text:
- Font:
- +
- -
CINCINNATI — Democrat presidential candidate John Kerry suggested Tuesday that President Bush may have set the June 30 deadline for turning over control of Iraq to interim government for political reasons.
"I think the June 30 deadline is a fiction and they never should have set an arbitrary deadline, which almost clearly has been affected by the election schedule in the United States of America," Kerry told National Public Radio in an interview to be broadcast Wednesday.
Kerry later said he hopes the date has nothing to do with the Nov. 2 presidential election.
Asked what he meant in his statement to NPR, Kerry told reporters: "I mean that I think they wanted to get the troops out and get the transfer out of the way as fast as possible without regard to the stability of Iraq. The test ought to be the stability of Iraq, not an arbitrary date. ... It should not be related to the election."
In the radio interview, Kerry also said it was not wise for U.S. officials to try to arrest Muqtada al-Sadr, an anti-American cleric, without taking other steps to control violence in Iraq. U.S. officials announced an arrest warrant against al-Sadr on Monday, the same day that Bush reaffirmed his commitment to the June 30 deadline.
Bush also said al-Sadr is working against democracy in Iraq, but Kerry suggested Tuesday that arresting him would work against efforts to build stability in the country.
Crackdown on cleric
U.S. authorities have launched a crackdown on the radical Shiite cleric and his militia after weekend uprisings in Baghdad and cities and towns to the south took a heavy toll in both American and Iraqi lives.
"If all we do is make war against the Iraqi people and continue an American occupation fundamentally without a clarity to who and how sovereignty is being turned over, we have a very serious problem from the long run here and I think this administration is just walking dead center down into that trap," Kerry said.
"As I have said since day one, what you need is to minimize the perception and reality of an American occupation."
Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt said Kerry was the one playing politics.
"This is another example of John Kerry playing politics with the war on terror," Schmidt said. "The president has made clear that he will not cut and run from Iraq."
Other political news of note
Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
House Speaker John Boehner became animated Tuesday over the proposed Keystone Pipeline, castigating the Obama administration for not having approved the project yet.
- Budget deficits shrinking but set to grow after 2015
- Senate readies another volley on unemployment aid
- Obama faces Syria standstill
- Fluke files to run in California
- Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
In the Republican stronghold of Cincinnati, Kerry touted his pledge to create 10 million new jobs if elected. His rally was interrupted by about a dozen people near the front of the crowd who shouted and clapped flip-flops above their heads — a reference to Republican claims that Kerry has changed his position on Iraq, taxes and other issues.
Turning the tables
As his supporters shouted at the protesters to go home, Kerry said they were "rude" and sought to turn the flip-flopper label back onto Bush. He said Bush had broken promises to create jobs and fund education and had changed his position on whether national security adviser Condoleezza Rice should testify before the Sept. 11 commission.
"I can run through the long list of broken promises of this president," Kerry said. "I mean, you want to talk about flips and flops."
Rep. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, meanwhile, challenged Kerry to submit his budget proposals to the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation, where they would undergo the same analysis as ones offered by Bush.
Portman, in a conference call with reporters, said Kerry's spending plans would require more money than would become available by raising taxes on the wealthy, as Kerry has proposed. He also criticized Kerry for not providing specific details about which taxes he would raise or which programs he would cut to trim the deficit.
© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
The Three Faces of Doctor Crippen
The Three Faces of Doctor Crippen
A poster for the Strange Trees' renowned staging of a shocking true-life tale of adultery, murder, and homeopathy.
Add To Cart
- 18" x 24" Screenprint
- Seven Screens on French Brick Red 100 Lb. Cover
- Edition of 150, Signed & Numbered
- Contains no active ingredients, but is rather metallic in spots

subset: commoncrawl


text:
For Immediate Release
June 9, 2016
EPA Holds Public Hearing on Renewable Fuel Standard; MRF Testifies
WASHINGTON, DC– Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a public hearing in Kansas City, MO concerning the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), also referred to as ethanol mandates, and allowed interested parties the opportunity to testify regarding how the regulation affects them.
A variety of stakeholders testified; many of which expressed concern about ethanol mandates forcing increased amounts of biofuels into the U.S. fuel supply and possible effects. However, the majority of speaking slots were filled with pro-biofuel individuals which support higher blends of ethanol in fuel. They spoke passionately citing frustration that a recent EPA proposed rule published in May would increase renewable fuel volume obligations but not at levels they deem "high enough."
On the other side of the spectrum, oil producers and others expressed concerns over higher ethanol blends citing negative effects on the environment, food supply, costs to taxpayers and deleted resources. Congress created the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand the nation's renewable fuels sector while reducing reliance on imported oil. As a result, the EPA is required to set annual RFS volume requirements for four categories of biofuels. One of these categories, "Renewable Fuel" accounts for corn-based ethanol. Recently, the EPA announced a proposal for their recommended level of corn-based ethanol renewable energy to be blended into gasoline for 2017 which is
18.8 billion gallons, an increase from 2016 levels.
Concern over E15
Several individuals expressed concern in both written and oral testimony specifically focused on blended fuel containing 15 percent ethanol (E15) and its potential to wreak havoc on engines by causing corrosion, rubber swelling and other damages. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) was represented through the Freedom of Road Riders (FORR) which also delivered testimony. "Encouraging new research, specifically targeted towards motorcycle engines as well as the effects on internal combustion, could help alleviate the concerns of motorcycle riders, as well as motorcycle manufacturers," stated Amy Allmon, MRF Rep and Member of FORR. Allmon went on to also tout the importance of consumer education asking the EPA to, "help ensure that consumers have a comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with using fuel with a higher blend of ethanol."
Working Together
A major coalition, known as "Smarter Fuel Future" has been active in addressing concerns over ethanol mandates. It brings together major associations, companies, environmental groups and others in order to reform the current mandates. Recently, the MRF became engaged with the Coalition and began participating in supportive activities. This outlet can serve as an opportunity to voice the position of the MRF and its members to learn more about the effects on motorcycles and higher blends of ethanol. This week the Smarter Fuel Future coalition sent a congressional letter to the EPA encouraging increased consumer awareness on E15's potential to cause damage and cited concern over the lack of public knowledge on this fact and related federal laws. The coalition website can be accessed here at http://smarterfuelfuture.org/
In its entirety, the hearing lasted for several hours, allowing over 120 people the opportunity to speak. Interestingly, while motorcyclists' rights groups had a presence during the hearing, manufacturers of motorcycles were not present on the witness list.
About Motorcycle Riders Foundation
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states' motorcyclists' rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.
All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. Ride With The Leaders ™ by joining the MRF at http://motorcycleridersfoundation.wildapricot.org/page-1654836 or call (202) 546-0983


text:
Sign in to follow this
Followers 0
FFIX Steam LLG
To make things less tedious, I used the speed booster at times. Having done this before on console, and having the speed and no encounters booster, I felt like giving it another go. It definitely felt more casual with those advantages.
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new account
Sign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now


text:
Lovely and charming, this casual cutie flaunts a soft knit feel and crochet lace that swirls from sleeve end to sleeve end. See-through with a hint of flirty fun, that lace lets you show skin in a subtle way as you do denim down below. We can see this working for casual Friday with slim cropped pants and flats, too, or even with shorts and sandals on a care-free weekend.
Please see the Garment Measurements tab for the actual measurements of this garment. Use the above link to find the best size for your figure.
Please Note: This garment has undergone a special wash process which results in variations of shading and color. It is recommended this garment be washed separately until no further color is released and that discretion be used when worn with lighter colored apparel.
About the Collection
Take a relaxed approach to style with OSO Casuals® fashions, available exclusively ShopHQ. With easy-to-wear, comfortable tops and bottoms in denim, twill, cotton knits and more, OSO Casuals offers perfectly fitting styles for your relaxed lifestyle.
Designed to meet the needs of modern women on-the-go, OSO Casuals fashions are easy-wear, easy-care, so you can spend more time enjoying life and less time worrying about your wardrobe.
As a woman, you play many roles - from busy working professional to wife and mother. For you, comfortable wardrobe staples are a necessity. With OSO Casuals, you'll find the perfect balance of comfort and fashion...designed for real life.
About the Guest
With more than 25 years experience in the entertainment and modeling industries, Becky Wright has worked alongside some of the best stylists in the business. Through this experience, she's gained a unique understanding of the fashion industry that helped her develop the philosophy that "personal style transcends the trends." As a busy mom of two active teenage boys, Becky searched for a wardrobe that worked as hard as she did. Teaming up with OSO Casuals, Becky has found the perfect blend of fashion and comfort.


text:
By Shannon Carabajal, Army MedicineFebruary 15, 2012
FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (Feb. 15, 2012) -- A new comprehensive website is helping Soldiers maintain their dental readiness.
The information site, the Dental Readiness Information Center, or DRIC, contains up-to-date information on dental readiness requirements, available resources for examinations and treatment, and procedures to update a Soldier or unit's dental readiness status. Soldiers can access the website from anywhere via smartphone or by any other internet connection device.
According to Col. Mark Bodenheim, a consultant with the U.S. Army Dental Command, known as DENCOM, the website is a great way for Soldiers to stay up to date on dental readiness requirements.
"Various dental readiness entitlements and programs have been initiated during the last ten years. These programs can be confusing to the individual Soldier and their command. The DRIC organizes the various programs into a logical sequence dependent upon the Soldier's active duty status and Army component," he said.
"The DRIC also tells Soldiers the current deployment dental readiness requirements; what program they are eligible to access; and upon accessing the program, how their dental readiness status will be updated in the Medical Protection System database," he added.
Created by the DENCOM, the website is available to any Soldier -- active, Reserve, or National Guard -- and supports the U.S. Army Medical Command's Soldier Medical Readiness Campaign Plan.
"With today's high tech Army, each Soldier is critical to mission success. Dental studies indicate that a Soldier who is not dental ready prior to deployment has a greater than 75 percent chance of a dental emergency within the next 12 months. A Soldier with a dental emergency can be a loss to their unit for days," Bodenheim said.
Additionally, deployed Soldiers with oral disease often require medical evacuation for treatment, endangering themselves and others.
Bodenheim said dental readiness is especially important for Army Reserve components (Army Reserve and Army National Guard), because Reserve components, or RC, Soldiers, as an operational force for the Army, must be able to deploy just as quickly as their active component counterparts. The Department of Defense goal is to have active and RC Soldiers maintain a 95 percent dental readiness status at all times. Currently, the Army's active component maintains a 92 percent readiness dental readiness status while the RC dental readiness has improved to 80 percent, a dramatic improvement from just five years ago.
"During the first Gulf War, between 35 and 45 percent of RC Soldiers mobilized needed some type of dental work before they could deploy. This trend continued during the initial mobilization of RC Soldiers for the Global War on Terrorism. The increased use of RC Soldiers for operational requirements necessitated a different approach to the issue. By late 2008, DENCOM, in conjunction with multiple stakeholders, led the development of a funded, year round, RC dental readiness program-the Army Selected Reserve Dental Readiness System," he said.
Bodenheim added that the DRIC is a great way for commanders in all components to enhance Soldier readiness and combat effectiveness.
"Officers within Army commands change constantly. The DRIC permits a new commander, as well as present commanders, to instantly access the most current information on dental readiness. Dental readiness is a commander's and individual Soldier's responsibility. The DRIC is another tool in the commander's tool box to assist in the decision making process of commanders," he said.
The DRIC is located at https://www.dencom.army.mil/dric/index.html or in AKO under the "Dental Readiness" drop down box found in the My Medical Readiness Status section under the Soldier's My Professional Data subject line.


text:
(Julia Cumes for the Boston Globe)
We just returned from a wonderful trip to Sanibel Island in Florida. Like so many visitors to Sanibel our family got bitten by the "Shell Collecting" bug and we spent much of our time roaming the beautiful beaches hunting for shells. I am a big fan of using natural materials in decorating, especially shells, and one of my favorites items is the giant clam shell.
When I returned home I looked through my files and found that over the years I had several images of the giant clam shell. I wanted to share with you a few of my favorites. The photo above is vignette from the John Derian's summer home on Cape Cod. I love the unexpected texture the shell brings to this simple, rustic antique table.
Perhaps the most obvious way to use a giant clam shell is on a table top. It lends itself well as a vessel for planting or housing a collection of fruit or decorative balls. I really love the example above. I find the contrast of the soft, willowy arrangement very striking against the rough coarseness of the exterior of the shell.
(Elle Decor)
Above is lovely living room of Ali Wentworth and George Stephanopoulos. You can see the giant clam shell in the fireplace.
(Elle Decor)
Here the shot is restyled and you can see a better view of the shell. I especially like the bold color of the back of the bookcases. It provides a wonderful contrast for the other shells which are displayed.
(coastal style living)
These next two bathrooms are designed by Barry Dixon and they are fabulous of examples of using the giant clam shell in the bath. The glass shower creates almost a terrarium like display for the shell and provides a fabulous natural element.
(coastal style living)
Barry Dixon again uses a giant clam shell and fills it with natural sea sponges. I love how the placement of the shell softens the lines of the tub. The chandelier and screen are also beautiful additions.
(Jupiter Granite)
I love to see the shells used in more unique ways like the sink above. I adore this!! Someday I hope to add a bathroom at the beach house with a giant clam shell as a sink. This particular one was beautifully executed.
(House Beautiful)
Here is a more opulent example of using a giant clam shell as a sink. This bathroom, with it's mother of pearl tiles, is located in Southampton, NY. You can read more about this amazing home here.
Finally here is wonderful vignette located on the back wall of the pool house of Antiquarian, Michael Trapp, via Joni at Cote de Texas. The giant shell adds a wonderful burst of white against the spectacular stone walls. This home is really extraordinary. You can read more about it here.
Our Sanibel vacation inspired me add more shells to our beach home decor. We came home with a suitcase filled with our beautiful finds. I am anxious to get them sorted and displayed. More to come!! Hope you all are enjoying the summer!!!
Labels: Bath, Beach House, Coastal, Cote de Texas, Dining Room, Shells
0 comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Coach Hamish provided a swim analysis to Pro triathlete Eleanor Haresign recently.
The winner of Challenge Weymouth earlier this year, Eleanor is a great all round triathlete with no weaknesses, who is looking for marginal gains to help her improve in all disciplines. Already a very good swimmer, she's only giving up 3 minutes or so over the lead women at races like Ironman Lanzarote - so even very small improvements are going to be worthwhile for her.
Having had a great season, finishing 10th at Ironman Lanzarote and 14th at Ironman Barcelona, she's now looking at ways that she can find those last few percent gains to get her onto the podium in 2015.
Coach Hamish spent an hour with Eleanor and identified three key points that are really going to help her bridge that gap to the lead pack next year.
She commented afterward, having received her analysis video and session write up :
Great to see a pro triathlete leaving so happy with their swim analysis. We've got a few more Pro triathletes lined up for their swim analysis in the new year - watch this space!
Coach Rob caught up with Ellie afterwards for an interview for the Cup Of Tri podcast which will be live w/b 22nd December. Ellie is great fun and a lovely person - we'd love to see her up on the podium next season! You can read more about Ellie and her swim analysis experience on her blog here: Eleanor Haresign video swim analysis .


text:
How Cuba could bring $50 million to Minnesota
Posted: Feb 23, 2015 10:25 PM RST
Restoring trade relations with Cuba could mean a boost for Minnesota
farmers. Following a trip to the Caribbean nation, Sen. Amy Klobuchar
convened a summit to discuss the future of U.S.-Cuba relations.
Klobuchar has introduced bipartisan legislation to lift the current
trade embargo. The Minnesota senator recently met with Cuban agriculture
and export officials to identify new economic opportunities for
businesses and farmers in Minnesota and across the country.
"One of the things we make best are agriculture products," Klobuchar
said. "Cuba is a big market down there — 11 million people, 90-miles
off our shores — and our country has been closing ourselves off. We
tried a policy and, at some point after 50 years when it doesn't work,
you say let's try something new."
The bill proposed by Klobuchar would eliminate the legal barriers to
doing business in Cuba. Lifting the embargo could fetch $50 million in
trade money for Minnesota.
Source: How Cuba could bring $50 million to Minnesota – KMSP-TV –


text:
Around the world, more people live in cities than ever before. How we live in cities is one of the great challenges of our time. Urban leaders of all stripes, from mayors to community activists, see EcoDistricts as the key to solving many of their challenges, and they are launching transformative projects.
In response, we're creating a powerful convening, advocacy, technical assistance and research platform to inform and drive EcoDistrict acceleration -- strategic in nature, collaborative in approach and practical in application.
At EcoDistricts you'll find people, tools, services and training with a laser-like focus on helping cities and urban development practitioners create the neighborhoods of the future -- resilient, vibrant, resource-efficient and humane.


text: On Mon, 28 Apr 2008, Paul Boddie wrote: > I was wondering whether any developers in the Openmoko community had > considered submitting a talk for EuroPython 2008, particularly those using > Python as a development language. Previous EuroPython conferences have Hi Paul, Could you get these people? http://www.neo1973-germany.de/ The things they are doing are novel and exciting, and are python based. They seem to be demos mostly, and my python is far too elementary to make them happen which grieves me. I really love the "pyphone", simple and elegant. good luck with it, clare


text:
General information on cashing inShow me the answer.
What if I can't find my certificates - can I still cash in my Bonus Bonds?
Yes. You can cash in your Bonus Bonds if you don't have your certificates, either through MyBonusBonds or in person at an ANZ branch. If you're cashing in in person you'll need to bring appropriate identification and we'll ask you to sign a form stating that the certificates have been lost. We'll then update our records so that if the certificates are found at a later date they cannot be redeemed again.
If I cash in my Bonus Bonds, what is the last prize draw I am eligible to participate in?
You are still eligible for the prize draw for the month in which you cash in your Bonus Bonds. For example, if you cash in your Bonus Bonds on the fifth of February, your Bonus Bonds are still eligible for the February prize draw.
Why are certain Bonus Bonds not displayed for cashing in?
This is for the following reasons:
- If the Bonus Bonds have been purchased through any channel in the last 4 business days, these are not able to be cashed in through MyBonusBonds until 4 business days have elapsed. However a cash in request for these Bonus Bonds may be made at an ANZ branch at any time.
- If the funds used to purchase the Bonus Bonds have not been cleared.
- If they are part of a bondholding that requires more than one person to approve a cash in.
- If the Bonus Bonds have been recorded as stolen or have lending secured against them.
How will I know if my purchase or cash in has been processed?
When you next log on to MyBonusBonds, you'll receive a message to say that your request has been processed. You can also see the status of your transactions by clicking on 'My current transactions'.
What if my computer crashes while I'm purchasing or cashing in Bonus Bonds?
All your transactions made before the crash should have gone through, but if you want to make sure, restart your computer, log on to MyBonusBonds and click on 'My current transactions'. The status of any transaction you made through MyBonusBonds will show up, for example 'pending', 'in progress' or 'completed'.


text:
04 Nov Euan LuffLL.B., B Juris, AL, Arb A. - Principal
Posted at 23:09h in 0 Comments
Euan Luff was the Senior Partner of Wilmoth Field Warne since 1980 and has now become a Principal of marshalls+dent+wilmoth. He has considerable experience both in corporate and commercial matters as well as commercial litigation.
Euan has been involved with:
Euan has been involved with:
- Mergers and acquisitions, company takeovers, preparation of prospectuses including overseeing due diligence investigations
- advising the Resources Exploration and Mining Industry
- public equity fund raising and ASX compliance work
- major commercial litigation.


text:
NEW DELHI—This week's China-U.S. climate agreement between the world's top two polluters puts pressure on India, No. 3 on the list, to become more energy efficient and should encourage investment in renewable energy.
But the pact is also a relief for India because it acknowledges the long-held view among developing economies that industrialized nations have been emitting heat-trapping gases for many more decades and so should shoulder more of the burden for tackling climate change. Emerging economies argue they should have fewer constraints to pollute as they grow.
By showing the world's two largest economies are working together toward a common goal with different efforts, the breakthrough agreement signals greater global co-operation over the contentious issue. That eases tension that could help future global climate talks while also raising expectations for India to step up its efforts, experts and environmental activists say.
"The international community will now expect India to make some firm commitments," said Jairam Ramesh, the former head of India's Environment Ministry.
And if China and the United States are going to work to develop cheaper forms of renewable energy, that will expand the industry in ways that would benefit India.
In the pact announced in Beijing earlier this week during President Barack Obama's visit, China pledged to increase its renewable energy capacity to a 800 gigawatts by 2030, double today. By comparison, India only has about 30 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity today.
"That target, it's huge. It's a very positive signal to companies in the clean energy sector" to develop more efficient and affordable technologies, said former climate negotiator Prodipto Ghosh of The Energy Research Institute in New Delhi. "This will enable India to access these technologies in a few years, and to be honest I think this impetus will actually help the world reach its overall targets."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a strong supporter of solar power, overseeing the addition of more than 600 megawatts in his home state of Gujarat. But his government has said little about negotiations for the new climate treaty intended to be finalized next year in Paris.
Scientists have warned that those talks may represent the world's last chance to get emissions in check before the worst effects of climate change become unavoidable. But the U.S.-China agreement acknowledging that that developing and industrialized economies can make different efforts to tackling climate change should help negotiations go more smoothly, some experts said.
"The commitments from the two countries aren't the same, and the U.S. has accepted that," said Nitin Desai, a member of the Indian prime minister's advisory council on climate change. "That makes things a lot easier moving forward."
Last month, the European Union said it would cut its emissions 40 per cent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Taken together, the U.S, China and the EU account for more than half of global emissions, and there were already indications that other nations were feeling the pressure.
China emits a quarter of the world's greenhouse gases, the United States 15 per cent and India about 6 per cent.
In its agreement with the U.S. — which isn't legally binding — China pledged to halt the increase in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The U.S. said it would aim to make its 2025 emissions between 26 and 28 per cent lower than they were in 2005, faster than previous goals.
The deal also focused renewed attention on per-capita emissions, or the country's total greenhouse gases emissions divided by population — a measure that India has preferred. By this measure, India is one of the world's least polluting countries at about 1.2 tons per person.
The United States said it would aim to bring down its per-capita emissions from about 20 tons while allowing China to raise its 8-9 tons per capita so that both reach a level of about 12 tons by 2030.
India has so far pledged to reduce its emissions intensity — that is how much carbon dioxide it puts out divided by its GDP — rather than promising to cut overall emissions. However, Indian officials and scientists say it could easily go beyond the target set in 2009 of cutting emissions intensity by 20-25 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020.
India's preference for the per-capita emissions calculation, however, ignores the fact that around 400 million Indians still have no access to electricity at all, while hundreds of millions more are lucky to get a couple of hours a day. Experts worry that as India's population continues to grow and more people become wealthy, its share of global emissions will skyrocket.


text:
Barons fall to Hempfield in L-L quarterfinals
Following previous losses this season, the message from Manheim Central coach Chris Sherwood to his players was always the same.
Forget about it and move on.
Not this time, however.
Not after suffering a 40-35 loss to Section One runner-up in the Lancaster-Lebanon League playoff quarterfinals at Warwick on Monday night.
It was the fourth loss in five games for the Section Two runners-up.
"This one is going to sting," Sherwood said. "I want this one to sting … I don't want them to get over this. I want this lingering around our practice all week long, like, this feeling you have to not want this feeling anymore."
While the Black Knights (16-7) advanced to Wednesday's L-L semi-finals to face Lancaster Catholic (a 66-59 OT winner over Lampeter-Strasburg), the Barons (19-5) got back to work preparing for 12th-seeded Waynesboro in the opening-round of the District Three 5A playoffs. The 5th-seeded MC boys will host the Indians on Monday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.
In the meantime, they will no doubt be thinking about what could have been.
Baron senior Taylor Funk, who led all scorers with 27 points, knocked down the second of his two treys with 2:46 left in the fourth, putting MC up 30-29. Moments later, the 6-foot-9 forward/center drew an offensive charge from Hempfield's Bryan Karl, and the Central boys were in business.
"We felt we were in good shape," Sherwood said. "We thought the trap was coming out of the 1-2-2."
It was.
And it was very effective for the Black Knights.
In fact, Ryan Moffatt, who led Hempfield with 12 points, had a steal and fastbreak layup to put them up 31-30 with 2:11 remaining.
"We didn't show the half-court trap before that, it sorta speeded (MC) up and I think it's a double-edged sword," Hempfield coach Danny Walck said, "because if you speed them up with too much space, they dissect you. If you speed them up and you cut down on some of that space … and you've got to know where Taylor is. I thought we played really hard through that segment to force them."
It was the first of three consecutive turnovers by the Barons &tstr; a total of 12 for the game &tstr; and when David Martin-Robinson dropped in a layup with 1:38 to go, it was 33-30.
And the Knights never trailed again.
"Those were key turnovers," Sherwood said. "You can't turn the ball over in the fourth quarter against something that we knew was coming. You can't do it. It's not good enough."
A 'three' by Funk rimmed out with :47 left, then Hempfield's Tyler Hilton grabbed the board and buried both ends of a 1-and-1 to make it 35-30.
Kody Kegarise nailed a trey for the Barons from the right elbow with :35 to go, cutting the deficit to 35-33 and keeping MC's hopes alive.
But Hempfield's Javon Mitchell made two foul shots, Funk missed a 3-point attempt, Mitchell sank another freebie with :18.0 left to make it 38-33, and Funk followed with a layup. But when Moffatt converted a pair of foul shots with :7.2 remaining, putting the Knights up 40-35, that was the game.
"I'm disappointed," Sherwood said. "… I think (confidence) is (an issue) at this point. I think with some of our upperclassmen, there's a confidence thing and we're kinda at a loss. We have not gotten on guys at all. We've kinda nurtured these guys with kid gloves and that has to stop now."
A low-scoring first quarter ended tied 8-all, and then Funk scored six points in a 9-4 run to start the second &tstr; capped by Connor Hostetter's triple &tstr; to make it 17-12 with 2:43 left in the half.
"We played that match-up zone and we thought that match-up zone caused (Hempfield) some problems early," Sherwood said.
The Black Knights, though, remained patient at the offensive end despite shooting just 2-of-12 from the floor in the second quarter.
"I have so much respect for Manheim Central and the job coach Sherwood does, and of course, Taylor's a special player," Walck said. "He's a special player. And the other kids play really hard. I thought it was the kind of game that if you lose your patience, that's what they have an opportunity to balloon the lead, to blow that lead out because you come down, you take quick shots, you think you're going to get it back and you can't do that against that team because they're going to capitalize."
Karl, who had five points, capitalized on a layup to cut the Knights' deficit to 17-14 at the half. Then his 'three' tied it 17-17 with :16 gone in the third.
Funk countered with a drive, then buried one of two at the foul line, making it 20-17. But when the Barons' star picked up his third foul with 4:33 left in the quarter, and Moffatt sank two foul shots, things got interesting.
Moffatt then hit a floater and Hilton (7 points) connected on a three-pointer to put Hempfield in front 24-20. Funk's three-point play got the Barons within one, 24-23, with 1:22 on the clock, it stayed that way heading to the fourth quarter.
For the game, Funk, while facing pressure from a number of different Hempfield defenders, was 11-of-22, while the rest of the Barons finished just 3-of-10 from the field.
Asked if the Barons relied on Funk to carry too much of the load, Sherwood said, "He's been carrying the load. We're begging seniors to step up. We're begging them to, and you know what, Kody is close. But another senior is going to have to play well down the stretch."
In the fourth, Hempfield took leads of 27-23 on Mitchell's trey and 29-25 on Moffatt's layup with 3:37 remaining in the game.
Funk scored the next five points &tstr; first on the post, then from beyond the arc &tstr; to put Manheim Central up 30-29 with 2:46 left to play.
But it would the Barons' final lead of the night.
"Everybody's got to enjoy it for less than 24 hours," Walck said. "What people don't always get is, every one of those young men, plus the guys in our travel suits, played an important part in this because you've got a scout team and you've got other guys that have to be ready if their number is called … So it's a team win and I think my biggest message to them is, 'Respect your opponent, but fear none.' We knew going in it was going to be a grind. (The Barons) are a good basketball team if you discount that, you lose. You lose. So don't discount that. Be prepared for the grind, and when you come back in here, it's, OK, you did what we expected. You followed the game plan and this is the result we got. Enjoy it this evening, come back for a late practice tomorrow, let's get ready to go Wednesday."


text:
$98.75 $395.00
Our 'Safi' skirt, is fitted as a classic pencil skirt. With its sleek cut and bow detail at the front waistband, it can be dressed up or down, making it the perfect piece for the office or an evening out.
STAY IN TOUCH BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AND RECEIVE 15% off your first purchase.


text:
100-year-old whisky highlights art of blendingPublication: msnbc.com Date: January 9, 2012 View Article
Antarctica-bound explorers would be wise to bring a case or two of Scotch whisky to endure chilly nights. Ernest Shackleton was wise.
In fact, the Scotch he packed for the Nimrod's 1907 attempt to reach the South Pole was exceptional, according to distillers who sampled and re-created the drink.


text:
3,000 homes in County Wexford losing water to leaks
ONE out of every three homes in County Wexford have costly water leakage problems.
To date around one in 18 Wexford houses with potential water leaks have been sent letters by Irish Water about water leakage issues at their homes. Irish Water has a First Fix Free scheme which has been availed of by 423 householders in County Wexford to date. Leakage of water from the network is a serious problem on a national scale and 'lost water' is estimated at 47 per cent nationally based on figures from the national metering programme, and 34 per cent in County Wexford. The First Fix Free scheme was launched in early 2015 across all metering regions nationally. To the end of March, 75,974 properties were identified with customer-side leaks and 2,994 of these were found in County Wexford.
In 2014 the Government announced funding of €51m for a scheme to address water leakage on pipework within a customer's property boundary under a 'First Fix' scheme. Under the scheme Irish Water notifies customers where suspected leakage is occurring within the boundary of the property outside the home and offer a free leak investigation and repair if appropriate. The vast majority of leaks are underground so go unnoticed and undetected. To avail of the scheme, customers must have a confirmed leak on their external supply pipe; have water meter installed on their property (so the leak can be verified) and have a working and accessible inside stop valve.
Irish Water's Water Conservation Strategy Specialist Kate Gannon urged more people to avail of the scheme.
She said: '2,994 households in County Wexford will have already received a letter indicating a potential leak on their property and these householders should contact Irish Water, if they haven't done so already, to request a free leak investigation. We will then issue them with a First Fix Repair Scheme offer detailing the terms and conditions of the repair. This really is a great opportunity to potentially avail of a free fix.'
878 home owners in County Wexford have so far made contact.
'If you contact us about requesting a leak investigation one of the Irish Water team will contact you within ten working days. LoCall 1850 278 278 or see www.water.ie.'
For more information about the First Fix Leak Repair Scheme for Domestic Water Customers is available at water.ie/water-supply/first-fix/
Wexford People


text:
Avoid Sugar at Breakfast
Contributions by CSPI, Alison Marras, and Jackie Newgent
This Challenge is brought to you by Harney & Sons Fine Teas in honor of World Health Day
"Approximately 80 percent of the 600,000 consumer packaged foods in the United States have added caloric sweeteners." ~Dr. Robert Lustig
"It went great and I am so proud of myself! I still want waffles or pancakes occasionally, but for the most part my morning sugar cravings are GONE!" -@MeggieVeggie
"It was not as difficult as I thought." -@gingerandchorizo
What's Inside
What's In & What's Out
- No white, brown, turbinado, raw or powdered sugar. (Even in your coffee…)
- No simple syrup, agave nectar, maple syrup, honey, high fructose corn syrup, date sugar, coconut sugar, molasses etc. Sugar has many names! Check out this list of 56 names for sugar!
- No sweetened yogurt. Buy plain and add naturally sweet, fresh fruit on top.
- No sweetened cereal or granolas. Read the label! Buy unsweetened muesli instead.
- No sweetened beverages. Even bottled iced tea and packaged nut milks often contain added sugar. Choose unsweetened tea such as Harney & Sons Fine Teas Black Currant for a sugarless option.
- Jam, jelly, preserves and marmalade made from only fruit are fine, but be sure to check the ingredients as most contain added sugar. And remember that whole fresh fruit has a lower concentration of sugar, so try to stick with fresh.
- Naturally occurring sugars in unsweetened dairy products and fruit are a-okay.
- Naturally occurring sugars in dried fruit are okay in small quantities, but make sure to check the ingredients for sugar, and choose the organic kind without sulfites. Try for fresh whenever possible and used dried fruit as a back up.
- Smoothies sweetened with whole fruit are great! Just make sure the milk or yogurt you use doesn't have added sugar.
- If you slip, no biggie. Slipping means you're trying, which is what counts! You can get back on track tomorrow.
Why This Is A Good Idea
We all know that we shouldn't eat too much dessert. But did you know that breakfast is often the most sugar-centric meal of the day? Pastries, sugary cereals, "fruit" flavored sweet yogurts and coffee beverages load our bodies with more sugar than we should be eating in an entire day, all before we get to work. The American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more than 6 teaspoons (about 24 grams) of added sugar per day, and men no more than 9 teaspoons (about 36 grams). For reference, a regular can of soda has 8 teaspoons of sugar, and a 16 ounce chai latté from your favorite coffee shop can easily top 11 teaspoons! Yikes!
Cutting added sugars can significantly decrease your risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, tooth decay, and much more. Why? Excess sugar can cause an above-average spike in blood sugar, triggering you to feel even more hungry, store excess fat, and lead to prediabetes more quickly. To be clear, not all sugars are created equal. The natural sugar from your apple doesn't have the same effect as the added sugar from that chai latté we mentioned, because the apple has fiber that causes your body to digest the sugar more slowly and helps keep you full, while the chai latté does not. Plus, ditch the extra sweetness and you'll even have sharper taste buds—you'll soon be able to experience more nuanced flavors in your food, and the natural sweetness of whole fruit.
Over 70% of strokes and colon cancer can be avoided, as can at least 80% of heart disease and 90% of type 2 diabetes, and diet is a significant factor. Along with exercise and not smoking, developing good eating habits (less animal products, less processed food and more veggies and fruit) can help cut your risk of diabetes by 95%, your risk of heart attack by 80% and risk of a stroke by half.
Basic Tips & Useful Hints
- Be sure to check in after breakfast everyday—it's more effective than waiting till the end of the day. Draw a check mark if your meal had no added sugar or use a free pass if you had added sugar in your meal.
- Hang tight—you're probably going to crave sugar for the first few days. But once you get through that first stretch, it WILL get easier.
- Eat protein and healthy fats which help keep you full and regulate blood sugar levels; beans, nuts, eggs, lentils, yogurt, cheese and avocado are all great sources to include in your breakfast.
- If you think you might cry without something sweet for breakfast, satisfy your craving with fruit and nuts, yogurt with fresh fruit, or a fruit-sweetened smoothie. The key to this Challenge is added sugar, so the natural sugar in whole fruit is fine. Just try to pair it with protein of some sort to stabilize blood sugar levels.
- Clean out your pantry. If your favorite cereal is staring you in the face, you're much more likely to slip.
- Replace sugary cereals with unsweetened muesli and or oats.
- Bulk up breakfast with veggies! Eggs and veggies are a match made in heaven.
- Channel your inner savory self. Eggs are incredibly nutritious, and filling enough to last you through the morning.
- Start the morning with a big glass of water.
- Stay away from processed foods. They are very likely to contain added sugars.
- Just say no to the pastry case. Muffins, scones, croissants and the like are all code for "dessert for breakfast". If you're tempted by sweets when you get your coffee, make coffee at home, or bring nuts with you for something to snack on to distract you from the sweets at the coffee shop.
- Read all labels. Sugar is hidden in everything—from almond milk to yogurt, instant oats and granola. Even in "all natural" peanut butter! Names for added sugar include: anhydrous dextrose, brown sugar, cane crystals, cane sugar, corn sweetener, fruit juice concentrates, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, liquid fructose, malt syrup, maple syrup, molasses, pancake syrup, raw sugar, syrup and white sugar. Other types of sugar you might commonly see on ingredient lists are fructose, lactose and maltose.
Shopping List
- Hit the produce section for fresh fruit like peaches and nectarines, berries and bananas (think smoothies or an unsweetened yogurt bowl).
- Grab some veggies too, such as lettuce, kale, swiss chard, collard greens, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, peppers, squash and sweet potatoes (think omelettes, frittatas, breakfast salads and savory grain bowls).
- Mushrooms too!
- Hit the bulk bins, the mothership of protein-rich, nutritious whole grains like amaranth, bulgur, brown rice, buckwheat and quinoa. These can all turn into delicious savory breakfast bowls.
- Stock cinnamon, vanilla extract, and cardamom for adding on top of yogurt, oatmeal and fresh fruit.
- Organic cage-free eggs are a must.
- A hard cheese such as manchego or pecorino, or goat cheese for the eggs.
- Avocado
- Whole grain Ezekiel bread (avocado toast, nut butter with banana…)
- Nuts and nut butter to pair with fruit for a quick breakfast.
- Frozen fruit for smoothies
- Rice cakes (for nut butter and banana of course)
- Plain unsweetened yogurt
- Unsweetened nut or hemp milk for smoothies
- Unsweetened tea such as Harney & Sons Fine Teas Black Currant for something to sip without the sugar.
Savory Kale and Cremini Oatmeal with a Fried Egg by Newgent
Cheesy Scallion Scrambled Eggs by annefood
Kimchi Frittata by gingerandchorizo
Avocado Toast with Lemony Arugula Salad and Egg by Newgent
Creamy Green Smoothie by annefood
Grilled Grapefruit with Pistachios, Goat Cheese and Basil Vinaigrette by Newgent
Turmeric Breakfast Scones by palaknyc
Grain-free Strawberry Tigernut Muffins
Smart Things To Read And Watch
- The Last Conversation You'll Ever Need to Have About Eating Right
- VIDEO: Is Sugar in Fruit Different Than Sugar in Soda?
- VIDEO: How much sugar are you really eating?
- VIDEO: Let's face it - American breakfast is really dessert
- We need to call American breakfast what it often is: dessert
- It's Time We Call American Breakfast What It Really Is
- Why Your Granola Is Really a Dessert
- Where Americans and Nutritionists Disagree
- Harvard's The Nutrition Source: Added sugar in the diet
- VIDEO by Maya Adam, MD: Sugar Consumption & Recommendations
- You'd Be Surprised at How Many Foods Contain Added Sugar
- The sugar conspiracy
- The Bitter Truth by Dr. Robert Lustig
- Eat This Not That: Worst Breakfast Cereals
- Cutting sugar from kids' diets improves health in just days
- A Calorie is Not a Calorie
- 56 names for sugar
- Eliminate Most of Your Chronic Disease Risk in Four Steps
Note: Foodstand is not focused on the number on the scale. Weight loss can be a byproduct of developing healthier eating habits, but if you have questions about your weight, please contact your physician.


text:
PQI launches the new Macaron "Springtime Afternoon Tea"
range Colorful little "confectionery" that adds that extra special touch to your spring look
March 11, 2013
Spring is in the air! PQI is launching a new, specially designed "Springtime Afternoon Tea" range of PQI Macaron USB flash drives to match the season. These new flash drives feature a full, rounded shape, and are available in a range of four pastel colors: yellow, blue, purple and pink. Resembling a sweet macaron confectionery, they look good enough to eat, and evoke a sense of enjoying afternoon tea in early spring. PQI's patented COB (Chip On Board) technology ensures that these devices are kept small and lightweight; they are also water-resistant, dust-resistant, shock-resistant and impact-resistant. PQI's Macarcon USB flash drives are ideal for storing your precious photos, files, music and videos. When you are not using the drive, you can insert it into the Macaron-shaped cover, and then attach it to your mobile phone or audio player headphone jack using the lanyard accessory provided; besides making an attractive mobile phone "lanyard ornament," it also functions as a dust-cover for your mobile phone earphone jack. The drives can be attached to the 3.5mm earphone jack of a smartphone, iPhone, iPad, iPod, MP3 player etc., helping to keep water and dirt out of the jack. This multifunction device overturns preconceptions about cold, boring electronics devices. Who could resist it?
Mr. Alan Chang, CEO of PQI, notes that "Enjoyment of life is something you need to cultivate and work on!" Enriching people's living experience can help to create a deeper and more profound spiritual culture, which in turn is needed to help humanity progress. PQI has always attached just as much importance to creativity as it does to the product development process itself; PQI aims to instill into its products a life-force and vitality that conforms to users' real needs in their daily lives!
PQI Macaron product specifications:
Interface: USB 2.0
Dimensions: 33.0 x 33.0 x 22.0 (mm)
1.30 x 1.30 x 0.87 (in)
Weight: 16.3±1g (0.57 oz)
Capacity: 8 GB
Warranty: Lifetime


text:
Today is the day. Rain is gone temporarily for the day, and the sun is expected to pop out. Grab your clubs and find the first tee. I will meet you there. Sixty-five degrees is not bad for January!
Golf season is just around the corner. The tournament schedules are in the process of completing and should be posted at the first of February. We are going to bring the Polar Bear Invitational back in February with some twists. It will be conducted as a Couples' Member-Guest. We will post all the details soon.
It's also that time of the year when all the new equipment comes out! The new Taylor Made and Callaway drivers are making waves. If you are interested in picking up some much-needed yards, I encourage you to visit with Mr. Scott Felix. Being fit for the right equipment is crucial. You wouldn't wear shoes too small, so why would play with clubs that don't fit you?
Next week, I will be attending the PGA Show in Orlando. I use this time to not only plan and purchase merchandise for the upcoming year, but I look for anything that may benefit The Ranch. If you have any ideas before I depart on Monday, let me know!
Keep the birdies rolling,
Matthew Brock, PGA
Head Golf Professional


text:
About Edible Image Printing
Print your logo or image onto edible icing
At Cake Decorating Central we can print your image onto edible icing so you can personalise your next cake project with any image you choose! It is as easy as creating your image, saving the document to PDF and email it through to us - we do the rest.
A4 Edible Image Print @ $18.00 inc GST
A3 Edible Image Print @ $30.00 inc GST
Tips for Great Results
Custom Designs and Sizing
Q: Can we resize your images for you or place your image into a circle or square for creating custom toppers with your edible image sheet?
A: Yes we can, however a minimum of 3 days notice is needed and you will incur an artwork charge. Usually around $20.00
When you send through your image for printing we need:
Please send your image and details above to the store you will pick up from:
Castle Hill - email@example.com
Campbelltown - firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Filed under: Uncategorized
The force of gravity – together with certain physiological and ecological constraints – holds in check the evolution of ever larger body-sizes among mammals on land. By becoming secondarily adapted to life in water, however, whales have been able to circumvent at least some of these size restrictions.
The largest extant land mammal – the African Elephant – is considerably outweighed by sea-going baleen whales of even middling proportions. In all of the Cenozoic era (the 65 million year period following the extinction of the dinosaurs), no terrestrial mammal ever grew to match the modern Gray Whale, let alone the Blue whale, in body dimensions. The reduced weight constraints of an aquatic medium accounts for this apparent difference in maximum attainable size.
Outside of the mammals, however, there is one group of extinct land creatures that did approach, and in some cases surpass, the awe-inspiring lengths of the largest baleen whales* pushing the evolutionary envelope in terms of height, length, weight and girth in a way that no other terrestrial animal group ever did.
Together with whales, the sauropods are examples of animal gigantism par excellence.
What are Sauropods?
The term "Sauropoda" refers to group of quadrupedal, megaherbivorous dinosaurs that existed for a span of over 135 million years – from the close of the Triassic period to the very end of the reign of the dinosaurs. Their highly distinctive body plan was characterized by:
1) An elongate neck. One that, in some genera, grew to double the length of the trunk.
2) A small skull relative to body size, with enlarged eye-orbits and highly placed nasal openings
3) A massive body with a long tail
4) Stout, columnar limbs positioned directly below the body. The bones of the hands/forefeet were arranged into a roughly tubular configuration (vertical with respect to the ground), with the phalanges (finger-bones) reduced. Only the first digit bore a claw – and this too was lost in some of the later groups. The structure of the hind foot was notably different from that of the fore foot – the phalanges were larger and three of the digits were typically claw bearing. The bones of the hindfoot were not arranged vertically with respect to the ground, as was the case with the hand bones, but appear to have assumed a "flatter" posture (semi-plantigrade). A cushioning "pad" of tissue seems to have been present at the base of the hindfoot. Reconstructions of sauropod hands and feet as either elephant-like, with nail-like hooves, or lizard-like, with clawed fingers splayed out every which way, are equally incorrect.
There was limited deviation from this general body plan over the rather lengthy course of sauropod evolution. Paleontologists have puzzled for decades over the ecological, biomechanical and physiological implications of sauropod size and anatomy. How big did they get? What sort of diet fueled those enormous bodies? How did the sauropod heart pump blood across those serpentine necks, all the way to the brain? This article shall consider some of these questions.
How big did Sauropods get?
I have seen books quantify the dimensions of sauropods in feet, meters, cars, double-decker buses, building stories, elephants and bulldozers. The longest of them (Diplodocus and Supersaurus) hit a length of about 33-35 meters (longer than a blue whale). Even conservative body mass estimates suggest that the heaviest sauropods (Argentinosaurus) weighed over 70 tonnes (10 times the weight of a male African elephant).
There were, of course, examples of much smaller sauropods – Eoparasaurus, for example, was only 6 meters long from snout to tail.
The immense size of sauropods would have served as a deterrent against predators (and there was no shortage of large, powerful predators in the world they inhabited). The long neck would have given the animal a wide sphere of access to vegetation.
What did sauropods feed on? How did they process food?
Sauropod teeth – which ranged from pencil shaped to spatulate, depending on the species – were designed primarily for grabbing and tearing vegetation off shoots and branches ('cropping') rather than grinding down tough plant matter. There is nothing analogous to the chewing apparatus of modern mammalian herbivores in the oral anatomy of sauropods. No large, flattened, squarish teeth positioned at the back of the jaw to pulverize ingested food items. The head was small and the dentition weak. We may infer that very limited mechanical breakdown of food took place in the oral cavity before it was swallowed.
It has been proposed that sauropods utilized large stones in the stomach (called gastroliths) to grind down food. This digestive adaptation is called a "gastic mill" and is observed in modern birds. But the small sizes of fossilized 'gizzard stones' relative to body dimensions as well as the possibility that they are simply a result of sedimentary processes, has led a number of researchers to dismiss the idea that this form of food reduction played major role in sauropod digestion. But, without a gastric mill or significant oral processing, how did sauropods physically reduce ingested plant matter into smaller, more digestible bits?
Perhaps such processing was not necessary. Like modern vertebrate herbivores, Sauropods almost certainly relied on a community of symbiotic microbes to break down the otherwise-indigestible cellulose present in the cell walls of ingested plant material. This microbe-mediated process, involving the enzymatic breakdown of cellulose (and other carbohydrates) into short chain fatty acids that can be absorbed by the host, is called fermentation. The tremendous sizes of sauropods might have permitted the retention of food in the digestive tract for long periods of time. Prolonged food retention times and extensive exposure to microbial fermentation may have compensated for the limited mechanical reduction of food in the mouth and gut.
The lengthy necks of sauropods gave them an enormous foraging range. They fed on gymnosperms (conifers), sphenophytes (eg. Horsetails) and pteridophytes (ferns). As flowering plants diversified rapidly during the mid-cretaceous, they too were incorporated into the sauropod diet.
Bird lungs and long necks
The vertebrae and ribs of sauropods have well-developed air-spaces. These air spaces are similar in nature to those found in birds, their closest living relatives, suggesting that sauropods may have sported an avian-style respiratory system – with air-sacs distributed throughout the body. The presence of these air spaces lightened the enormous skeletons of these animals without compromising strength. In addition, the presence of air sacs may have permitted the evolution of one of the signature features of sauropods: an elongate neck. As the length of the pathway of air-conduction between the nostrils and the lungs increases, the amount of so-called anatomical "dead space" increases. Dead space refers to inhaled air, located in the conducting areas of the respiratory system, which does not participate in gas exchange. The large dead space present in the incredibly long tracheas of sauropods would, at first blush, appear to severely lowered breathing performance. Under an avian model of respiration, however, the additional air-storage capacity provided by the air sacs would allow the trachea to overcome this dead space and maintain respiratory efficiency.
The high rates of growth determined from histological analysis of sauropod bone tissues appear to indicate that, for at least part of their life span, sauropods had high basal metabolic rates comparable to large mammals. This high BMR may have slowed down later in the life of the animal. Adult sauropods would have retained heat energy and maintained a relatively stable body temperature by mere virtue of their size (gigantothermy). Muscular activity, metabolic reactions and digestive processes, such as fermentation in the gut, produced heat internally. The air sacs described earlier served as surfaces for heat exchange.
How did the sauropod heart pump blood to the head?
The vertical distance between the heart and the head in sauropods is dependent on neck posture. If large sauropods did hold their necks upright, the vertical heart-brain distance in many cases would be over 8 meters. Scientists infer that huge blood pressures (over 700 mm Hg) – unheard of among modern animals – would be necessary to supply the head with oxygen and nutrients. The enlarged, highly muscular heart that would be necessary to produce this astonishing hydrostatic pressure would be grossly energy inefficient, take up an inordinate amount of space and suffer from a number of mechanical disadvantages. Various cardiovascular adaptations have been hypothesized to exist in sauropods to get around this issue.
Some workers suggested that the sauropod circulatory system featured multiple 'hearts' in series, each accessory heart capable of pumping blood to the next valved pump, making it possible to achieve effective blood flow between the primary heart and the brain. However, no such system has been observed to exist in modern vertebrates and it is unclear how the nervous co-ordination of this congo-line of secondary hearts would have operated. Perhaps sauropod blood had a higher viscosity and erythrocyte count, increasing its oxygen carrying capacity.
The neck posture of sauropods is still widely debated, but if the head were habitually positioned at low-to-medium heights, as appears to be the case in Diplodocus, then there is no need to invoke the presence of a grossly hypertrophied heart or outrageously high blood pressures. Browsing at high elevations for limited periods of time, though costly in terms of cardiac output – may have given sauropods access to critical food resources unavailable to other animals.
Could sauropods rear up?
Kinetic-dynamic modeling of the skeletons of sauropods indicates that at least some of them were capable of briefly rearing up on their hind legs and utilizing their tails as a "third leg" of sorts (a kind of tripodal stance) before dropping back down to a quadrapedal stance. This would have allowed for browsing at great heights. A rearing diplodocus would have been a sight to behold indeed.
One of my favorite television depictions of sauropods was in a BBC production called The Ballad of Big Al. This clip involves a pack of Allosaurus' launching a concerted attack on a Diplodocus herd. Enjoy!
* These same whales do still have the sauropods safely beat in terms of sheer tonnage.
1. Sander, P. Martin, et al. "Biology of the sauropod dinosaurs: the evolution of gigantism." Biological Reviews 86.1 (2011): 117-155.
2. Farlow, James O. "Speculations about the diet and digestive physiology of herbivorous dinosaurs." Paleobiology (1987): 60-72.
3. Wings, Oliver, and P. Martin Sander. "No gastric mill in sauropod dinosaurs: new evidence from analysis of gastrolith mass and function in ostriches."Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 274.1610 (2007): 635-640.
4. Seymour, Roger S. "Raising the sauropod neck: it costs more to get less."Biology letters 5.3 (2009): 317-319.
5. Taylor, Michael P., Mathew J. Wedel, and Darren Naish. "Head and neck posture in sauropod dinosaurs inferred from extant animals." Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 54.2 (2009): 213-220.
6. Apesteguía, S., V. TIDWELL, and K. CARPENTER. "Thunder-lizards: the Sauropodomorph dinosaurs." The evolution of the hyposphene–hypantrum complex within Sauropoda (2005): 248-267.
6 Comments so far
Leave a comment
I'd assume that for a beast the size of a large sauropod, more conventional dietary adaptations to herbivore diets like an enlarged cecum or sacculated intestine would become impractical because of the proportions involved.
The surface area to volume ratio woulds start to severly affect nutritional uptake; the bigger the sauropod, the less intestinal surface area per unit volume you would have. Thus, the intestine would have to increase more than proportionally – and that would take up valuable thoracic cavity space. Given the adaptations postulated here, like the air sacs, this would already be at a premium.
The metabolic activity of the organism presumably would rise proportionally (above a certain threshold for very small animals) with the organism volume. So the deficit caused by the lowered surface area/volume ratio would have to be countered for by increased, or more efficient, uptake.
We can see how elephants already come close to a maximum limit on how much food can be eaten in a day – the devastation an elephant herd can cause to a forest is only mitigated by the relatively undigested fecal matter that stimulates new plant growth.
Further, the evolutionary adaptations of sauropods seem aimed at getting difficult-to-reach food sources, which would most likely be higher quality vegetation. This would go against an elephant-like stomach morphology that takes in lots of low-quality vegetation and absorbs what it can and passes the rest.
So, perhaps sauropods required the ruminant approach which, unlike our own digestive systems which employ microbes primarily to break down sugars, break down starches prior to entering the small intestine (where the freed sugars would then be broken down by different microbial species for intestinal absorption). This would bypass long, inefficient waiting periods in the intestine and increase uptake rates. However, ruminants repeatedly regurgitate and chew their food in order to speed up the process – which sauropods do not have the dentition for, if they lack any type of grinding apparatus.
Maybe they had some non-bony apparatus by which to facilitate grinding and regurgitating, like the dental pad of modern cows and goats? I am not educated in this topic
[…] Gigantism in sauropods — all the details behind growing huge. […]
[…] Sauropods – Whale Lizards by arvindpillai […]
But besides watching these lovable animals, there are other things to do.
Global warming causes ice sheets to melt, increasing sea level, and prompting penguins to move farther south in
search of new habitats. Warming temperatures and stronger winds, break sea ice apart, so penguins can easily swim to
find food instead of walking.
insanity max:30 review
Sauropods – Whale Lizards | Fins to Feet


text: Ok so i am playing through the world league and have a killer back line so far... but basically i wanna know who are the best all forwards to give me an awesome overall forward pack. I am looking at Richie McCaw and George Smith cause in my opinion they are the best in the world and it seems to have been adapted into the game- they are both awesome at rucking which is very accurate. But any other suggestions for any forward position would be cool and also an explanation as to what they can offer!


text:
This podcast features fresh reflections on Frederica's travel and experiences. She will talk to interesting people, tell us fascinating stories and share unique insight into the changing world in which we live.
You can write to Frederica by going to her website, www.frederica.com. If you'd like to have Frederica come and speak to your group, please contact OrthodoxSpeakers.com.
To share Frederica's podcast on your website, we encourage you to steal our linkbutton.
Start date: June 2007


text:
Apparently, its Tiger Week here at DesigningZoos.com! To continue the trend, I'm bringing you the exclusive details on the Dakota Zoo's new Tiger exhibit. This week, the Zoo, located in Bismarck, ND, opened Phase I of its new two-part big cat exhibit. Phase I is a super-sized tiger exhibit, currently housing three adolescent Siberian Tigers, and Phase II, slated to open September this year, will be the new home to two Snow Leopards. Here is a local news reporter's tour through the exhibit. The Zoo successfully managed to stretch its limited budget of $1.2 million to the max, by primarily focusing on animal well-being and visitor proximity above theming and story-delivery. The guest features of the tiger habitat include pop-up viewing stations inside the exhibit, as well as nose-to-nose glass viewing from the perimeter.
The tigers are lavishly provided for, as well, with an enormous 45,000 sf of exhibit space. For comparison, the Bronx Zoo's large six tiger habitat, opened in 2003, is approximately 65,000 sf (that's 10,800 sf / tiger) while Dallas Zoo's six tiger habitat, opened in 1999, is a more typical 28,000 sf (4600 sf / tiger). The Dakota Zoo has planned for a maximum of four total tigers, which would mean each tiger could have a possible 11,250 sf territory to roam, when the facility is maxed out.
The exhibit also features pools for swimming and play, rocks for lounging and climbing, natural vegetation for shade, and grass underfoot.
The Dakota Zoo's back of house support area is also impressive, providing four somewhat standard-sized stalls of 120 sf each (10' x 12'), with an additional 1200 sf off-exhibit yard.
Terry Lincoln, Director of the Dakota Zoo, kindly took a few minutes to share some thoughts on the exhibit with me. Via e-mail, I asked him if the recent press coverage of the San Francisco Zoo's attack had affected any of the planning for this exhibit.
"We did review the San Francisco tiger incident and didn't end up changing our plans, although we were interested to learn that our den height of 12' was roughly the same height as their exhibit wall. Our den {ed. note: holding building which serves as one barrier of tiger enclosure} has 4.5' of mesh and solid invert above the 12' level to prohibit jumping or climbing {from within the exhibit}. We {also} made provisions to install a video DVR system to monitor and record the guardrail areas in the event that an incident were to occur."
He also mentioned the exhibit walls are 16.5' tall, and made from 3" mesh. The full height includes a four foot kickback at the top. Additionally, the tigers are discouraged from approaching the mesh walls with a single strand of hotwire at the two foot level. Click here to watch a video of Terry and the stars of the show being interviewed at the off-exhibit yard.
This exhibit took over eight years of planning and fundraising. The Zoo designed the exhibit in-house, hiring a local architect to draw it up for them. It is clear by the amount of local press coverage of the exhibit that the city is very proud of the exhibit and the zoo. Congratulations to all involved in Phase I, and best of luck in Phase II.


text:
Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
On Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, the Annual Livestrong Challenge Ride will cut through Buda. This will impact several roads, including Old San Antonio Road, Main Street, FM 967, FM 1626, FM 2770, etc.
There will be a large number cyclists traveling through Buda, so please use caution on the roadways.
For more information on the route and estimated times that cyclists will be riding through Buda please visit https://www.livestrongchallenge.org/course-maps.
Ride Schedule: https://www.livestrongchallenge.org/schedule


text:
Focused on the development of technical wilderness and leadership skills, OTA's OUTdoor School offers students a safe and supportive environment to be challenged and grow. Students can expect to learn the basics of outdoor living, as well as the technical skills necessary for the safe participation in the various activities during their trip. Whether adventures will remain purely recreational or you're looking for a way to break in to the outdoor industry, OTA's OUTdoor School is perfect for any queer person ages 18 through 22.
2017 OUTdoor School Schedule
Session one: June 25th through july 2nd
Dubbed "the Narhwal Pod", OTA's signature expedition features 8 days of sea kayaking throughout Washington's San Juan Islands. Participants learn the basics of camp living, kayaking safety and nautical navigation. Lessons on native flora, fauna and leadership are also taught by our experienced instructors. The expedition culminates for each participant during their turn as the "Leader of the Day", an exercise that turns over the reigns of the trip to teams of participants.
session two: july 23rd through july 27th
You'll need a good pair of hiking boots and a love of granola for this session! Students will participate in 5 days of backpacking in the North Cascades where they will learn the basics of camping living and wilderness travel. Through learning how to work together students will overcome challenges and learn to safely lead themselves and each other through the backcountry.
Questions about our trips? See our FAQ's page or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Alex Egorenkov
Research Associate, Resources for the Future
Alex cannot put down a good problem. Whether it is writing a Python optimization algorithm as a child to identify the most tactical armor set to buy in a video game, or turning an arduous policy evaluation process into a lightweight web app.
Alex now works on web applications with analytical back-ends, large-scale optimization problems that model the US electricity market, and educational tools that respond to the cognitive load of programmers.
Previously (4):
Data Science
In this part-time course, students learn to build robust predictive models, test their validity, and clearly communicate resulting insights.
4 Times


text:
Available ebook formats: epub mobi pdf rtf lrf pdb txt html
Ashley Mason is a 26 year old writer from a small town in Midwest, USA. Her writing focuses mainly around Science Fiction & Fantasy Romance at the moment.
She loves absolutely anything of the paranormal variety and strives daily to become a better writer. She divides her time, as equally as possible, between working full time, being a single mom, and furthering her writing career.


text:
Lenovo Set to Axe Vibe Brand?
Reports are suggesting that Lenovo is set to drop its Vibe smartphone brand to focus on its Motorola and Lemon labels
While you probably know them best for their business-oriented laptops, Lenovo is actually the world's fourth largest smartphone manufacturer - thanks in part to its trio of sub brands, Motorola, Vibe and Lemon. That lineup is set to get a little smaller in the near future according to the latest reports, however, with the company set to axe the Vibe brand in a bid to consolidate its offerings and increase its overall market share through a more streamlined product line.
The Vibe isn't one that'll be immediately familiar to most smartphone users in the West, but it's nevertheless one that has performed reasonably well for the company in its home territories. Despite all that, the company's Mobile Business Group President, Chen Xudong, is reported to have told website Tech QQ that the lineup is set for the chop, with some of the Vibe hardware making its way over to the Lemon brand instead.
This has been denied, however, by Lenovo's Mobile Business Group Marketing Director, Sridhar Ramaswamy, who spoke with CNET about the rumours, saying:
We created VIBE as a smartphone brand and we are committed to developing it. We do not have any plans to phase out the VIBE brand, and it will remain.
Online Editors


text:
Office Bullying
Bullying Manager
Some years ago my wife asked me for some advice to help her through a difficult situation at work. And the advice that I gave to her is still being used today.
She came to me for advice because I am held in high esteem, both at home and at work, for having a razor sharp wit, and a wicked sense of humour.
I must admit I do tend to see the funny side in everything, sometimes even I know when I have overstepped the mark, but when it's in your nature what can you do?
I really do steer clear of causing hurt or offence but some people just deserve their comeuppance.
Anyway to get back to my wife's story.
One day she phoned me up at work and I could tell from her voice she was very upset. Knowing that she would never phone me at work unless it was important I steeled myself for the worst.
· Had she had an accident?
· Had she got the sack or been made redundant?
· Was she stuck in a lift?
· No!
Anger management
The Anti Rant Tool
Her manager was having a rant at her over a lack of certain information not included in his current report.
She had told me about this manager before; his super power was to always get the wrong end of the stick. This always made him rant first then apologise later when he had taken the time to let the explanation sink in.
In this particular episode the answer to his rant would have been very simple to explain, if only he would let my wife get a word into the one sided conversation.
He had sent my wife an email after receiving his last report, asking her to leave out the very information he now needed. But as this manager was the type to blame everyone else first for things that didn't go to his liking, he just ranted instead.
Lots of my wife's other colleagues have made complaints about this manager and his attitude, to his superiors and the trade union. They all came to no avail due to the fact that they were all golfing buddies, don't you just hate that.
So what my wife wanted was a way to anaesthetise her brain during his rants so that she did not take it to heart and get upset. Because at the moment it was very upsetting even though she knew he would come back at a later date to apologise to her. The damage was already done by then. he had already caused the upset.
Now this was where I had to think on the spot, in double time. An answer was needed to both give her a tool that would help her right now, plus be usable in any future encounters. Quick as a flash the answer formulated in my mind, I drew on some back ground information I was already contemplating about for other projects.
I have been studying Memes for a number of years now and I completely understand the driving power of the mighty meme. So I decided that a meme would be powerful enough to override her manager's rants. Once planted in my wife's mind it would stick there until needed.
This was what I came up with, my "Anti Rant Tool (ART)
And it would have to be powerful, simple and memorable...PSM
So I said to my wife,
"Next time your manager has a go at you, all you have to do is imagine he is standing there in front of you with no trousers on. Imagine he his standing there in front of you wearing bright yellow poker dot old ladies bloomers."
With that image in her head she was able to counteract his rants very easily.
She said the first time she used it, it worked like a dream. Her manager started one of his regular rants but instead of her getting upset she instantly recalled the meme.
Instead of being overwhelmed by her manager's rant, all she could see in her mind's eye was a silly old man wearing a pair of old ladies yellow poker dot bloomers...job done.
This absolutely destroyed the power he had over her; she suffered no more upset from him from then on. In fact it now stops him dead in his tracks, where before she couldn't get a word in edge ways, he now has to stop and ask what she is smiling at. But of course she will never tell him her secret.
As with all good memes, it spread across the office as my wife confided the "Anti Rant Tool" to all her fellow sufferers.
The manager can often now be seen leaving the office muttering to him;
"What is wrong with these people?"


text:
Over at the Oprano messageboard for adult entertainment webmasters, there's an interesting thread today -- users are constructing a timeline of the adult industry. It's pretty comprehensive. Here's one of the more densely annotated timelines, submitted by user "Gonzo." After the jump, and into the late 20th century, we get into tech-centric milestones like Betamax and Section 2257 that made the present-day biz what it iz. I love how the timeline does one humongous warp-speed leap from the 1400s to Dr. Ruth. Guess there wasn't much shagging going on for 500 years! Snip:
1st century BC - Kama Sutra was created
1440 - Gutenberg Press Invented
1928 - Dr. Ruth was born.
1953 - Hugh Hefner starts Playboy
1965 - Bob Guccione starts Penthouse
1968 - Al Goldstein starts Screw
1969 - First mainstream movie to represent the swinger lifestyle - Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Directed by Paul Mazursky
1970 - Penthouse shows pubic hair for the first time.
1970 - Notable Porn Movies - Cycle Studs - Le Salon (Gay)
1971 - Notable Porn Movies - The Boys in the Sand - Wakefield Poole (Gay)
1971 - First condom to appear in a movie - Carnal Knowledge, Directed by Mike Nichols
1972 - Notable Porn Movies - Deep Throat - Gerard Damiano (Straight)
1972 - Notable Porn Movies - Behind the Green Door - The Mitchell Brothers (Straight)
1972 - Notable Porn Movies - Fritz the Cat - Ralph Bakshi (Anime)
1974 - Larry Flynt starts Hustler.
1975 - Betamax introduced
1975 - First condom commercial air on television
1976 - VHS introduced
1978 - Larry Flynt is shot in an assassination attempt that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
1983 - Name server developed at University of Wisconsin
1984 - Penthouse publishes pictures of Vanessa Williams naked. She resigns her Miss America crown.
1984 - Domain Name Systems (DNS) introduced
1985 - Symbolics.com is the first registered domain in history
1985 - Earliest domains to be registered - cmu.edu, purdue.edu, rice.edu, berkeley.edu, ucla.edu, rutgers.edu, bbn.com, mit.edu, think.com, css.gov, mitre.org
1986 - Traci Lords is discovered to be underage
1986 - US Attorney General Edwin Meese published 1,960 page report investigating porn at the order of President Ronald Reagan.
1988 -Title 18 United States Code Section 2257 was enacted
1990 - First commercial provider of Internet dial-up access - world.std.com
1992 - Term "Surfing the Internet" is first heard
1993 - Don't Ask Don't Tell introduced by President Bill Clinton.
1993 - World Wide Web goes live.
1994 - Sex.com was registered by Gary Kremen
1995 - First confirmed blowjob in the White House.
1995 - Sex.com was stolen by Stephen Cohen
1996 - Domain name tv.com sold for $15,000
1997 - DVD introduced
1997 - Domain name business.com sold for $150,000
1998 - Viagra introduced
1998 - Al Goldstein installs Fuck You Finger in his backyard in Florida.
1999 - Domain name business.com sold for $7,500,000
2000 - Sex.com was given back to Gary Kremen after a legal fight.
2000 - AEBN launched first VOD site
2000 - American Express stops accepting porn transactions
2001 - Yahoo removes porn banners from search engine
2003 - Paypal stops processing adult transactions
2003 - Penthouse files bankruptcy
2005 - Sex.com theif Stephen Cohen arrested
2005 - Video iPod introduced
2006 - Sex.com sold for a reported $12,000,000
2006 - Google resist court order for porn search results
Link (Thanks, Honey Juggs Ninja Pony!)
Reader comment: Jeremy says,
I wouldn't call that timeline comprehensive at all. It certainly covers most of that Valley porn production history in the 20th century, but that jump it has...
There are Attic Red Figure, Black Figure and White Figure vases in the Metropolitan Museum and elsewhere featuring very detailed orgies, pederasty, threesomes, mastrubation and more from centuries before the Kama Sutra.
If they're going to include the Kama Sutra, what about 19th Century Japanese pornography (posted to bOING bOING before) or those Victorian-era hidden nudie pictures you guys posted before. Hell, if we're going to call the Kama Sutra pornography (it's always seemed a bit dry to me) what about Boccaccio's Decameron (all about nun fucking) or heaven forbid every American's 9th grade foray into Canterbury Tales.
If that's the extent of their curiousity about pornography and the history of human eroticism, I'd hate to go to bed with them.
Reader comment: brainwreck says,
To fill in that 500 year blank in the porn timeline you blogged about at BoingBoing you should read "An Unhurrried View of Erotica," by Ralph Ginzburg (1958, The Helmsman Press)


text:
I'm finally getting my groove back with blogging and I realized that I haven't showed you this dreamy session that I did in collaboration with Birch and Brass, Wondrous Whimsy, and Slavonk & Hortus for Lauren Kelp from the past summer. You can also see Birch & Brass's excellent write up about this dinner here!
Last summer was my first in Austin and thankfully it was a mild one. That doesn't take away from the fact that it was still so hot out. That doesn't stop Austin from doing things outside though. We still do everything normal people with mild summers would do, including dine al fresco. The heat isn't a deterrent. I love how much Austin loves the outdoors and I'm so grateful to be here in the heat. I feel like these photos take me back to that hot summer night & make me want to pour everyone a round of sweet tea.


text:
After thinking further on the coming keyword apocalypse, I've realized that my previous thinking has been too narrow.
I have, in other places, talked a lot about how the decline in keyword data may affect the future of search engine optimization. For those who haven't been following, Google has decided to restrict what information is passed on to the website when a user searches and clicks on the link. By encrypting user searches, the search phrase itself no longer gets passed on.
At first, Google only implemented this for logged-in users. The difference was that now about 50% of search traffic was reported in Google Analytics, or whichever web metrics application you use, as "not reported." I did some tests that showed that the traffic we did have information on was fairly similar to the not reported in other measurable behaviors, suggesting that the data we did have was enough to extrapolate to all visitors.
Then, Google raised the stakes by encrypting ALL search traffic. This change is being rolled out over the next month, and already we're seeing the percentage of "not reported" going as high as 85%. Eventually, it is likely that we won't have reliable information about the search phrases people are using.
I took this as a problem. There is still some data available, via Google webmaster tools and, for those who use it, AdWords. But this information is not as robust or useful, as it cannot be segmented and tracked through Google Analytics.
But I was thinking about it all wrong. I read this article, and realized that the thing that is changing is not just how keywords are being reported. It's how search phrases are being used in the first place. With the advent of personalized and localized searches, we've already known that the search phrase itself doesn't fully predict what a person might see. But now, with Google's latest update, the search phrase is becoming less of a factor; one part of a longer dialog that incorporates past searches as well as a recognition of the entities being discussed.
The truth is that we need to break away from optimizing just around a set of keywords, anyway. We need to look more at the whole user experience, starting with the conversations and behaviors they are having with the search engines, and then how that conversation becomes an invitation to visit our website.
Search engine optimization may not be the correct word anymore, but the field is not dying. It is growing in complexity and impact.
Signup below to receive updates about what we are up to.


text:
Facilitation Wellington Dufferin is hosting P4P's webinar, ART OF BELONGING, a TED Talk inspired evening featuring six passionate presenters from diverse backgrounds sharing their perspectives on the power of belonging and community. Speakers include...
DE AMON HARGES - We are Not Here to Build Community, We are Here to Remember it De Amon is a philanthropist who supplies resources to groups of residents to help them achieve their vision for a stronger community. He is founder of the Learning Tree, an association of neighbours in Indianapolis working to build community. thelearningtrees.com
DAVID ROCHE - How I Learned to Belong The story of his heroic journey from shame to strength has inspired standing ovations from the White House to New Zealand, from Moscow to London, in Sydney, across Canada and the USA. davidroche.com
JESSICA BOLDUC - Feeling at Home, in our Own Home: Reconciling Indigenous Belonging Jessica's currently works with the 4Rs Youth Movement, a collaboration of fourteen national organizations creating opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people to dialogue, learn and relationship-build. 4rsyouth.ca
There is no cost for this event, but please RSVP to: email@example.com


text:
Any comments or concerns with (technically) our first dessert?
Cs&Cs: Salted butter caramel-chocolate mousse
Any comments or concerns with (technically) our first dessert?
Okay, we're doing things completely different for May!
Let's see how your fried ham and cheese sandwiches turned out!
It's that time again!
During the lovely month of May, we'll be posting twice: May 6 and May 20.
For May 20, we have something special planned, to be revealed when we post the schedule next week.
So, please choose 1 dessert recipe to nominate for May 6. Poll will be up this weekend.
Comments and concerns about your croque monsieur (or madame, for that matter)?
Want a portable version of MPK? Hesitated to join us because you didn't want to purchase another physical cookbook? Check out how to get the ebook for $1.99 through 4/17 here!


text:
Description: The Walt Disney Company is a diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with five business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media.
Explore further:
All of the information contained on this page and throughout this site is confidential copyrighted material and is the sole property of CollegeGrad.com. This information may not be used in any way outside of our site. For further information on the copyright of this material, please consult our copyright information or contact us.


text:
Home | Foundation History | Mission Statement | Vision Statement | Park and Mansion History
Activities |
Environmental & Legal Issues |
Act Now |
Community Support |
Photo Gallery
Our Parks are Not For Sale!
"Once they're sold, they're gone forever."
Did you know that the Mayor and the Carmel City Council are fast-tracking the sale of the heart of Mission Trail Preserve/Park - 1.25 acres of public parkland - and allow it to become a private, single-family residence?
We need your help to prevent the council from going forward with the sale. Here is why:
It guts the city's largest park. Mission Trail Preserve/Park is the most popular and widely used park. This would remove the heart of the park from public use. See the map on the right.
It's irreversible. This amounts to selling our city's precious inheritance. The city won't be able to buy it back.
It conflicts with the law. The proposed sale violates the city's General Plan and Local Coastal Land Use Plan regarding parkland preservation and enhancement.
It is irresponsible. The economic gain to the city is very small compared to the public's environmental and recreational loss.
It's bad economics. There may be an insignificant return on this sale in this economy.
We need your help in spreading the word about this Sale and why it is bad for Carmel today and in the future.
Help Us Keep Mission Trail Preserve/Park Whole!
The Flanders Foundation and the Friends of Flanders believe that it is wrong for the city to sell off such valuable community assets for a short term financial gain. "Once parkland, open space and historic properties are sold, they are gone forever". There are not and will not be the dollars to replace them, not at Carmel prices! When the sale money is used up no one will ever remember where it went, yet the public will have lost significant community treasures.
Why is this parkland and Flanders worth saving? The Flanders Mansion is one of two sites in Carmel that are on the National Register of Historic Places and is an outstanding example of Craftsman style architecture. The house sits within Carmel's largest open space, Mission Trail Nature Preserve/Park, an environmentally sensitive habitat, home to countless varieties of birds, plants, shrubs and animals. The preserve, with its 5 miles of trails and various habitats including the grounds of the house, is a major recreational asset to Carmel residents and visitors. Within this preserve lies the route which Father Serra, the Franciscan padres and Viscaino took between Carmel Mission and the Monterey Presidio. This is the only portion of the route left and you can walk it!
Our Foundation believes that the City should not carve one and one/half acres out of the center of the nature preserve and sell it to a private individual or family, thereby removing Flanders and this parkland from community enjoyment by creating walls or fences in this unique open space. This was not the intent of the city council in the early days. At the time of its purchase the comment was made that purchasing the Flanders and Doolittle acreage which formed the park would be for Carmel what Golden Gate Park has become to San Francisco. How is it possible today to even consider supporting the idea of the "sale" of Flanders and carving out a "chunk" of our nature preserve? Having these valuable assets within our city limits helps to identify Carmel as the very special place it is. They are part of our heritage. We should do everything we can to save our assets - not sell them!
HERE IS HOW YOU CAN HELP to save Flanders and parkland for your family, friends and generations to come:
Home | Foundation History | Mission Statement | Vision Statement | Park and Mansion History
Activities | Environmental & Legal Issues | Act Now | Community Support | Photo Gallery


text:
Join us at 12:15pm - 1pm in the Lazarus Auditorium for our Lunchtime Lecture with Kelly Blair. Kelly is an associate art director at Knopf and Pantheon as well as a freelance illustrator, and lover of cats, dogs and Instagram. See more of her work at kellyblair.com and Instagram.com/kblair27
This lecture is sponsored by the Illustration Practice department.


text:
My brother and I are neighbors, we are on a shared well on the property of some low-lifes across the street and wed like to have our own well despite thefact that we have legal access to the community well.
So we paid for a 100 well and when it came time to lowerthe pump, (which we did ourselves), it stopped at the 70 mark.
We had what we thought was decent water but not quite asmuch as we had hoped for so we complained about the lack of depth so thedrillers came back and dug another 30 without charge.
Now the water we have is way too brackish, it will killgrass and other vegetation.
Its a six inch well casing, is it at all feasible to plugthe bottom 30 and go back to drawing water from the 70 mark?? Or should westart from scratch?


text:
This past summer, I went to the National AP Teachers' Convention in San Antonio. Firoozeh Dumas was one of the speakers & I fell in love with her style of presenting. She shared a story about how while touring she would always talk about people from other countries changing their names in order to make it easier on the Americans - you know - pronunciation can be tricky. What made it humorous? Russ talks about this all the time.
My husband is tall & brown & has a mop of beautifully curly hair. Many, many people have questioned him about his ethnicity - despite his last name being, um...Ramirez - and Russ has developed a story that (for whatever reason) people believe.
He tells them his family is from Kuwait.
And then, when the eyebrows begin to burrow in confusion & people wonder about his Spanish heritage, Russ just shrugs his shoulders & says, "we came to Texas, looked for a different last name to acclimate ourselves to society, found one often repeated in the phone book, but had no idea it was hispanic." He then smiles & says, "kind of funny if you think about it. A guy from the Middle East with a hispanic last name?"
I know. I know. Every time he shares this story & people believe him I wince. If I am lucky enough to be there - I usually set the record straight & share that I am not the only storyteller within our small family of two. Russ has as much imagination as I do - and more.
So, when Dumas shared this story I laughed and breathed a sigh of relief. Finally! Another person who would understand. I went & bought her books, anxious to read her perspective of growing up Iranian in America, and walked over to the table where she was giving autographs.
"Hi! It was so great hearing your stories. I thought they were hilarious - especially the one about immigrants changing their last names? My husband tells that story all the time - except he isn't an immigrant. He tells people he's from the Middle East and..."
I could see her eyes glaze over. I could see boredom (or apathy? perhaps even anger at my audacity? who knows...) Needless to say, I wrapped up my story in quite the lackluster fashion & accepted my books freshly stamped with the permament marker scent of her name. She gave me one of those "nice-to-meet-you-hope-to-never-see-you-again" type smiles & I awkwardly turned around to leave.
Despite our less than stellar introduction, I did enjoy her books. Light reads - easy enough to finish within a day - both of them held enough weight to force you to contemplate her words once finished. Misconceptions about who you are simply because of your name is nothing new to me. I'm a white girl with a very hispanic name - it seems to roll off peoples' tongues in automatic accents - however, I have no clue what Dumas' family endured simply because where they came from happened to be (and still is) under negative attention from the media.
I encourage you to pick these copies up next time you are at the library or bookstore. Dumas is funny. You will find yourself laughing out loud at some of the stories she shares about her family. However, don't let the hidden weight miss its target. We may be vastly different from each other, we may be from completely different worlds where it's hard to connect, but the lesson remains the same: we're all in this together.
And as Dumas says in Laughing Without an Accent, "ultimately, it doesn't matter where we learn that lesson. It's just important that we do."