie recommendations and leave out portal aspects like news and many other.
We are looking for a bold modern designed logo that at the same time transports our main idea at a glance: moviepilot as your best, personalized service on the web to discover movies you will love.
Our german logo is attached. please notice: our logo ist just "moviepilot" the clapper attachment you might see on http://www.moviepilot.de is NOT part of our logo.
No Gos:
Movie Loving? Still, no Hearts please.
moviePILOT? Still, no Planes please.
Web 2.0? Maybe, but no 3D please.
Logo should be available in high resolution for both Print and Web versions (vector, psd, etc...).
If there are any questions please feel free to ask, since this is our fis project here.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text:
It's a common myth that key to developing large muscles is to lift heavy weights and extend each of your bodybuilding workouts to multiple repetitions. While it's important for you to lift heavy weights to build muscles, it's not of much use to lift smaller weights. The best way to develop muscle mass is by working with heaviest weights that are more comfortable to lift.
The highest level of strain on muscles comes during your last rep of your workout. Some of your muscle fiber actually tear, and may then gradually heal by scarring which makes muscles stronger and bigger. That is the reason top bodybuilders harness each bit of their determination and willpower to continue through to that final rep. Unless it's done, muscle won't be stressed to their breaking point and may not be developed to stimulate new tissue with bodybuilding workouts.
While doing bodybuilding workouts, the best way to derive greatest benefits is following correct form. Working out in improper stance and posture means that exercise leverages vital muscle groups to lift weights. This cheats a single muscle group that's the target for bulking up, as most of the strain is evenly distributed across multiple groups that are sub-optimally exercises. Therefore, developing muscle bulk takes a much longer time.
Another big drawback of a poor form during bodybuilding workouts is risk of injury to back muscles. Most of the bodybuilding workouts need you to keep back straight and knees slightly bent while standing with feet apart. Lifting weights with bent back places extremes train on delicate back muscles leading to injuries.
Sometimes it is good to also take a supplement to help you with your workout. Read the crazy bulk reviews as they can assist you with your workout
In between your bodybuilding workouts, it is very important to take few breaks. Without adequate rest, muscle development is slow. Workouts to the point where your muscles become sore and cramped may prove counterproductive. Taking a day off in between your bodybuildng workouts may help muscles heal and grow bigger.
Another important supplement for bodybuilding workouts is to eat diet rich in amino acids and drink lots of protein shakes, because they both are building blocks in developing muscles. Lean meat, egg whites, ground fish and beef are all vital for bodybuilders to include in their diets. Whole grains and wheat, nuts, veggies and fruits are also helpful in building muscle.
The reason whey most of the bodybuilding workouts are more effective in developing muscle bulk fast, while doing cardio exercises and playing sports are not, is because calories you consume are not burned off but are used to build new muscle. Cardio workouts can actually inhibit or delay muscle growth.
No matter how much you know about bodybuilding workouts, there is always more to be learned. Bodybuilders should always strive to seek some support from others who are masters in this field. Thinking you know everything can often lead you down to a wrong path. Despite your experience as a bodybuilder, you need to always look for more information and take advice from competitors and coaches. Information is vital for your success.
You need results that may last, not just temporary results. Being consistent in your bodybuilding workouts may help establish results that will stick with you for years. Continue pursuing health bodybuilding lifestyle will surely give you just that, a super healthy lifestyle. One of the biggest ways to achieve the right physique is by constantly putting in work day in and day out.
Being a bodybuilder is also a great way of making a good living, especially when you enter the worldwide competitions. I even remember one of the top bodybuilders used to use a private jet hire company when travelling to all the bodybuilding competitions which must have cost him a fortune.
You can't develop bulky muscles overnight. It takes patience and sustained effort. Bodybuilding workouts that are specifically designed to stress your muscles to a point they are stimulated to grow will surely play a vital role in bulking up.


text:
Storytown Saturday
Saturday, November 10, 2018
1225 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL, United States 60657
Stage 773 acts to embody the vibrant spirit of Chicago off-loop theater: We celebrate the creative process, supporting the work of actors, directors, writers, composers, and designers. We nurture the artist, offering material, technical, organizational and emotional support. We honor our audience, presenting accessible, affordable and exceptional entertainment.
|Other Info
From superheroes to undersea adventures, princesses to dinosaurs, Storytown takes you on an interactive, fully improvised adventure! We use your suggestions and ideas to create a different story every week. Kids design the setting and help shape the story, and our actors, artists, and musicians bring it to life! When the possibilities are endless, no two stories are ever the same. We'll see you in Storytown!
Storytown is a fully improvised show put on by our "Townies" for you and your family.
Performed every Saturday at 10:30 am – you will be laughing right along with your kids.


text:
Program outline
Teams solve fun and active problem solving challenges and puzzles to "earn" tools and bicycle parts for their team. When teams have enough resources, they begin the challenging task of creating an efficient assembly process to produce a variety of different bicycles in a limited time. Strict quality standards are imposed with formal quality control inspections conducted.
As the final deadline approaches, teams wheel their creations to a "start" line and prepare to present their products and a short commercial to the other teams who represent their customers.
Learning and development outcomes
An extraordinary team event that creates impactful learning and lasting shared memories. Teams learn to move from competing with other teams to collaborating – sharing equipment, tools, best practice, expertise and resources - developing a collective goal of producing the maximum number of bicycles from available resources.
Corporate Social Responsibility ideas
Completed bicycles are donated to a chosen children's home bringing joy to the recipients and satisfaction to the creators.


text:
Chillest Cop You'll Ever Meet: Lets Some Guy Walk Away After Finding Him Chewing Weed In His Mouth!
Dont know any other cops who are this chill
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Biology Department
The Biology Department has made a major commitment to maintain state-of-the-art equipment for molecular and cellular research. In addition to individual laboratory facilities for teaching and research, there are dedicated rooms for instrumentation and cell culture. The main cell culture facility houses two 6-foot and three 4-foot laminar flow hoods along with four CO2 incubators and three inverted phase microscopes. An additional culture room is available for infectious, and biologically hazardous material experiments. The main instrumentation room houses three Hewlett Packard diode array UV/VIS spectrophotometers, two HPLCs (LKB and Hewlett Packard), a Molecular Dynamics scanning laser densitometer, BRL electroporation apparatus, microplate reader, and a thermal cycler for PCR. Two additional Beckman DU UV/VIS spectrophotometers are in an adjacent teaching lab. Other rooms contain: Beckman LS1800 Liquid Scintillation counter, Wallac 1470 gamma counter, and two hybridization ovens for isotope work; two Beckman ultracentrifuges and a Sorval high speed centrifuge; ultracold freezers and cryogenic storage; lyophilization, and gel and sample drying capabilities; electrophoretic gel documentation; and, autoradiographic processing. Agarose, PAGE, transblotting, and sequencing electrophoresis are carried out in the individual undergraduate research laboratories.In addition to the above instrumentation, many of the teaching labs contain Beckman high speed centrifuges, and have various microscopic capabilities (light, video, fluorescent, phase).


text:
Hookahs By Brand
Hookahs By Configuration
Hookahs By Country
Hookahs By Size
Hookahs By Style
Charcoals By Style
Herbal Shisha By Brand
Herbal Shisha By Size
E-Hookahs By Brand
E-Hookahs By Style
Hookah Tobacco By Brand
Hookah Tobacco By Size
ContinentalUnited States Only
Credit Card Billing Addresses Are Request to Verify Cardholder Information For Security Purposes Only.
Order By 3PM EST
and Choose Ground
Expedited Shipping
Learn more about our shipping options and rates
to purchase tobacco products
Don?t worry, be happy.
Make sure the shipping address is complete and accurate to avoid an Address Correction Fee.
Know the rules before returning or exchanging your order.
The spectacular Onyx Double Hose Hookah is part of the exclusive SouthSmoke.com Exotic collection. The solid metal stem is expertly crafted with intricate detail and polished to perfection. The large bell vase of this superb hookah is handpainted to resemble stained glass, combining ruby red, emerald green, and sapphire blue layers and elaborately decorated with traditional designs in gold. Sculpted with extra-wide tubing for a truly fulfilling smoking experience, this hookah is one of the the most exceptionally crafted and beautiful hookahs available. Please note that even through a wind cover is pictured, this item is not included with The Onyx.
The Onyx Hookah comes with the following accessories:
You must be at least 18 years of age in order to purchase this Hookah.
Hookahs at SouthSmoke.com
SouthSmoke.com is the premier resource for avid Hookah smokers worldwide. Not only does SouthSmoke.com offer the widest selection of Hookah Pipes, Flavored Shisha, and Accessories available, we have consistently exceeded our customers' expectations by providing the Best Selection of Products and Services, Customer Support, and On-Time Delivery commitments available in the industry.


text:
I'm selling a lightly used Inon S2000. I've used it maybe two to three times. Works perfect and looks flawless. Never flooded, super clean.
Includes box, manual and remote adapter (not sure what its called but it's a tiny mirror adapter that allows off camera lighting).
$450 including shipping within the US. Int'l buyers responsible for shipping and any import duties.
Click through for photos.,


text:
The palace of the white skunks
Viking, 1990 - Fiction - 356 pages
In the wake of Castro's uprising, Fortunato leaves his ruined village in search of a better life only to become caught up in the bitter fires of revolution
From inside the book
62 pages matching door in this book
Where's the rest of this book?
Results 1-3 of 62
What people are saying - Write a review
The palace of the white skunksUser Review - Not Available - Book Verdict
This semi-autobiographical tale by an author expelled from Cuba a decade ago takes up where Singing in the Well ( LJ 7/87) left off. Fortunato, now an adolescent living in a household of loud and ... Read full review
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Adolfina anymore backyard bathroom bicycle bicycle wheel bottles Calixto Garcia cashbox Celia centavos cockroaches comes crazy crying custard-apple damned dance daughter dead Dear Death demons Digna door espadrilles Esther Eufrasia's everything eyes face factory feel Fortunato ga-ga-boom Gibara goddamned grandmother guavas hands hanging head hear heard hell Holguin inside Jacinta jump keep kids kill knew knock leave listen look lord Mama Moises moon mortar and pestle mosquito mother mouth never night old woman Onerica organ music pesos pick piece plantains Polo poor rain gutters rebels roof rotten Rowf screaming shrieking singing sitting slapping smash smithereens soursops started stop street sugarcane talk tell terrible there's thing throw Tico and Anisia Tomasico town tree turn vegetable stand wait walking watch what's wheel whore wild beasts young


text:
Frances Newton, financial forecaster and founder of Frances Insights, is scheduled to be on Exposing Faux Capitalism with Jason Erb on December 30, 2012.
Frances was a weekly guest on George Whitehurst-Berry's Crash! Are You Ready? program and has appeared on several TV programs, including Lou Dobbs and Fox Business News, and I am pleased to have her on my show to get her latest insights into the financial markets.


text:
We've previously seen retailers and carrier stores get things wrong. Whether it be labelling Windows Phones as Android handsets, or by listing incorrect specifications - mistakes can happen. But what about publishing incorrect pricing for the latest Nokia flagship? Australian retailer Harvey Norman made that very mistake when revealing the price for the Lumia 920.
According to a report over at WPDownUnder, Harvey Norman had the Lumia 920 listed as AUD $699, while the Lumia 820 - the less advanced sibling - was $799, a whopping $100 more expensive than the flagship Windows Phone. Obviously this was a mistake and the listing was quickly reverted. But the damage had already been done as this was a pre-order listing.
The usual call for action would be for the retailer to fire out an email stating they got the pricing wrong and they were sorry, possibly bundling a free accessory in the deal or something similar. But this was not the case with Harvey Normam. With an estimated release date of mid-Movember, the retailer has chosen to honour all pre-orders that have been placed by customers. You read correctly. They're allowing those affected by the error to go through and purchase a new Lumia 920 for just $699.
So not only did consumers get hit by the surprise of the Lumia 920, the Windows Phone with Nokia's PureView, PureMotion+ HD and other technology, being priced less than the Lumia 820, but they then had to recover from acknowledging the retailer would indeed be shipping orders using the price that was provided to customers on checkout.
Paul Bernhardt, National BM of Technology & Entertainment at Harvey Norman, confirmed to WPDownUnder that the retailer would indeed be honouring the price provided to consumers, should the customer choose to continue with the pre-order. But who wouldn't want to take advantage of this offer?
So whoever managed to dive right in and slap down an order when the mysterious pricing was revealed, congratulations. You'll be able to enjoy the top-tier Windows Phone experience on a Lumia 920 that was priced cheaper than the Lumia 820.
Source: WPDownUnder


text:
Open thread for tonight's show in which we talked about Hamid's misunderstanding of the burden of proof, evolution, arguments from ignorance, and more.
I have a house full of sick cats to take care of, so you guys have fun.
Open thread for tonight's show in which we talked about Hamid's misunderstanding of the burden of proof, evolution, arguments from ignorance, and more.
I have a house full of sick cats to take care of, so you guys have fun.
Reposted from my Facebook notes, by request:
"What proof and evidence can you provide that atheism is accurate and correct?"
Atheism is not a world view or a philosophy, it does not assert claims that could be viewed as accurate and correct – it is the rejection of theistic claims. It is disbelief of the claim "some god exists" – there is no requirement that one believe that no gods exist in order to be an atheist.
The question, as phrased, represents a misunderstanding of both atheism and the burden of proof. It's an attempt to frame atheism as if it is asserting that no gods exist and it does so in order to shift the burden of proof. It's not only hand waving…there's a big, rotten, fallacy-ridden, red herring in that hand. Why phrase the question that way? Because, to those who don't understand the burden of proof or the subjects at hand, it sounds so much more clever than "can you prove that there are no gods?"
In my case, I reject theistic claims because they have not met their burden of proof. That's it. I'm an atheist because no one has been able to provide sufficient evidence to support their theistic claims. They've failed to answer a question similar to the one they aim at me…and after being called on that failure they're desperately trying to point the finger in any direction except where it belongs.
If you believe you can read minds, why would you ask a non-believer if they can provide proof and evidence that you can't instead of simply demonstrating the truth of your claims? The simple answer is that you can't, and you know you can't.
Consider the following:
I get e-mails from Christians on a regular basis. Many of them are convinced that the Holy Spirit has instructed them to contact me and give me valuable evidence that will change my mind. These people believe that their god is real, that he wants me to know that he's real and that he's charged them with providing me with the evidence.
We can, via reductio ad absurdum, demonstrate that these people are simply wrong:
If their god exists, then it knows precisely what information they'll need to convey to convince me and it would communicate this information to a person who is capable of accurately presenting it in a way that achieves the stated goal. (I'm not going to draw out a syllogism for this…it's all from the definition of the god that they believe is real.)
Why then do these people consistently present the most obviously flawed arguments and absurd anecdotal evidence? Why then do these people often say the very thing that confirms that they have no clue what they're talking about?
Are they just inept at communicating the needed information? Then their god has made a terribly stupid mistake, inconsistent with the character of the god they believe in.
Is their god incapable of accurate communication? Not according to their beliefs. Their god is perfectly (or nearly) wise, intelligent, capable, powerful, etc…and clearly directed them to present the information.
No matter how you break this down, the god they believe in simply doesn't exist. There may be a god, and it might even be the one that they're trying to represent, but they're clearly wrong about its desire and ability to demonstrate its existence. At best we're left with something that is, to a third party, indistinguishable from delusion.
Is there something that you're really good at or knowledgeable about? Perhaps you're a bit of an expert at a game, or at repairing cars, or you're a trivia wiz about a certain show. Perhaps you're highly educated in a particular scientific discipline or you've been doing a particular job for many years.
If so, then you'll have some idea of how easy it is, in many cases, to determine (roughly) how skilled someone else is in that same area. You probably also have some sense of the extreme frustration you feel when someone who clearly has no clue what they're talking about is trying to "educate" someone else. It's almost as frustrating as when they're trying to "educate" you. You can spot the bullshit from a mile away and it's almost physically painful to watch someone get away with poisoning another mind with nonsense.
That's what I feel like when I read many of these e-mails. That's what I feel like when I see apologists videos or blogs.
I'll continue to take on all callers, including (especially?) the overly-glib bullshit artists who willingly lie to promote their beliefs…because it's something that I find important and something that I'm pretty good at.
The phone lines are open.


text:
Eight Annual
Southern Tennessee Power Classic Half Marathon
5K Fun Run/Walk
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Winchester, TN
Downtown Square
1 South Jefferson Street
USATF Certified Half Marathon Course
This peaceful, remote valley in the region of southern Tennessee, known as the Cumberland Plateau, plans to host the eight annual Southern Tennessee Marathon & Half Marathon, set for the early fall season of 2017. The course runs through the historic city of Winchester, the birthplace of both legendary entertainer Dinah Shore and longtime University of Tennessee football coach Philip Fulmer. Nestled in the valley of the Elk River, near the Tims Ford Lake and Dam, and about a 20-minute drive from the nationally-renowned campus of the University of the South, Winchester offers a course filled with rolling hills along scenic country roads, through the nearby town of Decherd and across a bridge that takes runners over one of the easternmost fingers of the Tims Ford Lake. Experience true southern charm during the event as local volunteers and race enthusiasts line the streets to cheer you on!
Check out our Facebook Page


text:
Last weekend, as you know from my and Timperial's 52 Weeks articles on Hair of the Dog's new taproom and Cascade's Barrel Room, we journeyed to Portland. 1 woman, 2 men and a whole lot of beer stops. Now, we have all made the 2.5 hour drive on several occasions and every time we go, we make it a point to stop at places we have yet to try (at least one of the three of us, anyway). This weekend, we spent approximately 8 hours mapping the city for amazing beer and cool venues. We were successful.
We arrive at 11:30AM and decide to grab something quick, but delicious to eat before consuming gallons of high ABV beers. Portland has this awesome food stand lot (SE Hawthorne Blvd and SE 12th Ave) which will fulfill almost any craving with a Mexican taco truck, a Creperie, a potato/french fry stand and a Southern food vendor. The highlight was a $6.00 crepe with chevre cheese, lemon curd and fresh black berries. This fruit filled, slightly sour and sweet lunch was the perfect opener for the Cascade Barrel Room.
Stop #1:
Cascade Barrel Room
Now, I won't go into too much detail. Interested? Then read Timperial's review. All I can add is this is a must stop not only for sour beer fans, but for those beer drinkers who appreciate innovation and variety. Cascade offers up mainly sours consisting of fruit infused sours, barrel aged sours, blended sours and sour stouts. The House of Sour, as locals call it, also has a Dry Hopped Porter, Summer, Winter and Autumn Goses and an amazing Rye IPA and even more. Even on a gloomy day, the sun seemed to shine through the large windows. If you live close, I suggest coming here often, to try all of the beers, of course.
Stop #2:
Green Dragon
Here you will find an extensive tap list, home brewing, a knowledgeable bar staff and a versatile space. Beers on draft range from local favorites such as Lucky Lab, Cascade (they even had a beer that Cascade didn't currently have on tap) and their own home brew line. The Oregon Brew Crew has been brewing at the Green Dragon on a one barrel Nano-Brewing system for the last year and a half and have been consistently putting out a new great beer every week. Some of the beers created include: Alpha Dragon IPA, Chocolate Reign Stout, Golden Dragon Ale and most recently, the 5-Point Exploding Palate Technique. I wasn't going to say it, but this is Rouge owned. With one Rouge beer on tap, this large brewery makes it a point to keep the integrity of the venues and breweries it buys and promote craft brewing!
Stop #3:
Hair of the Dog Tap Room
Again, we already sang our praises of this place. Did you see that amazing picture of the taster glasses? Epic! Check out the article here. This is a place I could hang out all day at due to the amazing beers on draft, the killer, vintage bottle list and the overall edgy yet welcoming feel that Alan Sprints new taproom/bar exudes. So, drop what your doing and spend a productive afternoon with Fred, Adam, Greg, Ruth and other HOTD brews.
Stop #4:
Upright Brewing Co.
Located about 2 miles away from Hair of the Dog, this tiny brewery has caught our attention. Back in January we stopped in for a release party in their modest space in the basement of a shared commercial building. The space, upon entering has the brewery to the right and their tasting room to the left. Today we each got a beer (a farmhouse, a fresh hop which is their farmhouse beer with nugget hops and the SEVEN saison), sat at a tree trunk table top and listened to a duet play folky blues. A great vibe with great beer. Don't over look this place.
Stop #5:
New Old Lompoc
Our favorite New Old Lompoc location, SideBar was closed today (Sunday) so we stopped by their original brewery. A great outdoor area and an Irish pub motif, this place houses the equipment that started it all. 1 C-note and 2 Centennial IPAs were ordered. Unlike the SideBar which offers up exotic barrel aged beers, at this location, you will generally only find their regular rotated beers. One of the employees was nice enough to give us a tour of the brewery which is small, but well oiled and efficient. New Old Lompoc is a staple in the Portland craft beer scene, therefore, visit one of their spots!
Stop #6:
Lucky Labrador Brewing Co.
Like New Old Lompoc, Lucky Lab has a local brand you can't ignore and several locations to enjoy their beer. We have visited two of the four locations and from what we see, we like. The two spaces are gigantic warehouses, open spaces with large, family style picnic tables eluding to the community essence that is the Portland beer scene. Two beers are ordered, their Porter and the Super Dog, a single IPA. Both are very credible and go down easy. Lucky Lab is a great place to get a sampler tray of beers and a snack (or a pizza if your starved).
Stop #7:
Deshutes Brewing Co.
Even on a Sunday, all of Portland flocks to this restaurant/brewery. Maybe its their award winning beers or their extensive, delicious menu options. Either way, no matter how many times we visit Portland, we always end up here. This time, we had a goal in mind. First, we had heard Black Butte XXII was on tap. It had kicked the day before, damn. However, we were able to indulge in the Mirror Pond Fresh Hop and had a growler filled to bring back North. Yes, you will wait 20 -30 minutes to get a table here and yes, it doesn't give you that hole in the wall, charming "mom and pop" feel that I love about microbreweries BUT Deshutes does deliver high quality food and of course beers, every damn time.
There are still so many more places you can visit in Portland. But on this day, with all three Beer Blotter writers on the road to find beer, we chose these places, not randomly but for specific reasons. If you have a favorite spot in Portland, leave a comment- let the world know!
Filed under: Portland, US, The Grog Spot Tagged: Beervana, Cascade Brewing Company, deschutes, Green Dragon, Hair of the Dog, Lucky Labrador Brewing Co., New Old Lompoc, Oregon Brew Crew, Portland, Rouge, Upright Brewing Co


text:
I'm in love with this team and this city.
As a UK citizen that has visited Seattle twice I didn't think it was possible but this is like the girl you just can't stop thinking about. My first love is Tottenham and I never thought I would find anything that would rival that love but I have now. My life and mood is affected by our Seahawks. I love every little bit of this team and I want to move to the city now. Considering doing my masters degree at the University of Washington just for the year with Seattle and the Seahawks.


text:
"Magic mushrooms could one day be prescribed for depression," The Independent has reported.
The newspaper said the approach is based on potentially using its chemical properties to trigger positive memories during psychotherapy.
A number of newspapers have reported similar news, which is based on research led by the former government drugs adviser Professor David Nutt. For example, the Daily Mirror reported that the use of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is being considered as part of therapy for depression.
These claims are based on a pair of research studies, one published today and another to be published in the near future. The study published today looked at brain activity in 30 people using a special type of MRI scan to help establish how psilocybin causes sensations such as hallucinations. The research compared the brain's workings when given psilocybin and a placebo. It found that the psychoactive compound decreased activity in various brain areas and that greater decreases were linked to more intense experiences.
Crucially, this exploratory study was not a clinical trial or an examination of the effect psilocybin has on people with depression. Therefore, it is not possible to say from this research whether psilocybin could have benefits for people with depression. Also, importantly, the possible harms of using this drug, either in the short or long term have not been studied here.
Where did the story come from?
The study was carried out by researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Bristol. It was funded by a range of research and policy foundations: The Beckley Foundation, The Neuropsychoanalysis Foundation, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, and The Heffter Foundation.
The study was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The headlines featured in The Daily Telegraph and The Independent suggested that magic mushrooms are being considered as a treatment for depression. The study itself looked at how the brain was affected by a hallucinogenic chemical in the mushrooms, rather than using them in a medicinal manner.
As this study did not look at whether psilocybin had any beneficial effects for depression, it will take further study to see whether it does have any beneficial effect and if it is safe.
It has been reported that a related trial looking at the psychological impact of psilocybin is to be published in the near future, although Behind the Headlines cannot verify the nature of this research and its findings until the research paper is available.
Metro had correctly reported the current research's finding that psilocybin reduces blood flow. However, its headline suggesting the drug 'narrows the mind' is misleading and confusing.
What kind of research was this?
This brain imaging study used a special type of MRI scan called functional MRI (fMRI) that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow. Researchers used this to look at how a psychedelic chemical found in magic mushrooms affected the brain activity of 30 healthy volunteers who did not have depression.
The researchers said that although the hallucinogenic chemical has been reported to cause 'profound existential experiences' that can leave a long-lasting impression, little is known about how psilocybin actually affects the brain.
The volunteers in this study had experienced hallucinogens before and did not have depression. Therefore, it is not possible to say whether these people would have exactly the same experience as people who had current or past depression, or people who had never experienced the sensation of hallucinating. This was not a clinical trial and did not look at the effects of the drug on depression.
What did the research involve?
The study recruited five women and 10 men who had previously used a hallucinogenic drug and had no history of any psychiatric disorder, substance dependence or cardiovascular disease. The volunteers had an average age of 34 years.
The volunteers first had a normal MRI scan taken to look at the structure of their brain. They then had functional MRI scans to look at blood flow within their brains while they received an infusion of either a placebo, in the first scan, or psilocybin in the second scan. These infusions were administered six minutes after the scan began, and took 60 seconds to be delivered. The functional scans took 18 minutes and during this time the volunteers were asked to relax and stare at a cross.
Before the infusion, five minutes after, and 12 minutes after, the volunteers were asked to rate their feelings from 0-10, where a score of 10 represented 'extremely intense effects'. After each scan the volunteers were asked to rate how much they experienced 19 different aspects of hallucination. These subjective effects included, for example, seeing geometric patterns, feeling that their sense of time was altered, and feeling unusual body sensations.
The researchers looked at the pattern of blood flow (a marker of brain activity) before and after the infusions.
The researchers additionally performed functional brain scans on a further 15 volunteers, using a slightly different type of functional MRI scan that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood going to and from the brain as a measure of brain activity.
What were the basic results?
The researchers found that the volunteers' subjective experiences started towards the beginning of the infusion period and peaked after four minutes.
The researchers found that psilocybin caused a decrease in blood flow in several areas of the brain compared to placebo. They also found that there were decreases in flow to around 16 brain areas in the cortex (the outer brain structures) and three subcortical (the inner brain structures) brain areas.
The researchers plotted the decrease in blood flow against how intense the volunteers said their experience was. They found the greater the decreases in blood flow, the more intense the subjective effects. They found similar changes in activity when using the second type of functional brain scan, but additionally found decreases in activity in some areas of the brain involved in vision.
The researchers say that there may be other ways the drug could have affected the blood-brain signal on the functional scans, such as by changing how the volunteers were breathing. To test this the researchers asked the volunteers to hold their breath. They found the same differences persisted between the psilocybin scan and the placebo scan, suggesting that this was not the case.
How did the researchers interpret the results?
The researchers say psilocybin decreased brain blood flow and oxygen levels in a manner that correlated with its subjective effects. They highlight two key brain areas that showed the decreased activity pattern: the middle prefrontal cortex and the back of the cingulate cortex. These areas are thought to play a role in decision making, social behaviour and processing emotions and memories. The researchers say that greater activity has been found to occur within the middle prefrontal cortices of people with depression, and that this activity can be reduced by treatment for depression.
The authors propose that decreased activity of key brain areas with psilocybin may permit an 'unconstrained style of cognition'.
This experimental study took functional MRI scans of 30 volunteers and looked at the differences in brain activity when they received the hallucinogenic magic mushroom extract psilocybin and when they received a placebo.
They found that brain blood flow was reduced in various brain areas and that the greater the decrease in blood flow, the greater the intensity of the subjective experience of the volunteer when they received the hallucinogen.
Although one of the brain areas that showed decreased blood flow also tends to show higher than normal activity in the brains of people with depression, this study did not directly look at the effect or possibility of using psilocybin in people with depression. Furthermore, this study recruited people who had taken hallucinogens before, so the results do not reflect the population as a whole.
As this was not a clinical trial it is not possible to say from this study whether psilocybin, in combination with psychotherapy or not, would have any beneficial effect for people with depression. Also, importantly, the possible harms of using this drug, either in the short or long term, have not been studied here.
- Carhart-Harrisa RL, Erritzoea D, Williams T et al. Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin. PNAS, Published online before print January 23 2012
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment
Please remember that the submission of any material is governed by our Terms and Conditions and by submitting material you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions. Links may be included in your comments but HTML is not permitted.


text:
How to Use
the Readings
Inquiry Question
Reading 1: Abraham Lincoln in Indiana
In the fall of 1816, Thomas and Nancy Lincoln packed their belongings and their two children, Sarah, 9, and Abraham, 7, and left their Kentucky home bound for the new frontier of southern Indiana. Arriving at his 160-acre claim near the Little Pigeon Creek in December, Thomas quickly set about building a cabin for his family and carving a new life out of the largely unsettled wilderness. In time, he cleared the fields, improved the cabin and outbuildings, and utilized his carpentry skills to establish himself within the community.
In much of the work his young and capable son assisted. As he grew older, Abraham increased his skill with the plow and, especially, the axe. In fact, in later life he described how he "…was almost constantly handling that most useful instrument…" to combat the "…trees and bogs and grubs…" of the "unbroken wilderness" that was Indiana in the early 19th century. (1)
The demands of life on the frontier left little time for young Abraham to attend school. As he later recalled in a short account of his life, his education was acquired "by littles" and the total "…did not amount to one year." (2) But despite the limitations he faced, his parents encouraged him to learn. Soon, his eyes were opened to the joy of books and the wonders of reading and he became an eager reader. At the age of 11 he read Parson Weems' Life of Washington. He followed it with Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography, Robinson Crusoe, and The Arabian Nights. He could often be seen carrying a book, as well as his axe. For Abraham Lincoln, to get books and read them was "the main thing."
Life was generally good for the Lincoln's during their first couple of years in Indiana, but like many pioneer families they did not escape their share of tragedy. In October 1818, when Abraham was nine years old, his mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, died of the milk sickness at the age of 35. The curse of the frontier, milk sickness resulted when a person drank the contaminated milk of a cow infected with the poison from the white snakeroot plant. Nancy had gone to nurse and comfort her ill neighbors and became herself a victim of the dreaded disease by unknowingly drinking some of the contaminated milk. For young Abraham it was a tragic blow. His mother had been a guiding force in his life, encouraging him to read and explore the world through books. His feelings for her were still strong many years later.
Sadly, Thomas and Abraham sawed logs into planks, and with wooden pegs, they fastened the boards together into a coffin for the beloved wife and mother. She was buried on a wooded hill south of the cabin.
The family keenly felt Nancy's absence as young Sarah and Abraham were now without a mother and Thomas without a wife. This loneliness led Thomas in 1819 to return to Kentucky in search of a new wife. He found her in Sarah Bush Johnston, a widow with three children. Thomas chose well for the cheerful and orderly Sarah proved to be a kind stepmother who reared Abraham and Sarah as her own. Under her guidance, the two families became one.
The remainder of his years in Indiana were adventurous ones for Abraham Lincoln. He continued to grow and by the time he was 19, he stood six foot four. He could wrestle with the best and local people remembered that he could lift more weight and drive an axe deeper than any man around.
In 1828, he was hired by James Gentry, the richest man in the community, to accompany his son Allen to New Orleans in a flatboat loaded with produce. While there, Lincoln witnessed a slave auction on the docks. It was a sight that greatly disturbed him and the impression it made was a strong and lasting one. He later commented, "If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I can not remember when I did not so think, and feel." (3)
Abraham continued to work occasionally for Gentry at his store. He also began to take an interest in politics. The Gentry store was often a gathering place for local residents and there Abraham listened as a number of political views were aired about such topics as internal improvements, tariffs, and presidential candidates. At a young age, he began to form his own opinions and make contributions to the lively discussions, though he was influenced by his father's support of Henry Clay and the Whig political party. The Whig party, which operated in the U.S. from 1832 to 1856, supported the supremacy of Congress over the Executive Branch. The party was ultimately destroyed by the question of whether to allow the expansion of slavery to the territories. Lincoln became a great admirer of Clay and modeled his emerging political beliefs after those of the Kentucky politician. Although they were not to meet for many years, Clay had a profound impact on Lincoln's political development. Many of his positions on issues such as his opposition to slavery and his support of gradually freeing the slaves were adopted and expanded upon by the young politician. In later years, Lincoln referred to Clay as one "whom, during my whole political life, I have loved and revered as a teacher and leader." (4)
Another job that Abraham had during his teenage years was operating a ferry service across the mouth of the Anderson River. In his spare time he built a boat to take passengers out to the steamers on the Ohio. One day he rowed out two men and placed them aboard with their trunks. To his surprise each threw him a silver half-dollar. "I could scarcely credit," he said, "that I, a poor boy, had earned a dollar in less than a day." (5) But he did not get to keep the money since the law stipulated that until he was 21, any money he made belonged to his father.
Although profitable, his business venture also led to one of his first encounters with the legal system. Two brothers, who held the ferry rights across the Ohio between Kentucky and Indiana, charged Lincoln with interfering with their business. Kentucky law, in such cases, provided for the violator to be fined. But, because he did not carry his passengers all the way across the river but only to the steamboats, the judge ruled that Lincoln had not violated the law and dismissed the charge.
By all accounts the Lincolns prospered in Indiana, but in 1830 Thomas decided to move to Illinois. Relatives there had described the soil as rich and productive and that milk sickness, which threatened to break out again in the Little Pigeon community, did not exist. With that news, Thomas sold his property and left the state. He eventually settled in Coles County, Illinois, while Abraham struck out on his own and ended up in New Salem.
Abraham Lincoln lived in Indiana for 14 years, from the age of 7 to the age of 21. During that time he grew physically and mentally. With his hands and his back, he helped carve a farm and home out of the wilderness. With his mind, he began to explore the world of books and knowledge. He experienced adventure and he knew deep personal loss. The death of his mother in 1818 and the death of his beloved sister, Sarah in 1828, left deep emotional scars. But all those experiences made him into the man that he became.
Questions for Reading 1
1. When did the Lincolns move to Indiana? Where did they move from? How many members of the family were there?
2. What caused the death of Nancy Hanks Lincoln? How did her death affect the life of Abraham Lincoln?
3. How do you think Henry Clay influenced Lincoln's presidency? Who were some of the other people that strongly influenced his life?
4. Can you think of someone who has greatly influenced your life? How did that person influence who you are today?
5. How did young Abraham earn money? Did he get to keep the money he earned? How does the amount he made compare with what you might earn today?
6. What impact do you think Abraham's experience with the legal system might have had on his later life?
7. What other experiences do you think influenced him? Can you think of any personality traits or characteristics that Abraham began to develop during his childhood?
Reading 1 was adapted from The Lincoln Notebook, prepared by the staff of Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial.
(1) Autobiography written for John Scripps, June 1860, in Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. IV. You can visit the entire collection online via the Humanities Text Initiative on the University of Michigan's Digital Library Production Service website at http://www.hti.umich.edu/l/lincoln/.


text:
Also a reminder that the French Grainsack pillow giveaway is still going on. Click here to enter.
Now, I can't wait to see what you guys have been up to. With Halloween over, I am sure you have all been super busy changing all of your vignettes. Can't wait to see!!!!


text: Gated-Pipe Irrigation Wanes in Nebraska March 14, 2013 12:00 AM Tweet TAGS: Marketing, Overseas December 18, 2014 By Nate Birt Top Producer Managing Editor Email It's not hard to see why gated pipes are getting the pink slip. As farm incomes grow and drought conditions persist, producers increasingly have the capital necessary to install more efficient irrigation equipment in the form of center pivots. Doing so can improve planting practices, conserve water and reduce in-field labor from as many as 12 days to as few as two. "When they can see a return, they're willing to make the investment," says David Ford, irrigation division manager with Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District. The district represents the largest surface-water irrigation project in the state, delivering water to 110,000 acres in south-central Nebraska. The district manages just under 1,200 accounts, with each account averaging 91 acres. More than two-thirds of its growers produce corn, and other local crops include soybeans, alfalfa and wheat. Nebraska farmer Phil High and his family grow soybeans on roughly 4,500 acres, 90% of which are irrigated. The farm has been aggressive at transitioning from gated pipe to pivots since 1980, and that activity has continued to the present thanks to growing incomes, water savings and evened-out yields. Today, roughly 75% of High's land is irrigated with pivots and only 25% is irrigated with gated pipe. "It gives you the ability to chemigate or fertigate, which we do both of," High says. "That's not a choice in gravity. And it just comes down to labor savings also. We've actually got less people farming more just because center pivot replaces a lot of that labor that we do with gated pipe." This year, Ford anticipates further adoption of center-pivot systems in his district. The move away from gated pipes began in the 1970s but has increased rapidly over the last decade thanks to growth in farm incomes and incentive programs at the local and federal levels. "As we go into 2013, probably just over half of our acres will be served with center pivot," Ford says. Ten years ago, the district managed 200 center-pivot accounts. Now, it handles more than 400. Roughly 130 of those were added in the last four years, and 43 center pivots alone came online in 2012, representing 10% of the total pivots in operation. Money isn't the only factor for farmers. Technological advances have made pivots a rational alternative to pipes. Consider the changes that have happened in the district's 70-plus years of operation. In the beginning, farmers dug a ditch along the end of a canal connecting to the river. They nailed together 4 pieces of lath to place in a secondary ditch to control the water going down the furrow. "It was a huge job to irrigate a field with that kind of thing," Ford says. Farmers then converted their irrigation to siphon tubes, which eliminated the need of the secondary ditch. Dams made of canvas or plastic were used to regulate the water level in their farm lateral that allowed the siphons tubes to work properly. But for all of that forward progress, gated-pipe systems aren't perfect. For one thing, they require land that slopes. Water is pumped to the surface at the upper end of a field. It travels through pipes that are between 8" and 10" in diameter. Inside the pipe is a plastic gate with rubber seals placed at 20" increments. Selected gates are then opened, releasing water downhill between crop rows. That results in ineffiency, Ford says. In general, about 50% of the water used in a gated-pipe system gets used by crops. Remaining water is lost through runoff, evaporation and leeching beneath the root zone. After eight to 12 hours, the farmer returns, verifies that the crops have been sufficiently watered, and walks uphill to shut off that gate and open the gate for the next group of rows. A farmer with about 130 acres of land might spend 10 to 12 days irrigating a single field. "He's spending a lot of his day just irrigating," Ford says. "With center pivots, as long as they're running, you can drive by and see that they're running." By contrast, crops irrigated with a center-pivot system generally use about 85% of the water being distributed. Pivot irrigation also allows farmers to activate herbicides with greater precision and to delay water flow to complement rain events. The biggest hurdle to pivot conversion is the cost of implementing a system. But growing incomes coupled with a tendency to investment in their business means farmers are more likely than ever to upgrade their irrigation technology. Ford's irrigation district is based in Holrege, Neb., and that city is no exception: The city of 5,400 people has four center-pivot dealers, all of whom have stayed busy for the past several years. While it costs roughly $250 to $300 per acre to install a new center pivot, High says, the irrigation towers don't lose value over time. Instead, they become fixed assets. In addition to his ongoing pivot conversions, High plans to install underground drip tape this year in some of his smaller fields to further conserve water. "We have got to be good stewards of the land and the resources, and using less is hopefully saving for the future," he says. Back to news


text:
A new book is now available from Stéphane Meunier, long-time Bujinkan practitioner and head instructor of Budo Montreal, in Montreal, QC, Canada. 3 years in the making, with over 230 pages and 170 photos directly from the private collection of Soke Hatsumi, this is a fantastic addition to any ninpo library. Copies can be purchased at: http://www.budomontreal.com
Archive for Doctor
New Book by Stephane MeunierPosted in Books with tags Advanced, Adventure, Aikido, Beginner, Blunt, Book, budo, Bujinkan, Canada, Dakentaijutsu, Doctor, Dr., Fudo, Genbukan, Hatsumi, Hiden, Iaido, Ishizuka Tetsuji, Japan, Japanese Research, Jinenkan, Jiu-Jitsu, Jujitsu, Jujutsu, Jutaijutsu, Kacem, Kacem Zoughari, Kaizen, Karate, Kenjutsu, Kiso, Kiso no Kaizen, Martial Arts, Masaaki, Masaaki Hatsumi, Montreal, Ninja, Ninjutsu, Ninpo, Point of View, Publications, Quest Center, Ryu, Samurai, Sensei, Shidoshi, Shinkage, Shoden, Soke, Stephane Meunier, Taijutsu, Tengu, Truth, Unpopular, Yagyu Nobuharu, Zoughari on May 13, 2009 by tengutv
Dr. Kacem Zoughari Seminar in Central New York-May 9th & 10th, 2009Posted in Seminars with tags 10, 9, A Arte do Ninja, Aikido, Book, budo, Bujinkan, Casino, Central, Dakentaijutsu, Doctor, Dr., France, Fudo, Genbukan, Hiden, Hirakami Nobuyuki, Iaido, INALCO, Instinct, Ishizuka Tetsuji, Japan, Japanese Research, Jinenkan, Jiu-Jitsu, Jujitsu, Jujutsu, Jutaijutsu, Kacem, Kacem Zoughari, Karate, Kenjutsu, Kono Yoshinori, Kuroda Tetsuzan, Lavoisier, Magazine, Martial Arts, Masaaki Hatsumi, May, Men's Health, New York, Nihon Budo Gakkai, Ninja, Ninjutsu, Ninpo, NY, Paris, Publications, Quest Center, Ryu, Sakai Eiji, Samurai, Seminar, Sensei, Shidoshi, Shinden, Shinden Fudo Ryu, Shinkage, Shoden, Soke, Special Forces, Taijutsu, Tantojutsu, Tengu, Turning Stone, Turning Stone Casino, Yagyu Nobuharu, Zoughari on February 4, 2009 by tengutv
To use this poster for advertising in your dojo, click on it to enlarge. Then right click your mouse and save it to your computer. It is formatted to 8.5″ X 11″ at 300 dpi.
Dr. Kacem Zoughari is a well known Japanese History and Martial Arts researcher and practitioner. Born in Paris, France he began studying Martial Arts as a teenager and quickly began visiting Japan to further his studies. He has practiced Ninjutsu for well over 20 years and is a personal student of Hatsumi Masaaki Soke and Ishizuka Tetsuji Sensei.
Dr. Zoughari began his training in 1986 in France. In 1989 he made his first trip to Japan where he trained with Ishizuka Sensei. From that point on he began spending a few months of every year living and training in Japan.
Over the ensuing years Kacem became a personal translator for Hatsumi Soke, acted as a translator for the Quest Video Company, and became a member of the Nihon Budo Gakkai (Japanese Martial Arts Research Organization).
Between 2001 and 2003 his role as Lavoisier (researcher) at the French Department of Foreign Affairs allowed him to study full time in Japan and his research brought him into contact with many of the most well known martial artists in Japan including: (click on names for more info)
Kacem Zoughari holds a Ph.D. in Japanese History and Culture from the prestigious INALCO in Paris, France. INALCO is the National Institute of Oriental Language and Civilization. He has received his Masters in Japanese from INALCO where his thesis was titled: Ninjutsu: Its Form, History, and Essence. His principle areas of study include:
- Japanese History
- Martial Arts History
- Ninjutsu History
- Jujutsu, Koryu, & Samurai History
- Weapons and Techniques of The Edo Era Police
- Evolution of Martial Art Form and Movement
Dr. Zoughari has published more than 25 articles on the topics of Japanese history and martial arts. These articles have been published in French, Japanese, Spanish, English, and many other languages. A few of the publications in which these articles have been printed in include:
- Arts Martiaux Traditionnels d`Asie
- Hiden, Budo Bujutsu
- Karate-Bushido
- Kacem featured in June 2008 edition of Men's Health (Romania)
- Kacem featured in June 2008 edition of INSTINCT: Martial Arts & Sports Magazine. (Foreign) Cover / Page 30 / Page 31 / Page 32
In November of 2003 his first book: Ninpo, Ninjutsu: L'Ombre de la lumière was published by Guy Trédaniel in French. It was subsequently translated into Portuguese under the title A Arte do Ninja – Entre Ilusão e Realidade . (click on any of the book titles for more info)
His newest work, re-titled The Ninja (ISBN: 978-0-8048-3927-3), is expected from Tuttle Publishing on December 10th 2009. This book is written in English and promises to be the most thorough review of the history of Ninjutsu ever published outside of Japan. (click title to pre-order)
Dr. Zoughari has given lectures and seminar tours in over 15 countries and is a highly sought after teacher. As well as being an instructor for various police departments and special forces groups around the world, the list of universities and organizations he has spoken at include:
- University of Cambridge
- Georgetown University
- American University
- University of Montreal
- University of Vienna
- University of Wellington
- SFEJ (French Society of Japanese Research)
- Osaka University
- Tsukuba University
- Gaikoku-go University
- Kogô University
- Kodokan Judo Institute
- Nihon Budokan Kyokai
- Nihon Ryukyu Kai
After writing a briliant thesis of more then 1000 pages, which involves complex topics related to Kata and knowledge transmission connected to social and cultural aspects of pre-Edo society in Japan, Kacem continues to train with Hatsumi Soke & Ishizuka Sensei and to travel the world giving lectures and seminars. He is preparing for 7 years in Japan as a university professor and also as a full time member of the Nihon Budo Gakkai. His work will continue researching and preserving the old wisdom of the ancient pre-Edo warrior schools (bujutsu & bugei ryuha). Kacem has put the finishing touches on his new Ninjutsu book and just completed writing a book about Iai (sword drawing methods). He is currently living with his family in Paris, France.
ABOUT THE SEMINAR: Topic – SHINDEN FUDO RYU:
Dakentaijutsu Shoden / Jutaijutsu Shoden / Tanto (knife) / Ken (sword)
EQUIPMENT TO BRING: Bokken Katana (wood long sword), Bokken Kodachi (wood short sword), Wood Tanto (knife). All training gear MUST be carried in a bag or wrapped in a blanket or towel.
DATE: May 9th & 10th, 2009
LOCATION: Turning Stone Casino & Resort / Verona, NY
Saturday, May 9th: 12 noon – 6pm / Event Center, Cypress Room A+B
Sunday, May 10th: 12 noon – 4:30pm / Event Center, Cypress Room A+B
HOTEL: The Inn: $99 per night / The Tower: $149 per night. An additional 8% tax is applied at check-out for all rooms.
* Special rates have been arranged for this seminar. The casino, along with surrounding hotels and motels are charging up to 3X more otherwise. Prices are the same for single or double occupancy.
The Inn is located 1 mile north of the casino, with a free round-trip shuttle bus service running to Turning Stone every 30 minutes. However, they will make special trips for 3 or more people at any given time. The Tower is on the resort premises and offers a few extra amenities.
When booking, make sure to mention you are with the "Bujinkan Seminar". It is advised to book your room as soon as possible. That particular weekend, hotels everywhere are accommodating a flux of guests for the multitude of college and university graduations occurring. We have blocked off a section of rooms for our seminar guests, but unreserved rooms will be released for general sale beginning April 9th, 2009. After that date availability can NOT be guaranteed, but the special pricing is contractually guaranteed. Insist on the seminar rate if anyone gives you a hard time. If there is a problem contact me immediately and I will handle it. My contact info is near the bottom of the page. Trust me, every hotel room in Central New York will be booked solid that weekend. No need to pay for it up front. Just reserve your room and hold it with your credit card. You will not be charged until check-in. You have up until 48 hours prior to check-in to cancel your reservation with no penalty.
PARKING: Lot and Garage parking is free. Valet parking is free for overnight guests. Day guests may use valet parking for $5 per day.
FOOD: There are many places to eat on the casino premises. Prices range from cheap and affordable sandwiches and pizzas to pricey high class restaurants. A list will be provided of suggested eateries at the seminar. Plenty of time will be allotted during breaks. Reservations for dinner at restaurants that particular weekend are encouraged ASAP. Remember, you can always cancel.
ACTIVITIES: There's an array of things to do on your downtime. Check Turning Stone's website for more details. www.turning-stone.com
NOTES: Please wear street clothes to and from the seminar and carry your uniforms and training gear in bags. The casino doesn't want us spooking the other patrons. If you get lost in the casino, feel free to ask any employee or security guard for directions, that's part of their job. It is also advised that you bring a set of "formal clothing" if you plan on eating at fine restaurants or attending any of the clubs and bars that have strict dress codes.
Video taping is strictly prohibited and photographs require prior permission from Kacem.
TRAVEL: Turning Stone Casino & Resort is located directly off NY State Thruway (I-90) Exit 33, in Verona NY. Just a 35 minute drive east of Syracuse, and only 4 hours from New York City, Montreal, Toronto, and Washington DC. Flights from these major cities into Syracuse are only 30-40 minutes. Airport pick-up can be arranged if needed.
SEMINAR FEES: 2 Days: $200 / 1 Day: $120
Pre-Pay Rate: 2 Days: $175 **available now through April 17, 2009
Pre-Pay by sending a check or money order (post marked by April 17th for discounted rate) to the following name and address:
Marc Osmun / 55 Windemere Dr. / Fulton, NY 13069 / USA
On a separate piece of paper or email, please include your name, email, phone, how many days you plan on attending, and which hotel you will be staying at. This will be kept for our reference and in case any necessary last minute information must be communicated.
SPECIAL SESSION: We will have an extra private training session for a few hours with Kacem on Friday, May 8th at 6pm. Fee is $20. This is only available to people who will be attending the weekend's seminar. It will be held at Spectrum Fitness on 554 S. First St., Fulton, NY, 13069.
The seminar is limited to 50 participants and WILL fill up. BOOK SOON!
For more info on Turning Stone Casino & Resort: www.turning-stone.com
FOR ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL: firstname.lastname@example.com
Washington, DC – January 17-18 : Togakure Ryu & Bojutsu
Kiev, Ukraine – January 24-25 : Kihon Shinken Taihenjutsu
Novi Sad, Serbia – Jan 31-Feb 1 : Togakure Ryu/Gyokko Ryu /Hanbo/Sword
Hemel Hempstead, UK – Feb 21-22 : Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu & Sword
Bochum, Germany – Feb 28-Mar 1 : Takagi Yoshin Ryu & Sword
Athens, Greece – Mar 7-8 : Shinken Jutsu/Knife/Sword/Hanbo
Poughkeepsie, NY – Mar 14-15 : Koto Ryu no Heikito Gata / Hanbo & Sword
Barcelona, Spain – Mar 21-22 : Koto Ryu
Los Angeles, CA – Mar 28-29 : Takagi Yoshin Ryu Shoden no Maki Ura Gata & Kukishinden Ryu Happo-Biken
Rotterdam, NL – April 4-5 : TBA
Bucharest, Romania – April 11-12 : Gyokko Ryu Koshi Jutsu & Biken Jutsu
Montreal, QC – April 25-26 : Koto Ryu no Hekito Gata / Hanbo & Sword
Maastricht, NL – May 2-3 : TBA
Syracuse/Verona, NY – May 9-10 : Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu & Jutaijutsu Shoden /Knife/Sword
Vancouver, BC – May 16-17 : Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu Shoden/Kodachi (short sword)
Margate, UK – May 23-24 : Koto Ryu Koppojutsu/Kukishinden Ryu Jojutsu
Toronto, ON – June 13-14 : Takagi Yoshin Ryu Shoden/Bojutsu
Girona, Spain – June 27-28 : Takagi Yoshin Ryu Ura Gata/Kodachi
Poughkeepsie, NY – Sept 26-27 : CANCELLED


text:
All Products
Showing 10–18 of 18 resultsView All
Infrared Thermometer: 50C-700C
Get to know your woodfired oven – now you can instantly and accurately measure temperatures up to 700 degrees!
Compact, safe and easy to use! Just aim and push the button for current surface temperature in less than a second!
Package Dimensions & Weight: (Length 26cm)x(Width 22cm)x (Height 6cm) Weight 600Grms
Natural Bristle Brush – a must for your oven floor!
German made quality Natural Bristle Brush great for lightly dusting your oven floor prior to cooking and safe to use during cooking. Do not use plastic or metal fibre brushes as these can drop fragments onto the oven floor when it is hot!
You can use this pizza cutter to chop slice& dice vegies ,herbs,fruit etc.
35cm long x7cm stainless steel blade can be used to transfer the chopped ingredients to the cooking pan or pot .
PVC Rain Cover for woodfired oven (Copy)
Small, Medium and large heavy duty PVC rain cover to keep you oven dry during wet seasons only $145 plus $12.50 postage
Medium only available through online shop, the small and the large are by special order .
Set of 4 Quality Bamboo Pizza Boards
No plates required. Make life easy by serving, eating and cooking from these fabulous pizza boards. Sourced by Mediterranean Woodfired ovens with our flame logo this quality bamboo board is a must.
A set of 4 sets you up for pizza parties with ease! Roll your dough, place on the board and slide into the oven. Very useful for taking hot skillets from the oven, by pulling the skillet with your poker tool piece onto the board, and then to the table!
Bamboo: Weight 0.66kg Length 44mm Width 29mm Height N/A
Stainless Steel 5 Piece Set
Handcrafted in twisted stainless steel, this 4 piece set will last forever! Poker, Pusher, Peel and Rake for the ultimate cooking experience! Can be displayed on the wall with the matching wall hanger that facilitates the door also!
Rake: for bringing coals to the front if you want to clean the oven floor:
Poker: A must for placement of the wood and for pushing or pulling hot skillets etc from the oven.
Paddle: For rotation of the pizza dough.
Pusher: Half moon shaped tool to tidy the residue coals to the back of the oven before each light up/cleaning of the oven.
Hand crafted to match the door and the 4 piece hand forged stainless steel tool kit.
Makes an attractive feature which facilitates the door and keeps all in the one spot!
$595.00inc GST
Stainless Steel Oven Door
Hand-crafted with a twisted stainless steel handle for slow roasting and bread making when your oven is almost out! This door has a matching wall hanger, and 4 piece tool set that makes for a great wall feature!
Stainless Steel Oven Door: Weight 1.54kg Length 46mm Width 25mm Height 15mm
$225.00inc GST
Stainless Steel Wall Hanger
Hand crafted to match your 4 piece hand crafted tool set, this hanger makes for a very attractive wall feature. There is the facility to place your matching handcrafted door into the wall hanger for storage!
The New 21inch Ceramic Dual Table Top Pizza Oven
A dual fuel ceramic oven that can be used with either charcoal or hard wood
A portable table top oven to take cooking outdoors to a different level
Main body diameter: 53.3cm | Pizza stone size: 33.8cm | Weight: 27kg


text:
Can't uninstall Saints Row because it can't be shut down?
Do you want to remove Saints Row due to it frequently shows up the annoying error message telling you the program is running?
Have you ever been frustrated that you have deleted Saints Row, but it is still there?
When you are unable to delete Saints Row by manual and you don't know much about Saints Row removal tips, you could learn and follow its uninstall instructions in this article.
How to fully uninstall Saints Row from your PC?
Tips 1: Manually remove Saints Row
Tips 2: Automatically uninstall Saints Row with program removal tool Perfect Uninstaller
Tips 1: How to manually delete Saints Row through Windows Uninstaller?
As a matter of fact, most of computer users would like to get rid of program through the "Uninstall" function of Windows system. However, you might miss some steps so that you are not able to completely delete Saints Row. Here are the removal guides:
You should reboot your PC and press F8 key on your keyboard.
This will open up the Advanced Boot Options screen, in Windows 8 or Win 10, or the Windows Advanced Options Menu in Windows XP. Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight the option labeled Safe Mode with Networking. Once it is highlighted, click on the Enter key on your keyboard.
Click "Start Menu" > Select Control Panel option > "Uninstall a Program" (Programs and Features) > Find Saints Row on the currently installed programs list and its related entries > Click "Uninstall or Change" to delete the application.
How to manually get rid of Saints Row?
Step 1: stop all the related processes in Task Manager
Guide: Open task manager by pressing Alt+Ctrl+Del keys at the same time. Another way is to click on the Start button and choose Run option, then type taskmgr into and press OK.
End all the unwanted processes to save your system resources
Step 2: show hidden files and folders and delete all the following files.
Guide: click the Start button and choose Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, to find Folder Options then double-click on it. In the pop-up dialog box, click the View tab and uncheck Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
Delete all the following files related to Saints Row
C:\Program Files\
Step 3: open Registry Editor to delete all invalid registries entries as below
Guide: open Registry Editor by pressing Window+R keys together.(another way is clicking on the Start button and choosing Run option, then typing into Regedit and pressing Enter. )
Delete all the related registries as below:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\msconfig.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\msmpeng.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\msseces.exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon "Shell" = "%AppData%\.exe"
After you finish steps, you should restart your pc to finish the Saints Row removal processes. If you are not good at handling this method, you could try Tips 2 as following.
Tips 2: How to totally uninstall Saints Row with Perfect Uninstaller step by step?
If you can not follow the removal guides above, it is advised you to get rid of Saints Row with Perfect Uninstaller as following.
2.Close all running processes including programs and browsers in the Task Manager before you run Perfect Uninstaller
3.Find and locate the program on the currently installed programs list
4.Click "Uninstall" button on the right side to remove Saints Row.
Alternately, if the unwanted software is not shown on the programs' list, you could use the powerful utility "Force Uninstall" in Perfect Uninstaller.
Step 1: Run Perfect Uninstaller
Step 2: Click the "Force Uninstall" option on the interface of software uninstall tool
Step 3: Select the scanning program path. That means you should locate and select the folder of unwanted program for scanning. Usually it is stored in C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows 8, Windows 10 and C:\Program Files in Windows XP
Step 4: Select and click the "Saints Row" folder.
Step 5: Click "Next" button to follow the processes.
Step 6: Click "Next" to start scanning the registry files about the unneeded program.
Step 7: It will take some time to finish registry scanning. If you don't want to wait, you could click "Skip" option and cancel the scanning.
Step 8: After the registry scanning is completed, click "Next" button to select all related files.
Step 9: Click "Next" button to delete all related files.
Step 10: Click "Finish" button when it stops scanning files and extensions.
After you finish the onscreen removal steps, Saints Row has been deleted from your PC.
What's more, you could double-check the infection of the program with RegCure Pro to improve your PC performance.
2.Click "Click to Start Scan" button to repair and optimize your computer.
3.RegCure Pro will have a full scan to detect all invalid files which will slow down your PC.
4.Click "Fix All" button on the down-right side to fix all problems and speed up your computer after scanning the invalid leftover system files.
Can't remove Saints Row? There is no problem to handle the Saints Row removal if you carefully and correctly follow the software uninstall tips above.
Note: Manual Saints Row removal is suitable for expert users who have experience of dealing with files and registry removal. Users who are lack of computer techniques are recommended to get rid of Saints Row by using an effective program removal tool.


text:
The Glock — like the AR-15 — has gotten a bad rap. Some people think it's an ugly gun. Now, while I wouldn't stick one in a frame and hang it on the wall, I don't think describing it as ugly is an entirely fair assessment, either. It's not an SKS.
I'm sure someone thought the same thing when they first laid eyes on the Walther PPK — before it became 007's sidekick and worthy to be carried by the world's most famous spy.
The Glock isn't thought of as a show piece. In fact, it has its own maxim: "Show your friends your 1911, but show your enemies your Glock."
But it does possess a certain Eastern European post-industrial charm, the sort of warm and fuzzy feeling you get driving through Chicago in gridlock. It's built like a tank, and looks like one. And works like one, too. The Glock is all business. It's a meat-and-potatoes sort of pistol, owing its ruggedness and reliability to its origin as a military gun. Its ergonomics were, after all, inspired by the Luger. And like the Luger, viewed at the correct angle, the Glock is one of the best-looking handguns in the opinion of many, including me.
But an engraved Glock?
I'll be the first to admit that when the press release rolled in touting a "one-of-a-kind, hand-engraved GLOCK 22," one depicting the "Statue of Liberty," I rolled my eyes at what seemed like a PR stunt. But if it was a stunt, it worked. Because for some reason I clicked on the link. And I'm glad I did.
It took me to a gunbroker.com auction. Apparently the gun belonged to founder Gaston Glock.
The exclusive GLOCK, known within the company as the "GLOCK Statue of Liberty Gun," features an intricate, hand-engraved tribute to the United States and the Statue of Liberty. This theme was selected to recognize GLOCK's 25th Anniversary in the United States, which coincides with the 125th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty."Often times, the misconception is that the limited edition pistols from GLOCK, such as the 'Statue of Liberty Gun' are hidden away in company vaults," stated GLOCK Vice President, Gary Fletcher. "With the company celebrating 25 years in the United States, Mr. Glock wanted to give those who helped the company achieve that milestone of success an opportunity to own this one-of-a-kind piece."
The firearm will be on display at SHOT Show 2012 and I'll try to shoot some more photos (if I can manage to sneak past R. Lee Ermey a.k.a "The Gunny" without getting yelled at). In the meantime, see more photos and follow the auction here.
I have a soft-spot for engraved guns. And so I have to admit: This engraved Glock looks good — so good I'd gladly show my friends. Even if my friend's name happened to be Bond. James Bond.
Recommended Glock Resources:
The Gun Digest Book of the Glock, 2nd Edition
Glock Disassembly & Reassembly DVD
Standard Catalog of Firearms Glock Pricing Download (PDF)
Glock 17/22/31 Brown Leather Cutaway Holster


text:
As you may have noticed from my prior posts.. I am interested in trying to get the Embedded Works Wi-FI/Bluetooth module working with the Zaurus.
In regards to that, does anyone have the interest/time to develop a design for a CF card that would have the proper Molex 54722-0607 mating connector and a SD card slot, heck maybe even add a GPS receiver as well since the part from Embedded Works EW-WMBGMR01 is really small. I actually think that they get it from RoyalDigital, Inc. since I see a made in Taiwan label at EW.
This would be the ultimate expansion card for devices with a CF slot.... If it's doable.
I am not real hardware savvy, but most of the software work to interface with the Marvell chipset is done, and they are working with I think Koen to have the CF portion working. If it could be made mostly compatible with the devices that are being planned to be used in the PP, then the drivers could be reused for the PP when it gets built.
No, I'm not suggesting squeezing the GSM phone on as well, unless you think it could be done :-)
I know that you can combine memory and WI-FI in a CF card since SanDisk did it with their 128M/802.11B card, don't know how they did it, but it showed up as two sub devices when the CF card was plugged in.
Bill Suetholz


text:
Wash. Times misrepresented criticism of Bush judicial nominee
A May 10 Washington Times news article [1] claimed that Democrats have criticized Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen, President Bush's nominee for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, primarily for refusing to grant minors waivers under Texas' parental notification law. The Times dismissed this criticism, claiming that "polls show overwhelming support" for laws requiring minors to notify or obtain permission from a parent before getting an abortion. In fact, such poll data is irrelevant to Democratic criticism of Owen. Democrats claim Owen tried to rewrite the law by imposing obstacles to receiving a waiver that the letter of the law did not require. In one case, then-fellow Texas Supreme Court Justice Alberto R. Gonzales, now Bush's attorney general, wrote a concurring opinion, in support of granting a bypass, in which he described Owen's attempt to rewrite the law as "an unconscionable act of judicial activism."
Texas law [2] requires that minors seeking an abortion notify their parents, except under circumstances when a "preponderance of the evidence" shows that the minor is "mature and sufficiently well informed to make the decision"; "notification would not be in the best interest of the minor"; or "notification may lead to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of the minor." Owen dissented [3] from the court's 2000 ruling on Jane Doe 1(II), 19 S.W.3d 346, in which the court determined that "Jane Doe" had met the legal requirements for a judicial bypass. In his concurring opinion, Gonzales, then Owen's colleague on the Texas Supreme Court, harshly criticized [4] the dissenting opinions for "suggest[ing] that the exceptions to the general rule of notification should be very rare and require a high standard of proof." Gonzales argued that those "are policy decisions for the Legislature."
Gonzales went on to express his own approval of parental notification laws, but noted that, as a judge, it was not in his power to "rewrite" them:
Thus, to construe the Parental Notification Act so narrowly as to eliminate bypasses, or to create hurdles that simply are not to be found in the words of the statute, would be an unconscionable act of judicial activism. As a judge, I hold the rights of parents to protect and guide the education, safety, health, and development of their children as one of the most important rights in our society. But I cannot rewrite the statute to make parental rights absolute, or virtually absolute, particularly when, as here, the Legislature has elected not to do so.
The Times hinted at this criticism by citing a NARAL Pro-Choice America "position statement [5]," which described Owen as an "anti-choice" judge "who is willing to rewrite the law in accordance with those beliefs." The NARAL document noted Gonzales's criticism of Owen's opinion and cited numerous instances in which, the group argues, she attempted to create new obstacles preventing minors from obtaining a judicial bypass. The Times, however, did not discuss NARAL's criticisms further.
Apart from her record in parental notification cases, Owen's critics have levied other criticisms against her. A People for the American Way report [6] on Owen noted her "frequent dissents and efforts at judicial activism in favor of corporate and other interests in cases in which the majority had protected the rights of consumers and other citizens." In addition, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, cited [7] what he described as Owen's willingness to ignore legislative intent and anti-consumer bias apparent in her decisions.
The Times wrote:
Democrats' primary line against Justice Owen has been several cases in which she argued that the teenagers involved were not mature enough to bypass a Texas law requiring them to notify a parent before having an abortion.
"Her record to date is not only predictive of a judge who is personally anti-choice, but one who is willing to rewrite the law in accordance with those beliefs," said a position statement released by NARAL Pro-Choice America. Senate Democrats then went after her, describing her as "far outside the mainstream."
Yet polls show overwhelming support for laws requiring minors to get permission from a parent before getting an abortion. That support is even higher for laws that only require notification.
- Posted In
- Government [8], Nominations & Appointments [9], The Judiciary [10], The Presidency & White House [11], Health Care [12], Reproductive Rights [13]


text:
School Deal
Read the original story. Click the "LISTEN" button at the bottom of the page to hear the story. When you are done, click the "NEXT" button.
In a controversial move, the Roseville High School District voted unanimously Tuesday night to make Pepsi-Cola the sole supplier of its soft drinks.
According to board members, the deal will bring in $1.2 million dollars to be used for sports and other school activities. Board members say it will also widen choices to include bottled water that would be sold for fifty cents instead of a dollar and fruit juices that would be 100 percent juice instead of 10 percent.
A group of parents oppose the plan, citing the advertising that will be allowed on school campuses and negative health effects of soft drink consumption. "The fact is, soda does not rehydrate," said parent Christine Holderegger. "It is loaded with sugar and empty calories and no nutritious value at all."
Opponents promise to bring the issue up again. They're organizing a committee to study the problem and determine their next moves.
The Roseville High School campuses already have individual deals with Coca-Cola, which will be replaced with Pepsi under the terms of the district-wide deal.