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A strong working knowledge of installation techniques is vital to the effective operation and maintenance of motors.
Today's modern motors require your consideration of all aspects of selection, application, and maintenance as well as details of assembly, hardware, and the interrelationship of components and materials. As a result, installation of these motors is more important than ever before.
Proper motor installation is essential in obtaining top-quality operation, efficient performance, and maximum reliability. Whether you're an installer, engineer, or maintainer, this work demands close coordination, planning, and teamwork with other disciplines.
Receiving and handling
When receiving a motor, you should thoroughly inspect it for dents or other signs of damage before the motor is moved from the shipper's truck. Also, examine all literature provided with the machine. Do not remove tags pertaining to assembly, storage, lubrication, and operation. You should file this literature, along with any specifications and drawings pertaining to the machine, for reference during installation and for guidance during start-up and operation.
On smaller units, you should turn the shaft by hand to verify that it turns freely. If equipped with antifriction bearings, these motors normally will be prelubricated and ready for operation.
Large motors and engine-generator sets having sleeve bearings are usually shipped without lubricating oil in the bearing; often they are filled with an anti-rust fluid. These should be inspected through the sight glass and bearing drain openings. Check for any accumulation of moisture and remove any traces of oxidation. Then, fill the bearing reservoirs to normal level with a high-grade industrial lubricating oil. Remove any dirt, metal filings, or other contamination that might appear in the oil, or replace the oil.
Always check the nameplate for proper voltage, phase, frequency, horsepower, etc.
Large motors are sometimes shipped disassembled. When assembling, be sure all mating parts are clean. This can be done with a magnet, vacuum cleaner, or dry compressed air (air pressure less than 60 psi).
When handling machines by hoist, be sure to use lifting bolts if they are provided. Always disconnect any coupling between the motor and its load before lifting, unless the base is strong enough to assure that shaft or bearings will not be damaged.
Safety procedures
Handling of large, heavy motors should be supervised by experienced and qualified personnel. Safety of workers and avoidance of damage to the motor are primary considerations. Details concerning types of cranes, hoists, jacks, rollers, wire ropes, cables, hooks, slings, and the many other aspects of moving heavy apparatus are extensive.
Safety is of paramount importance during the installation, start-up, and operation of a motor, and begins with the proper design, application, and selection of the motor and associated components. Be sure that the motor has been well matched to handle the type of load to be driven.
Check that gears, belts, driven machinery, etc. are guarded so that anyone near the installation will not be harmed by accidental contact.
All personnel involved with the installation should be familiar with NEMA MG2, Safety Standards For Construction and Guide For Selection, Installation, and Use of Electric Motors and Generators.
Pertinent NEC rules, especially Art. 430, and all local safety rules must be observed. In addition, OSHA rules must also be studied and followed during the installation of motors and controls. These regulations are included in Part 1010 of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards. You can obtain a copy of this document from any local OSHA office.
Always try to locate the motor in the best possible environment: A clean, dry, cool location. The type of environment in which the motor will operate determines the type of enclosure. Available enclosures, which have been standardized by NEMA, simplify selection.
An open-type motor is usually the best choice for installation in locations reasonably free of moisture, dust, or lint. Be sure space is available for maintenance or replacement. Open motors having commutators or collector rings must be located or protected so that sparks cannot reach adjacent combustible material. This does not preclude the mounting of such motors on wooden platforms or floors.
Dripproof motors are intended for use where the atmosphere is relatively clean, dry, and noncorrosive. With these motors, you should keep windings clean by using a soft brush, cloth, or suction.
Totally enclosed motors may be installed where dirt, moisture, and corrosion are present, or in outdoor locations. If a drain plug is provided in the end bracket or bell, it should be removed periodically to drain any accumulated condensation.
Be certain that the enclosure is suited to the surrounding environment and that there is adequate ventilation to assure operation at or below motor design temperature.
Problem locations. In addition to open (general-purpose), dripproof, and totally enclosed fan-cooled (TEFC), a number of other designs are available for specific environments and applications. When extreme environments or unusual conditions exist (high temperatures, excessive vibration, etc.), you'll have to incorporate special enclosures or arrangements into the installation.
Moisture problems require special consideration. Here, suitable guards or enclosures must be provided to protect exposed current-carrying parts and the insulation of motor leads where dripping or spraying oil, water, or other injurious liquid may occur, unless the motor is specially designed for the existing conditions.
For standby service or for damp-location operation, a low single-phase voltage (on the order of 5% to 10% of rated voltage) is sometimes applied to the windings to combat moisture. Some larger motors are available with built-in strip heaters or tubular-type space heaters for this purpose.
Check ambient temperatures. Be sure that the motor will not be exposed to an ambient temperature exceeding 40 [degrees] C, since excessive heat shortens machine life significantly. If the motor windings are encapsulated, the insulation will be exposed to a higher than normal temperature. The increased temperature of an open dripproof motor with a 1.15 service factor can be compensated for by reducing the service factor or by supplying a higher-rated insulation.
Permitted temperature rise of different insulations is based on operation of the motor at altitudes of 3300 ft or less. When this elevation must be exceeded, there are several alternatives. If the motor has 1.15 service factor, then it can be operated at unity factor at altitudes up to 9000 ft in a 40 [degrees] C ambient.
A rigid foundation is essential for minimum vibration and proper alignment between motor and load. Concrete, reinforced as necessary or required, makes the best foundation, particularly for large motors and driven loads. In sufficient mass, it provides rigid support that minimizes deflection and vibration. The foundation may be located on soil, structural steel, or building floors, provided the total weight (motor, driven unit, and foundation) doesn't exceed the allowable bearing load of the support. Allowable bearing loads of structural steel and floors can be obtained from engineering handbooks.
Building codes of local communities give the recommended allowable bearing loads for different types of soil. For rough calculations, the subfoundation should be approximately 2 1/2 tunes the total unit weight.
Whether the motor base is concrete or steel, it must be level. If concrete, be sure it's not too high. A motor can always be raised by use of shims; but reduction of height would be difficult because it would require removal of some of the concrete surface.
Before pouring the concrete foundation, you should locate foundation bolts by using a template; this will provide for secure anchorage (not rigid). You should reference certified drawings of the motor, base, and driven unit for exact location of foundation bolts. Also, you should install a fabricated steel base between motor feet and the foundation.
If the motor must be mounted on steel, all supports must be of adequate size and strength and braced to assure maximum rigidity. The requirement for a level base is critical [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE 1 OMITTED].Usually, for a motor installation, there will be four points of mounting: One at each corner of the mounting base. Then there will be mounting requirements for the driven load. All mounting points must be on the exact same plane or the equipment will not be level. This is why a thick, rigid steel baseplate is preferred over an assembly of steel. At the very least, a steel baseplate should be used in conjunction with the steel assembly.
For large motors, you should call in a competent engineer familiar with motor foundation designs to design and supervise required foundations and support assemblies.
Mounting. A motor can be mounted in many ways, depending upon its size, weight, and use. Small motors may incorporate a rigid mount, with the frame welded directly to a steel plate formed to match the shape of the frame and incorporating mounting holes.
Most commonly, medium- and large-size motors have mounting feet cast integrally with their frames. Vertical motors require an end bell specially machined to receive a mounting flange. Where it's important to isolate vibration and noise or to reduce the shock of starting and stopping, various types of resilient mounts and cushion bases are available.
After aligning the motor with the load, you can bolt the motor in place with maximum size bolts. It's advisable to provide some dimensional variance in the location of the foundation bolts. This can be done by locating the bolts in a steel pipe embedded in the foundation, as shown in Fig. 2, on page 68. NEMA standards give dimensions for foot mountings and some flange mountings.
Sliding bases and adapters are available for use with T-frame motors when they replace old U-frame motors.
Make sure you check whether other components or equipment such as gears, special couplings, or pumps are to be mounted on the motor. If so, be sure space is available.
After the motor base is in place but before it is fastened, you should shim as required to level the base. Use a spirit level (check two directions at 90 degrees) to ensure that motor feet will be in one plane (base not warped) when base bolts are tightened. Then, set the motor on the base, install nuts, and tighten. Do not make a final tightening until after alignment.
Motor/load components
Drive couplings. Direct coupling (rigid, flexible, or fluid) of the motor shaft to the driven load results in a 1:1 speed ratio. Where application demands other than standard available speeds, gears or pulleys/belts may be used. Variable speeds are possible by making available several gear ratios, or pulleys with variable diameters. Chain drives may also be used where shaft center-to-center distance is too great for gears or too short for belting.
Direct-connected motors with ball or roller bearings may be coupled to the load through flexible couplings. Never install a coupling half by hammering or pressing; instead, heat the coupling to install it on the shaft. Accurate mechanical lineup is essential for successful operation. Mechanical vibration and roughness during the operation of the motor may be indications of poor alignment. In general, using a straight edge across, and a feeler gauge between coupling halves, is not sufficient. Rather, you should check the lineup with a dial indicator and checking bars connected to the motor and loaded machine shafts.
Bearings. Ball, roller, or sleeve bearings may be chosen in accordance with the apparatus involved. Antifriction bearings, including ball and roller types, reduce starting friction and take up less space on the shaft than the sleeve type. Usually, they're used for totally enclosed motors and where the motor is to be operated in various positions. Standard and severe duty bearings can be obtained to meet the application requirements.
Sleeve bearings are most common in large motors (200 hp and over). Often, these bearings may be split sleeve bearings that mount on the top and bottom half of the motor endshield. Sleeve bearings are furnished with oil reservoirs, ring oilers, sight gages, level gages, and drain provisions.
Mechanical alignment
Experience has shown that any base-mounted assembly of motor and driven load, no matter how rugged or deep in section, may twist out of alignment during shipping or moving, and that alignment by eye is ineffective. Proper alignment of direct-coupled drives can be accomplished by a dial-indicator [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE 3 OMITTED], laser, or computerized instrumentation.
Angular misalignment is the amount by which the faces of the two coupling halves are out of parallel. This may be determined by mounting a dial indicator on one coupling hall with the indicator probe on the face of the other half, and then rotating both shafts together through 360 degrees to determine any variation in reading.
During this check, you must keep the shaft of a motor with endplay against its thrust shoulder and the shaft of a driven load with endplay against its thrust shoulder to prevent false readings due to shaft movements in the axial direction.
Parallel misalignment is the offset between the centerlines of the two shafts. This can be determined by mounting a dial indicator on one coupling half with the indicator probe bearing radially on the other coupling half, and then rotating both shafts together through 360 degrees.
It's essential that the motor and load be correctly aligned under actual operating temperatures and conditions. Machines that are correctly aligned at room temperature may become badly misaligned due to deformation or different thermal growth associated with temperature change. The alignment must be checked, and corrected, if necessary, after the motor and driven machine have reached their maximum temperature under load.
You should use "floating shaft couplings" or "spacer couplings" on motors where the coupling alignment cannot be accurately checked and/or maintained. Misalignments of several thousandths of an inch will result when there are relatively small changes in temperature differences in larger motors and the equipment driven.
After the alignment procedure is completed, you should give the equipment a test run to verify that the lineup gives satisfactory performance. After this is verified, the machines should be dowelled to their bedplates. Recommended dowelling is two dowels per machine, one in each of the diagonally opposite feet, with the size of the dowels approximately half the diameter of the hold-down bolts.
A machine that is correctly aligned when first installed may subsequently become misaligned due to wear, vibration, shifting of the base, settling of the foundation, thermal expansion and contraction, corrosion, etc. As such, you should recheck the alignment periodically to correct for any changes.
Electrical connections
NEMA standards and Art. 430 of the NEC provide specific electrical and mechanical installation requirements and recommendations covering motors and motor controls.
Be sure that the voltage supply to the motor meets the motor requirements. Characteristics of the supply should correlate to the motor nameplate value as follows:
* Voltage: Within 10% above or below the value stamped on the nameplate.
* Frequency: Within 5% above or below the value stamped on the nameplate.
* Voltage and frequency together: Within 10% (providing frequency above is less than 5%) above or below values stamped on the nameplate.
After you've verified that the supply voltage requirements are correct, you then can make the motor terminal connections. Stator winding connections should be made as shown on the nameplate connection diagram or in accordance with the wiring diagram attached to the inside of the conduit box cover.
Terminal connection problems are usually caused by the branch- or feeder-circuit conductor being a size that is different from that of the motor lead. Branch- or feeder-circuit wire size is normally determined in accordance with the NEC based on the motor full-load current, increased where required to limit voltage drop. The motor leads, on the other hand, are permitted a higher current-carrying capacity for a given AWG size than equivalent conductors used in branch- or feeder-circuit wiring because they are exposed to circulating air within the motor.
When connecting motor leads to branch or feeder conductors (wire-to-wire connections), use a split bolt or other type connector sized to accommodate both wire sizes together. Then insulate the connector with a covering of friction tape followed by a covering of vinyl tape. Refer to NEC Table 430-12(b) for terminal housing information for motors using wire-to-wire connections and Table 430-12(c)(1) for terminal spacing information for motors using fixed terminals.
Identify motor auxiliary devices such as space heaters or temperatures sensors, connect them to proper circuits, and insulate from motor power cables.
Standards: NEMA MG2, Safety Standards For Construction and Guide Far Selection, Installation, and Use of Electric Motors and Generators. For ordering information, call 1-202-457-8400.
EC&M books: EC&M's Practical Guide to Motors and Motor Controllers; Understanding NE Code Rules on Motors and Motor Controls (2nd Edition). To order call 1-800-543-7771; or fax 1-800-633-6219.
EC&M articles: "Protecting High-Efficiency Motor Circuits," June 1995; "Effectively Applying Premium-Efficiency Motors," March 1995; "Answering Twenty Key Questions About Premium-Efficiency Motors," October 1994; "How Loads Affect the Efficiency of Motors," August 1994; "What Makes a Motor More Efficient?" May 1994. For copies, call 1-913-967-1801.


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Kosher foods while traveling
This article is a travel topic
As Jewish people vary in their levels of observance, some will eat kosher food 100% of the time, some eat kosher food while at home, but are willing to bend the rules while away, and some do not eat a kosher diet at all. For those who will always eat kosher, this article discusses the challenges and solutions in obtaining kosher food away from home.
Understanding kashrut[edit]
The laws of kashrut originate from the Torah (Old Testament). There are several Biblical verses that prescribe what types of food can and cannot be eaten. Biblical scholars have interpreted these verses to form the modern set of laws known as kashrut.
The basic laws are:
Though a relatively small number of Biblical laws regulate the Jewish diet, kashrut in modern life is nevertheless quite complicated due to the complexity of modern day food preparation. Commercial processed foods contain numerous additives and other ingredients that pose kashrut issues. Generally, it is not possible to identify these issues simply by reading the ingredients. Many kosher and non-kosher ingredients share the same name. Additionally, many foods are processed on factory equipment that is also used for non-kosher foods, and that alone can render the food non-kosher.
There are several common myths associated with kashrut.
One is that food that is kosher has been "blessed by a rabbi." There is no truth to this myth, and rabbis give no blessings in the process of certifying food as kosher. The certifying process is actually a supervisory inspection, and the mashgiach (kosher supervisor) assists with certain details of preparation that must be performed by a Jew.
Some also believe that non-kosher food can be made kosher by cooking or cleaning it a certain way. Fact is, if an animal is not kosher, it will always remain unkosher. It is true that visible insects on vegetables are not kosher, and the vegetable must be cleaned of the insects before it can be eaten.
Another myth is that kosher food is better for one's health. Likewise, there is no truth in this. Kashrut laws are followed simply because they are biblically commanded to Jewish people. Kosher foods are not necessarily healthy, and products marketed as health foods are not always kosher.
Kashrut and vegetarianism are also frequently equated. While some people who keep kosher happen to be vegetarians for reasons other than religion, Judaism does not mandate vegetarianism. Commercial products that are "vegetarian" are not necessarily kosher.
While there is a common practice of keeping kosher at home and eating non-kosher away, this does not meet one's Biblical obligation. Doing so may retain the kashrut of one's kitchen for others. Nevertheless, a person who follows this practice is not following the laws of kashrut. Commonly, one who does not keep fully kosher away from home may be willing to eat salad or fish prepared in a non-kosher restaurant or kitchen. This still poses plenty of kashrut issues.
Identifying kosher foods[edit]
Those who practice the laws of kashrut know how to identify a food as being kosher or not.
All fruits, vegetables, and other foods growing from the ground are inherently kosher.
Most processed foods though, including those made from fruits and vegetables, require kashrut certification. This is because many processed foods contain additives derived from non-kosher sources, and it is not always possible to determine kashrut simply from reading the ingredients. Additionally, many foods are processed on the same equipment as non-kosher foods.
The most common and recognized kosher symbol is the OU (Orthodox Union), which is found on thousands of products sold in North America and other parts of the world. There are dozens of other symbols. Not all kosher consumers consider all of them reliable.
Kosher Food That Are Easy to Pack[edit]
Because of the growing population, there are an increasing number of manufacturers of products which can be transported to provide a meal in even the most rural areas. Here are some common examples, and their relevant certifications.
A hechsher is the certification of a product or establishment that shows that it is kosher. The hechsher is offered by a kashrut certifying agency, which sends a mashgiach (kosher supervisor) to the location where the food is manufactured to observe the manufacturing process and determine if the food meets the standards of kashrut.
Each hechsher has a unique symbol. On processed food products, this symbol is generally printed somewhere on the packaging, unusually conspicuously enough for the consumer to notice. On a restaurant or other similar establishment, it'll usually be printed either on the door or inside the establishment in an area where the customer can see it easily, or is kept behind the scenes, but will be displayed to any customer upon request.
Not every hechsher is trusted by every Jewish person. Some are not considered to be reliable by some consumers. This is up to the discretion of each person.
Often, a hechsher is followed by the letter D, standing for the word "dairy," indicating dairy ingredients, the letters DE indicating that there are no dairy ingredients, but the product was produced on dairy equipment, and cannot be consumed on meat or on one's meat dishes, the word MEAT or letter M for meat ingredients (but this is often omitted for obvious meat products), the word PAREVE for products containing no dairy or meat, or the letter P (not to be confused with pareve) for products that are kosher for passover
Where to find kosher food[edit]
In a city with a large Jewish community, kosher food is pretty easy to find. Such cities typically have one or more kosher stores and/or restaurants where such food can be obtained. Additionally, within the part of town where the Jewish people live, and often elsewhere in town, common supermarkets will carry some specially kosher products.
Even outside of a Jewish community, in the United States, Canada, and many other countries, it is possible to find at least food in supermarkets and convenience stores with kosher certification, though this food may require some preparation in order to be eaten.
While Israel is the Jewish state, not all food in Israel is kosher, and kosher consumers must still examine and restaurant and every food product sold to determine if it is kosher.
Kosher restaurants[edit]
Most restaurants anywhere are not kosher. But kosher restaurants do exist where Jewish people live in numbers large enough to support one.
There are several websites and smartphone apps that can help locate kosher restaurants, including shamash.org, Kosher GPS, and Kosher Near Me.
Air travel[edit]
Many airlines offer the option of a kosher meal. Often, this must be requested a certain amount of time in advance.
On El Al Airlines, all meals when flying from another country to Israel are certified by the lead agency of the country of origin. All flights originating in Israel carry a form of Israeli supervision, though there is a "strictly kosher" option for those who follow higher standards.
Kashrut by location[edit]
Some may perceive that Israel being the Jewish state, all food would be kosher. This is far from being the case, as in Israel, there are plenty of non-kosher restaurants and food products sold in stores. Travelers to Israel shall consult with their rabbi to determine which hechsherim are acceptable in Israel, as they mostly differ from the rest of the world.
United States[edit]
In the United States, there is plenty of kosher food available. Most processed foods that are kosher have a hechsher on the label. Foods bearing a hechsher are available in most places, even where there is no Jewish population. Most chain stores have plenty of foods with a hechsher other than meat and most forms of cheese. Note that there is no legal requirement for labeling your food kosher in the United States and that all certifications come from private organizations who have their own standards for inspection.
Canada, being a close neighbor of the United States, sells many US-made products that are kosher. Additionally, most large cities have Jewish communities and access to kosher food.
Latin America[edit]
Few Latin American-made products have kosher supervision. But most supermarkets in Latin America carry some US-made products with kashrut supervision.
In Europe, it is not typical for a hechsher to be printed on the label of a product. However, some items are kosher even without a hechsher. One should consult their rabbi in advance to determine which products are kosher.
Asia (outside Israel)[edit]
With the exception of Israel, Asia has a low number of Jewish communities. Nevertheless, there are some places where kosher food can still be obtained.
Ordering special meals[edit]
On airlines, cruise ships, and other places, it is often possible to order special kosher meals in advance. Different airlines and cruise lines have different requirements how far in advance such meals must be ordered.

subset: commoncrawl


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How to Decorate Your Living Room
Whether you're starting fresh or looking for ways to upgrade your existing decor, we'll show you how to decorate your living room in five easy steps.
ITEM#: 22855573An outstanding example of fine art photography, this traditional wall art piece depicts life on the farm in beautiful black and white. The barnyard scene features a crowded corral of sheep, their wooly flock filling every edge of the graphic image. The picture's chocolate brown frame feels farmhouse inspired, while the close-up composition of the photograph is a welcome wall art addition for country folk and city slickers alike.
|Product Features
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Whether you're starting fresh or looking for ways to upgrade your existing decor, we'll show you how to decorate your living room in five easy steps.
Your mantelpiece can be the festive keynote for your home's fall decor. With wreaths, candles, pumpkins, and more, you can turn your fireplace into a warm and cheerful space where you and your friends can gather on chilly autumn evenings. Keep reading to get inspiration for decorating your autumn-themed mantelpiece.
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Discover how art and wall decor can add interest and personality to your space. With endless options and styles to choose from, these ideas and tips will help you design a wall space that makes you feel at home.
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Our standard shipping method is ground shipping. We also offer expedited shipping for most items. Your final
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Strick & Bolton Framed Black/ White Canvas Wall Art
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beef tenderloin, Boffins Club, cabernet sauvignan, Saskatoon, University of Saskatchewan, wild boar
Last evening Chef Brad and Chef Regan cooked us a scrumptious dinner at Boffins Club.
Grapefruit and Avocado Salad
A refreshing salad of pink grapefruit, ripe avocado, tender salad greens, and five tasty shrimp to fight over. My husband won the toss and devoured the extra shrimp.
Beef Tenderloin
My husband's choice.
The beef juicy – seasoned and cooked perfectly at medium rare; and the vegetables tasted as if freshly picked from the garden.
Wild Boar Wellington
I was too engrossed in eating this delicious dinner to take another photo. If you have not tried wild boar put it on your list of foods to try. You won't want to miss out on this unique meat.
We partnered our food with a Chilean Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon. The hints of chocolate, spice, and black cherry in this wine paired perfectly with our dinner.
Boffins Club is located on the University of Saskatchewan grounds.


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Interested in Smithey Ironware? For wholesale inquiries, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com
We stand behind the quality of our cookware and will do what it takes to earn your satisfaction. If your Smithey is defective, we'll replace it. If it fails you after honest and normal use, we'll repair or replace it.
Smithey Ironware currently ships only to the Continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. We ship single skillet orders via 2 day Priority US Mail or UPS Ground, depending on customer location. Orders consisting of more than one skillet will be shipped UPS Ground. The vast majority of our orders ship within 24 hours. We guarantee shipment within 3 business day of your order.
We respect your privacy. Any and all information collected on this site will be kept strictly confidential and will not be sold, disclosed to third parties or reused without your permission. Any information you give to us will be held with care and will be used solely for the purposes of filling your online order.
All materials, photos, design elements, and text contained on this site are owned by The Smithey Ironware Company, LLC (Smithey Ironware). Images may be used online by blogs and social tools if credit is given to Smithey Ironware as the creator of the content, and/or if a link back to smitheyironware.com is provided. Except as noted above, you may not reproduce, publish, distribute, sell, modify, create derivative works from, or use the contents of this site without the written permission of Smithey Ironware. Such use is prohibited by law, and may result in civil and criminal penalties.
Smithey Ironware Company, LLC
1175 Machinist St 43A
Charleston, SC 29412


text: Anyone have any experience with these? I've been told by a few people that they're great for keeping mosquitoes away and that they've been using them in their deer stands. I picked one up ($20 at Walgreens) but I haven't opened it yet. It uses butane to activate some sort of pad that has a deterrent in it. I initially thought it would give a deer-alerting smell or sound but everyone has said they don't. Anyone have any input?


text:
 Hi!
I'm your site moderator, Sandy, I'm addicted to photoshop, orange juice, and tumblr.
I lead an appreciation life and am grossly unofficial acting for my job. But that also means I am so much more fun, am I right? ;)
Basicaly, Rachel and I are basically helping out the PWC, deleting spam, repeats, hate topics, hate comments, reporting spammers, etc., etc. Sooo, if you see any of the above, please let me know in the box to your right! :)
Anndd, feel free to hit me up with any questions/comments/concerns etc. but keep in mind before reporting that we like to use sarcasm a lot around here, so please don't report anything that really isn't meant to be hurtful.


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Audio Clip
- Chew Fu (11/3/10)
The Details
- Chew Fu
- November 7 at Ghostbar, doors at 9 p.m.
- November 9 at Moon, doors at 11 p.m.
- $20 and up, locals free
- Beyond the Weekly
- Chew Fu
Chew on this! Fu the "refixer" bring his future-perfect music to Vegas for the first time. We caught up with him before not one, but two gigs next week.
Your Las Vegas debut will be at Ghostbar Sunday November 7 and then November 9 for BANG! at Moon. DJs and producers know you and play your tracks, you have over 130 recent "refixes," a Masters in Fine Arts, but you're probably a new name to local clubbers. So tell 'em in your words, who is Chew Fu?
I call myself a refixer. It's actually from the word "remixing" of course. I take songs that are on the Billboard charts and I refix them in a totally different way. So you will hear pop songs from Britney Spears to 50 Cent and I will totally flip that into electro tracks.
Is there something specific clubbers should listen for so they know a track is a Chew Fu refix?
I do use a lot of vocals. I use a bit more vocals than most remixers. I really like vocals. So I do make it an art of keeping at least 90 percent of the vocals of the track and building a whole new, deeper electro sound under it.
With the term "refix," do you worry people might think you're implying something was wrong with the track in the first place?
That's what I worried about in the beginning, but it was also just to have them turn their heads. Everyone is remixing, so I was like, "If I call something a 'refix' and the original composer really likes it, it's a good thing." It would be a bad thing if they would hate it. Normally that doesn't happen—it happens sometimes, but that's all good. Basically I call it a refix because it's like a complete new production.
Chew Fu chats about bringing a tap dancer, MC and the future-perfect sound to town in the Nocturnal Admissions podcast available for free download here. You can also snag Chew Fu's "Chew Hefner Affair: Live from the Playboy Mansion" mix here.


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The Jabra PRO 925/935 Wireless 2G4 Headsets are professional wireless headsets designed for maximum performance in high density office environments.There are 3 variants available:
Simple, intuitive, high quality wireless solution.
Wireless 2G4 technology — 2G4 Bluetooth technology for high density office environments; Secure 2G4 encrypted wireless signal transmission and 300 foot wireless range.
Noise-Canceling Microphone — enhances call clarity by eliminating background noise from the office.
Unsurpassed 12 hours talk time — long 12 hours talk time and 7 day standby combine with a lightweight and durable design for all day comfort. Plus three wearing style options: over-the-head, over-the-ear, and behind-the-neck.
Wireless range of 300 feet — provides mobility to improve collaboration, multi-tasking, and productivity.
Remote call control — seamless integration between your headset and phone with remote handset lifters or Electronic Hook Switch accessories.
Also Consider...


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You might have heard the news that a Mississippi law maker wants to pass a law making it illegal for restaurants to serve food to clinically obese people. How stupid is this? I can understand wanting to help people lose weight because I am all for controlling issues of weight and any other unhealthy problem people may face. It doesn't matter how unhealthy you are as long as you aren't obese.
What I don't like is the fact that they are going to go on looks alone to base this law. How about the skinny person who has a cholesterol level of like 350 and is sliding towards a heart attack shouldn't they be kept from the trough as well? They are just as or unhealthier than the obese person yet it is OK as long as they are skinny. No matter that the plate of greasy burger and fries is the last straw and he or she walks out of the restaurant and drops dead of a heart attack. Who should be to blame for this?
What about the bulimic person who may be thin but due to the binging and purging they are extremely unhealthy. Should the restaurant not be helping to feed this unhealthy eating disorder by supplying them with the food they want to binge just so they can go home or somewhere else and purge it out somehow? Is the restaurant supposed to be able to deny helping them become even unhealthier even though they look normal and healthy?
Should the tanning shops now deny tans to those super tanned individuals who are ruining their skin and will undoubtedly have skin cancer in the future? Should every industry that might be aiding and abetting some behavior that could possibly lead to unhealthy outcomes be charged with regulating the persons partaking in it? What about football and the Super Bowl? They just came out with statistics that show that people are prone to stress related heart problems from watching the games. Should we now have a health screening for those who wish to watch the game live or in a pub etc.?
The problem is we can't regulate what people do when it is legal for them to do it. This law maker is making a lot of assumptions about the people who are obese. The assumption is that the people are fat due to chronic over eating and that is it. What about the people who have glandular problems such as PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and endocrine problems such as thyroid conditions, parathyroid, pancreas, adrenal, pituitary and hypothalamus problems, diseases such as Cushing's disease and lastly a plethora of certain drugs such as antidepressants and anti-seizure just to name a couple.
Yet we are going to trust whether or not a person is just a fat slob who is killing themselves with food to some waitress, waiter or greeter at a restaurant. The bill was authored by Senator W.T. Mayhall, Jr. Now this senator supposedly has a background in medicine which makes me ask the question how he can make such a stupid bill which certainly won't help. At best it will be another way to subjugate people, obese people.


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At least 42 people, 27 of them women and children, were killed and 17 others injured on Sunday when a speeding bus they were traveling in collided with a trailer on the National Highway in southeast Pakistan.
The accident took place near Pano Akil area in Sukkur district when the bus en route to Karachi from Dera Ghazi Khan collided head-on with the trailer coming from the opposite direction.he dead included 14 children and 13 women, they said.
The accident occurred due to reckless driving at a place where the road was under construction, a passenger injured in the accident said. The bus was carrying over 60 passengers when the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with the trailer.
Most of the injured were in critical condition and many were transferred to hospital in Karachi after initial treatment in Sukkur. Police personnel and rescue teams immediately reached the site of the incident and cut through the wreckage of the bus to rescue the victims.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed his grief over the loss of 42 lives. Pakistan has one of the world's worst records for fatal traffic accidents, blamed on poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.
Image for representation only. Photograph: Reuters


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A full month since my last post!! Well, things will be changing around here. I've been plagued with a full plate this year and on top of that internet access issues. The ISP I was using has had some challenges, which were passed to their unfortunate customers. I suffered for that for most of this year, because I was simply too busy to do anything about it.
Well, I've changed ISPs as last and it's such a relief to have high-speed internet at home again. I look forward to writing more.


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94 N. Main Street, Jasper, GA - (706) 253-2457
When we're scrolling along Facebook checking out the status updates of all our friends and clicking that seemingly friendly "like" button when we see a post about someone's new hair style or a witty quote another friend has posted, it may reveal more about us than we intend.
Our likes reveal us as fans of country music or Beyonce, a football fanatic or NASCAR groupie but those friendly "like" buttons can also out us as married or single, an extrovert, or whether we prefer cigarettes or alcohol as our vice of choice.
Researchers at Cambridge University recently published findings from a study involving 58,000 volunteers and what they found may surprise us. Just by studying our Facebook "likes," researchers can tell how intelligent we are, how happy we are, our political leanings, and a host of other personal traits, including our religion, race and sexual orientation.
As we decompress at the end of the day – or constantly throughout the day while we should be working – checking out what our friends are up to via the online social network, who would have thought that a quick "like" of a post saying "Life is like a roller coaster. It has its ups and downs. But it's your choice to scream or enjoy the ride" could reveal how old we are or the color of our skin? Sure, clicking "like" on a picture of President Obama with a tag line that says "Impeach" might hint we are Republican, but Cambridge researchers can figure out our political leanings with much subtler references to our online "likes." Scary or brilliant?
Facebook launched the "like" button just four years ago and the small thumbs-up symbol has become as iconic as the Nike Swoosh or Coke's ribbons. According to Facebook, roughly 2.7 billion new "likes" are hit every day – from songs to pop stars and TV shows, we share our tastes in the stroke of the keyboard.
These surprisingly accurate personal portraits, according to researchers, proved 88 percent accurate for determining male sexuality, 95 percent accurate in distinguishing African-American from Caucasian-American, and 85 percent for differentiating Republican from Democrat. Christians and Muslims were correctly classified in 82 percent of cases and relationship status and substance abuse was predicted with accuracy between 65 percent and 73 percent.
Businesses looking to cash in from customers via personalized marketing may love the new study, but those campaigning for online privacy are cringing at the news. The study found that the best predictors of high intelligence include liking "Thunderstorms", The Colbert Report, "Science", and "Curly Fries." Low intelligence, it found, was indicated by likes for "Sephora," "I Love Being A Mom," and "Lady Antebellum."
So what does it say about those of us who like both Downton Abbey and The Walking Dead? Our "like" of zombie killing might say we are loners who consider a possible un-dead apocalypse an exciting prospect for the future, while our equal affection for the lives of 1920s English aristocracy shows a longing for a past way of life with more formality and pomp.
Some of us may display a dichotomy of traits, but researchers found more straightforward assessments of our personality. For instance, men who liked professional wrestling were more likely to be straight than those who liked the song-and-dance show "Glee." – no shocker there. The study also found drinking game aficionados were more outgoing than fans of fantasy novelist Terry Pratchett. People who preferred pop songstress Jennifer Lopez usually had more Facebook friends than those who favored heavy metal music.
Sharing our likes might not seem intrusive, but it allows insight into our individual behavior in areas that are far more personal than we realize. Some things should stay private, but just for the record we really "like" curly fries and thunderstorms.


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Qimmiq energy gels are one of the most interesting energy products around. A novel package and dispense method combined with a mould-breaking natural ingredients list and a intentionally smaller portion size give these energy gels plenty of genuine USPs. But, lack of bang for your buck makes them a very expensive energy source.
For the less educated, Qimmiq (pronounced 'kimmick') is Inuit for Husky. Qimmiq currently only offer one product, the raspberry gel, which is, according to their blurb, "Jam Packed with Energy". The unique packaging made me first think that I had received a box of business cards. They stack neatly in your jersey pocket like a deck of cards, avoiding that un-pro pocket bulginess. To explain how the packaging works Qimmiq have produced a nice little video.
The system works quite well, and despite my initial concerns about exploding gels the packets are surprisingly tough; just don't leave a fresh one in your kit come laundry day. Is it an improvement over the standard gel wrapper? Well, for sportive and training ride use, I think it is, yes. For racing I found it fiddlier than a more traditional and aggressive gel technique of grab, bite, rip, spit, squeeze. What is good about it is that there's little chance of any litter from a Qimmiq packet.
Unlike most gels, Qimmiq is made from non-artificial ingredients. I am put off by the test-tube ingredients list of some gels. Qimmiq comprises red beetroot juice (is there any other kind?), fruit juice concentrate, honey and salt, plus a touch of xanthan gum and potassium sorbate. Beetroot juice and honey are both staples for me so I was delighted to be able to test a gel with both and nothing scary whatsoever.
The taste is sharp, fruity and acidic. In the comfort of the kitchen the taste is pleasant, certainly more food-like and normal than most gels I have tried. Out on the road and the trail I have sometimes found it slightly too acidic; taste at home and taste on the bike are very different things. This always had me washing it down with some water and two or three gels into a ride I found myself reaching for a banana or something else instead. That said, taste is personal and I can recommend you give it a go.
In the very comprehensive product information given to us with the gels, Qimmiq talk about how, as the product is jam based, it doesn't need to be exclusively used as a gel and can even be spread on toast. In one of my famous post-race dairy binges I found adding a shot of Qimmiq to Greek yoghurt a delight. That is something you can't say about any other energy gel, but at 99p a pop you may find it hard to stomach the price for a toast or yoghurt topping.
The reason you take a gel is to keep your energy levels up. Qimmiq currently only come in small 12g portions, that size having been chosen after feedback from gel users who can't get through a whole standard gel in one go.
I like the idea but it works out astronomically expensive in carbs per pound. With Zip Vit, for example, one £1.50 gel offers you a whopping 51g of carbohydrate – 3p per gram. Qimmiq is 99p for 7g of carb – 14p per gram. Qimmiq is several times more expensive per gram of carbs than SiS and Torq too. As a regular gel user, that means I will always reach for something else first. Throughout testing I found that a 7g serving, at my training pace, was good for about 10-15mins of energy as compared to a full hour from my usual choice.
That said, there is something which I find attractive about Qimmiq; the natural ingredients. With an increase in the energy density and a slight reduction in the sharpness of the taste this would definitely form a great alternative for those put off by other energy gels.
On the whole this is a very interesting energy product from a new British company trying something genuinely different. Novel packaging, natural ingredients and a user-friendly portion size are let down by a lack of energy density for you money.
A very interesting energy product from a new British company trying something genuinely different from the competition. Novel packaging, natural ingredients and more user friendly portion size are let down by lack of energy density for you money.
If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website
road.cc test report
Make and model: QimmiQ Sachets
Size tested: Raspberry
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
An energy gel made from natural ingredients
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Nutritional Information per 100g
Energy1055 kJ/248 kcal
Protein 0.1g
Carbohydrates 59.2g
of which sugars 56.3g
Fat 0g
of which Saturates 0g
Fibre 2.9g
Sodium 0.1g
An interesting new packet design, which has not split unintentionally once.
As discussed above, the price per gram of carbohydrate is several times that of most other gels.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The ingredients
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The cost
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? No
Would you recommend the product to a friend? No
About the tester
Age: 23 Height: 5\\\'11\\ Weight: 78kg
I usually ride: Canyon Ultimate CF My best bike is: Canyon LUX MR/ Grand Canyon CF
I've been riding for: 5-10 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Semi pro
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, mtb,


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U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
A&A Contracting Fired Worker Because of Health History, Federal Agency Charged
ST. LOUIS -- A&A Contracting, a St. Louis construction company, has agreed to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The EEOC's suit, which was filed last fall, charged that the company violated federal law by firing one of its permanent construction workers because it regarded him as disabled due to his history of liver and kidney problems, including cancer.
Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits employers from discriminating against employees and applicants who are disabled, have a record of disability or who are regarded as disabled. At the time of his termination, the EEOC said, Rick Wells was in good health and had been cleared to work by his doctor, but A&A Contracting became aware of his health history when he applied for the company's health insurance coverage.
The settlement agreement, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri (EEOC v. A&A Contracting, Case No. 09-cv-01060, E.D. Mo.), provides for payment of $17,000 in lost wages and compensatory damages to Mr. Wells; implementation of a comprehensive anti-discrimination policy; training of all management employees; and designation of a human resources professional to consult and participate in HR-related matters.
"While it was important to the EEOC that Mr. Wells be compensated for his lost wages and the humiliation of being fired for a perceived disability, we are equally pleased that this settlement means that another St. Louis employer will be taking important steps to prevent any similar problems in the future," said Barbara A. Seely, Regional Attorney of the EEOC's St. Louis District Office.
James R. Neely, District Director of the EEOC's St. Louis District Office, said, "Even small employers need to keep themselves educated and informed of the law's requirements. At the time Mr. Wells was fired, A&A Contracting had approximately 20-25 employees. Any business with that size work force needs to make sure that they have clear, effective anti-discrimination policies and that they provide thorough, comprehensive anti-discrimination training to its managers and employees on a regular basis."
The EEOC St. Louis District Office is responsible for processing charges of discrimination, administrative enforcement and the conduct of agency litigation in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and southern Illinois, with Area Offices in Kansas City and Oklahoma City.
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on the agency's web site at www.eeoc.gov.


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All the lonely people, where do they all come from?
All the lonely people, where do they all belong?
[Intro: Talib Kweli *over hook*]
Yeah I like to go out to clubs
Las Palmas, you know
She this envy if I wanna get grimey wit' it at Bungalow Eight
Opium down in Miami
But when I walk in, I look around and I think
[Continuation of Hook]
I look at all the lonely people (x4)
[Verse 1: Talib Kweli]
Yo, I'm headin' out, 'bout to do some fleshin' out
I know my flesh endowed
With somethin' to prove, I'm settin' out
On a trip to Heaven's mouth, yeah
I'm steppin' out in the name of love
Who knew the Devil could slow dance?
We have pathological romances with technological advance
Infatuated with infatuation and
Intellectual masturbation with premature ejaculation
Make a baby mama's all bastardization and
Lonely people all through the city
They club hoppin' and they love shoppin' and they thug posturin'
Thugs be lockin' horns with Crips on them drug blocks
And them dollars flow right out of the 'hood
When you tryin' to make paper out of the wood
You know that money don't grow on trees
For paper people change colors like leaves
And they fall off in the mud like a filthy pig
Makin' you and your dogs who store all call off
That much deserved ass whippin'
He snitchin', he twitchin', he bitchin', he all soft
Never work with his hands
Little kid on the block who always ran
At all costs, gotta be in the club
Lookin' for happiness or the meaning of love
Then it hit him, out the blue like a vision
All of a sudden he don't like the way he been livin'
And wanna be forgiven
How I know? Cuz I'm right there wit' him
Yo, yo
[Hook: Beatles/Latoiya Williams]
[Verse 2: Talib Kweli]
Tattoos tell 'em who you are
Plastic Surgery coup d'etat the God
Uh, lasers to remove the scar
And then you are, you a supastar, supastar
It's your birthday and you in the club
Talkin' "Holla back" and "Nigga what"
So much cleavage and asscrack
If pussy were a stock it would plummet on the Nasdaq
Blank stares like nobody care
In a room so exclusive nobody there
But really, truth is that nobody there
Cuz it's feelings inside that nobody share
I want God to smile on me
But see, fame is a drug and you wild on E
Celebrities decorated like Christmas trees
God complex like they born on Christmas Eve
Sing a song to yourself and you stand alone
Get nominated for a gold gramophone
Walk the red carpet, left your man at home
Security snatchin' people camera phones
You got rose gold yellow bottles, pink Cashmere
So ahead of the trend, that's so last year
Last month, last day, last hour, last minute
Your pursuit of cool is so passionate
Doin for the cash in it, laugh in his face
If it's def or anybody who don't stay in his place
So popular can't go nowhere, folks stoppin' ya
Might want to check a thermometer
When you go to a movie heat rises
Surrounded by people still lonely, that's why you need disguises
[Hook: Beatles/Latoiya Williams]
Talib Kweli's commentary on people's insecurity, especially that of famous people and rappers.


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Romney's stupid pandering to the lobby
Romney outrages Palestinians by saying Jewish culture helps make Israel more successful - NY Daily News:
"JERUSALEM - Mitt Romney told Jewish donors Monday that their culture is part of what has allowed them to be more economically successful than the nearby Palestinians, outraging Palestinian leaders who called his comments racist and out of touch.
``As you come here and you see the GDP per capita, for instance, in Israel which is about $21,000 dollars, and compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority, which is more like $10,000 per capita, you notice such a dramatically stark difference in economic vitality,'' the Republican presidential candidate told about 40 wealthy donors who breakfasted around a U-shaped table at the luxurious King David Hotel.
The reaction of Palestinian leaders to Romney's comments was swift and pointed.
``What is this man doing here?'' said Saeb Erekat, a top Palestinian official. ``Yesterday, he destroyed negotiations by saying Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and today he is saying Israeli culture is more advanced than Palestinian culture. Isn't this racism?''"
That's like wondering why blacks are poorer than whites in 1870 America. Or 1990 South Africa.
Why is an American presidential candidate making such obviously stupid comments? Because he's pandering to the Israel lobby, that's why. And that's why his opponent will not call him out on his offensive stupidity, either.
Update: Steve Walt expands on this.


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Photographer Brad Wilson and Animal Portraits
Brad Wilson is an American animal photographer. He got his education in the University of North Carolina, where he studied art history, sculpture, graphics and architecture.
Amazing Antarctica by Photographer Alex Cornell
Photographer Alex Cornell has created a unique series of photographs during his expedition to Antarctica. Few of us have been to these places, and we often have a vague idea about those landscapes.
Beautiful Macro Photography of Insects by Photographer Nicky Bay
Nicky Bay is a professional photographer from Singapore. Here you can see a selection of works by this author, to fully appreciate his extraordinary talent. This photographer is engaged in close-up and has achieved great success in this genre.
"Black Sails" –the Show Popular Around the World
Black Sails American TV series tells the story of the life of pirates. In point of fact, the film is pre-history of the cult Stevenson's book "Treasure Island" and tells about the terrible pirate Flint, John Silver, Billy Bones and others who live for expense of raiding on ships and dream of the biggest gain - Spanish galleon Urca de Lima, which is filled with treasures.
Majestic Night Landscapes by Photographer Daniel Greenwood
Daniel Greenwood is a talented photographer from Canada. The author of these amazing pictures got involved in photography not long time ago, but now his pictures are published in many major Internet portals.


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- version :: String
- progversionstr :: String -> String
- binaryfilename :: String -> String
progversionstr :: String -> StringSource
Given a program name, return a human-readable version string. For development builds, at least non-cabal builds, the patch level (ie the number of patches applied since last release tag) will also be included.
binaryfilename :: String -> StringSource
Given a program name, return a precise platform-specific executable name suitable for naming downloadable binaries. Can raise an error if the version and patch level was not defined correctly at build time.


text:
Fast forward one year to COP16, the UN's just-completed global-warming confab in Cancun, Mexico. No Barack Obama in attendance. No Hillary Clinton. No Nancy Pelosi. No huge Hollywood entourage. No traffic jams of luxury limos. No pontificating by cause-of-the-week billionaires. No elbow-to-elbow crowd of journalists. And none of the minute-to-minute media coverage that was lavished on COP15.
"No big leader is going, only environment ministers at best," noted Brazil's President Lula da Silva, in a press conference on December 1. "We don't even know if foreign ministers are going. So there won't be any progress." President Lula himself decided not to travel to the Mexican summit.
From Copenhagen, the celebrated superstar, to Cancun, the abandoned orphan. What transpired in the past year to bring about this transformation? President Obama went to Copenhagen as the newly anointed global messiah with a green "mandate." The mighty green lobby and its media allies built up expectations that a new, global, legally binding treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol would emerge from the summit, one that would ratchet down even tighter emission regulations on greenhouse gases (GHG) and codify concrete commitments by the developed nations to transfer hundreds of billions of dollars to the poor nations — in the interests of "climate justice."
However, as we all know now, that didn't happen. All of President Obama's star power and all of the media hoopla about the coming climate apocalypse were not sufficient to overcome economic, political, and scientific realities, as well as the multitude of opposing forces of the Right, Left, and Center, that ultimately scuttled an over-arching treaty.
Instead of a new treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol (which expires at the end of 2012), what emerged was the Copenhagen Accord, a last-minute backroom deal hammered out by Obama and leaders of China, Brazil, India, and South Africa.
Nations adopting the accord pledged to cut their GHG emissions, with the aim of holding planetary anthropogenic global warming (human-caused global warming) to under 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The developed countries also committed to a goal of jointly mobilizing $30 billion for the period 2010-2012 and $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries.
Militant environmentalists condemned the accord as a betrayal, pragmatic "greens" glumly accepted it as "better than nothing," and anthropogenic global-warming (AGW) skeptics gleefully heralded it as a failure signaling that the movement for a new global Kyoto agreement is dead.
"Stinking Corpse" or Stalled Train?
"Scams die hard, but eventually they die, and when they do, nobody wants to get close to the corpse," opined Washington Times editor emeritus Wesley Pruden on December 2. "The global-warming caravan has moved on, bound for a destination in oblivion," he continued. The UN had set up its latest climate alarmist shop in Cancun, noted Pruden, "but the Washington guests are staying home. Nobody wants to get the smell of the corpse on their clothes."
Pruden is not the only pundit to have employed corpse or cadaver metaphors in relation to Kyoto and Copenhagen. In a column last February, Walter Russell Mead wrote: "The mainstream media is now coming to terms with the death. Environmentalists are still trying to avoid pulling the plug, but the corpse is already cool to the touch and soon it will begin to smell."
And in a pre-Cancun blog of November 28 ("Dead Green Treaty Stinks Up the Room"), Mead wrote that "the rotting, bloated corpse of this UN process could stink up the room for years to come. Like a dead whale on the beach, the [Kyoto] process isn't going away anytime soon."
Unlike Wesley Pruden, Professor Mead cannot be pigeon-holed as a "right winger"; he's a Democrat who voted for Obama, teaches foreign policy at Bard College and Yale University, is editor-at-large of The American Interest magazine, and was until 2010 the Henry A. Kissinger Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, one of the most influential founts of global-warming alarmism over the past three decades.
Dr. Mead, who has smacked the United Nations and climate zealots in one column after another, is, to be sure, still a minority among the leftward-leaning intelligentsia with regard to global warming. However, prominent environmentalists, including scientists who have been in the forefront of the AGW vanguard, have been defecting and complaining that the global-warming alarmists have hijacked the environmental movement and are devouring all the financial resources while misleading the green movement away from real and more pressing environmental problems.
Even among the many greens still adhering to the dire predictions sketched in AGW doomsday scenarios, there is a growing recognition that they are losing the fight for hearts and minds. "In the wake of the Copenhagen summit, there is a growing acceptance that the effort to avert serious climate change has run out of steam," an editorial piece in the British journal The Economist — considered mandatory reading in many trendy, high-brow circles — recently conceded.
The phrase "has run out of steam" does not carry the finality of "the corpse is already cool," but it does signal a recognition that the momentum has shifted. However, The Economist, which has been a leading voice in the AGW fear-monger choir, expresses hope that the issue will be resurrected. In the same Economist op-ed cited above, we read: "Perhaps, after a period of respite and a few climatic disasters, it will get going again. It certainly should. But even if it does, the world is going to go on getting warmer for some time."
So, is it dead or just stalled? There are good reasons for believing that those who are already singing a funeral dirge over the entire AGW movement are celebrating prematurely. It may be down, but it is far from out. The midterm elections in November have made both the House and the Senate less amenable to global-warming nostrums and have probably spelled doom for any Kyoto-type treaty. They have also given hope that the new Congress may act to rein in the EPA and prevent the administration from implementing draconian Kyoto-style controls via regulatory fiat. But they should not be misinterpreted as a stake through the heart of the global-warming movement.
The Causes of AGW's Fall
The reasons for the great global-warming crackup are many. This article focuses on several of the most important, and then assesses the status of the "corpse" and the chances that it may resurrect, or reincarnate, in a slightly different form.
Walter Russell Mead, in one of his scathing essays, says: "The [global-warming] movement died from two causes: bad science and bad politics." To which could also be added bad economics and bad psychology. Those four "bads" have been exposed and upended by a number of recent "tipping points," such as the actual recorded temperature decline of recent years, highlighted by spectacularly cold and snowy winters; the astounding record of scientific fraud and unethical behavior revealed in the "Climategate" e-mail scandal; the bribery, coercion, and deception revealed by the WikiLeaks documents; the defection of many former climate alarmists, including many of the UN's IPCC scientists; thousands of scientists organizing and speaking out against the co-opting of science by the alarmists; consumer and taxpayer "sticker shock" at the price tag of AGW alarmism — especially during our recession; and the public's sense of betrayal at being "had" by politicians, scientists, and journalists who have been shown to have repeatedly propagated wild exaggerations, hype, and outright lies. Here are some of the more pointed examples:
• Mugged by reality: Despite the relentless onslaught of fright-peddling headlines about global temperatures that are (supposedly) steadily skyrocketing, many people have been experiencing the opposite: historic snows and record cold winters, along with cooler summers. The "Al Gore Effect" has entered the standard lexicon to describe the frequent phenomenon of freezes and blizzards wherever Al Gore goes to pontificate on the "crisis" of global warming. It occurred, of all places, on the media-saturated planetary stage in Copenhagen — just as Gore arrived at COP15. Talk about "inconvenient truths"! Speaker Pelosi and dozens of other prominent warmists were forced to flee from Denmark in haste aboard their private jets to avoid being stranded by the blizzards and record cold wave. The amusing irony was not lost on millions of viewers and readers. The choice of Cancun for this year's alarmist huddle avoided a repeat of that embarrassment, but not by much. It didn't stop Mother Nature from slamming much of the rest of the world with super-frigid temps and paralyzing snowstorms, and even hitting Cancun with 100-year record low temperatures — six days in a row. The reality is that although the so-called experts keep assuring us that the planet is burning with a fever, many people know they have been putting on more sweaters — and they're still cold.
However, these anecdotal accounts, widespread though they be, are not the only evidence contradicting the media-driven climate catastrophism. It turns out that the satellite temperature data also show that there has been no global warming over the past 15 years.
No less an authority than Professor Phil Jones, one of the world's lead warming alarmists and head of the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia (the man and institution at the heart of the Climategate scandal) admitted this when cornered in a BBC interview this past February. Dr. Jones said he agreed "that from 1995 to the present there has been no statistically-significant global warming." He also acknowledged that temperatures have been cooling slightly since 2002. Uhhhhhhh, that kinda contradicts the dominant, screeching, "sky is falling" narrative of the past decade, does it not?
• Climategate skullduggery: In late 2009, an unknown source released thousands of e-mail communications of some of the top names in global-warming alarmism, showing evidence of fraud and deception: deleting and withholding of inconvenient and contradictory evidence; efforts to get colleagues with whom they disagree fired and to prevent them from being published; and much more. Many of these scientists — Michael Mann, Phil Jones, James Hansen, Kevin Trenberth, Keith Briffa, Tom Wigley, et al. — are the "experts" who have provided research for the UN's IPCC reports that are driving the AGW campaign. Michael Mann's infamous "hockey stick" temperature graph, which figures prominently in Al Gore's movie and the IPCC reports, is a prime example. It shows a relatively straight shaft extending from 1000 A.D. to 1900, when a blade turns sharply upward, suggesting that warming in the 20th century was "unprecedented," and caused by man's activities. This widely accepted "evidence" of AGW has been proven to be a colossal sham.
"I view Climategate as science fraud, pure and simple," says Princeton physics professor Robert Austin. Harold Lewis, emeritus professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a member of the American Physical Society for 67 years, says Climategate is further proof that "the global warming scam … is the greatest and most successful pseudoscientific fraud I have seen in my long life as a physicist."
"The climate-change establishment has tried to eliminate any who dare question the science," Princeton physics professor William Happer said in testimony before a congressional committee. "This was made very clear in the Climategate Letters, which reveal the blacklisting of research that strays from the party line with the aid of hostile peer reviewers and helpful editors, and threats to any journal that did not cooperate — in some cases leading to the removal of editors." Clive Crook, senior editor for The Atlantic, said of Climategate: "The stink of intellectual corruption is overpowering."
• More reality muggings: In 2010, the climate establishment was rocked by a number of scandals. In January, the IPCC was forced to admit that it had no evidence to back up the spectacular claim in its 2007 report that Himalayan glaciers could disappear by 2035, a claim that was the basis for fright-peddling headlines worldwide. To this must be added the exposure of the IPCC's fraudulent claims regarding sea levels rising, flooding in Bangladesh, African crop harvests, Amazon rain forests, and hurricanes — to mention but a few of its embarrassing black eyes. One of the most shocking scandals that gained wider exposure in the past year concerns the extensive problem of reliance on weather station thermometers that are sited in urban heat islands, which provides a strong bias for AGW and is in violation of national and international siting standards. Dr. David Evans, formerly of Australia's Department of Climate Change, says this is "cheating," pure and simple.
• Consensus crackup: Although science does not work by consensus and is never "settled," Al Gore and the climate establishment have claimed that only a few crackpot scientists question the "overwhelming" evidence supporting the AGW crisis theory. A 2009 U.S. Senate study published a report with statements of dissent from more than 700 prominent international scientists (which has since been updated to more than 1,000), including many of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scientists. A petition project launched by the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine has collected the signatures of over 31,000 scientists in the United States, including many involved in climate research, challenging AGW alarmism.
A 2007 U.S. Senate report revealed that global-warming alarmists had been funded to the tune of $50 billion since 1990, as compared to only $19 million to warming skeptics. This disparity has put the skeptics (or "realists," as many prefer to be called) at a huge disadvantage. However, over time they have successfully established a large network with many websites that now can circumvent the censorship of the alarmists and the major media.
• Sticker shock: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has stated that averting climate disaster may require "investments" of $15 trillion to $20 trillion over the next two decades for so-called "clean energy." UN proposals for "climate justice" involve transferring $100 billion per year from developed to developing countries. The preposterous price tag of these and other AGW schemes has finally dawned on much of the American public. Together with the current recession, this has made rejecting alarmist nostrums a "no brainer." Surveys repeatedly have shown global warming to rate at the bottom of the list of Americans' concerns.
New Game in D.C.
Realizing he will be unable to get a new all-encompassing treaty through the Senate, President Obama appears to be intent on circumventing the Constitution and implementing the UN climate agenda via executive order, using regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "The President has made clear and we have made clear that the United States is standing behind the pledge that we made last year," Obama's climate czar Todd Stern told a press briefing on November 22, referring to the Copenhagen pledge to reduce GHG emissions. "There are different ways to skin the cat," Stern added, an obvious reference to the EPA's claim to regulatory authority over CO2, ozone, and other GHG emissions.
Thankfully, the midterm elections have dramatically changed the power grid in Washington, D.C., bringing many new AGW skeptics to Congress and strengthening the hands of climate realists such as Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), who have fought an uphill battle for many years.
"We're not going to let EPA regulate what they've been unable to legislate," said Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), the incoming chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Many people and communities whose livelihoods are at stake hope the Republican leadership in the House is serious about that. The EPA's proposed new restrictions on boilers could close down many factories, schools, hospitals, office buildings, and mills, and put nearly 800,000 jobs at risk, according to a study by the econometrics firm IHS Global Insight. And that's only one set of regulations out of several the EPA is attempting to foist on the nation.
As noted in an article by Alex Newman in this issue of The New American, there is also the important fact that the militant "climate change" activists have not put all their green eggs in one basket. They have diversified and are pursuing their objectives on multiple, mutually supportive levels. Their regional "climate initiatives" aimed at the state and local levels are forging sub-national links that are well on the way toward achieving piecemeal what they haven't been able to obtain in one fell swoop through a single global treaty.
The unconstitutional administrative regulations of the EPA (and other federal agencies) together with the proliferation of local-state-regional schemes represent a genuine, ongoing, and imminent threat to our economy and our liberty. Unless the American Gulliver is soon awakened to this danger, these Lilliputian threads that are rapidly multiplying and tightening about us will have us trapped. Now is not the time to gloat over difficulties the global-warming alarmists are experiencing; now is the time to press forward and make sure they are decisively defeated on all fronts — once and for all.
The Great Global-warming CrackupWritten by William F. Jasper
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What a difference a year can make! In December 2009, thousands of politicians, diplomats, and bureaucrats swarmed into Copenhagen for the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), accompanied by hordes of journalists, celebrities, and paparazzi. According to a UNFCCC press release at the close of the conference, "119 world leaders attended the meeting, the largest gathering of heads of state and government in the history of the UN." President Barack Obama was there. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was there, along with a sizeable congressional delegation. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was there. Britain's Prince Charles was there. Billionaire activist gadfly George Soros was there. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Bloomberg, Thomas Friedman, Darryl Hannah, and Bianca Jagger were there. And, of course, Al "Mr. Global Warming" Gore was there.
Fast forward one year to COP16, the UN's just-completed global-warming confab in Cancun, Mexico. No Barack Obama in attendance. No Hillary Clinton. No Nancy Pelosi. No huge Hollywood entourage. No traffic jams of luxury limos. No pontificating by cause-of-the-week billionaires. No elbow-to-elbow crowd of journalists. And none of the minute-to-minute media coverage that was lavished on COP15.


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The chocolate boxes are empty; the red roses are wilting. Without a doubt, post-Valentine's Day can be a bummer time of year, with not much other than the chance green-dyed pastry and Irish Soda bread between now and Easter Candy. Happily for you, Cakespy has put together a list of some confectionery Prozac alternatives: happy desserts, perfect for the dark winter days still ahead.
Frown not upside down yet? While personally we've begun to suspect that you might be soulless, nonetheless we've got one more fail-safe happy idea, provided by Cake Gumshoe Karen (who also works at a very cool company, Mailbox Tees): an over-the-top Rainbow Layer Cake! While some may say (shun the non-believers) that simply adding food coloring doesn't change a cake's taste and character, we suggest that you hold off on making judgements til you taste this rainbow; we think you'll find that yes, magic does add a little something to the mix. Recipe listed here.
Gâteau Basque (Basque Cake)
Servings: 8
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
- 2 cups flour
- 6 oz (12 Tbs) butter
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup black cherry jam
- 1/2 Tbs butter and 1 Tbs flour to prepare the mold
- 1 yolk for decorating the cake
Pre-heat the oven to 400 Degrees Fahrenheit.
Using 1/2 Tb, butter a round 7" pan. Coat the pan with flour.
In a bowl, mix flour, sugar and baking powder together and then add eggs and soft butter.
Split the dough into 2 parts, roll one out and place it in the pan, rising up the side of the pan by 1/2".
Pour the jam on top of the dough.
Roll the second part of the dough on the table (after sprinkling some flour on the table) to form a round crust the same size as the pan.
Put it on top of the jam and stick the edges with the bottom dough. It is important to keep the jam inside the crust.
Mix an egg yolk with a few drops of water. Paint it on top of the crust.
Place in the oven for 25 minutes.
Recipe thanks to France Monthly.


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As we've discussed before, an average American family with two children – a seven year old and a ten year old – spends $1,252 a month on food according to the USDA's liberal food plan.
If that family adopted just a few frugal practices and were able to switch their food spending to the USDA's low-cost plan, the family is now spending just $826.60 per month on food.
That simple shift results in a savings of $425.40 on food each month.
I certainly don't have to tell most of you about the power of frugality, of course. Most of you know the mountains of savings a person can incur if they're careful with their spending.
The challenge is that many people believe that a focus on investing means that you don't have to worry much about frugality. After all, in the eyes of quite a few people out there, you simply can't earn huge returns with frugality.
So, we're going to stick just with this $425.40 per month that you can save just via food and not even deal with the money you can save on your energy bill, entertainment expenses, household supplies, automotive expenses, and other categories each month. This is just to show how important that $425.40 is per month.
For calculation's sake, let's remind ourselves that $425.40 per month is worth $5,104.80 over the course of a year.
Now, let's say you actually have some money to invest. You took that money and did the obvious thing with it and stuck it into a very broad based index fund – the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index. Since 1992, this fund has returned 9.02% annually, which is a very nice return.
That's the easy route – anyone could do this. Now, let's say hypothetically you could spend ten hours a week focusing on investing strategy and find a way to earn 10.02% annually. If you were actually able to consistently beat the total stock market index by 1% year in and year out, you would be a total financial genius and ought to be working on Wall Street, but I'm trying to give investments the benefit of the doubt.
How much money would you have to have in investments to make those ten hours a week spent on investment management worth more than the ten hours a week spent on frugality?
Your target additional earning here is $5,104.80 – except, it's actually more than that. If you're investing these sums of money, you're almost assuredly in the 33% tax bracket, so the amount we're actually looking at is $7,657. Remember, money saved via frugality isn't money you have to pay income taxes on.
So, how much money would you have to have invested in order to earn a $7,657 annual return by beating the Total Stock Market Index by 1% instead of just investing in it?
The answer is $765,700. If you have three quarters of a million dollars in your investments and you have the ability to find a way to consistently beat the market by 1% a year, only then can you earn as much via investing as you can via simple frugality.
Given that 72% of American households live paycheck to paycheck, I think it's pretty safe to say that the vast majority of American households don't have three quarters of a million dollars laying around to invest.
I'm not saying that investment is a worthless thing to think about. What I'm saying is that for most American families in their current situation, a focus on frugality is going to earn them much greater returns than investments will, and that statement will hold true for many years. If a family is very responsible with the money they save from frugality and use it to pay off debts and invest instead of finding other methods to inflate their lifestyle, then they will reach a point where investments matter more.
The truth is that it's only a tiny minority of Americans have enough liquid wealth on hand to make their time spent managing investments worth more than their time spent being frugal once they have an initial automatic investment plan set in place. After that, almost all of us are far better off reading the grocery store flyer and making sure our tires are inflated than reading the latest mutual fund data.


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Quantified Self Louisville: Fall 2012 Meetup Recap
Ernesto Ramirez
October 9, 2012
This guest post comes to us courtesy of Chris Hall, our wonderful Louisville Meetup organizer.
Two weeks ago I threw a Quantified Self Meetup in beautiful downtown Louisville, and I'm writing this post, two weeks later because I've finally come down from the experience. We had a total of four speakers and 13 people show up to the recently renovated iHub co-working space. And I even convinced my mom to postpone her trip back home so that she could speak at it, too. Score. By all accounts it was a great night. If you missed it, check out the abridged recap below (and show up next time!).
Brushing Ain't Easy
Our first presenter was my friend and long time Quantified Self Louisville aficionado, Alex Frommeyer. Alex has a local start-up that is building a blue tooth toothbrush called the BEAM toothbrush. The idea is to stick sensors into a toothbrush along with Bluetooth technology so that you can keep track of your or your loved ones (kids) brush strokes in a mobile application. Alex talked about the Quantified Self movement in general, the BEAM brush in particular, passed around samples and also spoke about the niche for oral care within QS. The talk was really well received, as I had to cut off the question period, and fend off my mom, who kept bugging me to see if she could get the hook up on a BEAM brush, so we could get to the next speaker.
Let Me Ride… My Personal Dashboard
I have to hand it to Nick Such, because he was really the force behind this meetup. Nick lives in Lexington but really wants a group like this to exist in Kentucky and I can't thank him enough for helping put this event together. Not only is he a super cool guy, his presentation was super cool too… as he spoke of how he started measuring things by tracking the gas mileage he would get on an old beater he drove in high school and college. That love for efficiency later translated to him joining the Solar Car Team at the University of Kentucky, and ultimately to him tracking and creating a personal dashboard that he presented to the group. He uses the dashboard to track sleep, activity and food consumption, and I'm personally hoping that Nick comes back to speak again after having a chance to dig through his data with questions.
You're a Data Customer
Next up was my old Humana Innovation Center comrade, Shane Regala, who I now owe a big favor. Shane won the unofficial "who's wearing the most personal tracking devices at the same time" contest, coming in at four. He also handed out a copy of Ubisoft's Yourshape Fitness Evolved 2012 Xbox Kinect game to a lucky winner that guessed the number of steps he took on a random Saturday as a volunteer soccer coach (the right answer was 18,000). Shane delivered a visionary talk that related his personal experience tracking his sleep with two small children in the house to the bigger picture of how tracking may be used by payers, to help us all lead healthier lives in the not so distant future. It was also great to get a peak at some of the projects Humana's Innovation Center is working on, as well as soak in some of Shane's abundant energy.
Last Night a Fitbit Saved My Life
Last but certainly not least, was my very own mother. My mom's story is that she first felt symptoms related to Multiple Sclerosis in 1985, but wasn't diagnosed until 1987. She is still able to walk and live a somewhat normal life, fortunately, and has a never give up attitude. But as you can imagine, it's hard for her to stay motivated sometimes. As the story goes, my wife and I had purchased Fitbits for ourselves earlier this year and then bought one for my mom for Mother's Day. We got her all set up before she flew back home to Minnesota and two weeks later, I received this E-mail from her in my Inbox:
I just had to tell you guys, I am so-ooo psyched(sp), I got my weekly results for last week, (5-28 to 6-3), I walked 20,724 steps, distance, 7.69 miles, and burned 10,303 calories. WOW!!!!! I had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and I've lost 3 pounds since last time I was there. Not much, but dang, it's a start. I told him my kids gave me the Fitbit for Mothers Day, and he thought that was great. I told him how motivated I am, because I can see the results, as I do them!! I told him I was thinking about getting a three-wheeled bike too, for exercise, and he really thought that was a good idea!!! I woke up at 5:30 this morning, and I laid there trying to decide, get up, or go back to sleep? I got up, got dressed and went for an early morning walk. I kept walking until I did a mile. My legs hurt so bad when I got home, I could hardly pick them up, but I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know for all you walkers, that doesn't sound like much, but dang, dang, dang, I am so pumped up, I think I'll go pull some weeds!!!! Love you all!!!
I'm man enough to admit that I cried when I read this the first time. Feedback loops are powerful.
But as we were looking through my mom's weekly Fitbit summary E-mails, to put some slides together, we noticed something wasn't quite adding up. She had been accepted to try out a new drug called Ampyra in June, and by her account it made her right leg, which had been giving her a lot of problems, feel great. However, her Fitbit summaries were curtailing month after month showing less and less activity. When she went to take the Ampyra follow up test, after using it for a month, the drug was deemed to not be helping her enough to warrant continued coverage. She had never looked at her Fitbit E-mails successively to notice that her activity had declined so much, so she was genuinely surprised to see the downward trend.
I personally thought it was super interesting that the Fitbit data didn't necessarily support my mother's conviction that this specific drug is helping her, and yet she still loves her Fitbit AND feels that she needs Ampyra because it helps her. A great paradox of the modern health care system. Flash forward two weeks and she has begun her Ampyra retest period, on her own dime, so that she may come to her own conclusions and either appeal a denied claim or move on to something else that correlates with an increase in both activity AND feeling good, but on her own terms. I personally think that is what the future of health care can and should look like in America.
Sidenote: My mother informed me that she is not a "public speaker" many times before the event… I'm extremely proud that she stepped out of her comfort zone to tell her story to a room full of strangers. Her strength and sense of adventure have inspired me more than she will know.
Wrap Up
All in all it was a great experience, and I'm looking forward to the next one in the early 2013. Hope to see you there!
Do you have a recap from a Quantified Self Meetup you attended recently? If so, send links over to Ernesto and we'll post them here!


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Article Library
Welcome to the OCEANetwork Articles Library. These articles are provided to be an encouragement and support for your home school. They have been written by or for the Oregon Christian Home Education Association Network, but do not necessarily represent the opinion of the OCEANetwork board of directors or volunteers. Our intention is to help others understand the background of Christian home education, as well as the counsel that we give to homeschool families who ask for information.


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Travel and Family Fun Savings from the Seize the Deal Auction
Looking to get away with the family this summer? How about a vacation at half price? Get away for a day or a weekend and save with our Seize the Deal Auction. Choose from golfing, an Erie Canal Boat tour, a two night stay at Big Moose Inn or a chartered boat trip for six hours.
Auction Highlights
-$1,100 Value from Angler's Bay. 6-Hour charted jet boat excursion with tubes, boards, skis, and all safety equipment
-$980 Value from Big Moose Inn. 4 consecutive nights stay at Big Moose Inn, excluding the Moonstruck and Adirondacks rooms.
-$1,908 Value from Wingate by Wyndham of Rome. Package of 12 rooms to be used 1 per month for a year (12 months)
-$1,200 Value from Erie Canal Cruises. Little Diamond III 2-hour private charter
Why pay full price for a summer getaway? Save money and get away to unwind this summer.
Preview all auction items this week and get ready to place your bid starting Monday August 5th. The Seize the Deal Auction will be open until Friday August 9th.


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Lil Wayne Interview Says "F**K The DJs They Can Suck My Dick" [AUDIO ONLY]
Lil wayne said in an interview Fuck the mixtape DJs they can suck ny d***
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