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U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Monday but the mixed bag of earnings thus far threatened to pressure the aggressive July rally.
Dow component McDonald's registered quarterly earnings that missed both for bottom-line profit and top-line revenue.
The fast food chain saw earnings of $1.38 per share against expectations of $1.40 and revenue of $7.08 billion that fell short of estimates for $7.1 billion. Shares dropped about 2.4 percent in initial reaction to the report, sending stock futures well off their morning highs.
Netflix and Texas Instruments are scheduled post numbers after the closing bell.
(Read More: McDonald's finance guide 'insulting' to low-wage workers)
Around 20 percent of S&P 500 companies have already reported, with 65 percent beating earnings estimates and 51 percent beating on revenues, according to Reuters. If all remaining companies post earnings in line with forecasts, earnings will be up 2.9 percent on the year before.
This week will be the busiest in second-quarter earnings season, with about a third of S&P 500 companies due to report, plus eight Dow-listed companies.
European and Asian shares ticked higher, boosted by upbeat earnings and an electoral victory for the Japanese Prime Minister.
In Europe, shares in Julius Baer, UBS and Dutch engineering firm Philips boosted indexes after reporting better-than-expected second quarter results.
(Read More: UBS jumps on deal to settle US mortgage debt lawsuit)
Asian shares eked out modest gains after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's coalition won a landslide victory in weekend elections, signaling a green light for future monetary stimulus.
This week will be quieter in terms of economic news. On Monday, existing home sales are out at 10:00 a.m. ET, plus the Chicago Federal Reserve index at 8:30 a.m.


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subset: commoncrawl


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I couldn't find it's English name or its scientific name. Just in case someone asks what patani is after I post the recipe that includes it among the ingredients, I am posting this photo of the patani for reference. They are light green in color and a common ingredient for making fresh vegetable lumpia (spring rolls).
Any information about this vegetable's English name, scientific name, or what it is called in other countries will be very much welcome.
P.S. According to Pinoycook readers, they are called lima beans. Check out this comment thread.


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The name says it all. This is the original and most popular sound style Snazz has to offer. This sound can reach out and touch the high ducks and softly seduce them when they are right on top of you. Beginners and veterans all can appreciate the Classic.
Little Bill
A more beginner version of the Snazz, this call requires less air and is "easier" to control the pitch and volume. You will never outgrow it, but it could be a great starting place for the inexperienced caller.
Quacker Jack
The newest version of the Snazz developed in 2016, the Quacker Jack is somewhat of a blend between the Classic and the Little Bill. It has a very adaptable volume control for all levels of calling experience.
Jerry Billy
Not for the weak of lungs, the Jerry Billy requires a heavy level of air control and skill. The sound is as crisp and sharp as a sassy hen, but you will want to build up your lungs preseason to maximize your calling experience with this one.
A sleek design that is pleasing to the eye. The Slim Snazz can be selected from all woods and acrylic materials.
A thicker, fuller bodied Snazz that comes only in the wood variety when available. The Fat Boy Snazz was an original design.
While the appearance has no impact on the sound, the customer can pick their preference on the sleek unique design for their Snazz.
The wood calls have a nice raspy hen sound and have a more versatile sound day in and day out, depending on weather conditions. They come in all four sound styles, and any of the three appearance styles. The volume is as loud as you will need, but it is still a softer sound than the acrylic. The wood call can be used in any hunting venue, but it excels in a flooded timber environment. The wood comes from all different trees and every single wood call will have its own unique sound, appearance and swirling wood patterns. We have a variety of wood types available, see for yourself. Come back often because on occasion we will find a special tree and produce a limited time line of calls from that wood.
All acrylic calls are made in the slim appearance and can be any of the four sound styles. The acrylic call has a more reliable sound every day without much regard for weather conditions. The volume will reach out and touch a duck, even if it is in the flying "V." They are $150 each and can have color combinations that mix and match. Many of our customers enjoy calling ducks with the colors of their alma mater, or their favorite team.


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"Kate helps us with the publicity for our film festivals. Her creativity and experience meant we have attractive branding for posters, flyers and for our social media platforms. She worked quickly and patiently to meet deadlines, was very flexible and very giving of her time and explained things clearly for us. She is very well known for her community spirit, often designing for various events and groups in our area."
Annie, Herne Hill Free Film Festival


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It's crowded in the paint.
There's something appealing about Microsoft's decision to hold back the release
of NBA Inside Drive 2004 for the Xbox. Year after year, sports
titles are sort of forced to ship right when the season starts, often leading
to games that simply aren't ready to be popped into your console. It's like the
clock starts winding down the moment opening day has been announced, and if you
don't make it to the game, you don't play.
Inside Drive 2004 seemingly has an advantage over NBA
Live 2004 and ESPN Basketball
by coming out a full month late. But instead of taking the extra time to perfect
what has historically been a bench warmer, Microsoft has shipped a game with
old rosters and even older gameplay problems. I guess time isn't always on our
It's amazing that the game doesn't have updated rosters since it came out so late, but Antoine Walker on the Celtics? Rick Fox starting for the Lakers despite a near career-ending injury LAST year? How 2003! I can forgive Dikembe still playing for the Nets, but come on.
Sloppy roster issues notwithstanding, Inside Drive 2004 serves
up a fairly basic game of roundball. Like every other basketball game on the
planet, it has taken a cue from last year's NBA
Live 2003 by relegating the right-analog stick to juke moves, which works
decently. It's not as smooth or polished as NBA Live, but is
more useful than ESPN's somewhat awkward Iso-Motion.
The game isn't particularly fast, somewhere in between ESPN
and Live. Passing is pretty good thanks to icon control and
a nice touch pass feature that can lead to some sweet plays. Speaking of which,
the playbooks are good and plays can be called on the fly with the D-pad and
they actually work. The same goes for defense, allowing you to switch from man
to zone and back again very efficiently.
And efficiency is incredibly easy to come by in Inside Drive 2004
on any of the three difficulty settings. Getting to the hoop is usually just
a matter of running your opponent into other guys enough times, then taking
off for a big dunk with your biggest leaper. Jump shooting is handled well due
to an optional shot indicator that will help you nail the timing, but it seems
that players can score far too easily. On Veteran difficulty, I watched the
Bucks drain seven three-pointers in the first quarter without one miss, a feat
I then copied in the second quarter with Gary Payton and Devean George.
Defense is much more difficult as it's pretty much impossible to figure out the timing for shot blocks. Nine times out of ten, you'll jump, miss completely and get whistled for a foul. Stealing passes is common, but swiping at the ball will result in a surefire foul as well. You can tweak the foul-calling to a lower setting, but that affects every kind of foul in the game. It's not handled well and makes playing D more a matter of luck than skill.
there aren't too many ways to play Inside Drive 2004. Live
has My NBA and Dynasty Mode while ESPN doled out the cool 24/7
thing. Here you can play Exhibition games or hop into a Franchise and ball through
a bunch of seasons, and that's about it. One interesting feature is the ability
to sign a created player to your team, and then boost his skills by performing
well with him on your team. Accomplishing certain tasks – nabbing 10 boards,
getting a double-double, etc. – will lead to a bigger skill increase.
Otherwise, you get all the typical bits. Signing and trading, salary cap management,
roster shuffling and a rather small league leader board (only ten guys in each
category are listed) are here. Nothing special, but nothing too bad, either.
Where the game does shine a little is its online play. With XSN sports behind
it, Inside Drive is your best bet for playing basketball online
using the Xbox, as ESPN's online tracking and tournaments is
neither as easy nor as solid as this one.
But it looks better, that's for sure. Inside Drive isn't
so much an ugly duckling as a picky one. Star players like cover boy Shaq look
good, but bench types get no love. The courts look good and the framerate is
smooth, but animations tend to be too slow and often look unrealistic. After
the 10-man motion capture of NBA Live, it's hard to watch a
bunch of guys standing around doing nothing while you try to penetrate the lane
for the twentieth time.
If the looks are merely adequate, the sound is downright aggravating. Ambient
effects are okay, but the announcing is some of the worst around despite the
presence of the usually witty Kenny Smith, who comes off sounding like Chick
Hearn next to Kevin Calabro and Marques Johnson. Johnson is so bad you'll want
to write him a letter and tell him to stop. And I have a bone to pick with the
fact that all three of them constantly call jump shots "jimmies." Last I heard
(back in what, 1989?), a 'jimmie' is slang for a penis, hence the phrase,
"Jimmie Hat." I can't believe I just wrote that, but it's nothing compared
to hearing "What a jimmy!" fly out of Calabro's mouth every time someone shoots.
Maybe someone should cover his piehole with a Jimmy Hat.
But slang mishaps are the least of Inside Drive's worries.
The game is trying to compete in a tough market, and despite some decent mechanics
and online play, it cannot hold its own in the paint against the big boys. There's
just no reason to draft this underachiever when some big dogs are still up for


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The NAFCM Board of Directors is pleased to announce its 2014 Call for Nominations!
NAFCM is seeking candidates from all walks and geographies with a passion for helping those in conflict. These nominees may be mediators, volunteer mediators, staff and volunteers who support the work of a Community Mediation Center. Elected nominees will join a stellar class of returning Board members, and help influence the exciting future of community mediation around the globe!
As part of our 2014 call NAFCM intends to further enhance the Board of Directors' core talents and representations. Specifically, the core talents NAFCM seeks includes fundraising/grant writing, marketing and public relations, financial management, collaborative technologies, and association management. The organization is also keen to expand the Board to include states, commonwealths and territories where our members reside. As the organization continues to build upon its growing international presence, NAFCM is also pleased to invite nominations from colleagues outside the U.S. We warmly welcome all candidates regardless of professional background or geography.
If elected, candidates serve a three-year term and are asked to contribute to the advancement and promotion of community mediation in all its colorful applications. Read the full list of qualifications and expectations, review the 2014 timeline, contact us with any questions, and submit your nomination form today! Nominations close Thursday 8, May, 2014.
Please feel free to widely share this annual Call for Nominations with friends and colleagues!


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It's that time of year again. It's that time when people decide to start over at the beginning of the year with (sometimes) impossible resolutions. I love a good do-over, to be honest. I also like that we get a chance every day to start over – it's also a little discouraging when it isn't going my way.
Now that everyone is talking about resolutions, I heard a statistic the other night that 45% of people make "weight-related" resolutions and 39% of those same people know as they are making their resolutions that they will fail within the first three months of the new year. Why is it so incredibly hard to change? (more…)


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Craig Finn of The Hold Steady drops in on the garage to stay positive and play a tune off his new solo album. But first, Marc stops by The Comedy Store to visit the controversial legend Tony Clifton. It's the Yin and Yang of musical entertainment! This episode is sponsored by IFC. Comedy Bang! Bang! premieres June 8th at 10pm but you can watch a full episode now at IFC.com.
Powered by


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"It doesn't look like the face of a tyrant. I'm sorry but it doesn't ... He's very handsome. It's like you could just talk to him, have a conversation with him right now."
Based on scans of his recently-unearthed bones, only the coloring was taken from the famous Tudor-era portraits, which historians long-suspected were contrived to make him appear more sinister.


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Carol aspires to convey to students the treasures of self-awareness, inner balance, and healing she has found through yoga. The body-mind-spirit connection is an integral part of her teaching, with particular emphasis on the breath as the connector. Carol has been practicing and studying yoga under a rich and eclectic variety of teachers since 1999, and holds an advanced certification through Sun & Moon's 500-hour, Yoga Alliance registered teacher training school. Carol is the program director for Sun & Moon's Yoga For Good program.
Thursdays – Hatha 1, 6:15p, Arl


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Printer Driver Download HP DeskJet 6980
HP DeskJet 6980 Printer Driver Download. The HP DeskJet 6980 printer can print up to five computers on an Ethernet network with spectacular print speeds, these handy printers allow consumers to work more productively at home or in the office. In addition to its ability to connect to a wired network, the HP Deskjet 6980 offers wireless printing and an 802.11g / b integrated WiFi connection for fast, easy, cable-free printing. The HP Deskjet 6980 and HP Deskjet 6940 are shipped with the SecureEasySetup program, which allows users to easily set up their printer on a wireless network in less than 10 minutes.
Driver Download HP DeskJet 6980 Printer Installer
These new high-performance printers are designed for intensive printing, for users who demand speed, professional quality and durability of their prints. The HP Deskjet 6980 and HP Deskjet 6940 improve productivity with speeds up to 36 pages per minute (ppm) in black and white and 27 ppm in color. HP 339 (black) and HP 344 (3-color) high-capacity print cartridges, an optional 250-sheet paper feeder and an automatic 2-sided printing accessory are available for intensive users who want Increase their efficiency and be more competitive.
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In addition, these printers produce professional-quality photos that are resistant to fading for generations when using cartridges containing HP Vivera ink for resolution of 4800 Dpi optimized 4 or prints in six ink colors5. Users can directly connect a digital camera with PictBridge functionality to the front USB port of the printer, and directly print their photos without using the computer.
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DOWNLOAD DRIVER (All HP printer drivers and software from Official Source):


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Royal Caribbean Cruise Vacation Packages - Cadence
This is NOT a Royal Caribbean Cruise ...
Okay, technically we are talking about a cruise (the one voted Best Overall 13 years running to be specific), but a Royal Caribbean vacation is so much more than a cruise... It's a shore exploring adventure of a lifetime.
From secluded spot finding on Nevis's beach in St. Kitts to rainforest roaming in Puerto Rico's El Yunque, it's the unexpected shore excursions that turn ordinary sailings into unforgettable discoveries from port to port.
In addition to this complimentary wanderlust, you'll save 50% off your second guest and enjoy up to $100 to spend at sea on new bookings made by November 30th, 2016. Traveling with a group? Your third and fourth guests sail for 25% off!
Click here to download flyer.
The world's biggest ship is here
The countdown is on to the biggest, boldest adventure at sea! The Harmony of the Seas is stocked with Royal Caribbean favorites (like its own Central Park at night) and innovative first-at-sea thrills (like a Bionic Bar). Join her for her Caribbean debut this November!
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As always, book a Balcony Stateroom on a 7+ night sailing and you'll enjoy complimentary dinner for two, exclusively through our elite status with Virtuoso. Booking a Junior Suite? You'll enjoy a spa treatment too! We highly recommend Jamie's Italian by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
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Public policy maven looks to resurrect what he believes is a time-tested strategy for building a prosperous America.
Gregory fearlessly attacks two vaunted theories: Laissez-Faire and Keynesian economics. Both, he argues, failed as fiscal policies and cannot ensure a lasting recovery. The "trickle-down" prosperity promised since the 1980s never happened, as a greater share of national income became concentrated among top earners. Conversely, Keynesian principles were never appropriately implemented; instead politicians used them as an excuse to get any type of funding approved. A wonkish intellectual who worked for the Michigan Legislature, Gregory is blunt in his diagnosis and even more certain of the cure. He advocates "Investment Budgeting" – government-sponsored infrastructure projects aimed at spurring economic growth. If history provides Gregory ammunition against current policy, it's also where he finds evidence that strategic infrastructure investment works. Canals, railroads and Interstate highways are hailed as projects that created jobs in the short-run but also fueled future expansion as businesses took advantage of their benefits. To bolster his case for Investment Budgeting, the author paints a bleak picture of America in a "Silent Depression," a 40-year downward spiral marked by growing income inequality and a shrinking middle class. Much of the blame is placed on the usual suspects: complacent policymakers and a self-interested business lobby. Skepticism is fair game in policy discussions, so the book will get plenty of head-shaking from those who believe Uncle Sam does more harm than good. Its populist overtones, however, will resonate with the disaffected. The most controversial chapter is "Blacks and the Excess Labor Force," which asserts that the war on crime and drugs unfairly targets the "Black underclass." The chapter doesn't synergize with the rest of the text, but it raises questions about the efficacy of the U.S. prison system. Gregory writes with the unique perspective of having once served time himself. While he tries to convince readers of hidden political agendas, Gregory doesn't push class warfare. He envisions "bottoms-up" growth by putting more people to work.
An about-face proposal for a more resilient economy, where the past isn't just prologue, it's a prescription for success.


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Unfortunately, it looks like Paul has stopped selling the chargers - sorry.
It has been a while since I've been in contact with Paul, so I'll try getting back in touch and see if he's planning to start offering them again in the future...
2AA charger availabilty
For general discussion of the UltraSmartCharger
Post Reply
Re: 2AA charger availabilty
I am willing to sell mine. New, never used. As-is.
Contact me if interested.
Contact me if interested.
Re: 2AA charger availabilty
Is it still possible to buy charger?
Post Reply


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blazer: bcbg (old) last worn here and similar here | top: standard (old) but similar here | shorts: vintage | sandals: nicole (old) but similar here | bag: tory burch | necklace: nashelle | sunnies: ralph
i hope everyone had a fun filled weekend! this weekend kicked off with a great new event in kc - boulevardia! this was the first year for the brewery to kick this off! boulevardia is a beer, music and food festival located in the west bottoms. all the fun started on friday and went until sunday. yes, father's day and no that wasn't an accident. genius planning right!?
anyways, i attended the event with a fun new group of girls! we got our wrist bands and tokens and checked it all out. the west bottoms was a perfect location and there were hidden little treasures everywhere you went. they had tons of beer tents with different varities at every tent. food trucks galore! great bands played all night and the ferris wheel was a popular place to be (i was maybe a little too chicken to go on it :). and of course the wonderful west bottom shops where open too!
the weather was absolutely perfect and so was the night. i can't wait to do it again next year!


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Summer is over! Looking for something for the kids to do after school? The Appling County Public Library's Story and Craft Time start's Monday, August 10. Bring the kids by the library every other week at 4:00 p.m. to hear new stories and make new crafts!
For more information and for dates and times, contact the library at 912-367-8103, or check out the website at http://okrls.org/calendar.
Story and Craft Time to start up on Aug. 10
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Why Choose Duluth Lawn & Sport
Duluth Lawn & Sport is the area's leading power sports specialist. We've been serving the Duluth area for over 25 years as a family owned business and we're here to help you with whatever your outdoor passion is.
Duluth Lawn & Sport has the largest inventory for snowmobiles and ATVs/UTVs from Polaris and BRP. Whether work or play we have all the parts and accessories to get you on the trail.
Here we know that work can be fun too, or at least a lot easier. We offer equipment from John Deere, Toro, Stihl, and Ariens. Stop in to check out everything from Utility Tractors from John Deere or snowblowers from Ariens!
Our friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you get the parts and service you need to keep your machines running smoothly. At Duluth Lawn & Sport, we treat you right in sales, parts, and service because we share your passion.
you live in Duluth, Superior, or anywhere nearby the Twin Ports visit Duluth & Lawn Sport. We're your
area's leader in recreational sports and lawn equipment sales and service.


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JavaOne 2009 Wrap Up
So this year's JavaOne is over. Too bad, and also very good. It was a run I can tell you. We have done so much amazing stuff for this year's that it almost seems impossible.
Mobile was all over the Keynotes! Just wow, really. So much exposure. The JavaME SDK (official blog) guys are very humble believe me and now very famous, I think they are buying new servers to make all those downloads possible and fast. And for JavaFX Mobile? I am almost loosing words when trying to express everything we have done in the past year.
We sold the Early Access version of JavaFX Mobile Developer Phone. It's an HTC Diamond and even though the runtime on that device is not so awesome performance-wise I think it is still awesome that many JavaFX developers now have a chance to see their apps running on a real phone.
In our session me and Juraj were showing slides written in JavaFX and running on a hacked version of the Emulator (thanks Lubo!). It was amazing. The Emulator is great. Maybe to good, when compared to the device, but we are working on that too, trust me.
We have been also showing our Hardware acceleration bit. We have OpenVG back-end for JavaFX Mobile runtime since MWC, but it was more of a prototype then, now it is a first class citizen of our graphics framework. The most amazing was the Hardware Acceelerated JavaFX Mobile on HTC Diamond. That's kick-ass stuff. It was made possible by the AmanithVG library from Mazatech (thanks, guys, looking to work with you more). And there are other ways being explored in the OpenGL area too.
I was just about ready to drop dead before this J1, quite a lot of stuff on my shoulders. But now a week after I feel recharged and filled with positive energy. There is some very interesting shifting here in the JavaFX team and beleive we are moving to something awesome (as always). And after some of those J1 meetings with HW vendors especially there are some many new toys to play with and made amazing stuff on that, well, I am very much looking forward to our next run.
Now back to prioritizing those JIRA Issues. And yes, if you find a bug, report it!


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Upcoming Events
Past Events
Upcoming Events
Past Events
Specials thanks to our sponsors, members and Senator Menendez, Congressmen Pallone and Lance for making this the best holiday reception ever. Over 100 people attended!
The "Cake Boss," star of TLC's great Hoboken-based show, donated 100 cupcakes from his Carlos Bakery! These were driven down from NJ on Wednesday by our 2009 Cherry Blossom Princess Naimeh Terry in a car donated by "The Auto Doc" of New Brunswick, and received by our 2010 Princess Amanda Ussak. See Jersey Journal articleGuests brought the most beautiful and generous children's gifts for Children's Specialized Hospital and contributed cash for purchase of the gifts. Special thanks to the NJ Group for once again cohosting and helping us with the expense of this popular event.Our other sponsors includeBAE SystemsPSEGPrudential FinancialMerckHealthCare Institute of NJMWW GroupWinning StrategiesEdison Electric InstituteMBI-GluckShawPrinceton Public Affairs Group
Thanks again for the great photos from our photographer, Chuck Divine.


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I have known the Putman's for years. I keep coming back because of the quality of service and promptness with which emergencies are handled. (Thank you for that!) They have a high moral standard as well as strong work ethic. Putman has a very distinctive personality. As a business owner myself, I admire the thought that goes into creating the type of business you can be proud of! D. Buchanan
Whether your toilet is broken or you just want to take advantage of a more updated model, it's worth it to learn about a few different types available since they each have their own advantages. In a traditional toilet, a rubber flapper at the bottom of the tank opens up and lets gravity flush waste away, but newer toilets have different mechanisms.
This type of toilet uses air pressure to produce a powerful flush, allowing them to stay clean longer and less likely to become clogged. Because of their power, they're much louder than regular toilets and are popular for use in commercial settings, although they are available for residential homes.
Most of us have seen these in mall or restaurant bathrooms, where we're given the option to push the handle down for liquid waste or up for solid waste. The dual flush toilet has a pressure assisted mechanism that flushes solid waste and cleans the toilet, while the gravity feed flush gets rid of liquid.
The touchless option is a dream if you're germaphobic since you can flush the toilet just by by waving your hand over a sensor. While you can buy a new toilet that has this feature, you may be able to modify your current toilet with a touchless flush system.
Your old toilet could be using up to five gallons per flush. You can save a lot on your water bill by looking for a toilet with the WaterSense label, which uses only 1.28 gallons per flush or less.
If you want to go all out, you can find temperature-controlled seats, automatic flush, self-cleaning features, remote controls or even add a bidet. You certainly have plenty of options with today's toilet technology!
When you need a professional plumbing company in Middletown, we can help! We'll make recommendations for replacing your toilet and schedule an appointment to get it installed. We look forward to working with you!
Whether you live in Middletown, Myersville or Brunswick, you probably do your part to keep your city looking beautiful by maintaining your lawn and the exterior of your home. But what some homeowners don't think about is that how we take care of the inside of our homes can effect the the city as well. If you flush things down your toilet that aren't supposed to be flushed, clogged pipes can happen not only in your own home but also in the municipal sewer system — and some things can even cause damage to municipal sewage treatment facilities.
To do what's best for your home's plumbing system, your city's plumbing system, and the environment, it's imperative that only toilet paper and human waste be flushed down your toilet. That means the following items should not be flushed.
That's right, even though they say "flushable", these wipes cause big trouble for toilets and septic systems. They pile up in residential pipes and cause trouble for sewage treatment centers, so put these in the trash can whenever possible.
The cotton in cotton balls is NOT the same as that in toilet paper. It will clump together and cause clogs in your pipes.
You've seen the commercials where someone soaks up a whole counter full of liquid with a paper towel. Paper towels are not made to dissolve in water.
We've all reached for a tissue when we've found ourselves with an empty roll of toilet paper, but the truth is that Kleenex and Puffs do not dissolve in water well enough to be flushed.
Floss doesn't dissolve, and it will get stuck and tangled in pipes and sewage systems and can even prevent fats, oils, and other materials from flowing through.
No drugs should ever be flushed for environmental reasons. Sewage systems have a hard time breaking down medications, so they end up in lakes, oceans, rivers, and ponds.
Some litter brands market themselves as flushable, but since cat feces contain a parasite call toxoplasma gondii, it's just not healthy for the environment. The sewage systems can't break the parasite down so it can enter the oceans and cause harm to wildlife.
These are meant to absorb liquid. If you've ever seen a baby try to swim in a regular diaper, you can imagine how quickly a diaper can clog pipes. So place both diapers and feminine products in the trash.
We love helping Frederick County homeowners with their plumbing problems, but this is one issue where we'd like to prevent you from having to call us! Don't put anything in the toilet besides toilet paper, and you'll be doing your part to keep Frederick County water clean.
Most of us are aware of the benefits of limiting water usage. It's better for the Earth, and it can cut down on your water bills. If it's time to replace your toilets or if you're just looking to install a water-saving toilet in your Frederick County home, here are a few that you might want to consider.
A power or pressure-assist toilet works with a combination of water and compressed air for greater flushing power. There's a pressure tank inside that works like a big water balloon: Water fills the tank and stays there under pressure, and when the flush valve opens, pressure and gravity create a strong flush. This type of toilet does the best job of clearing the bowl of solid waste, but it's noisy and more expensive than some of the other water saving options.
You're probably familiar with the way a gravity toilets works since it's very similar to the type that most of us have been using all our lives. Gravity toilets rely on gravity to pull waste and water into the sewer system. When you flush, a valve opens and the water inside the toilet tank moves into the toilet bowl. Water and waste move down quickly out of the toilet, past the drain and into the sewer system. The difference between a standard toilet and a gravity toilet comes in when it comes to water usage. The newest gravity toilets have an adjustable water level allowing you to change the flushing power as needed, but they can clog easily so you have to make sure nothing gets flushed besides toilet paper.
These models cost slightly more than gravity toilets but are not as expensive as pressure-assist toilets. Their biggest plus is that they provide a powerful flush using vacuum technology. In the porcelain tank, there's a vacuum tank that connects to the trapway. When someone flushes, water flowing from the tank creates suction in the vacuum tank and trapway to help suck waste out of the bowl. In lab tests, vacuum assist toilets cleared more waste than gravity toilets but not as much as pressure-assist models.
Putman Plumbing technicians can give you advice on the water-saving toilet that's right for your home and your budget. Just give us a call to speak to a trusted Frederick County plumber today.
Each year, 100 million people watch The Big Game. No one wants to miss any action, so they all wait until halftime to get up and use the facilities. And you know what that means:
Millions and millions of flushes – requiring an amount of water equal to seven minutes of water flowing over the Niagra Falls.
So can all that flushing at once wreak havoc on our sewer systems? Well Frederick County has never experienced such a problem, but after a 16-inch pipe burst in Salt Lake City in 1984 during half time, there is a theory that lots of simultaneous flushing can cause big problems with municipal sewer systems. According to city workers in Utah's capital that year, however, the pipe was old and probably would have ruptured regardless of the time of day.
The truth is that our city sewer systems are made to withstand large volumes of water that are used every day. Each weekday morning, we all get up and take showers and flush toilets in the same time span, and there are no pipes bursting or other major problems caused from that. So no, everyone flushing at once is not going to cause most plumbers on call to miss the rest of the game.
We at Putman Plumbing see the same problems after the Super Bowl game as we see after every large gathering.
Try to avoid these problems and hopefully you won't need us!
Enjoy the party on Sunday, but if you run into any big problems, give us a call. We've been a trusted Middletown plumbing company for many years, and we'll be happy to help.
The kids of Middletown and surrounding cities still have a few week left until school starts, and we know what that means: your toilet is still getting a lot of extra action. As if summer water bills aren't already high enough, if your family is flushing twice to get rid of all their "business," your water bill is even higher. So what's the solution for a stubborn toilet? It could be something easy or it could be a tough job that a plumbing expert should handle. Let's look at some possibilities.
Low flush toilets are supposed to save water, but if they don't create enough suction to do their job, you end up having to flush twice and using more water. You might want to think about replacing it with a better model.
Many areas in Maryland have hard water filled with calcium and magnesium. These minerals can cling and clog the pathways that lead water from the tank into the toilet bowl. When there's not enough water in the bowl, the toilet can't flush enough waste down. Don't rush into pouring harsh chemicals into the toilet to try to get rid of hard water stains. Talk to a plumber to see what an easy, safe fix might be. If hard water seems to be the problem, you may want to look into a whole house water softener.
If you have an old flapper, it can crack and let tank water leak into the bowl. When it's time to flush, there's not enough water in the tank to force the waste down the drain. You might try replacing your flapper.
If your toilet flushes all the way when you hold the handle down, but not if you let it go, try shortening the chain. It could just be that the chain is too long so the flapper closes too early to let enough water fill the bowl.
A toilet drain can be clogged for several reasons. If you've been using "flushable" wipes, they don't always dissolve and can be compacted into a large ball that blocks water from getting through. If you have kids, chances are paper towels or other things that aren't supposed to be flushed could be the culprit. You can try using a plunger and see if that helps. If it doesn't, you may need a plumber to come out and snake your drain.
There could also be a tree root that has grown into your plumbing pipes, which would require immediate attention. The only way to know for sure is to have a skilled plumber investigate. Using a plumbing camera inspection, a plumber can determine the location and reason for the clog and fix the problem quickly.
Putman Plumbing would be happy to help figure out your problem. Give us a call and soon you'll be enjoying fewer flushes and lower water bills!
If you're planning on building a home, your first concern is probably how you want it to look. But besides choosing bricks, doors and windows, you'll need to decide how you want the inside of your home to function. Starting from scratch is a great time to think about some of the new energy efficient options that are available in plumbing.
Most pre-existing homes operate on a standard gas or electric hot water heater tank, with the size of the tank being determined by the number of residents that will live there. The hot water lines are then ran from the tank to bathrooms, the kitchen, and laundry room. But since standard water heaters keep 30-50 gallons of water hot all the time, sometimes while you're not even home, they can waste a lot of energy. And often, if the bathroom or kitchen is some distance from the hot water heater, the water at the faucet needs to run for a few minutes for the hot water to reach its destination. Obviously, traditional water heaters are not the most energy efficient option.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, tankless water heaters are about 40% more energy efficient than most. They are 90% smaller than the average standard model, and they last 5-10 years longer. By warming the water only at the point where it's needed, such as for a shower, the dishwasher, or the washing machine, you can save a substantial amount on energy bills.
Tankless point of use water heaters are available in gas and electric. The electric versions are a third of the size of the gas option, making it possible to install them in any location throughout the house, such as under sinks where hot water is needed quickly. Electric units cost less initially, and there is no need to run ventilation or gas lines. But the cost of installing electrical circuits for each point of use during construction is comparable to the cost of running hot water plumbing lines. You can talk to a licensed plumber about their recommendations for tankless hot water heater models.
It's hard to believe some toilets made prior to 1992 used up to five gallons of water every time you flushed. Considering that toilets account for 30% of a home's water, imagine how high that water bill would be, especially if you have a big family! Since you'll be choosing toilets to go into your new home, take a look at some of the models that use only around a gallon per flush.
Today, you can find hundreds of toilet manufacturers that make high-efficiency toilets, and many of them are quieter than before. You can find dual flush systems as well, which can flush liquid and solid waste separately.
Don't just settle on the bathroom fixtures that your builder suggests. Take your time and figure out what will save you money – and be better for the Earth- in the long run.
Be sure to research which faucets and shower heads use the least amount of water per minute. High-efficiency faucets have a flow rate of no more than 1.5 gallon per minute (gpm), while high-efficiency shower heads use no more than 2 gpm.
When it's time to make plumbing choices for your new home in Middletown or any other town in Frederick County, give Putman Plumbing a call. You can trust us to make recommendations you won't regret.
Moms dedicate their lives to keeping everyone else happy. So if you're looking for the perfect gift for your wife or mom this Mother's Day, consider a few things that will make her happy and comfortable all year long — she deserves it!
If your mother is older, replacing her toilet with a comfort height toilet could make her time in the bathroom a lot easier. These taller toilets provide two extra inches so mom doesn't have to sit so low. Installing a grab bar on the wall near the toilet can help too.
Does your wife love massages? It may be hard for her to make time to go get a massage often, but she'd probably love a new shower head with a built in massager. You could also splurge on her and have a jetted tub installed.
We all know how busy life is with kids, so cooking quick, easy meals is a necessity. An instant hot water heater eliminates the need to boil water, so pasta or hard boiled eggs can be ready in minutes. And a new faucet with a sprayer can make rinsing dishes so much easier.
If she's constantly filling up a filtered water pitcher, think about installing a filtered water dispenser near your faucet. Endless drinkable water is something everyone will enjoy.
Has your mom never had the luxury of having a dishwasher or garbage disposal? Now may be a great time to spoil her. Both can be installed quickly with the help of a plumber.
Have everyone pitch in to help mom on Mother's Day. Clean up breakfast. Do the dishes. Fold laundry. Give her a break, and let her know how much she's appreciated every day of the year.
Putman Plumbing wishes all the moms in Frederick County a Happy Mother's Day!
Have you ever thought about what life would be like without a toilet in your home or warm running water? It would mean a freezing cold walk to a stinky outhouse in the winter, and a frigid bath at any time of year.
But due to some pretty smart fellows back in the 1800's, we're lucky enough to ease our way into our days with fresh smelling bathrooms and hot showers. It's no surprise that a day has been reserved to annually thank those guys who developed modern plumbing. Today, April 25th, is National Hug a Plumber Day.
Let's take a look at how far plumbing has come in the last couple of centuries:
If you see a plumber this weekend or any time soon, give him or her a hug (or a handshake). They dedicate their days to making our lives a lot more pleasant than they could have been!
And if you find yourself with leaky faucets, strange smells, or cold showers, give Putman Plumbing a call.
If you have a busy household and your toilet malfunctions, big problems can come up – literally. Let's look at a few things that could cause it to act differently, and what the solution might be.
1. You see a leak at the base of the toilet when you flush it.
Most likely, the wax gasket between the drain pipe flange and the toilet should be replaced. This requires pulling up the toilet, so make sure to hire a plumber who can get in and out quickly so your family can get back to their business.
2. There's a ghost flushing your toilet. (This always freaks the kids out.)
If you hear the water start to run for a few seconds when no one is using it, there's probably a flapper that is leaking or poorly fitted, or a refill tube that's too long. A corroded or worn flapper seat will cause water to trickle from the tank into the toilet bowl. After an hour or so of this, the water level in the tank drops, causing the fill valve to kick on. If the water line that runs from the base of the fill valve to the inside of an overflow tube that's too long, this can also happen. New fill valves come with a special clip that holds the tip of the water line up so the water will stay in the tank. A knowledgeable plumber can let you know which valves will work best for your toilet.
3. Your toilet doesn't finish its flush.
When the flapper valve gets waterlogged over time, it can flop down too quickly. Or, the chain running from the flapper valve to the flush handle could be too tight. If this is the case, you can adjust the chain one link at a time to the right fit.
Another solution is that the water level in the tank could be too low. You could modify the fill valve so extra water enters the tank, but if you have an older low flush toilet, it probably just doesn't have enough power to flush the bowl fully. Consult a good plumber for suggestions on a newer model.
4. The water level in the toilet bowl keeps going down.
When you flush, the water in the bowl rises. If it falls back down, that's a problem. The toilet could be partially clogged, causing a siphon and pulling water from the bowl. Or much worse, there could be a crack or defect within the colon of the toilet, which means it's time for a new toilet.
A toilet is something your family can't live without. If it's not working properly, give Putman Plumbing a call at 301-371-4395.
If you never got around to some of the home updates you wanted to make in 2014, make a resolution to get them done in the New Year. Doing it for the environment is a great reason to make changes, but you'll also enjoy not having to pay as much for your energy bills.
Starting on April 15th of 2015, the government will require that all new water heaters abide by updated energy standards. This means that from now on, all water heaters 55 gallons or less must meet an Energy Factor of at least 0.95. Builders of new homes and anyone looking to replace an old water heater in their current home will need to purchase one of these efficient models.
According to Energy.gov, the second largest energy expense in your home is the water heater. So while a new energy efficient water heater will initially cost you more to purchase, the financial savings you'll see in upcoming years will make up for it. There are also various rebate and tax incentives to buying certain Energy Star certified heaters.
Toilets account for nearly 30 percent of an average home's indoor water consumption. If your toilets use more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush, consider replacing them with high-efficiency or ultra low flush models that use no more than 1.28 gallons per flush. Another option is the dual-flush toilet that you may have seen commercially, which has a flush button on the bottom for liquid waste and a flush button on top for solid waste.
You can cut your shower water use by up to 70 percent by installing an ultra-low-flow showerhead. Many of the older showerheads use more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute, while the newer showerheads use only two gallons per minute. Using ultra-low-flow showerheads will also save you money on your energy bills by reducing the demand on your water heater.
If we can help to make your home more energy-efficient in 2015, give us a call. Have a safe and happy New Year!


text:
1. The path begins when I was about 8 and saw the book Our Friend the Atom, Walt Disney's introduction to atomic energy for children published just about 10 years after Hiroshima.
You can find a gallery of some of the images from the book here.
You can find the 1956 Disneyworld television program here.
And when you are ready to continue your journey, click here
Click here to return to the thought map.


text:
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Newsletter: From Evidence to Action
Monitoring our health: An analysis of the breakdown of health care services in selected Gauteng facilities
Section 27 of the Constitution of South Africa guarantees the right to access healthcare services; this right places a legal obligation on the government to ensure that access to health is not hampered and to create conditions in which there is progressive realisation of the right to access healthcare services. The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and Section27 gathered information from February 2012 to December 2012 and compiled a report showing how healthcare in Gauteng has declined. The report highlighted shortages in medication and staff, infrastructure collapsing, and misuse of funds; this resulted in access to health in Gauteng being compromised.


text:
Reason in Renting Is Better Than Buying an Apartment in Oklahoma City
Household control is usually an ongoing objective a large number of people endeavor to attain. These days, people often needed to construct their very own homes as well as hire your dream house coming from another individual. Even though, the two booking and purchasing have their very own pieces connected with economic positive aspects. You can find economic advantages in order to booking compared to investing in a home of your personal.


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|"Tom White (JIRA)" <j...@apache.org>
|[jira] [Created] (YARN-218) Distiguish between "failed" and "killed" app attempts
|Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:14:11 GMT
Tom White created YARN-218: ------------------------------ Summary: Distiguish between "failed" and "killed" app attempts Key: YARN-218 URL: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/YARN-218 Project: Hadoop YARN Issue Type: New Feature Components: resourcemanager Reporter: Tom White Assignee: Tom White A "failed" app attempt is one that failed due to an error in the user program, as opposed to one that was "killed" by the system. Like in MapReduce task attempts, we should distinguish the two so that killed attempts do not count against the number of retries (yarn.resourcemanager.am.max-retries). -- This message is automatically generated by JIRA. If you think it was sent incorrectly, please contact your JIRA administrators For more information on JIRA, see: http://www.atlassian.com/software/jira
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text:
There is a certain mystery regarding
stockings... whether thay are silk,
traditional rht or one of the more modern
fashion styles, every woman who loves
to wear stockings knows just what we
mean. Just about the most sexy leg coverings
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Q: What's the big deal with Suspender
belts, surely hold-up stockings are fine without all
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Well, to the uninitiated, hold-up stockings may seem
like a perfectly acceptable short cut. However, these
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text:
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Finishing Touch
Here is the 2011 holiday card we painted for a pair of friends, marking this the sixth year we've had the pleasure! :]
You can see the cards from previous years here!
Monday, December 26, 2011
Holiday Tags
I like to paint little to/from tags to stick on gifts for the holidays. Here's a few I made this season, most are for family, but a couple are for friends. :]
Sunday, December 25, 2011
This was a holiday gift for a pair of friends, a painting of their husky Wizard. Since they've now shredded it's papery exoskeleton, I figure it's safe to post!
Happy Holidays everyone! May your day be merry, your drinks be spiked, and the new year treat you well!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Here's Looking At You
Friday, December 16, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Okay, I admit it. Between a lot of sketching and a lot of painting, there's been a lot of Skyrim. ;]
Monday, October 24, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Werewolf Calendar - Salmon Run
Here is my finished image for the 2012 Werewolf Calendar!
The calendar itself goes on sale Sept. 1st, and is full of really awesome art from a bunch of people! You can find out more information on www.werewolfcalendar.com!
The caption I was assigned to illustrate was:
Depending on the geographic region in which a werewolf or werewolf pack may reside, fishing may play an important role in the hunting and social life of the solitary wolf or family unit. In the pacific Northwest the annual salmon run provides the wild werewolf with an abundance of fresh food and easy meals. The wealth of fish is shared with other species including the grizzly and brown bear whom also visit the streams of migrating fish. Due to the sudden overabundance of food, competition is temporarily suspended among species whom are typically competing predatory rivals. Sightings of both werewolf families and other wild predators sharing a stream peacefully in close proximity of one another have been documented. Fish is also often dried by family groups and saved as a reserve for bitter winter months when food is scarce.
(And here's the sketch for the image!)
Sunday, August 7, 2011
"Redwing" 7.5x15-ish, acrylic on wood
Back from an unexpected sojourn, bearing good tidings and birds (and tennis ball with a dog wrapped around it.) For the most part, all I had with me was beer, paint and some scraps of wood, so I made do!
"Northern Saw-Whet Owl"
8x11 acrylic on wood
10x11.5, acrylic on wood
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Two Things, In Relation
"Avian Postal Strike"
Dozens of owls are deafened by Howlers every year!
Support your local Avian Postal Strike!
Hogwarts Badges
These are the free Hogwarts badges I painted before AnthroCon, for the six folks who's names I drew randomly from the contest's submissions! :]
And oddly enough, yet again no Gryffindors were chosen. Entries were largely either Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw!
(More information on the free badge give-a-way [which has now long since ended,] can be found here.)
Friday, June 10, 2011
One out of Five
All God's children are not beautiful. Most of God's children are, in fact, barely presentable.
~Fran Lebowitz
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sofawolf 2011 Shirt Design
This year, I was happy to be asked to design the 2011 Sofawolf Press shirt! I finished it earlier this month, but with AnthroCon creeping up, I figure now's a good time to post it. :]
You'll be able to get the shirts from the Sofawolf Press dealer's table at AnthroCon in June, or online from their website starting July 1st (here's a link, which also has the two previous shirt designs from 2010 and 2009!)
And here's the original thumbnail sketch I did, and a few color variations I made for the fellows at Sofawolf to pick and choose from. I'm glad they went with the aurora one, as that was my favorite of the bunch. :]
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Across Thin Ice, Hardcover Pre-Orders Today!
www.NORDGUARD.com | | Nordguard on Blogspot || @nordguard on Twitter
So, in case you missed it, that comic I've been working on for the last two years has finally been wrapped up, off to the publishers, and subsequently, off to the printers (and I am happy)!
The whole Official Announcement can be found over this a-way, but here's the cliff-notes:
-Across Thin Ice, first of the three Nordguard books, is finished. Hurray! :]
-The book will be available in both hardcover and softcover editions. Both will have all 75 full color pages of the comic, and the softcover is 9x11.5" in size. The hardcover is a bit larger, and also has a snazzy map in the front unique to that edition.
-The softcover copies are $19.95, and the hardcovers are $39
-It will initially be released at AnthroCon, June 23rd 2011, and softcover editions will be available online from the Sofawolf Press website starting July 1st 2011.
-Afterward it's for sale online July 1st, the softcover will be available in person at most major comic and fandom conventions Sofawolf Press either distributes to or attends, such as Comic Con in San Diego and EuroFurence in Germany. (The hardcover may or may not be available, depending on if they have sold out of the copies. If the demand warrants it for the hardcovers, Sofawolf will consider running a second edition printing of the hardcover. There will be plenty of softcovers to go around, however.)
-This and all further Nordguard books will be rated for young adults and older due to some violence and language and dead bodies. I'm not sure when the next one will hit the shelves, but I plan to start working on it again at the end of the summer. The good news there is that some of it is already finished! ;]
-Pre-orders for the signed Hardcover Edition have started TODAY! Click here!
The pre-orders will run until either next Saturday, or all the copies have been sold. You can either have your copy mailed to you (which will go out July 1st) or pick it up at AnthroCon with a valid ID.
Yesterday, Sofawolf Press made a short announcement about the pre-orders, with more information on how to get them, including their international shipping information!
I had said it in the official announcement, but I'd like to say it again--thank you to everyone for your patience and interest in the comic, for the moral support, buying Nordguard patches, checking out the LiveStreams, and for all the kind comments and encouragements!
And now, I am off to enjoy this new thing called "spare time," as well as spring, which has finally come after a very long winter! ;]
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Acrylic on Wood
"Intent" (11.5"x24")
Lioness, based on a couple photos I took of her at the Denver Zoo.
I am home again after a week and some days absence, and a few thousand miles more on the odometer. I spent some time on top of a mountain, some time in a valley, and most of the time painting and sketching. I did a few acrylic paintings on wooden boards salvaged from a dumpster.
Here's a few photos of painting "Intent"
These two, "Lemmikki Paws" (9"x13") and "Trondheim" (11.5"x24") are based on a some photos I took while learning to drive a dogsled and wrangle the dogs a few years ago.
"Cazador" (13"x14.5")
Jaguar, based on a couple photos I took of him at the Denver Zoo last fall.
Anyhow, I am back again and have a few things in mind to work on for AnthroCon, some emails to get back to, a couple loose ends to tie up, and the time (and stable Internet) to start digging into a few of those Hogwarts badges. Later today, I'll be posting the official Across Thin Ice release announcement! Stay tuned!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Free Hogwarts Badges
Across Thin Ice, the first of the Nordguard books, is officially finished. While I wrapped up my part a week ago, the publisher has finished their end, of layout and final checks. They've sent it off to the printers and I can breathe easy again. I've been getting more than four hours a sleep a night for the first time in months, which feels amazing. Waking up with a clean slate, no deadlines and absolute artistic freedom again is pretty fantastic as well. No more sled dogs, no more snow, no more comic pages—for a least a couple months. It's just the first book of three, after all. ;]
Anyway. In a few days, I'll post more, with all of the official Across Thin Ice information, like the cover, the release date, the online sale date, and prices for the soft and hard cover editions.
But now, it's time for something completely different. Free badges.
Earlier this year, while working on Across Thin Ice, I listened to the entire Harry Potter series on audiobook, narrated by Stephen Fry. I had read them before when they were coming out, but I loved listening to them again. I realized there was so much I had missed in my reading frenzy to figure out what happens. If you like Harry Potter and haven't listened to the Stephen Fry versions, you are really doing yourself a disservice. No offense to the other guy who did the American audiobooks, but Stephen Fry is wholly awesome. And he does a great Ron. But, moving on…
I was already excited about AnthroCon's theme this year when they announced it-- Anthropomorphic Institute of Magic. By the time I'd finished the 100+ hours of Harry Potter, I really wanted to do some Hogwarts themed badges, and the more the merrier. So, I figured I'd offer free badges. However, here's the tricky part:
This is just for people who are attending AnthroCon, and it is only for Harry Potter/Hogwarts themed badges. I ask that people fill out the little questionnaire below and email it to AC.HP.Badge[at]gmail.com
I will pick email entries out at random, and do badges as I have the time between other paintings, before AnthroCon. You can pick up your badge at my table (where it will be delivered by owl) at AnthroCon—I won't be mailing any, I'm sorry. I'm not sure how many I'll be able to do, but more than six and less than could fit in a breadbox is probably a good estimation. ;]
Here's a few samples I made. If your email is one that I pick, your badge will look akin to these, be 3x4 inches, with your character in appropriate house robes, the house title below your name, etc.
So, if you're interested and attending AnthroCon in June…
Email your answers for the questions below, to: AC.HP.Badge[at]gmail.com
1. Name displayed on badge:
2. A link to your character's reference image (2 max, please.)
3. Which one of the four Hogwarts Houses you'd be in:
OR, if you'd rather be from Beauxbatons or Durmstrang.
OR, if you'd rather be disguised as a muggle…which means I get to dress your character in heinously mismatching outfits, as a wizard would wear who is pretending to be "normal."
4. (Optional) Your favorite subject in school (ie Potions, Transfiguration, Quidditch, etc.):
5. (Optional) If you want to have an owl in your badge, let me know what kind! Same goes with small animals like snakes, rats or cats.
The cutoff date for entries is May 10th. Don't submit more than once, please—if I see the same email or same characters, it'll disqualify your entry. If I finish yours, I'll let you know via email if you have a badge waiting for you at AnthroCon.
And if you can't attend AnthroCon or hate Harry Potter, I apologize, and perhaps someday I'll be able to offer something more up your alley. ;]
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Timark Wine Label
Here are some of the rough sketches and the final image for a wine label from Timark Wines, which I did last year. The wine is now up for sale off their website (www.timarkwines.com), and it's also available at the Michelin Star winning Dio Deka in Los Gatos, CA.
Having done my best to thoroughly test this wine before endorsing it--I must say, it is quite delicious! ;D
I have also been authorized to offer the 10% "friends" discount to me and my closest billion e-friends across the globe (just add the word 'friends' into the discount code box, lower case, no punctuation!)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Nordguard on Livestream
A few people have asked me over the last couple years, so I figured I'd give this whole Livestream thing a go!
Check it out, here: http://www.livestream.com/blotch
I'll be working pretty steadily on Across Thin Ice, and streaming off and on when I'm not working on pages rife with spoilers.
And, to play a little catch up on pages that I've posted up on the Nordguard website and development blog...
Page 11 & 26 from Across Thin Ice.
Pages 30 & 47 of Across Thin Ice
You can see a whole lot more, including in-progress photos of these pages, concept art and studies from the comic either on www.nordguard.com or here on Blogspot.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Half Dome
I started painting this back in 2009 and it gave me weeks worth of trouble trying to make it look halfway decent. Frustrated, and contemplating burning it in the desert, I stuffed it into the dark recesses of a closet for a year.
It would resurface every four or five months, and with much gnashing of teeth and words to make a sailor blush, I would attempt to throw a few more paint strokes at it--until I'd again get frustrated and hide it somewhere new. Today, I found it again (under the air conditioner) and figured I'd do the two or three or twelve things to at least make it "whole," though it is not exactly what "I was going for."
It's nice to consider it finished and have it off my mind for 2011! ;]
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Wizard and Gypsy
This was a Christmas gift I made for two of the Sofawolf Press fellows earlier in December, which has their two huskies, Wizard and Gypsy, doing Sofawolfy things. :]
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Lose yourself in a fun, flowy yoga practice at Tucked Away Brewing, a spacious, industrial brewery in the heart of Manassas. After an hourlong practice that is accessible to all levels (beginner to advanced), enjoy a delicious, fresh craft beer and warm community! $20 Online registration includes yoga and a beer ticket. (If space is available, walk in tickets will be available for $25 cash.) BYO mat. Namaste & Cheers!
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: February 14Vinyasa Flow at Ease
Later Event: February 17Sunday Brunch Yoga at the Pub


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As many of you are most likely aware of at this point, much of the East Coast is in the middle of a "blizzard." With the snow often comes travel delays, cancellations and interrupted plans. Due to the storm's predicted severity, many airlines preemptively cancelled flights and interrupted plans for many passengers.
Almost all of the airlines are significantly impacted by this storm. American Airlines has hubs in JFK, Philadelphia and Charlotte. Delta has hubs in JFK and Atlanta. United has a hub in Newark. All of this means not only massive delays for those flying out from those cities, it also means huge delays and headaches for anyone connecting through these cities including a majority of international travel to Europe, Middle East and more. Living in Philadelphia, I can say that we are certainly raking in the snow at the moment, 8.8 inches where I live as of 6am this morning.
With all of the craziness that comes with air travel for most people, the last thing anyone wants is to re-book their trip. Most of the airlines have ways of making changes due to weather, without paying the normal fee.
Here's where to go to make changes to your flights.
Those are the major carriers in the United States, other carriers have similar policies and can be re-booked, fees removed, even refunds in some cases. Look to your carriers website for more information if you don't know what your options are in these cases.


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Portugal is a country that many know for its famous cities – Porto and Lisbon – or for its resort-infested southern coast in the Algarve region. I had a few days to get to know Portugal by car and what I saw changed my relationship with the Iberian Peninsula forever. Portugal is an under-populated, generous, picturesque and affordable Mediterranean paradise.
Day One: The Wild West and wine valleys…
Trás-os-montes. The land behind the hills. The northwest region of Portugal that connects with Spain and where the great Duoro River leaks out into Castilla to become the Duero. A land of drought and cacti. A land of poverty and dusty little towns forgotten by tourism and unknown to the world. It is also a place of rugged canyonlands and old medieval towns from where the young have emigrated. At the little hilltop town of Torre de Moncorvo no English is spoken and smashing up some Spanish I am able to order coffees and a bun. No smiles. The famous trasmontano hospitality. Not rude. Just old and rural.
Then over a high pass where vineyards had sprung and the world fell away to greener pastures. We had entered the Duoro wine valley. A UNESCO wonderland of steep river-canyon walls tickertaped with vine terraces covering 41,700 hectares. Away from the motorways tiny roads slinked up into the heights affording views that painters would drool at. Here and there a Quinta – estate – would sit primly with a whole tapestry of wine wrapped around it; bone white amongst the green.
Under nebulous spitting clouds Pinhão – a scruffy village at the heart of the wine region and on the bend of the river – offered a brief refuge. Safe from a violent rainstorm I sipped some homemade 'vinho generoso' at a local bar where they didn't bother to put the lights on and which had walls covered in small bottles and panels of keyrings and postcards lining the doorway. Past walls covered in beautiful duck blue and china white tiles called azulejos we crept out of the valley, away from its bursting verdancy and its little roadside markets where old ladies sold cherries from their cars.
Before reaching the last, fast corridor of motorway that shot to Porto there was time for a brief stop in Amarante – an odd town sunk in a shallow valley and gracefully straddling the Tâmega River. Visually there were a few attractive streets but nothing much else until the eye chances upon the rebuilt medieval São Gonçalo Bridge that jumps high from one bank to another. On the other side is a striking white monastery with a theatrical terracotta tiled roof and just set behind it on a little clump of hill, another small church with bumpy cobbles streets whispering around it.
Day Two: Porto the pearl of Portugal…
Where to begin with this most romantic of cities?
With the food? There were hunks of cod cooked slow with roasted red peppers, sweet onions and olives and served Bragança style with fried potatoes; plates of melted azeitão cheese and azaruja sausage; sweet egg custard tarts called pastéis de nata; slow baked veal with saffron rice and roast potatoes; sardines served in piquant oil; delicate presunto ham; line-caught whole roasted sea bass…
With the drinks? Port wines that range from warm, sweet and blackcurrant-coloured Rubies to smoky ochre Tawnies and cold, chip dries and that are best served at the hillside Taylors winery; the ever so slightly fizzy and refreshing vinho verde from the northern Minho region; fruity reds from the Duoro that are best drunk with cooked meats; or fiery homemade aguardente spirit that sets flame to your chest and lifts you up after dinner…
With the city's visual appeal? Porto is a town whose beauty is as postcard-perfect as it is ramshackle. Hugging the Duoro River a staggered layer of multicoloured tiled walls rise up onto a hillside. Scarlets and pastel lemons; Wedgwood blues and creams; Cadbury's browns and bright peaches and pinks; a Technicolor wall of civilization sitting under orange terracotta. Viewed from afar, from the Gaia district over the enormous wrought-iron bridge on the other side of the water, the city seems carved by the eye of a Venetian artist. Up close the smashed windows, faded paintwork and scarred doors tell the story of a poor country.
What hasn't left this area, the Ribeira district, is the romance. Little alleys snaking away up and around, plump with cobbles, hide tiny family-run restaurants bursting with seafood and super-chic wine bars proffering little known cheeses. The waters of the Duoro always feel nearby. The cathedral looks over everything; a kaleidoscopic explosion of hues and spires. And over the water, over that giant bridge, a large monastery beams back, with the Port lodges at its base and little boats, barcos robelos, bobbing with barrels. Stray cats own the old town and little old ladies in pinnies dust their doorsteps as the occasional tourist bent on exploring peers up and down with a lens.
With its variety? Tiring of city life – such as that is in central Porto – the beach is just a short bus ride west. Foz do Duoro. Clean sands try to find space between a lively coastline studded with boulders and seaweed. Little bars take advantage of their slots and throw tables and chairs onto the shore. A stubby lighthouse stands proudly at the end of a pier covered with fisherman catching sea bass as the Atlantic pummels the city for all its worth. Little old trams occasionally float past and tiny fishing boats covered in gulls turn slowly in the estuary while churches and forts draw the eye.
Where to begin with Porto? Where to end?
Day Three: Universities and Monasteries…
The drive down to Sintra warrants as many stops as could fill an entire holiday. To choose but two is heartbreaking. But the call of that southern fairytale town meant we couldn't bear to arrive too late.
Through a landscape reminiscent of a sun-soaked Galicia – furry hills covered in eucalyptus forests and more green than you knew existed – we arrived at Coimbra: Portugal's answer to Oxford. A hill on a river in the coastal Beira region. A dense web of attractive but impoverished streets covered in graffiti produced a charismatic hub of lanes that would be horrible for the elderly or invalid. At the peak of this steep warren of cafes and religious buildings sits one of the oldest universities in the world, and the oldest in Portugal. The nobility of its scholastic centre is matched by the beauty of the buildings themselves. Bright cream coloured and bedecked with turrets and flags, the main university building sits like a fort on the summit of the hill. Students walk around in long cloaks while red-faced visitors snap away. Back in town a local festival is taking place. Coimbrans in local dress play guitars and drums, sing folk songs and sell traditional pastries. It is a busy and buzzing place.
Deep into the Estremadura region we reach Tomar, a pleasant village surrounded by a horseshoe of gentle peaks, upon one of which sits an enormous monastery-fortress once owned by the Templars. The Convent of Christ could be central Portugal's Alhambra. It is a silly and overblown complex of churches, cloisters, spiral staircases, stuccowork and gardens all surrounded by a crenellated wall. Other giant UNESCO-listed monuments were nearby – Batalha, Alcobaça – but the call of Sintra snagged us and so we once again joined the empty motorways and headed south towards Lisbon.
Day Four: Medieval Fairytales…
Sintra spread over an afternoon and a morning and included a night. It was…like nowhere else I had ever been. The closest thing resembling it is the mad but brilliant lunacy of Portmeirion. The only difference being that that eccentric Welsh resort was designed by one man trying to create a Portofino in Britain, whereas Sintra is the result of a history of one-upmanship by a cadre of wealthy Portuguese.
Sintra is a frilly selection of absurd by undeniably beautiful palaces and mansions rising up from the cutesy town to pepper the small and singular mountain range that sits immediately next-door. All manner of styles and colours are present, so trying to describe the place is futile. Standing guard over the town are two very different buildings that top two neighbouring peaks of the Serra do Sintra. One is the fine remnant of an old Moorish castle and the other is the over the top Pena Palace.
The Moorish castle is low walled and looks like it has been drawn by a child. The views it commands are wide-reaching – the sea, the villages, the fields, the mountain range. Everything is visible. The Pena Palace is a ridiculous and gargantuan mish-mash of different styles all comprising one large complex perched precariously on one of the highest points of the range. A yellow, red, grey, mustard and cream hodgepodge of Neo-Gothic, Neo-Manueline, Neo-Islamic and Neo-Renaissance styles all clumped together in the 19th century. It is a wonderful sight.
Before being swallowed up by Spain there is time left of a day to visit the large sandy arms of beach that hug the Atlantic coast near Sintra before hitting the motorway again to stop in Evora – the jewel of the Alentejo region. Sheltered by a large medieval wall Evora is a yellow and white town of a homogenous beauty that wouldn't look out of place in Andalucia.
A settlement of grand churches, isolated cobbled streets, an abbey with a cave of bones, of hearty roasted meat dishes served with heavy red wines, of Roman temples and of panoramas disappearing off to rumbling plains speckled by farmsteads. The old city is hot and sits reflective under a powerful blue sky. The asymmetrical cathedral looks like an old thin cat that lives in a town famous but retiring calmly in its old age. Evora: a place to write a poem with a glass of something red and then move on to headier climes.
Portugal showed itself to me and left me wanting more. The Algarve, the forgotten villages of the inland Beira region, those great old cities of northern Minho, the canals of Aveiro and the castle of Obidos. So much more to see. And of course there is always the sensual pull of Porto or the thrill of Lisbon to invite me back. Portugal: the close friend who you knew nothing about.


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The Week I Fell In Love With A School
On Thursday, April 7th, my parents and I got on a plane headed for France. Since this was the first time that I would be visiting another country since 2008, and only the second time leaving the country ever in my life, suffice it to say, I was pretty excited.
But even before we had left the States, the spiritual warfare had begun. You see, we were going to the International Christian School of Budapest in Hungary, to teach, mentor, and love on some middle school and high school kids, many of which are the children of missionaries in Europe. And so spiritual warfare was simply inevitable.
Multiple sicknesses, stress with school and work, and a host of other things plagued our family as we got ready to head out for ministry. But it was with a ready heart that I flew out from O'Hare in Chicago, ready for another adventure. Of course, four hours into our flight, I was already horrendously sick. After hours of nausea, incredibly uncomfortable attempts at sleep at what was the middle of the night back in the States, and a host of other minor inconveniences, we finally landed in Paris and I promptly vomited twice.
I jokingly remarked to my parents: "Well, at least I can cross 'throwing up in an airport in Paris' off my bucket list now."
Our journey continued with a two hour flight from Paris to Budapest, and though it started off well, with a rather beautiful take-off that reminded me of how amazing God was and gave me some strength back, soon my exhausted body just couldn't take it anymore and it was back to nausea and almost delirious dozing. After an excruciating shuttle ride to the hotel we'd be staying at for two nights before we headed to the host house we would be staying at for the week, it was with enormous relief that I stepped out of the car, checked into my hotel room, and promptly collapsed into a dreamless sleep.
I tell you of all this to preface what was one of the best weeks of my life. Funny how those things work out sometimes.
After spending most of Saturday and Sunday recovering, it was time for the Sunday night meeting with the staff we would be working with at the school that week, and I have to admit, part of me wished I didn't have to go--it was baldly selfish, but I was still exhausted and slightly uneasy from the trip to Europe. But as we drove home from that meeting at a Hungarian restaurant (one that serves very good potatoes, let me tell you), I was so glad that I went.
The first impression that I had of the leaders that served at this school was that they were some of the most solidly Christian people I had ever met. From their love and friendliness, to their servant's attitudes, and on through to their firm stand on the Gospel and scriptural authority, I knew right away that I was going to love these people. And I did.
After hours of discussing how the week was going to play out, we adjourned and went back to where we were staying with the Thompson family (missionaries in Budapest--just wait, I'll get to them soon enough), attempting to get a good night's rest before we started ministry full swing in the morning. My mom and I succeeded--Dad, not so much. But the day made up for it all by itself.
I was immediately impressed, not only by the efficiency, helpfulness, and continued friendliness by the staff at ICSB, but by the overwhelming welcome we got from everyone at the school, from the staff to the middle schoolers to the high schoolers and beyond to everyone involved in helping the school stay up and running.
The middle schoolers, as they usually are, were full of energy. But they weren't disrespectful--they listened, they engaged with the lesson, and afterward, talking with some of them at lunch and then going out to play tag with a few of the boys outside, I was treated to just how friendly and welcoming this group of middle school students truly were. And it made me want to cry. Still does.
The high schoolers were just as friendly and welcoming. They took the lesson seriously in the right places, and had fun with us when it was time to have fun. And it was so encouraging to see how they were being leaders at their school--role models for the other students to look up to.
Encouragement followed us all throughout that first day as we got so much positive feedback from the students on how much they had liked the lesson and my song. We had a long conversation over lunch with Austin, one of the leaders at the school in charge of the chapel time, and a worship leader and youth leader to boot. His razor-sharp wit and easy going nature made us feel at home, and we left the school that day feeling so ready for the rest of the week.
It only gets better from there.
I could go on to describe every situation--every laugh, every encouragement, every reason that I have for why I fell in love with this school. But it would take too many words. Over the week, I came to see these youth the same way I see the youth at Faith Community Church back at home. Like family. And no, I didn't have that long to get to know them. I, truly, don't know them as well as I feel like I do. But hey, that's what Facebook is for, right? And maybe I'll go back someday. I sure would like to.
All in all, every laugh I enjoyed with these students or the staff, it reminded me of a time not too long ago when a group of us silly teenagers used to get together on Sunday afternoons and go walk around the mall. All in all, every encouragement I experienced from the students or the staff made me feel like I had so much purpose, so much definition, to my life in a way that I rarely feel nowadays.
All in all, every reason that I could give for falling in love with this school, it's enough to bring me to my knees in thanksgiving for the work the Lord is doing there. This school is going places, it's impacting people. These students are going places and they are impacting people. And the leaders at this school are letting the Lord use them to teach, mentor, and send out these students in powerful, powerful ways.
And that's from only a week being there. I cannot wait to see what God does with these kids the rest of the year and beyond. If what happened during Spiritual Impact Week is any indication as to the spiritual power surrounding these kids and the staff, then God has an army in the making. And that makes me so thankful to God. So in awe of Him.
Besides the leaders and staff at the school, there was one more group of people that made our stay in Budapest the best it could have possibly been--the Thompson family. They let us barge into their home, sleep on their beds, eat their food, be vegetables on their couches, and all around be incredible nuisances all week. And they did it with a smile on their face and a helping hand always there. They drove us all over, they encouraged us and gave us advice and did so many other little things that I can't begin to express my gratitude to them.
Really and truly, Brian and Barbara Thompson feel like my uncle and aunt now, and their high-school age daughters Sarah and Chloe feel like they're my cousins. Part of me thinks that they really must be distantly related to us because of how much I enjoyed their company and how much I have in common with them. I so wish we had known them back when they had lived in Janesville (yeah, it's crazy--they lived in Janesville before moving to Budapest and my parents just met them like last year during a Europe-area missions conference). I feel like we would have been great friends even then.
I could go on. For hundreds, if not thousands of more words. But I feel like it's time to bring this blog post to a close. Writing this out definitely helped me to give some closure and clarity to the week. Friday was so very bittersweet, and though I'm still in Europe, enjoying a few days in Austria on our own penny before heading back to the States, I feel like I'm part of another world. The routine of ICSB is gone, snatched away from me suddenly like a Christmas present that I only got to have for an hour. Part of me feels like all the spiritual energy in me is gone, unsure if I'll ever have it again.
But my God is faithful, and my time with ICSB is done for now. I leave it all in His hands--it's time to move on, get back to the routine of Life As Caleb, The College Student, and live for Jesus Christ one day at a time.
Coming off the "spiritual high" can sometimes be bumpy. It has been for me. But life is not lived according to weekend retreats or Spiritual Impact Weeks or even the normal Sunday-Wednesday church thing. Life is lived, for Christ, with every passing moment, being intentional about the gratitude and servitude that you can offer the One who took away your death to give you life.
I guess it's time to say goodbye to this school I've fallen in love with, knowing that I still have, and forever will have, my First Love.
Lead the way, Jesus.